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Vampire Chimeras
From flooded refugee camps in Thailand to posh gourmet restaurants in Maryland; from corporate boardrooms to cholera camps in Bengal; from US Naval bases to Maya ruins in the jungles of Central America; Vampire Chimeras carries you along on its tense roller coaster plot. How will Dr. Diana Rigsby, a seasoned medical researcher and physician, stop a rampaging hemorrhagic fever threatening the lives of those she loves….especially if it arose out of something she may have created.
Not just a medical thriller, Vampire Chimeras is filled with cutting edge science, backing plausible plot twists, spun out as a multiply layered moral play, providing lots of points of debate. It's filled with metaphors forcing the reader to ask, who/what are the real Vampires? The Chimeras?
PG13 Rated
Exerpts of comments from the Beta Readers:
"I just finished reading it and absolutely loved it! I though the plot was very gripping -- there's a little bit of everything: action, romance, science, conspiracy, tragedy... Your main character is very relatable," - a recent college grad, analyst
"Wow. The cover is fantastic!!!" - a retiree
“A page-turning thriller delineating how Man’s avariciousness turned a tiny virus to a covetous vampire; and nature going hand in hand with science giving a big shot to the mother mosquito " - a biotech researcher
"Best of all, it has this great pickup line for the Navy crowd!" - an Annapolis dude
"Well, you got me hooked. I read your book all in one sitting. The overall plot and the science behind it are great. I really like how you incorporated the quotes from Anne Rice and the songs." - a physician
"I loved the science and the military influences." - a research nurse
"As I was reading it, I thought to myself, 'this would make a great screenplay'." - a physician
"Excellent theme and narrative." - a physician
"Just finished reading the VC ebook in one sitting. It was quite dramatic, but I enjoyed the read! The science at the beginning ties into the continuing drama of the disease very well." - a chemist
"Love the novel! I liked the interplay of the restaurant menu as well as the use of email and skype technologies for parts of the dialogue." - a physician
"It is carefully written, and those who read it will learn all that you are trying to teach." - a science librarian
"The story line and characters are very interesting, and the jokes are good." - a military officer
"I read it and it’s brilliant. I find no problems with the love scenes and the humor makes me laugh. You’ve got a winner on your hands!" - a science fiction writer
"Just finished your novel.....Congratulations on creating and getting it published. Fantastic...I want more…!" - a Thai businessman
"I liked it. I thought that the story line was interesting…" - retired rocket scientist
Not just a medical thriller, Vampire Chimeras is filled with cutting edge science, backing plausible plot twists, spun out as a multiply layered moral play, providing lots of points of debate. It's filled with metaphors forcing the reader to ask, who/what are the real Vampires? The Chimeras?
PG13 Rated
Exerpts of comments from the Beta Readers:
"I just finished reading it and absolutely loved it! I though the plot was very gripping -- there's a little bit of everything: action, romance, science, conspiracy, tragedy... Your main character is very relatable," - a recent college grad, analyst
"Wow. The cover is fantastic!!!" - a retiree
“A page-turning thriller delineating how Man’s avariciousness turned a tiny virus to a covetous vampire; and nature going hand in hand with science giving a big shot to the mother mosquito " - a biotech researcher
"Best of all, it has this great pickup line for the Navy crowd!" - an Annapolis dude
"Well, you got me hooked. I read your book all in one sitting. The overall plot and the science behind it are great. I really like how you incorporated the quotes from Anne Rice and the songs." - a physician
"I loved the science and the military influences." - a research nurse
"As I was reading it, I thought to myself, 'this would make a great screenplay'." - a physician
"Excellent theme and narrative." - a physician
"Just finished reading the VC ebook in one sitting. It was quite dramatic, but I enjoyed the read! The science at the beginning ties into the continuing drama of the disease very well." - a chemist
"Love the novel! I liked the interplay of the restaurant menu as well as the use of email and skype technologies for parts of the dialogue." - a physician
"It is carefully written, and those who read it will learn all that you are trying to teach." - a science librarian
"The story line and characters are very interesting, and the jokes are good." - a military officer
"I read it and it’s brilliant. I find no problems with the love scenes and the humor makes me laugh. You’ve got a winner on your hands!" - a science fiction writer
"Just finished your novel.....Congratulations on creating and getting it published. Fantastic...I want more…!" - a Thai businessman
"I liked it. I thought that the story line was interesting…" - retired rocket scientist
ebook
First published November 8, 2013
1 person is currently reading
249 people want to read
About the author
L.A. Kragie
1 book9 followersLaura Kragie M.D. is a Physician and Scientist whose research is published in many journals. But when writing fiction, she uses the pen name L.A. Kragie.
"Vampire Chimeras", is her first 'Crichtonesque' thriller novel, and it is also the name of the thriller book series. It is an international adventure story about a real life hemorrhagic fever that threatens 40% of the world's population and the cutting edge science being applied by heroes pursuing its cure. The Vampire Chimeras novels feature speculative science as a main character in the plot lines, and integrate it with the mythology of vampires, romantic suspense, financial conspiracies, military medical intelligence and global public health networks.
"Bat Cave" is the next book in the Vampire Chimeras med thriller series. COMING SOON.
Her creative nonfiction book, "Be the Rainbow * Bridge Heaven and Earth: How-to Manual for Integrating Alternative and Evidence-Based Medicine" proposes ways to approach the paradox of combining science with magical thinking in the pursuit of healing.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
from the author:
"Michael Crichton's "Andromeda Strain" inspired me to pursue medical research when I was just a young girl. And his exemplary life and work showed me how to write it all down and turn it into tense medical thrillers. It is my hope that "Vampire Chimeras" will also interest and encourage the reader to explore more of science and all its mysteries. Just paying it forward, Michael."
"Vampire Chimeras", is her first 'Crichtonesque' thriller novel, and it is also the name of the thriller book series. It is an international adventure story about a real life hemorrhagic fever that threatens 40% of the world's population and the cutting edge science being applied by heroes pursuing its cure. The Vampire Chimeras novels feature speculative science as a main character in the plot lines, and integrate it with the mythology of vampires, romantic suspense, financial conspiracies, military medical intelligence and global public health networks.
"Bat Cave" is the next book in the Vampire Chimeras med thriller series. COMING SOON.
Her creative nonfiction book, "Be the Rainbow * Bridge Heaven and Earth: How-to Manual for Integrating Alternative and Evidence-Based Medicine" proposes ways to approach the paradox of combining science with magical thinking in the pursuit of healing.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
from the author:
"Michael Crichton's "Andromeda Strain" inspired me to pursue medical research when I was just a young girl. And his exemplary life and work showed me how to write it all down and turn it into tense medical thrillers. It is my hope that "Vampire Chimeras" will also interest and encourage the reader to explore more of science and all its mysteries. Just paying it forward, Michael."
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 12, 2013
“A Page turning thriller delineating how Man’s avariciousness turned a tiny virus to a covetous vampire; and nature going hand in hand with science giving a big shot to the mother mosquito “
No one would ever anticipate such a tiny entity would jeopardize half of the world, being concealed within a blood sucker and having complete control of it.
The storyline revolves around a researcher, who makes a scientific approach for inventing a novel vaccine in eradication of the dreadful epidemic –DENGUE. Just when I thought the substantial invention couldn’t get any crazier, havoc outbreaks. Complications arise, when the first in human trial flees leaving the situation even more critical, introducing a deadly new virus serotype because of his live circulating virus within him, prior history of dengue and getting infected with a local dengue viral form.
As, a medical enthusiast, Chapter 18 interested me with the idea of implementing ankyrin repeat protein in consensus sequence and its adaptability in different hosts, usage of coconut water for the infection via the Murphy’s dip [old administered way] – Consummate Idea Indeed!!
Astonished!! The fact that the new discovery can definitely block the deadly form from passing onto the next generation
Several twists and turns in the plot make it interesting though in few chapters the reader is pulled off from the main frame. It also portrays the greediness of pharmaceutical market, company’s internal politics and flaws in the clinical trials.
No one would ever anticipate such a tiny entity would jeopardize half of the world, being concealed within a blood sucker and having complete control of it.
The storyline revolves around a researcher, who makes a scientific approach for inventing a novel vaccine in eradication of the dreadful epidemic –DENGUE. Just when I thought the substantial invention couldn’t get any crazier, havoc outbreaks. Complications arise, when the first in human trial flees leaving the situation even more critical, introducing a deadly new virus serotype because of his live circulating virus within him, prior history of dengue and getting infected with a local dengue viral form.
As, a medical enthusiast, Chapter 18 interested me with the idea of implementing ankyrin repeat protein in consensus sequence and its adaptability in different hosts, usage of coconut water for the infection via the Murphy’s dip [old administered way] – Consummate Idea Indeed!!
Astonished!! The fact that the new discovery can definitely block the deadly form from passing onto the next generation
Several twists and turns in the plot make it interesting though in few chapters the reader is pulled off from the main frame. It also portrays the greediness of pharmaceutical market, company’s internal politics and flaws in the clinical trials.
May 25, 2014
Top-notch Medical Thriller
I just finished reading Vampire Chimeras and really enjoyed it! The storyline and characters are engrossing, and the book is hard to put down. I especially liked all the technical details--medical and military--obviously written by an expert in the field. Nice work, Dr. Kragie!
I just finished reading Vampire Chimeras and really enjoyed it! The storyline and characters are engrossing, and the book is hard to put down. I especially liked all the technical details--medical and military--obviously written by an expert in the field. Nice work, Dr. Kragie!
March 22, 2015
This book had a very interesting angle to the "medical thriller" category. It was not very long, and had a simple storyline that could have been so much better. However, I do feel the medical and military jargon bogged it down excessively. While there was a glossary in the back, I do not think the average reader will want to break their reading to look up the numerous unknown words and terms. I have a good working knowledge of medical terminology thanks to college and having three uncles that are doctors, but after a while whatever I did not immediately understand I just skimmed over; I am sure I missed crucial information due to this, but I didn't want to stop reading to figure out what the heck the protagonist was talking about other than a general idea. Many of the military acronyms were treated the same way. Despite this, I did enjoy the base story a little. It was very simple and I would have liked to have read more to flesh out the characters a bit. But as a freshman effort it was a good start, but needs a better editor. I think for a more popular reception the story could use a bit more of a timeline and a lot less technical language. But for those in the medical field they might enjoy it as is for a quick, simple read that really doesn't challenge the mind much.
But for the vampire or other paranormal fan, please note this is not the book you think it is.
In compliance with FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Update: 3/2015: I re-read this and it is even worse the second time around. The story is too simple, yet overly complicated with the medical and military jargon. Almost as if the author was trying to impress the reader with home much she knows, to the detriment of the story. "Bones", this is not.
But for the vampire or other paranormal fan, please note this is not the book you think it is.
In compliance with FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Update: 3/2015: I re-read this and it is even worse the second time around. The story is too simple, yet overly complicated with the medical and military jargon. Almost as if the author was trying to impress the reader with home much she knows, to the detriment of the story. "Bones", this is not.
December 4, 2013
Author here. Would love your feedback!
May 28, 2015
I found all the song lyrics very distracting and annoying. If it wasn't for them I would have given it 4 stars.
December 3, 2013
Author here, would love your feedback!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews