The Agency: DDD Inc.

by Hunter Chadwick

Every day, we're surrounded by devices with their microphones open. Smartphones, smart speakers, gaming consoles, and a hundred other little devices that you walk by without thinking.

Kerry Chase is just like you and me. He lives his life as a technology user, enjoying the benefits it brings. But one day, all that changed.

"You're fired!"

An unexpected job change led to an exciting new opportunity, with one major red you someone who always likes to know what's going on?Do you feel like you know what is best for the people in your life?We're looking for people like you and have entry level positions available now!No prior experience necessary – Flexible hours Strong starting salary and benefits with good opportunities for advancementOn the job training – Work at your own paceMust have basic computer skillsFlexible moral compass a plusThrough this job, Kerry takes a peek behind the curtain to see the price we all pay for the technology we use so freely. Are you ready to see what it is The Agency actually does?

444 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 7, 2024

About the author

As a lifelong lover of books, I’ve always had a great appreciation for writers and their craft. Over the course of my 50+ years living in different places around the world, I’ve written a few things, but never took the time to sit and try to write down any of the books I’ve dreamed up. In 2021 that changed. A new opportunity to share stories, one episode at a time, prompted me to try my hand at it.

I never could have imagined the positive response my writing received and now I’m happy to expand those stories to a wider audience to build upon what I’ve already written. Nothing would make me happier than to know that you enjoy my stories. Please find me on social media @HunterCAuthor to send me your feedback.

About me: I grew up in the Midwest and went to a big state school known as much for their football team as anything else. I studied English Literature and History. It was there that I met my wife and we fell in love. We were married when I was in graduate school and during our first few years working after graduation, God showed us the opportunities to be involved in His work around the world.

Since 2000, we’ve lived outside of the United States, having many amazing experiences and meeting people from around the globe. My experiences traveling and my background in counseling are highly influential in my writing.

Reviews

[Kaitlyn Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This book kept me glued with every page turn! The style of writing was easily digestible and I enjoy the short chapter style that the author utilizes. The book itself was very thought provoking in an age where the development of AI and social media feel all encompassing in our lives. The parallels that one could draw with reality felt eerily haunting. I also found the character development to be well throughout and found the main character to be very relatable. At times, the story felt a little drawn out but overall I enjoyed the adventure it took me on- this is one I will be thinking about it the coming days.

[Abdul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big Tech's Creepiest Job Listing Ever!

Ever wonder who's actually listening when you talk to your smart speaker? Well, this book is about to make you super paranoid about every gadget in your house.

Meet Kerry Chase, your average dude drowning in student loans who thinks he just scored the world's cushiest rebound job after getting canned from his boring office gig.

Plot twist: his new employer, The Agency (aka DDD Inc.), turns out to be basically the workplace from hell - imagine if your office manager was Mark Zuckerberg's evil twin.

Our boy Kerry suddenly finds himself getting paid to spy on random people through their devices, which is about as ethically comfortable as wearing sandals with socks to a job interview.

The book is like someone tossed "The Office" into a blender with "Black Mirror" and hit puree - you'll laugh, you'll cringe, and you'll definitely think twice about asking Alexa what the weather's like.

The whole thing reads like a wild conspiracy theory that's just believable enough to make you want to throw your phone in a lake and move to a cabin in the woods.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Don't miss it!

[B. M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Reads fast and keeps things light while poking at serious themes. Mixes office humor with tech paranoia, so it’s entertaining without getting too heavy. Feels like a satire you laugh at first… then realize hits a bit close to home. Great if you like smart, slightly dark humor with a thriller edge

[Jessica McGregor · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars rounded up. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book so polarizing. The first half was almost five stars and the second, like a different book completely. Was very let down by the loose ends left. Did they get their bonus? What was norm doing? What the heck was with the USB? I didn’t like the use of “a crazy lady”. Like really?!

[Hira Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review
Author: Hunter Chadwick (Chad Hensley)
Book: The Agency, DDD Inc.
Genre: Techno/Dystopian Sci-Fi
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#Bookloungereviewteam

Blurb:

Kerry Chase was just trying to keep his ahead above water while he repaid his student loans—until he got fired from his mundane office job. Desperate for a fresh start, he unwittingly signs on with The Agency, a shadowy organization that promises to transform his life. But what lies behind the glossy facade of DDD Inc. is far more sinister than he could have imagined. Tasked with spying on regular internet users like you and me, Kerry quickly realizes he’s caught in a web of corporate manipulation and ethical dilemmas.

As he navigates this treacherous landscape, Kerry finds himself questioning everything he once believed about freedom and privacy. With friends who share his growing unease, he must devise a plan to outsmart the very Agency that employs him. Will he uncover the truth in time, or will he become just another pawn in their game?

The Agency is a gripping satirical thriller that explores the dangers of technology and the lengths one will go to reclaim autonomy in an increasingly controlled world. Join Kerry on his journey of self-discovery and rebellion against the corporate machine—if you dare to enter the realm of DDD Inc.!

📕 📖 📚 📕 📖 📚 📕 📖 📚 📕 📖 📚

Review:

Let me start off by saying this book made me extremely paranoid but I could not put it down. It gives off some very 1984 vibes.

The book does start off a little slow. Kerry Chase gets fired from his job because he’s just coasting by. Almost immediately, he gets a job offer at a mysterious company (DDD Inc.) that offers him better pay and flexible job hours. It seems perfect, almost like it was made for him. But soon Kerry realizes all is not what it seems. He’s being paid to essentially spy on innocent strangers and manipulate their online experiences. And he can’t tell anyone about it, or the consequences will be deadly. Thankfully, he finds a few people who are on his side and willing to bring down the Agency with him.

One of the reasons I loved this book is that it was extremely unsettling. We are all addicted to our smart phones, smart devices, and a company like DDD Inc can actually exist in real life, listening to everything through our phones, assistants, tv, watches, etc. I’ve gotten “free trial” offers many times after I’ve cancelled a streaming service and after this, I’m going to approach those very differently.

Overall, the book was suspenseful and thrilling, and a few plot twists kept me thoroughly engaged. Kerry is extremely relatable and seeing his interactions with Jackson, Tara, Giles and others gave me a sense or normalcy while all these things were going on his life. The dialogue between Kerry and his friends kept it humorous and interesting and gave the book some balance from some of the more technical aspects. Oh and the chapters had actual titles!!!

The only thing I didn’t like was how the ending felt a little rushed. I would’ve loved a longer Epilogue. But still a solid read. If you want a modern spin to Orwell’s 1984, pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.

[Micki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kerry Chase, our main character, has just been fired from a job he didn’t particularly enjoy, and immediately gets an intriguing but vague job offer via email. One detail included, “Do you have a flexible moral compass?” He can’t help but be curious and the pay scale is generous, so he rapidly accepts the job despite many odd restrictions like a frightening non-disclosure agreement, not discussing his work with anyone, and the prohibition of socializing with any colleagues after working hours.
Kerry always knew he was surrounded by technology that could listen to and watch his activities. Half the time he invited those devices to listen and watch, without a real understanding of who had access to his data, how it could be analyzed, and who might be listening and watching. With this job, now he knows! His online data, along with millions of others across the world, is monitored and used by The Agency, a conglomeration of powerful people and corporations. Their mission is to use this information for “the greater good”.
While Kerry is becoming enmeshed in his new career with DDD, we meet several of his college friends, his roommate, as well as a college sweetheart who moves back to his midwestern town. She brings with her a shadowy tech contact from her prior employment. This cast of characters helps Kerry navigate his new work environment while they all explore the ethical implications of technology and data collection. The characters, the story line and the ending are a very satisfying look into the world most of us use daily and take for granted. This book is definitely worth a read. The characters are multidimensional, the plot is realistic and pulls you in, and the storytelling is exceptionally well done, with plenty of dialogue balanced with action. The theme is timely, and the subject is explored in a realistic but non-alarmist or “preachy” way. Overall a great read.

[Chuck Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Agency by Hunter Chadwick. I frequently gravitate toward stories involving technology, government overreach, and alleged conspiracies. When I saw the author post about it on X, I went and purchased it immediately. It successfully addresses all of these themes in a fast-paced, well-written way.

The story is about a young, recent college graduate named Kerry Chase, who's just trying to make some money and pay off his student loans. He begins to work for a company called DDD Inc., and that's where the fun starts. He begins to see the things that this agency is doing, which are very similar to social media and applications like that today. The further he digs in, the more concerned he gets.

The book is, in my opinion, part essay on government and private corporation overreach and part thriller. As the action ramps up, you begin to wonder who can Kerry trust? Who can he not trust? And is there any possible way to stop DDD Inc.? The characters are quirky and often mysterious. I would personally love a sequel just to spend more time with them.

I highly recommend the book. It's a wonderful read, especially if you are concerned about the amount of data that we share with companies and those applications we interact with so often.

Hunter Chadwick has written a modern classic in The Agency: DDD Inc.

[Priscilla King · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 stars. Must read. It's a coming-of-age story in which two slacker-boys become men, a timely warning about the dangers of Internet addiction, and after beginning with a mostly cerebral puzzle to solve it builds up to a physical confrontation and fast getaway.

Kerry has just been fired from an entry-level job where he worked the way my generation used to work in the 1980s: rush through the in-box, then have fun with the office computer for the remaining six hours of the day. That's not allowed in the few entry-level jobs that exist now. But it's what attracts the attention of the Agency, DDD Inc., where he's offered a job on the first level, in the Distracting department. His job is to spy on people referred to the Agency's attention by computer algorithms as using the Internet less, or using it for their own benefit rather than that of various corporate interests. If he does his job well, he'll be promoted to Dividing...

He's forbidden to talk about his job, but he finds ways of connecting with friends who share his feelings about this kind of manipulation. Who has the right plot to foil the Agency, and what will it be? The satirical ending is a particular delight.

[JoAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you've ever hated your job or your boss or your workplace, or just modern life, you'll relate to this novel. It's cute and funny and in terms of its prose -- in a technical sense -- it is well-written.
That said, I found the novel far too long and its "scenes" dragged out. I lost interest before Kerry even started the job. (But I read on, as I am bound to do so!) At 641 pages, The Agency is a substantial investment for the reader, but Kerry's adventures don't really begin until Chapter 20 (around the 70 page mark).
While the premise is intriguing and the novel echoes a sense of the Vogons from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" world about it, the plot didn't progress at a pace to maintain this reader's interest sadly.

[Danielle Snively · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been thinking about this book on and off since I read it, with my phone in another room. Lol. I think a movie here would be a bit faster paced and I would definitely watch.

[Kaden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phone stays at home from now on

[Kelly G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow burn. A lot of build up to an ending that wrapped up pretty quickly.