The Last Equation of Isaac Severy by Nova Jacobs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
What a unique story! The Last Equation of Isaac Severy was much different than any other book I’ve read this year, and ended up being a refreshing addition to the list (thanks Book of the Month yet again!). The front cover says “A Novel in Clues” and that’s certainly how it felt.
One question: Have you ever played one of those escape games that are popping up in cities across America? If not, the premise is this…. You get locked in a room and a timer is set for one hour. Usually there is some sort of story to get you started about being kidnapped or needing to break out of prison or get out of a room before it explodes. When the timer begins, your goal is to get out of that room by using clues and puzzles that are stealthily placed throughout the space. Well, this book felt kind of like that. There were secret clues and puzzles throughout the story that both the main character and the reader had an opportunity to solve.
Overall, the story was about a brilliant mathematician named Isaac Severy who tragically dies. But in his passing, he leaves a cryptic message to his granddaughter, providing clues as to the whereabouts of his legacy, a mysterious formula which could be devastating if in the wrong hands.
I found myself constantly trying to figure out the cryptic messages and solve the riddles. And while it wasn’t the absolute best thing I’ve ever read in my life, it was certainly very entertaining. I would consider it a “page turner” for anybody looking for a quick read. Also a great book for my math and science people out there (although you don’t have to be a nerd like me to like it). I also did get a little bit of a young adult feel from the writing style so categorized it as such. This is a great book for anybody who is feeling tired of reading the same old stuff and looking for something just a little bit different.
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