An Involuntary Spy

Involuntary Spy #1

by Kenneth Eade

Uncover the mystery, unleash the suspense, be intrigued and go where no spy has gone before in the controversial suspense thriller by the author of Predatory Kill & A Patriot's Act Caught in the espionage and intelligence world

Seth Rogan was a bad spy. That’s because he wasn't a spy at all. Just a guy trying to do the right thing. As a biologist for the largest biotech company in the world, he had a great job, and enjoyed all the perks. But when asked to do some tests on the company's genetically engineered (GMO) foods, he became entangled in a trail of corruption, fraud and conspiracy that he wanted no part of, but could not escape from. In an espionage story of mystery and suspense so true to life it could almost be from today's newspapers, Seth, having bit the hand who fed him, is on the run from CIA, the FBI, and the full overreaching strength of the United States government, not as a whistle blower, but as a fugitive, charged with espionage, who finds temporary refuge with an old enemy of the U.S. But his peace is about to be broken as he finds himself in the role of an involuntary spy.

Jump into the action on the very first page Be drawn in to this controversial political thriller that will pull you in and leave you breathless until the last page. Be captivated by all the action that you expect from a spy thriller; spies, assassins, CIA, Russians, FBI; but not how you would expect them, in this conspiracy CIA story of corruption ˃˃˃ Go on a roller coaster thrill ride of international intrigue and cat and mouse espionage:

Seth is always one heart-pounding step ahead of the CIA and the FBI, who follow his every move. Fleeing the country like Edward Snowden, Seth wages a battle of wits against the CIA, the FBI and double agents to bring the message of the dangers of genetically engineered Frankenfoods to the people.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Amazon, Fiction, Espionage

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 18, 2013

About the author

Described by critics as "one of our strongest thriller writers on the scene," author Kenneth Eade, best known for his legal and political thrillers, practiced law for 30 years before publishing his first novel, "An Involuntary Spy." Eade, an up and coming author in the legal thriller and courtroom drama genre, has been described by critics as "One of our strongest thriller writers on the scene and the fact that he draws his stories from the contemporary philosophical landscape is very much to his credit." He is often compared to John Grisham, whom many regard as the master of the legal thriller.

Says Eade of the comparisons, "Readers compare me in style to John Grisham and, although there are some similarities, because John also likes to craft a story around real topics and we are both lawyers, all of my novels are rooted in reality, not fantasy. I use fictional characters and situations to express factual and conceptual issues. Some use the term 'faction' to describe this style, and it is present in all my fictional works."

Eade has written twenty novels, which are now in the process of being translated into ten languages. He is known to keep in touch with his readers, offering free books and discounts to all those who sign up at his web site, www.kennetheade.com.

Email: info@kennetheade.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennethGEade...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KennethEade1

Reviews

[Christoph Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

“An Involuntary Spy: A GMO Thriller” by Kenneth Eade is a fast paced and intelligent spy thriller about Seth Rogen, a 45 year old genetic biologist, who stumbles across some facts and secrets about genetic engineering of food products in the US. Compelled to make the alarming find public his only option is to seek refuge in Russia and accept his status as a “whistle-blower” in order to inform the public of the dangers of GMO.
When his plane is stopped on a Ukrainian airfield his adventurous run and hide from the CIA begins. Two separate narratives from here run parallel to each other and tell the story of his discovery back in the US and of his new life in Russia.
The thriller part of this story is very entertaining, action packed and helps to keep the momentum, while the part set in the past serves as a great eye-opener about the possibilities and repercussions of genetic engineering and modification of food. Not being an expert in the field I cannot evaluate how realistic all of the facts and theories mentioned are and so I have to take the author’s after-word for it. What comes across very clearly however is the risk potential and the ever present dangers of corporate and governmental corruption.
Seth, his love interest Natasha and his Russian protector Yuri are well written characters that keep your interest through this story. Aside from the entertaining nature of the book I feel I gained a big insight into GMO and the related research. Eade did a brilliant job at keeping the run of the story smooth and has written a lengthy afterword in which more about GMO is explained that did not suit the character of a thriller.
A very gripping and recommendable read.

