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Grey File
In the near future, Agent Castor Bohr—one of the CDIB's top murder investigators —finds himself embroiled in an investigation into the murder of a prominent military scientist. Quickly, he's fighting to match wits with an untraceable killer while trying to break in a new partner and navigate the growing political storm building around his case. But Bohr's life is quickly imploding around him. Political forces have turned his past against him by using his ex-wife as a cat's paw, even as his twin brother is fading with cancer. As the killer begins to accelerate his plans, Agent Bohr finds that the stakes have never been higher and that the jurisdictional power of his case may not be enough to bring this killer to justice.
Grey File is the first entry in Rob Bartley's "Vengeance Dawning" series. This near-future murder mystery explores the bleeding edge of where the data of our connected world touches the darkest impulses of the human condition.
Written by the author of the "Sons of Texas" occult urban fantasy series, Grey File turns up the heat as the clock ticks, and the advance toward a larger conspiracy looms.
Grey File is the first entry in Rob Bartley's "Vengeance Dawning" series. This near-future murder mystery explores the bleeding edge of where the data of our connected world touches the darkest impulses of the human condition.
Written by the author of the "Sons of Texas" occult urban fantasy series, Grey File turns up the heat as the clock ticks, and the advance toward a larger conspiracy looms.
296 pages, Paperback
Published August 19, 2022
About the author
Rob Bartley
11 books1 followerRob Bartley is a self-proclaimed nerd and avid D&D player.
Being immersed in the worlds of Fantasy and Science Fiction since the early 80s, Rob's journey as an author began with “The Stars at Knight.” His debut novel was the first of a four-book series, drawing readers into a Texas-centric "Supernatural" adventure. The novel was met with critical acclaim, earning him the 2023 Gold Medal for the Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence in the category of Supernatural Fiction.
He continued his storytelling journey with “Grey File,” a near-future science fiction thriller blending elements of the "Minority Report" and Tom Clancy. The technothriller won the 2023 Silver Medal for the Spring Bookfest in the category of Sci-Fi Crime & Mystery.
Now, Rob is stepping into the realm of fantasy with his seventh novel, "The Unnamed Goddess." His first foray into the fantasy genre promises to engage readers with his rich storytelling and imaginative world-building.
Being immersed in the worlds of Fantasy and Science Fiction since the early 80s, Rob's journey as an author began with “The Stars at Knight.” His debut novel was the first of a four-book series, drawing readers into a Texas-centric "Supernatural" adventure. The novel was met with critical acclaim, earning him the 2023 Gold Medal for the Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence in the category of Supernatural Fiction.
He continued his storytelling journey with “Grey File,” a near-future science fiction thriller blending elements of the "Minority Report" and Tom Clancy. The technothriller won the 2023 Silver Medal for the Spring Bookfest in the category of Sci-Fi Crime & Mystery.
Now, Rob is stepping into the realm of fantasy with his seventh novel, "The Unnamed Goddess." His first foray into the fantasy genre promises to engage readers with his rich storytelling and imaginative world-building.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 20, 2022
This is a project that I’ve been excited about for quite some time.
I grew up reading detective novels from great authors like Robert B. Parker’s “Spencer for hire” series or “To the Hilt” by Dick Francis. Pour on top of that all of the buddy cop and police procedurals I’ve watched over the years, and it felt like it was only a matter of time before I had to try my hand in this genre.
The idea of working on a near-future sci-fi was born from another classic movie. “Blade Runner” was so ahead of its time in terms of effects, and yet the very human questions of the storyline made it a film that connects on various emotional levels.
The natural conclusion to my interests was to delve into the future to draw out a story that I feel touches on both of these waypoints. From the mystery side, looking at the motivations of the protagonist, Castor Bohr, for how and why he’s dedicated himself to bringing order into a disorderly world was an enriching opportunity to engross myself in writing in a first-person voice. Giving the reader access to how Cass navigates his job, relationships, and the case was a rewarding process to flesh out.
Conversely, imagining a world in the not too distant future, where the effects of the amount of data that we generate are used against us, was not a difficult task. We already carry self-tracking GPS units that record our movements, conversations and actions in the name of convenience. What was more interesting to me was the concept of what I believe is the inevitable societal self-correction as people become less enamored of being manipulated through access to our data.
So many books have been written about our American dedication to the First Amendment or the Second Amendment, but how many times have you considered the daily intrusions on your life in the area of the Fourth Amendment?
” The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
How many lines does the government cross in the manipulation and use of our private and public data?
My story is hardly exhaustive on the subject, but I enjoy touching on it, and I look to continue poking the idea with a stick to see what it yields in the future.
Until then, I hope that you enjoy “Grey File.” I look forward to the conversations and doing another book signing or two. Thank you for your continued support.
Remember the Alamo,
Rob
I grew up reading detective novels from great authors like Robert B. Parker’s “Spencer for hire” series or “To the Hilt” by Dick Francis. Pour on top of that all of the buddy cop and police procedurals I’ve watched over the years, and it felt like it was only a matter of time before I had to try my hand in this genre.
The idea of working on a near-future sci-fi was born from another classic movie. “Blade Runner” was so ahead of its time in terms of effects, and yet the very human questions of the storyline made it a film that connects on various emotional levels.
The natural conclusion to my interests was to delve into the future to draw out a story that I feel touches on both of these waypoints. From the mystery side, looking at the motivations of the protagonist, Castor Bohr, for how and why he’s dedicated himself to bringing order into a disorderly world was an enriching opportunity to engross myself in writing in a first-person voice. Giving the reader access to how Cass navigates his job, relationships, and the case was a rewarding process to flesh out.
Conversely, imagining a world in the not too distant future, where the effects of the amount of data that we generate are used against us, was not a difficult task. We already carry self-tracking GPS units that record our movements, conversations and actions in the name of convenience. What was more interesting to me was the concept of what I believe is the inevitable societal self-correction as people become less enamored of being manipulated through access to our data.
So many books have been written about our American dedication to the First Amendment or the Second Amendment, but how many times have you considered the daily intrusions on your life in the area of the Fourth Amendment?
” The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
How many lines does the government cross in the manipulation and use of our private and public data?
My story is hardly exhaustive on the subject, but I enjoy touching on it, and I look to continue poking the idea with a stick to see what it yields in the future.
Until then, I hope that you enjoy “Grey File.” I look forward to the conversations and doing another book signing or two. Thank you for your continued support.
Remember the Alamo,
Rob
Displaying 1 of 1 review