The Ninth Day

Emma Caldridge #3

by Jamie Freveletti

“One of the top thriller writers working today. With crisp writing, clever plotting, and memorable characters, this one will satisfy even the most finicky of readers.”
—Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Jefferson Key

Tess Gerritsen praised former Chicago lawyer-turned-writer Jamie Freveletti’s stunning debut thriller, Running from the Devil as “a breathless, hair-raising read,” and author Lee Child called it, “just terrific.” Now, with The Ninth Day, Freveletti brings back her courageous and brilliant series protagonist Emma Caldridge for a third time—ensnaring the intrepid biochemist and marathon runner in the vicious web of a Mexican drug cartel determined to carry a terrible, virulent death across the border into the United States. A rapidly rising star in contemporary thriller fiction, Jaimie Freveletti fills her remarkable suspense novels with the explosive, non-stop action of a Daniel Silva adventure and the fascinating scientific detail of a Kathy Reichs or Patricia Cornwell blockbuster. And The Ninth Day is Freveletti’s best so far.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Action, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 27, 2011

About the author

Jamie Freveletti is an internationally bestselling author of six novels, four short stories and is published in four languages. Her Emma Caldridge series of five books won an International Thriller Writers Best First Novel award, a Barry award, and was a VOX media pick in Germany. The latest, Blood Run, launched in November 2017. In addition to her own novels, she’s written The Janus Reprisal and The Geneva Strategy for the Estate of Robert Ludlum’s Covert One series and is a contributor to the 2017 non-fiction anthology, Anatomy of Innocence, Testimonies of the Wrongfully Convicted . A former lawyer, avid distance runner and black belt in aikido, a Japanese martial art, she lives in Chicago with her family.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where I got the book: freebie at a networking event.

I should start out by announcing that I do NOT read thrillers, so my rating reflects my ignorance of the genre. Jamie Freveletti is a) a hugely popular bestseller, and b) I've met her and like her. My 3 stars will not make a dent in her popularity, and I'm glad of it.

Plot: Emma Caldridge stumbles across a drug gang whose marijuana crop is afflicted with a disease that transmits itself to humans. Trying to get clear of the situation, she is caught between the drug overlord, the law enforcement authorities gunning for him, an attractive but somewhat hapless accessory and the mysterious disease.

OK I can see why people like these books; the pace is set at a steady 100 miles per hour and never lets up till ALL OF A SUDDEN, right at the end, it's all over bar a few significant glances between male and female characters and that's it, really. For 95% of the novel Emma is on the move, being chased, shot at, hunted, whatever. Grenades, drugs, bad guys, headcases, it's all go go go. I'm worn out just writing about it. I was totally in the mood for this kind of reading for much of this book, being thoroughly cheesed off with Things in General, and in those circumstances found the easy page-turning effect of constant forward motion soothing.

Emma, of course, is perfect: she can run 100 miles without barely breaking a sweat and generally knows what to do in every situation. Especially since the situations (I'm partway into another of Freveletti's books) often involve putting her into a chemical lab, where she is an expert genius whizzkid marvel. All the men desire her, other women fade into the background, yada yada yada. OK, that's pretty much it.

You see what I mean when I said I don't get this genre? Give me credit for trying.

[Emmy Hermina Nathasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating 3/5. Not Freveletti's best. The plot is too messy, too many twists and unexpected turns. But because I want to know the end, I read through.

[Kristen Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few weeks ago, our friends over at Harper Collins sent us an advance copy of The Ninth Day, by Jamie Freveletti, which becomes available to the public today. The Ninth Day is the third book in a series about Emma Caldridge. Running from the Devil is the first book and Running Dark is the second.

To be quite honest, I wasn't expecting much from the small mass market paperback, but once I started this book I seriously couldn't put it down.

The novel starts off with Emma Caldridge, a biochemist looking for some pharmaceutical plants in Arizona, being chased and ultimately ending up held captive by drug merchants in Mexico. After discovering that Emma knows about plants, the drug merchants demand that she discovers what disease is making both their marijuana plants and the humans around them sick. After a person starts to show symptoms they have around nine days until they die a horrible death. If Emma does not find the cure, she will be fed to the armadillos.

I found this book to be a fascinating read. It is full of details and bits of knowledge about plants and diseases. I felt like I was learning as I was reading, and the information was presented in such a way that it made sense. However, The Ninth Day is not for a reader that is squeamish, as there are many descriptions of the horrible things that this mystery disease does to the body, along with lots of violence.

