I have spent many years working for the government with people who possess high clearances (top secret and higher) and this is what I have to say about the book:1. Haven't finished it yet. I'm around page 300 and something and I may finish it out of morbid curiosity.2. I'm still trying to figure out what the physical attractiveness of the protagonists has to do with anything.3. The dialogue is full of sexual innuendo and there's a high degree of overt sexual harassment that seems to be going on which, in the real world, would almost never happen.4. Susan Fletcher is an idiot. There is no indication in the portrayal of her character why she is considered brilliant.5. The character Hale would never be allowed within 10 miles of the NSA in reality.If all the people in the story were portrayed as realistic people in this industry, I would find the story of their inner struggles riveting as the story unfolds.Very disappointed.