Zero Hour

The first in Erickson’s Wired & Dangerous romantic suspense series roars out of the gate and doesn’t let up. Hacker Roarke Brennan is determined to avenge his younger brother Flynn’s death—at the hands of an almost cartoonishly ruthless computer magnate and his evil son—with a group of his most talented hacker friends. When feisty Wren Lee finds out from her brother that her long-ago crush, Roarke, is putting a team together, she wants in: Flynn was a friend, and she has skills the crew needs. As bullets fly and emotions rage, Wren realizes Roarke’s original coolness toward her isn’t because he didn’t care—it’s that he’s terrified she’ll be hurt. It’s a valid concern with Erickson’s hair-raising plot twists, since it’s not clear who, if anyone, will survive. The villains are so unlikable that it’s very satisfying to see them meet their fates. But just as the reader thinks the tale is over, Erickson (Blood Veil) throws several curveballs (readers who hate cliff-hangers, beware). This is a highly enjoyable romantic thriller. Agent: Marisa Corvisiero, Corvisiero Literary. (Feb.)