Tracers in the Dark

PRAISE FOR THE BOOK

“[Greenberg] deftly assembles a rogues’ gallery of characters… [An] absorbing narrative… Each key section of the book—the Silk Road story; the dismantling of its successor, AlphaBay; the massive theft of Bitcoin from the Mt. Gox exchange; and, finally, the bust of the Welcome to Video child porn emporium—unfolds like a compact mystery.”

—New York Times Book Review

“Immensely readable... Greenberg is known for his ability to explain complicated technology in a way anyone can understand, and he doesn’t disappoint when he tackles crypto…. The whole smoky world of crypto starts to open up... [He] takes readers on a romp through some of the most infamous dark web takedowns in recent memory.”

—Washington Post

"Greenberg sketches the evolution of a wholly new discipline in the surprisingly lively real-life police procedural [that] deftly teases out technical detail without slowing the narrative."

—Associated Press

“I love the book… It reads like a thriller… These stories are amazing.”

—Michael Lewis, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Big Short

"A master-class in the tactics and countertactics of financial cyberwarfare, laid out in a tense, exciting technothriller."

—Cory Doctorow, New York Times bestselling author of Attack Surface and Red Team Blues

"An immersive look into cryptocurrency and crime... Greenberg’s book is often thrilling, but it will also leave you with plenty to think about once you’ve finished it—making for the best kind of page turner."

—InsideHook

"The best cybercrime book of the last decade."

—Rick Howard, host of the Cyberwire Podcast

"I’ve been covering security for 22 years and I’ve read a whole pile of books on the subject... Tracers in the Dark is as good as it gets."

—Dennis Fisher, host of the Decipher Podcast

“A true, detailed, behind-the-scenes look at high-stakes police operations.”

—Tech Crunch

“A must-read...I was completely enthralled.”

—Laura Shin, host of the Unchained podcast and author of The Cryptopians

"In his exciting new book, [Greenberg] shows how cryptocurrency became a double-edged sword for the criminal sphere."

—L'Express (France)

"A probing investigation...that reads like a whodunit."

—Le Point (France)

"The thrilling tale of a technological race between surveillance authorities and cybercriminals...burning with topicality."

—L'Echo (France)

"Reads like a thriller...In this fine investigative book, corrupt cops, hardened crooks and Russian criminals intersect with intrigues pulled straight from a John LeCarré novel."

—Challenges (France)

"Fascinating and so enthralling...[A] highly recommended book."

—Library Journal (starred review)

"Greenberg examines in fascinating detail how criminals have employed technology for their nefarious ends...He brings to vivid life the assorted players, including the agents who cracked the crimes, those in law enforcement who succumbed to the allure of fast money on the dark web, and the private citizens who ushered in the golden age of cryptocurrency tracing. This is a must-have for the true crime shelf."

—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Spellbinding.... Written with great enthusiasm and with an ear for the dramatic turn of phrase...this is the kind of book that yanks the reader’s eyes wide open.... Lively, highly relevant, and more than a little scary.”

—Booklist

"A sinuous, eminently readable story of the darker corners of cyberspace...  Reminiscent in all the best ways of Clifford Stoll’s Cuckoo’s Egg, smoothly blending crime writing with matters of the deepest techno-geekery. An absorbing work of true crime.

—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)