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Bloodborne
One ordinary afternoon, research specialist Dr. Erin Cross steps into a local deli to get some lunch, and nearly takes a bullet instead. Thanks to the timely intervention of a former Marine, she walks away from the seemingly freak incident. But when she returns to find her lab under security lockdown and her apartment ransacked, she realized the attack was anything but random. Erin can’t make sense of the threat, given her low profile after a disastrous H1N1 vaccine trial. She doesn’t know her former colleague has used the virus to develop a potent bioweapon or that her recent research hold a key to his success. And she doesn’t know that his collaborators want her dead before she blows the whistle.
Fleeing for safety with her research in hand, Erin unravels the threats with the help of the timely Marine, former Special Ops agent Sean Flannery. But the closer they come to finding answers, the more questionable Sean’s behavior becomes. His erratic moods and suspicious communications are more fitting for an enemy than a friend. And as the crisis comes to a head, Erin can’t be sure who harbors more secrets—the bioterrorists pursuing her or the one man who can give her protection.
Fleeing for safety with her research in hand, Erin unravels the threats with the help of the timely Marine, former Special Ops agent Sean Flannery. But the closer they come to finding answers, the more questionable Sean’s behavior becomes. His erratic moods and suspicious communications are more fitting for an enemy than a friend. And as the crisis comes to a head, Erin can’t be sure who harbors more secrets—the bioterrorists pursuing her or the one man who can give her protection.
325 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2011
2 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Gregg Luke
18 books422 followersGregg Luke is a practicing pharmacist. He received his medical training at the University of Utah. He has been writing since he could put pen to paper. He enjoys medical thrillers and is one of the first to work this genre into the LDS market.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
August 22, 2011
Gregg Luke, you are my new favorite author.
And I am not saying that lightly.
I am choosy when it comes to authors.
Bloodborne was masterful.
I couldn't put it down.
I have reviewed many books,
but this book left me in awe
that I got to be part of the book tour.
It was too good to be free.
Too good.
Everyone needs to get this book and read it.
If you like thrillers, or biology, or the Utah wilderness,
or military strategy, or Polynesian culture
this book was written just for you.
It's based in Utah for the most part,
but one thing I loved about it was that
unlike Utah, it wasn't packed with
a bunch of Mormon culture.
In fact, there was no
mention of the church at all.
I believe this makes Bloodborne much more marketable.
So, all you Non-Mormons who love the work of great Mormon authors,
add this one to your list of must-reads.
Stephenie Meyer, Shannon Hale, Richard Paul Evans,
Rachel Ann Nunes, Anita Stansfield, Orson Scott Card:
make room for Gregg Luke,
I see him as the Mormon version of John Grisham.
And you all know how I love the Grish.
I don't give 5 stars lightly.
If you read this and have any bit of disappointment,
I would be very surprised.
So, what's the book about, you ask?
Here is the blurb from the back of the book:
One ordinary afternoon, research specialist Dr. Erin Cross steps into a local deli to get some lunch, and nearly takes a bullet instead. Thanks to the timely intervention of a former Marine, she walks away from the seemingly freak incident. But when she returns to find her lab under security lockdown and her apartment ransacked, she realized the attack was anything but random. Erin can’t make sense of the threat, given her low profile after a disastrous H1N1 vaccine trial. She doesn’t know her former colleague has used the virus to develop a potent bioweapon or that her recent research hold a key to his success. And she doesn’t know that his collaborators want her dead before she blows the whistle.
Fleeing for safety with her research in hand, Erin unravels the threats with the help of the timely Marine, former Special Ops agent Sean Flannery. But the closer they come to finding answers, the more questionable Sean’s behavior becomes. His erratic moods and suspicious communications are more fitting for an enemy than a friend. And as the crisis comes to a head, Erin can’t be sure who harbors more secrets—the bioterrorists pursuing her or the one man who can give her protection.
I believe this blurb doesn't do the book justice.
It doesn't tell you that the characters are spot on.
You will even love the evil ones.
The plot was fantastic and less predictable than most.
Some of the twists threw me and that doesn't happen often,
but I do love it, when it does.
The writing was strong.
The author had done his research well,
or he's just one heck of a smart guy.
Both, I assume.
There is even a little love interest
that leaves the ladies hoping for a sequel.
Let's just put it this way.
There is a fictional cabin in the middle of the Dixie National Forest
that I have now made it my life's mission to find.
I don't even know if the Dixie National Forest actually exists,
but in the part of my brain
that stores away works of fiction that are too good to be fake
there will forever be a cabin I can run to if I ever need to hide.
Add it to my bucket list to buy a four wheeler.
Thank you Gregg Luke for some great entertainment.
Thank you for all I can ask for in a book:
I was able to completely block out my real life
and pretend that I was a smart scientist
that gets to rescue the tough man in distress.
You may be a man Mr. Luke,
but you just endeared every single woman
to you in a single character named Dr. Erin Cross.
And I am not saying that lightly.
I am choosy when it comes to authors.
Bloodborne was masterful.
I couldn't put it down.
I have reviewed many books,
but this book left me in awe
that I got to be part of the book tour.
It was too good to be free.
Too good.
Everyone needs to get this book and read it.
If you like thrillers, or biology, or the Utah wilderness,
or military strategy, or Polynesian culture
this book was written just for you.
It's based in Utah for the most part,
but one thing I loved about it was that
unlike Utah, it wasn't packed with
a bunch of Mormon culture.
In fact, there was no
mention of the church at all.
I believe this makes Bloodborne much more marketable.
So, all you Non-Mormons who love the work of great Mormon authors,
add this one to your list of must-reads.
Stephenie Meyer, Shannon Hale, Richard Paul Evans,
Rachel Ann Nunes, Anita Stansfield, Orson Scott Card:
make room for Gregg Luke,
I see him as the Mormon version of John Grisham.
And you all know how I love the Grish.
I don't give 5 stars lightly.
If you read this and have any bit of disappointment,
I would be very surprised.
So, what's the book about, you ask?
Here is the blurb from the back of the book:
One ordinary afternoon, research specialist Dr. Erin Cross steps into a local deli to get some lunch, and nearly takes a bullet instead. Thanks to the timely intervention of a former Marine, she walks away from the seemingly freak incident. But when she returns to find her lab under security lockdown and her apartment ransacked, she realized the attack was anything but random. Erin can’t make sense of the threat, given her low profile after a disastrous H1N1 vaccine trial. She doesn’t know her former colleague has used the virus to develop a potent bioweapon or that her recent research hold a key to his success. And she doesn’t know that his collaborators want her dead before she blows the whistle.
Fleeing for safety with her research in hand, Erin unravels the threats with the help of the timely Marine, former Special Ops agent Sean Flannery. But the closer they come to finding answers, the more questionable Sean’s behavior becomes. His erratic moods and suspicious communications are more fitting for an enemy than a friend. And as the crisis comes to a head, Erin can’t be sure who harbors more secrets—the bioterrorists pursuing her or the one man who can give her protection.
I believe this blurb doesn't do the book justice.
It doesn't tell you that the characters are spot on.
You will even love the evil ones.
The plot was fantastic and less predictable than most.
Some of the twists threw me and that doesn't happen often,
but I do love it, when it does.
The writing was strong.
The author had done his research well,
or he's just one heck of a smart guy.
Both, I assume.
There is even a little love interest
that leaves the ladies hoping for a sequel.
Let's just put it this way.
There is a fictional cabin in the middle of the Dixie National Forest
that I have now made it my life's mission to find.
I don't even know if the Dixie National Forest actually exists,
but in the part of my brain
that stores away works of fiction that are too good to be fake
there will forever be a cabin I can run to if I ever need to hide.
Add it to my bucket list to buy a four wheeler.
Thank you Gregg Luke for some great entertainment.
Thank you for all I can ask for in a book:
I was able to completely block out my real life
and pretend that I was a smart scientist
that gets to rescue the tough man in distress.
You may be a man Mr. Luke,
but you just endeared every single woman
to you in a single character named Dr. Erin Cross.
December 2, 2016
The action in this book was fantastic on the book on CD. It kept the story interesting and exciting. The reader on this CD was fantastic.
The story literally starts off with a bang and has many more to come. Coincidentally, the meet cute in this book quite literally starts off with an accusation and just gets better from there. So much in this story that you can't say in the review for fear that you will ruin the book for others.
Read this book if you enjoy an action packed, fun story that gets your heart pumping.
The story literally starts off with a bang and has many more to come. Coincidentally, the meet cute in this book quite literally starts off with an accusation and just gets better from there. So much in this story that you can't say in the review for fear that you will ruin the book for others.
Read this book if you enjoy an action packed, fun story that gets your heart pumping.
February 10, 2012
Dr. Erin Cross is a brilliant researcher and on her way to amazing things when she suddenly gets wrapped up in craziness. Someone is threatening her and she is forced to try and escape. Meanwhile, former Special Ops agent, Sean, who is helping her, turns stranger and stranger.
This action-packed medical thriller was great and I think the best one yet from this author! There were many twists and turns and crazy things going on. A definite page turner.
This action-packed medical thriller was great and I think the best one yet from this author! There were many twists and turns and crazy things going on. A definite page turner.
November 6, 2019
Greg Luke is phenomenal at writing medical-world thrillers, because he is thoroughly versed in relative subjects as a professional pharmacist. He is also an excellent researcher, making sure his facts in all areas of his books are recent and real, and not vague and shifty.
