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Will Parker Thriller #1
Broken Genius
For Will Parker, it’s about personal redemption after a disastrous mistake
In 2011, Will Parker, the young prodigy CEO of a big tech company makes a coding mistake that costs a college student her life. To assuage his guilt, Will pursues a career in the FBI Cyber Division.
Now, Special Agent Will Parker is called to investigate a murder scene at a Comic Con event in the Midwest, where the victim has ties to a radioactive quantum computer that Will was working on before he left his gig as CEO.
Working with smart local homicide detective Dana Lopez and FBI stuffed-shirt Thomas Decker, Will discovers the victim was holding an auction for the computer on the Dark Web—and the bidding is still live.
With bidders including a legendary Chinese hacker, Russian criminals sent by the Kremlin, and a corporate executive desperate to escape a scandal, Will once again finds a life in his hands when the victim’s daughter is taken hostage. A trail of blood and high-tech breadcrumbs leads Will deeper into mystery, danger, and a race against time to keep unlimited power out of the wrong hands.
Perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and James Patterson
In 2011, Will Parker, the young prodigy CEO of a big tech company makes a coding mistake that costs a college student her life. To assuage his guilt, Will pursues a career in the FBI Cyber Division.
Now, Special Agent Will Parker is called to investigate a murder scene at a Comic Con event in the Midwest, where the victim has ties to a radioactive quantum computer that Will was working on before he left his gig as CEO.
Working with smart local homicide detective Dana Lopez and FBI stuffed-shirt Thomas Decker, Will discovers the victim was holding an auction for the computer on the Dark Web—and the bidding is still live.
With bidders including a legendary Chinese hacker, Russian criminals sent by the Kremlin, and a corporate executive desperate to escape a scandal, Will once again finds a life in his hands when the victim’s daughter is taken hostage. A trail of blood and high-tech breadcrumbs leads Will deeper into mystery, danger, and a race against time to keep unlimited power out of the wrong hands.
Perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and James Patterson
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2020
About the author
Drew Murray
2 books31 followersDrew Murray is a native of Ontario, Canada. After a corporate career in technology, he has transitioned into education and writing. He's an avid fan of Comic Cons, escape rooms, and board games, which positions him as the author of Broken Genius, his debut novel. Drew lives with his family in the London area.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
May 25, 2020
It turns out I really like cyber/techno thrillers and didn’t realise this until I started reading a few more. It is an odd genre choice for an older woman living in a remote area but I am not a Luddite by any means and had no trouble following the story. I even had some understanding of what a quantum computer actually is. And a Unicorn - which would be the tech world’s holy grail.
FBI Special Agent (cyber) Will Parker was a technological whizz kid who started his own software development company in his twenties. When the FBI came to him for help in exploiting a back door on one of his products to catch a killer, a careless mistake led to a woman’s death. Will wallowed in misery for a while then sold his company and joined the FBI. Fast forward to the present - a modest town in the midWest becomes the epicentre of a battle with world changing implications. A man named Roger Caplan has been killed at a Comic con, but what drew the interest of the FBI is the chatter that he was running an online auction on the dark web for the Fukushima Unicorn. The Unicorn is a portable quantum computer that was developed by a company in Fukushima. Will’s company was poised to buy them out and utilise the Unicorn for good of mankind when the earthquake struck and the Unicorn disappeared. Now, it’s back and so are the people who want a stake in it, the race is on! So Will is there for the Unicorn, he is partnered with Special Agent Decker who is after a super hacker known as Dragoniis who is expected to be chasing the Unicorn. They team up with local PD detective Dana Lopez, who is after the killer of Caplan. Then Caplan’s daughter is kidnapped and is being held to ransom for the Unicorn. Everybody wants her safe return. It turns into a race against time and a barrel of wits for all the players. They want to save the girl, catch the killer, catch Dragoniss and capture the Unicorn - but can it be done?
The plot was super interesting and the pace was nice and fast. I loved the chief protagonist, Will, his demeanour and dialogue really reminded me of Andrew Mayne’s computational biologist Dr Theo Cray, whom I also loved as a character. I like that Will was using his brains and his cyber skills to solve these crimes. While the technology may seem far fetched to some readers I am pretty sure it exists and that none of the things described in the book were impossible. But you don’t need to be a total geek to follow and enjoy this book. I found it very relatable. I really hope there is a sequel and that we see Will Parker in another thriller real soon. Many thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for providing me with a review copy.
FBI Special Agent (cyber) Will Parker was a technological whizz kid who started his own software development company in his twenties. When the FBI came to him for help in exploiting a back door on one of his products to catch a killer, a careless mistake led to a woman’s death. Will wallowed in misery for a while then sold his company and joined the FBI. Fast forward to the present - a modest town in the midWest becomes the epicentre of a battle with world changing implications. A man named Roger Caplan has been killed at a Comic con, but what drew the interest of the FBI is the chatter that he was running an online auction on the dark web for the Fukushima Unicorn. The Unicorn is a portable quantum computer that was developed by a company in Fukushima. Will’s company was poised to buy them out and utilise the Unicorn for good of mankind when the earthquake struck and the Unicorn disappeared. Now, it’s back and so are the people who want a stake in it, the race is on! So Will is there for the Unicorn, he is partnered with Special Agent Decker who is after a super hacker known as Dragoniis who is expected to be chasing the Unicorn. They team up with local PD detective Dana Lopez, who is after the killer of Caplan. Then Caplan’s daughter is kidnapped and is being held to ransom for the Unicorn. Everybody wants her safe return. It turns into a race against time and a barrel of wits for all the players. They want to save the girl, catch the killer, catch Dragoniss and capture the Unicorn - but can it be done?
The plot was super interesting and the pace was nice and fast. I loved the chief protagonist, Will, his demeanour and dialogue really reminded me of Andrew Mayne’s computational biologist Dr Theo Cray, whom I also loved as a character. I like that Will was using his brains and his cyber skills to solve these crimes. While the technology may seem far fetched to some readers I am pretty sure it exists and that none of the things described in the book were impossible. But you don’t need to be a total geek to follow and enjoy this book. I found it very relatable. I really hope there is a sequel and that we see Will Parker in another thriller real soon. Many thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for providing me with a review copy.
July 10, 2020
It takes a genius to write a book this well written and researched and Drew Murray reached the mark!
I love (!!) both tech thrillers and crime fiction. Put them together and you have Broken Genius, the debut book by author Drew Murray. This is a thriller that kept me up all night long reading from cover to cover and that is no exaggeration.
Will Parker was a twenty something tech genius set on a meteoric course for becoming one of the most successful tech gurus in the world - and the richest. Just as he is flying to Japan to ink the deal that will launch his new "invention," his program is inexplicably hacked and a young girl is murdered while millions watch in real time. Parker is finished. He sells his shares in his now failing company and hides in the shadows in shame. The FBI recruits him for his computer skills and thus our adventure begins. Set at a Comic-Con in Indiana (my home state, how could I not love this book? We have Gen-Con, for the record, not Comic Con) Will has been assigned a murder case to solve while searching for a missing supercomputer chip. Through his impressive technical skills and intellect, Will will attempt to out-maneuver the best of the best from all over the world.
Broken Genius is definitely a "must-read" for techies but it is a well written crime fiction novel as well. There is terrific character development, great dialogue in addition to fast paced action. I highly recommend Broken Genius and can NOT wait for Murray's next book to hit the shelves!!
