Sleeper Code

A Novel

By: Kevin McGuire

Narrated by: Austin Rising

Beneath the calm hum of America’s power grids, a new kind of weapon is awakening.

When a self-learning piece of code—Phantom—is planted deep inside the nation’s critical infrastructure, it lies dormant, invisible, and patient. Until the day it is called to life.

Max Shaw, a brilliant but battle-worn cybersecurity leader at the National Infrastructure Protection Agency, has spent years defending systems most people never see. But when the grid flickers and a single word appears across his screen—PHANTOM: AWAKE—he and his team realize the enemy is already inside.

Together with Tara Lin, an MIT-trained code-breaker haunted by her brother’s stolen identity, and Sam Rourke, a field-forged deputy who walks with a limp and the weight of past wars, Max races to trace the infection before it cascades through every network that keeps the nation alive.

From Washington’s hidden command bunkers to data farms buried in the Kansas plains, Sleeper Code delivers a pulse-pounding journey through the invisible battlefield of the twenty-first century—where power, water, and trust itself can vanish with a single keystroke.

Can Max and his team stop a weapon that learns faster than they can think—or has the countdown already begun?

Gripping, authentic, and terrifyingly plausible, Sleeper Code blends cutting-edge cyber warfare with human courage, exploring how far we’ll go to protect the systems—and the people—we love.

©2025 Perfect Publishing (P)2026 Blue Nose Publishing

A true must read/listen!

This is one of most amazing new stories I have read this year, and Austin Rising makes me realize how important a good narrator is to enhancing a story! Highly recommend!

A Thriller Like No Other!!

A techno-thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Austin Rising did an amazing job making this intense thriller come to life! A must listen/read!

Tech / cyber thrillers

If you love fast-paced tech thrillers that feel ripped straight from the headlines, Sleeper Code delivers a tense and gripping ride. The story dives into the dangerous world of cyber warfare, hidden threats, and digital espionage—where one piece of code could change everything.
The plot moves quickly, building suspense as secrets unravel and the stakes keep rising. It has that edge-of-your-seat feel where you’re constantly wondering who’s behind the next move and how deep the conspiracy goes.
🎙️ Austin Rising’s narration adds intensity to the story. His pacing keeps the tension high and makes the technical elements easy to follow while still keeping the thriller vibe strong.

Living in a tech world

Story by Kevin McGuire that tells the story of how dependable we are to the tech world we live in and suddenly how one day the switch could be turned off. Austin Rising is the narrator on the audiobook who kept the storyline flowing and kept you intrigued with the twists in the story. If you love cyber thrillers then this is the book for you. Thank you Blue Nose audio for the ALC read .

Techno-thriller that will leave you questioning technology

Sleeper Code by Kevin McGuire is an engaging techno-thriller that pulls readers into a world where technology, espionage, and hidden agendas collide. The author does a great job weaving together elements of cybersecurity, covert operations, and global stakes in a way that feels both believable and exciting.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the book is the concept itself. The idea behind the sleeper code and the implications of what it could do kept me curious about what would happen next. The technical elements add depth without becoming overwhelming, making the story accessible even for readers who aren’t deeply familiar with the tech.

The narration deserves 5 stars on its own. The narrator did an amazing job vocalizing each character in unique ways that made it easy to follow along with the story. The performance added personality and clarity to the dialogue and really helped bring the characters to life.

Overall, Sleeper Code is a good techno-thriller book. Fans of technology-driven suspense and cyber espionage will likely enjoy the ride. I’m giving the book 4 stars, and the narration 5 stars for an excellent performance that elevated the experience.