Blog Archives
Evil Lurks in Dark Places
Enigma Forced follows the R-Group as they confront powerful cartels and human traffickers, employing cutting-edge technology to dismantle these criminal networks. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Breakfield & Burkey continually scan the horizon in our research for illegal and unscrupulous technology applications. We saw cryptocurrency acting like a magnet for crime and profits outside the law. We envisioned a mashup of social issues to drive our creative writing on this story. We write about the synergies between bad actors and their relentless hunt for illegal and immoral profiteering. This story showed up in our nightmares with human trafficking holding hands with opioid importing and the underground sex trade. The most significant problem was to throttle the heartbreaking information flow we saw and try to breathe life and hope into the story. We recognize it is impossible to save everyone. But if you can save even a few, then there is hope.
The supporting characters in this novel, I felt, were intriguing and well developed. Who was your favorite character to write for?
That is a tough question. Whether good or evil, creating each character is a challenge. Marian, with her husband Brayson, rose to the top with your question. Hers is an interesting story that we like to tease out a little at a time. A close second would be Judith and Xiamara, our cyber-freebooters who are in the thick of things as the good guys/gals but always scheming about a new side hustle that eventually gets them into trouble.
I find that while writing, you sometimes ask questions and have the characters answer them. Do you find that to be true? What questions did you ask yourself while writing this story?
We enjoy crafting plots and storylines with the good guys on top until they’re not. Evil lurks in dark places and has a way of creating an unpredictable path, sometimes leaving the heroes in their wake. Each character must answer the question of where they are going and what they are bringing to this tale. Our goal is always to make the story unexpected and exciting for the reader.
What is the next book in the Enigma Heirs series that you are working on, and when will it be available?
Enigma Jewels is the third book and final thriller in the Enigma Heirs trilogy. Work has already begun, and we expect to have it out by the end of the first quarter of 2025.
Author Links: GoodReads | X Series | X Author | Facebook Series | Facebook Author | Website
Profiteers are preying on displaced souls who seek freedom, sacrificing everything. Wanting to give their children hope and a future, but they wrongly trust on a roll of loaded dice. Teens are picked off and sold into slavery. Cartels offer the choice to strong, young men to move illegal drugs over the border or die.
The R-Group and CATS team leaders want to end Mateo’s inhuman business model. The heroes must derail the human exploitation and opioid epidemic, killing people in increasingly dramatic numbers. If they can save even a few from the jaws of death, they win.
The present-day battle is in full swing, yet it can end badly for humanity unless the Enigma Heirs triumph. Who will survive the onslaught and how fast can they make Mateo pay?
Trusted Friends and Lovers
Trusted Friends and Lovers, by Roxanne Burkey and Charles Breakfield, is an engaging collection of short stories exploring themes of love, friendship, and family. This compilation features seven interconnected tales: “Fears, Tears, or Cheers” follows Jo, a Brazilian model, and JJ, a Chief Master Sergeant. “Hidden Target” introduces Brayson, a cyber security expert, and Marian, a former Air Force member. “Remember the Future” centers on Wolfgang, his daughter Julianne, and his grandson Jacob. “Caribbean Dream” showcases Judith and Zee, friends working in San Juan to fund their college education. “Love’s Enigma” features Buzz and Zara, a couple who moves to San Juan and become teachers. “The Jewel” presents Haddy and Otto, new parents to a baby daughter. “Hot Chocolate” highlights Petra and Jacob, along with their young son, JW.
To fully appreciate this collection, it is recommended to read it alongside the authors’ other works, as these stories provide additional insights into the characters from the Enigma series. The collection effectively highlights pivotal moments in the characters’ lives, and several stories are beautifully interconnected, especially those depicting generational family relationships.
Set in diverse locations worldwide, the stories encompass a wide range of scenarios, such as distant memories, first meetings, reunions, proposals, weddings, and family celebrations during winter holidays. These varied settings and events keep readers hooked and invested in the characters’ journeys. After finishing this book, I was eager to delve deeper into the lives of the characters featured and explore the authors’ other works. A couple of the short stories felt rushed, with months or years passing in just a few pages. Additionally, some backstory details about the characters could have been conveyed more naturally. For instance, descriptions about Jo and JJ would have flowed better as part of the narrative rather than through dialogue, which occasionally felt unnatural. Despite this, Trusted Friends and Lovers remains a captivating read.
The collection’s ability to weave together rich, interrelated stories makes it a worthwhile addition to the Enigma series. Fans of the series and new readers alike will find much to enjoy in this exploration of relationships and life’s significant moments.
Pages: 250 | ASIN : B0CX2XK5D1
Enigma Forced
Enigma Forced, by Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey, is a fast-paced techno-thriller that delves into the world of cyber espionage and human trafficking. The story follows the R-Group and CATS teams as they confront powerful cartels and human traffickers, employing cutting-edge technology and agile programming methods to track and dismantle these criminal networks. The narrative is a gripping blend of suspense and technical detail, weaving together multiple plotlines involving cyber surveillance, cryptocurrency, and the harrowing realities of modern-day slavery.
From the outset, I was captivated by the complex characters and the intricate plot. The authors have done a remarkable job of creating a vivid world where technology and human emotions collide. For instance, the scenes involving the deployment of snooping codes to open Wi-Fi routers are both thrilling and terrifyingly plausible. The use of real-world technological concepts, such as agile programming and cryptocurrency, adds a layer of authenticity that tech enthusiasts will appreciate. The book’s inclusion of detailed technical jargon adds a layer of authenticity that tech enthusiasts will appreciate. The authors’ descriptions of programming techniques and cyber tools are thorough and accurate and enrich the narrative, providing a deeper immersion into the world of cyber espionage. These moments are balanced by strong character development and engaging dialogue that keeps the story moving.
One of the book’s many strengths is its ability to tackle serious issues like human trafficking with sensitivity and urgency. The portrayal of the victims and the detailed exploration of the trafficking networks are both compelling and heartbreaking. The authors do not shy away from the grim realities, but they also provide a sense of hope and resilience through the protagonists’ relentless pursuit of justice. This balance makes the book both thought-provoking and emotionally engaging.
Enigma Forced is a compelling read for fans of techno-thrillers and cyber-espionage. The blend of high-stakes action and poignant human stories makes it a standout in its genre. I would highly recommend it to readers who enjoy complex, technology-driven narratives and those interested in the fight against human trafficking. Charles Breakfield and Rox Burkey have gifted readers with a gripping story that is rich in technical detail and well worth the read.
Pages: 302 | ASIN : B0D134Z98S
Enigma Tracer
Enigma Tracer kicks off a new and exciting series by Breakfield and Burkey. Gracie, the heir apparent to R-Group, has taken up a case brought to her by her former college roommate, Bailey Smith. Gracie and Bailey, along with their current beaus, Jeff and Keith, go undercover to embark upon a cruise to gather intel on Philip Pliant, the predatory CEO of Pliant Industries. Using their wits and charm, along with a captivating cast of supporting characters from the Cyber Assassin Technology Services (CATS), the foursome engages in a treacherous cat-and-mouse investigation.
Authors Breakfield and Burkey do a fantastic job laying the groundwork in the opening chapters, establishing the characters and their backgrounds. Gracie and Bailey are quite likable, and their chemistry is palpable. I appreciate that they’re not two Mary Sues, as Gracie has impulse control and anger issues, and Bailey seems to struggle with alcohol. Jeff and Keith are well-fleshed out as capable companions who are also a little jealous of their better halves’ undercover positions.
Once the story gets going, Enigma Tracer is an exciting read. The dialogue between characters does a lot of heavy lifting for the exposition. The operatives discuss their dates and socialize while on their actual mission. This adds a fun layer to the story and shows that the next generation of R-Group is still young and inexperienced.
Enigma Tracer is highly recommended to fans of technothrillers, and fast-moving plots, and is a must-read for longtime fans of the authors. Dramatic, high-tech action fills the pages of this gripping story. I highly recommend readers experience the sharp writing and enthralling plot that Breakfield and Burkey bring to their series.
Pages : 232 | ASIN : B0BRD6BWSG
The Enigma Threat
![The Enigma Threat (The Enigma Series Book 12) by [Charles V. Breakfield, Rox Burkey]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51505pllT+L.jpg)
After what feels like an eternity has passed, Charles Breakfield and Roxanne Burkey grace our bookshelves with a new addition to their epic techno-thriller saga: The Enigma Threat. This new installment is brimming with excitement, adventure and the captivating character development that we have come to know and love from this series. Not only are we visited by characters we had grown attached to in previous books, we are introduced, quite literally, to the next generation. This sets the stage for future books in the series with a new cast and allows us to witness our favorites in the newest and most unpredictable role ever: as parents.
As in previous books, Breakfield and Burkey breakdown the intricate tale they are weaving into digestible chapters. While it might seem overwhelming to pick up a book with double-digit chapter listings, they are developed in such a way that it allows the reader to remain engaged and makes the scene changes easier to follow. The pacing is just quick enough that you won’t get bored, but not too fast that you feel completely lost. As always, it’s not completely necessary to read previous books in the series, however it lends an enormous amount of backstory and character development if you do.
