Code Name: Fountain of Youth

Bob
Jordan
Genre: 
Mystery

After atomic testing in the 1950s, the US government collaborated with Albert Einstein and astrophysicist Julian Bleu to work on a top-secret project code named  Fountain of Youth. Hidden in the Arizona desert they’re aiming to give 24 hand-picked US dignitaries eternal life. The project backfires though, and an explosion kills everyone on site. Instead of the dignitaries it was intended for, eternal life is granted to the civilian employees working in the building next door, who have no idea what is happening. Since the explosion they have quit aging, but they are now in grave danger from an unknown assassin, who seems to be out to kill every one of them. 

Steve Hunt, our main character, is unwittingly thrown into this mess while on a vacation in Scottsdale, Arizona. His decision to help the ageless people who call themselves ‘Bleu’s” has disastrous consequences and even endangers his own life. 

“Code Name: Fountain of Youth” has an interesting story, but unfortunately all of that is overshadowed by how badly edited the book is. Missing commas, apostrophes used in plural nouns, switching from past to present tense, excessive use of telling rather than showing — the editing troubles are numerous and they greatly diminish the reading experience.

Steve is an okay character, but because of all the telling rather than showing, it’s difficult for readers to connect with him. 

Majanka Verstraete