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Tim Hawken
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Thrill Switch Kindle Edition

by Tim Hawken (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 91 ratings
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Detective Ada Byron is pumped to finally be assigned her first murder case... until she sees the crime scene. Someone has been killed exactly the same way as her father was seven years earlier.

To see if this is a copycat, or something more sinister, Ada must work with her personal nightmare Jazlin Switch - the programmer who murdered her dad. What follows is a mind-bending, heart-stopping ride through the dark side of reality and the virtual world.

Perfect for fans of William Gibson and Neal Stephenson.

PRAISE FOR THRILL SWITCH

“Welcome to a sci fi version of Silence of the Lambs”
★★★★★
- Gordon A Long

“A science fiction fan’s dream”
★★★★★
- Residual Sizzle

“This is a thriller that doesn’t stop!”
★★★★★
- Audiobook Reviewer Magazine

*content warning: contains violence, references to sexual abuse, and adult language.

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  1. Part of series
    Thrill Switch
  2. Print length
    264 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    Nov. 16 2022
  6. File size
    2626 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Books In This Series (1 Books)
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  1.  Thrill Switch
    Tim Hawken
    4.4 out of five stars (91)
    Kindle Edition
    CDN$4.99
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From the Publisher

Cyberpunk Sci Fi Thriller
crime technothriller

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BFT59YHW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Seahawk Press (Nov. 16 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2626 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 91 ratings

About the author

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Tim Hawken

Tim Hawken

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Tim Hawken is a literary hooligan from Western Australia who writes dark sci-fi and fantasy. He is a 2-times winner of the AHWA’s Flash Fiction Competition, has been shortlisted for an Australian Shadows Award twice, and likes to add a twist of wicked humour to his work. His debut Hellbound Trilogy was a cult hit, which garnered attention from Hollywood, including being pitched to Netflix by producers for a series adaptation.

Tim has recently contributed to best-selling books such as Dear Santa, Dear Dad and Dear Mum, and released a literary fiction novel under the pen name T.S. Hawken.

Tim posts a 100-word, art-inspired story most days on Instagram (@tim_hawken). You can find more about him and his work at timhawken.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
91 global ratings

Top reviews from Canada

Marie-Lyne
5.0 out of 5 stars An awesome thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat
Reviewed in Canada on December 17, 2022
Fans of Ready Player One and The Silence of the Lambs, get ready to scream your hearts out cause those two just had a baby - it's called Thrill Switch!

I am a very big fan of both those stories so this thriller had big shoes to fill and I am very happy to say that it 👏 did 👏 not 👏 disappoint! 👏 We follow detective Ada Byron on her very first case: someone has been killed the same way her father was 7 years ago, via virtual reality. But that can't be possible... The programmer responsible is still in prison. In order to catch the copycat, Ada must confront not only her fear of entering the Holos but also her father's killer: the enigmatic Jazlin Switch. And what she discovers will rock both the real world and the metaverse to it's core...

This book was an awesome ride! I really enjoyed the imagery and contrast between a bleak, real world, future Vegas setting and the virtual reality known as the Holos - the Holos is unique, it has character and I would very much like to visit just for the experience and to people watch. Ada is a quirky detective haunted by her past and while things were rocky at first with her partner Joon, I ended up appreciating their relationship and Ada's character growth throughout their investigation. Jazlin Switch, our og serial killer, took my breath away. I could just visualize her so vividly and felt intimidated through the page. And the TWISTS. They are plentiful and gave me reader whiplash 😂. Trying to solve this case, when spread out over two worlds, was a very fun challenge and I have to admit, I didn't see most things coming. Hats off to the author for also including great discussions of freedom vs the need for rules and consequences and other themes relating to having a VR world and the corruption that can be found in politics.

So strap on that seat belt and dive in, this one will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. 🙌

Rating: 5 🌟/5

A huge thanks to the author for the ARC for review. All opinions are my own.
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Barry
4.0 out of 5 stars A new look at virtuality
Reviewed in Canada on November 21, 2022
I very much enjoyed this book. It is a different take on virtual reality and what it can look like when it interacts with the real world. I found myself in sympathy with the characters and the plot has some very interesting twists. If you have enjoyed other virtual/other reality takes, you'll enjoy this one.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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Top reviews from other countries

Mark Lucas-Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars Thrill Switch
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
Wow! A superbly well written thriller that contains all the best elements of the genre; conspiracy, manipulation, incredible twists and turns, high octane encounters, brutal villains who will go to any lengths to achieve their objectives.
Think Silence of the Lambs crossed with Ready Player One in a virtual reality that has no moral compass, no conscience, no restrictions, no depravity seen as too extreme and chillingly no repercussions or consequences for those actions taken.

The setting is a very near future Las Vegas and could be considered scarily prophetic. Can what would be considered extremely excessive criminal behaviour in the real world be judged the same way when it occurs in the virtual world? Tim does not shy away from addressing the failings of today’s society but neither does he proselytise his own personal views.
This is not the first book I’ve read about the attractions and dangers of virtual reality but he examines them in a much more detailed analysis.
Tim Hawken has written a techno-thriller that is both literally and figuratively mind blowing. I have not read a novel this excellent and guaranteed to stay with the reader in a long time.
Tim’s characters are exceptionally well portrayed and engaging & both his prose and dialogue resonate with a striking force. Tim is not just an author but a true wordsmith.
Although this is the first of Tim’s books I’ve read I can guarantee that it won’t be the last.
2 people found this helpful
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tori dunn
5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing cyberpunk/SF-noir page-turner!
Reviewed in Australia on March 20, 2023
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If you're a fan of cyberpunk & SF noir - give this book a shot. I found Thrill Switch lived up to its title, with a lively plot and well realized characters set in a believable near-future with just the right amount of exposition.

Tim Hawken brings to life a world that can be perceived as utopic or dystopic . . . allowing the reader to inject their own speculations into his work of fiction. Hawken has a lot of fun exploring the notion of anonymity in Thrill Switch. Anonymity in virtual space is cut with caveats; but it may be the only means to unbind our online personas from the weaponized algorithmic nudging and corralling we see in our present reality...

Within an hour of reading this book, I was hooked and couldn't put it down. The writing is disciplined and sharp and worked to a very satisfying conclusion that had me empathetically linked with the main character. Happy days!!!

Thanks Tim for this excellent read, I look forward to the next installment.
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Steve Grobschmidt
4.0 out of 5 stars Gripping cyberpunk serial killer hunt
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2023
Verified Purchase
I'm really happy I found this book. I've been on the lookout this year for some good cyberpunk/sci-fi fare. This one was a great serial killer mystery with the twist of including virtual reality. I read in some write-ups that it had futuristic Silence of the Lambs vibes, and that's no lie.

It did take me a little bit to warm up to Ada Byron. I wasn't initially thrilled with insults she threw that felt juvenile. However, without delving into spoilers, even that was explained at one point. All in all, Ada is a strong main character. She wrestles between a wide range of emotions from outward confidence to inner doubts, including coping with the violent death of her father.

The pace was good and suspenseful -- with some good twists and turns along the way (especially at the endgame). The author really did a nice job heightening the dread at what the bad guys were up to, and leaving the reader enough in the dark to wonder what's really going on.

All in all, an excellent read and I'm looking forward to checking out more from Tim Hawken!
One person found this helpful
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J.D
4.0 out of 5 stars Cyberpunk Noir
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2023
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I picked this book up after reading some positive reviews as I wanted a book to read on holiday. As my holiday came to an end I finished the book and stayed up late to complete it. I enjoyed this cyberpunk detective thriller. It was quite well written though occasionally some of the writing made me cringe. Only one or two sentences here or there. The good thing is it isn't weighed down with too much detail or sci-fi jargon. It's very readable which made it pleasant for a holiday book. I enjoyed most of the characters and the world was OK. It didn't feel quite as cyberpunky as I would have liked, as in something like the world of Cyberpunk 2077. But still it was quite thrilling and I wanted to find out all the secrets of the plot. The ending has definitely left it open for a sequel which I'd been interested in. Overall if you enjoy sci-fi and murder mysteries you may like this.
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Lethaltruth
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow. Very twisty and windy path
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2024
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Great story and just when you think you figured it out the truth remains elusive. Much better than most books I have read dating back to Gibson and even modern books.

Look at the names of the characters as they're odes to former Cyberpunk books and stories.

Looking forward to more from this author.
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