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White Sleeper
When Arkansas experiences a wave of rare fatal diseases, the CDC sends disgraced doctor Dave Richards to investigate, and he knows this is the case that could save his career. When he teams up with FBI agent Paula Mushari, Richards thinks he may have found the person who can help him find the answers. But as they dig deeper, they begin to get a sinister glimpse into what they are dealing with—a vengeful sect, led by the son of a late white supremacist, intent on destroying a nation. As Richards fights to save his job, he and Mushari must race against the clock to prevent a plague of catastrophic proportions.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 3, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 19, 2011
White Sleeper is an eyeopening read of what can happen if someone or some group was planning on infecting the world with a virus. In this case it is as simple as contracting rabies. It is a race against time to catch the person who will unleash this killer on to the unsuspecting public. The CDC and FBI will be working nonstop until they find the person or persons responsible for this tragedy in the making. A very tense and suspenseful read. I liked it a lot and it was a quick and easy read.
May 18, 2020
Fast-paced plotted make this a quick read.
Characters are a bit dated, but during a pandemic, I read what's here.
Characters are a bit dated, but during a pandemic, I read what's here.
October 5, 2011
White Sleeper: A Novel is a political thriller.
Dr. Dave Richards works for the CDC and his job there is held tenaciously as one of the higher ups doesn't like his style. His friend and supervisor , Dr. Root, sends Dave down to investigate Arkansas where a case of botulism has been reported.
When Dave arrives in Arkansas, he is also confronted not only with the botulism, but another family has contracted bubonic plague. The two families show signs of this being a forced inoculation and Dave knows that a terrorist cell has formed in order to bring bio-warfare to the USA.
Following procedure he calls in the FBI to help handle the case while he begins to track down the source of the diseases. Their greatest fear has occurred, a white sleeper is amongst the muslim terrorists and it could be anybody!
FBI agent Paula Mushari, is an arabic muslim and many in her department don't trust her. When she is assigned to this case, she is unsure how to proceed and follows Dave's leads and the two go traipsing about the country seeking the culprits involved with this crime. During their journey, another family is reported to have contracted rabies and with three separate diseases it soon becomes apparent that a test is in play with these people's lives.
Ben Curran is an orphan whose parents were killed by the authorities in a sting to capture his father, who was a known white supremacist with the Knights of the White Order. Ben bides his time and plans on seeking revenge for the death of his parents. When he stumbles upon a terrorist cell after fleeing to New York, he feels his prayers have been answered and God has chosen him to be his messenger of doom.
Mr. Smith is a ghost with the CIA, meaning, he does not exist. He alone believes that Dave is on the right track and encourages and enables him to continue his search for the culprits. When Dave's boss, the arrogant and impossible Lussier, removes him from the case in order to be the star of the show, Mr. Smith points Dave in the right direction and together Dave and Paula race against time to save the world from utter destruction.
This is a fast-paced read without too much to bog you down in the linguistics. Dave and Paula are likeable characters, although you have to wonder at times, how Paula became a FBI agent, she hasn't much in the way of instincts.
Dave was always talking about his ability to find the truth hidden in plain view, but for the most part, he either stumbled upon the information or was pointed in the right direction. I would've liked to have seen more of Dave's natural abilities, but I felt that if it wasn't being pointed out to him, he'd have missed the whole show. I also felt that there wasn't any real investigation in the whole set-up, the whole lot of them just blindly stumbled here and there and everything seemed to work out for all involved.
Such as how Ben Curran was identified, I mean, come on! Some dude, Ryan Conley from the ATF, who was lead investigator at the cabin when Ben's parents were killed, HAPPENED to sit at a desk of another individual who, unrelated to the cabin incident, had a picture of Ben and Conley was able to positively ID Ben. That was just too easy and I found most of the evidence and clues provided were shared in this same matter. I like my clues and evidence to be more intellectually shared and not so cut and dry and blind fool stumbling.
