The Wrong Side of Too Late: A Brand Coldstream Novel

by Richard Cozicar

2006.
The world is growing smaller. Continents once far out of reach are now a plane ride away and cell phones and the internet are shrinking the distance daily. In the age of new technology, internet pirates use keyboards and cable lines to cross borders.
The Canadian banking system is under siege by this new type of pirates. Far removed from the open oceans of yesterday, the new breed surf the blossoming waves of zeros and ones.
Among the darkest shadows a group of figures move about Canada's largest city, walking unobstructed down the hallways of the Canadian financial district.
Banking systems, once impenetrable, are being attacked from within and bled dry. Closely guarded information thought to be unattainable is mysteriously exposed and used against the very system it is tasked with protecting. While monetary loses add up so do the unexplained deaths of high ranked banking officials.
At first the individual deaths are thought to be random. Men unknown to each other with very little in common.
Who or what could turn men who had fought hard to climb to the very top of the financial markets suddenly decide to betray a sacred trust and what contributes to their deaths?
A young Brand Coldstream is in the early years of his tenure as an agent for the Canadian Government. A trained member of Canadian Security Intelligence System, the country's foremost Intelligence Agency, the department tasked with protecting Canadian interests from the prying fingers of international threats.
Slogging about in the murky depths of an increasingly expanding playing field, the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service must get with the rapidly changing times to stem the exodus of money and put a stop to the recent spate of deaths. By the time the agents of CSIS are called in, a deadly pattern begins to develop.
Follow Brand Coldstream and his fellow agents as they weave through a trail of deception and terror, and across several continents to solve this international thriller.
Grab a coffee, turn the lights up high to flush out the shadows and ENJOY.

505 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 22, 2025

Reviews

[Selene Marlowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book doesn’t just pull you in, it drags you into the pulse of a high-stakes chase through shadows and server rooms. Cozicar writes with a kind of cinematic urgency that makes every page vibrate with tension. I found myself whispering “just one more chapter” at 2 AM. The pacing is perfect, the dialogue crisp, and the stakes real. I’ve read dozens of espionage novels, but few have blended old-school spy grit with modern cyber warfare this seamlessly. The Wrong Side of Too Late is what happens when intelligence meets intuition — and it’s glorious.

[Brian Whitley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Cozicar’s The Wrong Side of Too Late grabbed me from page one and never let go. It’s a cerebral thriller that reads like a blend of Tom Clancy’s geopolitical realism and Stieg Larsson’s tech intrigue. Set in 2006, when the internet was still the “Wild West” of data, Cozicar captures that strange in-between era when technology was both revolutionary and terrifying.
Brand Coldstream is a compelling protagonist: sharp, observant, and morally grounded. I loved how Cozicar doesn’t over-romanticize intelligence work; he shows the bureaucracy, the doubt, the slow grind of real investigation. The pacing builds gradually, but once the pattern of deaths in the banking world clicks into place, it’s pure momentum.
Highly recommended for fans of smart, well-constructed espionage fiction.

[Rowena Callister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Cozicar crafts a story that perfectly captures the intersection of technology, espionage, and human greed. The Wrong Side of Too Late doesn’t just tell a spy story, it diagnoses a changing world, one where the battlefield has moved from jungles and deserts to the invisible networks of data and code. What impressed me most was Cozicar’s ability to blend the tension of a classic thriller with the complexity of our digital age. Brand Coldstream is not your average agent; he’s a reflection of adaptation, resilience, and moral clarity in a time when truth itself feels unstable. This book makes you think while keeping your pulse racing. Brilliant, timely, and disturbingly plausible.

[Isabelle Hartwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow! I’ve read my fair share of espionage thrillers, but The Wrong Side of Too Late hits differently. From the first chapter, I was hooked, hackers, covert agents, mysterious deaths, and a race against time that never lets up. Richard Cozicar builds tension like a maestro conducting chaos. Every twist tightened my chest, every clue felt like a breadcrumb leading to a bigger revelation. And Brand Coldstream? The perfect mix of cool intellect and quiet bravery. This is the kind of story that reminds you why you fell in love with thrillers in the first place. If you enjoy action that feels real, read this one immediately.

