The Givenchy Code

There are those that live for the thrill of the game, the excitement that comes from the chase and victory of a game well played. Yet what happens when someone brings the game to life on the streets of Manhattan? Melanie “Mel” Prescott didn’t ask to play, but someone already started the game around her.

When Melanie received an anonymous secret message, she scoffed at the coded message, Play or Die. She may love puzzles, but she was not going to get involved with something that sick. With the death of a friend as her warning, she is forced to rethink playing the game. When Matthew Stryker joins the game as her protector, the game becomes very real. Mel has little choice but to play and hope she can solve the puzzles, or die as an assassin seems to be one step ahead of her.

This book is a treat. Julie Kenner offers readers a well thought out plot, filled with unique characters, that has enough twists and turns to keep everyone guessing. The author displays a talent for balancing the edginess and fast pacing of a great suspense with quirky and entertaining moments that make The Givenchy Code a great read. The main characters are two individuals readers will come to love. The snappy, stylish dialogue by Mel will have readers easily rooting for her. The emotion that flares between Mel and Stryker during the game is striking and draws the reader even deeper into this story.

The depth of development that went into this work is noteworthy. From codes and anagrams, to fashion and history, readers will be amazed at the puzzles that Mel must solve in her quest to stay alive. The author projects the characters’ sense of urgency and foreboding easily into the plot and allows the reader to experience their stress and apprehension when the clues don’t come together or the assassin gets too close. Ms. Kenner maintains the tension and rhythm of the game while at the same time allowing readers to catch their breath at the lighter comments and thoughts of the characters. As the game intensifies, readers will be hooked and helpless to keep reading as they wait to see how the game plays out.

Rarely have I had so much fun reading a book. This is one plot that I had no idea how the author would devise the ending. Even if you don’t manage to solve all the clues, Ms. Kenner’s style and creativity ensures that readers can’t go wrong with The Givenchy Code.

Reviewed by: Amanda