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Enigma Key

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Eddie York—manhunter, codebreaker—is set on a dangerous mission by the last wishes of his deceased grandfather, a prominent member of the Guardian Group, a secret agency designed to protect the world from dangerous new technologies falling into the wrong hands.

Eddie is tasked to recover the Enigma Key, an object that holds the balance of worldly power. Using information from an old computer game that his grandfather had created to hide the key’s location, and working with unlikely allies, he must fight his way through a sequence of challenges for an answer that reaches into history.

If Eddie and his team don’t recover the Enigma Key before their enemies, then nobody or nothing will be safe again.



Enigma Key is the first book in an exciting new series from Colin F. Barnes and Darren Wearmouth. Written for fans of thriller and action fiction who love fast-paced twists and turns. Mixing history and cutting-edge technology, Barnes and Wearmouth invite you into a new world of fast-paced, exciting adventures.

389 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2018

70 people are currently reading
51 people want to read

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Tom Defoe

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5 stars
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36 (33%)
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24 (22%)
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Meenaz Lodhi.
1,022 reviews86 followers
March 22, 2018
Wow! This is an exciting and full of enigmas adventure/thriller. Mystery and secrets in search of riddles and clues through a game left by Eddy’s grandfather. I was totally immersed in the story. I was with them too, trying to solve the riddles taking us to different countries, the persecution from governments, corporations and a secret society. Excellent character definitions, fast paced, an engaging and diverse team, lots of action. I had so much fun and thrill! I definitely recommend to read the first book of a great series! I was given this ARC in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!
146 reviews4 followers
March 19, 2018
*The author graciously sent me an ARC*
What a fun book! Defoe & Wearmouth combined intrigue, plot twists, heart stopping chases, and yes, a lot of fun. Eddie York was raised by his grandfather Brigham. A beyond talented man who instilled a sense of pride in working with Eddie, who lived to solve puzzles with and just be with his grandfather. However, when Brigham is found dead in his workshop, he started in motion an adventure that tested Eddie. His mind, his skills, but used to working alone, he has no choice but to follow his grandfather's instructions and "choose" for Eddie comrades to help save the world from technology that cannot at any cost fall into the wrong hands. The Enigma Key is a fast paced exciting book that will have you guessing up to the last page. Well done, Defoe & Wearmouth. Now hurry up with the sequel!
Profile Image for Brad.
704 reviews3 followers
March 20, 2018
Fantastic Start of This Series!

Wow! Some books you can’t put down and you race through the pages. This story is one I couldn’t put down, but I didn’t zip from start to finish. There are plenty of interesting clues and puzzles throughout the book that you want to stop and solve.

Every good series needs a start where an interesting and diverse group come together to form a successful team. This delivers in spades (for you Pinochle players). The twists and turns are often unexpected and plausible. Eddie and his teammates are people you want to know better.

I look forward to the further adventures of our protagonist, Eddie, along with Zoya and the rest of his team.
Profile Image for Julie.
307 reviews10 followers
June 2, 2018
This is a really great book if you grew up with the birth of computing and computer gaming (as I did), it really brings back the memories.

Eddie York is the main character of the book, his grandfather Brigham York also plays a lead role, but he is dead. Brigham has left Eddie a trail of clues which he must solve and follow in order to find the Enigma Key and save the world.

The clues need knowledge of the world of Flux, which was a computer game and also a comic that Brigham wrote for Eddie when he was a child.

Eddie's adventure starts at the point of receiving a letter advising him to visit his grandfather's grave prior to visiting the solicitors for the reading of his grandfather's final will. Even getting to the solicitors requires Eddie to have his wits about him. The true race for the prize starts from then on.

Eddie meets up with various individuals during the quest set by his grandfather, some are friendly allies, some are yet to show their true colours and some are outright evil 'so and so's'. Some of the allies join up with Eddie to help him move forward with his time critical quest to save the world. Of those, Sol and Gert are two who are with him from the start, while others join him as he goes along (don't want to spoil it, so I won't say who).

The only thing that mildly irritated me was the 'love interest' at the very end. It wasn't really needed, it was so formulaic really, as if pandering to the masses. It is one of the things that really irritates me in stories - people don't have to 'fall in love'!
 