[Cassandra Whitlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t just a cyber-thriller, it’s a mirror held up to the early 21st century. Cozicar dives into the 2006 era with precision, when technology’s promise began to outpace its control. Through meticulous research and authentic dialogue, he creates a sense of urgency that feels as current today as it did then. What I found inspiring was the human element beneath the suspense, the way Brand Coldstream wrestles not just with external enemies, but with the erosion of trust in a hyperconnected world. It’s rare for a thriller to be both exciting and reflective, but Cozicar manages both effortlessly.

[Blake Atwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured The Wrong Side of Too Late. Richard Cozicar captures the strange in-between era of 2006 so well when the internet was still something new and exciting, yet already dangerous. His premise, of hackers infiltrating Canada’s financial system and the CSIS scrambling to understand this new frontier, feels both nostalgic and eerily prescient.
Brand Coldstream is a fascinating character sharp, loyal, and just a little too human for the cold world of espionage he’s been dropped into. I loved how Cozicar didn’t glamorize the intelligence world; instead, he gave us a gritty, realistic portrayal of bureaucratic confusion meeting high-tech chaos.

[Ana Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read my share of spy thrillers, but it’s rare to find one grounded in Canadian intelligence rather than the CIA or MI6. That’s what makes Cozicar’s work stand out. He doesn’t just transplant the genre northward he builds it from Canadian soil, with realistic detail about the CSIS world and the country’s financial systems.
The plot is a bit intricate in the beginning, juggling deaths, hacking schemes, and intelligence jargon, but once you get your bearings, the payoff is worth it. The story feels like a warning about how digital warfare was already brewing long before we were paying attention. Smart, moody, and unpredictable.

[Eric Worre · Rating 5 out of 5]

What impressed me most about The Wrong Side of Too Late is how believable it all feels. Cozicar doesn’t rely on wild plot twists or over-the-top villains. Instead, he crafts a scenario where corporate greed, technology, and espionage intertwine in ways that make you question how safe any of our systems really are.
Brand Coldstream reminds me of a young Jack Ryan idealistic but capable, still learning how deep the shadows go. The prose is lean but vivid, especially in the international scenes that jump from Toronto to other parts of the globe.
This isn’t just a thriller; it’s a snapshot of a world right on the brink of digital chaos.

[Lunavera Casen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely floored me. I picked it up not knowing what to expect and ended up with a late-night page-turner that had me muttering “just one more chapter” until 2 a.m. The writing feels tight and cinematic, but what impressed me most was the realism. You can tell Richard Cozicar did his research, the cybercrime, the government politics, the inner workings of CSIS, it all rings true.
Brand Coldstream feels like a real person, not a cardboard action hero. He doubts himself, he makes tough calls, and you sense the emotional toll of the job. If you love thrillers that respect your intelligence, read this one.

[Leona Fairfax · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up because I was curious about the idea of “internet pirates,” and I ended up finishing it in two sittings! The pace was fantastic, the characters believable, and the story never once felt far-fetched. Cozicar makes you feel like you’re in those backrooms of finance and intelligence, where the wrong decision could change a nation. What I loved most was that every scene had purpose, no filler, just tension and smart storytelling. I came away thinking about how fragile our systems really are. Definitely one of my favorite reads this year.

[Vivienne Crossley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having spent decades reading spy fiction from Le Carré to Ludlum, I can confidently say Cozicar brings something refreshing to the genre clarity. The Wrong Side of Too Late avoids the murky jargon and instead gives us precision and pulse. His grasp of Canadian intelligence operations feels authentic, and the story’s global reach makes it feel cinematic. Yet what lingers after the final page is not the action, but the moral weight: the cost of protecting a country in a digital world where loyalty can be hacked. A sharp, dignified, and relevant thriller that deserves recognition.

[Clara Winslow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect to feel so deeply reading a spy novel. But Richard Cozicar has a way of humanizing every moment. The scenes describing the deaths of the bankers weren’t just shocking, they were haunting, almost poetic. You can feel the quiet panic of people realizing their world is crumbling. And then there’s Brand Coldstream, who feels like the only steady hand in a world gone digital and deceitful. The book made me think about trust, how easily it can be broken, and how courage sometimes means fighting battles no one sees. This story stays with you.

