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What is technology capable of? Can it do more than observe and mimic behavior? Can artificial intelligence exhibit human qualities if it studies the right humans? Cyber espionage takes on a whole new meaning in Bennett's work as he returns with special agent Ava Martinez, placing her in another adventure that blurs the lines between humans and machines. The premise is simple, but the execution is its own conundrum: a persistent hum in the corridors under Lambeau Field in Green Bay takes on a life of its own, growing so intense that the lives of nearly 100,000 attendees are in direct peril.
Bennett's ability to build tension is evident from the outset. An improbable recursive rhythm in Section 4B that exhibits responsive behaviors transforms what seems like a trivial work scene into ominous foreshadowing. With the data cluster lying right under Lambeau Field, it's a race against time and the powers of an unknown technology. Perhaps the only one who could even remotely stand a chance of unraveling the mystery of the fluctuations is Ava Martinez, the only person to have had a similar experience in Greenland.
With Senator Kincaid's office getting into the mix, the techno thriller collides directly with political chaos, resulting in absolute mayhem. The extent is clear when Commander Hale, who keeps an arm's length from agents in Washington, specifically asks for Ava after his own team fails to grasp the rhythm's recursive nature. Ironically, it's not Ava's first exposure to such a frequency; clues from three years earlier in Greenland involve Cole Stratton and a thumb drive containing sensitive data. The stakes are impossibly high, and Ava is entrusted with the unenviable task of deciphering why the recursive rhythm is particularly responsive to her.
In today's AI-centric universe, the idea that a corridor only known to intelligence organizations is "learning us" seems like a looming possibility. Yet, it is Bennett's knack for creating a seemingly hyper-realistic world that resonates with readers. Ava, alongside her poised dog, Atka, continues to feel the hum with the same cadence she initially detected, almost as if it is speaking directly to her. Ava's relentless pursuit to crack the anomaly is directly juxtaposed with an unknown, powerful group's concerted effort to weaponize the corridor.
At every turn in the narrative, the author gives the reader a steady dose of tension, keeping the reader unraveling layer after layer, with all eyes on Ava. The AI knows her name, but at what cost to Ava? Learning the truth of the recursive rhythm comes at a steep price, and Ava is determined to break through before it completely breaks her and harms the thousands of fans at Lambeau Field.
Throughout the novel, a prevalent theme is how much happens behind the scenes that the civilian audience is not privy to. It certainly can spark deeper conversation, reflecting on just how technologically advanced the world is. Books can be a mirror into the future and often blur the line between fiction and reality, settling into a place of possibility. Unquestionably, Bennett's work oozes with the possibility of such a near-future occurrence. Ava is an endearing character. The protagonist being thrust into a pressure-cooker narrative where tension lies around every corner, combined with a uniquely nuanced, believable storyline, makes for a thoroughly exhilarating experience.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review