The Panacea Project

by Catherine Devore Johnson

A timely exploration of bodily autonomy set in a classic medical thriller

Calla Hammond has always been a loner—a product of the foster system and avoided by others because of a skin condition. When doctors discover her immune system holds the key to curing cancer, she struggles to advance lifesaving research in a world that sees her only as a means to an end. Yet along the way, Calla gains the one thing she has always longed a chosen family.

When a group of unscrupulous people join forces to sell Calla’s blood to the highest bidder, she digs deep to find the strength to retake control of her life, her body, and her story.

The Panacea Project is a layered examination of self-sacrifice, implicit bias, and the juxtaposition of bodily autonomy with high-stakes capitalism—for those who love fiercely strong characters and deep themes infused with heartwarming moments of love and humor.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Mystery, Book Club, Audiobook, Thriller Suspense

Audible Audio

Published February 28, 2023

About the author

Catherine Devore Johnson was born in Chicago and raised in Texas, with a short sojourn on the East Coast for college. A former attorney, she now works as a writer and editor for a children’s hospital. She lives in Houston, Texas and when she isn’t writing or haunting one of her favorite coffee houses (or, even better, writing in one of her favorite coffee houses), Catherine loves spending time with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Susan Tunis · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. So, despite the fact that this novel is ridiculous, I found it pretty darn entertaining. The story involves a young woman whose body and genetics just may hold the potential for a cure to cancer.

Now, I used the word "ridiculous" above, and I don't mean to be cruel or dismissive, but every element of this plot was either a bit over-the-top or somewhat dumbed-down. Ms. Johnson is a capable storyteller, but Michael Crichton, she's not. Don't come into this looking for a ton of verisimilitude or, like, any science or medicine at all. Or fleshed out or realistic characters.

But, the thing is, her approach allows for swift and compelling storytelling. Nothing bogged down this tale, and it was very, very readable. And the other thing is, despite my comments above, there's a lot of food for thought here. A book club could, for sure, have a lively discussion. The fact that the protagonist's body had huge medical value put me in mind of the very true story of Henrietta Lacks. One could definitely argue that Lacks' story was "over-the-top," and it was completely true. And as crazy as some of the things that happen in this book are, I'm not entirely sure that this isn't exactly how things would go down. The world is a crazy place!

I guess my comments in this review are less about dissuading anyone from reading the book than they are about setting realistic expectations. This was a slightly guilty pleasure, but it was a pleasure nonetheless!

[Chuck Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Victory Editing for the ARC of this title. This story about one young woman's journey after discovering that her blood contains the cure for cancer. I ranked this title a 4/5 overall even though the story is a tad predictable due to the emotions that Catherine Devore Johnson was able to relay into her story. I wish that humanity would not act in such a manner when the actual cure for cancer is discovered, but I fear it would transpire pretty much exactly how things did in this book.

But this was a well written story overall that I really did enjoy reading!

[Imara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've received an advanced digital copy of this book, courtesy of the author and publisher, via Netgalley, for review, but all of the thoughts expressed are my own. This book was a nice glass of mid. It wasn’t life changing, but it wasn’t bad either. It feels like it was miscategorized as a mystery/thriller (it felt more like a romance minus the typical HEA) and it also felt like it was written by a person who has gone to the grey’s anatomy school of medicine, and has never done a clinical trial/experiment. I, have, and I was wondering why they weren’t paying to begin with, as well as other factors that the IRB would never allow. I read the reviews and they spoke about a plot twist, I guess I was thinking too logically/ I’m a pessimist and I saw it coming.

The book was an easy read due to the writing style, which some may find elementary (and it did lack depth that I wanted for such a controversial topic), but it was enjoyable.

The topic was indicative of Henrietta Lacks, so I wish there was a conversation about that. I’m not sure what race the MC was, but I did wonder throughout how it would be handled if she was black and the racial implications.

Lastly, there were a few spelling errors, mikes instead of mics, is one that I remember off the top of my head.

[Shruti morethanmylupus · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the premise on this one. What if someone had the ability to heal to the point of curing their own cancer? But I struggled with the execution.

I both designed and ran clinical trials for years and this book made it seem like maybe Johnson didn't because there were so many things that I don't think the Institutional Review Board (ethics/patient safety/regulatory board essentially) would have approved. The science also felt very forced like maybe Johnson did a lot of googling of the things she wanted to present. I would have liked to see Henrietta Lacks mentioned given the storyline following closely with some of what happened to her legacy.