[Isabel Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who works in cybersecurity, I can say this book nailed it. The blend of realism and storytelling is incredible. Cozicar understands the anatomy of a cyberattack and translates that into suspense without drowning the reader in jargon. The scenes involving data breaches and digital infiltration were so believable they gave me chills. It’s a rare treat when a writer can turn lines of code into a weapon of drama and fear. The Wrong Side of Too Late isn’t just a novel, it’s a warning written as entertainment. A must-read for anyone who thinks “that could never happen here.”

[Elena Moreau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading The Wrong Side of Too Late felt like watching a top-tier espionage film. Every chapter ends on a note that begs for the next scene, and the globe-trotting plot from Canada’s financial towers to shadowy international corridors is pure adrenaline. I could practically see this story on screen: the cold hues of Toronto nights, the sterile light of data centers, the quiet desperation of men hiding secrets. If Hollywood doesn’t pick this up, they’re missing out on something special. Cozicar’s writing is taut, visual, and utterly captivating.

[Lydia Carrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

What inspired me most about this story was its underlying message: that no matter how advanced technology becomes, integrity and courage will always matter. Brand Coldstream represents the kind of steady resilience the world needs a man not motivated by fame or money, but by duty. Through the chaos of data breaches and international deceit, Cozicar shows that light still shines through the cracks. It’s both thrilling and quietly uplifting, a rare balance that makes this novel special. Sometimes courage doesn’t roar it logs in, looks at the impossible, and tries anyway.

[Vivian Crosswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozicar’s prose has rhythm, a clean, deliberate pace that mirrors the precision of intelligence work itself. There’s a literary quality beneath the thriller surface, where every line seems to hide something more. The moral decay of power, the illusion of safety, the loneliness of those who guard from the shadows it’s all here, wrapped in a story that refuses to slow down. I finished this book inspired by its craftsmanship and its quiet wisdom: that sometimes the war worth fighting isn’t against an enemy, but against apathy. This is more than a thriller; it’s a meditation on modern vigilance.

[Amara Linton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wrong Side of Too Late hit me harder than I expected. What starts as a clever cyber-thriller slowly becomes a commentary on how fragile trust really is in systems, in people, in progress itself. Cozicar takes the sterile world of banking and turns it into a battlefield pulsing with danger and deceit. Every death, every clue, every revelation feels earned. What inspired me most was how Brand Coldstream isn’t a superhero, he’s just a man doing his job in an age that’s losing its moral compass. That quiet heroism made me respect him deeply. A haunting, relevant, and profoundly human story.

[Juliana Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something deeply human about Cozicar’s storytelling. Beneath the codes, the crimes, and the conspiracies lies a pulse of empathy. Brand Coldstream isn’t just chasing criminals; he’s chasing understanding of why people betray, why systems collapse, and why trust is so hard to rebuild. The story moves from Canada to the wider world, but it’s the emotional journey that matters. I found myself reflecting on how technology connects us and isolates us at the same time. This book left me not only entertained but quietly changed.

[Liam Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could recommend one modern thriller to a reading group, it would be The Wrong Side of Too Late. It’s smart, layered, and gives you so much to talk about corruption, loyalty, technology, and the shifting meaning of patriotism. Richard Cozicar doesn’t talk down to his readers; he challenges them to keep up. The group I read this with all agreed the story felt real. The tension was subtle but relentless, and the ending left us debating what it really means to protect a country in the age of data. A thinking person’s thriller.

[Marcus Ellington · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a writer myself, I’m blown away by Cozicar’s craft. The narrative is taut but elegant, the pacing deliberate yet unpredictable. He balances world-building with character insight, never losing the emotional thread beneath the chaos. Brand Coldstream is the kind of protagonist who reminds me of early Tom Clancy heroes, calm, principled, and quietly haunted. Every scene feels lived in, every clue placed with intention. This is not just a book you read, it’s one you study, line by line, admiring how it all fits together. Inspiring and masterfully done.

[Isabella Monroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a book reminds you that courage doesn’t always come with applause. Brand Coldstream fights battles no one sees, wins wars that never make the news, and still carries on with humility. That quietly broke me in a good way. Cozicar writes about digital warfare, but the real story is about integrity. In a time where everyone’s chasing attention, this book celebrates those who fight quietly for what’s right. It gave me hope that even in a world built on deception, there are still people who won’t bend. Absolutely beautiful storytelling.

[Amber Callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What hooked me immediately about The Wrong Side of Too Late was its tone shadowy, tense, and filled with that creeping realization that technology, once meant to connect us, can also destroy us. Cozicar masterfully builds suspense through subtle revelations rather than cheap action.

The book starts off in the high towers of Canada’s financial district but quickly spills across borders. Every chapter felt like peeling away another layer of a much larger conspiracy. And those unexplained banker deaths? Genuinely chilling.

[Logan Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea how much I wanted a Canadian spy series until I read this. The CSIS isn’t exactly as famous as MI6 or the CIA, but Cozicar turns that anonymity into an asset. He gives us a world of intelligence work that feels fresh unglamorous, authentic, and chillingly bureaucratic.

Brand Coldstream might not have Bond’s swagger, but he has heart, and that makes him far more interesting. The moral questions that arise loyalty, truth, and the slow erosion of ethics in the name of national security are deeply compelling.

[Ella Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozicar’s writing hits that sweet spot between technical authenticity and suspenseful storytelling. The cybercrime elements are well-researched and never feel exaggerated, and the deaths of the banking executives are chillingly mysterious.
Some chapters get heavy with financial and intelligence terminology, but that also adds a sense of realism. The ending delivers both closure and a few quiet shocks. If you enjoy realistic thrillers about corruption and technology, this book will check every box.

[Megan Hollister · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book got under my skin in the best way. The idea that digital pirates could take down entire banking systems feels terrifyingly possible. Cozicar captures the paranoia and uncertainty of that early cyber age perfectly.
At times, I wished the story lingered more on Coldstream’s personal life or motivation, but even so, I found him refreshingly human compared to most spy-thriller leads. The writing style is direct, crisp, and just detailed enough to paint the world vividly without bogging it down.

[Derek Calloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cozicar doesn’t talk down to the reader. He respects your intelligence and builds a layered story full of clues, misdirection, and moral gray areas. I loved how he tied global events to very personal consequences, it’s not just about money and power, but about trust, loyalty, and how far people will go to protect both.
The final act had me on edge. It’s a perfect blend of old-school espionage tension and modern cyber intrigue. Fans of Daniel Silva and Robert Ludlum will feel right at home here.

[Lindsey Morrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this on Goodreads and was pleasantly surprised. The Wrong Side of Too Late is one of those thrillers that doesn’t scream for attention, it earns it through solid writing and depth. The investigation into the deaths of the bankers is meticulously built, and Cozicar clearly knows how to structure a mystery.
The Canadian setting also gives it a refreshing angle. It’s not your typical Washington or London spy chase, and that difference makes it stand out. If you like intelligent thrillers that reward patience, read this one.

[Tara Winslow · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who works in IT, I’m usually quick to roll my eyes at how tech is portrayed in fiction but not here. Cozicar nails it. The cybercrime is portrayed with frightening realism, and the moral stakes are every bit as high as the financial ones.
There’s a maturity to his storytelling that’s rare in thrillers today. He doesn’t just want to entertain; he wants to make you think about how fragile our systems and our ethics really are.
I finished it in two sittings. Sharp, timely, and unforgettable.

[MALEEK RASAQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard Cozicar has crafted a cyber-espionage thriller that feels shockingly real. From the first page, I was pulled into a world where danger moves faster than the speed of light. Brand Coldstream is the kind of intelligent, grounded protagonist that keeps you rooting for him through every twist. The blend of modern tech warfare and old-school spycraft is genius. I could practically hear the clicking keyboards and feel the tension in those dimly lit offices of Canada’s intelligence world. This is how you write a smart, gritty thriller!

[Brielle Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t your usual shoot-’em-up spy thriller. The Wrong Side of Too Late reads like a slow burn that rewards patience. Richard Cozicar is more interested in why people betray their systems than in how.
The pacing is deliberate sometimes too much so but I found myself drawn in by the psychological aspect. The suicides, the sense of paranoia, the unknown puppet master lurking in the background, it all felt very Le Carré with a 21st-century twist.