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Mallory Brothers #1
Viral
" Viral is a world-class thriller." -Vince Flynn
Two brothers race to stop a political mastermind's massive bioterrorist plot in this terrifying espionage thriller.
In remote pockets of the Third World, a deadly virus is quietly sweeping through impoverished farming villages and shanty towns with frightening speed and potency. Meanwhile, in Washington, a three-word message left in a safe-deposit box may be the key to stopping the crisis—if, that is, Charles Mallory, a private intelligence contractor and former CIA operative, can decipher the puzzle before time runs out.
What Mallory begins to discover are the traces of a secret war, with a bold objective—to create a new, technologically advanced society. With the help of his brother Jon, an investigative reporter, can he break the story to the world before it is too late—before a planned “humane depopulation” takes place?
As the stakes and strategies of this secret war become more evident, the Mallory brothers find themselves in a complex game of wits with an enemy they can’t a new sort of superpower led by a brilliant, elusive tactician who believes that ends justify means.
Two brothers race to stop a political mastermind's massive bioterrorist plot in this terrifying espionage thriller.
In remote pockets of the Third World, a deadly virus is quietly sweeping through impoverished farming villages and shanty towns with frightening speed and potency. Meanwhile, in Washington, a three-word message left in a safe-deposit box may be the key to stopping the crisis—if, that is, Charles Mallory, a private intelligence contractor and former CIA operative, can decipher the puzzle before time runs out.
What Mallory begins to discover are the traces of a secret war, with a bold objective—to create a new, technologically advanced society. With the help of his brother Jon, an investigative reporter, can he break the story to the world before it is too late—before a planned “humane depopulation” takes place?
As the stakes and strategies of this secret war become more evident, the Mallory brothers find themselves in a complex game of wits with an enemy they can’t a new sort of superpower led by a brilliant, elusive tactician who believes that ends justify means.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
103 people are currently reading
689 people want to read
About the author
James Lilliefors
20 books45 followersJAMES LILLIEFORS is a journalist and novelist who grew up in the Washington, D.C. area. His novels include THE PSALMIST and THE TEMPEST and the geopolitical thrillers THE CHILDREN'S GAME (as Max Karpov) THE LEVIATHAN EFFECT and VIRAL.
For Max Karpov, see https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
For Max Karpov, see https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
September 26, 2012
I really wanted to like this book. The premise was exciting. I expected the story to bring me face to face with disturbing questions of morality and human nature where modern science collides with geopolitical instability in the developing world. I thought I would be staying up all night to read this book.
Instead, I was bogged down in the litany of characters who appeared on what seemed like every other page to reveal - or not reveal- one of the many cryptic bread crumbs left by Charlie (AKA Alec, AKA a half dozen other names) for his brother Jon only to end up dead and irrelevent by the end of the chapter in which they were introduced. There were many secret meetings. There was much slinking through streets beneath hats and feigning a limp.
The two brothers who are the main characters in the novel never stopped moving. From Washington to Kenya, to Switzerland and Washington and the Carribbean and back to Africa. . . always moving. The plot, meanwhile, stood still.
The author spent a great deal of time weaving people and places into an intricate web that, in my mind, obscured the potential gem within the story.
Instead, I was bogged down in the litany of characters who appeared on what seemed like every other page to reveal - or not reveal- one of the many cryptic bread crumbs left by Charlie (AKA Alec, AKA a half dozen other names) for his brother Jon only to end up dead and irrelevent by the end of the chapter in which they were introduced. There were many secret meetings. There was much slinking through streets beneath hats and feigning a limp.
The two brothers who are the main characters in the novel never stopped moving. From Washington to Kenya, to Switzerland and Washington and the Carribbean and back to Africa. . . always moving. The plot, meanwhile, stood still.
The author spent a great deal of time weaving people and places into an intricate web that, in my mind, obscured the potential gem within the story.
May 16, 2012
Charles and Jon are very different at the beginning of the book. Charles is a former CIA operative and is used to living looking over his shoulder. Jon is an average journalist who leads a normal and quiet life until his brother sends him information and the task to write an article about what he (Charles) is working on.