Bloodborne is the story of a secret organization that wants to create a new and improved world by killing off the populations they don't like by infecting mosquitoes with a newly created disease, that only the heads of the organization have a cure for. Everyone in the world will pay billions to get the cure, not knowing how they have been infected.
The brilliant lady scientist who holds all the knowledge for the created disease and the cure is chased all over the place with a retired Special Ops protector, barely escaping the secret organization who wants to use her knowledge to rule the world. Tense, fascinating, thrilling, believable -- except for one thing, which is true of ALL such megalomaniac books --
WHO WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD??? WHY?? What would they do with the world if they COULD rule it? Not one single world leader can get the people in his or her country to accept ANY improvement without a fight. Good luck, megalomaniacs!
Bloodborne is the story of a secret organization that wants to create a new and improved world by killing off the populations they don't like by infecting mosquitoes with a newly created disease, that only the heads of the organization have a cure for. Everyone in the world will pay billions to get the cure, not knowing how they have been infected.
The brilliant lady scientist who holds all the knowledge for the created disease and the cure is chased all over the place with a retired Special Ops protector, barely escaping the secret organization who wants to use her knowledge to rule the world. Tense, fascinating, thrilling, believable -- except for one thing, which is true of ALL such megalomaniac books --
WHO WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD??? WHY?? What would they do with the world if they COULD rule it? Not one single world leader can get the people in his or her country to accept ANY improvement without a fight. Good luck, megalomaniacs!
September 8, 2017
*takes deep breath*
Ah. I think I've finally begun breathing again after having my HEART STOPPED by none other than author Gregg Luke.
Seriously, this book was SCARY, but in the best possible way.
The story follows Doctor Erin Cross, a brilliant scientist whose ground-breaking medical research is hijacked by bad guys. A terrified but determined Cross physically runs from her life. In despair, She enlists the help of Sean, a former Marine Special Ops soldier, in hiding from the men seeking her life.
Aaaaaaaaaand the rest you'll have to find out for yourselves.
The things I loved most about this book (besides having it effectively scare me out of my wits) were:
1.) the extremely disturbing, certifiably insane "bad guys" that Luke creates
2.) the obvious extensive research that went into the H1N1 virus, malaria virus, and Hawaiian slang
3.) the freshness of the main characters: Erin Cross is not a typical, young, skinny beautiful heroine: she's talented and brave but also terrified and belligerent. Also Sean is an amazingly complicated, great character.
Go read the the book and stop reading this👍
Ah. I think I've finally begun breathing again after having my HEART STOPPED by none other than author Gregg Luke.
Seriously, this book was SCARY, but in the best possible way.
The story follows Doctor Erin Cross, a brilliant scientist whose ground-breaking medical research is hijacked by bad guys. A terrified but determined Cross physically runs from her life. In despair, She enlists the help of Sean, a former Marine Special Ops soldier, in hiding from the men seeking her life.
Aaaaaaaaaand the rest you'll have to find out for yourselves.
The things I loved most about this book (besides having it effectively scare me out of my wits) were:
1.) the extremely disturbing, certifiably insane "bad guys" that Luke creates
2.) the obvious extensive research that went into the H1N1 virus, malaria virus, and Hawaiian slang
3.) the freshness of the main characters: Erin Cross is not a typical, young, skinny beautiful heroine: she's talented and brave but also terrified and belligerent. Also Sean is an amazingly complicated, great character.
Go read the the book and stop reading this👍
July 19, 2017
This is my first read by Gregg Luke and can I just say, what an opening! I love that first paragraph, and Luke keeps the story rolling. I've already picked up another one of his books to read: "Do No Harm." Definitely a recommended read if you like medical suspense/thriller. :)
July 24, 2017
This book was a fun diversion.
October 6, 2017
Entertaining thriller.
May 31, 2020
So...this book was super sciency. Lol I’m not sure I’m into it. It was a good story though.
November 23, 2020
Michael Vey meets Jurassic Park meets The Bourne Identity. Great book with great allusions to his previous work. Masterful tale.
September 4, 2021
The book kept me engaged, likable characters.
September 13, 2011
This book is full of twists and turns that will make you raise your eyebrows and turn the page quickly to see what happens.
Dr. Erin Cross goes to a neighborhood deli for lunch and her life changes in the blink of an eye. She starts receiving text messages that she is going to die in sixty seconds, sees a man in the corner texting, and angrily goes over to confront him. Just as she does, a gunman enters the deli, spraying gunfire and killing several people before a former Special Ops Marine (who happens to be the man she accused of texting her) is able to stop him.
