Enigma Stolen by Charles V. Breakfield and Roxanne E. Burkey

With extensive use of technology, one might wonder if human beings could be feeding the lion that will eventually devour them. The internet is riddled with personal information just sitting there waiting for anyone who might care to scratch a half inch deeper. Information that has been put there willingly and without a second thought about what could happen if it got into the wrong hands. 

The R-Group does it again. It is an intelligence gathering and security outfit that is scouring the earth for an organization or group of organization hat are using technology to not only benefit their own financial interests but also control the future of the world through stocks. 

ICABOD is adorable trying to decipher humor. Immersive Collaborative Associative Binary Override Deterministic system becomes an unintended, or perfectly intended, source of humor in this serious story. The ever-expanding maturity of the tech is both scary and delightful. While it can do so many more things, one cannot help but wonder how long it is until it stumbles into dangerous territory of human life. It is a little disconcerting the extent of AI in this story but it is a viable possibility. 

This story combines some very individually harmless elements which put together are fatal upon a single blow. Unlimited computing power garnered from networking of the world’s supercomputers and bad bad humans. People who have the desire and capability to manipulate all human beings. These mixed in with borderline genius math proficiency could be the cocktail that brings the world to its knees. Can the R-Group make headway in stopping the impending digital loom? How will Julie and Julian’s CATS influence the fight?

First and foremost, this book is incredibly well researched. The authors use some very technical words that throw the reader right into the thick of it with geeks and computer freaks. It makes for a very realistic imagination of the tech world. The descriptions are vivid and the writing does not lose momentum for one minute. The same happens but still keeps the reader hooked. One will not get lost among all the tech talk and geek musings. 

The authors have done a good job of weaving true human conditions into the story. They have put in family ties, values, loyalty, and ethics. These work great to humanize the story. To pull the reader in so they sympathies and empathize when appropriate. These ideals cause surges of a variety of emotions at every twist and turn. 

With introduction of the Cyber Assassin Technology Services, the narrative opens up a whole new world of possibilities for the series. More and more characters can be introduced this way. He reader can go through the series without being worn out but the monotony of the same old characters. It is a little, and well placed, shake up t the R-Group story. 

A little romance is good for the soul. Breakfield & Burkey do not disappoint in that area. Some of the relationships are so interesting to witness, it almost makes one want to read a mini-novel spin off. They are endearing and so normal but different in the face of the riveting action and suspense that flows through the pages.