The Enigma Threat

The Enigma Series, Book 12

By: Charles V. Breakfield, Rox Burkey

Narrated by: Derek Shoales

Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

ICABOD is destroyed, and key members of the R-Group are declared renegades, with Quip thrown in jail. In the new digital world, there is no tolerance for privately owned supercomputers. Globally, computers are hunted and destroyed for the greater good by the new cyber police CESPOOL. The information this group receives is manipulated by subversive hidden machine learning devices, the MAG running on the dark net. 

Judith and Xiamara are freebooters who steal machine time for their PaaS (porn as a service business). The machine they chose for delivery is the last untapped supercomputer not in the hands of a sovereign. Their activity is spotted by the MAG, but the renegade R-Group steps in to alter the outcome. Leroy teams up with Zara to help these opportunists escape prosecution. They are drafted as reluctant participants in the fight. 

Jacob and Quip are trapped in the Chihuahuan Desert trying to reconstruct the base of ICABOD’s logic core. The stress of their isolation is taking a toll. Their wives and children are safe in Brazil for the time being, but Interpol is prowling for answers.

The R-Group has assembled a way to communicate with orphaned satellites. While the next R-Group plans the ultimate honey pot to trap their nemesis who is driving their corrupted agenda. The odds are against R-Group’s success, but they have creative surprises on their side. 

Gracie, working for World Bank, has inroads to CESPOOL via Tanja, who has questionable loyalty. Gracie finds possible love in a lawyer Jeff Woods, who has expertise needed to trap the owners of MAG. 

Using deep fakes, can Quip to escape purgatory and restart life with EZ and their children? But where? The stakes have never been higher. The R-Group, young and old, must rise to defeat the MAG.

©2021 Enigma Series LLC (P)2021 Enigma Series LLC

One of the best yet

Ichabod…..Noooooooo. How could it be that one if the most loved characters of all was dead? The techno thrills start furiously and sometimes hilariously from the abyss for the avid reader of the Enigma series. I had to stop for a day and collect myself and picked it back up trusting the authors had more twists and pretzel plot for me to unwrap. The authors style is honed, wiring finessed and narration was likewise awesome. If you haven’t read yet any of the enigma series, what the hell are you waiting for. Best modern, technology correct techno thrillers out there. Well done Rox and team.

Amazing Techno Thriller! A Don't Miss!

Old and young members of the R-Group find themselves or rather ICABOD the target of the nefarious CESPOOL, an organization that targets privately owned supercomputers.  Throw in a group of women wanting to start a porn business and who steal time from supercomputers to do so and the R-Group finds themselves spread a little thin fighting on two fronts. Meanwhile, Quip and Jacob are off trying to salvage what they can of ICABOD. 

Lots of action and several new characters.  While I have listened to all the books in this series, I do not find it difficult at all to keep track of who is who.  I believe this is because the authors do an outstanding job of character development and connecting the characters in a memorable manner.

I enjoyed this book because it is showing the growth of the “children” of the R-Group and their assuming more pivotal roles.  Breakfield and Burkey do not overwhelm the listener with too many technical terms, but rather just enough allowing the average reader to learn, follow, and enjoy the story. 

There is action, suspense, new characters, and newness with this book – I suspect it is because of the new generation growing up and seeing how the R-Group as parents respond. 

I love the creativity and humor that Burkey and Breakfield add to each book – naming the cyber police CESPOOL is hilarious!  The way CESPOOL operates and eventually the climactic end is excellent!  I loved how Quip‘s kids handle the news (sorry no spoiler here!).

As usual, Derek Shoales gives a magnificent performance.  He performs the story as if he is every character.  It is clear, Shoales and his production team work well together to give a solid performance.  Each word rolls off Shoales tongue easily and with the perfect amount of inflection and emotion.

This is one of those “don’t miss” books – it is climatic, well written, and the story flows smoothly.  You are left with a satisfying ending but also wanting more!

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.  It was crisp and clear with no flaws.

 

Disclaimer: This Audiobook was provided free of charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher in exchange for a non-bias, honest review.