We’re S0 H@cked (Hacker Series #2)-Gautam Mayekar

Book: We’re S0 H@cked (Hacker Series #2)
Author: Gautam Mayekar
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing

In this age of digitalization, do you think you are safe online?

We’re S0 H@cked by Gautam Mayekar is the second book in the Hacker series. Rudra, an ethical hacker, Lily, a cyber-crime lawyer and Mohseen, a journalist, are all by night a part of ICD – Indian Cyber Defence, an underground hacking forum that defaces Pakistani Government websites and spreads viruses to attack them. @shok, introducing himself as a RAW agent, joins the forum, and makes an irresistible offer – crack the puzzle of Chakravyuh to get a chance to do something truly worthwhile to serve the nation. Cracking various stages of Chakravyuh, they are lead deeper and deeper - into now developing cyber-weapons for a great war. Fighting their personal demons, dealing with confusion & rebellion within the group, they race against time to hack their next target – CRAWL, a secret division of RAW itself. But what could be the motive? Who is @shok really? What is he leading them into? Are they really serving the nation or is there something more sinister going on?

The book is an interesting read into the life of 3 seemingly unrelated people who are brought together by circumstances. The story has an interesting arc and Gautam uses his background as a cyber security professional to bring authenticity to the plot by explaining the various technical aspects of hacking that he brings into the plot. The storytelling is gripping and it keeps you turning the pages to discover what the group is up to. I liked the technical details that Gautam incorporates into the plot to make it seem authentic. Another interesting aspect of the story is the pace of the story which moves steadily, but becomes fast-paced towards the end. The idea to use the Mahabharata as a plot point was quite imaginative as well. While the story reads nicely, there are some things that did not work for me. The main point for me is that of editing. There are a few grammar issues here and there, but most importantly, the Kindle version could have been formatted better in terms of readability. The climax is something I did not expect and it is in line with Gautam’s style because just like the hackers, he likes a bit of show and awe.

Coming to the characters, Rudra, Lily and Mohseen are three people who wouldn’t have normally crossed paths but for their common interest in the Darkweb and cyber security. I liked how Gautam creates three distinct people and gives all of them something to hide, and how their history impacts their decisions in the present time. The characters are given sufficient time to develop and get their stories in line with the plot.

Overall, the second book in the series is an interesting read, and irrespective of the fact whether you have read Book 1, this book can be read independently, but reading the first part is highly encouraged. The book scores a 4.56/5 for me.

Get your copy of the book on Amazon India or your nearest book store!

I was provided a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Ready my review of Book 1: !M S0 H@CK3D