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What can I say I like his writing style. ( )

Michelle Maxwell, Sean King - 3 ( )

Simple Genius was a quick, mostly enjoyable read, perfect for a light summer reading list. Overall, though, it is largely forgettable and not worth investing much time or effort in. The plot is fairly straightforward, and the plot-twists rather formulaic and easily spotted two chapters away.

I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book, but it's not a terrible read. Baldacci has done much better work. ( )

For the first time ever, I didn't finish a David Baldacci book. In fact, I didn't get very far into it. It seemed like another formula Camel Club book with only the characters and setting changed. I much prefer his books that deal with politics and other subjects.

I love David Baldacci. All his books that I've read are simply thrilling and full of suspense. Though "Simple Genius" is not a bad book, it's not his best. The many twists and turns, unexpected plot diversions and information on science, mathematics and history is a bit much for me. ( )

It was OK. The last 50 pages were pretty good, but otherwise, it was rather slow. Other than Viggie, I really didn't care about any of the other characters very much. ( )

well written

ok story, could use some editing. Aurthor does't portray women very well--not realistically
reads like run of the mill popular fiction
light summer reading ( )

Sean and Michelle get in almost over their heads in this continuation of the series. Excellent sub-plots. Michelle's inner turmoil surfaces along with genuine emotion. Trusting his instincts almost gets Sean and Michelle killed. You'll really like this one! ( )

The plot did keep my attention, but it really didn't seem like it was worthy of 530 pages. I found myself often wanting to 'fast forward,' to see what was going to happen next, skipping the history lessons. ( )

Like most of Baldacci's books, the plot is a little far-fetched and the characters don't seem very authentic. However, the plot moves quickly and the characters are likeable. I wish the two main characters would finally get together.

Baldacci seems to have found a way to balance the dynamic Maxwell with the more sedate and reasoned King. It just happens to entail separating them for half the novel and restricting Michelle to a mental hospital. Still, the story is as intriguing as ever and the mystery reeled me right in. Horatio adds interesting interactions as well as a pleasant character, and I couldn't help rooting for Viggie. Overall, I'm as excited about the King/Maxwell series now as I was after Split Second and Hour Game and I can't wait to see if Baldacci writes a fourth installment. ( )

Sean King & Michelle Maxwell team up for the third time to solve a bunch of crimes surrounding a community of scientists. ( )

Simple Genius, by David Baldacci, follows ex-Secret Service agents Sean King and Michelle Maxwell as they investigate the suspicious death of a brilliant mathematician, Monk Turing. Turing worked for a mysterious think-tank, located across a Virginia river from the CIA's Camp Peary. Turing also left behind a daughter, the brilliant but possibly autistic Viggie, who holds the clues to her father's mysterious death. At the same time, Michelle Maxwell is trying to come to terms with her own internal demons, which are driving her to hurt herself.

Baldacci does a good job of keeping the plot moving along. While the ultimate cause of the conspiracies traced in the book may be a little far-fetched, Baldacci sets up the books' events in such a way that everything makes sense. His characters are a bit more in-depth and realistic than many in this genre. We learn a lot about many of the characters and their motivations, especially Michelle. Overall, a quick and enjoyable read. ( )

Michelle Maxwell, a tough competent ex-Secret Service agent, and Sean King, a strong good-looking, connected risk taker form an unbeatable investigative team. Normally of a robust nature, Michelle is having uncharacteristic emotional problems stemming from an unconscious repressed memory. Sean finds work investigating the death of a mathematical genius at a Virginian think tank, coincidentally across the river from a highly secret CIA property. The reader is compulsively drawn into the discovery of an autistic young girl left alone by the death of her father: the genius Monk Turing. Sean is joined by the emotionally compromised Michelle to investigate yet another suspicious death on the grounds of the think tank. Babbage Town, modeled after Bletchley Park where code breakers worked on German transmissions during World War II, form the colonized area for a computer programming think tank, or is it?

David Baldacci weaves a complex story of intrigue with likable characters, to pull the reader though the intrigue of Washington back door politics, the CIA, questionable interrogation tactics, quantum computers, the history of Camp Peary; an unacknowledged CIA property, and psychological mysteries of the personal kind.

While the book is fiction, David Baldacci uses some interesting references to real people. Charles Babbage (a name also popping up in the movies “Rain Man” and “National Treasure”) is considered the father of the programmable computer. Alan Turing was a code breaker working in Bletchley Park and a genetic predecessor of the fictional Monk Turing. David Baldacci creates Champ Pollion, director of Babbage Town from real life Jean-Francois Champollion, a French linguist who worked on deciphering Egyptian codes. The Beale Cipher is an unsolved code believed to reveal an 1800’s buried treasure. The idea for Simple Genius originated from the Beale Cipher mystery. ( )

Baldacci can always be relied on to provide an interesting and professional read: simple Genius is no exception as PI Sean King is hired to investigate events at Babbage Town, a semi-secret compound of super-intelligent boffins, whose discoveries may change the world, or start a world war.

Funded by an anonymous group, the community of scientists and cryptographers is directly across the river from the forbidden and mysterious CIA facility, Camp Peary.

Simple Genius is exciting and entertaining but, despite all the action, it is firmly grounded in fact and established speculation, and maintains a sense of contemporary realism throughout ( )

I was fortunate enough to hear David speak at the ALA Conference in DC this past June. He is an excellant speaker. It was easy to see why he is such a great author. I look forward to any book he writes.

Former Secret Service agents turned private investigators Sean King and Michelle Maxwell have seen their lives splinter around them. Michelle lies unconscious in a hospital bed after a night of suicidal violence. Sean is forced to take on a thankless investigation into the murder of a scientist just inside the CIA's razor-wire fence near Williamsburg, Va. Entertaing, but not great literature. ( )

simple read/brain candy. ( )

Baldacci never fails to give a good read - especially when it takes place around the area of my home here in Virginia. ( )