Deadout

Detective Doyle Carrick #2

by Jon McGoran

A trip to an island off the New England coast—and away from the demands of police work—might be just what is needed to jumpstart Detective Doyle Carrick and Nola Watkins' stalled relationship. But a mysterious plague is killing the island's bees. Nola takes a job at an organic farm hit hard by the disease, working for the rich, handsome, and annoying Teddy, with whom she quickly becomes a little too friendly for Doyle's liking. When Teddy's estranged father offers Doyle a big payday to keep his son out of trouble until he can close a big government contract—and when Doyle meets Annalisa, a beautiful researcher studying the bees—Doyle decides to stick around.

Stoma Corporation, a giant biotech company, moves in with genetically modified super bees that supposedly are the answer to the world's bee crisis. As tension grows between protestors and a private army of thugs, Doyle realizes that bees aren't the only thing being modified. Annalisa's coworkers start to go missing, and she and Doyle uncover a dark, deadly, and terrifying secret. Things spin violently out of control on the tiny island, and when Doyle closes in on what Stoma Corporation is really up to, he must race to stop them before their plot succeeds, and spreads to the mainland and the world.
Deadout is the thrilling follow-up to McGoran's highly acclaimed novel, Drift.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

400 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2014

About the author

Jon McGoran is the author of ten novels, including Spliced, Splintered and Spiked, a trilogy of near-future YA science fiction thrillers from Holiday House Books.Spliced was named to the ALA’s Library Information Technology Association (LITA) inaugural 2018 LITA Excellence in Children’s and Young Adult Science Fiction Notable Lists and was also named one of the American Bookseller’s Association’s 2017 ABC Best Books for Young Readers. The sequel, Splintered, comes out May 2019. His other books include the acclaimed ecological thrillers Drift, Deadout, and Dust Up, from Tor/Forge Books, and The Dead Ring, based on the hit TV show, The Blacklist. Writing as D. H. Dublin, he is the author of the forensic thrillers Body Trace, Blood Poison and Freezer Burn, from Penguin Books. His short fiction includes stories in the recent anthologies Hardboiled Horror and Joe Ledger: Unstoppable, as well as the novella “After Effects,” from Amazon StoryFront; Bad Debt, which received an honorable mention in Best American Mystery Stories 2014; and stories in a variety of other anthologies. He is a founding member of the Philadelphia Liars Club, a group of published authors dedicated to writers helping writers. When not writing novels and short fiction, McGoran works as a freelance writer and developmental editor and co-host of the writing podcast The Liars Club Oddcast. Find him on Twitter at @JonMcGoran, facebook.com/jonmcgoran/ or at www.jonmcgoran.com. Or visit www.spliced.world and splice yourself!

Reviews

[Shelby *trains flying monkeys* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doyle Carrick and his girlfriend Nola's relationship has gotten somewhat stale. They take a weekend trip to Martha's Vineyard. She ends up working for a bigger farm there for a jack ass rich boy.

Pure entertainment is what this book is.

Stuff I didn't like about this book
Sometimes it seemed over the top with what was going on with the bees. I know we need them. I'm a granola girlie myself. It just seemed extreme at times in this story.


Sometimes...well it was cheesy. Entertaining but still had that cheese factor.

What I like about it
Frigging Doyle Carrick...

I crushed bad on him. Part asshole..part hero..frigging rocked.

Letting people know how bad Monsanto Stoma is. GMO's, genetically modifying pisses me off. I hate they have so much control and this book does an good job of making you very scared on just how far they will go.

I have to pick up the first in this series now. Doyle takes on GMO's in that book too. I think Captain Planet might just get a run for his money with this guy.



I received an arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's clear that a lot of research went into this book (as it did with Drift) but McGoran's talent is in making you forget that and just have fun reading. I guess this has to be classified as "thriller" (it even says so right on the cover) and although it is fast-paced I just feel like there is so much more to the story line. The characters have honest, believable reactions to events. The dialogue flows perfectly without feeling stilted.

As a beekeeper I only took issue with one fact (the papery nest)and found the rest completely plausible and well-researched. In fact, everything going on in this book is probably actually happening on some level!

The local Philly stuff is fun, and I imagine so are the Martha's Vineyard references if you are familiar with that area (I am not.)

My only complaint was that I kept getting hung up on the cars. Why did Carrick leave his in the ferry lot to begin with? Then we've got two or three rentals, a few stolen/borrowed vehicles... Anyway - for some reason I found that to be a distraction. Certainly not enough to dampen my enjoyment of the book but it just needled me a bit.

I would recommend reading Drift first, although Deadout certainly stands on it's own, to get the full measure of Doyle Carrick.

Looking forward to a possible third adventure. I hope it's about fracking....

[Gloria Feit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A three-day visit to Martha’s Vineyard to visit an old friend who is working there, keeping track of bees needed to pollinate crops, turns out to be more than Philadelphia detective Doyle Carrick and his girlfriend, Nola, probably bargained for. They discover the bee population is fast disappearing and the cause is a mystery. Nola gets a job manually pollinating plants on a farm and Doyle ends up hanging around, then becoming embroiled in helping to solve the situation.

A lesser plot is the love interest: Doyle and Nola’s hot-and-cold relationship; her association with the young, handsome employer, making Doyle jealous; and his relationship with a beautiful female scientist, raising an equal emotion in Nola. Of course, both these other characters play a vital role in the main plot.

The action is fast and furious, and the plot moves forward at a rapid pace. And to boot, there are additional facets to complicate the reader’s progress, including high stakes corporate machinations. (And we probably learn more about bees and genetics than we ever wished.)

Recommended.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent follow-up to McGoran's DRIFT. Great characters, some with attitude, all with personality and dimension. I look forward to more!

[Tomasz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is on me - shouldn't have bought the entire trilogy before reading volume 1. As it is, the more I read, the more it appeared to me like a treatment for (appropriately younger) Steven Seagal direct-to-video movie. In the previous instalment, the grumpy douchebag saved the world and got the girl - here the grumpy douchebag saves the world AGAIN (the very words are used, because, obviously, Martha's Vineyard is exactly where you go to save the world) and keeps the girl (and enjoys hot tonsil-on-tonsil action with another one, because hey, Steven Seagal (also, remember the Lukashenka carrots, healthy veggies all the way)). The "science" in this volume is even more hand-wavey than in the previous one, and the trend to store massively dangerous insects, mites, and chemicals in thoroughly unsuitable containers is, idk, very American?

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Deadout" by Jon McGoran which I won from Goodreads Giveaways is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller than begins in Martha's Vineyard Cape Cod where Detective Doyle Carrick has taken his girlfriend Nola Watkins for the weekend hoping to rekindle their troubled relationship. But Doyle's problems have just begun. Honey bees have begun disappearing on the island and a biotech company, Stoma Corporation has promised to replenish the hives with genetically engineered bees antagonizing local farmers and environmentalists. As violence begins to escalate between protesters and armed corporate mercenaries Teddy Renfrew the owner of a local organic farm hires Nola to work for him. Wanting to protect her and hold on to the sizeable pay cheque he accepted to keep tabs on Ted's activities, Doyle begins to dig for clues to a puzzle that's linked to the death of two researchers.

The tantalizing plot is well-developed and convincing especially as scientists today report that the bee population is slowly diminishing. Embedded with wit and humor he creates an imaginative and unique plot where nature's honey bees are dying and genetic bees are being touted as the saviors of mankind's food supply. In a roller-coaster ride of events that take Doyle from one hair-raising confrontation to another, Jon McGoran weaves a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last. The plot quickly builds tension and intrigue never losing momentum, and culminates in a shocking conclusion.

Doyle Carrick is a tough, no-nonsense and dogged detective who's insecure about his relationship with Nola and attracted to the beautiful and tenacious researcher Dr. Amanda Parr who wants to unravel the mystery of the deadouts- the dead bees. Nola Watkins an organic farmer with a chemical sensitivity struggles with her negative feelings about Doyle's job and wants to distance herself from him for awhile taking a job working for the rich, spoiled and charming Ted Renfew. But with violence brewing, the genetically altered bees becoming more and more aggressive, and Ted Renfrew plotting with mercenary thugs, Doyle decides to stay and work with Sergeant Jimmy Frank, a trustworthy, ethical and resourceful cop to solve the mystery of the deadouts and the deaths. All these characters and more add power, energy and drama to this exciting and captivating story.

With clever dexterity Jon McGoran blends murder, felony, vandalism, and the destruction of nature's honey producers into an entertaining and mesmerizing thriller with a dose of science fiction. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more books by this up-and-coming author.

[Marsha Hubbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Doyle Carrick series (“Drift” and now “Deadout”) is unusual in that not only does Philadelphia narcotics detective Carrick throw an action-packed punch, but the series is also successful as ecological and biotech thrillers. Author John McGoran has found a way to bring the ever-growing problems around sustainable and urban agriculture, genetically modified foods, the frightening decline of bees and collapse of hives, etc. to the forefront. In “Deadout” McGoran once again takes readers on a suspenseful and dangerous ride into the dark and the deadly, the corrupt and the greedy, and dares us not to learn a little something along the way. I’m seriously hooked and can’t wait to see what’s ahead for Doyle and his environmentalist girlfriend Nola Watkins.

[Lawrence Verigin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second book featuring many of the same cast of characters, Deadout, is tighter than the first book, Drift. Detective Doyle Carrick, returns as the protagonist and is the typical tough cop that has a heart too. This time he takes on the very real problem of bee colony collapse. I really enjoyed how the story unfolded, the twists and turns and how it tied up in the end. It was good how the huge and evil GMO/chemical companies had faces to them by including the men who ran them as characters.
Mr. McGoran does a great job of entertaining the reader, while educating them about a real challenge facing the world today.
Well worth the read.
Lawrence Verigin, author of, Dark Seed

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast-paced, well thought out book from McGoran. Lots of research must have gone into this one and you can definitely tell. Probably just an issue for me, but my only criticism is with the number of times needing/getting coffee was mentioned. We got it, the only way Doyle could possibly go on with his day was with a cup of joe. Obviously a very minor complaint in an otherwise really great read.

[Camilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I liked McGoran's first book, Drift, a bit better but, in Deadout, his likable character Doyle Carrick is still figuring out his relationship and stumbling onto eco-disasters. This time, it's the potential demise of the bee colonies on Martha's Vineyard. Be prepared to hear a lot of information about bees, and to let the sometimes-over-the-top action unfold. A fun read and, like Drift, scarily possible.

[Rory Costello · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jon McGoran's got himself a nice niche with these eco-thrillers. They are breezy and fun, with topical relevance today, and the level of science is just right. The main character, Carrick, is tough without being a cartoon superhero. He definitely comes across as a real person with foibles (especially with the women in his life). This is a well-plotted adventure that makes good use of its Martha's Vineyard setting, and it also boasts a good supporting cast.

[Anita Yancey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting, witty, fast paced page turner. With interesting characters and events you have to read to believe.

[Ron F.]

I can't wait to read this! Loved the first book -five stars.

[Ed Howland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good characters opening up some very current issues. Seem to be well researched. Stories are interesting and move right along. Hard to put down.

[Irl Newham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good up-to-date plot.

[Athena Shardbearer]

DO WANT....only because Marc Vietor narrates the book. LOVE HIM!

[Judah Kosterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An indefatigable and nearly indestructible hero, lots of straight-forward and instinctual action, attractive members of the opposite sex, and the guy trying to take over the world. “Dead Out” by Jon McGoran – the second in the Doyle Carrick series – has all of these, plus a science-based mystery wrapped inside.
Doyle, a Philly cop with PSTD issues, finds himself on Martha’s Vineyard, lending a hand to a buddy with a bee monitoring program and helping whip-smart scientist Annalisa figure out why the island’s honeybee population is crashing. Doyle’s chemically sensitive horticulturist girlfriend, Nola, joins the island’s organic farmers. Island-rich-kid-cum-eco-terrorist Teddy Renfrew’s pissing match over bees imported by reality-TV-star-cum-farmer Johnny Blue turns violent. Doyle gets pulled into it, attracting the attention of Jimmy (the island’s only competent and honest cop) and Renfrew Senior (who hires Doyle as Teddy’s new minder). The closer Doyle and company get to the “what” of the bee crisis, the more black-ops thugs show up, the more shots are fired Doyle’s direction, and the more people associated with the bees start disappearing. The “what” leads to the “who” behind the genetically altered import bees, and a race to stop the threat before it spreads. Conspiracy theorists and revenge junkies alike will be satisfied with the ending.
Beyond an enhanced plot, other pluses are little gems of scenes like Doyle’s anguished flashback to observing a captive bee to death as a kid, and acknowledging Nola’s illness to be as much mental/emotional as physical. Another plus – a few delightfully gray personalities (Teddy, and a wisecracking sniper) who stand out against the black-and-white stock footage of minor characters. There’s also an implied promise of future Jimmy and Annalisa pairings, which would be welcome.
On the minus side, Nola appears here only as object (of desire, frustration, or pity) or plot device (her chemical sensitivities drive the setting). And there are some troubling repetitions early on, like Doyle’s exact thoughts spoken aloud by another character mere paragraphs later, or the multiple, similar explanations of Nola’s illness.
Overall, though, this is a ripped-from-recent-headlines story by an author with a lot of promise.

[Dawn Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jon McGoran’s ecothriller Deadout is riddled with gun fire, fights, cars, romance, and bees. This testosterone and pheromone-filled story nods to the classic cop drama while educating on the importance of bees to our survival.
I enjoyed riding in Detective Doyle Carrick’s first-person narrative. His splashes of humor balanced the seriousness of issues that forced me to contemplate parallel real possibilities. It also inspired me to research more information on GMOs and colony collapse, something I had never heard of.
Just the promise of a Philadelphia cop in Martha’s Vineyard on an attempted vacation was enticing enough to start reading. Once in, I was pulled along fast and didn’t want to jump out of Doyle’s voice, which reminds me of a friend you’re willing to get into trouble with for the exhilarating experience.
McGoran’s main cop, and an incident reminiscent of Sylvester Stallone’s movie character Rambo, made this Philly-grown girl feel right at home. Dust Up is on deck for my next Doyle Carrick read.

[Billi Haug · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had enjoyed other books by McGoran but I can't say that this one was worth the time spent on it. Way too drawn out and tedious.

[Rick Vickers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book kept me reading it till the end. Lots of excitement and mystery. Plus a few lessons in the nature of bees and how they help farmers grow their crops.

[lee rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doyle does it again

Enjoyed Book2 a lot and the further adventure of all of the characters. Well written and learned about bees! Will continue the series.

[Tuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mashup of gmo multinational companies with toughguy/good guy all around indestructible cop-hero, trouble with dames, and powers that be. The interest is honey bee hive collapse, trying to 1. Figure out both why mites are killing so many bees and 2. Colony collapse, where the bees leave to go work, but never come back and 3. Make a transgenic bee that can withstand the mite problem, and thus at least not be all killed by the mite, though it does not solve the colony collapse, as no one really knows why this is happening.
So, the gmo multinational company has the bright idea to also make a transgenic mite that kills all the native bees and thus provides a market for their transgenic honey bees, BEE PLUS tm.
Mayhem ensues. All set on marthas vineyard. But at 400 pages this thin story goes onnon.
Quote from page 325
““Then it was just him and me. He stood there with his back to me. I had the feeling he was trying to lure me out, and I was planning a move, wondering if I could close the distance between us without making any noise. He seemed the kind of grizzled vet who could silently disembowel you using a library card.”

[Christopher Thomasson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received Dead Out as a Goodreads giveaway winner. To be perfectly honest, with the plot of the story revolving around the disappearance of bees, I never would have thought that I'd actually be interested in a book like this...but surprisingly, I enjoyed it very much. Of course, there's more behind the plot of the story besides just the disappearance of bees, but you'll have to read it for yourself to find out about that...

There were a few instances of irrational behavior by a couple of characters that I found a little annoying and distracting. Also, the main characters relationship flip-flopped so often that that I found it hard to believe that they were still together by the end of the book. I know, I know...relationships can be like that sometimes, I just found it slightly distracting, but by no means did it distract from the pace of the story.

Over all, Dead Out was a great story that I would recommend to anyone who likes a good thriller.

[Judy Pancoast · Rating 5 out of 5]

McGoran's books scare me in a real way, when I think that the things he describes are not beyond happening in real life. He brings gravitas to my generation's advertising slogan, "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature." If you want to go on eating your corn and your honey and all your other "good for you" foods without worry, do not read this book. But if you think the real horror in life could be lurking in your cereal bowl then you'll love Jon McGoran's stories.
Doyle Carrick is a hero I can definitely enjoy following. Bring on the next environmental disaster, Mr McGoran... My spoon and I will be waiting!

[John Langan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff from Jon McGoran again... A fine follow-up to "Drift". Once again, McGoran mixes great action and suspense with a healthy dose of eco-responsibility. And I'm really loving Doyle Carrick, a swashbuckling Philly cop who delivers punches and punch lines while protecting those who need him, and isn't too busy to learn something. Can't wait to see what's next for him, Nola and Moose... I'd love to see his next adventure take place in Philadelphia!

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book because it was set in Martha's Vineyard, which I know well. So I had low expectations but ended up really enjoying the book! Fast, fun read. The mystery around the bees was a little hard to follow (too much science or just muddled science? Don't know which.) I liked the detective; the girlfriend character was a not well portrayed, kind of cartoonish. A little overly PC but basically self-aware.

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent environmental thriller!

Mom McGoren has written an environmental thriller that hits all the numbers. Just a great book. Interesting characters. Terrific plot. Unique story. Also, attention to technical detail. I highly recommend this book.

[Felix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast moving. A great concept with likable characters.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar to Drift, a thriller with ecological underpinnings. Not bad, but not great.