Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book held so much potential, however while the premise seemed exciting, the writing was not.

A Political thriller with a focus on the use of technology and social media should be a quick attention grab full of twists and turns but instead we are met with lacklustre writing, a plot full of cliches and characters that are impossible to root for.

Unfortunately I didn't finish this read. The point of view and the back and forth were difficult to follow. Additionally, it never really grabbed my attention to what the storyline was trying to get to. It was extremely hard to get into, so I shelved this one after many attempts.

Thank you SparkPress and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it. Love how it's has multiple people telling this story.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In the heart of Silicon Valley's digital battleground, Mike Trigg's "Burner" emerges as a contemporary thriller that encapsulates the essence of our technology-driven zeitgeist. The novel is a labyrinthine journey through the consequences of our online obsessions, where the lines between reality and virtual personas blur, leading to a crisis of identity, trust, and truth.

The story unfolds with Shane Stoller, the alleged mastermind behind the infamous online profile Burner_911, arrested for domestic terrorism. His secret lover, Chloe Corbin, daughter of a tech mogul, finds herself abducted amidst a chaotic uprising spurred by Burner_911's followers. What ensues is a harrowing tale of love, regret, and the desperate quest for redemption.

Trigg's narrative is a masterclass in tension and pace, weaving a tragic love story into a psychological thriller that delves deep into the politically charged disinformation and toxic internet subcultures. The author's background in Silicon Valley lends authenticity to the depiction of a society grappling with the ramifications of distorted online identities.

The characters are meticulously crafted, with their development unfolding in a manner that is both believable and compelling. Shane's transformation from a voice of populist dissent to a figure of regret is particularly striking, as is Chloe's evolution from a victim to a conspirator. Their relationship, a microcosm of the novel's broader themes, is a poignant commentary on the search for belonging and purpose in an age where online interactions often replace genuine human connections.

"Burner" is not just a thriller; it's a mirror held up to our current world, reflecting the dark underbelly of the digital age. It's a cautionary tale that questions the very fabric of our society, where movements can be born and die in the span of a tweet, and where love and truth become casualties in the war for clicks and likes.

In conclusion, "Burner" is a gripping read that offers more than just edge-of-your-seat suspense—it provides a thought-provoking examination of the personal and societal costs of our digital lives. Mike Trigg has penned a novel that is both timely and timeless, a must-read for anyone who has ever questioned the impact of their online footprint on the world around them.

Thank you Netgalley and Sparkpress for the ARC!

Synopsis: Shane Stoller is arrested under the accusation of being burner_911, the social media account leading a populist movement that has gone too far. When the person he loves is kidnapped, he is forced to see the consequences of his social media addiction.

My thoughts: I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book but I knew I wanted to read it when I saw it was about a technology-obsessed culture. Content-wise, it was very different for me, being my first political thriller. Some of the concepts about finance and the stock market were pretty foreign to me but I was still able to follow the story pretty easily. I always love when a book is told in unique formatting and Trigg delivered with court transcripts, media stories, text messages, and social media posts. The ending was a complete shock and oh so clever!! It was like a gut-punch but it just made sense👏🏻 I think this will be a win for those who enjoy political thrillers!

Ripped from the headlines or ripped from the cliches? I went back and forth on this one but I just didn't find myself really going along with this ride.

Some part of me loves political thrillers, though I am not overly political by nature. Maybe it's a bit of an alter ego thing for me, but Burner by Mike Trigg was just the book I needed to feed this portion of my soul!

This plot is an extremely well executed game of cat and mouse; it is Aladdin and Robin Hood for a digital age. As Trigg says in his acknowledgements, this was a Rubik's Cube for him to write, and it unfolds so perfectly with each move towards the solution for the reader.

Shortly after receiving my physical copy, I flipped through the book, saw the pages in different fonts and formats, and instantly thought: "oh, this is going to be fun!" This story is pieced together as a magpie collection of three different first-person accounts, newspaper articles, transcripts and social media posts. As the story was well explained, the plot never once became too big, and never provided redundant information; kudos to Trigg for this accomplishment! (Stylistically I loved how the right-hand page always had a heading to show whose perspective or article was being voiced, creating absolutely no confusion while reading.)

Now, do I love the outcome? That moment when I gasped and my heart plummeted to the floor, I lost part of the mounting hope I had. But does this outcome make sense? Yes, absolutely! And in retrospect there is no other feasible ending for these characters. So, it’s a brilliant outcome!

