Luke Payne was trained to save lives— not get caught in a global conspiracy. The former Navy Aviation Rescue Swimmer turned artist thought he had left the battlefield behind. But when his past collides with a silent war over a powerful AI known as QuantumSentinel , Luke is thrust back into a fight with no rules—and no guarantee of survival. As cyberattacks cripple infrastructure and global powers scramble for control, Luke joins forces with a rogue intelligence analyst, a fearless nonprofit director, and a teenage brother and sister—brilliant coders who secretly rebuilt the AI, merging quantum physics with sentient design. From Shanghai’s neon skyline to the sunlit coast of San Diego, California, Quantum Deception blends the pace of a high-stakes thriller with the emotional weight of a man seeking redemption through art, trust, and purpose. With time running out and enemies closing in, Luke must confront the ghosts of his past—and the dark future being written in code. For readers of Tom Clancy, Daniel Silva, and Blake Crouch, Quantum Deception is a smart, cinematic debut—a thriller with heart, and a warning wrapped in adrenaline. "I finished the book at 3:30 a.m. - I couldn't put it down! It moves so fast, with people, places, and knowledge woven through every page. To think a thriller can be written without sex, excessive swearing, or over-the-top violence - and still be this good!" - Susan, Advance Reader "The perfect ending to the drought waiting for a good book... a super intriguing story." - Anne Warner, Kindle Reader About the Author Ron James is a U.S. Navy veteran, award-winning journalist, and nationally syndicated columnist. His career includes roles with Time Warner, San Diego Magazine, Uptown News, and The San Diego Union-Tribune. He is also editor and publisher of Wine Dine & Travel Magazine. Quantum Deception is his first novel in the Luke Payne thriller series, with his next adventure, The Savannah Code, coming in 2026.