"A wave hit them. Eddie’s head sank below the freezing water. He kicked his legs, bursting back to the surface as fast as he could."


I received an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[I have seen 3 authors listed for this book, Tom Defoe, Darren Wearmouth & Colin F Barnes]
Profile Image for Betty.
286 reviews8 followers
June 30, 2019
I really enjoyed this Eddie York thriller. My edition is a thick paperback, so I knew it would take a few days to read.

What happens when the fate of the world is in your hands, and the rest of the world is trying to kill you?

I loved the retro computers, and British humour too, especially with reference to a computer age long gone. It appealed to see a technological now being dependent on old computers. The days of text adventures are long gone, but this brought it all out and i have to admit I miss them.

The action is fast paced and never lets up right until the end. One of the problems with this kind of book is that it soon becomes predictable. But in this case, it doesn't. The plot swerves work well and keep the action flowing.

I really enjoyed this.
Profile Image for Jessi Bone.
308 reviews8 followers
September 17, 2018
I absolutely adored this book. The Enigma Key introduces us to Eddie York a man who barries his grandpa to learn that the ultimate prize at the end of a puzzle is the truth of who you are and what you are made of and of everything you think you know is only as truthful as the past. I am excited to see when Barnes and Wearmouth go with this series. Watching Eddie grow in the Enigma Key makes you put stock in where he goes from here.
25 reviews
March 29, 2018
A little slow in the storyline

While I really enjoyed the last 3 chapters, getting there was a drag. The concept was interesting and has definite merits. The writing was too wordy and developed a little slowly. Not my personal preference, though I’m sure other readers will love it. Best thing: minimal foul language.
Profile Image for Fiona.
303 reviews9 followers
August 17, 2018
This book was great fun. It's hard to describe as it's part thriller part scifi. If like me you remember the early days of adventure games on the computer you will like this. It ties a computer game with a real life adenture. I found the characters likeable and the adventure intriguing So much so I immediately bought the second book. Great fun i look forward to more
52 reviews1 follower
May 15, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, and found myself kept wanting to turn the page to see what happened next! It was an interesting subject matter, who doesnt want to go on an adventure and solve puzzles (ideally without people trying to kill you of course!) and "save" the world! Great pace and a brilliant twist at the end that I didnt expect!
146 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, really well written and entertaining. Lots of twists and turns, techie and retro bits, puzzle solving and action and adventure. All joined up in one book to give a really good read. I really recommend that you read this book you will not be disappointed.
Profile Image for Greer Andjanetta.
1,430 reviews7 followers
August 9, 2018
A story inspired by the stories of Dan Brown in which the hero (and a girl) search for a hidden treasure following a set of vague, coded clues. A reasonable story, very easy to read, almost as if it were aimed at a juvenile audience. Worth a look.
5 reviews
March 30, 2018
Enjoyable read!

Really like the story. Nice twist on a few different things that have been done before. Looking forward to more adventures from the gang.
Profile Image for Kathy.
610 reviews12 followers
June 29, 2018
This book is quite unique and I enjoyed it a lot. Nonstop action and a fun set of characters.
Profile Image for Richard Farley.
116 reviews7 followers
December 25, 2018
Enjoyable read

A good start to a series. Good characters and fast plot. Look forward to the developments in the next book.
1,590 reviews
March 31, 2019
Really unique storyline. The older generation will especially appreciate the role playing computer game within the story -- the DOS-based type without graphics. Truly enjoyable story.
1,164 reviews5 followers
August 1, 2021
I didn't get any sleep until I had finished the book!
I really enjoyed reading this! A wonderful combination of thriller, mystery, puzzle, geek and history. Great plot twists and wonderful ideas. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
9 reviews
March 18, 2019
Slow start, middle to end a page turner

I almost stopped reading this book several times. It had a lot of insignificant information that slowed the story down. Even half way through, there were bits of frivolous information that I learned to skip . All in all, my interest picked up. There weren't any horrible grammatical errors that I seem to find annoying in some of the other kindle books. The story line, as well as the ending, become easily predictable yet enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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