This would be the perfect book to read while hanging out by the pool or during a flight on an airplane. While this book is the third book in a series, I do not feel that it is necessary to read them in order. The Ninth Day has enough action to capture your attention and keep it until the very last page.

[wally · Rating 3 out of 5]

finished this one last night early evening 'bout seven twenty-two pee me, day after christmas, the 26th of december 2017 and this is...what, the 185th title i've read this year...ummm, book...not title, read some collections as i recall...i think. maybe not. something.
anyway, good read, three stars i liked it...might have been...was...some plot elements that didn't sit well but the ole willing suspension so forth so on. armadillos...keep away from them...not that i've ever had any inclination to pet one...none around here anyway, but saw enough road-kill down south to know they are. and oh yeah, kindle, library loaner. next.

[Candace Salima · Rating 5 out of 5]

In less than nine days, terror crosses the border…

Hiking in Arizona, biochemist Emma Caldridge inadvertently interrupts the operations of dangerous traffickers in human cargo–and is chased south in the arms of millionaire drug merchants. Suddenly a prisoner of Mexico’s most feared cartel, Emma makes a shocking discovery in the marijuana fields out Ciudad Juarez: plants rotting with a flesh-eating toxin that causes a truly horrible death within nine days of exposure. And there is no antidote.

The cartel believes that U.S. agents contaminated the plants, and, determined to make their enemy pay, they prepare to send their lethal product across America. Emma Caldridge searches desperately for a cure, but time is running out more quickly than she anticipated. For Emma herself has become infected–and, barring a miracle, she will die before the terrible dawning of The Ninth Day.

* * *

I have to admit, Jamie Freveletti is a new favorite author of mine. Her publicist sent her to me to interview on my show, so I dived into the book the day before, and couldn’t put it down. it is a page-turner that introduces you to delightful, as well as decidedly insane and evil, characters. As Emma races to find the cure, we find that she is something a little more than a mere biochemist. In fact, she is one tough lady who happens to also be a marathon runner. That does come in handy, in case you’re wondering.

The Ninth Day is Freveletti’s third novel, and the third book with Emma Caldridge as the main character. Okay, I’ll ‘fess up. I had to go pick up Running with the Devil and Running Dark after reading The Ninth Day. Freveletti is just that good.

Jamie is, indeed, one of the top thriller writers out there today. I have to agree with Steve Berry on that. And it appears Steve and I are not the only two to think that, because the Estate of Robert Ludlum tapped Jamie to write the next book in the Covert One series.

Jamie Freveletti will be a permanent addition to my home library, which, of course, leaves my husband wondering if he’s going to have to build a building to hold all the books I have. I can’t help it, it’s a compulsive thing. Luckily for all of us in the house, I’ve learned to never walk into a bookstore without looking for a specific title. In and out as quickly I can, or we’d have to move out of the house.

[Digit · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have a policy of finishing what I start. This book sorely tested that policy. I felt as though I was in a B-grade action movie. All of the typical stereotypes were in this book, and the attempt at creating character depth was pretty lame. I really couldn't muster much empathy for any of them, they were so shallow.

I'm totally astounded at the number of readers who liked this book.

[Warren Thoms · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought a very good story about Emma who is on the Mexico border looking for plants for the company she works for. She then gets taken by the cartel and is asked to look into a disease that is affecting workers working in the field bringing product in.
I like the fact that the author is a ultra-marathon runner and adds that into her character. She is a strong character in many ways. I do think that in real life bad things would have happened to her because the cartels are not nice people.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

While these books my not be great literature, they sure are fun and exciting to read.
Once again Emma gets caught up in something while on a run and ends up being captured and chase by a drug cartel. In addition, there is a terrible, bloody, infectious disease chasing everyone associated with the cartel and it marijuana-growing ranch.
Really another heart pounder.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Put on your running shoes because you're in for an adventure! From page one, this book takes readers on an adventure. I didn't want to put it down!

[a · Rating 5 out of 5]

do you want to get lost for a day, can't handle the useful idiot in the wh? kids stressing you out? If yes then pick up a book by this lady ... :)

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exciting Emma caldridge !!!!

[Themistokeles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Möchte man unterhalten werden und mag actionreiche Bücher und Filme in Richtung "Transporter" oder ähnlichem gern und erwartet nicht zwingend, dass alles vollkommen logisch und realistisch ist, dann hat man mit "Emmas Angst" einen Roman erwischt, der einem sehr gut gefallen kann.
Inhaltlich fehlt es nämlich an vielen Stellen an Glaubwürdigkeit, passieren doch viele Dinge wie zufällig, da sie so gebraucht werden, um die Geschichte spannend fortzuführen. Auch Emmas Wissen wirkt in diesem Roman etwas zu weit gestreut, um noch wirklich glaubhaft zu sein, ist aber der Spannung in vielen Situationen relativ zuträglich, auch wenn ich mich lange Zeit fragte, warum ihr gewisse Dinge immer noch nicht klar waren, die für mich einfach extrem logisch waren.
Gefangengenommen von einem mexikanischen Drogenkartell soll Emma für dieses die Ursachen einer mysteriösen Krankheit, die Pflanzen sowie Menschen befällt, finden und wird dabei nicht gerade zimperlich von den Kartellmitgliedern behandelt. Trotz dieser Behandlung und ihrer ungünstigen Situation behält Emma jedoch durchweg einen klaren Kopf und zeigt kaum Angst, wodurch der deutsche Titel des Romans ein wenig wie ein Fehlgriff wirkt, insbesondere, wenn man ihn mit dem sehr passenden englischen vergleicht.
Da es sich um den dritten Teil einer Reihe handelt, wird auf einige der Charaktereigenschaften der schon bekannten Charaktere nicht mehr eingegangen, wodurch diese ohne Kenntnis der Vorgänger sehr flach wirken. Einzig die neuen Charaktere haben daher etwas mehr Tiefgang und Wirkung auf den Leser.
Verglichen mit den Vorgängern hat die Reihe eindeutig an Qualität eingebüßt, wirken die Geschehnisse doch immer unglaubwürdiger und unrealistischer. Jedoch handelt es sich immer noch um eine spannende und actionreiche Geschichte, die einen gut unterhält, wenn man nicht zu anspruchsvoll hinsichtlich großartiger Begründungen ist, jedoch in meinen Augen eher ein Actionfilm im Buchformat, denn ein Thriller ist.

[primeballerina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma Caldridges drittes Abenteuer beginnt gleich mit einer Verfolgung im Dschungel Mexikos durch einen coyote, einem Eintreiber von LaValle, dem größten Kartell-Boss Mexikos.

LaValles Ware – Hanfpflanzen – sind schwer verseucht, Dutzende seiner Männer sind bereits einen schmerzvollen Tod gestorben, die nächsten Dutzen sind bereits auf dem Weg hin. Da auch LaValles Freundin nun Geschwüre an Händen aufweist, soll Emma nun herausfinden, um was für eine Infektion es sich auf LaValles Anwesen handelt. Verschiedene Medizinmänner und Ärzte sind bereits gescheitert; Medizinmann Octavio glaubt an einen Fluch. Doch Emma glaubt an die Wissenschaft und obwohl ihr so etwas schreckliches noch nie untergekommen ist, hat sie sieben Tage Zeit, eine Diagnose zu stellen und ein Heilmittel zu finden. Sonst wird auch sie, wie Hunderte anderer vor ihr, erst zu grausam gefoltert und dann schließlich getötet.
Hinzu kommt, dass das verseuchte Marihuana an verschiedene Standorte in den USA ausgeliefert werden soll, um das Verteidigungssystem und ein konkurrierendes Drogenkartell auszuschalten.

Es beginnt ein Wettlauf mit der Zeit, da sich immer mehr Menschen mit dem unbekannten Virus infizieren. Schließlich wird Emma nicht nur von LaValles Männern gejagt, sondern auch von der mexikanischen Armee, aber auch von Banner und Sumner.

Ein wahnsinnig fesselnder Thriller und wie immer auch ein sehr detailierte und interessante Handlung. Ein bisschen schade nur, dass es wieder mal um Drogen geht. Dafür ist aber vor allem der Hintergrund der Infektion genau recherchiert und der Schreibstil Jamie Frevelettis fesselt den Leser Seite für Seite – trotz wahnsinniger Müdigkeit konnte ich das Buch nicht weglegen, sondern musste es in 3h nachts durchlesen. Und das sagt meiner Meinung nach schon alles.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biochemist Emma Coldridge is in Arizona on the Mexican border. She stumbles on a marijuana stockpile and is apprehended before she can escape.

Taoul La Valle, the leader of the cartel running the drugs learns that she's a chemist and tells her that his marijuana plants are invedted. People who come in contact with the plants are infected by a flesh eating disease which is fatal within nine days.

La Valle also deals with body parts and tells Emma that she must find a cure or be killed. His mistress has been infected and he believes the U.S. is responsible because they sprayed his fields to kill the marijuana and caused the infection. If he doesn't find a cure, he promises to ship the next contaminated batch to the U.S. to spread disease.

Emma is an ultra marathon runner and believes she can excape and inform the authorities but she also feels sympathy for the migrant workers who are forced to work in the fields and become sick. She wants to try to save these people.

She meets Oz Kroger, a college drop out who wanted to earn some easy money by driving the drugs into the U.S. but when he finds it is infected, he tries to help Emma.

The plight of the poor and the idea of infection is interesting and captures the reader's imagination. The author gives enough evidence about chemistry and disease to make the story feasable.

The plotting could have been stronger as Emma attempts her escape and a cat and mouse game begins. However, the reader becomes emotionally involved and is caught up in the action.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good adventure novel, one with lots of action and a good plot. The Ninth Day had a good plot and a good amount of action but was a little over the top farfetched.


Emma Caldridge is a biochemist that works for a cosmetics company that the moonlights as an undercover drug operative. While out on research assignments she watches for and reports signs of drug and human trafficking, then reports her findings. Together with OZ an MIT dropout/rock band roady, Emma finds herself abducted by a Mexican drug cartel. Talking her way out of an execution Emma finds herself being used to diagnose a fungus killing off marijuana crops and anyone that comes in contact with the crops.


Emma and OZ find themselves on a fast and wild ride hopping boarders and state lines, in attempt to save the day. Killing indiscriminately nine days after the first sign of infection the fungus has proved to be a mystery to all but Emma. In a fast and furious pace that is a little to hard to believe Emma through a peek here and a peek there discovers the root of the fungus. On foot, in a car, an ambulance and an airplane our heroes fight to save themselves and everyone that has come in contact with the infected crops.

[Tom Tischler · Rating 4 out of 5]

While hiking in Arizona looking for some night blooming plants
Emma Caldridge a biochemist for a cosmetic company is kidnapped by
some men from a Mexican drug cartel and hustled off to Ciudad Mexico
This cartel is headed by a dangerous psychopath name LaVelle. He
is all excited because his mirajuana crop is infected with a
mysterious disease and rotting in the fields. He continues to send the peaseant's out to pick the crop even though they die within 9ays.
LaValle finds out that Emma is a biochemist and his girlfriend has
come down with the disease so he tells Emma to find a cure before
she dies or Emma will die. Into this mess comes a guy named Oswald
Kroger who is a little down on his luck and they offer him 8,000
dollars to deliver a load to the US. Naturally they don't mention
that the plants are infected. Just about everyone manages to get
infected until Emma finally finds a cure. This is Jamie Freveletti's
third novel and it's just as good as the other two, a real thriller.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many things to love about Jamie Freveletti's writing: her strong female protagonist, the non-stop action and unexpected plot, the lack of cliched romantic interludes. This is one of three books featuring Emma Caldridge and the first that I read, but that didn't take away from the experience. Freveletti has a savvy way of referencing past character events without requiring a thorough understanding of them to enjoy the story at hand. That's something any avid reader who might not be able to read a series in order of publication can appreciate.

What I liked best about "The Ninth Day" was the premise and the pacing: a mysterious disease is spreading, and biochemist Emma Caldridge is forced into diagnosing it and finding a cure - fast. There were many twists and turns that I wasn't anticipating, and these created that coveted sense of wonder and anticipation endemic to a good thriller ("There's no way she's getting out of this situation...is there?"). I recommend this book to lovers of suspense and eco-terror, and eagerly look forward to reading more of Freveletti's works.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Will I ever finish this book? I'm trying, but it is so very stupid. I am a runner. I have raced every distance from 1 mile to ultra-marathon, and I live in California. I am familiar with the border area. Everything about the setup of the storyline is unrealistic. No sane woman would ever have put herself in the position that Emma Caldridge did. I just can't get past that. Everything about the book irritates me. Did she really run all night at top speed, without a light, without a sip of water? Why is Jamie Freveletti writing about an ultramarathoner, lady scientist when she clearly doesn't know enough about female runners or running? I'm at about 40%. If I ever finish this book, I'll update it.

Update:
I opened up my kindle and finished this book. It did not get any better. I have the same complaint. Action adventure books don't need to be particularly realistic, but you do need to suspend reality. I was never able to do that.