Other highlights:
-vigilante justice
-"other"
-on trend
-freedom of speech, freedom to believe what one wants, and not be told by those in power what is wrong or right
-American Dream
-digital fingerprint

If you enjoyed the Millennium trilogy by Stieg Larsson, absolutely give this one a try!

Five huge stars to Trigg and his second thriller, Burner!

Thank you NetGalley, Book Sparks and SparkPress for the complimentary copies to read and review.

Full disclosure: if I had read the summary of this book before choosing to read it....I probably wouldn't have picked it up. But let me just say....I am really glad I went in blind!

Shane's one goal really resonates throughout the entire book. He wants economic fairness, a redistribution of wealth. There are multiple times that support characters try to force his beliefs to one side or the other, and Shane is adamant that his cause and his plan are NOT political. Conservative or Liberal, everyone can believe in his plan. Chloe believes in his plan.

Shane is arrested for (among other things) inciting an alt-right violent protest that threatened public safety and caused unreal economic upset. When a cell among his followers attempt to take matters in their own hands, Shane's secret girlfriend (and billionaire's daughter) Chloe is kidnapped. Shane needs to make sure he is safe, but he is cut off from technology and his online platform. Chaos ensues.

There is a lot of technological jargon in here, be warned. That being said, Mike Trigg makes it very easy to understand via context clues. Also, there are multiple medias explored....from court transcripts and press releases to blog posts and text threads. Again, very easy to follow so don't let that scare you away!

Thank you SparkPress, Mike Trigg, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

This book is definitely a type of thriller I wouldn’t have reached for originally, but I enjoyed it. I loved the setup, including courtroom transcripts, and back and forth conversations. It was a good commentary on social media and how it influences the influencer and how it can get out of control. Definitely recommend!

So, unless Mr. S.A Cosby decides to drop a surprise book that I don’t know about this year and happens to be amazing, Burner by Mike Brigg might be my favorite action thriller of the year. From the first page, I was sucked in. I needed answers and I needed them right there. The stakes were HIGH! The subject matter is chef kisses because we are closer to that type of environment than we think. The multiple media used in this book was necessary and insightful on the different stakeholders when it comes to things like that. Especially on the year 2024 where this mass corporations are being exposed and how everyday social media censors us more everyday. How sometimes we might be so hyper fixated with a cause without knowing how our actions and words might be taken to an extreme. This book is relevant to our times. A MUST READ

Thank you NetGalley and SparksPress for this copy. I really enjoyed this book! I was a little hesitant at first but was surprised at how into it I got. This book reminds me a lot of Jan 6 insurrection, has major cult vibes, talks a lot about political issues, and world views. If you have any knowledge of the stock market or are entertained by it I think you will really enjoy this book. I loved the setting, mainly because I am also from the San Francisco Bay Area and know the Central Valley area really well so it was cool to feel like I knew where everything was. There are some plot twists that you don’t expect which makes the story something you don’t want to put down. I loved how this book was written, like a true crime documentary but book style. It was tricky to read over kindle so I recommend picking up a book copy for sure! The text was fun as it was like court transcripts, emails, letters, interviews, news articles, etc. The characters are really interesting and I like how in depth Trigg went with their background so you really understood them and their viewpoints which was important for the story. Overall a great read!

Brilliant! This story blew my mind. It was so well written, and so relevant to the times, but also just a unique version of things. I love the perspective this comes from, and the court transcripts just made it that much better! I love the unexpected ending! The whole book kind of had a modern Romeo And Juliet twist to it. Just amazing! I will be thinking about this one for a long time! I can't wait to see what else this amazing author comes up with.
"That is all you need is BELIEF."
-Anonymous

Thank you to Netgalley, Mike Trigg, and Spar Press for an early release of this book.

Not my usual genre of book but I really enjoyed this one!! Full of twists and turns and an unexpected ending. Kept you guessing throughout what was going to happen, not a predictable storyline at all

Thank you for the arc! This was super interesting. I’ve really been enjoying thrillers that incorporate AI. I will recommend this to my audience, for fans of Black Mirror.

I enjoyed this fast paced wild ride of a book and it definitely kept me on my toes up until the very end. When I saw that I was approved for this book through Netgalley I was so excited because I had hyped myself up so much for this book. I read this in one entire sitting. This was my very first experience with Mike Trigg and I am a loyal reader from here on out. I am literally in my thriller era and this fed that craving. I am not going to give much up on this book because I will end up spoiling it for you and there is just so so much that you just have to read it to experience it!

This dishes out the loved and favorite multiple POV and brings the coaster of twists and turns. Once you think you are figuring it out, we are thrown a new direction and new information and it takes another turn and nope, no you haven’t figure it out—not until the very last page. Storyline and characters were exceptionally written and I felt as though I was walking through this entire book, the entire book felt so real to me. Shane and Chloe feel like two characters that could 100% be your real life friends. Can we have a mini series of this book PLEAAASSSEEE. This book surly should be on your TBR…I think that majority of readers will enjoy this book and I will absolutely be recommending this to all of my book besties.

Thank you @netgalley and @sparkpress for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I saw this on NetGalley and thought it sounded amazing! The reviews were also great, so I gave this one a chance. The synopsis drew me in, as the story sounded quite unique. It was definitely unique, but this book just didn’t hit the way I wanted it to.

Burner_911 is an account on far-right social
media platforms, spouting anti-government, anti-liberal propaganda. After a protest that turned violent and left several people dead, a man named Shane Stoller is arrested and charged with several crimes against the government - but is Shane really Burner_911? With encryption, burner phones and private browsers, it’s impossible to tell who actually runs the account. There are now thousands of “Burnoutz” across the country, people who are part of this movement. Who exactly was responsible for this uprising?

I think part of this book not resonating with me is the technological aspect - I don’t know much about these kinds of sites, and I know nothing about cryptocurrency, which is mentioned a lot. One other thing that threw me off is that this is a far-right group, but their idea on how to get billionaires to pay is quite a liberal concept. It’s like these Burnoutz are Q-Anon mixed with Democratic Socialist, and while the book briefly touches on that dichotomy, it seemed to make everything seem discordant.

In their quest to make billionaires go down in flames, a young woman named Chloe is kidnapped and held by members of this group. Her father is a billionaire with no scruples, but Chloe has a few secrets - one of which being that she’s in love with Shane. The book goes through Shane being in prison, and Chloe held hostage, while they are still fighting for each other (blech, love story) and what they believe in.

This book was quite slow, though it did start to pick up at the end. It was the odd political disconnect and the technology/crypto lean that has me giving this a lower rating. I think if you’re into those things, and like to read thrillers about technology, you’re probably going to love this book. For me, I’m going with three stars.

(Thank you to SparkPress, Mark Trigg and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on April 16, 2024.)

Fiction that hits too close to home, Burner is a perfect thriller that ties in all the tropes of our current society - social media, political instability, grandiosity, and greed. Mike Trigg weaves together a love story about Chloe, a billionaire’s daughter and influencer, and her unexpected boyfriend Shane, whose following was amassed by filming himself playing video games.

I was so intrigued by this story line because it felt so plausible in our current climate. I also loved the focus on taking down the financial elites and promoting the first amendment. I don’t think enough authors explore these topics. I will definitely plan to pick up whatever Trigg writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, SparkPress, and the author Mike Trigg for an ARC of this gem! This feels like the next Netflix hit movie.

What a wild book! It was told so differently from any book that I have read. Each chapter was told from a different person, court documents or social media posts. It was so interesting to see all of the different point of views of the story and how it all comes together. The trial documents were so interesting to read because it really analyzed one of the main characters, Shane. I couldn’t figure out Shane’s lawyer through out the story. Was he on Shane’s side or not until it unfolded at the end. I was not expecting the way the story ended! After the story was over I kept thinking about how real it sounded as I was reading it.

Shane Stroller was arrested for various crimes. The court is trying to prove that he is the mastermind behind the social medial account Burner_911. His online movement left people dead and his girlfriend Chloe Corbin being kidnapped. Shane is working with a lawyer that he trusts to prove his innocence. Chloe is sympathetic to the movement that Burner_911 is trying to accomplish. She tries to think of ways to get out of her kidnapping and get back to Shane as soon as possible.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was set up with different pieces of reddit threads, court transcripts, interviews, which made it seem more real like one of those Netflix documentary or a Black Mirror episode.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sparkpress for giving me the opportunity to read this book! This book was such an interesting read to me. I was expecting it to be a typical thriller that I would buzz through and enjoy while I had it in my hands, but the topic was much more complex than that. We live in a day and age where extremism is everywhere. Vitriol is everywhere, and everyone enjoys throwing stones. In the midst of it all, Burner_911 is ready to harness it and burn it down. But when online extremism becomes October 12, what is the cost of fighting?
I am not going to lie to you, I almost DNF’d this book a couple of times because the language used are things that people I loved used to say all the time and it honestly was triggering. But this book was actually kinda a space for me to explore what might be going on in their minds and lives. It was also just a fascinating thriller that I really enjoyed, so while it was uncomfortable at times, I’m grateful I had the opportunity to read it.