The Lady Is Bugged

by Barry Fulton

The Lady is Bugged is the second in a series featuring Thomas Sebastian Scott, Jorge Luis Rodriguez, and Felicity Phillips. After spending a career as an intelligence agent, the fictional Scott has retired to the real life town of Berkeley Springs in the panhandle of West Virginia. Jorge Luis Rodriguez is a NYPD Detective who, like Scott, specializes in cyber-security. In the first book in the series-Flame: Hackers, Artists, Lovers, and Spies-Rodriguez is smitten by Felicity, a talented artist well known in Berkeley Springs for her docent duties at the Ice House Gallery and her secretive past. With a population scarcely more than six hundred, Berkeley Springs is rated as one of the finest small art towns in America. Founded in the 18th century, it was first named after Bath, England, for its hot springs, which continue to attract tourists. In addition to Thomas Scott and Felicity Phillips, the fictional population of the town includes Father Sean Kelly, known for his joyful limericks and good humor; Counselor Spencer Cobb, famed for his skill as a defense attorney and occasional bouts of sobriety; and Terry Hightower, who shares with Jorge unrequited romantic affection for Felicity. Two old friends from nearby Martinsburg, Roy and Ray, appear occasionally in the novel to capture the humor of rural Appalachia. The novel opens in the Rare Book Room of the Library of Congress where Scott is reflecting on his career, followed by a disturbing scene with Sharmien, a Pakistani nurse who saved his life years earlier. After a clandestine meeting with Iranian diplomat Ismael Karimi at the Bedford Springs Resort, Scott is about to be tapped for an assignment to Italy when his security clearance is withdrawn. He has unwittingly disclosed his real identity. The balance of the novel-set in Manhattan, Brighton Beach, Rome, Sorrento, and Venice-involves a kidnapping, a murder, a threat to the lives of Western leaders, and a surprising development in robotic technology. Readers of the first book in the series will not be surprised by the return of the psychotic Russian-American computer genius Vladimir Petrov. A highlight of the story is the introduction of a young intelligence analyst, Rachel Sullivan, who surprises Scott with her extraordinary skills and savvy intuition. http: //www.fultonpub.com

282 pages, Paperback

Published November 12, 2015

About the author

Barry Fulton is a retired Foreign Service Officer, former Air Force officer, management consultant, and occasional university lecturer. He has been posted to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey and to American Embassies in Islamabad, Tokyo, and Rome. He also served at the US Mission to NATO in Brussels. Specializing in diplomacy and information technology, he is a management consultant at the Department of State and serves on the Board of Directors of InterMedia and is a member of the Washington Institute of Foreign Afairs. He lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with his wife MaryAnn and spends weekends in a cabin near Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.

Reviews

[Barry Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the author, I think it's okay.

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Lady Is Bugged, we have:
– a poet-priest, an aged-out spy (reminds me of BBC's Johnny Worricker), a beleaguered NYPD Detective, a sometimes-sober attorney, a small-town sheriff, a Pakistani nurse, an ex-wife and a kidnapped mistress. . .
– hackers, the Russkaya mafiya, Iranians, the FBI . . .
– as well as, nine references to something called the "Boris Puzzle" with no explanation.

Not having read the previous installment, Flame: Hackers, Artists, Lovers, and Spies, I'd have liked an intro paragraph on these characters. The description from its Goodreads Page would have sufficed.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book as an ARC from Goodreads.
I really enjoyed reading this book. There were multiple elements and plot lines to it, that Barry bounces around to, eventually connecting them all. I will say, I was completely surprised, (pleasantly) by so many different things included in this story. Intrigue, espionage, romance, suspense and sometimes I felt there was a slight touch of humor. The characters are believable and enjoyable. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through a Goodread Giveaway. Not having read the previous book I was a little lost. There were so many characters and different plot lines to keep straight, and the author keep bouncing around. Intrigue, espionage, romance, suspense, and unique characters…it was hard to follow at times but overall I did enjoy the story. An enjoyable read.

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Mr Fulton, Benvenuto Press, Kindle and of course Goodreads for a goo read. It's fun to read a book and think I have been there and this book did that for me. I remembered a weekend with my deceased mother at the Country Inn and an anniversary dinner at Bedford Springs. I addition to my memories this was a really good story. Thanks

[Amy Ingalls · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway. I don't normally enter giveaways for the second book in a series unless I have read the first. For this reason, I was quite lost for the first 1/4 of the book. I enjoyed the story but would definitely recommend reading them in order.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is has a nice storyline and is a quick read

[Roxann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through goodreads giveaway

[Lee Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this for free through Goodreads First Reads

This was a quick easy read. It was a bit flat at times but overall was very good.