As Dr. Cross tries to put the incident behind her, she finds herself caught in a web of lies, unsure of who she can trust. With nowhere to turn, she puts her life in the hands of that Special Ops Marine, but after a series of strange events, wonders if he is involved with the men who are trying to kill her. It’s a thrilling ride that makes you take a deep breath when you turn the last page, mostly because you’ve been holding it throughout the book.
I loved the author’s depth of knowledge about viruses, bacteria, and medical conditions and it was easy enough for me to read and understand. I enjoyed the mystery behind our main characters and the life issues they were dealing with because they were real and many people can identify with them. My only complaint about the book was that the chapters were so short (generally 2-4 pages) and there were so many point of views (the bad guy, the scientist, Erin, Sean, etc.) it made it feel a bit choppy to me. There were definitely places were I wanted to skip ahead and see what was happening with Erin and Sean’s story. But it was a book that I will heartily recommend to all my friends who love suspense. And if I were going to give a star rating for the cover I would definitely give it a five star. It was creepy, caught my attention right away, and totally went with the book’s subject matter.
Originally reviewed on my blog http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
Dr. Erin Cross goes to a neighborhood deli for lunch and her life changes in the blink of an eye. She starts receiving text messages that she is going to die in sixty seconds, sees a man in the corner texting, and angrily goes over to confront him. Just as she does, a gunman enters the deli, spraying gunfire and killing several people before a former Special Ops Marine (who happens to be the man she accused of texting her) is able to stop him.
As Dr. Cross tries to put the incident behind her, she finds herself caught in a web of lies, unsure of who she can trust. With nowhere to turn, she puts her life in the hands of that Special Ops Marine, but after a series of strange events, wonders if he is involved with the men who are trying to kill her. It’s a thrilling ride that makes you take a deep breath when you turn the last page, mostly because you’ve been holding it throughout the book.
I loved the author’s depth of knowledge about viruses, bacteria, and medical conditions and it was easy enough for me to read and understand. I enjoyed the mystery behind our main characters and the life issues they were dealing with because they were real and many people can identify with them. My only complaint about the book was that the chapters were so short (generally 2-4 pages) and there were so many point of views (the bad guy, the scientist, Erin, Sean, etc.) it made it feel a bit choppy to me. There were definitely places were I wanted to skip ahead and see what was happening with Erin and Sean’s story. But it was a book that I will heartily recommend to all my friends who love suspense. And if I were going to give a star rating for the cover I would definitely give it a five star. It was creepy, caught my attention right away, and totally went with the book’s subject matter.
Originally reviewed on my blog http://ldswritermom.blogspot.com
September 6, 2011
Gregg Luke’s new novel, Bloodborne, will make you want to stock up on mosquito spray with lots and lots of Deet. You may hate those creatures when they bite you during a backyard barbeque but you’ll hate them even more when you realize they can possibly be used to transport bioweapons that make the West Nile Virus look like the common cold.
But pesky misquotes are only a part of the suspenseful plot of Bloodborne. The hero of the story is Dr. Erin Cross—a brilliant research scientist who unexpectedly finds herself the target of terrorists. Throughout most of the novel Cross, aided by ex-Special Ops agent Sean Flannery, finds herself on the run as she tries to figure out why anyone would want to kill her or be interested in her research.
Luke does a great job with a novel that hooks you from the first chapter. Even though Luke has a degree in Biological Sciences and works as pharmacist, Luke does a masterful job of present complex research and biological information in such a way that any adult reader can understand. It makes the impending mosquito invasion seem all the more probable. The mystery is unveiled slowly but at just the right moments that it keep you turning the pages. Despite their shortcomings, Dr. Cross and Flannery characters that you can empathize with and root for. Even the main villain has a tender and caring moment which makes him feel human—even though you can’t stand the guy and hope he gets what he deserves. Admittedly I haven’t read a lot of books along these lines but the idea of using mosquitoes as bioweapons seems fairly original—at least to me.
If you like medical thrillers, suspense novels, or have a fascination with misquotes, then Bloodborne is the book for you. My only recommendation is that you stock up on some bug spray before reading it. Better yet, bring back DDT and eliminate those bastards once and for all.
But pesky misquotes are only a part of the suspenseful plot of Bloodborne. The hero of the story is Dr. Erin Cross—a brilliant research scientist who unexpectedly finds herself the target of terrorists. Throughout most of the novel Cross, aided by ex-Special Ops agent Sean Flannery, finds herself on the run as she tries to figure out why anyone would want to kill her or be interested in her research.