The premise behind the plot is a bit clichéd and not enough background information was given on the CDC, the authors assumed that folks know what and how the CDC work, but a bit more information on their involvement in the USA's political diplomacy since 911 would have been more beneficial.
This wasn't a bad read and I would love to read more about the people involved and with how the book ended you get the feeling that these characters haven't been retired forever. This is definitely a book about action rather than character build-up as the reader is zipped from one incident to the next without any real information connecting the situations together.
However, it's a good read, the flow is disrupted in places but overall, you could have this easily read in a few hours. If you are looking for something to pass your time without too much bog down, then you will enjoy this book!
Dr. Dave Richards works for the CDC and his job there is held tenaciously as one of the higher ups doesn't like his style. His friend and supervisor , Dr. Root, sends Dave down to investigate Arkansas where a case of botulism has been reported.
When Dave arrives in Arkansas, he is also confronted not only with the botulism, but another family has contracted bubonic plague. The two families show signs of this being a forced inoculation and Dave knows that a terrorist cell has formed in order to bring bio-warfare to the USA.
Following procedure he calls in the FBI to help handle the case while he begins to track down the source of the diseases. Their greatest fear has occurred, a white sleeper is amongst the muslim terrorists and it could be anybody!
FBI agent Paula Mushari, is an arabic muslim and many in her department don't trust her. When she is assigned to this case, she is unsure how to proceed and follows Dave's leads and the two go traipsing about the country seeking the culprits involved with this crime. During their journey, another family is reported to have contracted rabies and with three separate diseases it soon becomes apparent that a test is in play with these people's lives.
Ben Curran is an orphan whose parents were killed by the authorities in a sting to capture his father, who was a known white supremacist with the Knights of the White Order. Ben bides his time and plans on seeking revenge for the death of his parents. When he stumbles upon a terrorist cell after fleeing to New York, he feels his prayers have been answered and God has chosen him to be his messenger of doom.
Mr. Smith is a ghost with the CIA, meaning, he does not exist. He alone believes that Dave is on the right track and encourages and enables him to continue his search for the culprits. When Dave's boss, the arrogant and impossible Lussier, removes him from the case in order to be the star of the show, Mr. Smith points Dave in the right direction and together Dave and Paula race against time to save the world from utter destruction.
This is a fast-paced read without too much to bog you down in the linguistics. Dave and Paula are likeable characters, although you have to wonder at times, how Paula became a FBI agent, she hasn't much in the way of instincts.
Dave was always talking about his ability to find the truth hidden in plain view, but for the most part, he either stumbled upon the information or was pointed in the right direction. I would've liked to have seen more of Dave's natural abilities, but I felt that if it wasn't being pointed out to him, he'd have missed the whole show. I also felt that there wasn't any real investigation in the whole set-up, the whole lot of them just blindly stumbled here and there and everything seemed to work out for all involved.
Such as how Ben Curran was identified, I mean, come on! Some dude, Ryan Conley from the ATF, who was lead investigator at the cabin when Ben's parents were killed, HAPPENED to sit at a desk of another individual who, unrelated to the cabin incident, had a picture of Ben and Conley was able to positively ID Ben. That was just too easy and I found most of the evidence and clues provided were shared in this same matter. I like my clues and evidence to be more intellectually shared and not so cut and dry and blind fool stumbling.
The premise behind the plot is a bit clichéd and not enough background information was given on the CDC, the authors assumed that folks know what and how the CDC work, but a bit more information on their involvement in the USA's political diplomacy since 911 would have been more beneficial.
This wasn't a bad read and I would love to read more about the people involved and with how the book ended you get the feeling that these characters haven't been retired forever. This is definitely a book about action rather than character build-up as the reader is zipped from one incident to the next without any real information connecting the situations together.
However, it's a good read, the flow is disrupted in places but overall, you could have this easily read in a few hours. If you are looking for something to pass your time without too much bog down, then you will enjoy this book!
May 1, 2011
White Sleeper, written by David R. Fett, Stephen Langford, is a lightening-fast-paced story about two characters trying to stop a homegrown terrorist from unleashing a deadly virus on American citizens. Doctor Dave Richards was once a fast-rising star, solving cases that no one else could figure out. Known for finding the things that hide in plain site, his rise to the top came at a price- he developed a serious drinking problem and found himself catapulted to the bottom of the food chain and banished to the basement. Not even his best friend, Dr. Root, can save him. Agent Paula Mushari is an FBI agent who dreams of working counter-terrorism, but wonders if her ethnicity is holding her back in a country where all those of Muslim backgrounds are viewed with suspicion. Together, they unravel a plot to unleash a rare virus on unsuspecting American citizens, perpetuated by a white supremacist bent on revenge since the government killed his parents during an FBI raid.
The story moves extremely fast, a little too fast at times. At only 272 pages (in the ARC), I feel that the authors had plenty of time to slow down just a little bit and flesh out a few sections. The book starts out with the rain on Ben Curran’s parent’s house, jumps forward to the highlight of Richards’ career, then leaps forward to almost present day, then one more time a few months later to actual “present day.” This is a purely action-driven story, character development is limited to the two main players, and even then we only see glimpses of who they are and how they got to this particular point in their lives. I personally prefer a little heavier hand on the character back-stories, but I’ll let it slide. Those who are looking for a straight-forward action story about deadly viruses (one of my favorite subjects) won’t be disappointed.
PROS- First, I really like that, aside from the brief run-in with the plague, the viruses in the book aren’t your typical fare. In my opinion, botulism and rabies (I wont tell you which of the three is the big bad of the book, I don’t want to ruin anything) don’t get nearly enough play these days. Second, Agent Mushari is a delight. She could be bitter and grumpy about the fact that she’s stuck in the middle of nowhere because the upper echelon of the government is too scared to allow an Arab woman any sort of real power- but she’s not. She’s also not one of those fictional FBI types that is always shoving her title or jurisdiction in other people’s faces. She’s kind, considerate and helpful. Richards is also a likable character who cares more about saving lives than he does about saving his career. They make a good team.
CONS- While I found the pace a little fast, I’m not counting that as a con because many people enjoy that. My only real complaint is that occasionally the writing read a little too much like a screenplay. Stephen Langford is a screenwriter, so that may account this issue. A few scenes, like in the room at the hotel, seemed to be set up as though it was written in a way that would translate better to television than into the mind of the fiction reader. It’s not blatantly obvious and doesn’t detract from the overall story, but it did pull me out at moments. Again, a lot of this has to do with personal preferences, I like to a have enough information to form a full picture of the setting in my mind.
OVERALL- I enjoyed the story very much, although I do wish it was just a little longer and a little more fleshed out in some spots.
The story moves extremely fast, a little too fast at times. At only 272 pages (in the ARC), I feel that the authors had plenty of time to slow down just a little bit and flesh out a few sections. The book starts out with the rain on Ben Curran’s parent’s house, jumps forward to the highlight of Richards’ career, then leaps forward to almost present day, then one more time a few months later to actual “present day.” This is a purely action-driven story, character development is limited to the two main players, and even then we only see glimpses of who they are and how they got to this particular point in their lives. I personally prefer a little heavier hand on the character back-stories, but I’ll let it slide. Those who are looking for a straight-forward action story about deadly viruses (one of my favorite subjects) won’t be disappointed.
PROS- First, I really like that, aside from the brief run-in with the plague, the viruses in the book aren’t your typical fare. In my opinion, botulism and rabies (I wont tell you which of the three is the big bad of the book, I don’t want to ruin anything) don’t get nearly enough play these days. Second, Agent Mushari is a delight. She could be bitter and grumpy about the fact that she’s stuck in the middle of nowhere because the upper echelon of the government is too scared to allow an Arab woman any sort of real power- but she’s not. She’s also not one of those fictional FBI types that is always shoving her title or jurisdiction in other people’s faces. She’s kind, considerate and helpful. Richards is also a likable character who cares more about saving lives than he does about saving his career. They make a good team.
