Rating: 
Summary: More like earlier Follett
Review: Code to Zero, while not nearly as powerful a novel as Pillars of the Earth, and not up to the standards of Key to Rebecca or Eye of the Needle, is a vast improvement over Hammer of Eden. The plot has several surprising twists and keeps the reader involved with the characters, wondering who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. Code to Zero also gives an interesting view of the cold war paranoia that existed during the late 1950's, especially as it related to the space program. Follett's views on mind controlling drugs and the state of 1950's psychological research are also fascinating. I recommend this as a quick and engaging read.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as strong as it could be
Review: I agree with some of the others. This book is not one of Mr. Follet's strongest. The idea is a good one, and the retro aspect of the 40' and 50's could be a good one, but Mr. Follett does not take the time to explore it properly. The character development is a bit weak, and the plot is simplistic compared to earlier works by this author. It is entertaining though in it's own way, and it doesn't take very long to read it.
Rating: 
Summary: ludicrous
Review: Like others, I loved some of Follett's earlier stuff, and this suffers badly in comparison. My eyes were rolling throughout at the repeated fantastic coincidences the author lards onto the plot - the "by an amazing coincidence, it just so happens that" events you are asked to swallow are far too many and far too implausible.The basic setting(espionage around one of the early US rocket launches) is a good one, but everything else is a let down. Finally, this is a minor thing, but the author has characters repeatedly refer to "Xeroxing" things and "carrying Xeroxes" around - Xerox machines were hardly common in 1958, and their usage as a verb was many years away.
Rating:
Summary: "Code to Zero" is a Zero
Review: A couple days ago, I finished reading Ken Follett's latest suspense thriller, "Code To Zero", and couldn't wait to finish it! Just to get it over with. I didn't think it was filled with suspense, I thought it was predictable; it wasn't a thriller, it was a bore and the characters and their dialogue were corny. The premise is promising. A man who is suffering from amnesia has to discover who and what he and his mission are. And why government agents are "out to get him." As I read this book, I kept thinking that I was reading from an elementary school reader. Mr. Follett insists on explaining each element of the thin plot and should give his readers more credit than that. I think most readers know what's going to happen in the story before the writer does! Very disappointing!
Rating: 
Summary: Thrilling novel from start to finish
Review: I don't think that I've ever read a book of this length faster. This books doesn't waste any time in grabbing hold of the reader. The characters are all superb. I want to be Dr. Claude 'Luke' Lucas. He is practically an American James Bond. Women want him and men want to be him. There isn't a single dull moment in this book and quite frankly I don't care about it's historical accuracy the story is second to none. Bravo Ken Follett!
Rating:
Summary: What a way to start a story!
Review: From the other reviews it seems I am not the only one with the opinion that Ken Follett's books vary from great (Pillars of the Earth and others) to horribly bad (Night over Water). Unlike some people, however, I think this is a really good one. I enjoy books where you are not 100% sure of who is who and what they are up to, and here not even the hero knows who he is. I'd like to think that I could behave as cool as our friend "Luke" if I ever lost my memory. A little more than halfway through the book, the story unfolds (as it has to, eventually) and it loses a bit from that point onwards. The ending is downright sentimental and should have been better. With a stronger second half, the fifth star would have been there.
Rating:
Summary: Solid suspense with a romantic chaser
Review: I'm a big fan of historical fiction and suspense so this book was a wonderful combination of both. Set in 1958, in the height of the Spudnik anxiety, the reader gets a mix of early space program with D.C. area political intrigue. Follett has assembled an interesting central cast - a group of friends from their days at Harvard (late 30's/early 40's) who went on to intrigue in WW2. They're now in their late 30's and crossing paths as the countdown to the last hope for the American space program is due to launch. Our protagonist, Luke, wakes up with amnesia and the story begins. Along the way, he's able to look at old friends with fresh eyes. An old flame comes to his rescue and well.... Wow, what a group of mixed opinions in these reviews. All I can say that as a middle aged reader who hasn't seen all those Hitchcock movies, this was an entertaining read. I listened to George Guidell's unabridged reading and found myself sitting in parking lots so I could just listen to a few more pages. That doesn't happen all that often these days.
Rating: 
Summary: Is Ken Follett ill?
Review: As a longtime fan of Ken Follett, I find his most recent work disturbingly lightweight. Specifically, is his interest in memory loss simply that of a professional writer, or is it a personal interest necessitated by his own loss of faculties? It is difficult to reconcile this effort with previous works, such as the splendid -- indeed, writing-textbook-quality -- "The Man from St. Petersburg." Or, "Lie Down with Lions," or "Pillars of the Earth." Seriously, I had the feeling that it was written by "a loved one," who tried his or her inept best to ghost in Follett's style, but fell dismally short of the mark. I was delighted as I began, disappointed as the book progressed, then angry, and finally appalled and fearful by book's-end. Ken Follett: If you're alive and well, please let your fans know. And if you're not alive and well, will the Inept Imposter please step forward to recieve the much-deserved lashes.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed with Follett
Review: I gave this 2 stars only because I expected more from Follett. The dialogue was sophomoric, the action was inconsistent (why would Anthony only erase Luke's memory instead of killing him as he did with other friends), and the development of characters was not up to Follett's usual fare. After reading "The Pillars of the Earth", which I thought was one of the better books I've read,this one was disappointing.
Rating:
Summary: No way!
Review: I have read all of Ken Follett's books and he is one of my favorite authors. NO WAY could the author who wrote "Pillars of the Earth" be the same author who wrote "Code to Zero!" So, I think it must be one of two possible explanations. 1) Ken Follett ran afoul of the CIA and suffered the same fate as "Luke".....he woke up one morning and couldn't remember anything, including how to write. Or 2) A high school student wrote the book and Ken signed his name. Considering the absurdity of the entire plot involving the memory loss, I would conclude the latter. Along with the inaccuracies, the characters and the plot are absurd and simplistic. A child could have predicted the outcome. Please, Mr. Follett, make your next book worthy of YOU!
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