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The Einstein Code
Ben's mother has been kidnapped and the adults don't believe it. They think she's just missing and her employers and the police don't really want to know. The meeting she attended, after all, never took place. But the message she sent Ben tells a different story.
To find his mum Ben must follow a perilous trail and solve a series of difficult clues, whilst evading being captured by the kidnappers. With help from his alarmingly clever cousins, Jess and Freddie, as well as some hindrance from his uncle, he investigates her mysterious disappearance.
Tormented by conflicting leads and a growing threat, Ben's search becomes increasingly desperate. Can he solve the puzzles and save her, before anything terrible happens to her - or him?
To find his mum Ben must follow a perilous trail and solve a series of difficult clues, whilst evading being captured by the kidnappers. With help from his alarmingly clever cousins, Jess and Freddie, as well as some hindrance from his uncle, he investigates her mysterious disappearance.
Tormented by conflicting leads and a growing threat, Ben's search becomes increasingly desperate. Can he solve the puzzles and save her, before anything terrible happens to her - or him?
303 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2016
1 person is currently reading
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 24, 2018
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Austin Macauley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Mystery
Recommended Age: 14+ (slight violence, kidnappings, clues, and mysteries)
Pages: 303
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Ben's mother has been kidnapped and the adults don't believe it. They think she's just missing and her employers and the police don't really want to know. The meeting she attended, after all, never took place. But the message she sent Ben tells a different story.
To find his mum Ben must follow a perilous trail and solve a series of difficult clues, whilst evading being captured by the kidnappers. With help from his alarmingly clever cousins, Jess and Freddie, as well as some hindrance from his uncle, he investigates her mysterious disappearance.
Tormented by conflicting leads and a growing threat, Ben's search becomes increasingly desperate. Can he solve the puzzles and save her, before anything terrible happens to her - or him?
This book was really action packed! I loved how mysterious it was, but how the pacing wasn’t slowed or anything by this book. The characters were also really well done and the plot was well developed as well.
My only concern is that sometimes the writing wasn’t descriptive enough for me and the world building wasn’t really there.
Verdict: A great mystery book for younger YA readers.
Rating: 4/5
Genre: YA Sci-Fi/Mystery
Recommended Age: 14+ (slight violence, kidnappings, clues, and mysteries)
Pages: 303
Author Website
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Ben's mother has been kidnapped and the adults don't believe it. They think she's just missing and her employers and the police don't really want to know. The meeting she attended, after all, never took place. But the message she sent Ben tells a different story.
To find his mum Ben must follow a perilous trail and solve a series of difficult clues, whilst evading being captured by the kidnappers. With help from his alarmingly clever cousins, Jess and Freddie, as well as some hindrance from his uncle, he investigates her mysterious disappearance.
Tormented by conflicting leads and a growing threat, Ben's search becomes increasingly desperate. Can he solve the puzzles and save her, before anything terrible happens to her - or him?
This book was really action packed! I loved how mysterious it was, but how the pacing wasn’t slowed or anything by this book. The characters were also really well done and the plot was well developed as well.
My only concern is that sometimes the writing wasn’t descriptive enough for me and the world building wasn’t really there.
Verdict: A great mystery book for younger YA readers.
August 26, 2018
Code cracking brilliance and Manchester and Stockport streets! Great, believable family dynamics & a tension building plot. Learned facts I didn't know too. Triple whammy! Not my usual age range read but thoroughly enjoyed! Aimed at 10 -13 I'd say. The best part was the code breaking! Clever stuff. Read because I saw J.D. Welch, the author at a book festival and her rapport and enthusiasm were impressive.
January 6, 2022
WARNING This book glamourises and encourages kids keeping secrets from parents/family because a stranger says people will be harmed if they don’t. It’s disgraceful that this isn’t addressed in a responsible way, and if I hadn’t been reading this with my child I would have no idea and no opportunity to discuss this.
As for the story, it’s mostly interesting but very confused, incomplete and quite poorly written in places
As for the story, it’s mostly interesting but very confused, incomplete and quite poorly written in places
March 21, 2025
I really wanted to like it - mystery and adventure, science puzzles and clues, kidnapping…
But the plot is so absurd and so predictable that I had to force myself to see it through.
The family was so annoying and petty, so dysfunctional that I was cringing the whole time.
It could have been such a great book…
But the plot is so absurd and so predictable that I had to force myself to see it through.
The family was so annoying and petty, so dysfunctional that I was cringing the whole time.
It could have been such a great book…
July 14, 2017
Interesting mystery read. I think it would appeal more to people who know the area that it is set in, but younger readers would probaly enjoy the mystery element.
March 15, 2022
Very entertaining and thrilling book which kept me guessing.
November 4, 2016
The trouble with the story of The Einstein Code is it feels real! It’s a book meant for early teens but this adult thought he was reading a true-life story, not a fictional story created by the author J D Welch. The principal character is Ben. I could feel him sweating when his mum disappears. In many ways the hero of the story is Jess. (Am I allowed to call her a heroine nowadays?). Jess is smart and without her Ben would be lost. Nice balance J D Welch. This adult never saw the twist in the story looming on the horizon. I will not ask the young people (neighbours) who I know have read The Einstein Code if they saw it coming because they probably did. Well it is written for them. And it is very well written.
April 15, 2016
This is an amazing book honestly I wish I hadn't read so I couple read it with then same feelings not joy and excitement all over again but at Tue same time I'm glad I known what's happened otherwise I wouldn't know about Ben ,Jess ,aunt Miriam, Mum, overall I love this book and recommend everyone read it.
April 15, 2016
It was great! I loved it. It was exciting and very mysterious and gave you clues but not just so you could figure it out straight away. The codes weren't too hard but they definitely weren't easy. it left you wondering through out the whole book, wheres Ben's mum? who's taken her? who's giving the clues. I hope she releases more books in the future because this one was amazing!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews