Cyber Heist

Cyber Heist is the debut novel of the Wiki’s Wonder Crew series written by Dan & Danielle O’Connor.

One cybercriminal gang...
One ruthless mastermind...
One invincible AI gone rogue ...

Thirteen-year-old tech prodigy Wiki Jones never meant to help the notorious cyber-gang known as the Blackout. But when they target him for the knowledge that enables them to steal CLARA—his dad’s groundbreaking AI—the Blackout unleash DARK, a rogue hacker with a mind of his own.

Now, Wiki and his crew—athletic Kayla, stylish Olivia, and impulsive Matthew—race to stop the Blackout before their city is lost to chaos. As secrets unravel and danger closes in, they must rely on courage, code, and cunning to crack the mystery.

With the fate of CLARA, their city, and their loved ones on the line, Wiki’s Wonder Crew must pull off the ultimate heist—before the blackout becomes permanent.

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Fast-paced, funny, and full of heart, Cyber Heist is a thrilling mystery adventure about friendship, redemption, and the power of doing the impossible—together.

The countdown has begun. Are you ready to join the crew?

The first review is in…

We’re thrilled with the Kirkus review. Here are a few excerpts from the review.

“An entertaining introduction to some gifted adolescent heroes who will easily win fans.”
“A lively cast headlines the O’Connors’ debut novel… it's a treat to follow these youthful characters as they use their wits and tenacity to take down the Blackout... The ending makes it apparent which direction the next entry will likely take, and readers will surely yearn for more of Wiki, Kayla, Olivia, and Matthew.”
"Younger readers will have no trouble understanding the relatively simple technology (such as a few details on hacking). The story offers educational value."
— Kirkus Reviews

WIKI’S WONDER CREW | Kirkus Reviews

Why we wrote this book

This book was inspired by our previous manuscript that we wrote but did not publish yet about Wiki’s Wonder Crew. That manuscript is called The Case of the Gold Cup Culprit which is the first book in our Wiki’s Wonder Crew - Voyage Academy series. When Danielle’s friends read it, they were so intrigued by a brief backstory of how the Wonder Crew got their name that they wanted to hear more. The result was Cyber Heist. It made sense to write Cyber Heist as the true original book. For a long time, we called Cyber Heist book zero since the Gold Cup Culprit was book one in our eyes. We debated naming the book The Day of Reckoning since the countdown to that day plays such a large part in the story. Ultimately, we settled on Cyber Heist since it has multiple meanings.

For a more in depth view on how it started, see our How It Started Page

Can you imagine someone giving you a two-paragraph backstory and saying, “Now create a book about that.” That is precisely what Danielle and Dan did to ourselves.

Q&A with the Authors

Question 1. Is this a mystery or a thriller?

Answer: Cyber Heist is both a mystery and a thriller.

The thriller side is easy to spot: a criminal gang seizes control of the most powerful AI ever created, and the stakes escalate fast. We show the danger without drifting into horror, keeping the focus on suspense, action, and cheering for our heroes as they race to stop the Blackout.

At the same time, the story is built like a mystery. You follow two parallel paths—the villains pursuing their plan and the Wonder Crew uncovering clues, connecting dots, and trying to figure out who’s behind the attack. Seeing both sides doesn’t remove the mystery; it heightens the tension because you know what’s coming before the characters do.

The fun is in watching how the Wonder Crew pieces everything together. My hope is that readers solve it just in time—and maybe even go back for a second read to catch the clues they missed the first time.

Question 2. Is this book just for kids?

Answer: Cyber Heist is written with a younger audience in mind, but we’ve always believed it’s a story anyone can enjoy. Danielle layered in humor and moments that resonate with middle‑grade readers, while Dan added jokes and character beats that parents and older readers will catch—like the intern working for an evil cyber‑crime organization or Pyrite’s inner commentary whenever Sphinx starts talking.

The book has plenty of playful touches for all ages, including the villains’ code names—Sphinx, Pyrite, Pup‑Pup, and Osiris—which readers young and old tend to love. At its core, it’s an adventure meant to be shared, whether you’re a kid, a parent, or simply someone who enjoys a fun, fast‑paced story.

Question 3. Why did you write this book?

Answer: Cyber Heist actually grew out of another manuscript we wrote first—The Case of the Gold Cup Culprit, the opening book in our Wiki’s Wonder Crew: Voyage Academy series. In that story, we included a short backstory explaining how the Wonder Crew got their name. When Danielle’s friends read it, they immediately wanted to know more. Their reaction made us realize that the “origin story” deserved its own book.

That’s how Cyber Heist was born. For a long time, we jokingly called it “Book Zero,” because in our minds Gold Cup Culprit was Book One. We even debated naming it The Day of Reckoning, since the countdown plays such a big role, but ultimately Cyber Heist fit best—it carries multiple meanings that tie directly into the plot.

If you want the full behind‑the‑scenes version, you can check out our How It Started page. But the short version is this: we gave ourselves a two‑paragraph backstory and said, “Okay… now turn this into a whole book.” And that challenge became one of the most fun creative adventures we’ve had.

Question 4. How much of the technology in the book is real?

Answer: The technology in Cyber Heist is inspired by real concepts, but it’s intentionally simplified so younger readers can follow the action without needing a computer science degree. The AI, the hacking methods, and the cyber‑crime tactics are rooted in real ideas, but we dialed everything up to make the story exciting, fast‑paced, and accessible.

Our goal wasn’t to teach readers how to hack—it was to spark curiosity about how technology works and how it can be used responsibly. We wanted the Wonder Crew to feel clever and capable without turning the book into a technical manual. So while the story is grounded in reality, the details are shaped to serve the adventure, the humor, and the characters.

Question 5. Are you worried that you could have inspired a real criminal with ideas from the book?

Answer: Not really. The scenarios in Cyber Heist are fictional and intentionally simplified so younger readers can follow the action without getting a crash course in real‑world hacking. Anyone with serious criminal intent already knows far more than what’s in a middle‑grade adventure novel.

If anything, I hope the book inspires the opposite—curiosity, creativity, and maybe even an interest in using technology for good. And if a real hacker happens to read it, maybe they’ll root for the Wonder Crew and rethink their career choices.

Question 6. Why did you choose the villains’ code names (Sphinx, Pyrite, Pup‑Pup, Osiris)?

Answer: We wanted the leaders of the villain group to feel larger‑than‑life, so we rooted their code names in Egyptian mythology. Names like Sphinx and Osiris instantly give the sense of something ancient, powerful, and mysterious—perfect for the bosses of a cyber‑crime organization.

Pyrite and Pup‑Pup came from a different angle. Pyrite is a mineral often called Fool’s Gold, which felt like the perfect nickname for a villain who the bad guy leaders don’t know what she’s worth. (Fun fact: Dan once nicknamed a function “Pyrite” for the same reason—the customer expected to answer bigger questions than the oversimplified thing they asked for.)

And then there’s Pup‑Pup. Giving an intern in an evil organization an adorable, almost cartoonishly cute name was too good to pass up. The contrast is the joke: a bad guy with a name that sounds like he should be chasing tennis balls instead of helping run a cyber‑crime ring.

Question 7. Who is your favorite character to write, and why?

Answer: 

Dan: I love writing from Wiki’s perspective. I see a little of both Danielle and myself in him—though probably a bit more of Danielle. She has a heart of gold, tends to internalize things even when they aren’t her fault, and always wants to do the right thing. Wiki’s journey mirrors her own path of learning to trust her instincts and lean on the people who truly care about her.

Danielle: That is the cheesiest thing ever, Dad. My favorite is Kayla. She’s quick with a comeback, she’s brave, and she leads with her heart. She’s the kind of person I hope to grow into—funny, confident, and unafraid to speak up.

Question 8. How did you and Danielle divide the writing responsibilities?

Answer: After outlining the story at a high level, we wrote the chapters together using Google Docs on separate devices. One of the best things about Google Docs is that you can write in the same document at the same time and watch the other person’s ideas appear instantly. We’d take our bullet‑point outline and expand it into full scenes—sentences, paragraphs, and dialogue.

When a conversation unfolded between characters, we often split the roles: Danielle would write one character’s lines while Dan wrote the other’s. It made the dialogue feel natural and kept the energy high. We’ve tried to leave you wanting just one more chapter. Once the full draft was complete, Dan handled the editing phase, shaping everything into a smooth, cohesive final version.

Question 9. What do you hope young readers take away from the story?

Answer: At its core, Cyber Heist is about courage, friendship, and trusting your instincts. We hope young readers walk away feeling empowered—knowing that even when the world feels overwhelming, they can rely on their values, their creativity, and the people who truly care about them.

We also want readers to see that being “smart” isn’t just about knowing facts. It’s about asking good questions, working as a team, and staying curious. The Wonder Crew succeeds not because they’re perfect, but because they support each other, learn from their mistakes, and keep going even when things get tough.

And finally, we hope the story sparks an interest in technology—not fear of it. Tech can be used for good, for problem‑solving, and for helping others. If a reader finishes the book thinking, “I want to build something cool someday,” then we’ve done our job.

Question 10. Are you working on other books in the same universe?

Answer: Absolutely. As we’ve mentioned, Cyber Heist was actually the second book we wrote, even though we jokingly called it “Book Zero” because The Case of the Gold Cup Culprit was originally planned as Book One. With everything we learned while writing Cyber Heist, we’re going back to revise and strengthen Gold Cup Mystery before releasing it.

And there’s more on the horizon. My eight‑year‑old son Matthew has declared Cyber Heist his favorite book and has already asked to write one with me someday. So who knows—there may be a future Wonder Crew adventure with a father‑son twist waiting to be written.