Luke does a great job with a novel that hooks you from the first chapter. Even though Luke has a degree in Biological Sciences and works as pharmacist, Luke does a masterful job of present complex research and biological information in such a way that any adult reader can understand. It makes the impending mosquito invasion seem all the more probable. The mystery is unveiled slowly but at just the right moments that it keep you turning the pages. Despite their shortcomings, Dr. Cross and Flannery characters that you can empathize with and root for. Even the main villain has a tender and caring moment which makes him feel human—even though you can’t stand the guy and hope he gets what he deserves. Admittedly I haven’t read a lot of books along these lines but the idea of using mosquitoes as bioweapons seems fairly original—at least to me.
If you like medical thrillers, suspense novels, or have a fascination with misquotes, then Bloodborne is the book for you. My only recommendation is that you stock up on some bug spray before reading it. Better yet, bring back DDT and eliminate those bastards once and for all.
January 16, 2012
Dr. Erin Cross is a scientist - a research specialist- and someone is trying to kill her. On a lunch break at a local Italian deli, she gets text messages from an unknown source threatening her. She shrugs it off until right after, a gunman enters the deli and kills three people. Luckily for her, Sean Flannery - former Special Ops- put her out of harm's way.
Later that day, Erin goes back to work, her lab, to finish a few details before she takes the weekend off. The guard is killed and she barely escapes with her life. She goes home and gathers her emergency stash - her research on a thumbdrive and cash. Then she hightails it out of there, but she is followed. After several more attempts on her life, she asks for help.
She calls Sean Flannery. Sean agrees to help her, but he isn't the easiest person to know. He acts strangely and things become clear, she isn't sure if he is helping her or working for the other side. Bioterrorists have need of Erin's research. They tried to get her to join their Order, but she wouldn't play ball. Now, they want her eliminated. They have created a virus that can destroy the world. But Erin's research is needed to finish it.
Bloodborne is a titillating, action-packed thriller. From the first page until the end, the action never stops. The pacing and the plot unfolding kept me rivetted. It is chilling to think that these things could be happening in today's world. The characters are well-developed and the science is explained in layman's terms, so it was very easy to understand and follow. If you're looking for a new writer of medical thrillers - pick up Bloodborne!
Later that day, Erin goes back to work, her lab, to finish a few details before she takes the weekend off. The guard is killed and she barely escapes with her life. She goes home and gathers her emergency stash - her research on a thumbdrive and cash. Then she hightails it out of there, but she is followed. After several more attempts on her life, she asks for help.
She calls Sean Flannery. Sean agrees to help her, but he isn't the easiest person to know. He acts strangely and things become clear, she isn't sure if he is helping her or working for the other side. Bioterrorists have need of Erin's research. They tried to get her to join their Order, but she wouldn't play ball. Now, they want her eliminated. They have created a virus that can destroy the world. But Erin's research is needed to finish it.
Bloodborne is a titillating, action-packed thriller. From the first page until the end, the action never stops. The pacing and the plot unfolding kept me rivetted. It is chilling to think that these things could be happening in today's world. The characters are well-developed and the science is explained in layman's terms, so it was very easy to understand and follow. If you're looking for a new writer of medical thrillers - pick up Bloodborne!
September 7, 2011
LDSWBR combined review posted here: http://bit.ly/pi0kQj (www.ldswbr.com)
Bloodborne has everything that makes a suspense novel great. The threat is terrifyingly believable. The protagonists are imperfect and relatable. Close calls and unknown elements keep the reader turning pages. There is the black and white of right and wrong along with plenty of gray in between.
While the story is told mainly from Erin and Sean’s viewpoints, the reader experiences a significant amount through the villains’ points-of-view as well. The story carries smoothly between each character. I love that the reader gets to know one of the nicest characters in the book through the eyes of the main bad guy, who isn’t quite as unfeeling as one might expect.
Because suspense novels are very plot-based, I was not expecting the depth with which Gregg wrote Erin and Sean. Don’t get me wrong, Gregg is great at writing 3-dimensional, believable characters (if you’ve read Blink of an Eye, you know what I’m talking about). Bloodborne went well beyond my expectations, not just with characterization, but with the interaction between the two main characters as well. Erin and Sean’s relationship (don’t assume I mean romance here) is multi-faceted and complex.
I give Bloodborne 5 stars. I’m headed straight over to the Whitney Award website to nominate it for the Mystery-Suspense category. Well done, Gregg!
Bloodborne has everything that makes a suspense novel great. The threat is terrifyingly believable. The protagonists are imperfect and relatable. Close calls and unknown elements keep the reader turning pages. There is the black and white of right and wrong along with plenty of gray in between.
While the story is told mainly from Erin and Sean’s viewpoints, the reader experiences a significant amount through the villains’ points-of-view as well. The story carries smoothly between each character. I love that the reader gets to know one of the nicest characters in the book through the eyes of the main bad guy, who isn’t quite as unfeeling as one might expect.
