The Enigma Gamers - A CATS Tale

The Enigma Series, Volume 7

By: Charles V Breakfield, Roxanne E Burkey

Narrated by: Derek Shoales

Julie and Juan’s cyber assassin technology services team or CATS find themselves immersed in outrageous cyber-crime events in multiple locations. They send their feet-on-the-street teams to investigate the causes of the mayhem. Unexpectedly, they find the culprits are holding international cities, big businesses, air traffic, and even emergency systems hostage to terrifying digital ransom demands.

Has today’s technology advanced enough so that the line between the real and cyber worlds has vanished? Will this unchecked digital landscape provide new social predators with opportunities to unleash terror and pain on unsuspecting victims, while avoiding detection?

The CATS Team is the next generation of hunters in the cat and mouse game of cyber warfare, unlike any seen to date. How can they prove that the evolution of 21st century video game playing is far more serious than an after school distraction for kids? With supercomputers, the adage ‘bigger toys for bigger boys’ takes on a whole new definition.

As members of the CATS Team - George, Ty, Ernesto, Mercedes, EZ, and even Juan - investigate their respective assignments, they find they are undermined by the willingness of organizations to simply pay cyber-ransom demands. The tampering with automated processes, driven by today’s explosion of technology use, is child’s play compared to the heavy competitive nature of The Gamers with their Supercomputer resources.

Award-winning authors, Breakfield and Burkey, take their fans into this grittier story of The Enigma series to explore virtual hacking within our technology dependent world. In book 7 of the series, The Enigma Gamers, The CATS Team, led by Julie and Juan, is committed to avenging and administering justice to evil doers in every corner of the real and virtual worlds.

©2016 Roxanne Burkey (P)2018 Enigma Series LLC

Exciting Game Changer!

First, let me say that this series is amazing. It would scare the pants off my parents if they realized that technology could be manipulated by anyone in order to wreak such worldwide havoc. I think that is what truly draws me to this series and the authors. They make it VERY realistic!

Like the rest of the series, The Enigma Gamers: A CATS Tale is a gripping story. In this book the fine lines of cyber play and reality are crossed by two arch nemesis of the R Group. Competition runs high as the cyber bad guys attempt to win a game through manipulation, stealth, and bullying. Julie and Juan’s cyber assassin technology services team becomes immersed within the extensive and complex cyber games with real-life consequences.

The cyber bad guys continue to remain one step ahead of the assassin team but in several unique twists to the plot, listeners are left gasping! Charles Breakfield and Roxanne Burkey are masterful storytellers with a unique gift of keeping their listeners on the edge of their seat.

The addition of new characters was done well and clearly. Like earlier books, the authors build a connection to their audience bringing each new character one into the fold. I love the flirtatious wordplay between Julie and Ichabod! I can only imagine Quip’s face during the exchange.

Each new book is slightly different focusing on different members of the organization. This book is no different, by tying it into the gaming field the authors are guaranteed to capture the interest of their audience in a different manner.

Excitement, danger, and romance – all three present and masterfully connected. Dialog is realistic as is the plot. I applaud the authors in their ability to keep things clear although it could easily go complex at any point.

Derek Shoales is amazing as well. He helps bring the book to life with his talented voice giving each person a unique sound. He helps guide the listener through the book in a non-hurried manner, keeping them intrigued with his voice and pauses. Magnificently done! I cannot imagine anyone else performing this series in the same manner as Shoales!

There were no issues with the production or quality of this audiobook. It was well produced and performed.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author/narrator/publisher.
Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog.
[If this review helped, please press YES. Thanks!]

Modern Warcraft, Avatars and soon Reality

The gang of characters are drawn into the new art of Warcraft, where the authors bridge the role playing avatar games as a bridge to real world cyber crimes. Taking over gps, hijacking automated facilities and “smart city” infrastructures are just some of the developing chaos the CATS team and R Group confront and wrestle. State Nationalized super computers hi jacked for engines to drive the Games that turn organizations upside down and inside out.

Fun story, many new characters and a plot based in real challenges of modern day IOT and telecommunications systems. Nothing is safe and nobody is either.

Breakfield and Burkey do a great story but I found it in places somewhat confusing and had to reverse and play again. Shoales did a good job but many new characters this time even stretches his amazing narration talent.

Overall this one I rate as good

Another Fun Addition to The Enigma Series

Well that was entertaining!! The Enigma Gamers take hacking to a still higher level when someone begins to take control, first of games, then of infrastructure putting all in danger. CATS is after them instantly, traveling across the world to find who is behind it. A spin off from the R Group, the CATS team looks like it will be another hit for these fine authors. You can read my full review at Mystery Suspense Reviews.

WHAT?!?

Okay. The book was awesome. My favorite character pair were ICHABOD and Julie. Their biplay was hilarious! I also enjoyed the newest duo, and the Blarney-style of Jamie. I appreciated the team breakdown at the beginning, as it made it easier to navigate through the storylines. As storylines go, this one is the vastest yet. The way it ends, though... Seriously, you will want to have the next book queued up before it ends. Me? I have to go figure out which book is next. I highly recommend this book and the entire series.

Action-packed thriller but not my cup of tea

This is the seventh book in the Enigma series. I have only listened to books one and two, and although this can be read as a standalone, there is some context from previous books that is nice to know.

This book is an action-packed technothriller with all the ingredients to have an exciting ride. There are multiple characters and several parallel situations that create a very dynamic plot. Yet, I was unable to connect with the characters and get invested in the story. I had similar experiences with the first two books, but I wanted to give this one a chance. I think the issue, for me, lies in the lack of character development, and the fabricated descriptions and romantic scenes. Somehow they do not feel natural, and being the characters mere archetypes does not give me anything to keep going.

Derek Shoales does an incredibly good job differentiating characters by giving them different voices, styles, and accents. I found many of them a bit forced, which make the narration a bit tiresome to the ear. I think it would have helped were it done more subtly.

This might be one of those ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ situations since I have seen great reviews and ratings for this series. It is okay, just not for me.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.