[Christopher Krerowicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I watched a gripping documentary on the Monsanto Corporation and how they are ruining the world and the modern day farmers with their genetically modified seed; the subject of GMO and patenting life has always raised my eyebrows. My buddy was told about this book, An Involuntary Spy: A GMO Thriller, via his book club, and after he finished it, he passed it on to me. With his recommendation, and the fact that Im already VERY MUCH into this subject, I didn’t waste a second diving into this one.

Amazing from the start, the characters are well thought out, engaging, and very similar to people you probably know in your everyday life; which is what makes this story even more awesome. Typical spy vs spy stuff is getting pretty played out these days, I think what is coming into its own right now, are stories that hit very close to home, and stories about the very near future; not so much the distant future anymore. Many people are more worried than ever about what our future as human beings on this planet holds, and as we top 7 billion people and counting, who knows….
Now I am rambling…this is supposed to be a review for a book, but you see what this story does to you? It makes you think, and that spark leads to an amazing blaze of thoughts…that’s what Seth Rogan does to you….and thats what Kenneth Eade’s writing does to you

Twists and turns will keep you turning the pages of this one, you will definitely NOT want to put it down!



Kudos to Mr. Eade…thank you sir

Great story…
Realistic…
Deep characters…
Easy, comfortable and smooth reading…
GREAT RAINY DAY READ!

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this had an outstanding plot and more real than we could even think. The author points at the end I agree with a lot of what he said. I almost put it down when it got so technical and I felt it was over my head. I felt the author could have got the point across better had he toned it down a little.

With that said if you take most of the technical out it was an outstanding read. With some wonderful characters and a few twist you do not see coming. Others you expect but there is a few in there I thought would go another way. Once I over looked the technical things I really enjoyed the listen.

I thought the narrator has a smooth voice and I did enjoy listening to him. I felt he brought out the tones great for the characters. I really liked Seth and a few others. There are a few wonderful characters that you grow to care about. Some that will surprised you I know they did me.

Honestly if I had read this and not listen to it on audio I would have skip a lot of it. Listening to it on audio I feel sure made this a much better read. The author does give us a powerful message and one that you might want to take a look at. Seth is a bad spy but gets his points across and doesn't back down from what he believes in. I am sure I wouldn't have done half as good as he did when push came to shove. He might be a little nerdy but his heart is in the right place and really all he wants to do what is best for the world while living a quite life.GMO in foods should be everyone's worry and is something we should read up on. I felt the author gave an outstanding story of what could be come of the world in the future.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fast-paced political thriller takes off running and doesn’t stop until the very end!

Read full review in the 2014 March issue of InD’tale Magazine.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

`Everything you do in this life has its consequences.'

Kenneth Eade may be best known to readers as the author of BLESS THE BEES: THE PENDING EXTINCTION OF OUR POLLINATORS AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO STOP IT, and A BEE, SEE: WHO ARE OUR POLLINATORS AND WHY ARE THEY IN TROUBLE? - two superlative books about his concern for our environment, a topic he takes to the top level in this superb novel. Eade is an international business lawyer, based in Los Angeles, specializing in international law, Internet Law, appeals and complex litigation. He is a member of the Bar of California, the federal District Court for the Central District of California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal. He holds a Juris Doctor in Law from Southwestern University School of Law, and a B.A. in Liberal Studies from California State University, Northridge. He is also an accomplished filmmaker and a freelance writer for the Los Angeles Daily Journal and an environmentalist.

And given this introduction it should not come as a surprise that he now adds the crown of rising suspense thriller to his resume. THE INVOLUNTARY SPY takes his concern about environmental concerns, weaves that into a story about the dangers of genetically engineered food, teaches the reader about GMO (`A genetically engineered organism, or GMO, as it is commonly referred to, is a plant or animal of one species whose DNA is genetically altered in a laboratory by inserting into it genes from a different species, in order to breed a trait in that organism that does not exist in nature.'), and then further informs us how the government is covering up such information from the public for the sake of favoring the corporate wealthy. That amount of information is sufficient to draw the interest of every reader (or should), but Kenneth Eade now takes it further and creates a novel that is so well written and so intriguing that it seems to be waiting for the motion picture industry to sniff it out.

