The Givenchy Code (Code, Book 1) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "This was not my day..." (more)
Key Phrases: roi urn, qualifying clue, catenary curve, New York, Peter Trent, Fifth Avenue (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Everyone has weaknesses. Graduate-student Melanie "Mel" Prescott's happen to be haute couture shoes and complex codes, and who knew one would be the key to staying alive. When Mel first received a coded message from the tall, dark, and scary stranger, she thought one of her friends was kidding her, especially after she decoded the message, which read, "Play or die." But Mel quickly discovers the message is no joke and that she has somehow become involved in a real-life version of the Internet game of Play.Survive.Win. Now Mel is going to need all of her code-cracking skills, and the help of sexy Matthew Stryker, if she wants to stay one step ahead of an assassin who won't stop playing until Mel is dead. A fabulously fun heroine with a math-geek's mind and a passion for fashion outwits and outplays a ruthless killer in the latest ingenious literary creation from Kenner, whose sharp sense of wit is the perfect accessory for this chic blend of chick lit and thriller. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"Readers who like their suspense novels with a sexy edge and a wicked sense of humor will find Kenner irresistible."

-- Booklist

"Fabulously fun.... [A] chic blend of chick lit and thriller."

-- Booklist

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket; 1st Printing edition (May 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743496132
• ISBN-13: 978-0743496131
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #631,996 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 1 in The Code-Breaking Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced plot driven story, October 5, 2005

By	Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A self-confessed numbers geek and designer shoe aficionado, Mel Prescott suddenly finds herself thrust into a live version of an on-line game of cat and mouse, with her as the prey. Mel, a perennial student (and hopeful NSA operative), has a passion for ciphers and cryptology, so she is up to the challenge, especially since Sydney Bristow is her heroine. She initially ignores the invitation to the game when it proclaims that she has to "play or die", and she wants no part of the sick game.

Matthew Stryker, a former marine is assigned as her "protector." At first she does not believe what he is telling her when he tries to explain the game to her. He knows all too well how serious it is, since a few months ago, he ignored the clues, and as a result, another women who did not play the game was found dead. Together, Mel and Stryker travel all over Manhaten trying to solve a series of clues and puzzles to elude her assassin Lynx and complete the game. But the assassin has raised the stakes by murdering Mel's former lover. Adding complications is the growing attraction between Mel and Stryker as they race the clock to beat Lynx at his own game.

The story is fast-paced and the writing is witty. The only thing that turned me off is that the protagonist was the stereotypical post-Sex in the City single with a designer clothing and shoe fetish. It gets old after awhile that every chicklit heroine seems to have this annoying attribute. Other than that, it is a great story with a punny premise loosely mirroring the infamous "Da Vinci Code" right down to the clever book cover. Defnintely a great way to wile away the afternoon!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CataRomance.com Reviews, May 22, 2005

By	Nicole Hulst - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Melanie Prescott's day was not starting out well. It's a gloomy and drizzly day, she has to walk six dogs at once, and she runs into her ex-boyfriend. Then a mysterious man hands her an envelope that will change her life. Inside is a message: Play or die. She initially thought it was a joke, a friend playing on her love of codes and ciphers, but soon she knows it's real.

Melanie once played an online game called Play.Survive.Win, and played it well. She eventually lost interest and forgot about it, but now someone has taken that game and modified it for the real world. She must truly play or die. She meets sexy Matthew Stryker, who has been designated her Protector by the game mastermind. He didn't take the message seriously the first time, and a woman died. He won't make the same mistake twice. They need to work together to decipher the clues while playing cat and mouse across Manhattan with an assassin who is equally determined to win.

What can I say about this book? In one word: Wow. From the first page, I was hooked. THE GIVENCHY CODE starts out like an ordinary chick lit novel with designer clothes and ex-boyfriend problems, but it quickly changes into a riveting romantic suspense that is full of action. It even adds in the perfect amount of sexual tension to keep things hot. Melanie handles being forced into the game of her life in what I thought was a very realistic way. She also actually uses her brain rather than completely depending on Stryker's brawn. Stryker and her also work very well together. They make quite the team and their sexual tension is incredible. Stryker is a one hot and capable hero, and it's not just his strength and military training that's needed for their survival. This is one action-packed romance that you won't want to miss. Fresh and irresistible, I hope Julie Kenner plans to write more books such as this one. I highly recommend THE GIVENCHY CODE and can't wait to reread it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun and fast paced., February 11, 2006

By	Little D (California) - See all my reviews

I've never read any Julie Kenner books before so I didn't know what to expect from this book. It was like an adult version of a treasure hunt with a life on the line. It was a fast paced read and I enjoyed it. It's very entertaining. The only thing this book lacked some some thrilling action packed scenes.
I'm looking forward to reading the next one 'The Manolo Matrix', which I hope has more action.