That's one of the most amazing things about this techno-thriller. Even though it was written several years ago, and we all know how fast technology changes, it's as current as today's email. Ignore a few references to transporting data on diskettes and the relative dearth of cellphones and it could be straight out of tomorrow's headlines.

Computer Security Expert / Cyber-Sleuth Emma Lee Davis has a mid-conference romantic interlude on a Singapore beach interrupted by the sight of a body out on the waves. Her mysterious companion, Peter Weber, convinces her to let someone else get tangled up with officialdom through reporting it, but really nothing is ever the same afterwards. That body turns out to be just the first casualty in the developing Infowar.

Emma's company is hired to complete testing and delivery of the top secret software developed by a German computer expert. The software is "inspired by... the Old Norse Legend of the 'Shadow Warrior'...[who] could send his... shadow ahead to detect any dangers that might lie in its path..." The software agents also incorporate some AI, learning as they patrol and manipulate networks. As a theory or defensive tool for the good guys, it's a great idea. But some of the tricks the agents are set up to perform make it clear that they would be very dangerous in the wrong hands. As Emma finds out, those wrong hands are very, very interested and not overly burdened with scruples.

While you'll probably enjoy the story more if you know something about computer networks, you don't have to be a real geek to enjoy it. The author does a good job of limiting the technical stuff by letting her own geek heroine intentionally tune it out at times. Emma herself is always good company, as are a number of her companions, even if you don't understand every technical word they say. And the basic storyline of good guys vs bad guys is pretty universal. After all, how many people enjoying thrillers about hijacked nuclear weapons understand the difference between fusion and fission.

The book could probably stand a bit of the pruning Emma uses to manage her beloved garden. What's supposed to be a fast paced thriller is all of that, but also gets bogged down a bit at times. But part of the reason the pace slows is that there are believable subplots fleshing out the core into a full fledged story about real people. Emma is neither superwoman nor a bland non-entity, merely swept up by circumstances. Intelligent, irreverent, frustrated, clever, and most importantly, engaging, she's as much the lover of food, teaching German cooks to make proper Caesar's salad, as she is the borderline nerd tracking the shadow warrior's dark side suitors. Her love life alone would provide enough plot for some books. Another thing that slows the headlong pace a bit for good reasons is some great descriptive writing. The foreign settings really come to life, filled with people who are not just Americans with funny accents. There's a real you-are-there quality that a lot of books try, but fail, to achieve.

So grab a copy and enjoy some interesting people in interesting places living an interesting story that will have you wondering just how accidental the problem is next time an airline arrival board or local power supply goes suddenly haywire.