Because suspense novels are very plot-based, I was not expecting the depth with which Gregg wrote Erin and Sean. Don’t get me wrong, Gregg is great at writing 3-dimensional, believable characters (if you’ve read Blink of an Eye, you know what I’m talking about). Bloodborne went well beyond my expectations, not just with characterization, but with the interaction between the two main characters as well. Erin and Sean’s relationship (don’t assume I mean romance here) is multi-faceted and complex.
I give Bloodborne 5 stars. I’m headed straight over to the Whitney Award website to nominate it for the Mystery-Suspense category. Well done, Gregg!
September 24, 2011
Bloodborne by Gregg Luke
Bloodborne is a top-notch medical techno thriller. I had a hard time putting it down, was reading it while having my infusions in the hospital this month.
Dr. Erin Cross, research specialist, is having lunch at a local deli when a gunman comes in and shoots and kills a few people, including himself, but Sean Flannery, a former Marine, saves her from being killed. When Erin keeps receiving threatening texts on her cell phone, she seeks help from Sean when she gets help from a Wal-Mart employee by barracading herself in a dressing room.
When they find themselves hidden in Sean's remote cabin, they still feel unsafe and are told to fly to a secluded island in Hawaii by an unknown organization who seems ready to protect her. The sinister person wanting her dead isall-powserful and will stop at nothing to prevent Erin's research from going public.
With Sean's help, they can outwit the enemy and keep thousands of people from dying.
One main reason I enjoyed this book was because Gregg went away from the usual stereotype heroine with the perfect figure. Erin is chunky and that is great. Thanks Gregg. By the way, mosquitoes do not like my blood, as I'm Diabetic.!!!! lol
I received my review copy from Gregg.
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Date Published: Aug 2011
ISBN: 978-1-60861-366-3
326pp
Bloodborne is a top-notch medical techno thriller. I had a hard time putting it down, was reading it while having my infusions in the hospital this month.
Dr. Erin Cross, research specialist, is having lunch at a local deli when a gunman comes in and shoots and kills a few people, including himself, but Sean Flannery, a former Marine, saves her from being killed. When Erin keeps receiving threatening texts on her cell phone, she seeks help from Sean when she gets help from a Wal-Mart employee by barracading herself in a dressing room.
When they find themselves hidden in Sean's remote cabin, they still feel unsafe and are told to fly to a secluded island in Hawaii by an unknown organization who seems ready to protect her. The sinister person wanting her dead isall-powserful and will stop at nothing to prevent Erin's research from going public.
With Sean's help, they can outwit the enemy and keep thousands of people from dying.
One main reason I enjoyed this book was because Gregg went away from the usual stereotype heroine with the perfect figure. Erin is chunky and that is great. Thanks Gregg. By the way, mosquitoes do not like my blood, as I'm Diabetic.!!!! lol
I received my review copy from Gregg.
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Date Published: Aug 2011
ISBN: 978-1-60861-366-3
326pp
August 8, 2013
I enjoy LDS thriller novels because I never have to worry about the content. Better still is when I get to read Gregg Luke's work! So far, this had to be my favorite Gregg Luke novel.
Bloodborne deals with a race to stop money-grubbing psychotics from releasing a viral infection through mosquitos.
The Good
The novel takes place in Hawaii and Utah, but Gregg does an amazing job with his scene locations by turning them on their ear. For instance, his Hawaiian scenes take place on an off-limits island that gets very little rain and is consequently not as lush as the big island or Maui. In Utah, his characters hide out in an awesome, hidden away cabin.
Gregg also has some great twists with his characters and reveals them perfectly. One character has a particularly large bombshell that literally dropped my jaw.
Great tension, characters and locations really made Bloodborne rock!
The Bad
There weren't any large character motivation problems or plot holes that I saw. So, no. There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book.
The Spin
If you like thrillers and prefer clean content, pick up Bloodborne. Sure it's written for the LDS market, but religion takes no part in the story, only preventing a plethora of sex, violence, and profanity from seeping into a great story.
Bloodborne deals with a race to stop money-grubbing psychotics from releasing a viral infection through mosquitos.
The Good
The novel takes place in Hawaii and Utah, but Gregg does an amazing job with his scene locations by turning them on their ear. For instance, his Hawaiian scenes take place on an off-limits island that gets very little rain and is consequently not as lush as the big island or Maui. In Utah, his characters hide out in an awesome, hidden away cabin.
Gregg also has some great twists with his characters and reveals them perfectly. One character has a particularly large bombshell that literally dropped my jaw.
Great tension, characters and locations really made Bloodborne rock!
The Bad
There weren't any large character motivation problems or plot holes that I saw. So, no. There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book.
