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Genius Club
They were gifted enough to be selected. Are they smart enough to survive?
Professor Matthew Stanford is a genius with numbers, but when it comes to people, he's always struggled.
As a teenager, he was offered a scholarship by the reclusive polymath, Benjamin Caesar, where he met a group of like-minded intellectuals, which became known as the Genius Club.
The now thirty-something prodigy still stays in close contact with the other participants, but when Matthew discovers his wife - also a member of the club - dead on the floor with an empty syringe by her side, his life unravels.
Authorities dismiss it as a tragic overdose, Matthew is certain something far darker is at play. When he uncovers unsettling truths about Caesar's motivation behind forming the club, Matthew realizes he and his friends have been part of a disturbing experiment all along. And now, they are being hunted down one by one.
Can Matthew outsmart a faceless enemy before he’s next?
Genius Club is a dark psychological thriller perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, Alex Michaelides and Michael Crichton
Real readers love Genius Club :
‘I read this on an overnight flight when I should have been sleeping so can confirm its gripping nature’ *****
‘Excellent – kept me guessing to the end’ *****
‘From the very page this draws you in and you can’t put it down’ *****
‘Like Frankenstein for the modern age’ *****
Professor Matthew Stanford is a genius with numbers, but when it comes to people, he's always struggled.
As a teenager, he was offered a scholarship by the reclusive polymath, Benjamin Caesar, where he met a group of like-minded intellectuals, which became known as the Genius Club.
The now thirty-something prodigy still stays in close contact with the other participants, but when Matthew discovers his wife - also a member of the club - dead on the floor with an empty syringe by her side, his life unravels.
Authorities dismiss it as a tragic overdose, Matthew is certain something far darker is at play. When he uncovers unsettling truths about Caesar's motivation behind forming the club, Matthew realizes he and his friends have been part of a disturbing experiment all along. And now, they are being hunted down one by one.
Can Matthew outsmart a faceless enemy before he’s next?
Genius Club is a dark psychological thriller perfect for fans of T.M. Logan, Alex Michaelides and Michael Crichton
Real readers love Genius Club :
‘I read this on an overnight flight when I should have been sleeping so can confirm its gripping nature’ *****
‘Excellent – kept me guessing to the end’ *****
‘From the very page this draws you in and you can’t put it down’ *****
‘Like Frankenstein for the modern age’ *****
352 pages, Paperback
Published May 23, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
March 29, 2026
Reading this book was an interesting journey. When I started it I found myself frequently asking, '"Why am I reading this?", "Why should I care about any of those characters or about anything that happens to them?" Frankly, the beginning was a bit of a slog. A slog that wasn't helped by the frequent changes of characters and jumps across timelines, because none of this made much sense.
At that point I had only met one character I found mildly - very mildly - intriguing: Alistair. (Anyone else getting a whiff of Dr Ian Malcolm vibes from that guy? Just me?)
I came to a point where I said to myself, 'Alright, I give this one or two more chapters, if it hasn't convinced me till then, I call it quits.' I went to bed and took the book with me. I read three, four, or five chapters. It picked up pace. It introduced one more character at that point, quite an intriguing one: Dylan. And she got to me. She kept me reading. That was at around 20% or 25% in. Finally the book picked up its pace and levels of intrigue. I was invested. The one or two chapters turned into eight or ten before I fell asleep that night. And only reluctantly so because my eyes started shutting whilst reading, much to my annoyance. I'd preferred to keep reading. Pesky biological needs of the body.
A little after the introduction of Dylan all the jumps in characters and timelines also started to make sense. A lot of sense, actually. And things started to weave together quite nicely.
From the point the story got to me and had me invested in it this was easily a 4.25 stars read. Some writing is a bit clunky and could do with a bit of smoothing out, but it's the subtle stuff. Nothing glaring. Nothing most readers, reading without the brain of an editor - which sadly, and sometimes rather annoyingly, cannot be turned off at will -, will likely even notice.
The beginning however... It's a problem. That could do with a major rework and rewrite. It's just so slow and leaves the reader wondering "why the heck am I reading this?". Not a good way to start of a book. Even less so a mystery suspense thriller. The start was about 2-ish stars for me.
Would I recommend this book? Well, the whole book is great and I really enjoyed reading it, once I got through the initial trudge. So yes, I recommend it, but only if you can brace yourself to sit through roughly 25% of some initial timeline confusions and introductions that will feel quite often rather pointless. It all will, to some degree, make sense once you get to[wards] the end.
I've pondered for a while now if this is a 4-star or a [strong] 3-star rating for me. I settle for a final 3.75 stars, all things considered. Only because of the first 25% of the book that dragged its feet almost to the point of severely annoying me. Everything afterwards was truly entertaining to read.
When I started I was quite certain I'd never voluntarily read another book from this author. Now I'm certain that I'm looking forward to reading another book from this author (however, this time I will brace myself for a very slow, and probably confusing, start - just in case). Well done, Mr Barker!
At that point I had only met one character I found mildly - very mildly - intriguing: Alistair. (Anyone else getting a whiff of Dr Ian Malcolm vibes from that guy? Just me?)
I came to a point where I said to myself, 'Alright, I give this one or two more chapters, if it hasn't convinced me till then, I call it quits.' I went to bed and took the book with me. I read three, four, or five chapters. It picked up pace. It introduced one more character at that point, quite an intriguing one: Dylan. And she got to me. She kept me reading. That was at around 20% or 25% in. Finally the book picked up its pace and levels of intrigue. I was invested. The one or two chapters turned into eight or ten before I fell asleep that night. And only reluctantly so because my eyes started shutting whilst reading, much to my annoyance. I'd preferred to keep reading. Pesky biological needs of the body.
A little after the introduction of Dylan all the jumps in characters and timelines also started to make sense. A lot of sense, actually. And things started to weave together quite nicely.
From the point the story got to me and had me invested in it this was easily a 4.25 stars read. Some writing is a bit clunky and could do with a bit of smoothing out, but it's the subtle stuff. Nothing glaring. Nothing most readers, reading without the brain of an editor - which sadly, and sometimes rather annoyingly, cannot be turned off at will -, will likely even notice.
The beginning however... It's a problem. That could do with a major rework and rewrite. It's just so slow and leaves the reader wondering "why the heck am I reading this?". Not a good way to start of a book. Even less so a mystery suspense thriller. The start was about 2-ish stars for me.
Would I recommend this book? Well, the whole book is great and I really enjoyed reading it, once I got through the initial trudge. So yes, I recommend it, but only if you can brace yourself to sit through roughly 25% of some initial timeline confusions and introductions that will feel quite often rather pointless. It all will, to some degree, make sense once you get to[wards] the end.
I've pondered for a while now if this is a 4-star or a [strong] 3-star rating for me. I settle for a final 3.75 stars, all things considered. Only because of the first 25% of the book that dragged its feet almost to the point of severely annoying me. Everything afterwards was truly entertaining to read.
When I started I was quite certain I'd never voluntarily read another book from this author. Now I'm certain that I'm looking forward to reading another book from this author (however, this time I will brace myself for a very slow, and probably confusing, start - just in case). Well done, Mr Barker!
November 9, 2024
Thanks to
njbarkerauthor for my copy of Genius Club
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, particularly the dual timelines. It was compelling to follow the younger versions of the characters and witness their development over the years, as well as the conflicts that arise within the club. The story is a complex thriller filled with unexpected twists and characters who are not what they initially seem. It explores themes of doubt, as even the closest friends grapple with questioning their beliefs about what they thought was true.
