I bought the book to get to know the two main characters as I got First Family as a present. I had read Baldacci before, the Camel Club books and quite like it. However I truly didn't like this book.........it drags for ages. The Camel Club I recommend.

I am a fan of David Baldacci. I enjoy his novels, his style of writting, and his ability to capture me from the start, like page one!

Oh my gosh! Michelle Maxwell is such a full and complex character. She absolutely captivated me with the dynamics going on in her psyche! I wanted to understand her. I fell in love with her in this book. In Hour Game, Michelle seemed like Ms. Perfection, well not anymore. In Simple Genius, Michelle's character is really brought to the front. I want to see more of her.

Watching Sean and Michelle's relationship continue to change and get closer had me on the edge of my seat. They have such a close partnership. Are they in love? I think so!

David Baldacci has a new fan in me!

Simple Genius felt like a standard Baldacci thriller. The two main characters are former secret service agents who work as private detectives. They take a job that leads to them uncovering a conspiracy that members of the government are involved in. The plot isn't amazing and the technical parts of the book aren't too complicated. Baldacci does a good job of presenting his characters and some of their quirks. The dialogue between characters can feel like a sitcom at times, but there was enough depth to the characters to draw me in. Overall this was a good thriller by Baldacci, but its not exactly a must read either.

This book started out fast and wild, then slowed to a snail's pace, and at the end, finally got momentum again. The thing that kept me going was his well-developed characters.

A very good suspenseful read with lots of twists and good intellectual challenges on code breaking.