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Resistance
No treatment. No cure. No hope Once it seemed as though penicillin and other antibiotics had won humanity a lasting victory over harmful bacteria. But now hardier bugs, resistant to most common classes of antibiotics, are emerging–with potentially catastrophic consequences. When Dr. Catalina Lopez of the Center for Disease Control first receives a report of a lethal new "superbug" immune to all known antibiotics, she realizes that she has a major health crisis on her hands. An ultra-resistant form of group A strep is spreading like wildfire throughout hospitals and emergency rooms in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Doctors, lacking any effective way to combat the infection, can do nothing but stand by and watch their patients die, one after another. Dr. Graham Kilburn, an infectious disease specialist in Vancouver, is one such doctor. Desperate to contain the spread of the new superbug, he joins forces with Lina Lopez as they try to find some way to halt the growing epidemic. What they don't realize is that shadowy forces are conspiring to spread the disease on purpose–and they will stop at nothing to avoid exposure.
374 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
15 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Kalla
19 books562 followersBorn, raised, and still residing in Vancouver, Daniel has worked as an ER Physician for the past twenty years. He is also the author of fifteen published novels, which have been translated into thirteen languages.
In his latest novel, THE DEEPEST FAKE, a tech CEO and AI pioneer’s carefully curated life is unraveling—his wife is cheating, someone is defrauding his company, and he’s just been handed a fatal diagnosis. He’d end it all, if only he could trust his own reality. As deepfakes and deception blur the lines between truth and illusion, the novel explores the challenges and pitfalls of safeguarding reality in an age when it can be fabricated.
Daniel received his B.Sc. and MD from the University of British Columbia, where he is now a clinical associate professor. He is the proud father of two girls and a poorly behaved but lovable mutt, Milo.
In his latest novel, THE DEEPEST FAKE, a tech CEO and AI pioneer’s carefully curated life is unraveling—his wife is cheating, someone is defrauding his company, and he’s just been handed a fatal diagnosis. He’d end it all, if only he could trust his own reality. As deepfakes and deception blur the lines between truth and illusion, the novel explores the challenges and pitfalls of safeguarding reality in an age when it can be fabricated.
Daniel received his B.Sc. and MD from the University of British Columbia, where he is now a clinical associate professor. He is the proud father of two girls and a poorly behaved but lovable mutt, Milo.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 7, 2022
There are five leading characters in this thriller, which are five point of view individuals:
Let's start with Dr. Ellen Horton. A troubled genius, she has developed an antibiotic that promises to destroy any superbug that's resistant to all other medications. But she's troubled by its possible side-affects and that she must keep the knowledge a secret within the company she works for.
It doesn't take many junkies to spread their disease to others. Dennis Tyler, which is his latest alias, hands out free drug samples to junkies in various West Coast cities. He neither knows nor cares what contaminates them. And we, the reader, don't know who gives him his assignments.
Dr. Graham Kilburn, an infectious disease specialist in Vancouver, is helpless to treat his patients who are dying from a bacterial infection that resists all medications. A former classmate of Horton, he contacts her and by illegal means, manages to get some samples of her antibiotic that are undergoing testing. The antibiotic works.
Homicide detective Seth Cohen is called to investigate a shooting in a Portland, Oregon slum and sees the death of a junkie who had received a free but contaminated drug from Tyler.
Dr. Catalina Lopez, who works for the Center of Disease Control, is alerted to the rise of a possible epidemic of bacterial resistant infections, first found among addicts but spreading to others. Her job is to investigate the source of the infection.
The turn of events draws Kilburn, Cohen, and Lopez together in their pursuit of the culprit responsible for starting the epidemic, and they must determine whether the bacteria is natural or manufactured. And if created in a lab, where?
Tension mounts when deaths include not only those succumbing to infection but also the loss of scientists, by so-called accident or suicide. And our team of three heroes face mounting threats to their own lives. I feared for their survival. During explosive action, the plot takes a twist that caught me by surprise.
The smooth, well-organized writing, the fast action, the grounded plot, made me want to read it in one setting. And to give it 5 stars. However certain details niggled. As marvelous as the writing is, it is uneven. For example, all eyes in the first half of the book are gray. One of the characters tends to grunt out his sentences, and once he even whistles them. That's quite an accomplishment. Also, I never could figure out why Tyler buys a fishing rod and other gear, only to bury them at the bottom of a lake. I also felt some of the wit, and I do love wit, is forced. And the ending seemed to present the writer with difficulty. He finally ends it on a sweet note, which is pleasant but left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.
Nevertheless, I like the three team characters and am glad they are not the typical Nordic gods and goddesses. The author's medical knowledge is impressive and satisfying. That Tyler is one of the point of view characters, adds great tension to the drama.
If I come across another novel by Kalla, would I read it? Definitely.
Let's start with Dr. Ellen Horton. A troubled genius, she has developed an antibiotic that promises to destroy any superbug that's resistant to all other medications. But she's troubled by its possible side-affects and that she must keep the knowledge a secret within the company she works for.