[Kelli Otting · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost couldn't finish this book. For the ignorant, maybe the repeated mention of the marijuana leaves being packed for shipping from a major cartel, wouldn't send any red flags, but the marijuana leaves are a waste product of the marijuana smoking element of the plant. They would NEVER be packaged to be sold by anyone with a shred of knowledge about smoking pot. The leaves are not even smoked at all.

In addition, a revolver does not have a magazine. During the story an automatic pistol with a magazine of 13 rounds suddenly becomes a revolver... *sigh*

These two problems make the book almost unreadable. Another significant downfall is the Oz character... why was he even in the book? A decent editor should have caught the pistol and marijuana problems and either enhanced or removed Oz altogether.

I don't plan on reading any more of these books.

[Randy Schultz · Rating 1 out of 5]

A complete and utter waste of time. I was reading the newest Ted Bell novel ( Warlord) and just weeried of the Cussleresque machinations when I spied this amongst the new releases at my local Chapters. I eagerly grabbed it, thinking it a little more of a serious matter than Alex Hawkes misplaced gin and tonic. Sadly, SADLY, this wee tome was just more fluff thriller. Dumb as a sack of stones. It may be an every day thing for our heroine to drive into a hail of gunfire that flattens every tire an completely blows out the windshield without so much as a by your leave in terms of injuring any of the three in the ambulance but for me, I can only buy so much. Like I said, dumb as a sack of stones.

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hiking in Arizona, biochemist Emma Caldridge inadvertently interrupts the operations of dangerous traffickers in human cargo—and is chased south into the arms of millionaire drug merchants. Suddenly a prisoner of Mexico’s most feared cartel, Emma makes a shocking discovery in the marijuana fields outside Ciudad Juarez: plants rotting with a flesh-eating toxin that causes a truly horrible death within nine days of exposure. And there is no antidote.

The cartel believes that U.S. agents contaminated the plants, and, determined to make their enemy pay, they prepare to spread their lethal product across America. Emma Caldridge searches desperately for a cure, but time is running out more quickly than she anticipated. For Emma herself has been infected.

[Chris Mcgowan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third in the Emma caldridge series. Just like the "Die Hard" and "Speed" movie series lost steam with each sequel, the same is happening with Emma the action hero.

Maybe I am reading them too close together to fully enjoy, but the plot lines seem to be a bit of a stretch in this one, especially how the lives of characters criss cross throughout this one. Just a little unbelievable for me most of the time. If you can put that aside going in, then you'll enjoy it as much as the others.

I think I'll wait a little bit before I return to this series with Dead Asleep.

[Rebecca Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

just finished "The Ninth Day" by Jamie Freveletti due out in Sept this year It was awesome kept my interest throughout the entire book. Emma, a very gifted runner, is kidnapped by a Mexican cartel and held prisoner. She must find the cure to an unknown and mysterious disease affecting the boss's girlfriend. She has only nine days to find it or she will be tortured and fed to the armadillos. Will she find it or will she be infected and die by the Ninth Day.

[Bob Corrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This should really be a 3.5 star rating. Possibly because of a string of 'toss aways' that preceded it - this book and the one before it broke a long chain of losers.

This novel is mostly - exclusively I guess you could say - about 'plot.' Plot and action. No breathtaking descriptive passages, no interesting or thoughtful observations, not really a lot of character development - just ... plot. Which I guess I was ready for and simply enjoyed.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I get shin splints just thinking about running track in high school so I never dreamed that novels about a distance runner protagonist would appeal to me. I picked #1 off the shelf while waiting for a guest author to appear and started reading to pass the time. This one is just as good as the first two.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one too. Totally hooked on Jamie Freveletti. As a series all together I give it 5 stars. Main character strong and interesting. Other characters are also interesting. Never got bored in any of the books. Just bought the last book in the series and sad it is over. All books worth the time and money.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best of the Emma Caldridge series to date. Jamie came to my librry to talk about her writing methods and her books. It was an wodnerful evening. She has truely found her stride with this novel. Look orward to the new Covert One book that she is writing for the Robert Ludlum estate!

[Brittiany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chemist, Emma Caldridge, finds herself kidnapped and faced with not only her own life hanging in the limbs, but the lives of complete strangers whom she is not willing to run away from.

As usual, this Emma Caldridge story takes off at a full run and doesn't slow down!

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but it did seem to go on and on - more so than the last two. I know I'm reading an adventure, but this was really a bit past the "this could ever happen" range. I was very ready for the resolution at the end of the book.

[Kimberly Perch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Enjoyed the first two Emma cauldridge books much better. The action in this book was fast paced and held my interest initially but the plot became too unbelievable. I do like the authors writing style though.