That being said, the book overall was ok. It wasn't terrible but it also didn't really stand out. It wasn't really thrilling though, so I'm not sure how to categorize this one honestly. Speculative fiction, maybe.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Precious Sagbodje · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Panacea project is tagged as a medical thriller centred around Calla. While in her early 20s, Calla discovers the cure for cancer may be found in her blood. What follows are a lot of changes to her personal life, while at the same time dealing with the high stakes that come with being the most sought-after commodity on earth.

I haven't read any medical thrillers in a while, so this was an excellent way to get back into the genre. The first half of this book delivers pretty well on the thrills but after that it sort of plateaus into what is meant to be some character development ( I think) which I didn't quite enjoy.. After that, the rest of the novel is pretty much predictable, except for a minor unexpected twist but a satisfactory end. In summary, it is an easy read, well-paced and for the most part, a good plot.
The novel has an interesting theme that would be useful for bookclub discussions. What do you owe the world?

[Gigi Ropp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating, quick read, The Panacea Project was unputdownable! Calla was beautifully written and the plot was easy to follow, if a bit far-fetched. I would recommend this as a quick medical thriller!

[Erin Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young woman Calla is discovered to have an immune system that can cure her from any cancer. She offers herself as a human guinea pig to give her blood and tissues to find a cure for others. But there is trouble ahead as it also brings up ethical and moral questions regarding cancer/medical treatment for all. Cancer unfortunately is sometimes viewed as a business that many scientists, doctors and researchers rely on to make a living. This novel explores the concept of what can happen if there is suddenly a cure for cancer, what would people do to get it to cure themselves or loved ones, and/or make financial profit from it. This was an engrossing medical thriller that kept my attention and kept me guessing till the end. It also has heart and I liked the heroine Calla very much. Very highly recommended. Five stars:)

[Lisa Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fun to read. It was a combination sci-fi/thriller/romance. Sounds crazy, and, in fact, it was pretty crazy. Realistic? No, but it IS fiction, after all. I enjoyed the characters and the plot and never wanted to not pick it up.

[Maiya Hackett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one hit me in the feels. Didn’t expect such an emotional book from the concept of a young woman whose blood is a cure for diseases. The main character was such a pure, genuine beacon of light, and I loved how she didn’t lose herself in her journey. The people around her loved her, and capitalist scum will never cease to amaze me.

[Deece de Paor · Rating 2 out of 5]

This unlikely tale tells the story of a girl with the same auto immune disease that Michael Jackson had (vitiligo), so with white patches all over her skin, falling madly in love with her drop dead gorgeous security detail. She needs the security detail because there's something in her blood that may hold the cure for cancer! The story progresses in a silly fashion, as she manages to get kidnapped twice in her quest to donate her body to science.
Medical thriller, it ain't. Wholly ludicrous love story with a cancer backdrop, more like.

The writing lacked literary finesse in that everything that was written came across as flat. Calla, the main character is often huffy like a teenager and the dialogue operated solely to shunt the action along. But many of the other characters were too. They all had the same voice except the bad guys cursed a lot.

See this scene between two of her many kidnappers:
"What are you doing" Greg demanded as he met up with them, gun drawn.
"Put that away," Jean-Paul remonstrated. "Look at her, she's not going anywhere."
"At least make her walk."

Ugh, none of them could utter sentences with more than 3 words. None of them had any kind of personality. The bad guys were gruff, the women were kindly, yet fiercely independent. It was just terrible chick lit. And I'm sorry but the fact that the security guy had to be drop dead gorgeous really bothered me. Why does he have to fall in love with her, with her messed up skin and low self esteem, why can he look beyond the surface and she can't? Why couldn't he be middling good looking but with a great sense of humour like normal guys?
This story didn't need a nonsensical love interest. That she found a little community through her ordeal should have been enough.

That said, I did kind of enjoy reading about all the cancer jargon. I used to work in cancer research and I missed all those words we used to throw around. It's just not the same in cloud computing.

[Mary C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calla Hammond is a young woman who has vitiligo, an autoimmune disease she has had her entire life. Raised in the foster care system, the only person who cares for her is Rae Wiley, her former social worker. When she has a seizure at work, the emergency visit to the hospital uncovers a brain tumor. However, when surgery is performed, there is no evidence of a brain tumor.
Calla is approached by Dr. Kraft who leads a team researching harnessing the power of the immune system to fight cancer. He is convinced that Calla's immune system was able to rid itself of the brain tumor and heal itself with no medical intervention. Calla agrees to participate in Dr. Kraft's research, and while the other team members treat her well, Dr. Kraft sees her a a tool, not a person. When details of Dr. Kraft's research are revealed along with Calla's identity, safety becomes an issue as people are eager to use Calla's blood to cure loved ones. In the end, Calla regains control, but at a cost.
A thought provoking look into the role of research participants.
#ThePanaceaProject #NetGalley

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review & a themed recipe: https://bakingthroughbookclub.com/202...

** Thank you to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group Press for the chance to review this book **

If your body had the ability to cure cancer, what would be your moral responsibility to society, and what would society’s moral responsibility be to you?

This is the core debate in Catherine Devore Johnson’s debut novel, The Panacea Project. Johnson delves into the world of medical ethics through the eyes of Calla Hammond, a 23-year-old woman who is diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and spontaneously recovers. Calla has vitiligo, an autoimmune disease that causes her to lose melanin in patches of her skin. People often shun her for her appearance. Furthermore, she is a foster child– her mother died years ago, and she never knew the identity of her father. The only person who shows care and concern for Calla is Rae, the social worker assigned to her case until she aged out of the system. Rae has always felt like Calla is meant to change the world, and boy, was she ever right.

After having a seizure at the library in which she works, Calla is rushed to the hospital. Multiple scans show a large mass growing in her brain. Within a few days, Calla is scheduled for brain surgery to remove the tumor. When her surgeon opens her up, however, the tumor is gone. Calla awakens from her anesthesia to find the OR in turmoil. Her surgeon, Dr. Cho, assumes that this is a wrong-patient scenario, and he apologetically tries to explain how all of the brain scans from another patient might have ended up coded as Calla’s. Another doctor, however, catches wind of the situation and has an entirely different theory. Dr. Kraft is a cancer researcher who believes that Calla spontaneously recovered from her cancer. He believes that there might be a single cure for all cancers, and he thinks Calla might be the breakthrough he is looking for. By the end of the day, he gets Calla to agree to participate in a cancer research study.

Calla soon finds out that participating in the study is more than she bargained for. The constant blood draws and biopsies leave her feeling used and drained, even though she is getting compensated well for her participation. Dr. Kraft’s inhospitable nature does not help the situation. However, his team becomes a second family to Calla. Dr. Juhi Pemmaraju acts as Dr. Kraft’s assistant and is as warm and caring as she is brilliant. Reuben, the nurse practitioner, always brings a smile to Calla’s face. He becomes the friend that Calla has always struggled to find. Then there’s Ralph, the lab tech. Ralph makes Calla uncomfortable from the start, but Calla tolerates his presence if it means that the team might find the cure for cancer.

The team enjoys total anonymity at first. Dr. Kraft quickly finds that Calla’s blood can send lab animals with cancer into remission. Right before Dr. Kraft and Dr. Pemmaraju publish a study with their findings, the information is leaked to the media. Calla is suddenly thrust into worldwide stardom as people claw to get a glimpse of the woman who can cure cancer. Almost as quickly, Calla’s life is endangered. People want her to lay her hands on them, try to get snippets of her hair, and even try to kidnap her in order to save their loved ones. They accuse her of withholding her gift from the world, claiming they would give everything they could to save sick patients. Dr. Kraft reminds her that she does not have enough blood to give transfusions to all of the cancer patients in the world, and Calla is better off waiting for the team to find a treatment or develop a vaccine. Furthermore, granting transfusions to just one person would open up ethical discussions about who can receive them and why the hospital denies them to some, but not others. Calla eventually needs private 24-hour security. However, Calla’s safety eventually collides with the value of her blood, and the world will never be the same.

The Panacea Project is a debut novel, and the writing sometimes reflects the inexperience of the author. However, this is definitely a book that I will be mulling over for a long time. I wrestled with a lot of topics that I hadn’t considered before: What would happen if one person’s blood contained the cure for cancer? How long would it take for powerful individuals to step into the situation? Would the individual ever feel safe? How would their life change? And, as I stated earlier, what moral responsibility would the person have to society, and what responsibility would society have to her? Medical ethics is a fascinating field, and I don’t know how society would react to a situation like Calla’s. I think Johnson’s reenactment is totally plausible, though. One area in which I cannot comment, however, is how researched the novel is. I do not have a medical degree, so I cannot judge whether the actions of Dr. Kraft’s team are realistic or not. As a former public relations specialist, I can say that Valerie’s actions seemed spot-on.

Even though the writing is a bit inexperienced, the concepts behind The Panacea Project are intriguing and left me craving more. I was so caught up in the book that I struggled to put it down even though I was on vacation. It’s a good debut novel from Catherine Devore Johnson, and I look forward to reading her future works.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Pamela Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Panacea Project / by Catherine Devore Johnson – Austin, TX -- Greenleaf Book Group Press, c2023. (299 pages)

Description from the book jacket: THE PANACEA PROJECT is a layered examination of self-sacrifice, implicit bias, and the juxtaposition of bodily autonomy with high-stakes capitalism – for those who love fiercely strong characters and deep themes infused with heartwarming moments of love and humor.

Panacea is defined as a solution or remedy for all difficulties or diseases – and in this incident the disease is cancer. Dr. Kraft is studying the world of oncological immunotherapy; however, finding it difficult to find people for the study since those kind of people don’t get sick enough to seek medical attention. But his research is on the upswing when Calla is operated on for a brain tumor that has mysteriously vanished since being diagnosed several days earlier.

Calla Hammond is very interesting and very rememberable. Not only does her appearance make her stand out (she has vitiligo, two-toned skin) but she has now been labeled by the world as “the cure for cancer.”

Calla has lived a very secluded and lonely life – now everyone knows who she is and is trying to get close to the “miracle” in hopes that their loved one will be healed as well. People are willing to do anything even kidnapping and/or medical experimentation to own what her body produces.
Calla’s new norm is the hospital lab and constant testing of blood and body tissues to see what her body is doing in hopes to find out the why and then reproduce it. Staying out of sight, caged for her own protection, Calla is surrounded by bodyguards providing a “sphere of safety, and to protect the asset. Calla has “been reduced to a commodity, a finite resource, a rare raw material to be excavated and processed and mass-produced so humanity could hold mortality at bay for a little while longer.”

The story also shows the politics of cancer – those who have the money have a better chance of getting access to the cure – and on the other side, medicine doesn’t want to cure cancer because it is a big money business.

The book consists of short chapters that gives it a fast-paced feel. The description of the book calls it a thriller. Most of the beginning is more medical drama and the thriller part doesn’t kick in until about halfway through. But once the thriller starts – it just keeps going and going until close to the final chapters. Lately I have not been finishing contemporary fiction -- they just don't keep my interest -- however, this title I could read again and again.

This book would make a good choice for a book club discussion. There is mild language throughout.
One of my favorite lines – “It felt like the cruelest joke – to discover love and lose it in the same instant.” (p196)

I was given a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lif Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hippocratic Oath ain’t what it used to be. Or maybe it never was what we thought it was. I think most of us have experienced enough interaction with the medical profession (and insurance companies) to realize that health care has become such big business that a medical professional who lives up to the spirit of that oath is a rare treasure.

So what happens if suddenly there is a cure for a killer disease, a panacea that doesn’t just treat people who get sick but maybe a vaccine to make it so that they can never even get sick? What happens to hospitals’ and drug companies’ bottom lines when nobody gets sick anymore? What happens when one person gets to control who can benefit from a panacea, and how much it will cost?

The Panacea Project is a compelling medical thriller that pits noble sacrifice against obsessive greed. It is also the story of a hero: Calla Hammond’s body cures cancers that appear in her body. She’s willing to undergo invasive procedures that might isolate what her immune system is doing, with the aim of coming up with a cure or even a preventative that could be provided for everyone.

But of course it’s not so simple. While there those who want the best for the world but also live by the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm, there are others who only see the potential for wealth. And there are some who don’t care what cost there is to Calla Hammond to get what they want.

This is a book everyone should read and think about. As they say, follow the money. What’s your health issue, and why isn’t there a panacea for it in spite of all the breakthroughs that are announced?

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated 3.5, rounded up

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own opinion.

**Spoilers ahead**

Calla Hammond is a medical marvel – her body can cure cancer. This book explores the ethics in a medical sense, and a personal sense. As someone who can cure cancer, what is Calla's duty to society? What duty does society have to Calla? And Dr. Kraft and his team... woof, what duty do they have to science AND Calla?

I am no medical expert, but I don't think this book was heavily researched; it reads as an episode of House and/or Grey's Anatomy. However, it wouldn't be very entertaining to me if it did read as someone who has done their medical research. While this was shelved as a medical thriller, I would consider it more medical drama than thriller. I think the only "thrilling" part of this book where I was left wondering if something bad would happen was in the timespan when Luca escaped the cabin to go get help and Calla being rescued.

In my opinion, the love story in this book was an afterthought. It wasn't woven into the book in aa compelling way, and it was very rushed. I think this book would've been just fine without that love story. The friendships Calla made throughout the book was more than enough to make me cry when she decided to be put in to a coma. Yes, I cried. And that is what I consider a good book.

While this book felt a little amateur in the writing, the concept was entertaining. Not everyone can be *insert your favorite author here* right off the bat, but I can guess that Catherine will grow to be that favorite author with more books under her belt. With this concept, I'm excited to see what else she comes up with in the future.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book, Thank You
Really 4.5 stars!
I really enjoyed this book. While this is considered a Medical Thriller, there is a lot more than that going on.
Calla is a young woman who has had a hard life. She has vitiligo, an autoimmune disease which effects the pigmentation of her skin. Her mother was a drug addict and passed away when she was a child. She never knew her father. She is shuffled from foster home to foster home. No one ever getting close to her, as they often fear they will catch her skin condition. She becomes used to people not making eye contact and being afraid to touch her. Except for her social worker, Rae, no one has ever connected with her. One day, she suffers a seizure, and when she's taken to the hospital, they discover she has a brain tumor. Bravely she faces the surgery, only to find when she wakes, that something has changed. People aren't talking to her, not answering her questions, and she has a new doctor. When the surgery was performed, the tumor had disappeared. Her original doctor feared he has mixed up his patients, but that wasn't the case. In that hospital, there was a doctor who was exploring how to have the body's immune system cure Cancer, and when he heard about Calla, he took over. Dr. Kraft is a preoccupied, arrogant man, but his team is wonderful and compassionate. For the first time Calla has a family, as they all work to figure out what makes her special. Of course, things go South, and I won't go into that.
The characters are great, and I found myself really loving Calla, Reuben, Dr Kraft's nurse, Dr. Penmaraju, Dr. Kraft's associate, and Rae, and many others. I hated the arrogant Dr. Kraft, and a few others. 100% invested while reading the book.
Great read!

[Sharon Dene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had a lot of interesting thoughts and How cancer can be very challenging in this country. CAL LA prostitute S had some kind of cancer but it was embarrassing americally not there when the doctors Operate On her. This was like a love story who done it it has a lot of different elements and it was really interesting how this author put it all together. Her life was endangered because of this doctor who wanted to Profit from The cancer And how if it just seemed to dissolve in this woman Body. She had a lot of threats on her. Her Her Foster mother Is her only friend because her family was all dead. She seemed to Pride at this point and she was really happy with her life. This cancer thing turned her Life upside down. The newspapers everybody was at. She had to have secured it at all times. Then she got kidnapped. And this was really a way because Man wanted to save his son. And he kept taking blood from her and this doctor was on the tank because he was fired from the hospital. Her security person really loved her but he didn't want to get too close to her because his daughter had cancer. The man who kidnapped her his son really was really upset with him so he planned escape to get her help. I think this is a really good book to read how people are desperate for anything to cure cancer. There is new trials out now but they're very expensive These trials are over. Traditional cancer treatments do not work. It's becoming a reality in this country you have to have money to get these treatments. In this book CAL LA S Oh was caught up in this whole crazy thing. She fell in love with her security guard. This is why it's a love story and a mystery all rolled into one

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I checked this book out on Overdrive. It had no reviews. I found it looking for one of my favorite narrators, Helen Laser. It's described as a medical thriller, which isn't really my genre, but I found it believable, and it held my attention. I only fast-forwarded a couple of times over some descriptive passages that didn't particularly move the story forward. I'm a VERY impatient reader - ha!

