Simple Genius by David Baldacci Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Simple Genius
Book Review: An Excellent Read
Summary: 4 Stars
A very good suspenseful read with lots of twists and good intellectual challenges on code breaking.Book Review: Baldacci can do better.
Summary: 3 Stars
I loved the "King and Maxwell" series Baldacci has been writing, but I think this book is probably the weakest in the trilogy. The story developed for this book had great potential, but the characters in it were underdeveloped and uninspiring, and the details of the story were often unclear. Overall, the book seemed somewhat rushed. It's a good read if you like Baldacci, but it's definitely not his best.Book Review: Expected so much more!
Summary: 2 Stars
A friend recommended this book and gave it great hype. He did listen to it on tape as he is vision impaired. Perhaps that made the difference.
I did not relate to any character in the book, no one in particular made me care. The constant dilemmas the main characters got themselves into were often foolish and could have been avoided. For example: a child with severe emotional issues, integral to the mystery, is supposed to be guarded. Upon reporting for his a.m. shift, the guard leaves when a computer printed message is on the door to the child's home....child is sick, don't need you today...and the guard leaves! The main characters value this child and they both leave the child to go sleuthing, under the assumption that someone else is home to protect the child, without checking to make certain! They go on this adventure that makes no sense, get tortured beyond belief and pop back with strength. The conclusion is convoluted. We are supposed to be engrossed in Michelle's psychological issues, her time in a facility etc. and it all comes to not much of anything. Very disappointing!
Book Review: Long on Simple . . . short on Genious.
Summary: 1 Stars
On more mess like this from Baldacci and he will be added to my Do Not Read list of authors. The plot is totally implausible, the dialogue is totally unrealistic, and the outcome is totally non-sensical. Save your money but if you have to read it wait for it to be on here for $.01. It's barely worth that.Book Review: Strong start; weak finish
Summary: 2 Stars
Having read Split Second, I was familiar with the 2 main characters, King & Maxwell. The story starts out promising, with karate expert Ms. Maxwell having some unexplained inner demons. Her time in the mental ward is interesting but it turns out to be pointless in the grand scheme.
Enter Sean King, reeling from his partners' mental breakdown and his now lack of income without her. He contacts his former lover Joan, who gives him a murder case at Babbage Town. Aside, any compSci reader seeing the names "Babbage" and "Turing" will know where this book is headed. King's investigation is intriguing but becomes too convoluted. Worse, when Michelle unexpectedly shows up at Babbage Town with mental baggage yet unresolved, the story gets more convoluted by the minute. And yet, there was still hope for a strong finish but it really fell flat with much ado about nothing in the end. The other main scene of action across the river from Babbage Town is Camp Peary, which draws some parallels to Guantamano Bay prison. At Peary, the action is good but again the ending falls flat.
But the silliest facet of this novel is the final chapter when Michelle's neurosis is finally uncovered under hyponosis, but the shrink decides not to tell his patient what he discovered. This is utter nonsense.
Perhaps this book should have been titled "Baggage Town" since many of the characters are suffering from one problem or another.
Baldacci is still a great writer but not this book. Try "Split Second", "The Camel Club", "The Collectors", and "Saving Faith", all of which are better novels - IMHO.
More Simple Genius reviews:
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