Michael Connelly penned 'Chasing the Dime' back in 2002. It’s a departure from his usual detective stories, focusing on a tech whiz caught in a murder plot. The late ’90s dot-com boom influenced its themes. Quick read, but packs a punch with its twists.
I can confirm 'Chasing the Dime' came out in October 2002. Michael Connelly wrote it between his more famous Bosch novels, proving his range beyond police procedurals. What’s fascinating is how he pivoted from cops to hackers—this novel foreshadowed today’s cybercrime obsession. The hardcover’s original dust jacket even had a pixelated design, nodding to its tech themes. Connelly fans consider this a hidden gem in his bibliography.
Michael Connelly, the genius behind 'The Lincoln Lawyer,' dropped 'Chasing the Dime' in 2002. This thriller swings hard into cyber territory—imagine a programmer finding his new phone number belonged to a missing escort. Connelly nails the Y2K-era vibe: pagers, dial-up sleuthing, and that creeping fear of being watched online before it went mainstream. It’s like a time capsule with a Body Count.
'Chasing the Dime' is one of those gripping tech-noir stories that sticks with you. The author is Michael Connelly, a master of suspense who also created the famous Harry Bosch series. He published this standalone thriller in 2002, right when tech paranoia was starting to bubble up in pop culture.
The book dives into the dark side of the early internet era, following a Silicon Valley engineer whose life spirals after he changes his phone number. Connelly’s background as a crime reporter adds gritty realism—every detail about how the protagonist gets tangled in a digital underworld feels unnervingly plausible. The timing of its release was perfect, capturing pre-social media anxieties about privacy and identity.
Connelly wrote 'Chasing the Dime' in 2002, sandwiched between his bigger hits. It’s shorter than his other books but razor-sharp—a proto-'Mr. Robot' with less hacking flair and more old-school tension. The plot hinges on a simple phone number swap, proving Connelly could turn anything into life-or-death stakes.
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When my mother won a million dollars from a lottery ticket, she prepared an envelope for each of her three children.
After we opened them, my younger brother and younger sister each found a bank card inside.
But from my envelope, two 1-dollar coins clinked onto the floor.
Seeing me freeze, a trace of unease flickered across Mother's face.
"Cassian," she said hesitantly, "Logan and Sienna suffered a lot growing up because your father passed away so early. So I gave each of them 500 thousand dollars as compensation.
"You're the eldest son—like a father to them. Don't fight with them over this, okay?"
I glanced down at the faded down jacket I had worn for years, the fabric so worn that it had lost its color.
Then, my eyes drifted to my younger brother's limited-edition sneakers and to the designer bag slung over my sister's shoulder.
Mother seemed to have forgotten that when Father died, I had only been eight.
I smiled faintly.
"Alright. I won't fight them for it."
Hearing this, Mother let out a long breath of relief.
The next second, my voice turned cold.
"Then I won't fight for the responsibility of supporting you in your old age either."
A parent in my son's preschool group chat tagged me out of nowhere.
"Theo's dad, your son's lunches always look pretty nice. Starting tomorrow, pack one for my daughter too."
"I'm not asking for free food. I'll give you ten dollars a day. That adds up. You can make a little extra on the side."
I stared at the message, almost laughing from how absurd it was.
My son has severe food sensitivities and a fragile stomach. Every ingredient in his meals is specially sourced, and a single lunch costs far more than five hundred dollars to prepare.
And this man thought ten dollars could buy it?
I replied with two words: "Not happening."
The next day, my son came home crying. His lunch had been taken by another child, and the teacher had scolded him for being selfish.
Fine.
Since they wanted to push this far, I would show them exactly how far I could go.
Natasha Orlova, was the only surviving relative, and daughter of a Moscow streetwalker. Though she grew up in poverty, she was full of ambition. At eighteen, she left Russia and her mother, whom she regarded as a failure, to the golden land of opportunity, America. Like many other young girls migrating to the United States, she dived into the adult industry in search of a living. Her breakthrough in the adult industry came two years later; when an American businessman took enough interest in her to marry her. He was a man involved in a deathly lethal game of crime, but it was all good; for she loved him, and he had money, and money was one thing that was essential to her life. But soon; the tides were to change. Tides, which would eventually force the confession from her,“Money Ain't Loyal." A hard-boiled Crime Thriller by Daniel Junior.
Heiress Jovie Wimberly has a stealing problem. She steals from stores, people, and even her parents. When she's sent to group therapy to get to the root of her issue, she doesn't count on stealing Reno's heart. Reno Valenzuela has a gambling problem. He's lost all his money to casinos, horse races and ridiculous bets. What he doesn't bet on is falling head over heels for Jovie. When Reno's debt catches up with him and Jovie decides to leave her fiance, they head on a cross country trip to save Reno's life. With hitmen and Jovie's fiancé after them, they embark on a crime-filled, life changing journey that might actually change them for the better. Will the hitmen get to Reno? Will Jovie's fiancé bring her back home? Should they have just stayed in group therapy?
As soon as I get off the surgical table after my miscarriage, my husband, Presley Quinn, sends me a text message.
"You were ten cents short when you paid your share of the power bill this month. Transfer the money to me immediately."
I can only sit on the cold bench in the hospital on my own. The anesthesia has yet to wear out, but my belly is already hurting so much that I can practically feel it constricting on itself.
The next thing I know, a new post appears on my social media homepage. It's a post made by Vivienne Ashford, the intern Presley is in charge of tutoring.
In the photo, Vivienne can be seen holding a bouquet of flowers folded from money bills. A bright and radiant smile blooms on her face.
The four-leaf clover necklace adorning her neck is the same necklace I've seen in Presley's purchase history two days ago.
The caption of the photo writes, "I don't want a lot of money. I want a ton of love instead."
Only then do I remember that today is Valentine's Day as well as my fifth-year anniversary with Presley.
Over the past five years, Presley and I have been splitting every single bill, down to two decimal places.
If I take a shower for more than 20 minutes, Presley demands that I pay extra for the water heater's power bill.
When I cook myself some supper in the middle of the night, Presley wants me to split the gas bill generated by the stove.
Even when my mom is hospitalized due to kidney failure and is waiting for her surgical bills to be settled, Presley refuses to lend me a single cent. Instead, he sends me a few links leading to web loans.
As I stare at the social media feed, I chuckle all of a sudden.
It turns out that Presley does know how to spend money. It's just that he doesn't have the heart to spend it on me.
I smile once again as I leave a like on the post. Then, I transfer the ten cents to Presley.
From now on, I don't owe him any single penny.
Cassie Cruz is a twenty-two-year-old who has never met her parents and was raised by her grandfather. Cassie's grandfather passes away and she moves in with her best friend, McKenzie in South Carolina.
There, McKenzie gets Cassie a job working with her in Myrtle Beach, cleaning Mansions for the wealthy.
The two of them end up cleaning a mansion together, and in a twist, the owner, Devin Deacon accuses McKenzie of stealing a flash drive. After Devin realizes he only misplaced it, he steps outside by the pool and meets Cassie. Cassie falls into the pool, beginning to drown and Devin saves her. Once again Devin proceeds to save her as she's leaving from an intruder who tries stealing her purse, finally convincing Cassie to go on a date. That date turning into another that makes the two of them feel something strong for each other.
As days go by Cassie cleans another mansion owned by John Myles. John is obsessed with Cassie, even going as far as trying to force her to leave with him, but Devin once again comes to Cassie's rescue.
Cassie falls ill, sending her to the hospital where Devin stays with her, even taking care of her after she returns home.
They find out John poisoned Cassie, forcing Devin, Cassie, and McKenzie to go find John in The Cayman Islands, leaving Cassie in for an even bigger surprise.
Money is nothing when love is involved. Will Cassie and Devin become soulmates? Or will their million-dollar kiss only turn into a wild seduction between the two of them?
I've hunted down 'Chasing the Dime' across multiple platforms and found some solid options. For physical copies, Amazon often has competitive prices, especially if you opt for used books in good condition—sellers sometimes list them for half the original price. eBay is another goldmine for rare or out-of-print editions, but shipping costs can vary wildly. Don’t overlook local bookstores; many offer online inventories with discounts, and you support small businesses.
Digital versions are trickier. Kindle and Apple Books run frequent promotions, but Google Play Books tends to have lower base prices for ebooks. Libraries are a free alternative if you’re patient; apps like Libby let you borrow it digitally. For audiobook lovers, Audible’s membership credits slash prices dramatically, and Chirp often has limited-time deals. Always check price comparison tools like BookFinder or CheapGraphicNovels to spot fluctuations across sellers.
The novel 'Pennies' was written by Pepper Winters, an author who's carved out a pretty unique niche in dark romance and emotional storytelling. I stumbled upon her work a few years ago when a friend recommended 'Tears of Tess,' and I was immediately hooked by her raw, intense style. Winters doesn’t shy away from heavy themes—her stories often explore trauma, redemption, and complex relationships, which makes 'Pennies' a gripping but emotionally demanding read. It’s part of her 'Dollar' series, where each book dives deeper into the lives of interconnected characters, and the way she weaves their struggles together is honestly masterful.
What I love about Winters’ writing is how unflinchingly she portrays her characters’ flaws and growth. 'Pennies' follows Pimlico and Elder, two people with deeply broken pasts, and their journey is anything but easy. The book isn’t for the faint of heart—it’s gritty, unsettling at times, but undeniably compelling. If you’re into dark romance with psychological depth, Winters’ work is a goldmine. Just be prepared to need a breather between chapters!