The Spin
If you like thrillers and prefer clean content, pick up Bloodborne. Sure it's written for the LDS market, but religion takes no part in the story, only preventing a plethora of sex, violence, and profanity from seeping into a great story.
September 28, 2011
Gregg Luke is a new-to-me author I discovered through a blog tour that I agreed to participate in, and boy am I glad I did. The story was riveting. The plot was intriguing. Best of all, the book was suspenseful and kept me guessing a lot. I have to say there were some very funny parts, too, like when one of the characters is conversing with a native Hawaiian. Hilarious dialog! And there were parts that had me biting my nails, like the scenes where they were being chased, hunted down, etc. A few times I was pretty sure she was done for. Anyway, without posting any spoilers I'll just say I liked this plot because it was well thought-out and intelligently written. There were a few places that had some sad situations, but that's just how life goes sometimes. The who Latin codes and phrases thing just made the secret order seem that much creepier to me. So trying to decide who was safe and who wasn't safe was a suspenseful challenge for me. I liked that. I would read more books by this author. There wasn't a dull moment in this story and it was well-written. I can't stand corny scenes, simplistic plotting, and cheesy dialog. Thankfully this book had none of those problems. I definitely recommend this book for suspense lovers everywhere.
October 10, 2011
Full review on: Amber Argyle
If you like Dan Brown or medical/techno thrillers, you'll love Bloodborne by Gregg Luke.
Received from his publicist in return for an honest review.
Right from the beginning, the action pulled me in and dragged me along for a fun ride. Super scientist Erin finds herself the target of a hit man. Before long, she's on the run, not sure who she can trust or why they're after her.
After a good deal of luck and a get away in her sports car, she reached out to the only person she dares trust, the man who saved her from the first hit, but everything is not as it seems. The mystery builds as we're introduced to not one, but two secret societies in a centuries old battle involving current bio weapons distributed by the perfect assassins-mosquitoes.
I really enjoyed this book. That's saying something coming from someone who mostly reads some sort of fantasy. The books is clean in content, style, and grammar.
I struggled a bit with believability in the middle, but it didn't stop me from staying up until midnight to finish the book.
Great job by Gregg Luke!
If you like Dan Brown or medical/techno thrillers, you'll love Bloodborne by Gregg Luke.
Received from his publicist in return for an honest review.
Right from the beginning, the action pulled me in and dragged me along for a fun ride. Super scientist Erin finds herself the target of a hit man. Before long, she's on the run, not sure who she can trust or why they're after her.
After a good deal of luck and a get away in her sports car, she reached out to the only person she dares trust, the man who saved her from the first hit, but everything is not as it seems. The mystery builds as we're introduced to not one, but two secret societies in a centuries old battle involving current bio weapons distributed by the perfect assassins-mosquitoes.
I really enjoyed this book. That's saying something coming from someone who mostly reads some sort of fantasy. The books is clean in content, style, and grammar.
I struggled a bit with believability in the middle, but it didn't stop me from staying up until midnight to finish the book.
Great job by Gregg Luke!
August 25, 2011
From the first page, I was drawn into Erin's story through the intricate details and scene setup. Gregg did a masterful job of keeping my brain ticking as he tantalized me with precise facts and medical elements that made the story come to life. My skin practically itched with the realization that Bloodborne's mosquitoes were flying toward an incredible plot that could easily happen.
His characterization of Dr. Erin Cross seemed spot-on. Sean Flannery--the marine special ops guy--was an interesting character and I was intrigued by his history. There were a few places where my suspension of disbelief was stretched a bit thin in Erin and Sean's interactions, but Gregg kept the story moving at such a pace that those are easily forgiven.
I like the way Gregg weaves in realistic medical details without becoming overbearing. In Bloodborne, the reader comes to know the important aspects of the story by experiencing them through the character's actions and emotions. It's refreshing to see such well-rounded characters and smart plot action.
His characterization of Dr. Erin Cross seemed spot-on. Sean Flannery--the marine special ops guy--was an interesting character and I was intrigued by his history. There were a few places where my suspension of disbelief was stretched a bit thin in Erin and Sean's interactions, but Gregg kept the story moving at such a pace that those are easily forgiven.
I like the way Gregg weaves in realistic medical details without becoming overbearing. In Bloodborne, the reader comes to know the important aspects of the story by experiencing them through the character's actions and emotions. It's refreshing to see such well-rounded characters and smart plot action.
October 2, 2011
Bloodborne by Gregg Luke was gripping and freaky. Now remember, I'm a romance chick and only watch action flicks if my hubby is nearby to hide my head in his shoulder during the scary parts. Well, Bloodborne was a book that I definitely needed to read curled up next to my hubby! Right from the first page, I was pulled into a roller coaster of suspicion, murder, and mystery. While yes, the book gave me chills at times, Gregg Luke did a great job weaving in some humor which did wonders to relax my clenched fingers just when they were going numb. Bloodborne is a medical thriller, but, thankfully, the author knows how to weave in the medical jargon and background in a way a totally non-scientific chick like me can understand. I have to say, Bloodborne is by far my absolute favorite Gregg Luke novel to date.
February 15, 2012
A totally creepy fast read that could hold its own against Michael Crichton or Dan Brown any day, without the mature language or sometimes sleazy content in those national market books. I was sucked into the story from the start and was curious how everything would come together and all work out in the end. Overall, I was satisfied and would recommend this to readers who like high adventure medical thrillers.
The only problem I had with the book as a whole was the dialect of the security guard toward the beginning and the Hawaiian characters. The dialect was so heavy that it was hard to read, and I soon discovered what these characters had to say rarely did anything to forward the story, so I started to skip them. I don't feel I missed any key issues as a result.
The only problem I had with the book as a whole was the dialect of the security guard toward the beginning and the Hawaiian characters. The dialect was so heavy that it was hard to read, and I soon discovered what these characters had to say rarely did anything to forward the story, so I started to skip them. I don't feel I missed any key issues as a result.
March 16, 2012
Dr. Erin Cross is working on a vaccine that could save millions of lives world wide, but she suddenly finds herself on the run. People are being killed, and she is a target. Sean Flannery, ex-special ops, tries to protect Dr. Cross while fighting his own demons.
For the most part I really enjoyed this book. The chapters from Erin and Sean's points of view were great and filled with suspense. I didn't find much beneficial from the chapters told from Magnus' pov (many of the details in these chapters didn't move the story along). Dr. Krantz's chapters were ok, but I'm usually not a fan of the soap opera jumping around style. It was nice when everything came together.
For the most part I really enjoyed this book. The chapters from Erin and Sean's points of view were great and filled with suspense. I didn't find much beneficial from the chapters told from Magnus' pov (many of the details in these chapters didn't move the story along). Dr. Krantz's chapters were ok, but I'm usually not a fan of the soap opera jumping around style. It was nice when everything came together.
March 18, 2012
I thought I would like this book more than I did. You know, typical former Marine special ops agent saves beautiful Mormon scientist from the bad guys and then they live happily ever after. Only in this book, I didn't know who the bad guys really were, or who the good guys were. The special ops agent ex-marine didn't really know who he was either. I thought that the author tried to piece together a thriller about bioterrorism with the Da Vinci code, but in my opinion, it did not work out very well.
August 25, 2011
What a surprise I got when I read this! Everything about this book was unexpected. I honestly did not know how this story was going to end. To me the two most important things about a book are the first and last chapter. The first chapter has to suck you in and the last chapter has to make you feel like the time devoted to the book was not in vain. This book satisfied both those requirements. :)
January 3, 2012
I really liked this book. At first I thought it was going to be boring with all the medical talk but there wasn't as much as I thought there would be. One thing I didn't like was that I didn't ever really know how old the main girl was. So when I thought a relationship might develop between her and Sean I was really confused because at first it sounded to me like she was just a few years out of college and he was in his 40s. I loved the twist with Sean, I did not see that coming at all.
May 22, 2012
One ordinary afternoon, research specialist Dr. Erin Cross steps into a local deli to get some lunch, and nearly takes a bullet instead. Thanks to the timely intervention of a former Marine, she walks away from the seemingly freak incident. But when she returns to find her lab under security lockdown and her apartment ransacked, she realized the attack was anything but random.
Not even close to being believable.
Not even close to being believable.
November 9, 2012
Bloodborne is a classic stay-up-all-night-to-finish-it book. Perhaps that is why I am dragging into work this morning. Dr. Cross and Sean Flannery exude realism in unbelievable circumstances. Cross is terrified by the murderous plot to kill her; but true to her scientific self, she maintains control, most of the time. Flannery oozes strength yet his confusion is genuine. The plot is perfectly paced. An awesome read for those who enjoy conspiracy thrillers.
January 14, 2014
It was slow to get into, and I really couldn't stand the chapters from the bad guys perspective; they were just really boring. It picked up in the middle but then way too much stuff just snowballed together in the end so it was confusing and I felt like, if you spend a lot of time worrying about the boring stuff in the beginning then the complicated, intense stuff in the end should get some more in depth time too.
October 6, 2023
It's not often you hear of Special Ops, bio terrorists, Illuminati, H1N1 virus and Utah in the same context. This book provides all the excitement of a race with time to escape from unknown and creepy danger and so forth without the usual swearing and indecency. It's also wonderful that the protagonist is an intelligent research specialist woman with a PHD who is not running around in high heels and skimpy outfits and is not shy to admit that she has a healthy appetite!
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