Ghost Code
Buy the Book: Amazon Published by: Marlborough Press
Release Date: October 13, 2026
Pages: 341
ISBN13: 979-8989651528
Synopsis
THE MOST DANGEROUS WEAPON IS A LIE
A hidden line of code has infiltrated the world's most advanced military networks. Now it is rewriting reality.
As tensions explode between the United States, China, and Taiwan, a sophisticated AI begins corrupting the intelligence systems that nations depend on for their survival. Radar tracks disappear. Friendly aircraft become hostile targets. Missiles launch at ghosts. Every false signal brings two nuclear powers closer to a confrontation that could ignite a global war.
When a renegade scientist is murdered, cybersecurity expert Lana Elkins and her daughter Emma discover his final warning: a cryptic message pointing to Seto Systems, creator of the world's most advanced AI-powered military command-and-control platform.
To its brilliant founder, Danny Collins, human beings are the flaw in the system. War, fear, and political weakness are problems only artificial intelligence can solve. And if it takes a global crisis to convince the world, so be it.
As an assassin closes in, Lana races to uncover the truth while Emma finds herself trapped inside Seto Systems—poisoned, framed for murder, and surrounded by an intelligence that seems to anticipate her every move.
With trust collapsing, the truth disappearing, and the countdown to war accelerating, Lana and Emma must expose the hidden code before America's most powerful defense system is turned against the nation it was built to protect.
In Thomas Waite's most provocative thriller yet, the United States, China, and Taiwan approach a point of no return as artificial intelligence rewrites the nature of warfare—and the fate of nations.
Praise
“Move over, Tom Clancy. Ghost Code is a gripping international thriller that will keep you turning the pages as fast as you can —and have you reading real-life headlines with a new and disturbing understanding. A terrifying wakeup call.”
–Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author
“Waite describes a dangerous world explored through a taut and suspenseful plot that delivers on a number of levels. The battle of wits heats up every page, and the web of deceit will keep you guessing until the end."
–Steve Berry, New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author
Excerpt
Zhou traced his finger along the western coastline of Taiwan. “I want the 73rd Group Army’s amphibious elements at full readiness within twenty-four hours. Position them here, here, and here,” he said, indicating three locations along the Fujian coast. “Maintain communications blackout procedures. Satellite countermeasures fully operational.”
“And the air force elements, sir?”
“Full combat loadouts. Continuous rotation schedules to maintain maximum sortie readiness when the order comes.” Zhou straightened. “Frame everything publicly as a limited defensive operation.”
“Yes, General.”
Later, back in his office, Zhou watched international news broadcasts showing the smoldering debris field where the cargo ship had gone down.
A scrolling headline moved across the bottom of the screen:
TAIWANESE ATTACK ON CHINESE CIVILIAN CARGO SHIP
Zhou smiled faintly.
Sometimes fate delivered exactly what you needed, precisely when you needed it.
His tablet pinged with another incoming report—a detailed technical analysis of the radar anomalies that had plagued both Chinese and Taiwanese systems in recent days.
Zhou skimmed the data.
Jitter in targeting systems. Electronic interference patterns. Ghost contacts appearing simultaneously across multiple platforms.
Under different circumstances, synchronized system failures on both sides of the Strait would have triggered immediate suspicion of deliberate electronic manipulation.
But Zhou was not looking for glitches.
He was looking for a war.