One thing I particularly appreciated, and I'm not exactly sure how to say it. There was a diverse set of main characters (brilliant female doctor, LGBTQ+, various nationalities, a non-biological mother figure, good guys and bad guys, like in an old western movie), but the author didn't scream, see, I'm including everybody in my book! All of the characters were interwined in the story, no fanfare, no political statements, just like it is in life (in my life, anyway). I've read several books in which the author seemed to be trying so hard to portray diversity and acceptance of all, it seemed at times to overtake the plot.

Another thing I appreciated is I didn't have to listen to somebody reading text messages to me ad nauseum. No text messaging in this book, nor are there any cellphones without signals. :o)

As for the narrator, she is without artificiality. She easily glides between characters. It never occurs to me that I'm listening to one individual. She's completely unobtrusive, and yet I still feel like I catch a glimpse of her wit or sense of humor once in a while. It's an art. :o)

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The Panacea Project’ has such a unique-sounding premise that I just had to give it a go! Almost immediately, the story gets going and it’s one of those books you can fly through. The chapters are incredibly short (my favorite thing!), and the lead, Calla, is endearing and kind. I found myself so anxious for her safety as the story went on!

Unfortunately, as a whole, this one didn’t quite do it for me. While I loved the shorter chapters, I felt the characters (and the story itself) lacked some needed depth. I was also not wild about the romance. I usually need at least a little romance in my books, but I don’t feel it was necessary for this one, and I didn’t find it super believable. That might tie back to the lack of depth that I struggled with. This is also one of those books that gets really farfetched. For the most part, that didn’t bother me. There were a handful of moments that had me quirking my brow though.

As I alluded to above, Calla really was a wonderful main character. She was easy to root for, and I couldn’t help but get invested in her life. I was thrilled to see her forming new friendships – I love a good found family and I felt like she achieved that. I also, unexpectedly, cried at the end. Given that I previously mentioned a lack of depth, I didn’t realize quite how emotional I would be.

In short, if the premise sounds interesting to you, give it a shot! It’s a quick read, and I don’t regret picking it up.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Angeli · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Panacea Project by Catherine Devore Johnson tells the story of Calla Hammond whose blood has a miraculous ability to cure cancer. She became the focus of an intensive medical research project that required her to undergo countless lab tests and blood draws in an effort to understand how her blood and immune system works and to develop a different way to treat cancer. Her life changed drastically and she finds herself being taken advantaged of and exploited by people who are desperate to get ahold her blood for their own personal gain when the confidential details of her condition was leaked to the public.

I was drawn to the book by its title and became interested after reading the synopsis. I was afraid that the story would be too complicated for me to follow because of all the medical jargon, but the author worded it so that it was still easy to read and comprehend. Even though I had fun reading this book, I thought there wasn't enough thrill and excitement, and there were moments when I didn't feel invested in the plot. Overall though, it was a fascinating and entertaining read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group for my copy of The Panacea Project.

[Sue Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calla had never had friends. She was used to being called names because of the way she looked; she has vitaligo, the same thing Michael Jackson had. It causes white patches that are very visible on the skin. She worked at the library where she felt less noticeable than at most jobs. One day at work she got a blinding headache causing her to fall to the floor followed by a seizure. When she woke up she found herself in the hospital surrounded by lots of people.
She was told by the doctor that she had a brain tumor. With a limited number of choices available, she allowed Dr. Cho to do surgery and try to remove the tumor. It wouldn't be an easy thing to do because her tumor was a Glioblastoma, a tumor that spread out like octopus tentacles. Very nasty tumors that are almost always fatal. But when Dr. Cho preformed the surgery, the tumor was gone. Thus begins a long twisted journey for Calla.

I won this Kindle book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Calla Hammond has a skin condition and a disjounted family history that makes her feel alone. But when doctors discover that her blood may cure cancer, she becomes the star of the Panacea Project. She gains a few new friends as folks from around the world try to get a piece of her - literally. But when things go too far, Calla and the world are at risk.
This book is touted as a medical thriller. I liked the action close to the end. But the actual ending was almost a letdown and not what I was expecting. Other parts, including a tentative romance, workplace tension and a kidnapping, also felt disjointed. And the story is a bit boring in the beginning and the middle. I wasn't sitting at the edge of my seat, which is usually the case in a thriller.
The short chapters do enhance the reading experience.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway, and I was very excited to a) finally win, and b) win this particular book! It was packaged with great care, included a personal note from the author, and was signed by the author, which were all really special touches.

