*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

A great thriller - I would recommend it!

This is a fast paced book full of suspense and intrigue. It is well written with a great cast of characters. It is so engaging. The setting was described so vividly. I loved all the twists and turns

"A Knock on the Door" by Roberta K. Fernandez left me breathless and utterly captivated from start to finish. From the moment I cracked open the book, I was swept up in a whirlwind of suspense, intrigue, and non-stop action.

At the heart of the story are two seemingly ordinary women, Lori Crawford and Rita Johnson, whose lives are irrevocably changed when Lori's husband dies in a tragic car accident. But what initially appears to be a straightforward accident soon unravels into something far more sinister when Rita uncovers evidence suggesting foul play.

What I loved most about this book was its relentless pace and engaging storyline. Fernandez deftly weaves together a complex web of deception, betrayal, and danger, keeping me on the edge of my seat with every twist and turn. As Lori and Rita delve deeper into the truth behind Jack's death, they find themselves thrust into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, where the stakes couldn't be higher.

Despite their initial shock and disbelief, Lori and Rita prove to be resilient and determined protagonists, willing to risk everything in their quest for justice. Their bravery and tenacity shine through as they navigate the treacherous waters of deception and corruption, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds.

As the body count rises and the danger escalates, the tension reaches a fever pitch, culminating in a heart-pounding climax that left me gasping for breath. Fernandez expertly ratchets up the suspense, keeping me guessing until the very end.

In addition to its thrilling plot, "A Knock on the Door" also offers a thought-provoking exploration of power, corruption, and the lengths some will go to protect their secrets. It's a gripping and timely read that will leave you questioning the true nature of justice and the price of speaking truth to power.

Overall, "A Knock on the Door" is a masterfully crafted thriller that will keep you glued to the pages long into the night. With its compelling characters, pulse-pounding action, and jaw-dropping twists, it's a must-read for fans of the genre. Roberta K. Fernandez has delivered a knockout debut, and I eagerly await her next literary offering.

"Lori Crawford's world is turned upside down when her husband dies in a car accident. After twenty-five years of marriage, she thought she would forever live an uncomplicated, happy life with Jack. But just as Lori feels she’s coming out on the other side of her grief, Jack’s assistant at Spring Ware, Rita Johnson, discovers information that convinces her that Jack was murdered. The two women vow to bring the perpetrator to justice. But time is running out, and their names are on someone’s kill list. The truth takes them down a path they never could have suspected. They set out to bring down one of the most powerful men in the country: the director of the National Security Agency. But who will believe them? And how many more will die before they do? Now, they have to decide if they have the courage—and the ability—to finish what they started."

Good story, took a bit to pickup for me, the characters were good.
I give this book 3 stars.
Thank you to Subplot, netgalley, and the author for a chance to give an honest review.
Published Oct 4th, 2022.

A thrilling tale of how far someone will go in the name of what they believe is right. Lori lost her husband in a terrible accident but soon it becomes clear that it wasn’t an accident at all. A captivating read that will keep you engaged.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
The ARC I received was quite difficult to read because a great many words were run together without a space, requiring concentration to maintain the sense. However, I'm very glad I persevered, this is a very good debut novel. The plot was good, and suspense maintained throughout, in part because the reveal of the programme content did not happen until over 50% through. I liked the realistic characters, and the actions they took were totally credible. The final twists were interesting and exciting, a well-thought-out story!

"Lori's idyllic life takes a tragic turn when her beloved husband is tragically killed in a car accident. Overwhelmed by grief and devoid of hope, she finds herself adrift in a sea of despair. However, a flicker of hope emerges when Rita, her husband's former assistant, reveals a startling truth: his death was not accidental, but a calculated murder.

With newfound purpose, Lori embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind her husband's demise. But as she delves deeper into the mystery, she questions her choices and wonders if the path she has chosen is fraught with danger.

This gripping tale explores themes of avarice, betrayal, and the relentless pursuit of power. It centers around two formidable women who defy the odds, risking their lives to unravel a web of deceit. Brimming with suspense, hidden secrets, and unexpected turns, this fast-paced thriller promises to be an unforgettable read. Are you prepared to dive into one of the finest suspense novels ever written?"

"A knock on the door" is a heart-pounding thriller that explores grief, justice, and the courage to fight back. A gripping read from start to finish.

This innovative author has written a captivating mystery. The characters are realistic. The story moves quickly. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author. Enjoy this book that brings up topics that are unbelievable. National security.