Eade begins his novel in medias res with our hero, biologist Seth Rogan, aboard a flight to Russia where he is seeking asylum from the US government for his activities in uncovering the corruption and fraud surrounding his leaking data the government considers secret. Think Edward Snowden.... His flight sets down in the Ukraine, he meets his bodyguard Yuri who transports him to the Russian Embassy and from there the tension mounts until the title of the book explains the denouement and resolution.

Eade's skill with writing dialog is brilliant. His technique for propelling a story forward is second to none. Bind a controversial subject about the environment, the unraveling problems of US governmental secrecy, the transparency of the Internet, and a good old-fashioned thriller and you have Kenneth's next step into prominence in the public's eye. Highly Recommended.

Grady Harp

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure - I received a copy of this book as a first-reads giveaway.

I truly enjoyed this book. It reminded me of a good pulp-magazine thriller. It is a relatively quick read, but packed full. Although this has a better-developed plot than a lot of pulps.

It has good character development, a well-developed plot, and some very good twists thrown in. It uses a mix of "present-day" action and flashbacks to paint the full picture. Mixing the two is not easy to pull off, but it is done very well here. The plot is quick-paced, and keeps it up throughout the book. Funny, while it is "spy"-based, I came to think of it as more of a thriller than a spy novel - maybe just my impression.

The basis of the plot is genetically engineered foods. Whether one buys into this or not is irrelevant to your ability to enjoy the book. It forms the premise for the plot, but is not the plot. I believe that anyone concerned about either side of this debate can put it beyond them and enjoy the action and twists of a well-done plot. The author has a point that he wants to make, but doesn't use the body of the novel to do so - he puts it in a well-written (and backed up) appendix. While he makes his point throughout the book, it does not dominate it. As with the flashback/present balance, I think he does a good job of walking this line.

Bottom line - a well-written thriller, with a quick-paced plot, that has some good twists, and is highly entertaining.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Expose’ of GMO Foods and Government Corruption

It is obvious that the purpose of this novel is to educate the public about the danger of certain foods on the market, which are hazardous to human health and not being tested and reported properly by government agencies such as the FDA, et.al. who are to protect us. This information is out there, but it is not usual for people who are not scientists to spend much time researching these matters. If readers don’t have the scientific background for such as this, then it is easier to eat foods in the market and hope for the best.
The author in this story fictionalized a plot to truly emphasize the dangers so they would be easier to read and understand. It is true that there is much repetitive narrative about the scientific facts that it bogs the story line down, but at the same time, the author attempted to present a fictional tale that would make it easier to swallow.
At the end of the story, is set out the background of Mr. Eade, his devotion to making this so public that it can no longer be ignored and he also sets out facts in how GMO foods have been handled in the past by the companies promoting them and the government agencies who are to act as watchdogs, but don’t. It is for his efforts to warn us that I am giving him four stars.

[Anne-Rae Vasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story picks up from page one and I loved the fact that readers are introduced to the characters quickly without convoluted descriptions. Seth Rogan, a biologist for a giant biotech corporation Germinat, discovers lies about the genetically engineered food test results that the company and others are trying to cover up. Scientist turned whistleblower and involuntary spy is on the run from his employer and government agencies.

I enjoyed how author Kenneth Eade weaves in the real life dangers about GMO (genetically modified organisms) which I had not been fully aware of.

I give An Involuntary Spy 5/5 stars. An eye-opener and an entertaining read, "An Involuntary Spy" will appeal to readers who enjoy political thrillers and an action packed story.

[Sergiusz Prokurat · Rating 5 out of 5]