CONS- While I found the pace a little fast, I’m not counting that as a con because many people enjoy that. My only real complaint is that occasionally the writing read a little too much like a screenplay. Stephen Langford is a screenwriter, so that may account this issue. A few scenes, like in the room at the hotel, seemed to be set up as though it was written in a way that would translate better to television than into the mind of the fiction reader. It’s not blatantly obvious and doesn’t detract from the overall story, but it did pull me out at moments. Again, a lot of this has to do with personal preferences, I like to a have enough information to form a full picture of the setting in my mind.
OVERALL- I enjoyed the story very much, although I do wish it was just a little longer and a little more fleshed out in some spots.
August 15, 2011
Ever since 9/11, the US hasn't exactly been watchful in the ways it can once again be susceptible to another terrorist attack.
It all started when a white supremest named Harlan Curran and his wife were killed by ATF agents. Left standing in his parents blood, their young son, Ben vowed that he would enact revenge on the government that killed them. When lawsuits failed, he made plans that would give him recognition and that would involve taking out the people who deserved to die in the process.
Ben Curran found himself in a lucky set of circumstances when his new neighbors turn out to be a sleep cell operating out of New York. When he confronts them with their lack of skills and that he knows what they are up to, he bargains with them to join forces and really make people sit up and take notice.
Ben is a highly educated man who will use all his skills to run a test group to see which viruses will kill the most people with the highest success rate. When three families turn up in hospitals, with bubonic plague, rabies and botulism poisoning, it seems like the world is spiraling out of control.
CDC Dr. Dave Richards is on his way out due to his dependence on alcohol. Now waiting his final review, he is asked by his boss, Dr. Root to head out to Arkansas to find out what is going on with these three families and to see if there is a connection to a possible terrorist threat. He will find himself partnered with FBI agent Paula Mushari, who will form a two-person team to find the answers to this threat before a white sleeper is released on the American population and along with it, the threat to kill millions.
In the suspense thriller, White Sleeper by David R. Fett and Stephen Langford, the reader is taken on a roller coaster ride in a countdown against the clock not only to find the sleeper cell and its members, but also what virus they plan on using and how it will be disbursed before they run out of time.
I received this novel compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and could not put it down. This one will have you questioning just how plausible it is for something like this to strike in any city and just what would happen if it did. It will make you think twice about some things doctors recommend that are supposed to help us and can ultimately be used against us. I rate this one an exceptional 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to see what these two amazing authors come up with next. Down right scary if you think about the possibilities!!!
It all started when a white supremest named Harlan Curran and his wife were killed by ATF agents. Left standing in his parents blood, their young son, Ben vowed that he would enact revenge on the government that killed them. When lawsuits failed, he made plans that would give him recognition and that would involve taking out the people who deserved to die in the process.
Ben Curran found himself in a lucky set of circumstances when his new neighbors turn out to be a sleep cell operating out of New York. When he confronts them with their lack of skills and that he knows what they are up to, he bargains with them to join forces and really make people sit up and take notice.
Ben is a highly educated man who will use all his skills to run a test group to see which viruses will kill the most people with the highest success rate. When three families turn up in hospitals, with bubonic plague, rabies and botulism poisoning, it seems like the world is spiraling out of control.
CDC Dr. Dave Richards is on his way out due to his dependence on alcohol. Now waiting his final review, he is asked by his boss, Dr. Root to head out to Arkansas to find out what is going on with these three families and to see if there is a connection to a possible terrorist threat. He will find himself partnered with FBI agent Paula Mushari, who will form a two-person team to find the answers to this threat before a white sleeper is released on the American population and along with it, the threat to kill millions.
In the suspense thriller, White Sleeper by David R. Fett and Stephen Langford, the reader is taken on a roller coaster ride in a countdown against the clock not only to find the sleeper cell and its members, but also what virus they plan on using and how it will be disbursed before they run out of time.
