The Devil's Code

Kidd and LuEllen #3

by John Sandford

When Kidd, artist, computer whiz, and professional criminal, learns of a colleague's murder, he doesn’t buy the official story: that a jittery security guard caught the hacker raiding the files of a high-tech Texas corporation. It’s not what his friend was looking for that got him killed. It’s what he already knew. For Kidd and LuEllen, infiltrating the firm is the first move. Discovering the secrets of its devious entrepreneur is the next. But it’s more than a secret—it’s a conspiracy. And it’s landed Kidd and LuEllen in the cross-hairs of an unknown assassin hellbent on conning the life out of the ultimate con artists…

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Audiobook

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2022

About the author

John Sandford is the pen name of John Roswell Camp, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author known for his gripping thrillers and popular crime series. After earning degrees in history, literature, and journalism from the University of Iowa, Camp began his writing career as a reporter, first at The Miami Herald and later at The Saint Paul Pioneer Press, where he earned critical acclaim for in-depth series on Native American communities and American farm life. His work won him the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1986.
In 1989, Camp transitioned into fiction, publishing two novels: The Fool's Run under his real name and Rules of Prey under the pseudonym John Sandford. The latter launched the long-running “Prey” series, starring Lucas Davenport, a sharp, fearless investigator navigating politically sensitive crimes across Minnesota and beyond. The series grew to include spin-offs and crossovers, notably featuring characters like Virgil Flowers, a laid-back BCA agent with a sharp wit, and Letty Davenport, Lucas's equally determined daughter, who stars in her own series starting in 2022.
Sandford’s books have consistently appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, with over two dozen debuting at number one. Known for his dynamic storytelling, fast pacing, and keen attention to detail, Sandford combines his journalistic roots with a gift for character-driven narratives. He remains an avid reader and outdoorsman, and continues to write compelling fiction that resonates with readers who enjoy intelligent thrillers grounded in realism and driven by memorable protagonists.

Reviews

[Kemper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kidd returns home from a fishing trip and immediately gets bad news. One of his hacking buddies was recently killed in Dallas while supposedly breaking into a software company that does a lot of cybersecurity work for the U.S. government. At the same time feds start a massive crackdown looking for a group of hackers going by the name of Firewall, and Kidd’s name is on the list along with several other friends of his even though they aren’t part of any organized group.

Fearing that they’re being set up to take the fall for some kind of shenanigans, Kidd recruits professional burglar LuEllen to help figure out how his dead friend is connected to Firewall through their usual methods of hacking and breaking into places to get information. As the pressure increases Kidd finds himself living like a fugitive as he tries to find a way to get the government to lay off the hackers.

This is another solid story featuring Kidd and LuEllen from Sandford, and they continue to be the kind of criminals that you really hope get away with it. There’s the usual clever scams and schemes, and Sandford makes what is essentially a conspiracy thriller plot still seem grounded and realistic. Most of all, it’s just fun to read.

This was published in 2000, and while Sandford usually does a great job of writing the tech stuff so that it doesn’t seem dated, but there’s a few aspects that haven’t aged well. There’s a plot point about how the NSA is concerned that increasingly sophisticated computer encryption is preventing them from tapping into communications so this was obviously written before the Patriot Act gave them the green light to spy on everybody. But that’s a minor complaint.

[Jay Jessmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is very hard for me to give a Sandford book such a low rating, but this one just didn't get me. I fairly enjoyed the first 2 Kidd novels, but this one just never got me hooked.
I have to say it, I don't like Kidd or LuEllen. I feel no character development to either one, or any attachment to them. They don't seem to be trying to benefit the greater good in any way, they only look to benefit themselves. I guess that is kind of the point, I mean they are CRIMINALS--period.
Maybe it's because I'm not the most computer savvy person out there, but all of the technical talk just bores me. I don't get half of what they are talking about, so to be fair to those who enjoy these books, maybe that's why they don't do much for me.
After reeading the first few Kidd novels, it's pretty easy to see why the "prey" novels became Sandford's signature works. Lucas may be a little overbearing and play by his own rules, but his motives are almost always just. Sandford has taken the time to develop Lucas into someone to identify with and has evolved him from tough guy/womanizer/street thug to respected lawman/devoted husband and father/leader, whereas Kidd and LuEllen remain selfish and without any depth.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, fast paced story about computer hackers. I found the mention of the various computer equipment interesting as it sent me down memory lane. I remember the Jaz drive and their various competitors. This book was published in 2000; it is amazing how much has changed in computing.

This is a combination of murder and espionage all caused by greed. The story also provides a nice tour of the country from Minnesota, California, Tennessee, Mississippi to Texas. The book is well written and is character driven. If you enjoy a good fast paced thriller, try this book.

I read this as a paperback book. It is 354 pages. It was published in 2000 by Berkley Fiction.

[John Culuris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is more like it. In the first novel featuring Kidd, The Fool’s Run, the computer hacker was hired to illegally retrieve losses to industrial espionage. After the twist and turns and betrayals, we get to see the villain outfoxed and forced to watch everything gained through treachery taken away; and there is a satisfaction when the final defeat is conceded. The second Kidd novel, which involved wresting power from a corrupt Delta town, ends in a physical confrontation with one of the demented villains. It fulfilled the thriller aspect of the story but there was something lacking. When the protagonist’s primary skill is manipulation--even if it is mainly the manipulation of data--there simply needs to be more to the victory.

The Devil’s Code gives us the best of both. When a fellow hacker dies under suspicious circumstances, his sister brings Kidd a coded, pre-death message. Before he can even make plans to proceed Kidd discovers the government is interested in a radical hacker group called Firewall--and he, under his hacker name, is listed as a member. He knows some of the other names listed, has heard of some others, but they are in no way an organization. Kidd and his friends have to uncover the truth before the government runs them to ground.

LuEllen, Kidd’s friend and occasional lover, returns to help and her skills as a professional thief again compliment his as a computer genius. Better, Sandford arranges an ending that gives us the final battle befitting a thriller but leaves a lingering enemy for a checkmate. This time out, satisfaction delivered.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best part of this story is its solid ending. Along the way, readers and listeners are taken for a complicated ride that only a supreme author like Sanford can navigate us through. 8 of 10 stars

[Jack Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars. It's good, but not my style. Kidd and his on-and-off girlfriend LuEllen, she's a thief who targets the rich and almost famous in her day job, are criminals of the hacker variety. They find ways to break into software companies which are not developing products in the best interests of their clients or the US government! Kidd, an artist of renown, has just returned from a fishing trip to Kenora in north-western Ontario when he learns that his friend Jack Morrison has died while breaking-into a restricted zone at AmMath software company in Dallas. The company has a contract with the US government to develop Clipper II; it would make encrypted data readable by security agencies. The news story says that Jack shot a guard before being killed himself. It doesn't take long before Kidd jumps in with both feet to assist Jack's sister Lane Ward. They know that Jack hated guns and wouldn't be found dead with one! Which unfortunately he was. But, could he be one of the new hacker group called Firewall? The one going after the federal tax collection agency in Washington? It's complicated and somewhat dated. PS: I add more comments below. (Se2024)

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of the 4 books in this series, I've only found the last 2 in audio editions. This was fun, but Sandford hadn't quite hit his stride with characterization. This was a good story, but didn't seem quite as good as most of his later work. Still, I'm glad I read it. Kidd & LuEllen are occasionally seen in the later, far more popular Prey series where they're interesting acquaintances of Lucas. They're pretty mysterious, even in this book, but at least we get to know more of their back story & it's an adventurous one!

Very well narrated & I'm looking forward to listening to the last one. I might read the first 2 as ebooks as well.

[Michael Martz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy John Sandford's Kidd Series. It's different from his Davenport and Flowers novels, but not a huge change. Still great characters, dialogue, and stories. This is a nearly 20 year old book but it proves once again that you can pick virtually anything done by Sandford off the shelf at your local library and it'll be good.

Kidd, nor surprisingly, is the star of the Kidd series. He's ostensibly an artist but dabbles heavily in mostly 'white hat' computer stuff. He's a member of a loosely organized group of like minded folks, one of whom is murdered (though the police think it's a suicide) early on in the story. Kidd is contacted by the victim's sister to investigate since she thinks the situation sounds fishy and the police are clueless. Kidd's sometimes partner, LuEllen (a really good character in her own right), shows up to help, and the chase is on. The 'other side' consists of a nefarious government contractor whose members are committing murders to advance and protect their business interests and the US government's collection of acronyms (CIA, FBI, NSA....etc.) who are trying to locate members of Kidd's computer club, since the contractor is trying to pin a bunch of computer crimes on them. Kidd and LuEllen eventually figure it out with the help of some really skilled members of Kidd's group, but the contractor's leader realizes they're being discovered and ups the violence ante.

Devil's Code is one of those novels where you find yourself cheering for the 'bad guys' (Kidd and LuEllen don't play entirely within the rules, that's for sure) and against the 'good guys' (local police and federal agencies), but that's one of the things that makes it an entertaining read. There's a lot of gray area out there that Sandford mines in all of his novels to great effect and Devil's Code is a fine example of that.

[Travis Starnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was happy that Sandford revisited the Kidd series even after seeing success in his Prey novels. Kidd isn’t the normal type of hero you see in these books and that is what I like about it. With a criminal for a main character, a group of hacker as backup, and a cocaine addicted love interested, Sandford is able to come at the thriller in a unique angle we don’t get from a lot of other books of the genre.

