Product Description

When Simon Lynch, a sixteen-year-old computer wizard, breaks a government code, the National Security Agency sends a beautiful terrorist after him, with only FBI Special Agent Art Jefferson to save him. National ad/promo.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1167243 in Books
• Published on: 1996-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

Fast Pace, Weak Writing
This book had a great deal of potential. It seems to have been either over-edited or the author had not researched his subject matter very well.

It is very fast paced, extremely so, with shallow character development and only cursory details about where the action takes place. There is a subplot about a sadistic assasin that one wonders why is in the book. The premise tends to insult the reader's intelligence. It is also sexist and marginally racist.

It is also evident the author was not trying to authentically depict the intelligence establishment or the use of cryptography. There seems to be a 1970's sense of mistrust of the government written into the novel as well as a sense of governmental incompetence.

The characters are cliche but friendly and this book will keep you reading it, however, it will not take very long, the pace is maddening and the details few.

For a brief, if not unsatisfying, distraction, Simply Simon, fills the bill.

I must be simple...too many characters!
The premise of the book was what drew me to it. I thought it sounded interesting, especially the part of Simon being autistic, but able to solve these encrypted messages. I listened to the story on audiobook which may have made it harder to keep track of the characters, but there were so many introduced that it took me awhile before I could remember who was who. It was an OK read, but I'm not really a big fan of thriller/mystery type books. I was able to follow the plot, but not without really paying attention to the story, which was hard while driving.

Fast paced and engaging
An interesting plot with an autistic teenager breaking a supposedly unbreakable code. The usual good and bad guys but an inexorable story which should appeal to thriller readers.