I received this novel compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and could not put it down. This one will have you questioning just how plausible it is for something like this to strike in any city and just what would happen if it did. It will make you think twice about some things doctors recommend that are supposed to help us and can ultimately be used against us. I rate this one an exceptional 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to see what these two amazing authors come up with next. Down right scary if you think about the possibilities!!!
May 13, 2011
A fast paced thriller that will send chills up your spine when you think of the possibilities.
White Sleeper takes you on a thrill ride through what you never thought could be possible when it comes to terrorist plots or white supremacist hate crimes. The books begins with a fast paced FBI operation to take down a white supremacist leader and long time activist at his home in a beautiful remote area of the U.S. During this operation the only survivor is the son of the late white supremacist, a young child at the time. Brian grows up and thinks of nothing better to do with his life than avenging his fathers death and continuing his fathers hate supremest ideologies and practices. A failed attempt at acquiring illegal weapons with a group of his homies, ends up with his buddies in jail and Brian running right into New York City. Where Brian hooks up with just the type of people he hates the most to help with his aspiration, his thought out plan to kill thousands of people.
White Sleeper later turns to Arkansas were a wave of fatal illnesses begin to show up in a group of people who were all on a tour together. The CDC at first does not link the illnesses one family to another due to the illnesses being different even highly improbable in the United States. Instead the CDC sends Richards an alcoholic who was hanging by a thread at his current position and had already lost his marriage. Richards who has been sober for half a year decides taking on more than he should thinking this is could be his only chance to get his job back. During the investigation he meets Paula an FBI agent who is also assigned to the case and they end up being a match in heaven. A little love interest thrown into the mix, making it a perfect time to slow down the plot. This book was engaging, eye opening and thought provoking all wrapped up into a perfect fast-pased thriller. An enjoyable read that will surely leave you feeling creep-ed out and thinking how venerable we are as a society and how a similar situation can possibly and easily someday become reality.
White Sleeper takes you on a thrill ride through what you never thought could be possible when it comes to terrorist plots or white supremacist hate crimes. The books begins with a fast paced FBI operation to take down a white supremacist leader and long time activist at his home in a beautiful remote area of the U.S. During this operation the only survivor is the son of the late white supremacist, a young child at the time. Brian grows up and thinks of nothing better to do with his life than avenging his fathers death and continuing his fathers hate supremest ideologies and practices. A failed attempt at acquiring illegal weapons with a group of his homies, ends up with his buddies in jail and Brian running right into New York City. Where Brian hooks up with just the type of people he hates the most to help with his aspiration, his thought out plan to kill thousands of people.
White Sleeper later turns to Arkansas were a wave of fatal illnesses begin to show up in a group of people who were all on a tour together. The CDC at first does not link the illnesses one family to another due to the illnesses being different even highly improbable in the United States. Instead the CDC sends Richards an alcoholic who was hanging by a thread at his current position and had already lost his marriage. Richards who has been sober for half a year decides taking on more than he should thinking this is could be his only chance to get his job back. During the investigation he meets Paula an FBI agent who is also assigned to the case and they end up being a match in heaven. A little love interest thrown into the mix, making it a perfect time to slow down the plot. This book was engaging, eye opening and thought provoking all wrapped up into a perfect fast-pased thriller. An enjoyable read that will surely leave you feeling creep-ed out and thinking how venerable we are as a society and how a similar situation can possibly and easily someday become reality.
August 17, 2011
Unbelievably engrossing and entrapping! White Sleeper is a story that takes the reader on a non-stop crazy and insane ride that doesn't let up until the very end.
As morbid as it sounds, I find stories centering on terrorism to be utterly fascinating. Perhaps part of that reason is because these actions are not so far-fetched and terrifyingly possible. White Sleeper focuses on Ben Curran, a young man whose father was part of the Knights of the White Order, who witnessed the murder of both his mother and father, as a teenager. His main goal is to avenge the death of his parents and take his hatred of the American government out on innocent Americans. He finds the perfect opportunity to carry out his plans using weapons of mass destruction, when he meets his new neighbors in New York City.