#GeniusClub #BookReview #ThrillerReads #DualTimelines #Intrigue #CharacterDevelopment #MustRead #PlotTwists #LiteraryThriller
12 m
njbarkerauthor for my copy of Genius Club
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, particularly the dual timelines. It was compelling to follow the younger versions of the characters and witness their development over the years, as well as the conflicts that arise within the club. The story is a complex thriller filled with unexpected twists and characters who are not what they initially seem. It explores themes of doubt, as even the closest friends grapple with questioning their beliefs about what they thought was true.
#GeniusClub #BookReview #ThrillerReads #DualTimelines #Intrigue #CharacterDevelopment #MustRead #PlotTwists #LiteraryThriller
12 m
June 22, 2025
This was different than other thrillers I’ve read before. It took me a little bit to get into but then once I did, it kept me guessing until the end.
February 3, 2026
This book started out slow but after a few chapters I was thoroughly invested in it. It’s not your typical mystery and it kept me guessing until the very end.
April 19, 2025
When Matthew arrives home to find his wife Lucy dead authorities are certain it's suicide, but Matthew is immediately suspicious. As he digs further and shares information with his friends his world begins to unravel.
Matthew met Lucy and his friends when they were recruited to an elite scholarship program nicknamed the Genius Club. Their kindly benefactor Benjamin Caesar brought them all together and has supported them through to their adult lives but suddenly he is uncontactable.
Matthew discovers an uncomfortable truth about the Genius Club and no longer knows who he can trust. He was smart enough to get in but will he be smart enough to survive?
This was such a page turner, I could not put it down at all. The pacing and story development was perfect and the tension remained throughout with plenty of twists and turns.
Told from multiple points of view and a dual timeline it comes together wonderfully.
Matthew met Lucy and his friends when they were recruited to an elite scholarship program nicknamed the Genius Club. Their kindly benefactor Benjamin Caesar brought them all together and has supported them through to their adult lives but suddenly he is uncontactable.
Matthew discovers an uncomfortable truth about the Genius Club and no longer knows who he can trust. He was smart enough to get in but will he be smart enough to survive?
This was such a page turner, I could not put it down at all. The pacing and story development was perfect and the tension remained throughout with plenty of twists and turns.
Told from multiple points of view and a dual timeline it comes together wonderfully.
November 14, 2025
The Genius Club moves at a steady, engaging pace that keeps you comfortably invested while still building toward some truly mind blowing reveals. The twists are a standout: most are genuinely surprising, with only a couple landing in that “I saw it coming but in a satisfying way” category.
As the story progresses, the protagonist and the eventual ending do become a bit easier to predict, but that doesn’t take away from the intrigue the book builds along the way. The middle section slows down slightly, yet it recovers quickly and ramps the tension back up in all the right places.
By the time you reach the final pages, you’re left wanting more. The Genius Club delivers a thrilling, clever ride.
As the story progresses, the protagonist and the eventual ending do become a bit easier to predict, but that doesn’t take away from the intrigue the book builds along the way. The middle section slows down slightly, yet it recovers quickly and ramps the tension back up in all the right places.
By the time you reach the final pages, you’re left wanting more. The Genius Club delivers a thrilling, clever ride.
February 18, 2026
Good book. I was more connected and intrigued with the characters than the plot.
Pretty easy read!
The plot kept me guessing with who was behind it all. I didn't quite catch on until it was too obvious. Who killed Alastair, though?! Suicide? Or did I miss that?
I wasn't super locked in to the book, but I still wanted to keep reading, if that made sense.
A lot of different characters, who were still all inter connected, literally.
I randomly found this book through BookBub and in glad I picked it up.
It's one of those books where the protagonist, in this case Matthew, was so determined to "solve the case" and nothing was going to get in his way. He was a... genius!
Pretty easy read!
The plot kept me guessing with who was behind it all. I didn't quite catch on until it was too obvious. Who killed Alastair, though?! Suicide? Or did I miss that?
I wasn't super locked in to the book, but I still wanted to keep reading, if that made sense.
