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The Death of Birth
“Jason Bourne meets 12 Monkeys”—Richard Simon Smith, author of the forthcoming book Offshore
In an economically devastated world, Eric Condra is a jaded journalist with a chip on his shoulder. Used to covering organized crime, he’s been dumped to the science beat. The work is dull, until a groundbreaking story involving genetics falls in his lap.
But the technology involved has dark implications—and the geneticist responsible, Dr. Michael Waters, has vanished.
Eric’s investigation attracts the attention of a hit squad, as well as Dr. Waters’ former patient, Alison. She claims he cured her of a fatal virus, and that he’s hiding out in Nicaragua.
One step ahead of the assassins, Eric and Alison pick up the doctor’s trail. They discover Waters' reckless experiment flirts with humanity’s extinction. In a race against time, Eric will have to make a fateful choice—sell himself out, keep the peace, and build a life with Alison . . . or go public and become the ultimate targets.
In an economically devastated world, Eric Condra is a jaded journalist with a chip on his shoulder. Used to covering organized crime, he’s been dumped to the science beat. The work is dull, until a groundbreaking story involving genetics falls in his lap.
But the technology involved has dark implications—and the geneticist responsible, Dr. Michael Waters, has vanished.
Eric’s investigation attracts the attention of a hit squad, as well as Dr. Waters’ former patient, Alison. She claims he cured her of a fatal virus, and that he’s hiding out in Nicaragua.
One step ahead of the assassins, Eric and Alison pick up the doctor’s trail. They discover Waters' reckless experiment flirts with humanity’s extinction. In a race against time, Eric will have to make a fateful choice—sell himself out, keep the peace, and build a life with Alison . . . or go public and become the ultimate targets.
288 pages, Paperback
Published June 5, 2025
About the author
Patrick Blennerhassett
8 books2 followersPatrick Blennerhassett is an award-winning Canadian journalist who currently works for the Las Vegas Review-Journal as a real estate and housing reporter. Blennerhassett was previously a reporter for the South China Morning Post, based out of Hong Kong, first starting with the paper in 2018. He was also a journalist all over British Columbia where he worked for a variety of papers starting in the early 2000s, covering numerous beats including crime, politics, economics, real estate and geopolitics. His work has been published in such outlets as The Guardian, The Globe & Mail, Reader’s Digest, The Chicago Tribune, The Seattle Times and the Miami Herald.
Blennerhassett is also an instructor at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada’s Hank Greenspun of Journalism and Media Studies department while also completing his master’s of journalism and media studies. He is a four-time published author, penning the non-fiction book A Forgotten Legend: Balbir Singh Sr., Triple Olympic Gold & Modi’s New India about field hockey’s cast aside icon which was a BC Bestseller book.
Blennerhassett is also an instructor at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada’s Hank Greenspun of Journalism and Media Studies department while also completing his master’s of journalism and media studies. He is a four-time published author, penning the non-fiction book A Forgotten Legend: Balbir Singh Sr., Triple Olympic Gold & Modi’s New India about field hockey’s cast aside icon which was a BC Bestseller book.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 18, 2025
The Death of Birth is a pulse-pounding techno-thriller that expertly blends scientific intrigue with high-stakes action. Patrick Blennerhassett introduces Eric Condra as a relatable yet driven protagonist, whose journalistic instincts pull him into a morally complex and dangerous world. From organized crime to groundbreaking genetic experiments, the narrative keeps readers on edge from start to finish.
What makes this novel particularly gripping is the combination of fast-paced suspense and ethical dilemmas. The stakes escalate naturally, and the pursuit of Dr. Michael Waters adds layers of tension and intrigue. Alison’s involvement not only enriches the narrative but also provides emotional depth to the relentless chase. The story’s careful balance of thriller conventions with thought-provoking science makes it both exciting and intellectually engaging.
At its core, The Death of Birth is about choices under pressure survival, ethics, and the consequences of knowledge. It’s a smart, action-driven thriller that will appeal to fans of Jason Bourne-style espionage and high-concept science fiction.
What makes this novel particularly gripping is the combination of fast-paced suspense and ethical dilemmas. The stakes escalate naturally, and the pursuit of Dr. Michael Waters adds layers of tension and intrigue. Alison’s involvement not only enriches the narrative but also provides emotional depth to the relentless chase. The story’s careful balance of thriller conventions with thought-provoking science makes it both exciting and intellectually engaging.
At its core, The Death of Birth is about choices under pressure survival, ethics, and the consequences of knowledge. It’s a smart, action-driven thriller that will appeal to fans of Jason Bourne-style espionage and high-concept science fiction.
December 9, 2025
The Death of Birth is a sharp, propulsive thriller that blends science, conspiracy, and edge of your seat danger. Eric Condra makes a compelling everyman protagonist jaded, cynical, and suddenly pulled into something far bigger than the “science beat” he never wanted. The globe spanning chase, the moral tension of uncovering world altering genetic research, and Alison’s mysterious connection to Dr. Waters all give the story a cinematic feel. It’s the kind of thriller that keeps you flipping pages late into the night, wondering just how far humanity will go in the name of progress and what it costs to expose the truth.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews