Simple Genius

Among the two series recently started by David Baldacci, I definitely prefer the teaming of Sean King and Michelle Maxwell. Two books(Split Second and Hour Game) old, they have become a familiar team now, always there for each other. They are interesting as always in Simple Genius places the novel them in the middle of a plot that starts off interestingly but then veers into the ridiculous.

For a while Sean King is on his own as he investigates an apparent suicide in Camp Peary, a secretive CIA area. Across the river from Camp Peary is Babbage Town, a places filled with geniuses who are working on a scientific discovery "that could stop the world dead in its tracks". Monk Turing, the man found dead in Camp Peary, is a scientist from Babbage Town. Meanwhile, Michelle checks herself into a psychiatric facility and uncovers some wrongdoings there before checking herself out and joining Sean. But Horatio, her psychiatrist, isn't convinced that she is completely alright. So he jumps at the chance when Sean asks him to come to Babbage Town to work with Viggie, Monk Turing's autistic daughter.

We learn a little bit more about Michelle as the book starts off with her death wish and then takes us along as the psychiatrist tries to understand the reason behind it. Her stint at the hospital eventually turns out to be the most interesting part of the book since it is somewhat grounded in reality and the things she uncovers don't turn out to be anti-climactic. The secrets in her past are also fed to us in bits and pieces and her condition makes sense when they are finally revealed.

Sean's investigation at Babbage Town also starts off interestingly and with the CIA involved, Baldacci is on familiar ground. The science parts of the book remind us of a few other books but Baldacci wisely doesn't delve too much into the details(as he himself mentions in the epilogue) and so the story doesn't get bogged down. The addition of the autistic kid allows Baldacci to stretch the story out since she reveals information only when she feels like it. But the bonding between Michelle and her is developed well.

Baldacci's books have always been a little far-fetched(his first book Absolute Power opened with a thief watching the President kill a woman with his bare hands!) but he takes things too far here. The plot veers off in a bunch of different directions towards the end as the book, after dealing with secret codes and POWs, brings in plot points like buried treasure and drugs. The twists seem forced and don't evoke any interest. A lot of interesting issues(like the whole "Codes and Blood" phrase) are brought up but their resolutions are simplistic and disappointing and are usually achieved by unbelievable leaps of intuition.

Baldacci better stick to Washington D.C and American politics!