It doesn't take many junkies to spread their disease to others. Dennis Tyler, which is his latest alias, hands out free drug samples to junkies in various West Coast cities. He neither knows nor cares what contaminates them. And we, the reader, don't know who gives him his assignments.
Dr. Graham Kilburn, an infectious disease specialist in Vancouver, is helpless to treat his patients who are dying from a bacterial infection that resists all medications. A former classmate of Horton, he contacts her and by illegal means, manages to get some samples of her antibiotic that are undergoing testing. The antibiotic works.
Homicide detective Seth Cohen is called to investigate a shooting in a Portland, Oregon slum and sees the death of a junkie who had received a free but contaminated drug from Tyler.
Dr. Catalina Lopez, who works for the Center of Disease Control, is alerted to the rise of a possible epidemic of bacterial resistant infections, first found among addicts but spreading to others. Her job is to investigate the source of the infection.
The turn of events draws Kilburn, Cohen, and Lopez together in their pursuit of the culprit responsible for starting the epidemic, and they must determine whether the bacteria is natural or manufactured. And if created in a lab, where?
Tension mounts when deaths include not only those succumbing to infection but also the loss of scientists, by so-called accident or suicide. And our team of three heroes face mounting threats to their own lives. I feared for their survival. During explosive action, the plot takes a twist that caught me by surprise.
The smooth, well-organized writing, the fast action, the grounded plot, made me want to read it in one setting. And to give it 5 stars. However certain details niggled. As marvelous as the writing is, it is uneven. For example, all eyes in the first half of the book are gray. One of the characters tends to grunt out his sentences, and once he even whistles them. That's quite an accomplishment. Also, I never could figure out why Tyler buys a fishing rod and other gear, only to bury them at the bottom of a lake. I also felt some of the wit, and I do love wit, is forced. And the ending seemed to present the writer with difficulty. He finally ends it on a sweet note, which is pleasant but left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.
Nevertheless, I like the three team characters and am glad they are not the typical Nordic gods and goddesses. The author's medical knowledge is impressive and satisfying. That Tyler is one of the point of view characters, adds great tension to the drama.
If I come across another novel by Kalla, would I read it? Definitely.
August 11, 2020
Terrific thriller
Great read. The book was prescient in setting the scene for a pandemic - and here we are with Covid-19 today. The science was solid and the plot and final twist were terrific.
Great read. The book was prescient in setting the scene for a pandemic - and here we are with Covid-19 today. The science was solid and the plot and final twist were terrific.
March 26, 2023
I was so disappointed in this book. I really enjoyed We All Fall Down by Daniel Kalla and while I was trying to get a copy of Pandemic I thought this would be a fun read in the meantime. There is terrible transphobia and tired misogyny, but mainly the extent of the dialogue-driven plot is too distracting to the story The dialogue is just plain unnatural. How often do you say the name of the person you’re talking to in a conversation. “Daniel this isn’t how people talk”. Him: “But I thought it is, Gudrun.” “No sorry it doesn’t work for me, Daniel. I am afraid I have to go back to my Lee Child paperbacks Daniel because they have not been transphobic so far in the 15+ that I’ve read to date. Daniel. And the trademark refrain in those books is ‘Reacher said nothing.’”
I read to the end because as a plot it was compelling enough to want to find out how it ended but the constant stretches of dialogue would make me cringe. I think that he has certainly evolved as a writer and the dialogue in We All Fall Down which was written more recently didn’t stand out as so awkward. I wish there was more focus on the plot and the action which was was interesting and suspenseful without so much exposition in the characters verbal exchanges.
I read to the end because as a plot it was compelling enough to want to find out how it ended but the constant stretches of dialogue would make me cringe. I think that he has certainly evolved as a writer and the dialogue in We All Fall Down which was written more recently didn’t stand out as so awkward. I wish there was more focus on the plot and the action which was was interesting and suspenseful without so much exposition in the characters verbal exchanges.
August 26, 2024
As so often happens recently, I read the e-book which is not listed.
Kalla is the master of medical murder scenarios. His many years as an ER specialist gives him all the information he needs to make hospital scenes and medical/political intrigue believable and tense.
In this one, a company has developed a new antibiotic that claims to work where all others have failed. Strangely, just in time for a new plague to hit the streets that exactly fits that description. The fast-spreading plague is cured only by this new antibiotic which has not yet been FDA approved, but is still undergoing human testing. And the pharm company is hiding a huge secret.
Then people start dying. The people who developed the antibiotic.
A really good read.
Kalla is the master of medical murder scenarios. His many years as an ER specialist gives him all the information he needs to make hospital scenes and medical/political intrigue believable and tense.
In this one, a company has developed a new antibiotic that claims to work where all others have failed. Strangely, just in time for a new plague to hit the streets that exactly fits that description. The fast-spreading plague is cured only by this new antibiotic which has not yet been FDA approved, but is still undergoing human testing. And the pharm company is hiding a huge secret.
Then people start dying. The people who developed the antibiotic.
A really good read.
April 28, 2018
In this book the good doctor must stop a raging infection from spread in some of the most vunerable communities of his city. An unscrupulous drug company has a new miracle drug but needs to get it fast tracked by the FDA, even though it has serious side-effects. So create a new lethal contagious disease. Your skin will crawl and you will never look at a hospital waiting room the same again.
