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Tales of Adversego #3
The Doodlebug War
The time is the immediate future, and the Caliphate is the enemy in the third Frank Adversego Thriller. Mullah Muhammed Foobar, the mysterious leader of a post-ISIS terrorist organization, has won control of much of the Mid East. Now he threatens to launch a horrific attack that will bring the United States and Europe to their knees.
But How? The CIA turns to cybersecurity super sleuth Frank Adversego to find the answer. In a race against time, Frank must overcome personal as well as cyber trials to save the Western world from destruction. When he does, he discovers an all-too-real vulnerability that may lead to our own downfall – not at some theoretical point in the future, but as soon as tomorrow.
In the words of “world’s most famous hacker” Kevin Mitnick:
"Andrew Updegrove has done it again - delivered an impossible to put down thriller while exposing a dire cyber vulnerability that until now has gone unnoticed."
But How? The CIA turns to cybersecurity super sleuth Frank Adversego to find the answer. In a race against time, Frank must overcome personal as well as cyber trials to save the Western world from destruction. When he does, he discovers an all-too-real vulnerability that may lead to our own downfall – not at some theoretical point in the future, but as soon as tomorrow.
In the words of “world’s most famous hacker” Kevin Mitnick:
"Andrew Updegrove has done it again - delivered an impossible to put down thriller while exposing a dire cyber vulnerability that until now has gone unnoticed."
244 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2016
145 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Updegrove
12 books71 followersMy career as a fiction writer began when a line of interior dialogue occurred to me while walking my dog in the rain. That line turned into a character, and that character turned into the foundation for my first book. A second and a third followed (and then a fourth and a fifth, with the sixth on the way), based on the same character: an "everyman" cybersecurity specialist who is brilliant but socially challenged. Each book is a satirical thriller that highlights the risks of our continuing dependency on technology in general, and the Internet in particular. The exploits in the books have demonstrated a disturbing tendency to later actually happen in the real world.
When I'm not writing, I'm working with high tech clients, including those that create the standards and systems that make cybersecurity possible. When I'm not writing or predicting the next cyber-disaster, I'm likely to be roaming the back country of the American southwest in my Jeep, scouting out settings for his next book. I spend summers on an island off the coast of Maine and winters in southwest Florida.
When I'm not writing, I'm working with high tech clients, including those that create the standards and systems that make cybersecurity possible. When I'm not writing or predicting the next cyber-disaster, I'm likely to be roaming the back country of the American southwest in my Jeep, scouting out settings for his next book. I spend summers on an island off the coast of Maine and winters in southwest Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 9, 2017
I love Frank Adversego and I think Andrew Updegrove has created one of those enduring characters that I will return to again and again. This is not the first book I have read by this author and I am now a serious fan. Fantastic ability to tell a story with an eye for detail and intelligent plotting that has me somewhat in awe. Rarely do I read a book that is truly original but this is one of them. When an author tells a tale of the near future, they are almost setting themselves up for failure because unlike sci-fi for example, where we will probably never find out if such things can happen, this book deals with an all too present terrorist threat in our lives. That this is happening, could happen is all very much in the now and that makes this book current, vibrant and exciting. Five unquestionable stars, don’t hesitate, go find this book and this author today.
May 1, 2018
Doodlebug
The Doodlebug War is a great addition to the series. Frank has ventured out on his own as a private cyber detective. But he's finding that, like getting in shape, implementation is much more difficult than planning. Just when he realizes he needs to be more proactive toward finding work, his old boss and mentor calls with another contract job. This one comes with a nondisclosure agreement up front and a bright young assistant. Their job is to find out what the Caliphate is planning so it can be countered before harm comes to American soil. But the attacks begin before the taskforce can decipher their communications. And when Frank does make headway, his ideas are discounted without further investigation. Worse, he's told to abandon his theory. But an actual private job Frank takes on has an oblique connection to the puzzle he's trying to solve for the CIA. And fortunately for the U.S., Frank can be very tenacious when problem solving.
I'm looking forward to book four next.
The Doodlebug War is a great addition to the series. Frank has ventured out on his own as a private cyber detective. But he's finding that, like getting in shape, implementation is much more difficult than planning. Just when he realizes he needs to be more proactive toward finding work, his old boss and mentor calls with another contract job. This one comes with a nondisclosure agreement up front and a bright young assistant. Their job is to find out what the Caliphate is planning so it can be countered before harm comes to American soil. But the attacks begin before the taskforce can decipher their communications. And when Frank does make headway, his ideas are discounted without further investigation. Worse, he's told to abandon his theory. But an actual private job Frank takes on has an oblique connection to the puzzle he's trying to solve for the CIA. And fortunately for the U.S., Frank can be very tenacious when problem solving.
I'm looking forward to book four next.
July 3, 2018
Great Read!
Once again, I find it hard to say anything negative about this book or its author. It moves at a quick pace, making it seem shorter than it was, and was hard to put down once I picked it up. I usually read to help me sleep, but these books have all kept me up late because I just can't put it down. I really enjoyed the "hero" and his family problems; makes him seem more real. Read and enjoy!
Once again, I find it hard to say anything negative about this book or its author. It moves at a quick pace, making it seem shorter than it was, and was hard to put down once I picked it up. I usually read to help me sleep, but these books have all kept me up late because I just can't put it down. I really enjoyed the "hero" and his family problems; makes him seem more real. Read and enjoy!
October 12, 2018
Technology and romantic introspection all in one incredible story
A fascinating and very credible threat revealed in this story with real characters. One is surprised by Frank’s feelings being so intimately examined in a spy thriller. But it was refreshing to see the characters as whole people, not just one sided people who have no other life or history than the chase they are involved with .
A fascinating and very credible threat revealed in this story with real characters. One is surprised by Frank’s feelings being so intimately examined in a spy thriller. But it was refreshing to see the characters as whole people, not just one sided people who have no other life or history than the chase they are involved with .
November 17, 2017
Awesome!
This third story of Frank was just as fun as the other two! I love how the author was us along Frank's thought process and helps us understand the different scenarios and possible outcomes of the different clues Frank comes across as the author writes the story. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a lighthearted thriller.
This third story of Frank was just as fun as the other two! I love how the author was us along Frank's thought process and helps us understand the different scenarios and possible outcomes of the different clues Frank comes across as the author writes the story. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a lighthearted thriller.
March 28, 2018
A Good Read
I have enjoyed each of the books in this series. The character of Frank is down to earth with an ability to see patterns where others don't. What I have enjoyed most is the growth of Frank in coming to grips with his humanity and not just being a computer geek. Good story and I look forward to the next book.
I have enjoyed each of the books in this series. The character of Frank is down to earth with an ability to see patterns where others don't. What I have enjoyed most is the growth of Frank in coming to grips with his humanity and not just being a computer geek. Good story and I look forward to the next book.
October 23, 2018
A nice surprise.
I'd stepped away from techno-thrillers for a long while, and this one popped up on my feed and I figured I'd give it a whirl (I'm glad I did).
It's not the lead book of a series, so there is some back story that I don't know about. I'll keep my eyes open for more books in the series and if the price is right I'll grab them up.
I'd stepped away from techno-thrillers for a long while, and this one popped up on my feed and I figured I'd give it a whirl (I'm glad I did).
It's not the lead book of a series, so there is some back story that I don't know about. I'll keep my eyes open for more books in the series and if the price is right I'll grab them up.
April 5, 2024
I've read three books in the series now and the don't disappoint. Often they have extraneous stuff that doesn't have any point in the book, but for the most point the series is quite enjoyable. I think that's all the books in the series that I own, and I don't think I'll buy more, but I've enjoyed what I had. Just as a side note, it's pretty tame on the language and sex so it's pretty safe.
April 16, 2018
Unfortunate Title for a Weighty Subject
Serious writing addressing security issues too seldom discussed or considered in the rush for profit. Sobering and frightening at the same time.
Serious writing addressing security issues too seldom discussed or considered in the rush for profit. Sobering and frightening at the same time.
August 11, 2019
Unusual mix 4.5 nothing’s perfect.
Scary too believable thought provoking tech tale with protagonist not a know it all superhuman, dealing with his past coming to grips with his failings of the past.
Scary too believable thought provoking tech tale with protagonist not a know it all superhuman, dealing with his past coming to grips with his failings of the past.
May 16, 2020
Technical
An intriguing story about computer web servers . While this became quite a lengthy procedural the storyline was very good. For me there was to much tech explanation and jumping from the base story to the main character 's personal story.
An intriguing story about computer web servers . While this became quite a lengthy procedural the storyline was very good. For me there was to much tech explanation and jumping from the base story to the main character 's personal story.
March 11, 2017
My third in the Frank Adversego Thriller series written by the author.
Basically, having sat on what to say for a few months since finishing the book, I'm still feeling that both the plot and character work are growing steadily, while the content-tech-plot-issue at stake has intensified into an unfortunately all too recognizable critical reality.
That's good and that's bad.
It's bad because there's not much escape from reality - if that is what one is looking for in one's fiction.
It's good because, couched in story form, and embedded in the life of like-able, evolving Frank Adversego, I can see and understand - and shudder - at cutting edge current problems inherent in today's - not tomorrow's, not ten years from now - technology.
My true rating for this book is just above 4 1/2. The issue was the slight similarity in speaking styles among the characters, and the maybe too slight veneer of ugliness of a mass-people incident near the beginning of the book. But I asked myself, how WOULD I have wanted to read about that tragedy (or series there of)? In gruesome prolonged detail? No. So how / why should I complain? Thus an easy five star otherwise.
And with the steady humanizing humorous development of the main character, Frank Adversego, I have no qualms waiting to buy the next installment (smiles).
The contrast between the character's often timid but-getting-better attempts to deal with both his own life and what's happening to our lives via bad guys and technology is for me a very winning combination.
Basically, having sat on what to say for a few months since finishing the book, I'm still feeling that both the plot and character work are growing steadily, while the content-tech-plot-issue at stake has intensified into an unfortunately all too recognizable critical reality.
That's good and that's bad.
It's bad because there's not much escape from reality - if that is what one is looking for in one's fiction.
It's good because, couched in story form, and embedded in the life of like-able, evolving Frank Adversego, I can see and understand - and shudder - at cutting edge current problems inherent in today's - not tomorrow's, not ten years from now - technology.
My true rating for this book is just above 4 1/2. The issue was the slight similarity in speaking styles among the characters, and the maybe too slight veneer of ugliness of a mass-people incident near the beginning of the book. But I asked myself, how WOULD I have wanted to read about that tragedy (or series there of)? In gruesome prolonged detail? No. So how / why should I complain? Thus an easy five star otherwise.
And with the steady humanizing humorous development of the main character, Frank Adversego, I have no qualms waiting to buy the next installment (smiles).
The contrast between the character's often timid but-getting-better attempts to deal with both his own life and what's happening to our lives via bad guys and technology is for me a very winning combination.
June 25, 2017
Doodlebug
This was a thrilling book to read. If all this cyber stuff is real, it is scary. Time to get the emergency packs ready and the truck gased up.
This was a thrilling book to read. If all this cyber stuff is real, it is scary. Time to get the emergency packs ready and the truck gased up.
December 27, 2017
Andrew Updegrove's Frank Adversego Series is a
MUST READ! If you enjoy well written Thrillers
you do not want to miss this series.
MUST READ! If you enjoy well written Thrillers
you do not want to miss this series.
April 8, 2019
Exciting
Totally engrossed - couldn’t stop reading! Intriguing theme, believable plot and characters. Clean. Liked the windup - good ending and highly recommended.
Totally engrossed - couldn’t stop reading! Intriguing theme, believable plot and characters. Clean. Liked the windup - good ending and highly recommended.
March 19, 2017
Another good mystery. This author creates a world where we can solve some of the big problems that actually hang over our society.
December 27, 2016
Free lance cyber sleuth gets co-opted by the CIA to investigate cyber security of massive servers around the country and their vulnerabilities in the face of ISIS type attacks on NYC and an outbreak of bubonic plague spread by infected puppies in pet stores. Finding and thwarting attacks on the massive server buildings in the face of federal security obstruction and massive lobbying by a company trying to get a favorable bill passed and work the system for their profit. While it is fiction it points up some real vulnerabilities in the way the "cloud" servers are run and the catastrophic results if they are taken out. Food for thought.
November 13, 2016
The Doodlebug War manages to finesse that fine point between action and thriller, giving us a tense read with plenty of moments of action and emotion interspersed throughout. There’s also a turtle. But the seriously scary thing about Updegrove’s books is he finds those little things that no one thinks about and finds ways to tighten the screws on them. If you like thrillers and thinking-person’s books, try one of them out. You won’t be disappointed.
June 1, 2019
Great story
A combination of technological and human problems make the guy’s battle a tough one. I know this is fiction but I’m glad I’m retired and don’t have to worry about life in that lane, but on the other hand if the internet disappeared my daily get caught up on the world activities would be a lot more work.
A combination of technological and human problems make the guy’s battle a tough one. I know this is fiction but I’m glad I’m retired and don’t have to worry about life in that lane, but on the other hand if the internet disappeared my daily get caught up on the world activities would be a lot more work.
April 13, 2017
Great book! will now go back and read the series
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews