One of the potential pitfalls for the tech-thriller is overlooking the human element needed to engage the reader. Often the implied jeopardy of a worldwide threat is treated as if it's enough of a draw that the author doesn't need to imbue their protagonist with anything more than a flash set of skills. With OUTAGE, Mike Trigg's masterstroke is in creating a protagonist who never feels less than fully human. Rachel Farrell is a bright, liberal marriage counselor whose own marriage has entered a period of neglect. As the realization grows that her husband Caleb is somehow involved with the titular outage, she is constantly second-guessing herself as to whether she believes he is, whether she believes he could be, and what to do about it. Rachel and her teenage children are pursued by the FBI, as well as shady operatives (for other, commercial concerns). Throughout the novel, her ability to determine the best course of action is constantly hampered by her need to protect her kids and her doubts over Caleb.
This humanity extends to Austin and Derek, the teenagers in question. There's a fair amount of bickering and two-way impatience on the journey, but it's always tempered by love. While the kids are at times exasperated by her, these moments when it's apparent that Rachel's in danger of being overwhelmed by the situation show that her children are there for her. There's also humor, used judiciously in a way that feels organic rather than stemming from a need to inject jokes. When they first leave home to find Caleb, Rachel's instincts are to go to her parents, especially since her father is ill and she can't raise them on their landline. However, when she is able to get through to them, and the conversation soon descends into well-worn political battlelines between Rachel and her father, the plan changes. These family dynamics continue to sit at the heart of the narrative and ground it.
Not that this comes at the expense of the tech or the action. When it comes to the former, Trigg clearly knows his business. Austin’s tech knowledge is almost too handy for solving some of the problems and explaining the set-up to readers, but it’s a device deployed only when necessary. The action, on the other hand, is virtually non-stop. In a story that spans a few days, we are with them constantly: following their every move, seeing and learning only what they see and learn. It’s a tough, direct approach, and another reason to be thankful for Trigg’s skill with character. One weak link, and the three's constant presence would be problematic. As it stands, what it provides instead is a human cause to root for in the midst of a geopolitical and industrial crisis.
A punchy, high-octane thriller that's anchored firmly in the believable family dynamics of the likeable protagonists, Mike Trigg's OUTAGE will engage readers and have them rooting for the good guys.
—James Kinsley for IndieReader