I got this book through NetGalley.
From goodreads: In remote pockets of the Third World, a deadly virus is quietly sweeping through impoverished farming villages and shanty towns with frightening speed and potency. Meanwhile, in Washington, a three-word message left in a safe-deposit box may be the key to stopping the crisis—if, that is, Charles Mallory, a private intelligence contractor and former CIA operative, can decipher the puzzle before time runs out.
What Mallory begins to discover are the traces of a secret war, with a bold objective—to create a new, technologically advanced society. With the help of his brother Jon, an investigative reporter, can he break the story to the world before it is too late—before a planned "humane depopulation" takes place?
As the stakes and strategies of this secret war become more evident, the Mallory brothers find themselves in a complex game of wits with an enemy they can’t see: a new sort of superpower led by a brilliant, elusive tactician who believes that ends justify means.
Charles and Jon are very different at the beginning of the book. Charles is a former CIA operative and is used to living looking over his shoulder. Jon is an average journalist who leads a normal and quiet life until his brother sends him information and the task to write an article about what he (Charles) is working on.
Throughout the book we see how Jon changes from a person with a normal life to somebody who impresses Charles and his team.
This is a great thriller, one of the best I’ve read recently; slow at first, but with lots of action and explosions in the end.
Sometimes it may be a bit difficult to understand if you are not familiar with genetics or molecular biology. This knowledge is not really necessary to follow the story, as terms like plasmids are explained in a basic way, but it helps a lot if you want to fully understand all the problems.
You have to pay attention while you read, because there are many characters and all are important. If you don’t know who they are, you might miss something. I didn’t think it was difficult to remember all the characters. All have a story and are not just some names in a small scene.
You can also learn things that might be useful (or just funny). Charlie uses several ways to code messages, so that the bad guys don’t know what he’s telling his brother. If you ever want to code a message like Charlie and Jon do, all the information is within the pages of this book. The methods are explained in a way everybody can understand and the messages Jon gets are used as examples: you see all the steps to decode the secret mail.
All in all, a great thriller I recommend to everybody who likes conspiracies about biological weapons.
From goodreads: In remote pockets of the Third World, a deadly virus is quietly sweeping through impoverished farming villages and shanty towns with frightening speed and potency. Meanwhile, in Washington, a three-word message left in a safe-deposit box may be the key to stopping the crisis—if, that is, Charles Mallory, a private intelligence contractor and former CIA operative, can decipher the puzzle before time runs out.
What Mallory begins to discover are the traces of a secret war, with a bold objective—to create a new, technologically advanced society. With the help of his brother Jon, an investigative reporter, can he break the story to the world before it is too late—before a planned "humane depopulation" takes place?
As the stakes and strategies of this secret war become more evident, the Mallory brothers find themselves in a complex game of wits with an enemy they can’t see: a new sort of superpower led by a brilliant, elusive tactician who believes that ends justify means.
Charles and Jon are very different at the beginning of the book. Charles is a former CIA operative and is used to living looking over his shoulder. Jon is an average journalist who leads a normal and quiet life until his brother sends him information and the task to write an article about what he (Charles) is working on.
Throughout the book we see how Jon changes from a person with a normal life to somebody who impresses Charles and his team.
This is a great thriller, one of the best I’ve read recently; slow at first, but with lots of action and explosions in the end.
Sometimes it may be a bit difficult to understand if you are not familiar with genetics or molecular biology. This knowledge is not really necessary to follow the story, as terms like plasmids are explained in a basic way, but it helps a lot if you want to fully understand all the problems.
You have to pay attention while you read, because there are many characters and all are important. If you don’t know who they are, you might miss something. I didn’t think it was difficult to remember all the characters. All have a story and are not just some names in a small scene.
You can also learn things that might be useful (or just funny). Charlie uses several ways to code messages, so that the bad guys don’t know what he’s telling his brother. If you ever want to code a message like Charlie and Jon do, all the information is within the pages of this book. The methods are explained in a way everybody can understand and the messages Jon gets are used as examples: you see all the steps to decode the secret mail.
All in all, a great thriller I recommend to everybody who likes conspiracies about biological weapons.
Wow, this sounds really good. And you gave it five stars, too. Must have been a phenomenal read--and somewhat in the realm of possibility? It sounds like you have a background or area of study that lends a little more understanding toward this type of subject matter. Is that the case?
ReplyDeleteI'm still a student, so even though this (virus and diseases) is part of what I'm studying, I may not be completely right, but I think what's in this book is possible. At least the theory part of the science (the name of the specific virus and "genetical parts" are never mentioned, probably to avoid mistakes).
DeleteI don't know about the political part though. In this book there is a big network of people, some in high places, and most don't know what they're really working on. And there is also an amazing lack of control worldwide here.
So somewhat in the realm of possibility: yes. Probable: I don't think so. Still, it's an interesting and I think very well researched what-if.
Where have you been these last few weeks? I need my review fix from you. ;)
DeleteStudying. I have more finals in june. But starting next week I'll have almost three months of summer holidays.
DeleteThis is one I'd like to get for my mom. I really think she'd like it. Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome!
DeleteGreat review! You may be interested in reading The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan. The story follows a young woman as she attempts to survive after a shipwreck. It also details a murder trial and provides some interesting insights into the world during the early 20th century. I am currently hosting a giveaway of the novel, so follow the link below if you are interested. Thanks for your insightful reviews.
ReplyDelete-Ethan
http://e135-abookaweek.blogspot.com/2012/05/lifeboat-by-charlotte-rogan.html
That sounds interesting. Sometimes, I'm on a roll and will actually read books that's not romance or historical romance or anything with primarily romance.
DeleteGreat review! Now I'm even more desperate to find my hardcover so I can finish reading it before my summer schools starts. I was a 4th of the way through...it's a very exciting book. I carried it with me everywhere, and I just cannot find it now. Ugh.
ReplyDelete