Lexicon: A Novel

· Penguin
4.4
199 reviews
eBook
400
Pages
Eligible
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About this eBook

"About as close you can get to the perfect cerebral thriller: searingly smart, ridiculously funny, and fast as hell. Lexicon reads like Elmore Leonard high out of his mind on Snow Crash." —Lev Grossman, New York Times bestselling author of The Magicians and The Magician King

“Best thing I've read in a long time . . . a masterpiece.” —Hugh Howey, New York Times bestselling author of Wool


Stick and stones break bones. Words kill.


They recruited Emily Ruff from the streets. They said it was because she's good with words.

They'll live to regret it.

They said Wil Parke survived something he shouldn't have. But he doesn't remember.

Now they're after him and he doesn't know why.

There's a word, they say. A word that kills.

And they want it back . . .

Ratings and reviews

4.4
199 reviews
Joy Touchstone
9 August 2014
My biggest problem with this book was the organization of the narrative. It actually starts in the middle of the story and then works backwards to answer the questions about where we are and how and why we got there. The story would have been much better if laid out in a more traditional way. That aside there is decent character development despite the disjointed narrative and the book certainly keeps you reading once you get past the confusion of the first few chapters.
1 person found this review helpful
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David Fluri (Un-Wanted)
5 January 2017
I enjoyed this more than any other book I've read in the last few years. that says a lot considering I've read more than a few hundred books in multiple categories within that time frame. I suppose a simple review would be. amazing story idea that's perfectly executed! Bravo Sir, BRAVO! 👏
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David Reeves
20 April 2016
I read Jennifer Government first, and it was so good I had to read this one. The storyline kept me enthralled, and if I wasn't listening to the audiobook I would say it was a page turner. I can say that I didn't put it down and listened every chance I had. Going to look for the rest of Max's books.
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About the author

Max Barry is the author of four previous novels, Syrup, Jennifer Government, Company, and Machine Man. He lives in Melbourne, Australia.

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