Skip to content

THE EXPHORIA CODE

Written By:

Ian White
The Exphoria Code

When psychologically damaged M16 hacker Brigitte Sharp decodes encrypted messages which she believes are linked to her best friend’s murder, it pitches her back into a world she thought she’d left a long way behind: a treacherous landscape of moles, hard-ass Soviet agents, scarily ruthless bad guys, and cutting-edge spycraft. What’s an ex-goth girl to do when the odds are stacked against her and, in true techno-thriller style, she can’t be sure who to trust? Finding herself alone and on the run, Brigitte must unravel the devilish Exphoria Code before her opponents unleash a nuclear terrorism nightmare.

The Exphoria Code is Antony Johnston’s mainstream thriller debut and, like his graphic novel The Coldest City (aka the big screen actioner Atomic Blonde), it feels tailormade for a Hollywood franchise. Like almost everything Johnston writes, The Exphoria Code moves swiftly, is immediately engrossing, and has more than a ring of truth in its cloak-and-dagger shenanigans. Johnston is obviously a man who does his homework, and he knows Brigitte Sharp’s underworld background very well. Even when the story shoots off into occasionally unlikely directions, there’s still a disconcerting sense of authenticity to it. So what if the story is riddled with the usual stereotypes (Brigitte’s stuffy boss has more than a touch of Bond’s M about him) and it sometimes feels as if Johnston is hitting us with just a little bit too much research than is absolutely necessary? This is still a fast-paced read that gets the adrenalin surging, and Brigitte Sharp – like The Coldest City’s Lorraine Broughton – is a beautifully realised protagonist. Johnston seems to be cornering the market in convincingly-realised female spies but he writes every character equally as well and, just like in The Coldest City, there’s also a good injection of pre-noughties nostalgia. Read this with Fields of the Nephilim playing in the background and you’ll know exactly what I mean.

If you’re looking for an exciting new heroine and a thriller that will keep you reading long into the night, The Exphoria Code won’t disappoint. Personally, we can’t wait for the sequel…

THE EXPHORIA CODE / AUTHOR: ANTONY JOHNSTON / PUBLISHER: LIGHTNING BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

Ian White

You May Also Like...

margaret qualley of the substance joins cast of the dog stars by ridley scott

THE DOG STARS Adds Margaret Qualley And Others To Cast

Ridley Scott‘s thriller feature The Dog Stars continues to announce its cast list, following news that Jacob Elordi would replace Paul Mescal in the lead role. Margaret Qualley, Josh Brolin and Guy
Read More
house of night book cover marked

HOUSE OF NIGHT Novels To Receive Film Adaptation

A film adaptation of the bestselling YA vampire fantasy, 12-book series House of Night is in the works. Cinematographer Rain Li (Paris, Je T’aime, Paranoid Park) will direct from a script she
Read More
the lord of the rings: rings of power renewed for season 3

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER Gets Renewed For Season 3

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has been renewed for a third season, which will surprise no one considering the major cliffhangers on which season 2 ended.
Read More
taylor lautner to star in twilight meta series taylor lautner: werewolf hunter

Twilight Star To Star In Very Meta TAYLOR LAUTNER: WEREWOLF HUNTER Series

Taylor Lautner is set to star in a very self-aware TV series, which he will also executive produce for Amazon MGM Studios, titled Taylor Lautner: Werewolf Hunter. The project was
Read More
aaron paul to star in the night house. still from film the path

THE NIGHT HOUSE Will Star Jacob Tremblay And Aaron Paul

Room star Jacob Tremblay and Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul will star in The Night House from producer Steven Schneider (Insidious, Paranormal Activity, Split). The Night House is based on the 2023 novel by Jo Nesbø, whose writing
Read More
how to train your dragon trailer live-action

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Debuts Full Trailer

After debuting an excerpt of the film during the Super Bowl, Universal Pictures has released the full trailer for How to Train Your Dragon, a live-action remake of the beloved
Read More