Armageddon Strain

Laodicea Chronicles #2

by Sharon K. Gilbert

A plague has been unleashed that could lead to the end of the world. Dr. Maggie Taylor is in the midst of a vast conspiracy––a key player in the fight against a demonic plot to bring on Armageddon. Who can she trust? She must learn how her father's untimely death is linked to the deaths of nearly two dozen other scientists and the truth behind a doomsday weapon known only as the BioStrain chip. Will she discover the truth in time?

Genres: Christian, Thriller

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Peter Younghusband · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this novel in 2010 in paperback. Recently listened to the author talking on SkyWatch TV about the Mark of the Beast, which this novel is all about.

The first half is a bit slow, as Gilbert sets the stage for everything that is to come. Once you get to this halfway mark, it revs up and everything falls into place.

This novel is not so much about how society manages the increasing spread of the virus but what are the hidden agendas behind it and its reason for being. This is where the cloak and dagger type scenario takes place. Gilbert spends time explaining what this man-made virus will do and how it is to be sold to the world's population and ties in nicely the Biblically background to it.

I enjoyed it immensely but am very disappointed as this is the first in a series (The Countdown) and this series is in a greater series of novels by Gilbert and her husband, Derek, but the publisher cancelled The Countdown series and the other books that it fits into have not been continued either.

There were to be nine books in this greater series (the other two in The Countdown series are not included in this greater series). I have four in the recommended reading list of this greater series but now cannot continue past these four as the remaining 5 have been abandoned.

I am looking forward to reading Sharon Gilbert's The Redwin Saga which now has 6 books and counting!

Glad to have finally read this novel that I had so been looking forward to reading but bittersweet that it ends here as the series was discontinued.

However, this novel does end nicely so I could leave it with some closure and treat it as a standalone.

[Beckie Hines · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my 2nd time reading this book. I enjoyed it the 1st time and kept it in my library. Reading it the 2nd time, amidst the COVID outbreak, is kind of freaky. There is no parallel btwn this bk and COVID. However, like the characters in the book There is some mistrust btwn health agencies and the govt. Although China claims the outbreak came from a bat my intuition says otherwise. My opinion. Is there an "Andy Pandy" around nowadays? I believe so but not in the dragon form.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing second book in the series! I can’t wait for book 3!

[Nikson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this before I go to sleep, and I always get a good sleep. The plot moves too fast that there is barely any description for the action scenes. But towards the end, the supernatural twist was really intriguing, and I would like to read the sequel, if I could get my hands on it (at a bargain) :)

[Tina L. Hecke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent

I've become a major fan of Sharon K. Gilbert. I love her books, unfortunately I've read them all and now must wait for her to finish writing more. I highly recommend giving her work a chance for yourself!

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eh.... To be honest, I couldn't finish the book. The basic plot of the book actually isn't half bad, but... It definitely is not my cup of tea.

[Pj Szynski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick, fun read.