Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: cyber

  • No Turning Back

    No Turning Back

    When the body of a young man, Tom, is found on the side of the road and the supposed suicide of Laura, whose body has been found at the base of a cliff, is discovered it sets off a train of events that will stretch the ability of Detective Garda Cathy ‘Cat’ Connolly, O’Rourke and their team to its very limits in this their third novel, No Turning Back.

    A high-profile local family is involved as it is their son Tom who has been found on the side of the road and they can offer no explanation as to why he was where he was found. Laura’s family also are perfectly convinced that she would not have committed suicide and if she had it would not have been anywhere near a cliff, as she was terrified of water.

    As the case unfolds a connection to the dark web and the world of international terrorism is discovered which confounds not only the Garda but the families involved in the tragedy.

    Every turn of the page in this riveting thriller uncovers the reality that all was not as it seemed as each layer of the investigation slowly revels deep schisms within families, a world of international terrorism and the dark web, territory Cat and her team understood but had never had to confront in such stark reality.

    The on-again-off again conflict between Cat and her boss O’Rourke continues to add spice to this third novel helping to level out the deadly serious side of the reality of modern levels of crime and tragedy.

    But as Cat, her offsider Fanning and O’Rourke discover, the level of depravity and violence involved is beyond their wildest imagination and is set to wreak havoc on the London Metro, in a far worse terrorist strike than anything conceived in the past.

    Fast paced, riveting and well researched Blake has once again created a world of modern-day crime and criminals who will use every aspect of modern-day life to spread terror, and the vulnerable people caught up in the mess.

    Sam Blake has meticulously researched and presented the world of cybercrime in such a way that it leaves a chilling legacy to remind that vigilance is always required when using the ‘net’ in any or all aspects of modern-day life and business.

    Brilliant.

  • # GUY CODE

    # GUY CODE

    Long overdue, this etiquette book for the modern man should be placed on the compulsory, must read list, especially for students who are about to graduate and move into the everyday world of business and a far more mature lifestyle.

    In today’s world of instant everything, from pizza to friendship and love via the wonderful world of technology, learning the basic requirements of society are becoming far more challenging. Regardless of what your younger life has been, how casual the lifestyle of family and friends appears to be, there are still, interestingly enough, rules of how to go about making a seriously good impression.

    Many of the older generation grew up with these ‘rules’ as the norm, but as lifestyles have changed, become so much faster and ‘relaxed’, so too the basic tenants of good behaviour gone with them.

    Following on from her first book #GirlCode, Launerts has continued on into the world of the adolescent and young adult males, to help guide them through the many pitfalls of making a good impression, whether it be with the girl you are seeking to impress, fronting up for your first job interview, or attending your first formal dinner party.

    As motivation to succeed is very strong in the younger generation, and the old adage than ‘manners maketh the man’ still does seriously apply, it would certainly pay off to read up on etiquette.

    Gaining social confidence in today’s cyber world is not easy; having face to face contact in the real time world can be often be confrontational; learning to read the body language and signals used unconsciously by us all in various social and work based situations can be awkward, embarrassing and can make for a very anxious time.

    With GUYCODE Michaela Launerts uses her skill base to help leavers develop a strong set of social skills that will help with their presentation, social confidence and self-esteem. She strongly promotes ‘young people learning manners, social graces and how to conduct themselves in professional and social circles in an integral part of one’s development’ and it is, most definitely!

    Regardless of where you are heading in life, manners truthfully do make the man and will in many, many instances, gives the edge as far as selection of employment, professional and social standards and influence in society is concerned.

    Try it out and see just what your new look and style achieves; you may be pleasantly surprised but remember, good manners cost nothing at all, but can reap unsought rewards as you travel through life.

    Definitely worth the investment!

     

  • Piglettes

    Piglettes

    Initially the storyline of this book is quite shocking, and then one realizes that this is today’s world and this is how it is. Mireille is the narrator of this teenage story which begins with her discovery that she has come third in the pig pageant contest. This is a competition to select the ugliest girls in school, run by a male student, and voted for by other students on Facebook. Mireille was described as having a “fat blubbery bum, droopy breasts, a potato shaped chin and tiny porcine eyes.”

     After such an awful beginning, we gradually see that Mireille is able to live with this disastrous naming. The fact that her mother is a philosophy teacher, and has raised her daughter to be an un-emotive, rational thinking young woman helps enormously. The young girls who came first and second in the competition come to visit Mireille; they become friendly and decide that they have a common goal. That is to get to Paris for the Independence Day celebrations. The girls decide that they will cycle to Paris from the town of Bourg-en-Bresse where they live.

     At first it seems such an outrageous proposition, but with clear reasoning they borrow a trailer, three bikes and the help of Hakima’s brother, Kader. The girls, Mireille, Astrid, and Hakima have an attachment made for their bikes to tow the trailer, and Kader who lost his legs in the war, has a wheelchair. To raise money, the girls have enlisted grandparents help to make sausages which they can store in the fridge and sell at each stop.

     The journey becomes one of overcoming trials and stitch, but the girls and Kader persevere. A journalist from their home town is writing a running newspaper article about the girls, and they become celebrities as they travel along. Many people wave and befriend the piglettes as they cycle along the paths toward Paris. The man who began the pig pageant is so angry that they have found happiness and fame, that he visits them at night and slashes the tyres of their bikes. This works in their favour as a local bicycle repairman renews their bikes and the attachment to the trailer, making it lighter to tow.

     At no stage is there any hate or animosity shown towards the perpetrators of this indignity. Indeed, the girls are so focused on getting to Paris that it is not foremost in their minds. Mireille wants to confront the Presidents husband, Astrid wants to hear the music group she loves, and Hakima wants to confront the general, the man who was responsible for her brother losing his legs, who is getting a bravery medal.

     This is an uplifting story, and again, one that is quite shocking, but also quite possible in today’s world of cyber bullying. The disregard shown by the girls towards their attacker, and the elation they feel when they reach Paris and achieve their goals is wonderful. The writing is simple, clear and precise; the story unfolds at its own pace, and with gentle humour. I hope this becomes a go to book for teenage girls.