Dave Richards is a incredibly intelligent doctor whose past mistakes have injured his soaring career. He has the ability to spot things that many easily miss, making him a huge asset. It is this talent that leads the CDC to enroll Dave's help in solving a sudden outbreak of disease. Between Dave and FBI Agent Paula Mushari, it is a race against time and the destruction of America at the hands of a man bent on revenge and destruction.
Bio-terrorism is a very real fear in today's society and authors David R. Fett and Stephen Langford craft an excellent and terrifying scenario that is not hard to deny. For those who enjoy medical/terrorism thrillers, White Sleeper is the perfect read. The story is incredibly detailed and reads very quickly. This is one of those that once you pick it up, it is incredibly hard pressed to put down. I cannot wait to read more by this author duo!
As morbid as it sounds, I find stories centering on terrorism to be utterly fascinating. Perhaps part of that reason is because these actions are not so far-fetched and terrifyingly possible. White Sleeper focuses on Ben Curran, a young man whose father was part of the Knights of the White Order, who witnessed the murder of both his mother and father, as a teenager. His main goal is to avenge the death of his parents and take his hatred of the American government out on innocent Americans. He finds the perfect opportunity to carry out his plans using weapons of mass destruction, when he meets his new neighbors in New York City.
Dave Richards is a incredibly intelligent doctor whose past mistakes have injured his soaring career. He has the ability to spot things that many easily miss, making him a huge asset. It is this talent that leads the CDC to enroll Dave's help in solving a sudden outbreak of disease. Between Dave and FBI Agent Paula Mushari, it is a race against time and the destruction of America at the hands of a man bent on revenge and destruction.
Bio-terrorism is a very real fear in today's society and authors David R. Fett and Stephen Langford craft an excellent and terrifying scenario that is not hard to deny. For those who enjoy medical/terrorism thrillers, White Sleeper is the perfect read. The story is incredibly detailed and reads very quickly. This is one of those that once you pick it up, it is incredibly hard pressed to put down. I cannot wait to read more by this author duo!
June 21, 2011
This was quite the fast paced book. It was exciting, suspenseful, and quick. It reminded of the television show 24. You know, with Jack Bauer. Not just because of the plot, a terrorist attack on U.S. soil, but the fast pace, the characters who have flaws but are trying to do a good job, the bureaucratic nonsense; everything combined together would make a good TV show. It would probably have to be fleshed out more for the small screen though.
Anyway, the scenes in the book jump from place to place, but not that it makes you loose your place. Events are happening and the reader needs to be there. The dialogue is also short and quipped, again like a TV show. It adds to the fast feeling of the story.
As for the characters, we don't learn very much about Agent Mushari. She is a minority woman trying to climb the ranks for the FBI. She has the hots for Richards. That's it. I liked her, but she wasn't that developed. With respect to Dr. Richards, he is the guy you are pulling for. He has issues and his career is in the toilet. Then he stumbles upon something, and although he can improve his situation, he is more focused on stopping this plot. Even if he means he makes more enemies; people come first.
Again, this was a suspenseful read, and the pages just flew by. Not what I expected and I liked it. If there is a follow-up to this book, and there could be since the door is open, I would definitely read it. In a heart beat.
For more information, please visit the book's website: http://www.whitesleeper.com/
Thanks to Phoebe from Phenix & Phenix for sending me an ARC.
Anyway, the scenes in the book jump from place to place, but not that it makes you loose your place. Events are happening and the reader needs to be there. The dialogue is also short and quipped, again like a TV show. It adds to the fast feeling of the story.
As for the characters, we don't learn very much about Agent Mushari. She is a minority woman trying to climb the ranks for the FBI. She has the hots for Richards. That's it. I liked her, but she wasn't that developed. With respect to Dr. Richards, he is the guy you are pulling for. He has issues and his career is in the toilet. Then he stumbles upon something, and although he can improve his situation, he is more focused on stopping this plot. Even if he means he makes more enemies; people come first.
Again, this was a suspenseful read, and the pages just flew by. Not what I expected and I liked it. If there is a follow-up to this book, and there could be since the door is open, I would definitely read it. In a heart beat.
For more information, please visit the book's website: http://www.whitesleeper.com/
Thanks to Phoebe from Phenix & Phenix for sending me an ARC.
January 1, 2012
I had such high hopes for this book.
It’s a good premise: a bitter white supremacist working with a Muslim sleeper cell to launch a bioterror attack on US soil. A CDC agent with a spotty past and one last chance to prove himself. A mysterious operative known only as Mr. Smith. It’s the backbone of a good book or action movie, but White Sleeper never lives up to the promise.
I knew we were in trouble when the book began in one of my least favorite ways: a series of unrelated vignettes about complete strangers that will somehow be woven together over the course of the book. Sometimes, it works; usually, it’s a sign that the author doesn’t know how to give you the backstory any other way.
My big problem with White Sleeper is that it never manages to build any credible amount of tension or suspense. I never believed for a minute that the terrorists would win. Other than a little mystery surrounding the type of attack and their method for launching it, there was no mystery at all. There’s a little conflict between our hero, Dr. Dave Richards, and his politically astute boss at the CDC. There is the mystery of when (not if) Dr. Richards and the lovely FBI agent, Paula Mushari, will fall into bed. But there was really nothing to keep me turning pages, other than my commitment to a review.
Personally, I hope Fett and Langford sell the movie rights. A good director could punch this up a little, give it some suspense and a little more action. It’s timely and realistic enough to appeal to the “ripped from the headlines” crowd. I’m only sorry that the novel did not have enough of that punch and suspense to hold my attention.
It’s a good premise: a bitter white supremacist working with a Muslim sleeper cell to launch a bioterror attack on US soil. A CDC agent with a spotty past and one last chance to prove himself. A mysterious operative known only as Mr. Smith. It’s the backbone of a good book or action movie, but White Sleeper never lives up to the promise.
I knew we were in trouble when the book began in one of my least favorite ways: a series of unrelated vignettes about complete strangers that will somehow be woven together over the course of the book. Sometimes, it works; usually, it’s a sign that the author doesn’t know how to give you the backstory any other way.
My big problem with White Sleeper is that it never manages to build any credible amount of tension or suspense. I never believed for a minute that the terrorists would win. Other than a little mystery surrounding the type of attack and their method for launching it, there was no mystery at all. There’s a little conflict between our hero, Dr. Dave Richards, and his politically astute boss at the CDC. There is the mystery of when (not if) Dr. Richards and the lovely FBI agent, Paula Mushari, will fall into bed. But there was really nothing to keep me turning pages, other than my commitment to a review.
Personally, I hope Fett and Langford sell the movie rights. A good director could punch this up a little, give it some suspense and a little more action. It’s timely and realistic enough to appeal to the “ripped from the headlines” crowd. I’m only sorry that the novel did not have enough of that punch and suspense to hold my attention.
May 2, 2011
‘We need a lot more information.’
Dr Dave Richards, after a bright start to his medical career, is now in disgrace and is hanging on to his position with the CDC by a thread. He is sent to Arkansas to explore a series of serious illnesses which have been drawn to the CDC’s attention as possibly involving bioterrorism. If Dave Richards does a good job on this assignment, he knows that it may save his career.
When Dave Richards teams up with FBI agent Paula Mushari, he believes that they may be able to find the answers. But they need to move quickly: at least one of the three diseases unleashed will always be fatal if not treated quickly enough. And to save lives and prevent a potential catastrophe, they need to discover how the disease is being spread, and where it has been distributed.
Ben Curran, the son of a late white supremacist, has his own destructive agenda and bioterrorism may well be the most effective way to achieve it. Choice of the most effective infective agent and its effective distribution will be his key to success, and he has planned well.
