Virtually Harmless

High-Tech Crime Solvers #3

by P.D. Workman

From USA Today Bestselling Author, P.D. Workman, comes a gripping techno-thriller, part of a multi-author series tied together by an interlocking cast of characters, all centered around the fantastic new promise of high technology and the endless possibilities for crime that technology offers, in a world where getting away with murder can be not only plausible, but easy…if you just know how..

Micah lived a quiet, comfortable life, her involvement in law enforcement limited to the composite pictures that she produced with her computer and colored pencils.

But everything is turned upside down when she involves herself in the case of an infant found abandoned in the Sweetgrass Hills.

With the help of her knowledge of DNA and law enforcement contacts across the country, Micah is closing in on a killer. But her investigation draws the killer’s attention, and she finds herself in the middle of an operation that could mean the end of her career—or worse, her life.

★★★★★ "The book will keep you guessing until the very end. Love how the author describes the characters in the perfect amount of detail leaving a little to the imagination."

Genres: Mystery

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 17, 2020

About the author

Award-winning Canadian author P.D. Workman has written over a hundred addictive page-turners featuring diverse and divergent sleuths, high-stakes investigations, and stories that linger long after the last page. Her books dive deep into characters’ minds while exploring timely social issues through fast-paced, emotionally charged plots. Readers praise her work for its powerful emotional truth combined with unputdownable suspense.

Shunning sleep, when Workman is not writing, formatting, or marketing, she’s probably running, reading, or spending time with her family.

Check out her catalogue at pdworkman.com to start your next page-turner and sign up for news and special deals.

Reviews

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one suspenseful story. Micah is great at her job of solving crimes, but this one is extremely difficult. Kept me involved with the characters and the plot.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Micah Miller uses DNA to solve crime. Though not a police officer, Micah's composite pictures bring the faces of criminals to life, aiding in their capture. This time, it's a foundling who is the focus of her sketches as she attempts to discover the baby's parents and determine what induced them to leave their newborn alone on the mountaintop.

I jumped into this series right in the middle. Knowing the author's previous works, I was sure I would enjoy this story - and I was so right! The High-Tech Crime Solvers series is unusual as many authors write it and the main character varies from story to story. While I haven't read any of the other books (yet), their synopses look intriguing and are all on my TBR list.

This particular book drew me in from its first sentence and just didn't let go. It was one of those stories that was so compelling, I was thinking about it all the time. While the use of DNA in crime fighting is out of its infancy, sketching a face from its indicators is a recent development. I can't claim any degree of competency with this ground-breaking science, but the plot details rang true, enhancing my enjoyment.

I highly recommend this thriller and, by surmised extension, the rest of the series.

[Si Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Micah's an artist. But not the usual sort. She helps police solve crimes by drawing composite images of what a person could look like from their DNA. She brings both killers and victims to life. Her job right now? To help find the parents of an abandoned baby.

This cosy thriller with a neurodivergent, aro-ace MC will keep you turning the pages long after you should have logged into your day job. Oops.

[Bonnye Reed]

Author gift

[Disney14604]

A definite must read!! Ms. Workman has the ability to take technology, controversial topics, and everyday life, and weave them into a story that you don’t want to put down but also want to savor every word!!! How does she do it?!!!!!! She makes everything relevant.

In this book, she makes a comment about how technology is outpacing the laws and trying to protect your information is getting to be impossible. This is a real fear for me. We are giving up too much of our privacy.

INVIVISLE HOMELESS: hits gut and the heart, but necessarily the way it is in the book. I see it with us female veterans. With her permission, I am co-opting this term.

I am always amazed at how she combines her topics into a story. There are times she make me want to growl, and other times, I am amazed at the knowledge or research that she has put into her books. I learn something new with every book.

I am so glad that I found this author. I am having trouble trying to express what how much she draws me into her books – all of them.

This my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC book.
 

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I did not like this story as much as I think I could have if only it was trimmed down some. There seems to be a lot of extraneous stuff added which doesn't really have to do with the tale being told. Also, we get it, she got hurt. How many times do we need to be told the bruises will get worse for a few days and then change colors? How many times do we need to be told the main character closes her office door if she doesn't want to be disturbed but has it open most of the time? Apparently the answer to both of those questions is 6-10 times or more (I didn't count.).
The main story line is twisty and not easily guessed, although you have a pretty good idea for the last 25% of the book. Just not the exact details. The emotional hook comes at you from a few different angles and shifts some as the story progresses. The good parts were very good, I just wish I liked it more.

[Walter Critz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book centers on a fascinating main character who combines artistic and scientific skills to produce realistic drawings of individuals from their genome. It is a fascinating but plausible extension of what is currently possible, and is central to the plot. Unfortunately, her talent draws unwanted attention from people whose crimes might be exposed by her efforts. This in a very engaging nail-biter of a story that you will not want to put down!

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Micah life since a child was her drawings, she was a geek, artist and a forensic detective. She was intrigue with the baby found, and had several theories of finding the mother. Now to hear they got the contract. The story goes into how the DNA was found in the baby blood. Then the steps of the drawings Micah did, brought closure to the case, interesting and different.

[Jean Holtof · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fascinating story with Micah drawing faces from the info in DNA, a new concept for me. The suspense was riveting and kept me turning page after page waiting to see how she would cope with the attacks. Wonderful characters and settings. I love P.D. Workman's writing style which is easy to read yet complex in plot. Thanks for an absolutely thrilling read.

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allow most of a day for this PG15 procedural which uses Forensic DNA Phenotyping to identify a baby girl abandoned in the Sweetgrass Hills of Montana. I had an ARC and this voluntary review is my own opinion.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful new story line

I love everything Mrs. Workman writes but this stands out on its own I can't imagine how much research went into this book . I hope this isn't the last of this series.

[Barbara Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't out it down

This book was not only well written but was fascinating. I lost sleep which doesn't happen that often for me but I just had to keep reading.Job very well done!

[Teresa Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent story. All of the information about genetics and DNA was fascinating. Not only was I entertained, but I learned a great deal in the process. Not a dull page in the entire book. I highly recommend it.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Ms PD Workman did it again. She does a fabulous job of keeping you guessing. I love the fact that you don't know who the bad guy is until the end and then throws in another one for good measure. She never ceases to amaze me.
keep up the good work.
cheers
Lynn 🇨🇦

[Kandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book is so good. So much suspense. I hope to read more of what Micah will be doing next.

[Deanna Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. Couldn't put it down once I started reading it.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I loved this book! I would love to see more of this character!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nail biting, edge of your seat stuff❣️ Can't recommend highly enough❣️ Another wonderful story❣️ Next please PD . . .

[Jackie Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great read. Has murder, kidnapping, dirty cop, beatings from an idiot.

[Kathy L · Rating 5 out of 5]

online and in person combine to identify an unlikely murderer and a baby abandoned. Kept you reading without wanting to stop

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome techno-thriller for fans of CSI, Forensic Files…

P. D. Workman has outdone herself with this riveting techno-thriller featuring Micah Miller, a forensic artist specializing in composite renderings based on forensic DNA phenotyping. Micah has the ability to take genetic information found in a person’s DNA and use it to reliably predict what a suspect looks like. During the course of her career, her talented hands have produced accurate composite sketches which have facilitated in the apprehension of numerous violent offenders by law enforcement but when an abandoned infant is found, Micah must use all her knowledge and her amazing skillset to help identify the parents of this infant as well as to dismantle an established sex trafficking ring. As it turns out, there are some powerful and influential people involved in this business who find Micah somewhat meddlesome and Micah, herself, becomes a target. This book offers plenty of thrills, chills, suspense and white-knuckled tension as the plot unfolds and it kept me turning pages until late into the night. The story is clean and well-written, the plot is fascinating, the pace is relentless and the characters are realistic and relatable. I highly recommend this absorbing and thoroughly enjoyable thriller to anyone who favors CSI, NCIS, Cold Case, Forensic Files or any high-tech inspired crime-solving theme.

I was provided with an advance copy of this book by the author and I am voluntarily offering my honest and unbiased review.

[Barbara Ebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

More fun and techno-stuff from this technically savvy series! P.D. Workman does a lot of character development with her main protagonist, so if she does a follow-up book with this female sleuth, you’ll be ready. Dive into an interesting DNA subject with this third book in the series.

I am another author in the multi-author series (Book 8). I do not personally know the author, but I will be reading all of these “Virtually” books because high-tech crime is a super genre!