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A review by rkitch
The Cryptographer's Dilemma by Johnnie Alexander
2.0
This book left quite a bit to be desired, starting with "what was the dilemma?" Not my biggest issue with the book, but the title definitely didn't catch my attention, and I still don't know what it had to do with anything.
This could have been a decent spy thriller or an okay romance, but I think the author tried to do too much by combining them; there just wasn't enough detail on either plot point. I liked the idea of a female cryptographer working with the FBI. I was looking for a strong female lead, but that's not what we got. Honestly, the self-doubt had me rolling my eyes throughout the whole book and really left little room for anything else in her characterization. Therefore, the love story felt forced and fell flat for me.
And speaking of plot points being forced, the addition of the family drama was completely out of left field in a story that already needed more attention to the main details, not more distractions from them. And the ending ... no spoilers but I'll just say it perfectly fit the theme of being forced.
There were several inconsistencies within the book that were also distracting but nothing major. Overall, the idea was good but the execution lacking.
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
This could have been a decent spy thriller or an okay romance, but I think the author tried to do too much by combining them; there just wasn't enough detail on either plot point. I liked the idea of a female cryptographer working with the FBI. I was looking for a strong female lead, but that's not what we got. Honestly, the self-doubt had me rolling my eyes throughout the whole book and really left little room for anything else in her characterization. Therefore, the love story felt forced and fell flat for me.
And speaking of plot points being forced, the addition of the family drama was completely out of left field in a story that already needed more attention to the main details, not more distractions from them. And the ending ... no spoilers but I'll just say it perfectly fit the theme of being forced.
There were several inconsistencies within the book that were also distracting but nothing major. Overall, the idea was good but the execution lacking.
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.