TECHNO THRILLER:  In the third installment of the Enigma Series, the focus is on battlefield communications and the application of nanotechnology. Unfortunately, more than one agency or set of actors is determined to be first in this technological competition. Su Linn, a Chinese professor of animal husbandry holds the key to bringing this technology to field combatants. As the R group, a private European group that leverages information and technology, works to protect the professor and provide the necessary code, a subcontractor and his assistant, Eilla-Zan, are kidnapped by Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists. It's a race against the clock not only to save the hostages but to find a time bomb in the code before it's too late to save their people or the mission.

“The Enigma Ignite” starts off with a bang, throwing the listener right into the action. While characters from book 2 return, this story centers on the technology developed by Su Lin and the fate of Eilla-Zan. At times, the technology may feel heavy for the non-techy person, but without the tech, the story would fall apart. This go-around, the authors take the readers through a gamut of emotions, reaching a depth not achieved in book 2. Moreover, the likability of the characters combined with witty dialogue make this a strong addition to the series.

Derek Shoals delivers another outstanding professional performance. He seamlessly moves from one accent to another and offers up the emotion in key scenes that will keep listeners glued to their headphones. “The Enigma Ignite” is pure entertainment.

The fight to perfect battlefield communications may prove lethal in Breakfield and Burkey’s third installment of their techno-thriller series (The Enigma Rising, 2014, etc.).I

n this novel, various entities struggle to create new, successful tactical communications systems. A failed field exercise by the Chinese, for instance, results in implanted chips burning soldiers’ skin. However, when Texas A&M professor Su Lin succeeds in inserting monitoring chips into a pig, a number of different organizations take notice, including information-services organization R-Group. Otto, the son of one of R-Group’s founders, sends two employees, Jacob and Petra, to talk to the professor before a “three letter [government] agency” can. However, there are two Muslim terrorists, wanted by Interpol, who are also interested in the technology. The terrorists grab defense contractor Keith Avery and subcontractor Eilla-Zan “EZ” Marshall, who have information about the chips, and R-Group must find them before the terrorists can launch an electronic assault. As in previous books, Breakfield and Burkey infuse the narrative with technological jargon that’s intelligent but accessible. This time around, however, they’ve amped up the suspense, as R-Group has very little time to find Keith and EZ. There’s also considerably more humor in this third outing, including a number of tongue-in-cheek acronyms (such as Su Lin’s “Polymorphic Operational Programing of Technology to Aggregate Recurring Temporal Synergies,” or “POPTARTs”). In one scene, government agent Arletta Krumhunter gets a reluctant ops team to do a job with the promise of Slim Jims and beef jerky, and in others, Su Lin’s pig is shown to have just as much personality as his human counterparts. The authors continue their run of stellar villains with the returning Chairman Lo Chang, but they also add wonderfully unpredictable characters with unclear motivations. The solid ending could either stand alone or serve as a lead-in to a potential sequel.A solid espionage thriller that adds more tension and lightheartedness to the series.

The Enigma Ignite, by Charles Breakfield and Roxanne Burkey, is fraught with technological advancements and a lesson in all things computer. The entire team of characters assembled by the authors is rich with all the appropriate levels of humor, drama, and romance. The diverse cast of characters are members of an exceptionally knowledgeable team working overtime to rescue Keith Avery and Eilla-Zan from terrorists while simultaneously solving the dilemma of safely and successfully transporting Su Lin, Daisy, and Franklin (a pig and Su Lin’s prized possession), who themselves may hold the answers to cleaning up the mess made by the horrendous failures in battlefield communications technology.

Once again, Breakfield and Burkey have created some villains of epic proportions. Oxnard (that name alone is sneer-worthy), kidnapper and all-around cretin, is one of those evil-doers readers will revel in hating. At one point he seems to almost cherish describing the beating into submission of elephants as he taunts his captive, Keith Avery. Oxnard represents everything vile in a human, and the authors have more than hit the mark with this character.

The various pairs of team members who work together all have a chemistry that can’t be beat. The authors have succeeded in crafting characters like Julie and Juan and Petra and Jacob who rather effortlessly morph from business-like and focused to laidback couples thoroughly enjoying each other’s company. Each couple is as intelligent and driven as the other, and virtually all of their dialogue flows smoothly and is laden with relatable humor.

I found Su Lin and Franklin’s storyline to be rather intriguing all the way around. The fact that Su Lin’s experiments could yield results helpful to the military and stemmed from her work with a pig, well…it was a fascinating spin. Daisy’s very personal and painful experience related to her work makes the entire subplot much more believable and personal for readers.

Though filled to the brim with technical terms and bubbling with all the seriousness of big screen drama, the authors lace their work with humor. The acronyms themselves are, more often than not, based on levity. For example, the acronym COBWEB represents Civilian Observer Blokes Wearing Excessive Bling. I had to laugh out loud at the appearance of the brothers, Won and Ton. Breakfield and Burkey, without a doubt, deliver the humor.

I have to say that the addition of Andy to this cast of characters is a welcome one. Andy, experienced in communications and a native of the South, was a pleasure to read. Being from the South myself, I appreciated his southern drawl and the references to his hospitality. Stereotypical? Maybe. In a good way? Absolutely.

I have to rate The Engima Ignite by Breakfield and Burkey a 5 out of 5. I thoroughly enjoy the dialogue between the characters whether it be between the villain and the heroes or between the good guys in their private moments. The authors manage to take highly technical terms and procedures and make them relatable for the average reader. Their well-drawn characters are a huge part of that success.

Reviewed by Raanan Geberer for Readers' Favorite - 5 Stars

In The Enigma Ignite, 3rd in The Enigma Series by Charles V. Breakfield and Roxanne E. Burkey, defense contractor Keith Avery is working on a battlefield communications project that combines a wearable two-way communications unit and the use of drones. However, problems keep coming up, such as the weight of the unit. Avery thinks he has found the answer in the work of Su Lin, a Texas professor who has implanted a chip in a pig that can tell not only the pig’s location, but its weight, health, food intake, and more. Avery wants to adapt her ideas for battlefield technology. But soon, he and a subcontractor are kidnapped by two members of an Al Qaeda-offshoot group who will stop at nothing to obtain his secrets. It’s time for the R-Group, a family-based organization of do-gooders, with intimate knowledge of high finance, espionage and information technology, to try to rescue Keith. And while they’re at it, they have to transport Su Lin — and her pig — to a safe place!

The two authors of The Enigma Ignite are intimately involved in the world of high technology and it shows in their writing. Breakfield is a solution architect in hybrid data/telecom environments and Burkey works for improved customer experiences with a high-tech manufacturer. They also are adept in writing about the human element — for example, the interaction between Su Lin and her students. They also paint an interesting picture of the elite R-Group, whose members are multilingual and have access to great wealth. If you’re interested in espionage, high technology and thrillers, The Enigma Ignite is for you.