November 23, 2017
Great thriller
October 28, 2020
Moved along quickly. I liked the chapters with the various locations that made this so. Good story, especially in these times.
July 20, 2021
This was the first for me by the Daniel Kalla. I hope I do not have to wait long for the next book.
August 23, 2023
Story was interesting, but the writing was choppy.
February 12, 2009
If you enjoy scary medical thrillers, this one will take you on an unforgettable roller coaster ride. Daniel Kalla has given us a shockingly realistic novel that explores what could happen if an ultra resistant bacterium immune to all known antibiotics was released into the general population.
When an ultra resistant form of group "A" strep is spreading like wildfire throughout hospitals in Seattle, Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest, doctors are seemingly helpless and can only watch as their patients die one after the other. Dr Catalina Lopez and Dr Graham Kilburn join forces trying in some way to halt the growing epidemic. Unknown to them, there is a conspiracy to spread the disease and an overwhelming desire to stop at nothing....
Kalla has created many strong characters and a large cast of interesting secondary ones. The scenario is action packed full of surprising twits and the writing shines with medical and scientific expertise.
On the other hand....If you have the sniffles, this story could leave you suffering from hypochondria
When an ultra resistant form of group "A" strep is spreading like wildfire throughout hospitals in Seattle, Vancouver and the Pacific Northwest, doctors are seemingly helpless and can only watch as their patients die one after the other. Dr Catalina Lopez and Dr Graham Kilburn join forces trying in some way to halt the growing epidemic. Unknown to them, there is a conspiracy to spread the disease and an overwhelming desire to stop at nothing....
Kalla has created many strong characters and a large cast of interesting secondary ones. The scenario is action packed full of surprising twits and the writing shines with medical and scientific expertise.
On the other hand....If you have the sniffles, this story could leave you suffering from hypochondria
June 22, 2013
The cons: (bad news first, hey?)
Two-dimensional characters
Writing has much room to grow and breathe
Plot coordination could use some evolving
Storyline at times feels rushed
Two-dimensional characters (big gripe of mine)
The pros:
Interesting plot line
Conceivably realistic
Medical terminology is easily explained
Emphasizes a critical flaw in medical care here in the America's that' long bothered me
Bottom line is that it's an alright read in between books when your authors are taking forever and a day to produce more in a series you're keen on. I have given Kalla two chances now and I don't think I'll be giving another.
Two-dimensional characters
Writing has much room to grow and breathe
Plot coordination could use some evolving
Storyline at times feels rushed
Two-dimensional characters (big gripe of mine)
The pros:
Interesting plot line
Conceivably realistic
Medical terminology is easily explained
Emphasizes a critical flaw in medical care here in the America's that' long bothered me
Bottom line is that it's an alright read in between books when your authors are taking forever and a day to produce more in a series you're keen on. I have given Kalla two chances now and I don't think I'll be giving another.
December 11, 2013
What can I say? Another fantastic book from Daniel Kalla. Probably my favorite aspect of his writing is how he manages to involve characters from different locales and different occupations and it ALL makes sense. You're not left wondering if you accidentally skipped a page somewhere. Not only that but it's good to read a medical thriller that is realistic and based in some fact. As opposed to some of the ridiculousness you read and see on tv. Resistance is well written with a terribly unnerving, realistic plot- enjoy.
June 24, 2024
The plot had some interesting bits in it, and the ending/plot-twist had some potential. However, the overall story felt quite stretched out, the entire middle part felt pretty unnecessary and repetitive, I don't feel like it contributed much to the story. And finally, the characters were two dimensional and entirely forgettable. I was entertained enough to read the whole book and not be bored by it, but i am pretty sure i will have forgotten everything about it in the next two days.
January 6, 2013
Very much like Daniel Kalla's other novels - full of detailed medical information, suspense, twists and turns. Definitely kept me interested all the way through and had a great ending that I didn't see coming! My only complaint is that there were too many characters, and all of them were good-looking. Aren't there any uglly people in the fields of medicine and microbiology?
August 26, 2010
Resistance was much better than Pandemic. The plot was interesting enough to keep me flipping the pages. Also, for a medical thriller, the characters, settings and so forth were well above average. A good choice for a summer afternoon.
September 12, 2010
This book is a medical supsense book similar to the genre of Robin Cook. It is about the emergence of a superbug that is resistant to antibiotics that is deliberatly released to the public...if you like medical scenarios this book will not disappoint.
August 28, 2013
I love medical thrillers. This author was unknown to me but the book exceeded my expectations.
December 13, 2013
Great thriller!
January 21, 2015
I quite enjoyed this book, it was really easy to read and the twist at the end really surprised me
February 3, 2016
Some new ideas here for me. A lab might "create" a bad virus in order to test out a new drug? Frightening, but the theme for this novel.
October 30, 2008
Not bad. It was good but I expected more.
April 19, 2017
Good fast read. Kalla kept the characters interesting...and love all the Vancouver nods!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews