When HelioCorp’s connection to the Eastern U.S. power grid blows up — literally, killing one of the employees in the process — a firewall glitch or a system hack breached by an insider is suspected. Louise “Weezy” Napolitani, a brilliant computer specialist (hacker) for the IAC, is summoned to investigate the blow-up. She is not happy with this.

Weezy and her long-distance boyfriend, Joseph “Joe” Mayfield, who is also HelioCorp’s financial expert, had planned to have a romantic getaway. Now, with the blow-up, these plans go up in flames too in John Baird Rogers’ "Fail Deadly," book 3 in the Mayfield-Napolitani Thriller series.

Just when Weezy thinks things couldn’t get any more complicated, they do. Since she is part of a hacker site called Olegarten, Granston Harmon, the AVP for Internal Affairs and Cyber Security, accuses her of breaching confidential information to an outsider. As punishment, he puts her under house arrest and gives her strict internet usage and zero privacy privileges. This makes it impossible to stay in touch with Joe or talk to him without prying ears listening in.

As soon as they think they may be closer to figuring out what caused the HeliocCorp blow-up, Granston Harmon receives a ransom note demanding $1 billion. This amount must be paid to prevent the Sobaki, a trio of Russian oligarchs, from taking control of the US power grid.

In the meantime, Weezy receives an alert from HoHumJr, an Olegarten hacker friend, alerting her that he is in danger. After figuring out Weezy’s connection to HoHumJr, the Sobaki kidnaps her.

They need her to keep a fail-deadly file — a ticking data bomb, set up by HoHumJr, that could destroy the Sobaki if released to the internet — from opening. They not only physically and mentally torture her, but they also kidnap Joe, threatening to kill him if she fails to prevent the fail-deadly file from opening.

To the authorities, her kidnapping makes her seem like she is on the run with the Russian enemies, turning her into a fugitive. With everything on the line, will Weezy betray her country to save the love of her life’s life, or will they end up killing her along with Joe?

Set in the near future where cars drive on autopilot and skull implants are used for communication, "Fail Deadly" is cyberpunk fiction layered with an immersive and evocative setting. Natural landscapes and urban environments intersect and the physical surroundings mirror the internal struggles and aspirations of the characters.

Rogers’ exceptional writing style employs sensory details like the thick Florida air rushing into Joe’s car, carrying with it the scent of pine, and a diverse range of natural landscapes, from the pine-scented forests of Florida to the tranquil riverside town of Panacea.

Rogers has infused "Fail Deadly" with a multitude of supporting characters that add depth and realism to the narrative by populating it with a diverse array of personalities, backgrounds and motivations. This interplay of multiple character arcs and motivations has created unexpected plot twists and enhanced the story’s development.

The overall tone in "Fail Deadly" is a technological intrigue, punctuated by moments of high tension, suspense and relationship dynamics. John Baird Rogers has creatively weaved moments of intrigue with introspective reflections on morality, loyalty and relationships, creating a multifaceted tale that engages readers on both intellectual and emotional levels.

With its immersive setting, interesting and relatable characters, and attention-grabbing storyline, "Fail Deadly" delivers a thrilling conclusion that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Mayfield-Napolitani Thriller Series.