There’s a lot to like about this novel: it moves quickly; the threat of bioterrorism is a real enough; and Dave Richards and Paula Mushari work well together. This is a novel to read for the action rather than the characterization, and some aspects of the story flow better than others. Overall, it’s an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours if you enjoy medical thrillers.
Note: I was offered, and accepted, a copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Dr Dave Richards, after a bright start to his medical career, is now in disgrace and is hanging on to his position with the CDC by a thread. He is sent to Arkansas to explore a series of serious illnesses which have been drawn to the CDC’s attention as possibly involving bioterrorism. If Dave Richards does a good job on this assignment, he knows that it may save his career.
When Dave Richards teams up with FBI agent Paula Mushari, he believes that they may be able to find the answers. But they need to move quickly: at least one of the three diseases unleashed will always be fatal if not treated quickly enough. And to save lives and prevent a potential catastrophe, they need to discover how the disease is being spread, and where it has been distributed.
Ben Curran, the son of a late white supremacist, has his own destructive agenda and bioterrorism may well be the most effective way to achieve it. Choice of the most effective infective agent and its effective distribution will be his key to success, and he has planned well.
There’s a lot to like about this novel: it moves quickly; the threat of bioterrorism is a real enough; and Dave Richards and Paula Mushari work well together. This is a novel to read for the action rather than the characterization, and some aspects of the story flow better than others. Overall, it’s an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours if you enjoy medical thrillers.
Note: I was offered, and accepted, a copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
July 28, 2013
I really enjoyed this story. Co-written by a doctor and television writer, it explores what would happen if the country was suddenly facing a plague so deadly that finding the source was critical to save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.
This book is very edge-of-your-seat and I had a difficult time putting it down. As the two main characters race the clock, I found myself reading faster and faster as the tension built.
The writing style isn’t the best and could have used some keen editing, but the story itself is so great that it makes up for it. I liked most of the characters, especially the female FBI agent. I felt her personality was key to the storyline and the authors did a fine job helping the reader get to know her personally and professionally.
Full of espionage and intrigue, this is a book that you really must read. It’s a super story and very interesting.
This book is very edge-of-your-seat and I had a difficult time putting it down. As the two main characters race the clock, I found myself reading faster and faster as the tension built.
The writing style isn’t the best and could have used some keen editing, but the story itself is so great that it makes up for it. I liked most of the characters, especially the female FBI agent. I felt her personality was key to the storyline and the authors did a fine job helping the reader get to know her personally and professionally.
Full of espionage and intrigue, this is a book that you really must read. It’s a super story and very interesting.
March 21, 2012
WHITE SLEEPER is a fast paced thriller that involves a partnership between a member of a White Supremacy group and an Al-Qaeda sleeper cell active in the USA. They collaborate on a bio-terrorist attack involving bubonic plague, botulism, and rabies, and a novice female FBI agent, and an alcoholic in remission working for the Center For Disease Control seem to be the only ones who can cancel the threat.
The novel is co-written by Dr. David Fett and Stephen Langford. Dr. Fett is an ophthalmologist, and provides the medical details for the disease aspects of the book, and Stephen Langford is a television writer and producer, and he provides the propulsive dramatic action which reads like a screenplay that's ready-made for film or TV.
The book is hard to put down, and very believable.
The novel is co-written by Dr. David Fett and Stephen Langford. Dr. Fett is an ophthalmologist, and provides the medical details for the disease aspects of the book, and Stephen Langford is a television writer and producer, and he provides the propulsive dramatic action which reads like a screenplay that's ready-made for film or TV.
The book is hard to put down, and very believable.
June 21, 2011
A Recommended Read! In the novel White Sleeper by David Fett, MD and Stephen Langford we are treated to a good story with a subtle message, that not all those we fear look so different than the face in the mirror. To read this review in its entirety, please visit http://thereadersroundtable.com/myste...
July 25, 2011
Much better than I expected it to be. Great read.
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