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Ethan Hamilton is an unlikely hero. He is a computer nerd who is completely immersed in the world of virtual reality. The virtual world has become as real to him as his wife, son, and daughter. Perhaps this is why Ethan is able to perceive the pattern in a series of "accidental" deaths where each victim was in the virtual world at the time of death.

Ethan reports his suspicions to the F.B.I. The agent assigned, Mike Gillette, is skeptical at first. Eventually, Mike becomes a believer in Ethan's insights and abilities as Ethan helps the F.B.I. search for Patriot, the person allegedly responsible for the murders. In the process of finding Patriot, Ethan almost loses himself in the virtual world.

In the near-future techno-thriller Virtually Eliminated, Jefferson Scott introduces us not only to Ethan Hamilton but also to the potential advantages and disadvantages of virtual reality. What effect would it have on the mind and soul of an individual if interactions in the virtual world became as real or more real than interactions in the real world? What avenues for crime could exist in this virtual world? How could these criminals possibly be stopped when nothing is what it seems to be?

Patriot is a chilling criminal, perhaps in part because of the virtual persona he assumes. He appears to be a tall, grim reaper sort of character dressed in billowing black robes. Patriot's true identity is quite different from this persona.

In Terminal Logic, the second book in the trilogy, Ethan uses his computer savvy to battle another enemy. Virtual reality 'bots, programmed for certain tasks, have escaped from their applications and are wreaking all sorts of criminal havoc -- including murder. Ethan must combine forces with the F.B.I. and the military to resolve this crisis!

The third book, Fatal Defect, is the most frightening. The topic is bio-terrorism and the situation could have been ripped from today's headlines. Ethan is now the head of an elite cyber-terrorism team, which includes members from every federal agency that could have jurisdiction over cyber-crime. The members of this team spend more time fighting amongst themselves than fighting cyber-crime, however.

Ethan finds himself a hostage of the bio-terrorists -- and the only person in a position to save the day. As usual, Ethan finds some ingenious ways to rise to the occasion!

In each of these books, the lives of Ethan and the members of his family are placed in extreme danger. How does a quiet computer geek become a target for danger? Because he is very good at what he does! How does he manage to survive all of these encounters with peril? Ethan credits his safety to God's protection. Watching Ethan find the balance between his obsession with virtual reality computer systems and his faith in God makes for interesting reading. Jefferson Scott accomplishes this with books that earn the title "thriller." The books are scary, insightful, and exciting. Hopefully, Scott will "thrill" us with more books soon.

Suzanne Krein is a free-lance curriculum writer with a life-long passion -- reading and writing science fiction, especially Christian science fiction. She lives with her family in Fredericksburg, Virginia.