The Crime Code
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Product Description
Review
"A storming, action packed thriller."
--"The Mirror"
--"The Mirror"
Book Description
The heart-stopping thriller from the author of The Messiah Code.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Michael Cordy and his publishers have renamed all his books!! Just be careful when buying a book of his that you don't already own it under it's previous name. He has only published 4 (I think) books.
I have stupidly fallen for this twice now!
I have stupidly fallen for this twice now!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The following review contains minor spoilers for the first bit of the book only.
'The Crime Code' (previously entitled 'Crime Zero' which makes much more sense) is a near-future-sci-fi thriller in the Michael Crichton tradition. It deals with the idea of genetic alteration and also with the potentials of viral vector technology, the basic plot running along the lines of a mysterious combination of the two being used to alter death row inmates at the same time as revolutionary political move in crime prevention coinciding with an election campaign for the first female president of the US, of course there's something very sinister working in the background and it quickly becomes a race against time - sigh - blah blah blah.
You see, this is the problem with this book, it's all so tediously familiar. Cordy seems reasonably capable of writing a sci-fi thriller of this genre and we may see some very good material from him in the future but this isn't it. Far too often when reading this book I found myself thinking "hold on, that's a bit like..." or "He's almost exactly the same as..." and so on; our hero is Will Graham from Red Dragon but not as sympathetic or complex, the presidential candidate is Hilary Clinton, the plot is just about anything written by Michael Crichton, etc.
The other problem here is that this book has a lot of plot twists, not a problem in itself but with the exception of one very interesting twist to do with our hero's background you know them before you read them and they take on more the nature of watching the inevitable Dan Brown plot curve rather than the stunning Jeffery Deaver triple barreled shock reveal.
However, as I said previously, Cordy does write fairly well and does a good job with the pacing of the novel (though he does throw in an entirely pointless epilogue that the ending could have done well without), and though it's hardly original or surprising it is pretty enjoyable for the most part.
So, in conclusion, this is a reasonably well written thriller, but you've read it before and you know what? - It was better the first time.
'The Crime Code' (previously entitled 'Crime Zero' which makes much more sense) is a near-future-sci-fi thriller in the Michael Crichton tradition. It deals with the idea of genetic alteration and also with the potentials of viral vector technology, the basic plot running along the lines of a mysterious combination of the two being used to alter death row inmates at the same time as revolutionary political move in crime prevention coinciding with an election campaign for the first female president of the US, of course there's something very sinister working in the background and it quickly becomes a race against time - sigh - blah blah blah.
You see, this is the problem with this book, it's all so tediously familiar. Cordy seems reasonably capable of writing a sci-fi thriller of this genre and we may see some very good material from him in the future but this isn't it. Far too often when reading this book I found myself thinking "hold on, that's a bit like..." or "He's almost exactly the same as..." and so on; our hero is Will Graham from Red Dragon but not as sympathetic or complex, the presidential candidate is Hilary Clinton, the plot is just about anything written by Michael Crichton, etc.
The other problem here is that this book has a lot of plot twists, not a problem in itself but with the exception of one very interesting twist to do with our hero's background you know them before you read them and they take on more the nature of watching the inevitable Dan Brown plot curve rather than the stunning Jeffery Deaver triple barreled shock reveal.
However, as I said previously, Cordy does write fairly well and does a good job with the pacing of the novel (though he does throw in an entirely pointless epilogue that the ending could have done well without), and though it's hardly original or surprising it is pretty enjoyable for the most part.
So, in conclusion, this is a reasonably well written thriller, but you've read it before and you know what? - It was better the first time.
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I type this review really in reply to other reviews. Those giving one or two stars: what book have you read? It wasn't Crime Zero (or The Crime Code as it has been re-entitled). Yes, that's a fair point. Potential buyers should be aware that Mr Cordy's publishers have re-released several of his books under different names to make the most of the publicity slipstream following The DaVinci Code. Although I can't blame them it is a shame as Michael Cordy stands separate with his writing style and propensity for revelation.
The premise is simple, it's the classic nature/nurture debate. Except that it's been re-done. Now we have a mad scientist who has realised that, given that 90% of violent crime is committed by men, the way to eradicate 90% of violent crime is to... you get the picture. And so our detective hero jumps in.
Reference is indeed made to The Miracle Strain (re-entitled The Messiah Code) but not in excessive way. Actually I'd be quite happy if more of Mr Cordy's books referenced each other. It fulfills the brief of "thriller" and keeps a great pace. As in most of Mr Cordy's books, it gives you cause to think at times. Plot twists aren't at all predictable which sadly I can't say for his two most recent books (The Source and The Colour of Death). Although these are well written and very entertaining, the plot twists can be seen coming in same way of most of the Avatar plot. The "major" twist you certainly don't see coming.
I've read this book maybe three times now but not for a number of years. It's available on Kindle too so I just feel the urge to buy and enjoy it again. High recommended.
The premise is simple, it's the classic nature/nurture debate. Except that it's been re-done. Now we have a mad scientist who has realised that, given that 90% of violent crime is committed by men, the way to eradicate 90% of violent crime is to... you get the picture. And so our detective hero jumps in.
Reference is indeed made to The Miracle Strain (re-entitled The Messiah Code) but not in excessive way. Actually I'd be quite happy if more of Mr Cordy's books referenced each other. It fulfills the brief of "thriller" and keeps a great pace. As in most of Mr Cordy's books, it gives you cause to think at times. Plot twists aren't at all predictable which sadly I can't say for his two most recent books (The Source and The Colour of Death). Although these are well written and very entertaining, the plot twists can be seen coming in same way of most of the Avatar plot. The "major" twist you certainly don't see coming.
I've read this book maybe three times now but not for a number of years. It's available on Kindle too so I just feel the urge to buy and enjoy it again. High recommended.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Thriller
A book which is difficult to put down once started. There are many twists and turns right up to the last chapter.
The Crime Code
The Crime Code
Published 21 months ago by casmackitty
the crime code
micheal cordy strikes again -- another of his books that i just could not put down ....... bring on the next book ........... LOL
Published on 12 July 2009 by R. K. Euerby
SSDD
SSDD - same stuff, different day. This book is soooo staggeringly similar to his others that I wonder if he actually has any other ideas. Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2008 by J. H. Wilson
Readable
I liked the first few chapters that started to develop the plot, but unfortunately the book didn't keep the inventiveness of the author and became rather ridiculous. Read more
Published on 20 Jun 2007 by R. Streeter
Criminally Excellent
What a brilliant book. Really clever premise and convincining science - but still an unputdownnable, page-turning read. Read more
Published on 25 April 2007 by I. Reed
Mediocre, predictable plot
The book starts off OK, about half way through it gets a bit silly, by the end it's ridiculous. For example, expecting us to believe that two people could have a meeting with a... Read more
Published on 25 April 2007 by M. S. Kiely
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