Ruth Run

Ruth has committed the ultimate cybercrime, gradually and undetectably stealing over $250 million from banks—money now safely stashed offshore, beyond recovery. Until now, she’s been safe, her specialist hacking virtually untraceable.

But one night, she’s jolted awake by the alarms she set up—she’s been found. She has no choice but to run and hide, hoping to get far enough away to shake off those coming for her.

Twenty-six-year-old Ruth is a smart and talented microchip designer in San Francisco. She inadvertently discovered a coding glitch that she has incorporated into the microchips she develops for companies and banks. Using it, she can sneak through company firewalls and quietly steal small amounts of money over long periods without detection. Now that she’s been discovered, various national security agencies are chasing her—either to throw her in jail or to convince her to work for them.

This quirky, offbeat debut thriller is a fast, compelling read, with short, punchy chapters and unpredictable twists and turns. The story is told from alternating points of view: Ruth’s, and a government agent’s. The agent, who has been obsessively watching Ruth for years, is convinced he can anticipate her every move. But Ruth is more than a match for him, even as she finds herself in increasingly difficult situations.

With multiple agencies on her tail, Ruth hitches a ride with a truck driver called Big John, who plans to drive the back roads from California to Cheyenne. However, she may have chosen the wrong truck if she wanted to avoid attracting trouble.

There is plenty of humor in Ruth’s journey as she tries to stay one step ahead of the federal agents chasing her. In this fast-paced cat-and-mouse game, the mouse is way smarter than the cats—though you may need to suspend disbelief at some of the moves Ruth pulls off. Is she a villain or an anti-hero? Whichever you decide, you’ll find yourself cheering her on.

Thanks to Penguin for providing a copy to read.