The Acheron Deception is a novel by Patrick F. Rooney focusing on terrorism, devious stock trading and espionage. Wealthy software developer Sean McGowan is recruited by Beate Nicholson, a CIA agent looking to track down computer hackers who are threatening to destroy the world of high finance and steal large sums of cash. Meanwhile, KGB agents are making off with nuclear warheads alongside a whole host of other villains, including jihadists and extreme environmentalists, who are hell bent on overthrowing governments and controlling the world’s resources. With destruction everywhere, Sean and Beate take it upon themselves to unravel the truth of what’s going on and save the world from these huge conflicting forces.

I enjoyed the attention to detail that Patrick F. Rooney gives to his characters, an element which is often missing from this genre of fiction, and I found both Sean and Beate very relatable and realistic in their thoughts and actions. The plot of The Acheron Deception made me feel like I was living in a Harrison Ford movie, which is not at all a bad thing, and fans of classics like Patriot Games are sure to enjoy the interweaving plots between multiple locations and a vast span of years. The portrayal of the good guys and the bad guys, the plot and its twists may seem a tad predictable for this genre of storytelling, but Rooney has treated this formula to his own highly engaging, fast-paced writing style. Fans of spies, terrorism and action novels are sure to love The Acheron Deception.

The Acheron Deception by Patrick F. Rooney centers on Sean McGowan, who will go on to become a successful software developer for a securities company. The USSR is threatening to disintegrate, giving the Volkov brothers the chance to steal nuclear weapons from their country and operate a highly successful organized crime group. Meanwhile, Beate Nicholson, a former second lieutenant Marine officer, is recruited by the CIA to manage their data analytic department, but something happens to her family that will change the course of her life forever. Rahim Delacroix, driven by the desire to seek revenge for his family killed by the Israelis with help from the Americans, is another character in this story. And the most mysterious of all is John Napoleon, who heads the Protectorate which endeavors to save the planet by controlling the world’s commodities.

Patrick F. Rooney’s The Acheron Deception is a gripping thriller that sucks the reader into a ruthless world of espionage, organized crime, a jihadist cell, and into the million-dollar business of the securities industry. The author weaves a tale with many different characters whose stories are expertly braided together, leading to a tumultuous climax. Undeniably a page turner, The Acheron Deception reminds one of a Tom Clancy novel with its dizzying pace and a healthy dose of action. This page turner of a book presents the scenario of an impending cyber-attack on the banking system which is a real possibility in our computer and internet driven world. This book is an engaging read to keep you engaged and interested until the last page and, for those who love spy stories, Patrick F. Rooney is certainly an author to watch out for.