Blackout: A Jake Bendel Series

J. Luke Bennecke

Oct 2026 · Jaytech Publishing · Narrated by Brad Wills

About this audiobook

When the President of the United States is assassinated in a coordinated drone strike, the country plunges into chaos. But the attack isn't terrorism.

It's strategy.

Behind the assassination stands Tracy Ciacchella, a brilliant and ruthless leader of a shadowy global cabal known only as New3-a powerful alliance determined to accelerate the collapse of American dominance. Their plan is chilling in its simplicity: eliminate the president, cripple the nation's power grid, and plunge the United States into darkness long enough for rival superpowers to seize the advantage.

Civil engineer Jake Bendel never expected to find himself on the front lines of that war. As one of the architects of America's revolutionary AI-driven energy grid, he helped design the very system now being weaponized against his country.

When cascading blackouts sweep across the nation and martial law looms, Jake teams up with FBI agent Kristi Konnors to track the network orchestrating the attacks. What they uncover is far more dangerous than a cyberattack-an international conspiracy positioned to hand America's collapse to China and Russia.

Then the conspiracy becomes personal.

Evidence begins to surface that Jake's wife Cynthia-presumed dead for years-may still be alive, trapped inside the organization behind the plot.

Now Jake must stop a war before it begins.

Because if the lights go out across America, the invasion won't be far behind.

And the people who built the system may be the only ones who can stop it.

Perfect for fans of David Baldacci and Tom Clancy, BLACKOUT is a high-stakes techno-thriller packed with cutting-edge technology, geopolitical intrigue, and relentless suspense.

About the author

J. Luke Bennecke is the Amazon #1 bestselling author of multiple thriller novels, including Civil Terror: Gridlock, Waterborne, and Echo From a Bayou. His work blends fast-paced storytelling with real-world science, engineering, and geopolitical intrigue, earning numerous literary awards and recognition from readers who enjoy intelligent, high-stakes suspense. In addition to his writing career, Bennecke has spent more than thirty years as a civil engineer, working on complex infrastructure projects across the United States. A licensed professional engineer, general building contractor, and real estate broker, he brings extensive technical knowledge to his fiction, often exploring the vulnerabilities of modern infrastructure systems and the consequences of emerging technologies. This professional background informs many of the themes in his novels, particularly the intersection of engineering, national security, and human resilience. Bennecke frequently speaks about writing, technology, and storytelling at conferences and literary events, and he is passionate about encouraging the next generation of readers and writers. Through his educational program Red Apple Reading, he has also contributed to early childhood literacy initiatives aimed at helping young learners develop strong reading skills. He lives in Southern California and continues to write high-concept thrillers that combine technical authenticity with gripping narratives. His books are known for their cinematic pacing, layered conspiracies, and thought-provoking explorations of how fragile modern systems can become when placed under extraordinary pressure. For more information, visit www.jlukebennecke.com