“An Involuntary Spy” by Kenneth Eade is a fast-paced, action packed political thriller about Seth Rogan, as he finds himself fighting for survival amidst a web of corruption and deceit. The pace was fast but easy to read, the story simple to follow. The characterizations were well-drawn and I always wanted to read just one more page, then another one and another one. I couldn't seem to put it down! I loved the characters, I loved Kenneth Eade's strength and wit. He has delivered a book completed with all the elements you enjoy such as passion, excitement, adventure and much more! It's a incredible reading. You want to know what happens next.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as a first reads giveaway. The story is so badly written and edited that I struggled to get through it but felt obligated to do so. The title of the book grabbed my attention because I am generally drawn to espionage novels, so it was quite a let-down to realize that the spying part consisted of the main character breaking into the apartment of two FBI agents who had tracked him down in Russia. The author is definitely on a crusade against genetically modified foods and has clearly done his research in that area. In the beginning, that part was very interesting to me, but it got old fast and nothing else in the book held my attention.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seth Rogan finds himself on the run from the U.S. government and asking for asylum in Russia until he can figure out what to do with the information he has. It seems the company he works for is genetically altering our plants we eat with deadly consequences. I found this to be a fast read and I really liked Seth and the people he meets in Russia. If I had a problem with the book it would be that there is too much technical stuff and it tends to be repetitive. But if you can get past that then you should enjoy the book. I received this from LibraryThing Members Giveaway for an honest review.

[Garrard Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the edge genetic spy thriller
When a genetic modified food biologist turns whistleblower and escapes with top secret reports to Russia you get an awesome spy adventure. An Involuntary Spy is a fast paced thriller that is well written, researched and held me cover to cover. Seth Rogan’s life on the run in Russia takes a shocking turn. Spy training, falling in love with a beautiful young teacher and trying to stay out of trouble was a blast. Plenty of twisted and turns kept the plot steaming along with lots of political tension and an action packed ending that absolutely rocked. I’m looking forward to the next Kenneth Eade novel.

[A.B. Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. The story plot is original, the characters are complex, believable and fascinating. The characters are wonderfully written so that you know exactly what they're thinking and feeling. It was easy to picture them in my mind. I really enjoyed the way this story developed. It was an interesting book that kept me reading. I enjoyed this author. I can't wait to get another Kenneth Eade book! To anyone looking for a great book that sucks you in from the start, completely mesmerizes you and doesn't let you go till the last page – this is the book you’re looking for.

[Tulay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must be read everyone.

Five star isn't enough for this book, thank you Mr Eade. You thought me a lot about what I am eating and drinking. After getting this book free, at the end to have it permanently turned around and bought it. Sure you'll do the same. Learned about lots of chemicals and what they do to our bodies and environment. Government is for the companies, not for the people. Even our vote is joke, who gets the most money is being elected. Hope one day our tiny voice combined with other millions of voices will make a difference.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eade's novel is capable of quickening pulses and taking one's breath away. Fans of thrillers and political stories will embrace his vision throughout this gripping work of fiction and race to finish to unearth how it all could possibly end. The controversial sub-plots throughout the terrifying storyline will engage intelligent conversation and have your friends begging to borrow this book. Thought provoking, easy to follow and not to be missed!

[Gary Koenig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that leaves a taste in your brain.

It was only after reading the authors comments that I really began to appreciate this books value.
It has made me think about GMOs
and what they are doing to us.
More over what our government is doing while parading around as fighting liberals when they are just lining their pockets. Shame on the American public for not finding out who these people really are before voting for them.

[Wendy Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa, what a thriller. An outstanding book. Just a regular guy at a great job with lots of perks, for a biochem company when he was told his data was incorrect when he knew perfectly well that the GMO food was not fit for consumption. Although this book is fiction, I finished reading it wondering, what if.............

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Angie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I AM SO EXCITED.

I cant wait to read this, considering the fact that I absolutely love spies! (seriously, its becoming a problem guys) as soon as I receive this book and read it, I will re-do this review.

until then, fellow goodreadians

[Amelia Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should Be Required Reading!

If you've been paying attention, you already know GMOs are bad news. But, you ain't heard nothin' yet. Hold on for a very bumpy ride (and a great read)--and don't read this as you're eating.... Scary, but very helpful, thought-provoking stuff.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

An Edward Snowden like whistleblower leaks GMO (genetic modified O) food safety tests to the press and is considered a traitor to his company. How will he survive on the run?

It is an easy read and not very interesting.

[Adam Bricker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Fun, entertaining read with some thought provoking ideas.

[Janna Shay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the review at InD'tale Magazine
http://indtale.com/reviews/suspense-t...

[Robert S. Levine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good Story BUT!

Good Story but marred by the environmental activism. There was quite a bit of the author's feelings about GMO in the book. He obviously is totally against GMO.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting concept, generic foods, with him being a biologist. Finding there was something inside the food. He is on the run, as a spy, he is not, but he is running, Russia is to give asylum. Good reading and a different type of plot that intrigues you, and how it will end.

[Iah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book really interesting subject and good notes at the end. The novel has a few issues it jumps a bit in the middle and towards the end, Which could have been smother and the ending was weak really weak.
It's great to have a message I would just have liked an ending fit for a thriller

[Susan Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Beach Read

Twists and turns in this spy thriller held my interest, but the distractions of the many errors from sloppy.editing nearly caused me to leave the book unfinished. The lack of care for the reader bothered me greatly.

[James Pazol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chilling scenario!

Scientifically based and accurate to most readers. Lays out revolving door between manufacturers regulators which is indisputable. Worth the read

[Karen Contos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really appreciated learning about the dangers of GMO food within an entertaining fiction story!

[光彩]

might've read it if not for "seth rogan" i mean i really don't want to spend hours imagining the funny man (for a given value of funny)

[Dean Paul Baker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neither fish nor fowl for me this one . I bought this as I was promised a fast paced, gripping spy thriller. For me it was none of these things. It's actually an industrial/governmental whistle-blowing exercise (and a quite predictable and not very entertaining one at that). It's more Erin Brocovich than James Bond. There's VERY little action and what there is is not very exciting and quite predictable. I bought this expecting an action packed Bourne type spy thriller (especially from the cover design) . But from the first page it was clear this was not what I was getting. Firstly the main character comes across as pretty unsympathetic. He's quite a weak character so you can't really root for him. Also the name: Seth Rogan, conjured up the image of the actor Seth Rogan, so in my mind he was a chubby, sloth-like guy who you couldn't imagine being able to do anything remotely physical. It also made the romance aspect seem quite implausible, especially in the context of the weak character. I couldn't see any woman falling for him. He gave no reason to. The KGB agent Yuri was poorly researched and acted in a very clichéd but ultimately confused manner, adopting Americanisms and Russianisms willy-nilly and at times displaying an implausible ineptitude for a supposedly highly trained agent.
The pace was quite slow for a 'fast paced' thriller, nothing really exciting happened for the first 40% of the book. The first bit of 'spying' we get is some snooping in the bosses office, hardly Bourne or Bond. Then after that, not much real action, just the slow drip of more and more GM Food research info.
Whilst I appreciate the GM foods 'expose', it's not really something I haven't heard of before (would make a better documentary subject than a story line for a spy novel) and to be honest, the technical details that were trotted out really got in the way and slowed down the story. It also wasn't enough to be informative. The authors notes section at the back gave more detail and to be honest, either that (in an expanded form) should have been put out as an informational/educational pamphlet or scrapped in favour of a more entertaining storyline. The quality of the writing didn't seem to a great standard either. Didn't draw me in. As other reviewers have stated, it seemed a bit 'high school English class' in style. Though I understand it is the writers first novel, it could really have used some polish. A lot of the story was quite implausible and really stretched the suspension of disbelief. Ie the amount of 'break-ins' by mysterious govt agencies, the amount of times Seth was conveniently knocked out to end a scene, the fact that despite having two KGB body guards (albeit one unknown to him) they didn't seem remotely concerned that their charge was being targeted by the CIA and FBI, who seemingly were able to operate quite blazonly on Russian soil? And also, once identified, chose not to investigate, leaving the 'spying' to Rogan (whose stock method of espionage is to just burglarize their apartment, and merely confirming his suspicions and not really advancing the story). Also the suitcase and pen drive of documents, if the KGB wanted it, they'd just take it. They wouldn't ask nicely and just shrug when you said no (but by then I'd given up on getting any realism). The chapters were also ridiculously short, some less than 2 pages which was quite irritating. In his blurb, the writer compares himself to John Grisham, which on the evidence of this book, is not a a worthy comparison. All in all, this book didn't really grip or entertain me. I stuck with it to the end, optimistic it would pick up but it didn't. Predictable and rather anti-climactic ending which hinted at 'further adventures' for Rogan and his Russian bride but which left me not really caring for what they did next. Sorry, but I didn't really enjoy this.