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Hyper
“Evil doesn’t have a problem finding the middle of nowhere.”
Earth is ravaged by a Vermiculira epidemic which threatens every human life on the planet. The only way to save humanity and propagate the species is to restart civilization someplace else. That someplace else is Mars. The plan is to relocate humans that have not been contaminated by the disease to the red planet and leave the crazies back on Earth. To ensure that no infected are allowed to reach Mars, a network of decontamination depots has been placed in space, half way between the two planets. Passengers and cargo are sniffed for traces of the disease before they are allowed to proceed on their journey.
Charlie and Linda Kennedy live a quiet life on Decontamination Depot, D.D. 315. Charlie operates the spacecraft refueling station, and the hydrogen fuel condenser facility, while Linda’s role is to lovingly provide her guests with a friendly smile, a couple good meals and then get them on their way.
But, their peaceful existence is terminated when people onboard are savagely murdered. Charlie needs to stop the carnage and vows to protect Linda, his loving wife. To make matters worse, the killer has programmed the depot to self-destruct unless Charlie can figure out some way to stop it.
“Honorable intentions can lead to horrifying consequences.”
Earth is ravaged by a Vermiculira epidemic which threatens every human life on the planet. The only way to save humanity and propagate the species is to restart civilization someplace else. That someplace else is Mars. The plan is to relocate humans that have not been contaminated by the disease to the red planet and leave the crazies back on Earth. To ensure that no infected are allowed to reach Mars, a network of decontamination depots has been placed in space, half way between the two planets. Passengers and cargo are sniffed for traces of the disease before they are allowed to proceed on their journey.
Charlie and Linda Kennedy live a quiet life on Decontamination Depot, D.D. 315. Charlie operates the spacecraft refueling station, and the hydrogen fuel condenser facility, while Linda’s role is to lovingly provide her guests with a friendly smile, a couple good meals and then get them on their way.
But, their peaceful existence is terminated when people onboard are savagely murdered. Charlie needs to stop the carnage and vows to protect Linda, his loving wife. To make matters worse, the killer has programmed the depot to self-destruct unless Charlie can figure out some way to stop it.
“Honorable intentions can lead to horrifying consequences.”
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 27, 2017
21 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
John A. Autero
5 books38 followersJohn A. Autero is an indie author of thriller-suspense adventure novels. An engineer by education, John employs a technical style of writing that combines existing technologies with those that are yet to be developed. John enjoys anything sci-fi, automotive, heavy metal and ballistic. Always a fan of government conspiracies and black-ops, stories like "The Terminator" and "The X-Files" are always on his list of favorites. John was born in the United States and has spent his entire life there, where he happily lives with his wife and pets.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 25, 2017
John A Autero has used a tried and tested whodunit formula to good effect. Take a small number of varied characters, place them in a confined space and then have them die one by one. Other authors have used remote gothic mansions, ships and arctic weather stations; our author has used a space station set in the future.
Regardless of the setting Autero has produced a simple tale of suspense with some gory moments that is an effortless read.
I was not too convinced by his vision of 2061. Given that is just 44 years hence he has forecast some unbelievable advances in space travel and android technology whist on other occasions he refers to practices that would seem out of date today.
And I had to shout out loud at the unbelievable stupidity of a character during one of the key points in the plot. Surely Autero could have come up with a more subtle deception to move that part of the story forward.
That said, it all built up to a lively crescendo with some violent action when the good guys beat the evil villain against the odds. We then had the final twist which I personally did not find particularly surprising but others may be impressed on hearing the truth.
In summary this is a good light-weight read; just don’t take it too seriously. I have awarded three stars.
Reviewed by Clive on www.whisperingstories.com
Regardless of the setting Autero has produced a simple tale of suspense with some gory moments that is an effortless read.
I was not too convinced by his vision of 2061. Given that is just 44 years hence he has forecast some unbelievable advances in space travel and android technology whist on other occasions he refers to practices that would seem out of date today.
And I had to shout out loud at the unbelievable stupidity of a character during one of the key points in the plot. Surely Autero could have come up with a more subtle deception to move that part of the story forward.
That said, it all built up to a lively crescendo with some violent action when the good guys beat the evil villain against the odds. We then had the final twist which I personally did not find particularly surprising but others may be impressed on hearing the truth.
In summary this is a good light-weight read; just don’t take it too seriously. I have awarded three stars.
Reviewed by Clive on www.whisperingstories.com
June 5, 2017
Hyper is an exceptionally well written sci-fi/mystery novel. If, as a kid, you liked reading Popular Mechanics, you’ll love this book. (The technical description of the hydrogen condensing process is brilliant.) It’s written by an engineer, who knows his stuff. When Earth becomes no longer a fit place to live due to a good intention, an immunization program, that back fired; then, if you’re one of the lucky ones, and your lottery number is called, you get to leave Earth and spend your days in a giant can (decontamination station) in space. As the Earth went through this rough patch, half the people turned to God and the other half turned away.
This is a who-done-it. Charlie’s co-workers start dropping dead. Five body bags will be filled before the killing stops. There’s some great lines in this book, like this one, “Like any good puzzle-maker, he was trying to complete the edge first, but the pieces that connected to the missing side arm didn’t fit at all.”
Buy this book and take a look at the author’s talent.
This is a who-done-it. Charlie’s co-workers start dropping dead. Five body bags will be filled before the killing stops. There’s some great lines in this book, like this one, “Like any good puzzle-maker, he was trying to complete the edge first, but the pieces that connected to the missing side arm didn’t fit at all.”
Buy this book and take a look at the author’s talent.
September 13, 2017
Firstly, I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hyper is a who-done-it in space; not my standard genre but on the whole, I enjoyed my foray down this new avenue.
There are a limited number of characters, all of whom get a fairly sizable back story. The characters were distinct individuals, each with their own traits and personality which presents well. I’m a fan of a well-developed character, however in this case the Autero has used a narrative aside to present this information as an info dump, which I found very distracting. It’s a shame, as he also demonstrates good use of embedded character development which could have, and indeed at times does impart this information in a far less obvious fashion. There is a good philosophical and theological debate in the book which helps establish a dichotomy between the characters which I found quite enjoyable.
The plot is fairly well fleshed out, and does a good job of building tension, with some good twists and turns which leave you wondering. Sadly, I spoiled my experience by calling the final twist early on, but others may be impressed with. The pace of the book is good, with a good mix of action and plot development. There are some rather graphic and violent scenes, starting at the very beginning of the book, which felt a little out of place and maybe used more for shock factor than to progress plot. Autero does a good job of wrapping up all of the loose ends by the end of the novel and brings the story to a close which I found strangely satisfying.
The setting of the world is an interesting mix of advanced technology and real world or slightly out-dated systems which give the universe a strange but homely feel. I was slightly frustrated by what felt like a bizarre anti-vaccination message at the start, but the science of the world feels firmly grounded, with a definite tint of an engineering mind at the helm.
The book hasn’t left me thinking about it, which is one of my measures of a good book, nor has it left me wanting more. The book kept my attention throughout though, and was an interesting read. If you’re looking for light reading and who-done-its are your thing, this is the book for you. Overall, I would give this book 4 stars.
Hyper is a who-done-it in space; not my standard genre but on the whole, I enjoyed my foray down this new avenue.
There are a limited number of characters, all of whom get a fairly sizable back story. The characters were distinct individuals, each with their own traits and personality which presents well. I’m a fan of a well-developed character, however in this case the Autero has used a narrative aside to present this information as an info dump, which I found very distracting. It’s a shame, as he also demonstrates good use of embedded character development which could have, and indeed at times does impart this information in a far less obvious fashion. There is a good philosophical and theological debate in the book which helps establish a dichotomy between the characters which I found quite enjoyable.
The plot is fairly well fleshed out, and does a good job of building tension, with some good twists and turns which leave you wondering. Sadly, I spoiled my experience by calling the final twist early on, but others may be impressed with. The pace of the book is good, with a good mix of action and plot development. There are some rather graphic and violent scenes, starting at the very beginning of the book, which felt a little out of place and maybe used more for shock factor than to progress plot. Autero does a good job of wrapping up all of the loose ends by the end of the novel and brings the story to a close which I found strangely satisfying.
The setting of the world is an interesting mix of advanced technology and real world or slightly out-dated systems which give the universe a strange but homely feel. I was slightly frustrated by what felt like a bizarre anti-vaccination message at the start, but the science of the world feels firmly grounded, with a definite tint of an engineering mind at the helm.
The book hasn’t left me thinking about it, which is one of my measures of a good book, nor has it left me wanting more. The book kept my attention throughout though, and was an interesting read. If you’re looking for light reading and who-done-its are your thing, this is the book for you. Overall, I would give this book 4 stars.
May 31, 2017
Don’t You Love It When a Plot Comes Together?
There are books that end with threads still hanging. There are the ones that tie it all up, but you saw the finale coming after the first 20 pages. And then, there’s the ones that sneak up on you with a finish that makes you rethink the whole story. They’re fun. Hyper is one of them.
Hyper is a whodunit, set in the future and on a station in deep space. And with a limited cast of unusual characters (seven of them), guessing the killer is possible…even quite likely, as the body count continues to rise. But giving the killing spree context was the real twist for me, and when the author sprung it, I admit making that admiring nod. He got me. And when it happened, I saw several of the characters in a new light.
In general, the pace of the book is good, as the story moves from death to death at a nice clip. There are some deliberate flashbacks that seemed to interrupt the flow, but even those apparent diversions made sense by the end. The violence is intense and gruesome; the book is adult reading. Character development is adequate, although a bit stereotypic around people like the “thug from the south side of Chicago” (author synopsis). But the individuals are interesting and easily distinguished, allowing the story to flow readily.
With its future setting (the year 2061), the technology gave me some pause. It seemed to range from futuristic (space stations and cyborgs) to 2017-era manufacturing, communications, and computing systems. In some ways, it seemed like ‘steampunk,’ except that the technology inserted into the dystopian future is not Victorian-era steam gauges and engines, but the maze of pipes, tanks, and compressors of today’s manufacturing world.
Overall, for a somewhat grisly whodunit all tied up neatly with a thought-provoking climax, I recommend Hyper as a fun and fast read.
There are books that end with threads still hanging. There are the ones that tie it all up, but you saw the finale coming after the first 20 pages. And then, there’s the ones that sneak up on you with a finish that makes you rethink the whole story. They’re fun. Hyper is one of them.
Hyper is a whodunit, set in the future and on a station in deep space. And with a limited cast of unusual characters (seven of them), guessing the killer is possible…even quite likely, as the body count continues to rise. But giving the killing spree context was the real twist for me, and when the author sprung it, I admit making that admiring nod. He got me. And when it happened, I saw several of the characters in a new light.
In general, the pace of the book is good, as the story moves from death to death at a nice clip. There are some deliberate flashbacks that seemed to interrupt the flow, but even those apparent diversions made sense by the end. The violence is intense and gruesome; the book is adult reading. Character development is adequate, although a bit stereotypic around people like the “thug from the south side of Chicago” (author synopsis). But the individuals are interesting and easily distinguished, allowing the story to flow readily.
With its future setting (the year 2061), the technology gave me some pause. It seemed to range from futuristic (space stations and cyborgs) to 2017-era manufacturing, communications, and computing systems. In some ways, it seemed like ‘steampunk,’ except that the technology inserted into the dystopian future is not Victorian-era steam gauges and engines, but the maze of pipes, tanks, and compressors of today’s manufacturing world.
Overall, for a somewhat grisly whodunit all tied up neatly with a thought-provoking climax, I recommend Hyper as a fun and fast read.
July 15, 2017
Right on the front cover this book states: “Evil doesn’t have a problem finding the middle of nowhere.”
Charlie Kennedy is in outer space on Decontamination Depot 315. And wouldn’t you know it, while he is stationed here, people are being brutally murdered. And the icing on the cake? Some set the self-destruct to go off.
There is a goody-two-shoes from Kansas who seems like he wants to be everyone’s friends, and a Russian soldier type, Crime Syndicate, as well as a prisoner who came to visit the depot, who has been convicted of many murders, who could be likely suspects.
But then again, who knows, because in this book, one minute you think it’s one person, and the next, you think it’s another. And we all know mankind is the ultimate evil. But just when you think you have the mystery solved, there is another twist thrown at you that will make your head spin.
This book will keep you guessing, and questioning yourself, all the while rooting for Charlie to save the day. An extremely entertaining space mystery that will keep you on your toes every step of the way. Worthy of five-stars, and more! You will want to read it, and will be truly impressed with this story, I promise you. It is unlike any sci-fi story you have read, a true edge of seat mystery with non-stop action! I loved it all the way to the end!
Charlie Kennedy is in outer space on Decontamination Depot 315. And wouldn’t you know it, while he is stationed here, people are being brutally murdered. And the icing on the cake? Some set the self-destruct to go off.
There is a goody-two-shoes from Kansas who seems like he wants to be everyone’s friends, and a Russian soldier type, Crime Syndicate, as well as a prisoner who came to visit the depot, who has been convicted of many murders, who could be likely suspects.
But then again, who knows, because in this book, one minute you think it’s one person, and the next, you think it’s another. And we all know mankind is the ultimate evil. But just when you think you have the mystery solved, there is another twist thrown at you that will make your head spin.
This book will keep you guessing, and questioning yourself, all the while rooting for Charlie to save the day. An extremely entertaining space mystery that will keep you on your toes every step of the way. Worthy of five-stars, and more! You will want to read it, and will be truly impressed with this story, I promise you. It is unlike any sci-fi story you have read, a true edge of seat mystery with non-stop action! I loved it all the way to the end!
May 16, 2017
This book is simple amazing: by the end of the first chapter, I was hooked. By the end of the second chapter, it was a different book entirely and I was hooked again.
Autero absolutely nails his characterisation. His chapters alternate between the small cast of characters, I sympathised with each and every one of his characters which is what brought the suspense to a knife's edge when it came to figuring it out whodunnit.
His description of the engineering aspects clearly come from a place of expertise - if sci-fi mechanics are your catnip, this is going to do good things for you.
For me, the thing that brought the whole story together was the idea of evil coming from within, that you had to decide who was killing off the other characters based on their moral compass.
It's amazingly well written, with the clues seamlessly laid out throughout the narrative until they all make sense at the very end without any gaping plot holes.
I finished this book in 24 hours and was delighted to discover that the author has a couple of other books that I can dig in to.
Sci-fi, mystery and horror fans- pick up your copy today!
Autero absolutely nails his characterisation. His chapters alternate between the small cast of characters, I sympathised with each and every one of his characters which is what brought the suspense to a knife's edge when it came to figuring it out whodunnit.
His description of the engineering aspects clearly come from a place of expertise - if sci-fi mechanics are your catnip, this is going to do good things for you.
For me, the thing that brought the whole story together was the idea of evil coming from within, that you had to decide who was killing off the other characters based on their moral compass.
It's amazingly well written, with the clues seamlessly laid out throughout the narrative until they all make sense at the very end without any gaping plot holes.
I finished this book in 24 hours and was delighted to discover that the author has a couple of other books that I can dig in to.
Sci-fi, mystery and horror fans- pick up your copy today!
August 27, 2018
On Earth in 2061 a deadly epidemic strikes and in an attempt to save as many humans as possible they have to restart on another planet - the one chosen being Mars. However to ensure no one who is contaminated get to Mars there are a network of decontamination depots half way there to check all passengers and cargo first. Charlie and Linda Kennedy live a relatively quiet life on Decontamination Depot, D.D. 315 - Charlie looking after the technical aspects there like refuelling and Linda welcomes the guests and feeds them good food before they go on their way. However a whodunit then ensues as some people are murdered and the station has been programmed to self-destruct. Can Charlie protect Linda, work out who the murderer is and save the station?
This was definitely a classic whodunit set in space however I did find it hard to get into at first. What I can say for sure is that I did not see the ending coming and who the actual murderer was. I did like the writing style as it was clear and I understood everything that was happening. The characters felt real and were relate-able. There are some fairly graphic descriptions of the epidemic and the murders.
This was definitely a classic whodunit set in space however I did find it hard to get into at first. What I can say for sure is that I did not see the ending coming and who the actual murderer was. I did like the writing style as it was clear and I understood everything that was happening. The characters felt real and were relate-able. There are some fairly graphic descriptions of the epidemic and the murders.
October 30, 2017
Autero’s Hyper is a fast-paced who-done-it, set in a decontamination depot. People are being murdered. The protagonist, Charlie, tries to find out by whom. The cast of characters he suspects drive the story: the Mr. nice guy who all like, a visiting prisoner, or maybe someone connected to a Russian crime syndicate, etc. Charlie is on a deathly time crunch for the depot is on the path to self-destruction. The pervading theme, evil is everywhere and there’s no hiding from it, really gives this mystery a rich flare and hair raising appeal to those of us who appreciate a good thriller.
November 3, 2018
Filled with twists
Hyper is definitely filled with twists and action. Autero pens a grand story, and it's not just a futuristic story, there is a thrilling mystery to solve. Autero brings the reader into the story and lets her (me) sit shotgun while the story unravels, twisting and turning. It's very unpredictable, and that's what keep readers hooked. Charlie has a lot of depths and levels, and is a very engaging character. He keeps the story going, and it's a very interesting read. I look forward to reading more of Autero's work.
Hyper is definitely filled with twists and action. Autero pens a grand story, and it's not just a futuristic story, there is a thrilling mystery to solve. Autero brings the reader into the story and lets her (me) sit shotgun while the story unravels, twisting and turning. It's very unpredictable, and that's what keep readers hooked. Charlie has a lot of depths and levels, and is a very engaging character. He keeps the story going, and it's a very interesting read. I look forward to reading more of Autero's work.
June 3, 2018
HYPER is an engaging Science Fiction mystery that will have you wanting to know what happens with each turn of the page. Mr. Autero leans back and tells his tale with an intimate style of blended first and third person narrative. There is plenty of futuristic technology to consider but it does not get in the way of the story. My compliments to Mr. Autero for his discipline in keeping this story tightly focused and wrapping it up at what feels like the perfect length.
September 8, 2017
Loooved it!!!
September 5, 2018
This is a suspenseful, engaging space thriller. Imaginative and intricate, it held my attention throughout. I definitely enjoyed reading.
July 30, 2019
Space and murder
Well written and entertaining story. Nice ending with good detail. When you read it keep an open mind because you'll need to.
Well written and entertaining story. Nice ending with good detail. When you read it keep an open mind because you'll need to.
April 13, 2017
My new book "HYPER" will be released on May 27th. If you enjoy an action packed who-done-it, set in the depths of space, you'll love "HYPER".
I hope you grab a copy! Thanks and Take Care - John A. Autero
I hope you grab a copy! Thanks and Take Care - John A. Autero
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews