Subversive, simplistic 
I have read the book and many reviews, and the statement about "subversive" and "simplistic one dimensional characters" is simply the editor's personal opinion. The only review I find with anything related to this is School Library Journal Review: "Perhaps the most interesting person is Adnam, the villain whose machinations are the heart of the narrative. ". But this same review contains "The characters are lifelike and convincing, especially Lt. Commander Bill Baldridge, the Pentagon's primary sleuth looking into the mystery. ".