David Baldacci - Simple Genius

Pros: could've been interesting
Cons: frittered away all the good parts on a bunch of whizz-bang climaxes

David Baldacci:  Simple GeniusThere's an old joke involving the first humans on Mars: the astronauts come upon a couple of Martians stirring something in a large pot. Upon being asked what they're doing, the Martians ...

Pros: Gets the tech stuff right
Cons: Long and drawn out

David Baldacci’s Simple Genius starts off interestingly enough. A beautiful woman walks into a bar and picks out the biggest guy there, then kicks him right in the head. A huge bar fight ensues and the two nearly kill each other in the process. ...

Pros: Fast paced...uh, not much. Actually, not even fast paced until the end.
Cons: plot, plot, plot, and characterization to boot

When I first began reading David Baldacci novels (it was Absolute Power, I immediately sensed the genius of the writer in crafting a fast-paced story that engaged the reader in psychological twists and turns that could not be predicted. The ...

Pros: Ron McLarty, great narration, Beale Cipher, Bletchley Park, interesting ideas
Cons: Can't get into the story b/c there are too many

I once asked my Grandmother "what is pot luck dinner?" she said, "you take all your left-overs, throw 'em in a pot and hope for luck." Well, that's a good way to describe Simple Genius...each plot line would have been a great book, served-up hot, fresh ...