This is my first by the author and I really liked it looking forward to more by this author. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Suspense, intrigue, action, and a great cast of characters.
The storyline was interesting and held my interest.
I look forward to reading more works by Fernandez in the future.
Thanks again
4/5 stars

Lori is a happy woman. She is married to a wonderful man who works at a video game company. They have been together for 25 years and she looks forward to the rest of the years to come and all the great times they will spend together.

Βut Lori's dream will come to an end when her husband gets killed in a car accident. Lori, in a state of shock tries to manage her life without her husband, alone without hope. Until, one day, her husband's former assistant Rita knocks on her door and tells her that her husband's death is not an accident but a murder.

So, suddenly Lori has a reason to keep going, and that reason is to find the person responsible for her husband's death. But did she think correctly? Is the path she chose to follow dangerous?

This is a story of greed, conspiracies, powerful men who will do anything to stay powerful and two strong women who will risk their lives to uncover them.
A fast-paced story full of suspense, secrets and twists. Are you ready to read one of the best thrillers ever written?

Thank you Roberta K. Fernandez, Amplify Publishing and NetGalley for this digital copy.

I can’t wait to read more books by Fernandez! She is officially one of my favorite mystery/thriller authors!

I received this book on NetGalley. Lori Crawford is preparing for her first Christmas after her husband has died in a car accident, when she receives a note that indicates that his death may not have been an accident. Through collaboration with one of his old co-workers, they discover that Jack may have been hindrance to a software program developed for the NSA. Things unravel quickly as the two women try to determine what the proper course of action should be. This was an exciting read with enjoyable characters.

Wow. The entire time i was reading it (i WHIPPED through it in roughly 4 hours) my heart was pounding and i had so many theories and questions. if you love insanely well written and fast paced books with crazy plot twists and well developed, shady, and secretive characters - PLEASE READ THIS !!!!!

Once I had started on this ambitious thriller, I could not turn the pages fast enough. The trope of the bereaved and deceived wife is masterfully executed by Fernandez whose literary protagonist is called Lori. Lori has been married to Jack for more than a quarter of a century when she is told he has died as a result of a car accident. Lori is in shock but soon Jack’s former assistant Rita appears with evidence that the purported accident was in fact hit-and-run. With the main suspect a powerful, ruthless individual, can the two women succeed against all the odds and obstacles in proving that Jack was murdered?

Beautifully written, this novel had me rooting for Lori and Rita from the start and I could not wait to see how the thriller finished. Definitely a five-star work! Now I cannot wait to see what Fernandez will write next. Meanwhile, I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for the digital ARC I received in exchange for producing this honest and unbiased review.

I loved this story. I have never read a book by this author before but it will not be my last. I love the suspense and action in this story. I was biting my nails through most of the last half of the book. I loved Lori, Jack, Rita and Jacob. I loved the fast pace of the story. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
A well written quality debut, absorbing believable and entertaining from first to last page. Believable characters throughout and a clever descriptive intelligent story with plenty of surprises along the way. Modern themes but with old fashioned feel that I really enjoyed. In her notes the Author states some of these characters will ride again, and I look forward to that prospect, however sadly my particular favourite will not, as a victim of a hit and run which came as a complete shock, and left me blankly staring at the page open mouthed.
Completely recommended.

Wow! This was one of the most intense thrillers I've read for a while. It's so cleverly layered and written and there is just a non stop cat and mouse type chain of events that just sweep everyone in its path, away! It's not a quick read or a book you can read whilst you're multitasking or also talking to the hubby. You need focus and to really shut the world away whilst you get completely lost in this book. Definitely recommended!

A Knock on the Door by Roberta K. Fernandez, touches deftly on themes surrounding technology, power, and greed and the dangers they present when no limits are imposed.

A Knock on the Door opens with a brief prologue where Roberta K. Fernandez gives us the final thoughts of a man named Jack Crawford in the last moments of his life. While driving on a freeway, after he hears what he believes is a gunshot, Crawford loses control of his car. It spins out of control across three lanes of traffic before crashing through a guardrail and plunging into a river below. That makes us eager to know more about Jack and about what led to his death.

