The Cyber Case Series Book 1
by Ken Tentarelli
Genre: Technothriller
The future of crime is digital.
The fight against it lives in the Cyber Case Series.
Cyber Case Thorn
The Cyber Case Series Book 1
by Ken Tentarelli
Genre: Technothriller
When a reckless young hacker sets out to earn fame on the dark web, his escalating attacks move from petty disruptions to an incident prompting a riot that leaves a college dean hospitalized. To him, notoriety is the prize. To Agent Persephone “Seph” Carano of the Cyber Security Agency, he’s a ticking time bomb.
Seph sees what others don’t—the hacker’s growing skill, his hunger for recognition, and the chaos he’s willing to unleash to get it. While the FBI dismisses her warnings, Seph and her team race against time to track his digital footprints before his next strike turns deadly.
From small clubs to large public arenas, the chase
intensifies into a battle of wits between a desperate criminal and the agent
determined to stop him. Cyber Case Thorn delivers a pulse‑pounding
cyber thriller where ambition collides with justice, and one keystroke can
ignite disaster.
Cyber Case Thorn is a novella.
Cyber Case Dante
The Cyber Case Series Book 2
A mysterious
virus infiltrates New York City’s bridge and tunnel systems. Enter cyber
security agent Persephone “Seph” Carano. She knows it’s only the beginning. A
single command from a hacker could trigger its havoc and paralyze the city.
Enter Dante: a suave, enigmatic hacker with a shadowy past and a dangerous
charm. He offers Seph tantalizing clues if she’ll meet with him. He warns her
of a coordinated cyber‑attack set to cripple the city’s infrastructure and
sabotage the mayor’s reelection. But is Dante an ally…or a player in the game?
As traffic lights flicker, subways stall, and chaos looms, Seph races against time tracing the attacks to their source. She must decide: is Dante’s loyalty with her, or with those in the shadows.
A reporter’s story exposes a deeper conspiracy, leading Seph to the ruthless company pulling the strings behind the attack. Cyber Case Dante is a pulse‑pounding cyber thriller where every keystroke could bring a city to its knees.
Here we find cyber agent Seph Carano, the series’ main character, meeting with an informant who calls himself Dante who claims to have information for her about an impending cyber attack.
The Grey Dog was a block off Seventh Avenue and only a short walk from Seph’s office. It was the first breakfast place she had discovered when she began working at the Cyber Security Agency. She remembered lively crowds lining up outside the bustling storefront, drawn by the promise of a hot, comforting breakfast to start their day. Some folks had stood patiently in the queue, scrolling through their phones or chatting with friends, while others bounced on their feet with the aroma of bacon making their mouths water. Online ordering had changed the scene. Now customers ordered in advance using the Grey Dog’s app, so when they arrived, their meals were waiting for them. They grabbed the bags labeled with their names and were gone in a flash. There were no more lines, but the constant flow of cheerful patrons in and out of the shop had created a festive atmosphere. Seph had texted ahead, so her latte and egg and cheese croissant were bagged up when she reached the counter. She found a table at the rear of the room where she could watch for Dante. She split the crescent and neatly wrapped the larger piece to save for lunch.
Seph had finished the croissant, refilled her latte, and was debating ordering a fruit cup when Dante arrived. Again, he was dressed like a fashion icon, this time in tan slacks, a navy blazer, and a powder blue shirt. Why would a cyber-hacker even have such stylish apparel? At the counter he ordered chorizo hash, glimpsed Seph at the back of the room and smiled. She resisted commenting on his appearance when he came to the table and said brusquely, “I’m eager to hear what you have to tell me that couldn’t be said on the phone.”
Feigning wounded feelings, Dante responded, “You’re a bit testy this morning. Have I offended you? You know I’m a friend, don’t you?”
“All I know for certain is you once kept a town’s water supply from being contaminated by closing a valve on an oil pipeline.”
Dante’s smile broadened. “Ah, so you’ve been looking into my past. My involvement with the pipeline was the act of a young lad, but it proves I’m a good guy, doesn’t it?”
“I need more than a single instance to make a judgment.”
“What else have you discovered about me?”
“Very little, except you’re discreet enough to avoid the limelight.”
“True, but if there’s something you’d like to know about me, just ask. I’ll share almost anything…almost anything.”
A server came to the table with Dante’s breakfast platter. Seph declined when the server asked if she wanted her latte refilled again. Hoping to catch Dante off guard, Seph waited until he’d taken a bite before asking, “What’s your real name?”
Her ruse failed. Dante finished chewing, then replied calmly, “I’m willing to share general information, but my name is too specific.”
Wanting to avoid wordplay, Seph snapped, “I agreed to meet because you claimed to have urgent information. What is it?”
“I’ll tell you after I’ve eaten because if I tell you now, you’ll leave. I came to the restaurant of your choice, expecting we could enjoy a meal together. Even though you’ve finished eating, grant me the pleasure of your company while I savor the Grey Dog breakfast special.”
Seph groused, “You’re insufferable.”
Dante said, “Most confidential informants expect to be paid for their information. All I’m asking for is pleasant company.”
“You fancy yourself a confidential informant? Where do you get your information? We have investigators who monitor the dark web constantly, and they haven’t seen any posts hinting at an attack on the Bridges and Tunnels Authority.”
“Your investigators monitor the chat rooms, but the most meaningful exchanges don’t take place in those public spaces. Serious issues are discussed in private channels accessible only by invitation.”
“And you participate in the private forums, I presume?”
“I do. I earned entry long ago, when I was a teenager.”
“We checked our database, and there’s no trace of anyone using the name Dante on the dark web more than seven years ago. Nothing from the time when you would have been a teenager.”
“I was a different person those many years ago. I became Dante when….” He searched for the right phrasing. “When I was re-born, and please don’t ask about my metamorphosis. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, not one I wish to dwell on.”
“You expect me to trust you; yet you admit to frequenting invitation-only forums swarming with cyber criminals, you won’t tell me your real name, and you keep your past hidden. You don’t give me much of a basis for trust.”
“We have different values, Seph. For example, while I might find it acceptable, even laudable, for someone to hack into the network of a bank charging usury loan rates to poor working people, I’m sure you would call the intrusion a crime. However, I’m sure we’d both consider it intolerable for anyone to disrupt the city’s infrastructure for his own personal gain.”
Silence hung in the air for a long minute. Dante broke it, saying, “Since our last meeting, I learned Needle24 has been recruited not just to breach the Bridges and Tunnels Authority, but to stage a series of coordinated attacks. The plan isn’t fully developed yet, but it will include attacks on different parts of the city’s infrastructure. The messages I saw mentioned subways, traffic lights, ferryboats, and airports, although those are merely options under consideration. And the purpose of the attacks is to make the present city administration appear incompetent.”
Seph stared in disbelief. “Did I hear you correctly? You’re saying cyber attacks will be carried out to make the mayor and his administration look bad?” Her eyes narrowed. “Someone wants to influence the election. Who?”
“I don’t know. The person pulling the strings is keeping his identity hidden.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“I’m sure.”
“What’s the timeframe?”
“The exact date hasn’t been decided yet, but it will have to be soon—before election day.”
Cyber Case Adams
The Cyber Case Series Book 3
Cyber Case Adams plunges cyber security agent Persephone “Seph” Carano into a world where teenage rivalries spiral into digital warfare.
When a high school art student innocently posts a painting online, it sparks a storm of harassment that leaves her broken and vulnerable. Retaliation in the form of a dangerous hack, exposes a private trauma that shatters the school’s star athlete. What begins as petty cruelty escalates into cybercrime with devastating consequences.
Now Seph has to untangle the web of lies, betrayal, and digital trespass. With sharp instincts and a daring honeytrap, she must track down the culprits before more lives are destroyed.
A gripping cyber thriller that blends human drama with high-stakes investigation, Cyber Case Adams reveals how a single post can ignite chaos—and how justice must adapt in the digital age.
**NEW RELEASE 2/26!**
Ken Tentarelli brings a rare fusion of engineering expertise and storytelling to his cyber-tech thrillers. His career developing encrypted communications systems and internet security standards lends authenticity to his Cyber Case series.
He established himself as an award-winning author of historical mysteries. Now, blending engineering precision with the imagination of a seasoned novelist, he is crafting stories where technology, intrigue, and human ambition collide.
Ken is a library advocate. He lives with his wife in central New Hampshire.
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M.C.V. EGAN ❧Defining Ways❧ 