The 2023 Feathered Quill Awards first-place winner for Best of Backlist

The 2023 Firebird Book Awards first-place winner for Technology, second-place winner for Thrillers

Self-driving vehicles that use artificial intelligence finally arrive. But so do the terrorists.

Fed up with slogging through the treacherous LA traffic to get to work, Jake Bendel and a cunning team of experts create a roadway system for self-driving cars—preventing thousands of traffic deaths and reducing commute times from hours to minutes. For three months, no traffic congestion. No accidents. No fatalities. People finally feel safe in their cars. But should they?

A Syrian terrorist group weaponizes the system and devises a scheme to kill more Americans in one day than the 407,000+ US soldiers killed in World War II.

Viktor, a tormented psychopath and the mastermind behind this ruthless attack, is driven by the voices in his head that guide his every move. While he and his brothers mercilessly annihilate Americans, Viktor plants evidence that convinces the public Jake is the architect behind the most heinous terrorist attack in US history.

But one rogue FBI agent believes Jake is innocent. Together they unearth a mole deep inside the FBI, go off the grid, and hash through a trail of hidden clues to stop Viktor from slaughtering millions of unsuspecting American drivers in a matter of minutes.

The clock is ticking. Can they stop him in time to prevent another savage bloodbath?

"A story that will seize your attention and spike your anxiety. Take a deep breath and buckle in for a non-stop ride in J. Luke Bennecke's ultra-fast-paced thriller, Civil Terror: Gridlock." (Indies Today)

"Author and engineer J. Luke Bennecke keeps readers on edge with an action-packed plot that also incorporates a comprehensive technical background." (BookTrib)

"Civil Terror: Gridlock is a gripping technothriller that boasts exceptional editing, a good story, and an engaging plot." (Literary Titan)