Author of
"The Cascade Effect"
Thriller Series
"The Biotech Thriller you shouldn't miss!"
The Cascade Effect #1: Ignition
What do they really want from Jade?
A mercenary pilot. A revolutionary drug. A deadly betrayal.
Former special forces ace Jade thought it was just another mission: steal and transport a game-changing genetic drug. But when her plane crashes in the Gobi Desert, survival becomes a race against time—and the shadows hunting her. Stranded, hunted, and betrayed, Jade realizes she’s not just a courier—she’s the experiment.
In the high-stakes world of crime, biotech, and political manipulation, loyalties shift and survival knows no rules. Love dies, trust is rare, and the ruthless hunger for power will stop at nothing—no matter the cost.
Fans of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and Richards K. Morgan's Altered Carbon will love Ignition, the opening novel in The Cascade Effect series.
Readers are saying...
★★★★★ "A must-read! Dark, no regrets, pure thrill from start to finish."
★★★★★ "Alexander Alten delivers an explosive first book in the series!"
Available now!
The Podcast
About
Alexander was born and raised in Dresden when Germany was divided. He was part of the peaceful resistance that helped reunite the country.
After reunification, he joined the German Air Force and saw the start of the Afghan war and the Balkan conflict, all while continuing to write poems and songs during his 12 years of service.
After leaving the military, Alexander moved into the tech world, building tech startups to enable AI. He lived in Palo Alto, CA and Austin, TX before returning to Europe and finally moving to Malta.
He's a dad to two gorgeous daughters and has been married to his second wife for over 12 years. But he never lost his sharp tongue and unfiltered quill, not always to the amusement of his wife, who loves most of his dark humor and sarcasm, sometimes.
Alexander has loved telling stories and writing lyrics, short stories, and poems since his youth. His writing is engaging, direct, and unique, immediately pulling readers into the worlds he creates.
Comments & Reviews
Alexander is currently working on his second novel - Catalyst - to be released in early-2025, the next part of "The Cascade Effect".
"Biotech, politics, crime - that's the brew of Ignition. Thriller, action, suspense, and technology, masterfully blended into a novel that takes the reader into a world of technology that is mostly hidden from everyone. Get ready for a novel where every word has a calculated meaning."
— Danse Macabre
"This gripping thriller is the first in a series of five novels that explore the limits of human resilience in extreme situations. It blurs the line between reality and fiction as the characters' minds and bodies are pushed above their limits, creating an immersive reading experience."
— Pen Middlesea
"The Cascade Effect: Ignition is a pulse-pounding sci-fi thriller that explores the depths of human resilience, the complexities of morality, and the terrifying potential of genetic manipulation."
— PB Weekly, Starred
"This book changes the foundation of a whole genre. It's Jack Reacher and Altered Carbon at the same time. Strong woman, no happy end. It's not apocalyptic; it's so realistic that I couldn't put it down."
— Reader Review
"Ignition is a sci-fi thriller about manipulation, consequences, and politics that's so raw and real that readers won't be able to look away. Don't expect happy endings or simple answers."
— ARC Reader
"This story is like the world we know so well: tough and without compromise. Get ready for a ride through the dark side of power, where every little action sets off a chain reaction."
— Reader Review