Having worked in the health care field for many years, I was intrigued by the premise of this book. It was obvious that the author spent a good deal of time researching various aspects of medical care to present a realistic patient perspective. As some other reviewers have noted, I would have liked some more character development with some of the secondary characters. However, this did not detract from the storyline. In all, this was a quick read that held my interest and made me consider some of the ethical dilemmas presented in the book.

I look forward to reading more work from this author. Thanks again, Goodreads!

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if you found out you might be able to cure cancer - not by lab research, but with what's literally in your body and blood? This book raised an interesting question - where does the moral line lie when one person could help better the lives of so many? Are the lives of the many more important than the life of the one? Calla's life is thrown into turmoil once the world learns that her blood can cure cancer - and my heart really went out to her. This book is engaging and really draws the reader in. Calla is an excellent character, and I enjoyed following her story. I can't say what I would do if I was thrust into her shoes. I wouldn't have minded a little more depth to the story, really diving further into the morality of everything, but overall it was a great read.

[Jasara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to have received an advance copy of this book to read, and I am so glad that I did. It's a quick, suspenseful page-turner that I didn't want to put down.

The book is well written, the story flows, and I found myself emotionally connecting with the characters -- with love, hate, anger, and many emotions in between. The accuracy with which the author describes Houston, Texas shows an in-depth knowledge of her surroundings -- I could picture myself in the Medical Center, at Calla's apartment, and other referenced locations.

In the world of stories that are "RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES," I suspended my disbelief, and settled down for a good story... I couldn't' help but think to myself... "Woah... what if..." Highly recommend!

[Starry Night]

This book got me hooked by the first paragraph:

"Calla flipped through the book she was supposed to be putting away. She had always been fascinated by what other people checked out of the library. Her co-workers dread shelving duty but she loved the time alone - organizing, straightening, reading to her heart's content. No one bothered her when she was in the stacks."

That is true but from my experience a few patrons will stumble upon you and ask for help trying to locate a book. If you are feeling generous you will put your book down and help them find the book they so desperately need but if you are busy then you can always point to the reference desk and tell them that a librarian there will help them.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for a fair and honest review.


This book was written very well. I really loved Calla as a character. She had a bunch of great friends that were fun characters. The story was cool. I 100% think she would have been kidnapped, tortured, stabbed, etc. People get irrational when saving a loved one and/or that much money is involved.

The one thing that was weird to me was the switch in tone between a gritty medical thriller and what read like a romance novel. It almost seemed like two different people wrote those sections. It was jarring to jump from one to another.

Overall, it was a fun read. I enjoyed it. This would make for a great Lifetime or Tubi movie!

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful debut novel! It was fast-paced, well written, and thrilling.

Calla, our protagonist, finds out her blood/immune system has the ability to cure cancer. You know what this means, right? Of course this puts a target on her back and she instantly becomes valuable in terms of research and developing a cure/vaccine. Dollars sign everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE.

Calla's character was altruistic and it felt real. I very much enjoyed following her story.

This was a gritty medical thriller that kept me on my toes. The surprise romance sprinkled in was not something I expected, but seemed very genuine and sweet. The storyline was well-developed and I wasn't necessarily anticipating the ending.

Hats off to the author on a gripping debut novel!

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always hesitant of 'Read Now' books on NetGalley, but the concept behind this one felt strong enough and unique enough to give it a go. I'm so glad I did. If you are familiar with Henrietta Lacks, you'll find a connection in this read. Our main character, Calla, has something within her that makes her immune system battle cancer in a way never seen before. Luckily, unlike Henrietta, she is given more autonomy (at least right away). This was a solid read that will keep me thinking for quite some time (especially that ending - ouchies my heart!)

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Panacea Project by Catherine Devore Johnson

Calla has a rare disease that affects her immune system. Doctors find that her blood could be the cure for cancer. She is talked into being an experiment, going through may procedures, testing and more.

Not all find this a good thing, as some are sinister and want to use her for malicious reasons. Calla wants to help people and have a good life, but it may not be her destiny. She she is on the journey of a lifetime, one in which no one would expect.

A fast paced medical drama/thriller. Calla is very likable, it was easy to empathize with her. The concept of her blood curing cancer was eerie yet (somehow) believable. A Compelling, thought-provoking, interesting story.