When Jack Bernstein's prodigal daughter Lara is killed as a result of the bombing of flight 320, the one time chess grandmaster is completely unaware that the flight was downed for one reason… to stop his daughter coming home.Having been summoned via a strangely coded message to a meeting with a man referring to himself only as 'Simon', Jack is made aware that his daughter was leaving a lot more than her new life behind. She was also leaving a secret… one that has been building for centuries and one which a global group of corporations will stop at nothing to protect. It soon becomes apparent that Lara Bernstein's new life was no accident. Lara was selected to become part of an ever-expanding belief and her selection was a direct result of her father's company's near-perfection of the one thing they need - true artificial intelligence, computer systems capable of cracking the most complex codal system known to man.
Slowly, Jack Bernstein is being drawn into a global game of chess in which he has been an unwitting pawn for over a decade. To keep him in the game they have already killed his wife and now his daughter. When the game is over, they will kill a whole lot more unless Jack can find the one thing he never dreamed existed…
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What do you think readers will find most notable about this book?
Adrian Dawson
Codex has been described as being in the vein of Dan Brown, despite being first submitted to publishers in 1999, but is described very much as an "intelligent thriller". Barry Forshaw at Crimetime remarked, "It's refreshing in a blockbuster thriller such as Codex that one doesn't have to put one's intelligence on the back burner." I very much hope that readers will be left feeling the same way. More recently, Crimesquad's review stated that, "The prose is a joy to behold in the early chapters as the author exercises his literary muscle and produces some of the best crafted sentences I have read this year." That too, would a be a sentiment I would be very happy for people to take away from having read my work.
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Have you acquired any good anecdotes surrounding this book? If so, could you share one?
Adrian Dawson
One of the publishers who rejected Codex (in a nice way) in 1999, and who shall remain nameless, stated that readers would not enjoy fiction such as this and that "they would turn instead to the non-fiction of writers such as Baigent and Leigh". I still have his letter. That same publisher was thanked for his assistance, a few years later, on the inside cover of The Da Vinci Code.
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Did researching and writing this book teach you anything or influence your thinking in any way?
Adrian Dawson
Mainly that history, as one of my characters states, is so very rarely an exact science. From events which happened quite recently to events from centuries ago, we are all relying - for the most part - on the author of the day's often skewed perspective. As such, it is imperative that you find as many commentators as possible before forming your own opinion.
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What would you most like readers to tell others about this book?
Adrian Dawson
Codex weaves many complex threads and to isolate one thing is not as easy as it sounds. If they really enjoy Codex, then whichever element grabs them most is fine by me, so tell your friends anything that makes them give it a read. Just don't tell them the ending, because there's shock value the that really should not be spoiled!
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Can you suggest one question readers might find interesting to discuss, concerning you, your writing in general, or this book?
Adrian Dawson
The question most people ask me about a Codex, given the history, the technology and the theories banded around within its pages is... where does fact end and fiction start? Let me tell you, the line is much further to one side than you might think.
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How can readers help you promote this book?
Adrian Dawson
That's an easy one. At the very least, please leave a good review but if you blog... then please let the world know that you enjoyed it.
About You: Adrian Dawson
Born in Yorkshire, England, in 1971, Adrian's creative career has spanned advertising, graphics, web development and copywriting.
Now published through Last Passage, his debut novel Codex stormed the iBookstore charts, heading straight to Number 2 in the Mysteries and Thrillers section on its release, thanks to its gripping and innovative mix of thriller, science, theology and mystery. It also achieved the #5 slot on the entire UK iBookstore, shining out from among over 30,000 paid-for titles.
As a self-confessed perfectionist, Adrian takes exceptional pride in the depth of research and detail he includes in his work and insists that 'If the ending isn't right, the story isn't right!'
When not working, Adrian has 3 chocolate labradors that keep him busy - one called 'Magus'.
As well as Codex, Adrian has a number of shorts available in all ebook formats and his next novel, Sequence, will be published in Spring 2011.
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Why do you write?
Adrian Dawson
Two reasons: firstly, the sheer escapism of it all, and secondly... I've been disappointed too many times by novels that I have read, especially the endings. With that in mind, I am always aiming to create the perfect novel with the perfect blend of emotion, action, suspense, ingenuity, thrills, heartbreak and above all, a fantastic ending that leaves you breathless. As such, my work is not quick to create, but nor do I think anyone would find it quick to dismiss either.
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What is your greatest strength as a writer?
Adrian Dawson
I think my main strength is to build tension, then move the reader away. In the new area I create even more tension so that the reader is constantly being torn back and forth. As part of this, I endeavour to make almost every chapter ending a cliffhanger.
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What quality do you most value in yourself?
Adrian Dawson
Mainly that I don't give up. I may for a short while, but I always get up, dust myself off and try again... Stronger and harder than before.
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In addition to writing, what else are you passionate about?
Adrian Dawson
My girlfriend, my stepson, my three chocolate labradors, Macs and Apple generally, Mutt Lange (a perfectionist record producer) and drumming - the heavy rock kind.
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What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life?
Adrian Dawson
Too many things to mention. I hate to fail. Of course, there are things I am hopeless at so I simply steer clear of them, but within life generally (personal and professional), there are many goals I set for myself (such as completing a novel and I've now written two - Codex and Sequence which is out in print on 2nd July 2011) that I have either met or exceeded.
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Is there any new or established author whom you feel deserves more attention, and what is it that strikes you about his or her work?
Adrian Dawson
There's a brand new guy called Titus Powell who wrote "The Dare Ring
". He really knows how to crank up the excitement and I definitely think that his name is one that deserves to be banded around a little more.