I love (!!) both tech thrillers and crime fiction. Put them together and you have Broken Genius, the debut book by author Drew Murray. This is a thriller that kept me up all night long reading from cover to cover and that is no exaggeration.
Will Parker was a twenty something tech genius set on a meteoric course for becoming one of the most successful tech gurus in the world - and the richest. Just as he is flying to Japan to ink the deal that will launch his new "invention," his program is inexplicably hacked and a young girl is murdered while millions watch in real time. Parker is finished. He sells his shares in his now failing company and hides in the shadows in shame. The FBI recruits him for his computer skills and thus our adventure begins. Set at a Comic-Con in Indiana (my home state, how could I not love this book? We have Gen-Con, for the record, not Comic Con) Will has been assigned a murder case to solve while searching for a missing supercomputer chip. Through his impressive technical skills and intellect, Will will attempt to out-maneuver the best of the best from all over the world.
Broken Genius is definitely a "must-read" for techies but it is a well written crime fiction novel as well. There is terrific character development, great dialogue in addition to fast paced action. I highly recommend Broken Genius and can NOT wait for Murray's next book to hit the shelves!!
June 18, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this fast paced cyber thriller. I enjoyed following the characters, especially that of the uber wealthy Will Parker turned special agent, and the other detectives, Lopez and Decker. The plot was exciting and I really enjoyed the pacing of the book and the short chapters that made the book a super quick and fun read. The writing was clever and read like a movie to me. I really think that this could be a great start of a series. I really enjoyed this one.
June 10, 2020
After a rough couple of chapters that almost caused me to pack it in, this one took off - and kept me flying through the pages until the end. It's the first of what I assume will be a series featuring filthy rich former tech CEO and FBI Special Agent Will Parker, whose ego is exceeded only by his computer savvy. Put another way, he likes himself far more than I liked him (to which, of course, he'd say, so what?)
I'd also caution that if you're a total Luddite, this may not be the book for you. I'm probably somewhere in the middle - relatively undaunted by "everyday" devices like computers and cell phones and at least familiar with most techie jargon - but I admit to being a little confused about some of the finer details here. Basically, as I see it, Will left his uber-successful company and joined the FBI after a coding error resulted in a young woman's death. He can't seem to forgive himself for the error; whether that's because he truly believes he caused her gruesome demise or simply can't deal with the fact that he screwed up is a matter of conjecture, but for the purposes of this review, I'll go with wanting to compensate for the death.
Will gets a call for help when a murder happens at a Comic Con event; no big deal on its own, but the murder seems to be connected to a radioactive quantum computer - known as the Unicorn - that Will's company had sealed the deal to purchase when it went missing in a disaster. Needless to say, Will wants that Unicorn back - partly because it could wreak untold havoc if it fell into the wrong hands and, I presume, partly because his company owns it and would stand to reap substantial profits by bringing it back where it belongs.
At the Comic Con, he works mostly with local homicide detective Dana Lopez, who is (as expected) extremely competent, drop-dead gorgeous and has psychological issues similar to Will as well as FBI agent Thomas Decker, who gets off on being pushy, stubborn and generally a pain in the neck. Will soon learns that the murder victim may have been in possession of the Unicorn - at least, he was trying to auction it off on the Dark Web - and that there are high-stakes bidders who will stop at nothing to win, even if it means other murders and a kidnapping all too similar to the one that prompted him to ditch his company a few years earlier.
Sorting everything out makes for an action-packed chase that comes to an exciting end with more than a few bits, bytes and twists in between - as well as the most on-target words of advice I've read in a while (social media privacy complainers take note here), to-wit: "If you don't pay for the product, you are the product."
All told, I'm intrigued and totally down with trying the next book (well, except for one note to future copy editors: Puleeeze - unless you're British - there's only one "e" in the word "judgment"). That said, thanks to the publisher for offering me a copy in exchange for an honest review and introducing me to a solid new series.
I'd also caution that if you're a total Luddite, this may not be the book for you. I'm probably somewhere in the middle - relatively undaunted by "everyday" devices like computers and cell phones and at least familiar with most techie jargon - but I admit to being a little confused about some of the finer details here. Basically, as I see it, Will left his uber-successful company and joined the FBI after a coding error resulted in a young woman's death. He can't seem to forgive himself for the error; whether that's because he truly believes he caused her gruesome demise or simply can't deal with the fact that he screwed up is a matter of conjecture, but for the purposes of this review, I'll go with wanting to compensate for the death.
Will gets a call for help when a murder happens at a Comic Con event; no big deal on its own, but the murder seems to be connected to a radioactive quantum computer - known as the Unicorn - that Will's company had sealed the deal to purchase when it went missing in a disaster. Needless to say, Will wants that Unicorn back - partly because it could wreak untold havoc if it fell into the wrong hands and, I presume, partly because his company owns it and would stand to reap substantial profits by bringing it back where it belongs.
At the Comic Con, he works mostly with local homicide detective Dana Lopez, who is (as expected) extremely competent, drop-dead gorgeous and has psychological issues similar to Will as well as FBI agent Thomas Decker, who gets off on being pushy, stubborn and generally a pain in the neck. Will soon learns that the murder victim may have been in possession of the Unicorn - at least, he was trying to auction it off on the Dark Web - and that there are high-stakes bidders who will stop at nothing to win, even if it means other murders and a kidnapping all too similar to the one that prompted him to ditch his company a few years earlier.
Sorting everything out makes for an action-packed chase that comes to an exciting end with more than a few bits, bytes and twists in between - as well as the most on-target words of advice I've read in a while (social media privacy complainers take note here), to-wit: "If you don't pay for the product, you are the product."
All told, I'm intrigued and totally down with trying the next book (well, except for one note to future copy editors: Puleeeze - unless you're British - there's only one "e" in the word "judgment"). That said, thanks to the publisher for offering me a copy in exchange for an honest review and introducing me to a solid new series.
October 6, 2020
I do love a good FBI procedural and even though this was way beyond my technology expertise, I enjoyed it a great deal. Protagonist Will made a mistake in his early years that inadvertently caused the death of a young kidnapping victim and vows to do better so he joins the FBI as a special agent. Now the case is a murder at Comic Con and the belief is it's tied to a deal with the Japanese surrounding a "super computer" that was thwarted years ago when a tsunami hit the island and destroyed much of it. So will is back in his element as a tech wizard who is brilliant at breaking codes and passwords that no one else can. Lots of action in this novel and it moves along at a great pace. I'm guessing there's a sequel in the works as well!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
June 8, 2020
BROKEN GENIUS shares its title with another book, one that details the rise and fall of William Shockley, dubbed The Father of Silicon Valley. Like Shockley, series launch protagonist Will Parker is an electronics wizard, but Parker became a billionaire in his 20s. In this astounding debut, Parker’s fortune bursts like the dotcom bubble, not by worthless stocks but during Japan’s 2011 Fukushima earthquake and tsunami. When Parker had planned to arrive in Japan, he’d “close a deal that would put [his] name alongside Jobs, Gates, and Zuckerberg.”
Parker’s deal was to sell his innovative quantum computer to Fukushima Semiconductor. The night his private jet was to whisk him to Japan, his company’s valuable livestreaming video-messaging system is hacked. College student Kate Mason has been kidnapped and mutilated --- while alive. Videos of the gruesome torture-murder are transmitted by Parker’s technology, but the location-tracking feature fails. His company CastorNet is doomed, its security features worthless.
A genius broken by nightmares of Mason’s livestreamed homicide, Parker becomes a special agent for the FBI’s Cyber Division and is “called for any major case with a tech angle.” The FBI investigates the murder of convention-vendor Roger Caplan, finding traces of radioactive material matching the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown: the same radioactive fingerprint that contaminated the Fukushima Unicorn quantum computer prototype, one that makes a traditional computer “look like an abacus.”
Dragoniis is “the most skilled and prolific hacker in Asia” and is after the Unicorn --- as are other nefarious contenders, including Kremlin criminals. “Every cyber warfare tactic they’d employed would be elevated to unstoppable with a quantum computer.” Fortunately for the world’s salvation, Parker teams up with brilliant homicide detective Dana Lopez and dogmatic by-the-book FBI agent Thomas Decker. The trio chases Dragoniis through a crowded Comic-Con gathering in scenes reminiscent of those in John Grisham’s 1993 film adaptation of The Firm, differing only in that the good guys chase bad.
This classic good-versus-evil, high-tech novel will intrigue computer geeks and a squad of Comic-Con fans, along with anyone who enjoys a well-crafted thriller.
After a corporate technology career in Ontario, Canada, the author transitioned to education and writing. An avid fan of Comic-Con and escape-room games, Drew Murray honors the key tenet of other talented authors: Write what you know. Eh?
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
Parker’s deal was to sell his innovative quantum computer to Fukushima Semiconductor. The night his private jet was to whisk him to Japan, his company’s valuable livestreaming video-messaging system is hacked. College student Kate Mason has been kidnapped and mutilated --- while alive. Videos of the gruesome torture-murder are transmitted by Parker’s technology, but the location-tracking feature fails. His company CastorNet is doomed, its security features worthless.
A genius broken by nightmares of Mason’s livestreamed homicide, Parker becomes a special agent for the FBI’s Cyber Division and is “called for any major case with a tech angle.” The FBI investigates the murder of convention-vendor Roger Caplan, finding traces of radioactive material matching the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown: the same radioactive fingerprint that contaminated the Fukushima Unicorn quantum computer prototype, one that makes a traditional computer “look like an abacus.”
Dragoniis is “the most skilled and prolific hacker in Asia” and is after the Unicorn --- as are other nefarious contenders, including Kremlin criminals. “Every cyber warfare tactic they’d employed would be elevated to unstoppable with a quantum computer.” Fortunately for the world’s salvation, Parker teams up with brilliant homicide detective Dana Lopez and dogmatic by-the-book FBI agent Thomas Decker. The trio chases Dragoniis through a crowded Comic-Con gathering in scenes reminiscent of those in John Grisham’s 1993 film adaptation of The Firm, differing only in that the good guys chase bad.
This classic good-versus-evil, high-tech novel will intrigue computer geeks and a squad of Comic-Con fans, along with anyone who enjoys a well-crafted thriller.
After a corporate technology career in Ontario, Canada, the author transitioned to education and writing. An avid fan of Comic-Con and escape-room games, Drew Murray honors the key tenet of other talented authors: Write what you know. Eh?
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
March 18, 2020
What a great book. Couldn’t put it down. The writing is clever and fresh, and I laughed out loud on more than one occasion. The characters are brought to life immediately and the fast pace, and twists in the plot, keep you guessing until the end. No need to be a techy to enjoy this book. Highly recommend it.
July 12, 2020
Many thanks to NetGalley, Drew Murray, and Oceanview Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review of Broken Genius. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.
What if you were a genius. Not just any genius, but the brightest, smartest guy in the room. Your whole life you win. Until one day you don’t. And that one time you don’t, someone dies. Will tried to help the police with a serial killer and because of his mistake, the girl died. The day this happened his company was supposed to acquire technology from Japan that would have changed the world. That day the tsunami hit and the nuclear plant had a meltdown. The revolutionary device disappeared.
We next meet Will when he is called in to solve a case. He is now a Special Agent for the FBI. This case requires his special skill set. A murder has happened at Comi-Con. The device that has been untraceable all these years is now on the black market waiting to be sold in an auction. Now every criminal from all over the world wants to get their hands on this device. Will has help from another FBI agent, who has his own agenda, the local police, who happens to be a beautiful woman and Will’s own crack techies. But will his trauma affect his ability to do his job? Or will he be responsible for another young girl’s death?
This is my type of book. The back story was well done and set Will up to be a broken man who wants to only use his talents to do good in this world. His fall from grace was rough. humbling him and at the same time making him fearful. The new mystery was multi-layered and full of action and suspense. There were twists and turns as the story unfolded. Having it take place during Comic-Con was an extra cool layer that I loved. All of the computer hacking and international espionage was also right up my alley. There was some attraction between Will and the local policewoman, but it was subtle and didn’t take over the storyline at any point, which was fine with me. I’m not a fan of romance blooming in the middle of a takedown. Sex? Maybe, ya but I hate googly eyes being made over dead bodies. Stay professional people!
It isn’t a heavy book, more on the lighter side. The story moves along and there are enough characters to keep in interesting and not so many that you can’t remember who’s who. It was exciting and interesting all the way through. I can imagine lots more adventures for Special Agent Will and I would read them! This would make a fantastic movie. Hollywood, anyone listening?
What if you were a genius. Not just any genius, but the brightest, smartest guy in the room. Your whole life you win. Until one day you don’t. And that one time you don’t, someone dies. Will tried to help the police with a serial killer and because of his mistake, the girl died. The day this happened his company was supposed to acquire technology from Japan that would have changed the world. That day the tsunami hit and the nuclear plant had a meltdown. The revolutionary device disappeared.
We next meet Will when he is called in to solve a case. He is now a Special Agent for the FBI. This case requires his special skill set. A murder has happened at Comi-Con. The device that has been untraceable all these years is now on the black market waiting to be sold in an auction. Now every criminal from all over the world wants to get their hands on this device. Will has help from another FBI agent, who has his own agenda, the local police, who happens to be a beautiful woman and Will’s own crack techies. But will his trauma affect his ability to do his job? Or will he be responsible for another young girl’s death?
This is my type of book. The back story was well done and set Will up to be a broken man who wants to only use his talents to do good in this world. His fall from grace was rough. humbling him and at the same time making him fearful. The new mystery was multi-layered and full of action and suspense. There were twists and turns as the story unfolded. Having it take place during Comic-Con was an extra cool layer that I loved. All of the computer hacking and international espionage was also right up my alley. There was some attraction between Will and the local policewoman, but it was subtle and didn’t take over the storyline at any point, which was fine with me. I’m not a fan of romance blooming in the middle of a takedown. Sex? Maybe, ya but I hate googly eyes being made over dead bodies. Stay professional people!
It isn’t a heavy book, more on the lighter side. The story moves along and there are enough characters to keep in interesting and not so many that you can’t remember who’s who. It was exciting and interesting all the way through. I can imagine lots more adventures for Special Agent Will and I would read them! This would make a fantastic movie. Hollywood, anyone listening?
June 4, 2020
An entertaining and engrossing story, it was a lot of fun to read.
The characters are larger than life, the world building is great and the story is well plotted.
I can't wait to read the next book by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
The characters are larger than life, the world building is great and the story is well plotted.
I can't wait to read the next book by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
January 2, 2020
I was disappointed that I was not that interested in the characters. I think the plot was well thought out but it did not leave me as anxious to find out the answers as I usually like to feel. I would read the author again, but hopefully more character development.
September 3, 2020
a fast paced cyber thriller. The mystery kept me guessing until the end. Will Parker, special agent to the FBI and works to avenge his past while solving a kidnapping and find the missing computer.
October 15, 2020
This book feels exactly like a series on telly. The protagonist in the book is an ex- tech entrepreneur turned FBI agent after a traumatic experience on the job. This formula has been done many times before, and if it works it can be great fun. In Fox's TV series White Collar, we have con artist Nick Caffrey, played by Mark Bomer, join the FBI as a consultant. In Disney's Castle, the same formula plays out as crime writer Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) consulting the NYDP. CBS' Numbers brings the idea to life in the form of mathematics prodigy Charles Eppes (David Krumholtz) lending his maths wizardry to the solving of crimes for the FBI. In Warner Brothers' Prodigal Son, it's the sun of a serial killer and the NYPD. And there are more.
So the idea may not be original, but it does not have to be. In principle, we have the makings of a great book series here. Drew Murray is himself an ex tech guy, so he's writing about stuff he knows.
I just wish he'd write about it a bit better perhaps. The book is by no means a disaster, but I found myself longing for richer characters, more fun dialogue, and most of all more insider tech knowledge. Some of the tech is cutting edge, and makes sense, but other gadgets do not. Some of the plot is well-crafted, and fun to read, but other sequences feel more artificial, more laboured. Some of the characters begin to come to life towards the end of the novel, but too many remain undefined, one-dimensional. So I'd say a good start for a new writer, with the makings of a good series, but I come away with the impression that Drew would benefit from practicing the tools of his new trade more before he turns to the next instalment in the series.
As a flavour, here some highlights from the book:
Most of the time, when I [Will Parker, the protagonist] talk tech to non-technology people, they nod their heads and make noises like "uh-huh" and say things like "exactly" or "absolutely"[p64]
This sounds spot on. I know I say those things when tech people talk to me... :-)
"Collect enough data, feed it to artificial intelligence software, running on a quantum processor, and it would know what you're going to do before you do it."[p69]
Well I am no expert in these things but this sounds a little bit off perhaps. As far as I know, human-level AI would indeed be able to make excellent predictions about their owner's preferences, but I do not think it is necessarily quantum computing that will enable this process.
"When I got the news, I disappeared. ...one day, on a dock in Okinawa, I met a fisherman who needed help with his nets. That wise old fisherman had a wise old brother with a dojo on the mountain.[p194]"
If I didn't know what a literary cliche was, I could read this paragraph and then I'd know.
"Hicks isn't gifted with the vision of an entrepreneur. He's the kind of corporate drone that ends up at the top of the hive through sheer staying power.[p229]
Poor writing I am afraid. It's like reading a newsflash on Bloomberg.
"There's no way we can hit that many by morning. We don't have the resources to even watch that many locations." "That's why we have to narrow the list." "And how do we do that?" "Simple," I say. "Porn."[p298]
This is an example of good thriller writing. An unexpected twist at the end of the dialogue, and it introduces a section in which the protagonist's brilliance with tech drives the plot forward.
I'll stop here. As you can see, there are examples of good and poor writing here. I am hopeful that Drew will spend a bit more time learning his trade, and look forward to a more engaging second episode in the TV series.
So the idea may not be original, but it does not have to be. In principle, we have the makings of a great book series here. Drew Murray is himself an ex tech guy, so he's writing about stuff he knows.
I just wish he'd write about it a bit better perhaps. The book is by no means a disaster, but I found myself longing for richer characters, more fun dialogue, and most of all more insider tech knowledge. Some of the tech is cutting edge, and makes sense, but other gadgets do not. Some of the plot is well-crafted, and fun to read, but other sequences feel more artificial, more laboured. Some of the characters begin to come to life towards the end of the novel, but too many remain undefined, one-dimensional. So I'd say a good start for a new writer, with the makings of a good series, but I come away with the impression that Drew would benefit from practicing the tools of his new trade more before he turns to the next instalment in the series.
As a flavour, here some highlights from the book:
Most of the time, when I [Will Parker, the protagonist] talk tech to non-technology people, they nod their heads and make noises like "uh-huh" and say things like "exactly" or "absolutely"[p64]
This sounds spot on. I know I say those things when tech people talk to me... :-)
"Collect enough data, feed it to artificial intelligence software, running on a quantum processor, and it would know what you're going to do before you do it."[p69]
Well I am no expert in these things but this sounds a little bit off perhaps. As far as I know, human-level AI would indeed be able to make excellent predictions about their owner's preferences, but I do not think it is necessarily quantum computing that will enable this process.
"When I got the news, I disappeared. ...one day, on a dock in Okinawa, I met a fisherman who needed help with his nets. That wise old fisherman had a wise old brother with a dojo on the mountain.[p194]"
If I didn't know what a literary cliche was, I could read this paragraph and then I'd know.
"Hicks isn't gifted with the vision of an entrepreneur. He's the kind of corporate drone that ends up at the top of the hive through sheer staying power.[p229]
Poor writing I am afraid. It's like reading a newsflash on Bloomberg.
"There's no way we can hit that many by morning. We don't have the resources to even watch that many locations." "That's why we have to narrow the list." "And how do we do that?" "Simple," I say. "Porn."[p298]
This is an example of good thriller writing. An unexpected twist at the end of the dialogue, and it introduces a section in which the protagonist's brilliance with tech drives the plot forward.
I'll stop here. As you can see, there are examples of good and poor writing here. I am hopeful that Drew will spend a bit more time learning his trade, and look forward to a more engaging second episode in the TV series.
October 5, 2021
Drew Murray features a protagonist named Will Parker. He’s a genius. A man who became fabulously rich in his 20s as the CEO of a world-class tech company, and walked away to become a special agent for the FBI’s cyber division. The reason? Parker suffers from guilt for a coding error he made that lead to the murder of a kidnapped college woman. Adding to the horror was the fact that Will watched it happen in real time.
His first FBI case takes him to a Comic Convention in Indiana, where a man named Roger Caplan was murdered in his hotel room. Investigators have found traces of radioactivity that match “the 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear accident” in Caplan’s hotel room. Caplan, a Comic Con vendor, had been holding an auction on the Dark Web for a portable quantum computer known as the Fukushima Unicorn . . . which has the potential to change the world for good or evil, depending on who controls it. Pretty soon, Will and his FBI and law enforcement associates are battling for possession of the device with a legendary Chinese hacker, Russian criminals sent by the Kremlin, and a corporate executive trying to escape a scandal. But once again, Parker is forced into responsibility for another young woman’s life when Caplan’s daughter is taken hostage by unknown adversaries. It becomes a trail of blood, mayhem, and high-tech breadcrumbs that lead will ever deeper into a race against time to keep unlimited power out of the hands of those who could control the world. This high-octane, high-tech thriller will keep your favorite techno-enthusiast eagerly stuck to the page until awaiting the stunning conclusion . . . when they’ll be awaiting Parker’s next case!
His first FBI case takes him to a Comic Convention in Indiana, where a man named Roger Caplan was murdered in his hotel room. Investigators have found traces of radioactivity that match “the 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear accident” in Caplan’s hotel room. Caplan, a Comic Con vendor, had been holding an auction on the Dark Web for a portable quantum computer known as the Fukushima Unicorn . . . which has the potential to change the world for good or evil, depending on who controls it. Pretty soon, Will and his FBI and law enforcement associates are battling for possession of the device with a legendary Chinese hacker, Russian criminals sent by the Kremlin, and a corporate executive trying to escape a scandal. But once again, Parker is forced into responsibility for another young woman’s life when Caplan’s daughter is taken hostage by unknown adversaries. It becomes a trail of blood, mayhem, and high-tech breadcrumbs that lead will ever deeper into a race against time to keep unlimited power out of the hands of those who could control the world. This high-octane, high-tech thriller will keep your favorite techno-enthusiast eagerly stuck to the page until awaiting the stunning conclusion . . . when they’ll be awaiting Parker’s next case!
August 13, 2020
RATING 3.5 STARS
Is escaping the past as simple as choosing the future?
Will Parker left the life he knew to be an FBI special agent. He witnessed a brutal murder and his business crumbled all in one day with the loss of the Fukushima Unicorn. He is a broken genius as he aims for redemption working for the FBI as a computer specialist,
A case opens up with the murder of Caplan who may have obtained the Fukusmima Unicorn and was selling it to the highest bidder. Parker and his partner Decker are on the scene for different reasons.
A few players in this high tech thriller that play well off each other. Parker is witty, smart and confident in his abilities but also vulnerable with all that he has lost. The case becomes urgent before the Fukushima is sold for the wrong reasons. Apparently the tech can do good along with tremendous harm. There is a little chemistry between Parker and the local police lead officer Dana. But all 3 work together against time to find the killer. This thriller brings to light privacy acts and how high tech can fight crime but also take away our freedoms. Compelling fast paced.
A special thank you to Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Is escaping the past as simple as choosing the future?
Will Parker left the life he knew to be an FBI special agent. He witnessed a brutal murder and his business crumbled all in one day with the loss of the Fukushima Unicorn. He is a broken genius as he aims for redemption working for the FBI as a computer specialist,
A case opens up with the murder of Caplan who may have obtained the Fukusmima Unicorn and was selling it to the highest bidder. Parker and his partner Decker are on the scene for different reasons.
A few players in this high tech thriller that play well off each other. Parker is witty, smart and confident in his abilities but also vulnerable with all that he has lost. The case becomes urgent before the Fukushima is sold for the wrong reasons. Apparently the tech can do good along with tremendous harm. There is a little chemistry between Parker and the local police lead officer Dana. But all 3 work together against time to find the killer. This thriller brings to light privacy acts and how high tech can fight crime but also take away our freedoms. Compelling fast paced.
A special thank you to Oceanview Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
October 2, 2022
After reading, Drew Murray's Broken Genius I feel as if I have actually experienced a Comic Con. I've always wanted to go, to see what one is like, and this book provided such a vivid experience.
There are so many things to love about this tech thriller.
First of all, the Comic-Con. Murray openly admits in his bio that he is an avid fan of Comic-Cons. This love comes through in the intricate and detailed description of the event, from the wares that are sold in the vendor tents, to the photos ops, cosplay outfits, and the full-blown nerd element of the attendees. It was so fun reading it for how well Murray does the scene.
Second, the humour is nerdy and bang-on and rolls from Will Parker's tongue as easily as if he were in the same room. Parker is almost always the smartest guy in the room, and I loved how Parker's character embraced that reality without humility. I laughed out loud when he said "I'm not good with repetition." Because he got it the first time. He gets everything the first time and it was fun to live inside that kind of brain.
Third, is the fast-paced, perfectly timed action and intrigue. I stayed up way too late reading this book. Parker spends the book hunting down a world-changing piece of technology that he once had and has since lost. There are Chinese hackers, corporate executives, Russian criminals, and naive vendors all tangled up in the race to come away with the prize. There are a lot of characters including the slew of tech nerds that Will has scattered around the world. With so many characters you would think it would be hard to keep track but even in the craziest scenes I never once lost track of what was going on. Which is saying something.
Fourth, Murray's use and understanding of technology is seamless. There is so much stuff in this book that I didn't even know existed, and maybe it doesn't, but he made me believe it did and none of it was superfluous. All of it fit in the story, moved the book forward, and made me feel just a little bit smarter (or maybe dumber).
This is also a story about people, and Murray's characters were unique and compelling and I loved the dialogue between them which was at times hilarious and at other times sombre and pained as Parker tries to deal with his own demons.
So I loved this read. I'd recommend this for anyone who likes funny, tech thrillers and, of course, Comic-cons.
There are so many things to love about this tech thriller.
First of all, the Comic-Con. Murray openly admits in his bio that he is an avid fan of Comic-Cons. This love comes through in the intricate and detailed description of the event, from the wares that are sold in the vendor tents, to the photos ops, cosplay outfits, and the full-blown nerd element of the attendees. It was so fun reading it for how well Murray does the scene.
Second, the humour is nerdy and bang-on and rolls from Will Parker's tongue as easily as if he were in the same room. Parker is almost always the smartest guy in the room, and I loved how Parker's character embraced that reality without humility. I laughed out loud when he said "I'm not good with repetition." Because he got it the first time. He gets everything the first time and it was fun to live inside that kind of brain.
Third, is the fast-paced, perfectly timed action and intrigue. I stayed up way too late reading this book. Parker spends the book hunting down a world-changing piece of technology that he once had and has since lost. There are Chinese hackers, corporate executives, Russian criminals, and naive vendors all tangled up in the race to come away with the prize. There are a lot of characters including the slew of tech nerds that Will has scattered around the world. With so many characters you would think it would be hard to keep track but even in the craziest scenes I never once lost track of what was going on. Which is saying something.
Fourth, Murray's use and understanding of technology is seamless. There is so much stuff in this book that I didn't even know existed, and maybe it doesn't, but he made me believe it did and none of it was superfluous. All of it fit in the story, moved the book forward, and made me feel just a little bit smarter (or maybe dumber).
This is also a story about people, and Murray's characters were unique and compelling and I loved the dialogue between them which was at times hilarious and at other times sombre and pained as Parker tries to deal with his own demons.
So I loved this read. I'd recommend this for anyone who likes funny, tech thrillers and, of course, Comic-cons.
September 2, 2023
Will Parker is a near-billionaire ex-tech CEO that hasn’t quite given up his jet for a FBI badge to settle scores. Interesting group of characters at a ComicCon to get a Quantum Computer.
February 3, 2020
There's nothing like a widget that could be used to rule the world to build a book around.
Look, it wasn't terrible. it just wasn't very good, not to me. Wunderkind Will Parker, formerly the CEO of a tech startup, goes to work for the FBI after he makes a mistake in one of his programs that leaves a young woman dead.
That's my kind-of-unbelievable-thing number one. Number two was the Fukishima Unicorn, the previously mentioned widget that could be used to control everything, which has gone missing after the 2011 tsunami that took out most of Fukishima. I suppose if you're going to go big, you might as well go BIG.
Parker is called in on a case involving a dead guy at a comic convention. Also turning up is Dana Lopez, a detective with the local police department (and who I bet would share a bed with Parker before the book was over). Decker, a buttoned down FBI agent is Parker's partner on the case. Clues start building, and eventually it's discovered that the dead man had (at some point) the Unicorn, which technically still belongs to Parker's old company. But there are other people after it: Russians, a Chinese hacker named Dragoniis, and a couple other mysterious bidders. To up the stakes, the dead man's daughter is taken hostage, which brings in the requisite "guy who failed previously has a chance at redemption" part of the story.
I won't go into a lot of detail about how the teams tracks down the bidders and the killer - pretty standard thriller/mystery story there, with some chases and SWAT teams and hunches.
It was ok. I didn't particularly care for Parker, as i found him a tad too full of himself, and some of his thoughts (repeated "Gross.", for instance) seemed to be more something a teenager would say, versus a billionaire whiling away time working for the FBI in cybercrimes. I think it also bugged me that this is yet another entry in the field of "million/billionaires working for peanuts in law enforcement and who can also use their own resources/money/companies to push the story forward".
Overall, it wasn't unreadable. It sounds like faint praise, but if you're into tech, as I am, you might want to take all the IT stuff with a giant grain of salt and just enjoy a murder mystery/saving the world thriller that takes place at ComicCom.
Two point five stars out of five.
Look, it wasn't terrible. it just wasn't very good, not to me. Wunderkind Will Parker, formerly the CEO of a tech startup, goes to work for the FBI after he makes a mistake in one of his programs that leaves a young woman dead.
That's my kind-of-unbelievable-thing number one. Number two was the Fukishima Unicorn, the previously mentioned widget that could be used to control everything, which has gone missing after the 2011 tsunami that took out most of Fukishima. I suppose if you're going to go big, you might as well go BIG.
Parker is called in on a case involving a dead guy at a comic convention. Also turning up is Dana Lopez, a detective with the local police department (and who I bet would share a bed with Parker before the book was over). Decker, a buttoned down FBI agent is Parker's partner on the case. Clues start building, and eventually it's discovered that the dead man had (at some point) the Unicorn, which technically still belongs to Parker's old company. But there are other people after it: Russians, a Chinese hacker named Dragoniis, and a couple other mysterious bidders. To up the stakes, the dead man's daughter is taken hostage, which brings in the requisite "guy who failed previously has a chance at redemption" part of the story.
I won't go into a lot of detail about how the teams tracks down the bidders and the killer - pretty standard thriller/mystery story there, with some chases and SWAT teams and hunches.
It was ok. I didn't particularly care for Parker, as i found him a tad too full of himself, and some of his thoughts (repeated "Gross.", for instance) seemed to be more something a teenager would say, versus a billionaire whiling away time working for the FBI in cybercrimes. I think it also bugged me that this is yet another entry in the field of "million/billionaires working for peanuts in law enforcement and who can also use their own resources/money/companies to push the story forward".
Overall, it wasn't unreadable. It sounds like faint praise, but if you're into tech, as I am, you might want to take all the IT stuff with a giant grain of salt and just enjoy a murder mystery/saving the world thriller that takes place at ComicCom.
Two point five stars out of five.
September 17, 2020
Book #51 of 2020 • Broken Genius by @drewmurraybooks • Finished 06/15/20
I absolutely love when a book you have no idea what to expect from catches you off guard!
When Broken Genius showed up in my mailbox, thank you again @kayepublicity, at first glance my brain thought non-fiction • A closer look revealed it to be the first in a tech driven thriller series, a completely new type of read for me
Broken Genius opens with Will Parker, a young affluent tech genius on the verge of closing the deal of a lifetime • Before he can jet off to China to seal the deal, the FBI has enlisted his help to circumvent the privacy settings on his program to locate a serial killer • When Will makes a lazy mistake, the killer is apprehended too late to save his last victim
Fast forward to now, Will is serving as a special agent in the cyber crimes division as a way to atone • Called in to help investigate a murder at a local Comic Con, Will quickly realizes there is much more happening • The murder victim somehow procured a highly dangerous piece of tech equipment, a device he was auctioning on the Dark Web • With the con organizer insisting the murder is kept under wraps, the auction is still live • Now Will must help solve the murder, locate the missing device and identity and apprehend the bidders all before the auction ends
Will Parker is the type of character you love to hate • His arrogance and unconventional way of operating lends a comedic air as he gets under the skin of those around him • Drew Murray does an excellent job of working the tech and legal details into the story naturally • A lot of the technology storyline was above my knowledge base but Murray uses dialogue to explain the tech aspects, which keeps the plot from losing steam
Broken Genius was definitely a surprise in my June reading • It was an engrossing and exhilarating chase to the finish line and I'd be interested to see what happens next for Will Parker
I absolutely love when a book you have no idea what to expect from catches you off guard!
When Broken Genius showed up in my mailbox, thank you again @kayepublicity, at first glance my brain thought non-fiction • A closer look revealed it to be the first in a tech driven thriller series, a completely new type of read for me
Broken Genius opens with Will Parker, a young affluent tech genius on the verge of closing the deal of a lifetime • Before he can jet off to China to seal the deal, the FBI has enlisted his help to circumvent the privacy settings on his program to locate a serial killer • When Will makes a lazy mistake, the killer is apprehended too late to save his last victim
Fast forward to now, Will is serving as a special agent in the cyber crimes division as a way to atone • Called in to help investigate a murder at a local Comic Con, Will quickly realizes there is much more happening • The murder victim somehow procured a highly dangerous piece of tech equipment, a device he was auctioning on the Dark Web • With the con organizer insisting the murder is kept under wraps, the auction is still live • Now Will must help solve the murder, locate the missing device and identity and apprehend the bidders all before the auction ends
Will Parker is the type of character you love to hate • His arrogance and unconventional way of operating lends a comedic air as he gets under the skin of those around him • Drew Murray does an excellent job of working the tech and legal details into the story naturally • A lot of the technology storyline was above my knowledge base but Murray uses dialogue to explain the tech aspects, which keeps the plot from losing steam
Broken Genius was definitely a surprise in my June reading • It was an engrossing and exhilarating chase to the finish line and I'd be interested to see what happens next for Will Parker
July 16, 2021
It's a Police Procedural (FBI) with a modern day computer genius twist!
Enjoyed it thoroughly as "Special" Agent Will Parker is unlike any other FBI agents I've ever read. He's hot on the trail.....
Enjoyed it thoroughly as "Special" Agent Will Parker is unlike any other FBI agents I've ever read. He's hot on the trail.....
June 12, 2023
Broken Genius by Drew Murray is a 2020 Oceanview Publishing publication.
Will Parker’s dreams turned on a dime when a coding error cost a young woman her life. Now, a decade later, Will, though massively wealthy, seeks redemption by working as a special agent for the FBI. When he gets an urgent call, he discovers that his long-lost quantum computer has fallen into the wrong hands and is up for bid on the dark web. Not only that, one of the bidders has been murdered and another young woman’s life hangs in the balance. As Will works to solve the murder, his attention is also on recovering his invention before it falls into the wrong hands.
Well, talk about a timely thriller. I rarely read techno-thrillers, but this one sounded intriguing when I put it on my TBR list. Ironically, I decided to read it just as the world is buzzing about AI. Is quantum computing far behind?
This is a fast-paced thriller that plays out at a Comic-Con convention, of all places. It is one part murder mystery, with a team of detectives on board- and one-part high stakes thriller- with the threat of powerful technology falling into the hands of people who would abuse its power.
The dialogue is a bit stiff, and the characters sometimes felt clichéd and unoriginal. It was like they were reading and acting from a television series manuscript at times. The one romantic interlude- if you want to categorize it as such- was completely ridiculous and unnecessary- it was a requisite sex scene- there just to be there- and served no purpose whatsoever.
That said, the story was a much-needed change of pace for me. It was an interesting premise and held my attention from start to finish, with a few twists and turns I never saw coming. It was a nice combination of mystery, action, and suspense.
There is supposed to be a follow-up to this novel- so I’m curious to see what happens next for Will and his quantum technology.
3.5 rounded up.
Will Parker’s dreams turned on a dime when a coding error cost a young woman her life. Now, a decade later, Will, though massively wealthy, seeks redemption by working as a special agent for the FBI. When he gets an urgent call, he discovers that his long-lost quantum computer has fallen into the wrong hands and is up for bid on the dark web. Not only that, one of the bidders has been murdered and another young woman’s life hangs in the balance. As Will works to solve the murder, his attention is also on recovering his invention before it falls into the wrong hands.
Well, talk about a timely thriller. I rarely read techno-thrillers, but this one sounded intriguing when I put it on my TBR list. Ironically, I decided to read it just as the world is buzzing about AI. Is quantum computing far behind?
This is a fast-paced thriller that plays out at a Comic-Con convention, of all places. It is one part murder mystery, with a team of detectives on board- and one-part high stakes thriller- with the threat of powerful technology falling into the hands of people who would abuse its power.
The dialogue is a bit stiff, and the characters sometimes felt clichéd and unoriginal. It was like they were reading and acting from a television series manuscript at times. The one romantic interlude- if you want to categorize it as such- was completely ridiculous and unnecessary- it was a requisite sex scene- there just to be there- and served no purpose whatsoever.
That said, the story was a much-needed change of pace for me. It was an interesting premise and held my attention from start to finish, with a few twists and turns I never saw coming. It was a nice combination of mystery, action, and suspense.
There is supposed to be a follow-up to this novel- so I’m curious to see what happens next for Will and his quantum technology.
3.5 rounded up.
July 28, 2020
I just finished this book and was quite impressed. The way the story was laid out kept your interes right till the end. In this story, it starts with Will Parker discussing events that occurred in March of 2011 when he was head of a thriving company who was trying to assist the FBI with finding the location of a Kidnapped victim. While searching for his location, Will was viewing the kidnappers computer where he witnessed the slaying of the victim. Also at that same time, an earthquake occurred created a tsunami in Japan which caused a nuclear power plant to meltdown and destroy a company that Will was going to acquire.
Back to present time, Will is woken up and directed to report to a scene in Indiana where a murder had occurred. Will was asked because of the possibility that the Fukushima computer, that was the main reason that Will wanted to buy that company. When Will got to Indiana, he worked with a female Detective who was responsible in finding the killer. It was later determined, that the computer was being auctioned through the Dark Web. Because of the nature of the computer which was quite advanced, it was felt that had to stop it from falling in the wrong hands. Through teamwork, they ultimately were able to locate the computer, but that was only one part of the puzzle. In addition, the individual who was killed and had the computer, had his daughter kidnapped, and she was to be released only after the individual got the computer. A plan was developed.
To understand who the parties were that were interested in the computer and who ultimately in the end obtained it, then you must read this book which I recommend highly.
Back to present time, Will is woken up and directed to report to a scene in Indiana where a murder had occurred. Will was asked because of the possibility that the Fukushima computer, that was the main reason that Will wanted to buy that company. When Will got to Indiana, he worked with a female Detective who was responsible in finding the killer. It was later determined, that the computer was being auctioned through the Dark Web. Because of the nature of the computer which was quite advanced, it was felt that had to stop it from falling in the wrong hands. Through teamwork, they ultimately were able to locate the computer, but that was only one part of the puzzle. In addition, the individual who was killed and had the computer, had his daughter kidnapped, and she was to be released only after the individual got the computer. A plan was developed.
To understand who the parties were that were interested in the computer and who ultimately in the end obtained it, then you must read this book which I recommend highly.
October 3, 2020
A few months ago, there was a Big Idea feature about Broken Genius, by Drew Murray, on John Scalzi’s blog. I liked that the whole article was described as a series of “now how do I solve this plot problem”, it tickled my interest, I asked for it on NetGalley, and I did get it, yay 🙂
Special Agent Will Parker used to be a known Silicon Valley CEO; he’s now part of the FBI Cyber division. He gets called to investigate a murder at a Comic Con event – a murder that is linked to the possible reappearance of a portable quantum computer that was considered lost during the Fukushima nuclear plant accident.
Broken Genius is a very competent techno-thriller. The tech and the Comic Con are believable, and the story itself has enough plot at the right pace to make the reading very enjoyable. The characters are likeable – maybe a bit on the cliché side, but eh, still pretty cool. I was somewhat annoyed that I guessed one of the major plot points way earlier than the protagonists did – I’m normally VERY BAD AT THIS, so maybe there was one or two clues too much there 😉
But anyway. I have a pretty high suspension of disbelief in general, but it’s rare that I find fiction where modern-day technology plays a significant role, and that doesn’t make me roll my eyes loudly (yes, it’s absolutely a thing.) Broken Genius does that and is very enjoyable – it’s not the book of the year (or even the month) but is very much worth considering if you’re in the mood for a techno-thriller 🙂
Special Agent Will Parker used to be a known Silicon Valley CEO; he’s now part of the FBI Cyber division. He gets called to investigate a murder at a Comic Con event – a murder that is linked to the possible reappearance of a portable quantum computer that was considered lost during the Fukushima nuclear plant accident.
Broken Genius is a very competent techno-thriller. The tech and the Comic Con are believable, and the story itself has enough plot at the right pace to make the reading very enjoyable. The characters are likeable – maybe a bit on the cliché side, but eh, still pretty cool. I was somewhat annoyed that I guessed one of the major plot points way earlier than the protagonists did – I’m normally VERY BAD AT THIS, so maybe there was one or two clues too much there 😉
But anyway. I have a pretty high suspension of disbelief in general, but it’s rare that I find fiction where modern-day technology plays a significant role, and that doesn’t make me roll my eyes loudly (yes, it’s absolutely a thing.) Broken Genius does that and is very enjoyable – it’s not the book of the year (or even the month) but is very much worth considering if you’re in the mood for a techno-thriller 🙂
June 11, 2020
Thank you to Kaye Publicity for sending me an advance copy of this book to read. The opinions expressed are my own honest opinions. I will admit, I'm tough to please. I rarely give out 5 stars. But this book just made me so happy. The main protagonist was a young CEO of a tech company, and due to an error on his part, a woman died. In order to make amends, he leaves Silicon Valley to join the FBI with the hopes of doing some good and ultimately save some lives. We start this book with Special Agent Will Parker being called to the midwest to where a murder took place at Comic Con. But he wasn't called because of the murder, he was called because the murder victim apparently had been in possession of a radioactive quantum computer that Will was in the process of acquiring when his tech-life fell apart. Now that quantum computer is being auctioned off on the dark web... and it's missing. A lot is going on in this book but it was easy to follow and get absorbed in the investigation. Will is cocky and snarky, but I also found him so endearing. My geeky heart loved all the fandom references as well as all the tech talk. It was an absolute fun read for me and I enjoyed every minute of it. I am happy to see that this is titled as "A Will Parker Thriller" because that means there will be more to come. And I personally cannot wait!
June 17, 2021
After leaving his old life as CEO of a tech unicorn in Silicon Valley after becoming involved with a hostage negotiation gone wrong, Will Parker pivots and utilises his significant talents to assist the FBI’s Cyber Special Ops division. After getting called in to investigate a strange murder case, Will quickly realises that this isn’t simply a homicide – it’s a much larger web of events that ties back to his haunting past.
This was a good book overall. It was an easy read, and the frequent tech references were a nice touch. The overall plot itself, while enjoyable, was a bit “meh” – predictable, and the book lacks any real twists that make you fall off your chair. The antagonists were pretty unremarkable and somewhat expected. Additionally, there were a few plot devices that were introduced somewhere in the middle of the book, but then either not really expanded upon or forgotten altogether (as an example, I’m thinking about the Russian mob characters halfway through the book – a few pages were spent explaining them and then nothing until the very end, where they are mentioned in passing again briefly. Realistically, the story is exactly the same with/without them included).
In summary, a good book that was an easy, quick read. I rate it 3.5/5 stars.
My sincere thanks to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for their provision of an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a good book overall. It was an easy read, and the frequent tech references were a nice touch. The overall plot itself, while enjoyable, was a bit “meh” – predictable, and the book lacks any real twists that make you fall off your chair. The antagonists were pretty unremarkable and somewhat expected. Additionally, there were a few plot devices that were introduced somewhere in the middle of the book, but then either not really expanded upon or forgotten altogether (as an example, I’m thinking about the Russian mob characters halfway through the book – a few pages were spent explaining them and then nothing until the very end, where they are mentioned in passing again briefly. Realistically, the story is exactly the same with/without them included).
In summary, a good book that was an easy, quick read. I rate it 3.5/5 stars.
My sincere thanks to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for their provision of an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2020
An entertaining mystery with a decent McGuffin at its heart. Will Parker is now a FBI Special Agent in the Cyber Crimes Division, but back in 2011, he was the CEO of a big Tech company about to purchase a quantum computer from a Japanese firm when two accidents happened. First he goofed in a bit of coding while assisting the FBI in locating a serial killer and a girl died. Second was an earthquake in Japan that lead to a nuclear meltdown right near the Japanese tech firm Will was about to purchase. The cutting edge quantum computer disappeared. But now it seems to have surfaced at a Comic Con in Indiana. A vendor there had it up for auction on the Dark Web, but managed to get himself murdered. Will and Decker, another FBI Special Agent, are on the hunt for the Fukushima Unicorn. Broken Genius manages to have fun with con culture, tech culture, and police culture all while providing a quickly read mystery that satisfies my mystery itch.
Thanks Netgalley for introducing this book to me!
Thanks Netgalley for introducing this book to me!
reziexemplare
December 22, 2022Drew Murray hat mit "Die Quantum-Mission" einen fesselnden, rasanten Debütroman geschrieben. FBI-Spezialagent Will Parker ist ein intelligenter, witziger, sympathischer und schrulliger Charakter.
Von der herzzerreißenden Eröffnung bis zum spannenden Ende lässt das Tempo der Geschichte nie nach, während wir in die Geschichte eines Mordes auf einer Comic Con im Mittleren Westen hineingestoßen werden.
Parker tut sich mit der örtlichen Polizeibeamtin Dana Lopez zusammen, einer sexy Polizistin mit Ecken und Kanten und einem gewissen Etwas. Die Geschichte ist auch mit anderen großartigen Charakteren gespickt, aber ich will an dieser Stelle nicht zu viel verraten.
Technikfreaks werden die Geschichte und ihre technischen und Comic Con-Details sowie die Anspielungen auf die Popkultur lieben. Die Restlichen mögen zwar einige dieser Anspielungen verpassen, aber die Spannung wird ihnen nicht entgehen. Ich kann es kaum erwarten, weitere Bücher von Drew Murray zu lesen!
Von der herzzerreißenden Eröffnung bis zum spannenden Ende lässt das Tempo der Geschichte nie nach, während wir in die Geschichte eines Mordes auf einer Comic Con im Mittleren Westen hineingestoßen werden.
Parker tut sich mit der örtlichen Polizeibeamtin Dana Lopez zusammen, einer sexy Polizistin mit Ecken und Kanten und einem gewissen Etwas. Die Geschichte ist auch mit anderen großartigen Charakteren gespickt, aber ich will an dieser Stelle nicht zu viel verraten.
Technikfreaks werden die Geschichte und ihre technischen und Comic Con-Details sowie die Anspielungen auf die Popkultur lieben. Die Restlichen mögen zwar einige dieser Anspielungen verpassen, aber die Spannung wird ihnen nicht entgehen. Ich kann es kaum erwarten, weitere Bücher von Drew Murray zu lesen!
December 19, 2025
This is the first book in the Will Parker Thriller series by Drew Murray. Will Parker was a billionaire tech CEO whose computer coding mistake caused a college student's death. Will haunted by guilt leaves the corporate world and joins the FBI Cyber Division. Will is called to a Comic Con murder scene in the Midwest when a when the victim is linked to a radioactive quantum computer, a project Will had worked on before leaving his company. Will must stop dangerous buyers from acquiring the computer that is secretly being auctioned on the Dark Web. Will teams up with homicide detective Dana Lopez and FBI agent Thomas Decker to help with the murder and find the hacker who has stolen the supercomputer chip. Will's journey is driven by guilt and his need to make amends for past mistakes. This story blends murder mystery and cyber thriller. I really enjoyed this fascinating thriller crime fiction novel.
June 1, 2020
[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Fantastic! I was hooked from the first page. Will Parker is a fascinating character - terrific at his job as an FBI agent while also brilliant and informed on the tech side from his previous life. The humor over his wealth and the pop culture references were a delight. I kept reading passages out loud to my husband until he eventually grabbed his phone and ordered the book for himself.
The mystery in this was fantastic - like the layers of a David Rosenfelt novel, but with more action since this is law enforcement instead of trial work. Readers who enjoy Baldacchi or Hurwitz should be sure to check this one out. I want more of these, as soon as possible! (Language, violence, off page sex)
Fantastic! I was hooked from the first page. Will Parker is a fascinating character - terrific at his job as an FBI agent while also brilliant and informed on the tech side from his previous life. The humor over his wealth and the pop culture references were a delight. I kept reading passages out loud to my husband until he eventually grabbed his phone and ordered the book for himself.
The mystery in this was fantastic - like the layers of a David Rosenfelt novel, but with more action since this is law enforcement instead of trial work. Readers who enjoy Baldacchi or Hurwitz should be sure to check this one out. I want more of these, as soon as possible! (Language, violence, off page sex)
June 5, 2020
Drew Murray has written a compelling, fast-paced debut novel in BROKEN GENIUS. FBI Special Agent Will Parker is a smart, witty, likable, and quirky character you can't take your eyes off. From the heart-wrenching opening to the nail-biting ending, the story tempo never wanes as we're thrust into the world of murder at a mid-west ComicCon. Parker teams up with local police officer Dana Lopez, a sexy no-nonsense cop with an edge and an attitude. The story is filled with other great characters as well, but I won't give anything away.
Tech geeks will love the story and its tech and con details, as well as the references to pop culture. While the rest of us mere mortals might miss some of those references, we won't miss the excitement of the ride. I can hardly wait to see more books by Drew Murray!
Tech geeks will love the story and its tech and con details, as well as the references to pop culture. While the rest of us mere mortals might miss some of those references, we won't miss the excitement of the ride. I can hardly wait to see more books by Drew Murray!
June 29, 2020
One part FBI thriller, one part “Silicon Valley,” and a dash of “Ready Player One” make “Broken Genius” a terrific introduction for Will Parker - and Drew Murray. Tech prodigy turned special agent, Parker is an interesting protagonist, likable but not without flaws and demons in the closet. I really engaged with the unique aspects of his backstory and how they informed the case before him. The narration balances between the worlds of FBI investigation, technology, and geek culture with an accessible ease - there are nods to certain sci-fi favourite franchises, but nothing that will go over most people’s heads. The end result is a fresh experience that drew me in to a genre I rarely read, and I was especially riveted in the final act as the pieces of the elaborate puzzle began to fall in to place. Looking forward to future endeavors from Murray!
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