The Janus Code

by J.C. Ferguson

What if the ultimate computer firewall protection turned out to be the ultimate computer snooper? Speeding through the Swiss Alps in his Lamborghini, Maurice Vivant misses a curve and flies off the road. It looks like an accident but James LaPointe believes it is not. He is obsessed with who killed his friend and why. Maurice accompanies James on his quest for the truth. Is he a ghost or James’s imagination? Even the police are convinced it was murder when people involved with settling Maurice’s multiple-business estate start dying and cars and buildings blow up. James’s nemesis, Felix Alexander, keeps putting up roadblocks wherever James turns. His search leads him back home to Boston and a computer security firm where his ex-wife works. Is her company’s new unreleased software the reason for all the violence?

406 pages, Paperback

First published August 3, 2013

Reviews

[Peter Sidell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, but not completely believable

A lot of crazy events with unexpected killing and in the middle of all that a big hurricane. The issue of identity and internet security is even more real now than when the story was originally written. What I found a bit unbelievable was the creation of both an absolute firewall and an absolute snooper. I guess those need to be seen in relative terms. The people are well realized. I am curious by the prevelance of bipolar personalities. Is the author telling us something about herself or close personal friends or relatives? Not important but she does seem to know a lot about the reactions and responses of that personality disorder.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a book group who had invited this (local) author to speak at our most recent meeting. I thought this book was better than the average self published novel. The main character was bi-polar, which was an interesting twist and one which I thought the author handled well. The author was involved in the tech field for many years and wrote this in 1995, well before the events in this book would have been possible. Interestingly enough, although she rewrote the tech parts, she said she had to do very little updating. So I guess she kinda saw the future!

[Dimojabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Janus Code straight through. I couldn't put it down. It is timely and prescient. Feminists will love it and even men who are still human enough to understand the personality defects that often come with their genius. Of course, the part about surveillance tactics... I'm sure Mr. Snowden would like that part.