Hardwired: A Silicon Valley Mystery

Julie Blake and Vic Paoli accept a case to uncover the identity of the hacker who is jeopardizing the Johnson Space Center's communication system and protect Mission Control's computer system. Leaving their home in Silicon Valley, the pair figures this is a simple case. However, NASA never deals with anything simple as the partners soon learn. Apparently, the hacker managed to get "inside" the last shuttle. This time, NASA has a week to solve its problems or face some Congressional budgetary questions and other scrutiny. .... As Julie and Vic investigate, they soon have a different problem to contend with, the astronauts are being murdered. However, in spite of the fact that Houston seems to have a problem, no one in the agency seems even remotely concerned about the deaths except on how it personally impacts their own careers and potentially jeopardizes their own missions. The California duo knows that their case has evolved into something dangerous and they must stop a killer very soon or more than just a budget will go down even if NASA official act apathetic. ...... In spite of the lack of plausibility, HARDWIRED is an intriguing, action-packed mystery. In their fourth novel, Julie and Vic remain a wonderful pair and NASA is a always fun place to visit. If readers park their skepticism about reality at the first page, they will love Sally Chapman's thrilling who-done-it. .......Harriet Klausner