A lot of different characters, who were still all inter connected, literally.
I randomly found this book through BookBub and in glad I picked it up.
It's one of those books where the protagonist, in this case Matthew, was so determined to "solve the case" and nothing was going to get in his way. He was a... genius!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2024
This is a cracker of a story. It’s like Frankenstein for the modern age. What would happen if you were able to manipulate the cream of academia? If you were able to monitor and influence every part of their life, what would be the outcomes for the individuals and society? There is quite a cast of characters, I liked some of them and not others. From the initial death ( was it suicide or murder?) to the denouement, this will keep you entertained and interested. Definitely in the ‘just one more chapter’ category!
October 13, 2024
Very well done. I really liked this one and there were several twists in it. Matthew, Dylan, Lucy, Alistar, David, Sammy, and Vanessa were part of a scholarship club. They were all given a scholarship that was for college and beyond because they came from bad circumstances and were extremely smart. When one is killed Matt starts looking at what brought them all together and who might be trying to get rid of them and why. Great story.
March 16, 2025
Exceptional!
A brilliant premise. A fast paced read with characters with depth. In this compelling read, Matthew knows there's so much more to Lucy's death than suicide, and won't rest until he gets to the truth.
The Genius Club is original, interesting and kept me reading until late at night.
Highly recommended.
A brilliant premise. A fast paced read with characters with depth. In this compelling read, Matthew knows there's so much more to Lucy's death than suicide, and won't rest until he gets to the truth.
The Genius Club is original, interesting and kept me reading until late at night.
Highly recommended.
May 5, 2025
Thank you to Ellie Pilcher for the promotional copy!
I loved that the research mentioned was cited at the end and taken from real life. Fact is stranger than fiction!
I enjoy a dual timeline, and while there quite a few characters introduced quickly, they were distinctive and were a witty group. This was a page turner, and each part flowed well to the next, so I didn't lose momentum.
I loved that the research mentioned was cited at the end and taken from real life. Fact is stranger than fiction!
I enjoy a dual timeline, and while there quite a few characters introduced quickly, they were distinctive and were a witty group. This was a page turner, and each part flowed well to the next, so I didn't lose momentum.
May 26, 2025
A Captivating Tale
This fast read was packed with diverse characters and wove a complicated tapestry at a pace that kept me reading 'just one more chapter.'
Could this manipulation of intelligence ever become reality? The intricate plot made me ponder possible future implications -- a scary thought, indeed.
This fast read was packed with diverse characters and wove a complicated tapestry at a pace that kept me reading 'just one more chapter.'
Could this manipulation of intelligence ever become reality? The intricate plot made me ponder possible future implications -- a scary thought, indeed.
June 26, 2025
A great book. The pace reminded me of Patterson. It kept moving at a good pace. No unnecessary irrelevant side trips. The science mixed with murder reminded me of Arthur C. Lately the books I’ve read have been hard to pick up. Genius Club was hard to put down. I will definitely be reading more by NJ Barker.
July 29, 2025
A different kind of thriller
Interesting characters in a most unusual situation. Keeps the reader guessing with unexpected revelations and plot twists. Watch the chapter headings, because the timeline jumps from present to past and back, fairly often. Not for everyone, but the discerning reader will enjoy finding the puzzle pieces and fitting them together.
Interesting characters in a most unusual situation. Keeps the reader guessing with unexpected revelations and plot twists. Watch the chapter headings, because the timeline jumps from present to past and back, fairly often. Not for everyone, but the discerning reader will enjoy finding the puzzle pieces and fitting them together.
February 4, 2026
The Genius Clubn
The story of a group of young genius adults who are brought together for mysterious reasons, given full scholarships to Cambridge University. They meet periodically with their benefactor. Suddenly, for unknown reasons, they begin to die.
Elements are reminiscent of Ira Levin's "The Boys from Brazil".
