The Florentine Deception by Carey Nachenberg

Note - Author Carey Nachenberg is donating proceeds from The Florentine Deception to charities that assist underprivileged and low-income students - $8,173.00 as of December 31st with another $3000+ to be donated due to recent sales! To see a list of charities that will benefit go to - http://florentinedeception.weebly.com/charities.html



A seemingly mundane computer clean-up leads to 
an electrifying quest for an enigmatic—and deadly
—treasure in this gripping techno-thriller.

Synopsis - 

After selling his dorm-room startup for millions and effectively retiring at the age of twenty-five, Alex Fife is eager for a new challenge. When he agrees to clean up an old PC as a favor, he never expects to find the adventure of a lifetime waiting for him inside the machine. But as he rummages through old emails, Alex stumbles upon a startling discovery: The previous owner, a shady antiques smuggler, had been trying to unload a mysterious object known as the Florentine on the black market. And with the dealer’s untimely passing, the Florentine is now unaccounted for and ripe for the taking. Alex dives headfirst into a hunt for the priceless object.

​What starts out as a seemingly innocuous pursuit quickly devolves into a nightmare when Alex discovers the true technological nature of the Florentine. Not just a lost treasure, it’s something far more insidious: a weapon that could bring the developed world to its knees. Alex races through subterranean grottos, freezing morgues, and hidden cellars in the dark underbelly of Los Angeles, desperate to find the Florentine before it falls into the wrong hands. Because if nefarious forces find it first, there’ll be nothing Alex—or anyone else—can do to prevent a catastrophic attack.

Review - 

I checked out the categories listed for The Florentine Deception and they were bang on - Mystery, Techno-thriller, Amateur Sleuth. You could add in a little unrequited love, but that really was a very small side plot.

The forward by Eugene H Spafford, PhD - an expert in security and cyber crime - was an eye opener for me. The scenario created by author Carey Nachenberg - also an expert incyber-security field - was one Spafford had long been concerned about. He even presented a paper on it to senior personnel from from several government agencies and commercial firms over two decades ago. No one believed it could happen. Now here was another expert who independently came to the same conclusion. So while this is a great read with lots of excitement, just remember there is a core of possibility here. It could happen.

As I have a son working as a programmer with a start-up company, the character of Alex Fife in particular really hit home to me. Creating that new program that will sell for huge dollars still happens and the individuals who pull it off, especially if they can do it without bringing in investors, end up very wealthy at a very young age.  While the other two from his company seemed to find their rhythm, Alex found himself at a loss and distracted.  

Rock climbing and caving were the only thing he seemed to enjoy. That is until the day he grudgingly started to fix up old garage sale computer his dad wanted to give to a needy family.  Something was odd here. His interest piqued, he started to explore a mystery not understanding the water he was dipping his toe into was shark-infested.

The mystery continues to grow as he and his friends start to search for the mysterious Florentine through a hidden safe, a long forgotten cave and a university lab.  As they continue to come closer to the truth, hidden codes are discovered, people are injured and lives are lost. The truth is shocking and the timing short. With no time to turn it over to the NSA, Alex reaches out to an old mentor to help him find a solution.  Will they finish in time?

​Buy the audiobook: Amazon ~ Audible
Buy the book: Amazon ~
Barnes & Noble

Watch the trailer:


Meet The Author - 

Behind the scene author interview HERE! 

Carey Nachenberg is Symantec Corporation's Chief Engineer and is considered one of the inventors of Norton AntiVirus. As Chief Engineer, Carey drives the technical strategy for all of Symantec's core security technologies and security content. He has led the design and development of Symantec's core antivirus, intrusion prevention and reputation-based security technologies; his work in these areas have garnered over eighty-five United States patents.

In addition to his work in the cyber-security field, Carey has also recently published his first novel, a cyber-security thriller entitled “The Florentine Deception,” and is donating all proceeds from sales of the novel to charities supporting underserved students and veterans. Carey holds BS and MS degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from University of California at Los Angeles, where he continues to serve as Adjunct Professor of Computer Science.

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