Immortal Red

by Keith Hummel

Immortal Red is the story of Turritopsis dohrnii , a dime-sized jellyfish with a bright red stomach and the gift of immortality. A marine biologist snorkeling off the coast of Cape Fear, North Carolina makes a chance discovery of this unusual creature. At the moment of death due to old age or massive trauma, Turritopsis has the ability to fully rejuvenate and emerge as a young adult. After observing numerous repetitions of this phenomenon in her lab, the scientist nicknames the little invertebrate Immortal Red. A search for funding leads her to the octogenarian head of a shadowy black-ops division of the CIA. A scientific breakthrough, discovery of ulterior motives, and a subsequent attempt to hide success put the scientist and her CIA husband on the black-ops hit list. Fearing the worst, she transfers cryptic clues to the research to her daughter Chloe with disastrous results. Chloe, a graduate student, is now a designated terrorist on the run with her mother's research journal, a large squarish key to God-knows-what, and a twenty-two-year-old Airedale Terrier with more lives than a cat. She finds aegis in the person of Thomas Whitefeather, a retired marine veteran who owns a café in a small North Carolina town. Thomas, a Cape Fear Indian, the last survivor of a tribe that disappeared two centuries ago, is all too familiar with the jellyfish. "If Brooks Brothers sold assassins . . ." Nick Caedwallen, PhD in ancient history and archaeology, took a wrong turn somewhere and became the go-to guy for what the CIA jokingly refers to as the PDD or Plausible Deniability Department, resolving problems that the rest of the clandestine services find "too hot to handle." Nick has been dispatched to recover the research data and deal with the Spencer girl. A revelation regarding his own mortality and the realization that he has strong feelings for his target places him on a collision course with his old boss and the full resources of the black-ops organization.

478 pages, Hardcover

Published March 2, 2023

Reviews

[Melliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd call it a 3.5. Something a little different. A bit slow to start, but definitely picks up momentum as it morphs from science thriller to spy thriller.
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[Brooke E Brunelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the story line. I really made a connection with Nick and Lucy. The research and medical terminology in the book was well researched and developed which made the story even more interesting. I am patiently awaiting a sequel.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immortal Red, by author Keith Hummel ventures into the life of Dr. Karen Spencer. Through her research, she has identified ‘The Immortality Code.’ This astonishing discovery could alter humanity’s destiny forever. Spencer, a distinguished biologist, explores the intriguing realm of Turritopsis dohrnii, a species of jellyfish capable of seemingly supernatural rejuvenation. As she probes further into this potential evolutionary leap, she finds herself ensnared in a labyrinth of treachery and peril.

Behind the façade of the agency where Spencer and her husband Ted, an operative of the CIA, operate, the sinister octogenarian mastermind Basil Orlov hides in plain sight. Karen’s pursuit of research funding draws her into an unsuspecting collision with Basil. He offers assistance, masking his nefarious intentions of exploiting the jellyfish’s neurotoxin to achieve humanity’s long-sought dream of immortality. Karen, transformed into an unwilling target, becomes an obstacle Basil is resolved to remove, using his far-reaching arsenal of resources, including monetary influence and professional killers.

Fearing for the sanctity of her groundbreaking work, Karen entrusts her daughter Chloe with crucial information clandestinely embedded in her research journal. Finding herself in the crucible of a world shrouded in subterfuge, conspiracies, and mortal threats, Chloe must stay one step ahead of her adversaries. Her journey intertwines with that of Nick, a CIA agent tasked with her recovery. Nick’s life unravels along the way, challenging his loyalties and thrusting him into a daunting moral quagmire.

The novel seamlessly intertwines threads of treachery, camaraderie, fidelity, romance, humor, and adrenaline-fueled action. The narrative, rich in character variety, develops at a leisurely pace that may challenge some readers. Interwoven plotlines can occasionally give rise to confusion, and the seemingly extended storytelling hints at future installments to tie up the unresolved loose ends.

An outstanding feature of the narrative is the inclusion of Karen’s journal entries. These provide an intimate portal into her mind, and as a connoisseur of meticulous record-keeping, I found her attention to detail enthralling. Among the ensemble of characters, the courage, wit, and daring of CIA agent Nick resonate, rendering him a standout figure in the narrative.

Immortal Red is an engaging exploration that technothriller enthusiasts are certain to appreciate, offering a narrative as captivating as the scientific phenomena it explores.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting thriller

A scientist makes a breakthrough discovery: a new species of jellyfish that appears to be able to reincarnate itself. The medical repercussions of this is staggering, but it also paints a target on her back. By leaving cryptic clues for her daughter, the scientist unfortunately passes the target to her daughter. This book takes an exciting new idea and uses it to spin a story that is going and spans the world of possibilities. I really liked this book.

[Daniel Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not at all what I expected. When I started, I thought I would be reading a marine biology thriller and instead found myself hip deep in a CIA spy novel. I enjoyed the book. I thought the writing was good and the dialogs, for the most part, were natural. The author may have indulged themselves with a tad more detail and backstory than was necessary (I think the whole first part of the book is backstory), but still a worthwhile read.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!