Throughout the book we see how Jon changes from a person with a normal life to somebody who impresses Charles and his team.
This is a great thriller, one of the best I’ve read recently; slow at first, but with lots of action and explosions in the end.
Sometimes it may be a bit difficult to understand if you are not familiar with genetics or molecular biology. This knowledge is not really necessary to follow the story, as terms like plasmids are explained in a basic way, but it helps a lot if you want to fully understand all the problems.
You have to pay attention while you read, because there are many characters and all are important. If you don’t know who they are, you might miss something. I didn’t think it was difficult to remember all the characters. All have a story and are not just some names in a small scene.
You can also learn things that might be useful (or just funny). Charlie uses several ways to code messages, so that the bad guys don’t know what he’s telling his brother. If you ever want to code a message like Charlie and Jon do, all the information is within the pages of this book. The methods are explained in a way everybody can understand and the messages Jon gets are used as examples: you see all the steps to decode the secret mail.
All in all, a great thriller I recommend to everybody who likes conspiracies about biological weapons.
Throughout the book we see how Jon changes from a person with a normal life to somebody who impresses Charles and his team.
This is a great thriller, one of the best I’ve read recently; slow at first, but with lots of action and explosions in the end.
Sometimes it may be a bit difficult to understand if you are not familiar with genetics or molecular biology. This knowledge is not really necessary to follow the story, as terms like plasmids are explained in a basic way, but it helps a lot if you want to fully understand all the problems.
You have to pay attention while you read, because there are many characters and all are important. If you don’t know who they are, you might miss something. I didn’t think it was difficult to remember all the characters. All have a story and are not just some names in a small scene.
You can also learn things that might be useful (or just funny). Charlie uses several ways to code messages, so that the bad guys don’t know what he’s telling his brother. If you ever want to code a message like Charlie and Jon do, all the information is within the pages of this book. The methods are explained in a way everybody can understand and the messages Jon gets are used as examples: you see all the steps to decode the secret mail.
All in all, a great thriller I recommend to everybody who likes conspiracies about biological weapons.
August 9, 2015
Fast paced. Action packed. A thriller with adventure and shock throughout the novel. Each chapter if not each page brought the book to a new height of excitement. From the moment I started this book to the very last word I was hooked! I honestly wish it didn't end. That being said, I can't wait to grab the next book of the series!
Now, let me justify my hype on this novel. I just happened to glance at this in the bookstore and said "eh, why not?" The book starts right off the bat with a bang, or maybe I should say a decapitation? Regardless of wording, you're reeled in quickly and from that moment on the action doesn't stop. With every turn of a page you're pulled in deeper with just a hint of what's truly going on. In the end, you'll be rather surprised but not 100%. I say that because although towards the middle of the book you're pretty confidant in what's going on and who the culprit is, it's the other varying villains that will shock you. Not everyone is as they appear to be.
In between the wonderful beginning and the well written ending, you have plenty of pages and chapters.
Each chapter is written as the perspective of a different character whether they be the good guys or not. I didn't find this confusing because you know exactly whose perspective you'll be reading within the first paragraph. One minute you're with Charles Mallory (who does use many aliases) in Europe, and then you're in Africa with Jon Mallory. The location of the story was forever changing, which at times did seem a bit eccentric, but for me didn't take away from the great adventure and sleuthing. The plot is rather straight forward from the gecko I feel. However, it's drawn out very well by a great mix of fight scenes/explosions, espionage, and true suspense.
The only aspects I had issue with were when they went into detail about the chemistry of the bio-terrorism agent and explanations of coded messages. If either of those are your thing, you hit the jack pot! If not, be ready to be confused. Granted, the author does try to explain it all to you and does so very well. I personally am a more hands-on type of learner.
This all being said, the book does pose a few questions regarding the use of bio-terrorism agents, corrupt governments, and terrorist groups. It's highly elaborated and well-detailed in all aspects.
While reading this book it almost seems like this could possibly happen, anywhere honestly. Although it's not a new concept to read about, it's definitely a book to pick up whether your new to such a genre/topic or well-read in the area.
Now, let me justify my hype on this novel. I just happened to glance at this in the bookstore and said "eh, why not?" The book starts right off the bat with a bang, or maybe I should say a decapitation? Regardless of wording, you're reeled in quickly and from that moment on the action doesn't stop. With every turn of a page you're pulled in deeper with just a hint of what's truly going on. In the end, you'll be rather surprised but not 100%. I say that because although towards the middle of the book you're pretty confidant in what's going on and who the culprit is, it's the other varying villains that will shock you. Not everyone is as they appear to be.
In between the wonderful beginning and the well written ending, you have plenty of pages and chapters.
Each chapter is written as the perspective of a different character whether they be the good guys or not. I didn't find this confusing because you know exactly whose perspective you'll be reading within the first paragraph. One minute you're with Charles Mallory (who does use many aliases) in Europe, and then you're in Africa with Jon Mallory. The location of the story was forever changing, which at times did seem a bit eccentric, but for me didn't take away from the great adventure and sleuthing. The plot is rather straight forward from the gecko I feel. However, it's drawn out very well by a great mix of fight scenes/explosions, espionage, and true suspense.
The only aspects I had issue with were when they went into detail about the chemistry of the bio-terrorism agent and explanations of coded messages. If either of those are your thing, you hit the jack pot! If not, be ready to be confused. Granted, the author does try to explain it all to you and does so very well. I personally am a more hands-on type of learner.
This all being said, the book does pose a few questions regarding the use of bio-terrorism agents, corrupt governments, and terrorist groups. It's highly elaborated and well-detailed in all aspects.
While reading this book it almost seems like this could possibly happen, anywhere honestly. Although it's not a new concept to read about, it's definitely a book to pick up whether your new to such a genre/topic or well-read in the area.
September 15, 2012
When I finished my first thought was "Wow!" It is a thriller and kept my interest from beginning to end. It took me longer to read it that it would have only because I got company twice while reading it and I had to take some time off from my reading each time for about a week each...but I didn't want to! This story is sad, suspenseful, thought provoking, frightening, horrifying and completely absorbing! I really liked the main characters...two brothers, one a journalist and one a rogue ex-CIA agent..trying to stop a bio-terrorist plot! I highly recommend this book!
January 9, 2015
A very Good Read on Several levels
Complex story involving bioterrorism in Africa, intelligence agencies in U.S., a father whose knowing that watching carefully over those who have access to these horrors got him killed.
And a story of two sons after years apart working together to prevent a monstrous plot threatening millions. Behind all that is the story of wealth and the need for power. Many unexpected twists. Makes one think about the plight of third world Africa, and what could be done if we dedicated ourselves to making a difference.
Complex story involving bioterrorism in Africa, intelligence agencies in U.S., a father whose knowing that watching carefully over those who have access to these horrors got him killed.
And a story of two sons after years apart working together to prevent a monstrous plot threatening millions. Behind all that is the story of wealth and the need for power. Many unexpected twists. Makes one think about the plight of third world Africa, and what could be done if we dedicated ourselves to making a difference.
March 18, 2012
Viral is probably one of the most refreshing thrillers we reviewed this year. Planning to be released by Soho Press on April 10, this is a story that takes you from Washington D.C. to the heart of Africa, Switzerland and Streets of Berlin.
A Brief Summary:
In remote areas of a not very known African country, a deadly virus kills more than two hundred thousand civilians in less than a week. Impoverished farming villages and several towns end up with piles of dead bodies and no one knows why except a local nurse who got some tips from her cousin several days prior to the incident.
Meanwhile, Charles Mallory, a private intelligence contractor and former CIA operative, is trying to decipher a three-word message left in a safe-deposit box by his father, who also used to be part of the intelligence community.
What Mallory begins to discover that the message is related to the incident that happened in Africa. He finds out that are the traces of a secret war, with a bold objective—to create a new, technologically advanced society. With the help of his brother Jon, an investigative reporter, his goal becomes to break the whole story to the world before it is too late.
As the stakes and strategies of this secret war become more evident, the Mallory brothers find themselves in a complex game of wits with an enemy they can’t see: a new sort of superpower led by a brilliant, elusive tactician who believes that ends justify means.
Our Take:
Have you seen the movie "International"? This book reminded us a lot of the movie as it had the main basic theme. Corporations and non-profit organizations today are not always run in the way we can imagine. The greed and desire for more power sometimes moves the big financial or corporate tycoons in such directions which eventually get many innocent people killed.
The story indeed was very interesting and elaborated on the danger of the biological weapons if they are in the wrong hands and the consequences of privatizing development of sensitive technologies. Several authors have published works with such themes before however, this novel was probably one of the best we have read.
The book has been written in James Patterson style: Short chapters with few pages each. This helps the reader to pass through the story quickly without getting bored. Lilliefors' background and experienced as the journalist for Washington Post and Boston Globe is evident in the story as he provides many factual and informative details about today's capital markets and corporations, long-term trends in respect to global populations and their needs and also intelligence community.
The result is a rich, captivating and fast-paced story which keeps the reader engaged from the beginning to the end. We strongly recommend this book to the lovers of international thrillers or spy stories.
More at http://www.mysterytribune.com or @mysterytribune
A Brief Summary:
In remote areas of a not very known African country, a deadly virus kills more than two hundred thousand civilians in less than a week. Impoverished farming villages and several towns end up with piles of dead bodies and no one knows why except a local nurse who got some tips from her cousin several days prior to the incident.
Meanwhile, Charles Mallory, a private intelligence contractor and former CIA operative, is trying to decipher a three-word message left in a safe-deposit box by his father, who also used to be part of the intelligence community.
What Mallory begins to discover that the message is related to the incident that happened in Africa. He finds out that are the traces of a secret war, with a bold objective—to create a new, technologically advanced society. With the help of his brother Jon, an investigative reporter, his goal becomes to break the whole story to the world before it is too late.
As the stakes and strategies of this secret war become more evident, the Mallory brothers find themselves in a complex game of wits with an enemy they can’t see: a new sort of superpower led by a brilliant, elusive tactician who believes that ends justify means.
Our Take:
Have you seen the movie "International"? This book reminded us a lot of the movie as it had the main basic theme. Corporations and non-profit organizations today are not always run in the way we can imagine. The greed and desire for more power sometimes moves the big financial or corporate tycoons in such directions which eventually get many innocent people killed.
The story indeed was very interesting and elaborated on the danger of the biological weapons if they are in the wrong hands and the consequences of privatizing development of sensitive technologies. Several authors have published works with such themes before however, this novel was probably one of the best we have read.
The book has been written in James Patterson style: Short chapters with few pages each. This helps the reader to pass through the story quickly without getting bored. Lilliefors' background and experienced as the journalist for Washington Post and Boston Globe is evident in the story as he provides many factual and informative details about today's capital markets and corporations, long-term trends in respect to global populations and their needs and also intelligence community.
The result is a rich, captivating and fast-paced story which keeps the reader engaged from the beginning to the end. We strongly recommend this book to the lovers of international thrillers or spy stories.
More at http://www.mysterytribune.com or @mysterytribune
June 9, 2013
I gave this book two stars because the author obviously writes well. That's the good part. I gave it only two stars because anyone who writes a book about viruses—especially with this title—should know about viruses, or at least do the research on viral properties, incubation, propagation, symptoms, methods of lethality and sterilization (e.g. fire/explosives kills viruses). In addition, having a multitude of characters each with two and three names forces the reader to stop and write them down if he wants to know who is who, good or bad, dead or alive. I didn't bother. One last point ... if you have two characters with the same last name, in this case, brothers, it's never a good idea to use only the last name when starting a sentence, paragraph or chapter. This forces the reader to look ahead to figure out the character's identity.
This author can write very well with solid style. He is extremely creative. I look forward to what I know will be excellent work from Lilliefors in the future.
February 12, 2012
Absolutely captivating mystery. Charles Mallory, private contractor and a former CIA operative, is investigating a spread of a deadly flu virus that is killing thousands in remote parts of Africe. He discovers terrifying scheme to create a "new perfect technological world" by first eliminating teh whole empoverished, sick, and less usefull population.
But who's behind all of this? Bio terrorists? Misguided humanitarian projects? Greedy bussiness? Whoever it is, it is a very dangerous, deadly, and smart opponent who is able to use a maximum of technological potential.
Captivating, frightening, a perfect thriller!
But who's behind all of this? Bio terrorists? Misguided humanitarian projects? Greedy bussiness? Whoever it is, it is a very dangerous, deadly, and smart opponent who is able to use a maximum of technological potential.
Captivating, frightening, a perfect thriller!
September 4, 2012
Very good read, with lots of intrigue, twists and puzzles. The author takes current issues (i.e. recent controversies over how Western foundations operate in the Third World) and threads them into a well-paced narrative. I liked the relationship between the brothers although would have liked to seen more of them together, especially at the end. Some of the scenes in the book are pretty arresting. It may not be for everyone, as a few of the reviews here indicate, but I found it hard to put down.
June 23, 2012
This book looked promising but the characters were very bland; I could give a hoot about any of them. The subject matter could have been interesting and engaging but this ended up being a very boring book. I barely finished it.
August 1, 2021
Author didn't seem to know what he was talking about. From the medical aspects to even simple geography (Uganda is, according to the author, in West Africa). His cultural knowledge of Uganda and his made up countries was similarly terrible. Seemed like he googled "African traditions and stereotypes" and just whacked in whatever came up. Character development was abysmal and mostly consisted of one of the characters thinking how cool, brave and smart the other one is. The whole thing takes way too much suspension of belief. The main character runs a "private intelligence business". But no real explanation of what work he actually does or why the CIA pay some idiot (sorry brave, cool, smart, and handsome man) to do their work for them?
November 23, 2018
Not entirely what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it just the same. Very twisty and turny.
June 15, 2012
Two brothers separated by years and miles work together to stop an evil plan to spread a deadly virus that will change the world. Charles Mallory is a private intelligence contractor and former CIA operative. His brother Jon, an investigative reporter, is alarmed when a call from his brother Charles is not received as scheduled. Charles is counting on Jon to be a witness to some event that he has yet to reveal to Jon.
Charles is investigating a lead found in a message left by his father in a safe deposit box. He is acting undercover, using fictitious names but someone is alert to his movements and Charles knows that he is in danger. When Jon begins to search for his brother Charles leaves clues that only his brother would be able to follow. Jon is able to decipher the clues but is still lost as to what he is to witness.
Terrible events are happening in a remote area of Africa. People go to bed at night and just never wake up. A whole village is wiped out. Charles is working against time to find out who is behind the scheme and figure out how to put a stop to it before there are more deaths.
The book shifts back and forth between Jon and Charles as well as some of Jon's contacts in Africa. The book is well written but at times, it was hard to keep the characters straight. The descriptions are very graphic and not to be read by a squeamish reader. The entire plot is not revealed until well into the novel. Viral is an exciting book that keeps the reader on edge.
Charles is investigating a lead found in a message left by his father in a safe deposit box. He is acting undercover, using fictitious names but someone is alert to his movements and Charles knows that he is in danger. When Jon begins to search for his brother Charles leaves clues that only his brother would be able to follow. Jon is able to decipher the clues but is still lost as to what he is to witness.
Terrible events are happening in a remote area of Africa. People go to bed at night and just never wake up. A whole village is wiped out. Charles is working against time to find out who is behind the scheme and figure out how to put a stop to it before there are more deaths.
The book shifts back and forth between Jon and Charles as well as some of Jon's contacts in Africa. The book is well written but at times, it was hard to keep the characters straight. The descriptions are very graphic and not to be read by a squeamish reader. The entire plot is not revealed until well into the novel. Viral is an exciting book that keeps the reader on edge.
May 16, 2012
"Viral" by James Lilliefors
Just suppose...two simple words spoken late at night between friends over drinks in a forgotten bar a decade ago. Two words that serve to introduce an idea so audacious, so outlandish, so terrible that it should have died on the spot. But it didn't. The idea festered and grew and now a malignant horror is poised to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting world and it is up to two brothers to stop it.
Jon Mallory is a respected investigative reporter with a Washington-based major newspaper. Jon finds himself following a trail of clues left by his elusive older brother Charles, someone who lives in the shadowy world of spies and counter spies. The trail Jon follows leads him to a tiny country in Sub-Saharan Africa and the horrific remains of a killing field. But is this only the beginning?
Super spy Charles, in the meantime is keeping busy as he jets back and forth between Africa, Europe, and the US, commuting between continents as normal people commute between a city and its suburbs. Along the way, Charles must deal with the occasional assassin and dodge super-smart satellites tracking him from orbit.
Software billionaires, media moguls, government henchmen, and a beautiful bio-chem warfare expert enter and exit the story in a whirl of action with all of it leading to a suspenseful race to stop a crime, the magnitude of which is off the scale.
Reviewed by Andrew MacRae for Suspense Magazine
Just suppose...two simple words spoken late at night between friends over drinks in a forgotten bar a decade ago. Two words that serve to introduce an idea so audacious, so outlandish, so terrible that it should have died on the spot. But it didn't. The idea festered and grew and now a malignant horror is poised to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting world and it is up to two brothers to stop it.
Jon Mallory is a respected investigative reporter with a Washington-based major newspaper. Jon finds himself following a trail of clues left by his elusive older brother Charles, someone who lives in the shadowy world of spies and counter spies. The trail Jon follows leads him to a tiny country in Sub-Saharan Africa and the horrific remains of a killing field. But is this only the beginning?
Super spy Charles, in the meantime is keeping busy as he jets back and forth between Africa, Europe, and the US, commuting between continents as normal people commute between a city and its suburbs. Along the way, Charles must deal with the occasional assassin and dodge super-smart satellites tracking him from orbit.
Software billionaires, media moguls, government henchmen, and a beautiful bio-chem warfare expert enter and exit the story in a whirl of action with all of it leading to a suspenseful race to stop a crime, the magnitude of which is off the scale.
Reviewed by Andrew MacRae for Suspense Magazine
April 6, 2013
This book suffers from a deficiency of adjectives. I contemplated four times giving up on it. Finally skimmed the last 100 pages just so I could find out what happens. Found one typo on Page 302. It reads like a very long news article, stilted abnormal dialogue, terse and basic. Too much espionage and governmental deception to be "up my alley", but I thought the biotechnological theme would be interesting. I was wrong.
April 30, 2013
A book with a disturbing premise that kept me guessing.
January 18, 2022
finished this morning 18th january 2022 good read four stars really liked it kindle library loaner great story has the atmosphere of a spy yarn reader skips around the globe with a number of characters the good the bad the ugly and there isn't the sense that any one of them is a super man able to stop a speeding locomotive get hit with multiple rounds and keep going and going and going. and at the end of the day you come away with the sense that that is how it could be everything not so cut and dried black and white though by story end truth be known or the better part of it anyway. and yet another story to do with a virus...and raises the question about the covid crisis...like, when the spanish flu was out and about, did it morph into a new variation at the turn of the page? how about the other diseases that were here and there? did they morph into a new variation every other month? how many have we had now? we're running out of greek letters...unless they go back and use the few letters "they" decided would upset the poor down trodden communist party leaders who set the ball in motion...with a little help from their friends.
April 18, 2020
2.5.
I thought I would read this because of the way the world is at the moment, thinking the parallels to the current global pandemic might even give hope knowing the hero's would find resolution. What I actually got from it was a predictable crime/mystery book that felt no different from Stieg Larsson or Dan Brown. There was a conspiracy that may or may not have been Government created, (in this story it was a virus that was going to wipe out the third world) we had two main attractive protagonists, one who was autistic with intelligence beyond scale, the other a journalist (very reminiscent of Lisbeth and Blomkvist) who went on a (Langdon styled) adventure that was writhe with coincidences and serendipitous happenings.
I thought I would read this because of the way the world is at the moment, thinking the parallels to the current global pandemic might even give hope knowing the hero's would find resolution. What I actually got from it was a predictable crime/mystery book that felt no different from Stieg Larsson or Dan Brown. There was a conspiracy that may or may not have been Government created, (in this story it was a virus that was going to wipe out the third world) we had two main attractive protagonists, one who was autistic with intelligence beyond scale, the other a journalist (very reminiscent of Lisbeth and Blomkvist) who went on a (Langdon styled) adventure that was writhe with coincidences and serendipitous happenings.
November 15, 2020
I'm a sucker for a virus book - especially these days. Here it's an evil plot of wealthy men trying to do nefarious things, and it's up to a pair of sort of estranged brothers (one is an agent of some kind, the other a blogger/writer) to stop mass death and destruction.
Globe-jumping, double crosses, the usual fun stuff for this genre.
I wasn't necessarily a big fan of the final act, but the book entertained me - and as a thriller you can't ask for much more than that....
Globe-jumping, double crosses, the usual fun stuff for this genre.
I wasn't necessarily a big fan of the final act, but the book entertained me - and as a thriller you can't ask for much more than that....
Read
November 21, 2022James Lilliefors is one of my favorite authors. Once again he knocks it out of the park with a story that takes us through twists and turns that reminded me of a combination of Dan Brown, Stephen King, and Tom Clancy. Sprinkled with healthy doses of espionage, government corruption, terrorism, familial ties, intrigue, and some downright horror, it's a cautionary tale about what could happen if the wrong people come up with a "brilliant" idea.
April 7, 2022
I wanted to rate this a 3.5 and I saw the overall reviews are 3.6 so that’s spot on!
A terrifyingly real concept, and the author creates a fast paced suspense novel and weaves a twisted web of characters, lies, morality, and reasoning. Certainly expands your thinking… good, likable protagonists, and it’s a hard book to put down!
Definitely deals with morality and ethics. I’d recommend!
A terrifyingly real concept, and the author creates a fast paced suspense novel and weaves a twisted web of characters, lies, morality, and reasoning. Certainly expands your thinking… good, likable protagonists, and it’s a hard book to put down!
Definitely deals with morality and ethics. I’d recommend!
February 20, 2018
Scary, scary - depopulation as an economic and strategic plan. Too many collaborators, too many evil actors and too little compassion for the dead. Hard to imagine that Jon, the investigative reporter, could possibly survive his encounters so marginalizes the cautionary tale.
September 20, 2018
A complex and well-written thriller that is maybe a bit *too* complex; the political machinations and sub-threads were hard to follow at times, and seemed unnecessary. But, an enjoyable read, and the Mallory brothers are likable and honorable.
February 4, 2019
Relatively typical thriller style story. I was intrigued because it was an approach I hadn't encountered before that seemed pretty based in science. I wasn't overly thrilled with the ending, rather anti-climatic. Still enjoyable to read.
January 20, 2023
Started off great but got into some topics that I didn’t quite like. Through most of the middle it gave off very white savior vibes.
Very well written but some of the topics aren’t great. Good book overall
Very well written but some of the topics aren’t great. Good book overall
May 6, 2024
This biothreat novel is fairly well designed. If you've read a lot in this particular genre, it may not be as intriguing when compared to others. Nonetheless, you might pick it up for a good way to spend a rainy few days.
December 1, 2019
A very well written action packed international thriller with lots of twists and turns. The topic couldn't be more relevant...bioterrorism and depopulation. A good read.
November 28, 2020
Kind of on the unbelievable side, but scares you with what could happen.
May 26, 2021
I didn't enjoy it as much as The Leviathan Effect, but it was an interesting thrillet
January 28, 2022
1st 3rd is a slog, gets better as it goes along.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews