Codebreaker [Paperback]

Katherine Myers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000

While working undercover at a software engineering firm, Meg Parrish, a cryptographer for NSA's Central Security Service, manages to break through a series of passwords and retrieve a set of codes that might affect national security. Unknowingly, she has set in motion a series of events that sends her running for her life as she overcomes the nightmares from her past.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Taking a page from Helen MacInnes, romance author Myers (Winter Flame; Dark Soldier) has produced a thoroughly modern suspense/chase thriller with a bit of romance. Beautiful federal code-breaker Meg Parrish, working under cover at Signet Corp., a software firm in Portland, Ore., penetrates computer security and copies a database so valuable that the company's CEO, Willis Dent, sends his security chief to kill her and recover the disk. Meg's handsome Signet colleague, Ross Eckland, saves her from rape and murder, and they begin a flight from Signet, from federal intelligence agents and, suddenly, from threatening strangers with mysterious motives and aliases. In their escape across Oregon, California and Arizona, the pair face one danger after another, including pursuit by helicopter and two high-speed car chases. Numerous flashbacks and subplots involve electronic surveillance and tracking, encryption, DNA and genetics research, the federal intelligence community and the ethics of cloning. Once Dent and the evil corporate and federal pursuers get their just deserts, Meg and Ross finally realize they're probably in love. Myers is good at describing scenery and interiors and at explaining many small tricks, including how to make an egg sound like an exploding bomb. However, readers may need a notepad to keep track of the characters and their aliases. Simpler would have been better. (July)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Codebreaker is suspenseful reading that pulls you inside Meg's head--a turbulent but fascinating place." -- eBooknet

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Product Details

• Paperback: 289 pages
• Publisher: Salvo Press; 1st edition (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966452097
• ISBN-13: 978-0966452099
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,425,869 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book to take to the beach!, July 5, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Codebreaker (Paperback)

Katherine Myers is a sign language interpreter, mother and novelist. She is involved with the deaf community, computers, interpretive theater and photography. Code Breaker is her seventh novel, and qualifies as an adventure spy novel with a few twists. Meg Parrish, who works as a cryptographer for NSA's Central Security Service in Portland, Oregon, has had a major trauma in her life every five years. She is both gifted as a codebreaker and haunted by her tragedies, which makes her a likely target for both government and private groups intent on taking her life after she stumbles on to a series of mysterious codes. Meg works undercover at Signet Corporation, where she is assigned to look for a mathematical vulnerability in the encryption code. So far she has been unable to locate the codes, but then opportunity beckons when Beverly, Willis Dent's, the owner of Signet, secretary, goes home ill. Meg breaks into Dent's computer, but in her haste makes a serious mistake: "She meant to copy the files to the CD, but in her haste accidently clicked on `move' instead of `copy.' In one second the folder was moved out of Dent's computer and into the drive. Meg gasped and realized her mistake. What had she done? At this point there was no time left to stop the process and restore the folder to his computer. The minutes were ticking methodically towards the five o'clock checkout time, much like the timer on a bomb. She had no other choice than to let the information move out of his computer and onto the CD." This mistakes sets Meg up for intensive danger, and the reader is taken on a tour of several states and a range of perplexing labyrinths as Meg seeks refuge, freedom from her past, an escape from her predicament and love. Katherine Myers juxtaposes science with the unknown to come up with a sort of X-Files story that is both believable and unbelievable at the same time. Meg's character is irresistible in her vulnerability and strength, and the plot line is fascinating. Ms. Myers is obviously well acquainted with the deaf community and weaves their subculture into the story to add depth and an interesting slant. Code Breaker is a great book to take to the beach.

Shelley Glodowski Reviewer

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced, good tech thriller, November 20, 2002

By 

Ebrooke - See all my reviews

This review is from: Codebreaker (Paperback)

This one reminds me of the genius of Katherine Neville (The Eight [0345366239], A Calculated Risk [0345386825]), who features strong, leading lady protagonists facing mysterious circumstances and using their know-how to fight, unravel, and solve heavy-duty problems of the metaphysical and physical nature. Codebreaker's leading sleuth is Meg Parrish, who excels at breaking codes and becomes entangled in a surreal, high-intensity chase (from/to herself as well as some evil dudes). Great book.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gripping Journey of a Read!, July 31, 2002

By 

T. L. Cooper "T. L. Cooper, author of All She... (Albany, Oregon, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Codebreaker (Paperback)

Katherine Myers quickly pulls you into the life of Meg Parris, a brilliant cryptographer but emotionally stunted woman. Suddenly, you find yourself wanting to know all about Meg and what will happen to her. Meg finds herself on the run with a private investigator, Ross, after she takes a series of codes during her undercover work as a CSS agent. Meg grapples with her fears and the possibilities of life she's long ignored due to those fears. Meg and Ross discover not only a common connection with a group of youngsters with strange abilities who could be the answers to Meg's mental demons but each other. Myers deftly takes you on an exciting journey across three states and through Meg's internal struggles. It's a trip well worth taking - one that once you've started will keep you hooked until the end.