Heather’s Bookshelf: Cipher
Author: Allison Boley
Released: 06/01/26
Genre: Adult Spy Thriller
“The bombs weren’t a distraction, nor a statement, nor a way to keep others at bay. They were guiding people through a forced path.
Into a final room. A room with no apparent exit.”
“Cipher” introduces Patrick, a scientist who’s moving through a relatively tame and normal life until he is befriended by a man with secret motives.
Patrick wakes up from a fun night out to find that his life’s been changed. He’s been fired and sued for breaking a confidentiality agreement. Reeling from how and why all of this could have happened, Patrick’s approached by Brandon, the new friend from the bar he just met last night.
Brandon forces Patrick into a job of sorts where he’s expected to spy on his coworkers and decipher messages. Initially tortured and anxious about the whole situation, Patrick finds he reluctantly likes his coworkers. Will he be able to put his feelings aside and find the answers he seeks- including who the true villains really are?
Trigger Warning: violence, kidnapping, adult language, reference to gun violence
Overall, I was a bit torn on this one. The story is told through Patrick’s POV. He’s not the most likable protagonist. Especially in the beginning of the book, he’s naive, timid, and a bit of a pushover. I actually found Brandon to be much more intriguing. Unfortunately, he disappears through much of the tale. Patrick’s character does develop through the book, especially with his interactions with his newfound friends, but many of his choices remain questionable. The beginning of the story feels like a spy thriller. It is fast moving and grabs your attention. The main focus then turns to a focus on global warming, possible causes, and repercussions for probable culprits. Clearly this is an important topic for the author and I found the shared information to be interesting in the way it was delineated. The story slows down dramatically and focuses on relationship development. The whole last ¼ of the story felt like a different book. It just didn’t fit with the rest and felt quite unbelievable, also leading to an ending which didn’t seem resolved. The “villains” were also not introduced until late in the book, not allowing for the reader to gain an opinion of the characters or their motives.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A “spy thriller” with an interesting concept and eco-thriller aspects with pacing difficulty and a challenging protagonist.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Allison Boley
Interested in checking out the book for yourself?
Find it for purchase here
Interested in submitting your book for review? Visit my review page for guidelines and submission requirements.
