The Weapon

by Heather Hopkins

THE WEAPON, A NON-STOP, ACTION-PACKED THRILLER, is a window into the world of technology and its ability to create and destroy life. Meet Veronica Stone - technological genius and inventor of the holographic cell phone. Little does Veronica know that during the cold war a Russian scientist discovered a wasting disease that causes slow death by using the manipulation of sights and sounds. The only missing link?  The appropriate technology to weaponize the disease...Now, years later, a nefarious Japanese businessman gets his hands on the mad scientists notes and realizes Veronica Stone's holographic cell phone is the answer. He hatches a plan, employing Veronica's invention, to create a new and virtually indestructible weapon the world has never seen.  Offering Veronica money and power, she is coerced into agreement. As Veronica becomes roped into the scheme, her world and work begin to fall apart as use of the weapon gets out of hand. Framed for the attempted murder of the President of the United states, she's on the run, trying to find a cure for the weapon she helped create. Veronica must use her intellect and private resources to end this nightmare and save the life of the president and his daughter, her sister, her lover and her company.  There's no going back now - success is her only option.

Genres: Thriller

272 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

HEATHER HOPKINS is a graduate of Syracuse University with a degree in business and has been writing short stories, plays, songs, and articles all of her adult life. Though Heather enjoys writing both fiction and non-fiction, she has a special affinity for international action thrillers starring strong female characters. The Weapon was inspired by her wish to create a novel that featured such a character. Heather lives in New Jersey with her husband and her three children. The Weapon is her first novel.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 2 out of 5]

Received this book, signed by the author, as a Goodreads promotion. It sat on my to-read shelf for months, but now I've finally read it. It is, as billed, an international thriller ... a fast read, filled with action, something you'd take along on a long flight.

Overall, I found the the weapon of the title less than believable. The heroine, Veronica Stone, is the only character with any depth; everyone else is a foil. The plot contained internal inconsistencies and non-sequiturs. Occasionally, as with the out-of-nowhere introduction of Veronica's equally beautiful and intelligent Harvard classmate Mary, deus ex machina interventions were required to keep the heroine one step ahead of death and destruction.

There probably should be more smart women protagonists in international thrillers, and why not beautiful smart women as well? Heather Hopkins is on to something here. I wish she didn't resort to Donald Trumpish codifications for wealth and power, though: over and over again, Veronica is described as a player in the world of CEOs, as if CEOs ... a pretty shallow and selfish lot IMHO ... are worthy of emulation.

But by golly, there is plenty of action, and the pages seemed to turn themselves.

[Jenn Coppock-huegel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great job, Heather! You had me completely interested - a true page-turner! The technological possibilities had me intrigued and I can't wait to read what Veronica Stone does next . . .

[Mollien Fote Osterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found out about this author in a Facebook group. The Weapon was written a few years ago, but it is still a relevant work of fiction that may be more of a futuristic read. I did struggle at the beginning of the book with the different points of view and switching from "past to present." Fortunately, the more that I read the more engrossed I became in the story as Victoria Stone pretty much takes on the world as she tries to correct her biggest mistake. I found this book to have a very good and exciting plot with a strong independent female character. I hope to read more from this author in the future, wanting to continue to follow Victoria Stone in her attempt to avenge the wrongs done to her and the people that she cares about.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy read with a strong female character lead. I enjoyed reading and was intrigued to see how the story would resolve.

[Rena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received this from GoodReads.com for review.

This book is a thriller with lots of action and drama.
The main character Veronica is a super-successful tech inventor/entrepreneur. She was a genius who graduated Harvard at 19 and started her own business right after that. She's approached by a Japanese businessman who wants to use her new prototype cell phone to help him develop a weapon that has never been seen before -- using radio/sound waves to kill people. He makes it seem appealing to her since it will leave no trace and could lead to world peace (yeah, right). Anyway, Veronica falls for his spiel and starts developing this technology but he tells her it's not working and to drop the project. Veronica isn't a quitter, so she continues the project and chaos ensues.

The story is intriguing, but there are some things that bothered me. Veronica is not a very nice person. She hates that men drool over her amazing beauty, but then uses it to get what she wants. So don't use it and then complain about it. Of course that also means that other women are jealous of her.
Also, at her graduation (at age 19) her father announces that he and her mom are getting a divorce. Mom remarries (twice) and has another daughter. Now the half-sister is entering Harvard as well. So this means Veronica is how old? She would have to be about 40 at the youngest, yet somehow manages to fool college guys into thinking she's their age. I can't buy that.
I wish the actual weapon had more detail. It was sort of explained, but I think there can be more.
Since this is a self-published book, there are editing issues. This book has so many grammar, spelling, etc problems. The quotes were a problem in particular. It really needs more editing for future editions.

There is still a lot going for this book, especially the actual story, so it has potential. The ending leaves room for a sequel. Since this is the author's first novel, I know she can move up from here.

[Heather Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE WEAPON, A NON-STOP, ACTION-PACKED THRILLER, is a window into the world of technology and its ability to create and destroy life. Meet Veronica Stone - technological genius and inventor of the holographic cell phone. Little does Veronica know that during the cold war a Russian scientist discovered a wasting disease that causes slow death by using the manipulation of sights and sounds. The only missing link? The appropriate technology to weaponize the disease...

Now, years later, a nefarious Japanese businessman gets his hands on the mad scientists notes and realizes Veronica Stone's holographic cell phone is the answer. He hatches a plan, employing Veronica's invention, to create a new and virtually indestructible weapon the world has never seen. Offering Veronica money and power, she is coerced into agreement. As Veronica becomes roped into the scheme, her world and work begin to fall apart as use of the weapon gets out of hand. Framed for the attempted murder of the President of the United states, she's on the run, trying to find a cure for the weapon she helped create. Veronica must use her intellect and private resources to end this nightmare and save the life of the president and his daughter, her sister, her lover and her company. There's no going back now - success is her only option.

[Heather Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first novel and I'm so proud of it! Excellent read and very exciting! Enjoy!