The story of a group of young genius adults who are brought together for mysterious reasons, given full scholarships to Cambridge University. They meet periodically with their benefactor. Suddenly, for unknown reasons, they begin to die.
Elements are reminiscent of Ira Levin's "The Boys from Brazil".
May 23, 2025
hard to describe
Trying to think I hat to say I feel. I enjoyed the book and was always kept guessing. Concepts I never would have considered. Recommend to anyone who enjoys reading
Trying to think I hat to say I feel. I enjoyed the book and was always kept guessing. Concepts I never would have considered. Recommend to anyone who enjoys reading
May 28, 2025
Excellent
I will admit that this pulled me into its pages rather quickly and I lost more than just a few minutes with’ just one more chapter.’ Well written with believable characters. I look forward to reading more from this author!
I will admit that this pulled me into its pages rather quickly and I lost more than just a few minutes with’ just one more chapter.’ Well written with believable characters. I look forward to reading more from this author!
June 3, 2025
A Mystery Thriller
NJ barker kept me on the edge of my seat. This was not the police procedural that I commonly read. It presents ideas and wonders to consider as we enter the age of implementation of AI. Be prepared to pause and wonder where technology will take us.
NJ barker kept me on the edge of my seat. This was not the police procedural that I commonly read. It presents ideas and wonders to consider as we enter the age of implementation of AI. Be prepared to pause and wonder where technology will take us.
June 5, 2025
Pretty quick read. No editing issues that I noticed.
Pace was good and kept me interested. I stopped about half way to read a library book that became available and returned without loosing the storyline.
If your like me then I would call it a good read. Better then most.
Pace was good and kept me interested. I stopped about half way to read a library book that became available and returned without loosing the storyline.
If your like me then I would call it a good read. Better then most.
February 17, 2026
This took me a while to read because life got in the way. I think I would’ve read it faster if I had the time. The twist was actually really good. Wish I could’ve appreciated this book more because I believe I would have absolutely devoured it.
January 10, 2025
Had potential. Did not realise it.
March 15, 2025
Literally a genius read….
…very clever and addictive -I couldn’t put this book down -so invested in finding out how it came together and I wasn’t disappointed!
…very clever and addictive -I couldn’t put this book down -so invested in finding out how it came together and I wasn’t disappointed!
May 25, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It was quite surprising & kept me guessing. It also made me wonder; is this happening now? 😱
May 29, 2025
4.25 out of 5 stars. Different from the other thrillers I’ve read. Kept me guessing until the end. Recommend.
June 5, 2025
on the edge of my seat
This books grabs you from the first chapter. You don’t know what will happen next. The characters are fascinating and keep you engaged.
This books grabs you from the first chapter. You don’t know what will happen next. The characters are fascinating and keep you engaged.
June 7, 2025
Intriguing
A book with twist and turns and an unexpected ending. A page turner with chapters short engh to provide good stopping places, if you need to take a break.
A book with twist and turns and an unexpected ending. A page turner with chapters short engh to provide good stopping places, if you need to take a break.
June 10, 2025
English mystery
A very dark psychological thriller, with lots of different turns left and right to keep you on your toes. Definitely couldn't predict the ending.
A very dark psychological thriller, with lots of different turns left and right to keep you on your toes. Definitely couldn't predict the ending.
June 11, 2025
unusual
A great story with an interesting plot and characters. Here is a novel that is both entertaining and thought provoking a great read for a thinking human
A great story with an interesting plot and characters. Here is a novel that is both entertaining and thought provoking a great read for a thinking human
January 13, 2026
I really liked the concept of this book, I've not come across it in a book before and it worked well. I'd recommend this book if you enjoy mystery stories with lots of twists to keep you guessing.
January 15, 2026
Remarkable
The Genius Club was a remarkable story that had me engaged from the start. It was unique in its story and kept me intrigued to the end.
The Genius Club was a remarkable story that had me engaged from the start. It was unique in its story and kept me intrigued to the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews