Former DOJ cybercrimes prosecutor Chris Bruen walks into a dark apartment in Amsterdam to confront a hacker known as Black Vector. The hacker has stolen the source code for the world’s most ubiquitous operating system, which powers everything from personal computers to the NSA’s data centers. This should have been a routine assignment for Bruen, but instead of obtaining a confession, Bruen finds … finds the hacker’s dead body and uncovers a hidden flash drive that contains the code for a remarkably sophisticated computer virus known as Lurker.
Upon his return home to San Francisco, Bruen finds himself the target of a shadowy group of hackers who plan on unleashing Lurker, which will bring a major US city to its knees in seven days. Bruen doesn’t know why he’s the target, but the answers seem to lie somewhere in his troubled past. Suddenly, Bruen is framed as the planner of the cyberattack, making him the top suspect in an international manhunt. Bruen must stay ahead of the FBI and CIA in a race across Europe while he tries to decode the virus, find the hackers, and clear his name. With the lives of tens of thousands of people hanging in the balance, and his own life about to be destroyed, Bruen must go beyond the brink to stop the hackers.
This book was initially released in episodes as a Kindle Serial. All episodes are now available for immediate download as a complete book. Learn more about Kindle Serials
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I read this in the original serial. My review is in it’s original format as well. The Adversary is now a book.
I enjoyed Reece Hirsch’s first book, The Insider, so I decided to give The Adversary a try. I’m glad that I did.
This is a good start to this kindle serial.
Chris Bruen, an attorney, travels to the Netherlands for a major client to confront a computer hacker that has stolen program codes only to find him dead. What should have been a quick and simple job turns out to be a problem that could cost more lives then it already has. 5 stars
This is going to be a great story and I look forward to episode 2.
Episode 2 is slow paced but ends with a horrible surprise. 4 stars
Episode 3 has more action. The hackers, Enigma and Ripley are always one step ahead of Chris and have framed him for the hacking job and domestic terrorism that they themselves are responsible for. 5 stars
Episode 4 has Chris and Zoey crossing the border from Spain to France with the help of a hacker “friend”. Chris’ friend and co-worker, Ed, who was trying to break the Lurker virus so a patch could be created may not be of help much longer. 5 stars
Episode 5 has quite a twist. I was so busy suspecting one person that the other surprised me. 5 stars
Episode 6 has Chris and Zoey returning to the states. Chris cracked the code and knows who Enigma is. I think I know who he is and why he has framed Chris. I wonder if I’m right! 5 stars
Episode 7 winding down to the end 5 stars
Episode 8 what a finale! 5 stars
I give this book 4.5 stars. It’s an exciting, gripping thriller. The character development is excellent; no cookie-cutter characters in this book. The plot was compelling. The author uses some tech jargon, but he seamlessly defines the terms w/o any interruption of the storyline. I was able to identify one of the main character’s antagonists before the reveal and identified the motive for the vendetta against the main character as the backstory unfolded. But there were still some great twists and turns. Excellent read!
Averting a Cyberattack
4 stars
Appropriate for late teens – adults
Limited strong language including a few F-bombs
Sex happens, but no lurid detail
Action-style violence, bloody but not stomach-turning
Chris Bruen, the main character, works to prosecute cyber criminals. Hacker sites have announced a huge upcoming attack on New York, and Chris is quickly put on the case. Making matters worse, his girlfriend is kidnapped by the criminals whose aim is to warn him off. Of course he plunges on.
With the help of new and old computer-savvy friends, he continues his mission putting not only his reputation but his life on the line.
I guessed some of the plot twists, but certainly not all of them.
Good, strong plot, but I feel like this is one book that would actually be better as a movie. That doesn’t happen often.
Others, I’m sure, will disagree with me.
Yes, I’d recommend it.