With such a large cast it might be difficult to remember who appeared previously and who is completely new. This is fine for new readers, but for existing fans you may have to jog your memory a bit to place some of the characters in the Enigma timeline. This is a normal effect with series that have so many installments and that have been running for such a long time. While the specialized terms are helpful, especially for newcomers or those not well versed in cyber technology and espionage, it might also be helpful to have a character list and identify which books they were previously seen in. This can help sort out who is new and who is returning, plus give new readers the opportunity to hunt down previous appearances by their favorite characters.
Charles Breakfield and Roxanne Burkey deliver another smashing installment to the Enigma series with The Enigma Threat. There is something for everyone in this exciting and gripping adventure. With characters new and old gracing the pages readers will find the excellent content they’ve come to love and expect from this amazing duo. You can’t go wrong adding this book to your library.
Pages: 278 | ASIN: B08KHMF579
In The Techno-thriller World
Roxanne Burkey Author Interview
The Enigma Beyond explores how AI and supercomputers are manufacturing choices in our lives. Do you see this happening today with our current AI?
The move to put Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our daily lives has already started. If you have an iPhone you probably already talk to Siri. Alexa is already handling your calendar and telling you about the weather, or changing music on demand. In the high-tech world, we already use to interpret security alarms received in our data centers. The established streaming media companies have been using it to tell you about your next binge-watching exercise. These are the somewhat tame AI applications homing their skills to understand human thought processes. We wanted to explore what would happen if our lax attitude towards letting AI govern itself rather than the creator. Once we had that premise, we wanted to see Who Won the AI WARS.
This book is the eleventh volume of The Enigma series and remains riveting and exciting. What were some challenges you set for yourself as writers with this book?
The challenge is always about building a credible scenario for a great story to be told. The small details, the overlooked poor decisions, and the hopelessly heroic assumptions are needed to craft a plausible situation that we can interject our characters into. While we like “Once upon a time” type stories they simply don’t work in the techno-thriller world. We have to use known technology that can then be stretched so the reader goes “yeesh, that’s so possible! How do they get out of this scenario?” It is a real challenge in our stories to create that desired line of doubt about fiction or reality.
The science inserted in the fiction was well balanced. How did you manage to keep the story grounded while still providing the fantastic edge science fiction stories usually provide?
The technology we use in our books has either already been deployed in the data center (Cloud or on premise), or is close to becoming commercialized. We do a great deal of research and spend a lot of time trying to understand how to use the new goodies coming on line for our consumption. For that, we must understand how it will be attacked by bad actors from the Dark Net. When you spend a lot of time thinking like the bad guys, you’d be surprised about all the crazy scenarios we can create that are not that farfetched. A word of advice: don’t spend too much time or mental cycles in the Dark Net, just take some precautions.
What is the next project your working on and when will it be available?
We are currently working on two big projects for 2020. One is a non-fiction collection of Internet security from Gloabl fellow professionals/leaders. We target this to be available in the 1st quarter of 2020 as an eBook initially. We are also working on The Enigma Combat (Working title for Book 12 in The Enigma Series). Additionally, we continue to build our portfolio of short stories. And those are only the ones we are active on right now.
Author Links: Goodreads | Facebook | Enigma Facebook | Twitter | Website
![The Enigma Beyond (The Enigma Series Book 11) by [Breakfield, Charles, Burkey, Roxanne]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/414zE007-QL.jpg)
What happens when technology outruns our humanity?
Humans continue to give their decision making over to Artificial Intelligence. Or, was it simply confiscated? Computers are delivering manufactured choices to each person via their ever-pervasive personal devices. The seduction of mankind is eminent unless our champions can stop them.
The R-Group, with their own next generation youth, are poised to take on one of their most complex adversaries, supercomputers run by greedy powerful technological geniuses. The training for the new members of the R-Group is live, in the form of a real world cyber assault crisis. ICABOD, R-Group’s supercomputer, is their best weapon for this battle.
With corporate self-discipline gone and the power of U.S. Congressional oversight crippled, the dominance of the technical oligopolies has risen to dictate their terms.
MAG, the consortium of global technology predators, have come together to bring their insidious plans to fruition using humans’ desire for the easy and effortless lifestyles, even as it steals their freedoms. For groups caught in the cyber crosshairs, time has already run out. The social media noise blinds humanity to what is happening. MAG uses it to seize control of politics, healthcare, finances, and defense systems.
Award winning authors Breakfield and Burkey take readers, in their 11th book in The Enigma Series, on a one way trip to keeping or giving up their most precious human quality, the freedom to choose. No one saw it coming when they built computers to ease their work. Where are the guardrails to protect humans from giving up too much? Can humanity take back control?
You determine who wins in the AI Wars.
The Enigma Beyond
Human beings mastered technology and designed it to make work easier. However, they are now the servants to that technology. It seems that every day humans surrender more and more to technology. The R-Group yet again is on a mission to save humanity from their own creations. With new blood in the consortium, things are bound to be interesting. Will ICABOD be useful in this fight? Which side will win the war? What is to be done about the rowdy congressional oversight team? Can human beings break free of this self-inflicted dictatorship?
Breakfield and Burkey have written eleven installments in this series. It seems like the plot, prose and even character build get better with every installment. This mysterious thriller is colored with intrigue and adventure. The authors have done a great job of narrating R-group’s mission. They have described the Enigma universe in such vivid detail. The reader will walk around the scene as the chaos unfolds and technology takes over human beings’ lives. This book is an explosion of great characters and brilliant plot twists that left me sufficiently entertained.
Authors Burkey and Breakfield are very good at presenting their characters. The characters are well rounded and presented with just enough transparency to reveal their true natures but enough mystery to create an enigma. The characters are relatable and serve to execute the plot quite well. There is so much talent and determination in the characters. Despite all the hurdles and challenges that face the group, they keep going and that resolution is felt in the writing. You can tell from the tone and smooth prose that the authors have a good relationship with their characters.
The Enigma Beyond being the eleventh volume of this series remains riveting and exciting. It’s a continuation from previous installments but it did not leave me feeling like I joined a conversation in the middle. As a reader, you will find this book so well written and the plot so clever that you will want to go back in time to be introduced to the characters in their infancy. It makes for such a wonderful addition to the series despite being self-sufficient on its own.
The authors continue their mission of waking people up to the possibility of an enslaved humanity. They do it with great stories. The reader will be taken on one literary sojourn filled with mystery and intrigue after another. The Enigma Beyond will keep you gripped and teetering on the edge of your seat right from the beginning. You will certainly enjoy the authors’ uncanny ability to maintain novelty in a series that has run for so long.
Pages: 369 | ASIN: B0818875T3
The Enigma Source
![The Enigma Source (The Enigma Series Book 10) by [Breakfield, Charles V, Burkey, Roxanne E]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51GEfVbYy6L.jpg)
Su Lin and Andy have everything they want on their farm–solitude, livestock to occupy them, and one another. Most importantly, Su Lin is worlds away from her old life. However, Su Lin and Andy are not as free from Su Lin’s past endeavors as they would like to believe. She is a genius in her own right, and that, in and of itself, may just be the downfall of her family and the entire team. As digital currencies begin to lurk behind the world’s financial curtain, Su Lin rises as one of the most desired faces on the planet as she possesses the unbreakable code that can help turn the world’s currency system upside down.
The Enigma Source, by Charles V. Breakfield and Roxanne E. Burkey, features the dynamic team from Breakfield and Burkey’s long list of Enigma books and is every bit as engaging and brimming with technological advancements as each of the pair’s previous installments in the series. The Enigma Source takes readers on a journey eighty years into the past as events in Poland are related via a set of books discovered by Jacob. Throughout the book, the authors have juxtaposed Jacob’s reading of said books with the events endured by Su Lin, Andy, and the rest of the team as they fight to stop Su Lin’s nemesis, Guano.
I am never disappointed in the strength and depth of the relationships between Breakfield and Burkey’s characters. Su Lin and Andy are the focus of The Enigma Source. Their love is intense, endures each and every test thrown their way, and is to be envied. They are among the most vivid of the authors’ couples–second only to Juan and Julie.
I didn’t want to be, but I was struck by Mathias’s sense of loss over Dutch. Breakfield and Burkey have a way of making the reader see the humanity in their antagonists. A sense of pity and sorrow overwhelmed me as I read of Mathias’s grief and his tragic revelation with regards to his own staggering lack of true friendships.
ICABOD, the ever-present supercomputer, remains one of the most fascinating aspects of the Enigma series. ICABOD is a unique blend of technology and humor. Throughout the book, the team of experts turns to ICABOD for intelligence and briefings and are able to obtain the needed information almost instantly–always amazing. In addition, there exists a friendly banter between the team members and the supercomputer that lends a welcome level of levity to rather serious and many times, dark situations.
ICABOD is only the beginning of the advancements peppering Breakfield and Burkey’s work. I was fascinated by the capsule used to track Su Lin’s movements. As she prepares to fly to China, her ingestion of the tiny encapsulated tracker mesmerized me. As with each of the other Enigma books, the authors’ storylines are rich with technology that will wow readers from the first page.
I am giving The Enigma Source, by Breakfield and Burkey, an enthusiastic 5 out of 5 stars. Rich characters and spellbinding storylines permeate The Enigma Source. Readers looking to take a leap into the depths of the digital age will find everything they want within the covers of Breakfield and Burkey’s The Enigma Source.
Pages: 351 | ASIN: B07GD6S9SP
LITERARY TITAN 