Fernandez then opens the first chapter, introducing us to Jack’s former assistant Rita Johnson, one of the lead protagonists. She had worked with Jack for eighteen years before moving to her present position in the same software company, SpringWare, working for Mark Mason, the vice president. Mason has tasked Rita with going through Jack’s computer to retrieve what they needed to finish an important project Jack had been working on before his death. Jack Crawford had been almost like a son to Rita, who is a woman in her sixties now, and she still hasn’t come to grips with his sudden death. She anguishes over not trying harder to stay connected with him and his wife, Lori. As she reviews the folders on Jack’s computer, she discovers something odd, an encrypted folder he had named using a code word the two of them had once used for highly sensitive projects. Curious, Rita copies the files to a CD. Later, once she investigates further, Rita discovers something horrific. She feels certain Jack’s car crash was no accident. Someone murdered him and Rita comes to believe they did it because of the project Jack had worked on. Then we’re off and running into the action.

Rita keeps digging into the files she copied from Jack’s computer and learns more of the shocking truth. While SpringWare is a gaming company, she discovers that her current boss, Mason, has agreed with the NSA (the National Security Agency) to deliver a surveillance program that could collect private data on everyone using the Internet. Mason had only allowed those who worked on the software limited access to the whole to keep the purpose of the program secret. But what she found convinced Rita Jack Crawford somehow figured out the intended purpose of the software and who the client was. Growing more certain that led to his death, after some soul searching, she contacts Crawford’s widow, Lori, and tells her Jack’s death was no accident. Someone killed him to prevent him from exposing the secretive piece of software destined for the NSA.

The deeper we get into the story, the more A Knock on the Door reminds us thematically of the 1998 American political action thriller film, Enemy of the State, starring Will Smith and Gene Hackman. Like the movie, which also attacked “the surveillance society,” the plot explores what happens when powerful bureaucrats and demagogues use the power of the government to gain their own ends and cover their own tracks. And after Rita convinces Lori that someone murdered her husband over a secret surveillance program, together they continue probing, hoping to bring those responsible for Jack’s murder to justice. When two other SpringWare employees connected to the program’s development die suddenly and under suspicious circumstances, Rita and Lori realize just what they are facing and that they may very well become the next victims. They take Jacob Browning, a programmer at SpringWare, into their confidences when they feel certain his life is at risk. Jacob is the “last man standing” among those who worked on parts of the program, unaware of the software’s intended use. And Jacob’s computer skills come in handy as the trio continues uncovering evidence that not only implicates their very demanding, and not particularly pleasant boss Mark Mason in the murders, but also Carl Baxter, the ruthless head of the NSA.

Since Fernandez reveals whodunit early on, the book is far more a thriller than a mystery tale. But by throwing in several surprises along the way, she deftly raises the stakes and ratchets up the tension and heart-pounding suspense all the way through to the splendid climax.

It’s no secret I’m a stickler for authenticity with crime fiction, and must say the premise here is more than a little far-fetched in spots. As an example, in the scenario of two ordinary women trying to bring down the head of one of the nation’s most powerful and clandestine intelligence agencies, it requires little imagination to predict who would be the bug and who the windshield. Also, the story lacks a character like Brill (Gene Hackman’s character) in Enemy of the State, a former spy who understands the inner workings of the intelligence community, to help Rita and Lori. So, we can’t escape the feeling our ruthless, powerful antagonist, Carl Baxter, should easily prevail against the cast of unremarkable civilian good guys in over their heads. But by and large, the story works. In this post-Edward Snowden era, the plot feels perilously close to plausible. When many of us have watched the heads of American intelligence agencies boldly lying before Congress on television, and read about the recent politically motivated FISA court abuses by the FBI, you needn’t be paranoid to feel distrustful of many of our most powerful federal agencies. It’s not the government that is the enemy, but the unelected bureaucrats and demagogues who use the power of the government to pursue their own agendas with no conscience and seemingly no real oversight from our elected officials. This makes A Knock on the Door feel uncomfortably real.

With only a little suspension of belief required, the most demanding fast-paced thriller fans will find this a very gripping and entertaining book. Roberta K. Fernandez displays excellent story-telling ability and offers us a cast of likeable and relatable lead characters blindsided by the misused power of the state, along with a believable antagonist convinced that his job somehow places him above the law that we love to hate. From the perspective of pure escapism, I found it both an entertaining and riveting read with much to like. I could imagine easily a filmmaker adapting it for film.

It wasn't a bad book. I'm not big of things involving government agencies. I liked the characters well enough but I didn't feel an oomph when something meant to be shocking happened or an urgency to pick this up and continue reading. It's likeable I just wouldn't rate it more than a 3.5.

I really enjoyed diving into this novel by Roberta K. Fernandez and had a hard time putting it down. The novel focuses on Lori Crawford, a widow who realizes that her late husband's death might not have been an accident. The plot was fast-paced and kept me engaged. I look forward to reading more works by Fernandez in the future.