SHADOW BROKER is a standalone novel from NZ based author Tina Clough. It's a thriller in style, set in the future, where individual freedoms have been severely curtailed and state surveillance is omnipresent. When coded messages are found on a burner phone, they reveal a shadowy mastermind, who refers to himself as "The Broker", government corruption, and ruthless politics.
Based around a group of three friends, who in an unlikely twist of circumstances, discover the messages on a burner phone, which sends them off on a dangerous game of cat and mouse, setting them against powerful, and determined opponents. Obviously there are a lot of observations being made here about the surveillance state, corrupt governments and the ruthless pursuit of power. All of which might have felt a bit off just a few years ago, but are increasingly becoming almost unsurprising these days.
It's an interesting plot idea, and the character set here works really well - particularly the three friends at the centre of the attempts to out the truth. Unfortunately there is a bit of a tendency for repetition and belabouring which slow down the pace too much at some points.
Clough always comes up with interesting plot points though - and SHADOW BROKER (which was released in 2022) is an example of that.
The Shadow Broker
It is 2026 and individual freedoms are severely curtailed, and state surveillance is everywhere. State Security has a Watch List, and being on it means that nothing you do or say escapes the authorities, but does the Kill List really exist? And if it does, how would you know if you were on it?
Coded messages on a found burner phone, top-level government corruption and a shadowy mastermind who calls himself The Broker. In this climate of state control, three unlikely friends start quietly looking for connections and set in motion a deadly game of hide and seek that will change their lives forever.
Trying to uncover the truth means risking your life, and nothing is more dangerous than searching for evidence of government corruption.