The one real knock I have against this book is it loses some of the ‘fun’ of the Prey or Flowers series. I am not sure if it is because the characters are on the other side of the law, or just their personalities, but I found it harder to connect with them now that I have read some of Sandford’s other works. If I was to read this book without having read the Prey series, it would have qualified as a solid 4 stars. Sadly, my expectations for Sandford based on his other works drops Devi’s Code down a step.

http://homeofreading.com/the-devils-code/

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 3 of the Kidd books. In this book we learn more about Kidd and LuEllen relationship and also about Kidd's relationships in the hacker community as one of his fellow hackers gets killed and Kidd gets invovled because the dead hackers sister shows up to ask for his help. This leads to a US government contractor up to no good. Things get tense and people die and Kidd has to take some drastic action to protect himself and LuEllen and to keep the US government off their trail as well. This is intrigue, tech, and some good charaterizations with a action plot that is a fun read. It is a step above the usual action based novels with some depth in the plot and the characters think Deep Impact vs Armagedon and that is how it comes across to me. This is a good series to read for light summer entertainment fair with a little more meat on the bones.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devil’s Code is another entertaining story in the Kidd & LuEllen series that pairs a clever computer hacker (who is also a professional artist) with a beautiful & successful thief. Kidd has quite a few contacts in the hacking community, but the most important of these is a never seen, mysterious individual known only as “Bobby.” This guy has tremendous reach, apparently through his access to just about any database one can imagine. With his assistance, Kidd is able to do some pretty impressive feats.

This unlikely trio finds themselves embroiled in a mess that has brought the wrath of the NSA (and several other alphabet-soup type governmental agencies) along with a private governmental contractor to their proverbial front door. A couple of murders and a lot of trouble later, Kidd and LuEllen find themselves dealing with a rather nasty dilemma and a greedy privateer who lacks a conscience but possesses a willingness to kill in order to protect his interests.

Camp (aka Sandford) admits that his more well known and better selling character, Lucas Davenport, developed largely from the Kidd protagonist of this series. The writing is typical Sandford— sorry, Camp— crisp, well paced, with a fine balance between tension and humor, and a dash of sex-appeal for flavor. I enjoy both Kidd and LuEllen (particularly the latter) and despite the fact that they break the law for a living, can’t help but root for them in every book. The only real downside to this book is that it leaves one wistful for more — books that won’t likely be forthcoming due to the nature of the publishing business. Otherwise, these are fun to read, particularly if you’re a fan of the author‘s style/ other novels.

[Mike Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can this book on the list with The Night Crew as books of John Sanford’s that didn’t wow me. I don’t know if it was taking a break to fit in other books or the whole computer angle, but this book was just ok. It seemed much slower than the Davernport or Flowers series. Kidd and Luellen are looking into a death of a former colleague from a previous job. It leads to them taking on a computer company tied up with the NSA. I felt li’e this novel dragged some. I will pick up the last book in the series, The Hangman’s Song. Contrary to what a said in there last appearance with Lucas Davernport, I am glad Sanford had no more Kidd and Luellen books in the hope. Not a horrible book, but it would be near the end of the Sanford books I’ve read.

[Nan Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve read (and enjoyed) a lot of the Prey novels and a lot of those featuring Lucas Davenport, but this was my first with Kidd and LuEllen. Quite frankly, it’s my last. The characters were not likable and the story line was not in any way engaging. After suffering through 2/3 of the book, I found myself not only skimming pages, but skipping pages. And when I realized I neither knew nor cared what was going on, I closed the book and moved onto something else.

This book was written in 2000, obviously before 9-11. So perhaps that had something to do with the boredom in the action. I don’t know.

Sandford has written a lot of great novels. This was not one of them.

[Richard A. Neider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book.

The computer geek does it again, figures out how to solve a murder and save the world! Great story lines (as always by Sandford) mixing up mystery, murder,love,and intrigue. Kidd matches wit as intelligence with other geeks, bad guys and the Government. Another great read by the master.

[Philip Nash]

John Sandford is one of my favourite thriller authors, mainly for his many Lucas Davenport titles. But his earlier protagonist Kidd was, with his lover LuEllen, a complex and compelling subject. Kidd is a landscape artist who also plans and carries out high tech, closely planned thefts and burglaries. A criminal colleague is suspiciously killed while trying to steal information from a security company. The owner of the company is a bit of a supervillain, and Kidd wants him to pay. This story is suspenseful and well- plotted, set in several US cities. You don't need to read the Kidd novels in order, but if you do, this is number 3, published in 2000 but still timely.

[Douglas Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first of the Kidd series I've read. I understand from Sandford's "after notes" that this series came from a query by his son that if he could come up with a good enough plot and character structure, would he (Sanford) write the book. Sanford said he would.
This is not a normal Sanford book, and it doesn't read the way a standard Sanford book reads. The style is different as it should be, and the story itself is good but way out of the realm of Sanford's books about Lucas Davenport and fuckin' Flowers. So any comparisons between these two styles ought not be made, in my opinion.
I would never think of giving Sanford anything but five stars.
Sanford is a consummate professional and one of the best contemporary writers we have. Perhaps some found fault with this book because in their mind, they were unconsciously thinking of Sanford's Prey series and Lucas Davenport and comparing.

Consider A J Rowling writing under a pen name and how that book went nowhere until some learned that this book was written by her under a pen name. It then shot up to bestseller status immediately.

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book #3 from the Kidd and LuEllen series.

I am a big fan of John Sandford. I really like his Prey books and I love his Virgil Flowers books. The Kidd & LuEllen series...not so much. Maybe if I was more of a computer tech guy this would be a more enjoyable series. I find myself skimming the descriptions of the computer programs and how they work because I really don't care about that stuff.

In this book, Kidd has a fellow hacker who is killed while at a corporation stealing their computer intel. Kidd mobilizes his team (LuEllen, Bobby, and fellow hackers) to find out what happened. He hooks up with the dead man's sister who adds information about what John was doing when he was killed. John's sister is bent on revenge and really doesn't care about what John had found.

There are a few twists and turns but I found myself rushing to get the book done instead of enjoying it.

[Owlsinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's always heartwarming to see the main characters exit the story without hospitalization or physical therapy. Not always so with Sandford/Camps's books, but welcome nonetheless. The Kidd novels seem to be more of a cerebral exercise in problem-solving, with occasional e-evidence thrown in for confirmation (as well as Advanced Burglary 401, an advantage Davenport doesn't always have). There seems to be only one left in this series - aside from the cameos in the "Prey" novels - and I will miss the development of Kidd & LuEllen's relationship.

[B Shea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a big fan of the John Sandford Prey books but I could not get into this book. It was written in 2001 and the technology which plays a major role in the story is now so outdated, it made the story less fun for me. I guess I should have read this book 15 years ago, might have liked it better. But the book's biggest drawback for me was the main character and a lot of supporting characters were all hackers, scammers or involved in some other illegal activity and probably all should be in prison, bad guys !

[Rick Pucci]

I enjoy reading Hi Tech Books from twenty or so years ago. Especially when they discuss the latest hottest technologies. My, we;ve come so far. In this tome, T-1 lines, floppy disks, and downloads measured in kbs take center stage.
It's also a fine mysery throughout as one of my fave authors, Pulitzer Prize winning John Sandford deviates from his John Davenport series to create this Hi Tech professional crominal and his more-than -interesting side kick, Lu Ellen.
Original plot, twists, developed characters, and super interesting side-bars for fans of espionage capers! Thumbs Up all the way!

[Susannah Carleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book with a keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat storyline and lots of plot twists and turns. Kidd’s has involvement starts when he learns of the death of a hacker friend, whose sister tells him that the story told about her brother’s death has to be a lie. Once Kidd is involved, LuEllen also gets involved, but her involvement ends before his, although that’s not her choice.

A very engrossing story.

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 3 out of 5]

You'd have to really be a computer geek (I'm not) to truly love this book. Sandford always tells a great story, but I much prefer his Lucas Davenport series. My eyes glazed over quite a bit in parts of this story where he went into detail about technical stuff that means little to me.
Still an exciting story, though!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am amazed at how John Sandford can come up with the 3 different people he uses for the main characters in his novels. They each have different personalities and the books follow the flow for each of them. Kidd is standing alone just fine :) Keep waiting for Kidd and LuEllen to decide to take the plunge and be together full time!

[Jeremy Brooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a John Sandford novel. Very fast read, good action, and a lot of fun. The story is dated, since it involves the characters being online a lot. With their dial up acoustically coupled modems. But it's a whole lot of fun.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Sandford novel featuring Kidd & LuEllen. Exciting, fast, fun, but if you're not into computers it may not do much for you. If you are into computers it might seem dated, but I recommend it to anyone who enjoys fast paced mysteries.

[Donna Mcnab · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is rather fun reading from the "not quite criminal's" point of view. Sometimes there is rather a long explanation of computer science but on the whole, Kidd and LuEllen are interesting characters.

[Patricia Bergman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was completely different from the Prey books. It dealt with hackers and satellite technology that was extremely interesting although the science is a little dated. I am now enthused about reading more in the series.

[Daelith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jade~Lover]

I loved it

[Chuck Kechter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though a lot of the computer info is dated, this doesn't slow the story down at all (even now). Excellent thriller/mystery, with a couple of genuine twists I didn't see coming.

Good summer reading!