Monday, April 9, 2018

Computer Security, Drones and the Voynich Manuscript


Nicholas Drummond and Michaela (Mike) Caine, members of the FBI’s Covert Eyes Team, are vacationing at the Drummond Estate in England. Nicholas, a computer genius, is the first Brit to join the FBI. Before their relaxation can begin a ransomeware attack shuts down the computers in the Drummond family business. Nicholas easily solves the problem and uses his code to correct a wider ransomware attack shutting down government computers.

While the computer crisis is occurring there are several unexplained deaths of business and political leaders. When Mike spots a drone at the scene of one of the murders the hunt is on for who is controlling the drones, and whether the assassinations are tied together.

Besides the modern technical problems, the plot focuses on the Voynich Manuscript. The manuscript has never been translated, but a young researcher, Dr. Isabella Marin, has found some missing pages in the British Museum and believes the manuscript is written in some form of twin talk. There is even a vampire component. One of the technical geniuses, Roman Ardelean, a descendant of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula,) is looking for blood to cure his twin brother’s rare hemophilia.

A clever, fast moving plot draws you into this combination murder mystery, technological thriller and historical puzzle. The characters are likable. Nicholas and his computer geek sidekick, Adam, are fascinating as they set out to solve apparently insolvable computer security breaches. Mike, is beautiful, brilliant, and a good foil for Nicholas.

I recommend this book if you like a real page turner. The settings in England and the US are realistic although some of the activities are quite out of the ordinary.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

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