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The Nemesis Cell: A Medical Crime Thriller
Gripping medical thriller from Brian L. Porter, author of Purple Death.
A group of women gather at a fertility clinic where Dr. Margherita Dumas offers a revolutionary, experimental treatment for their infertility problems. A year later, each of the women give birth to healthy baby boys.
Thirty years later, a mysterious killer begins to wipe out the children born as a result of Dumas’ programme. Detective Inspector Harry Houston and his team are assigned to piece together the case and bring the killer to justice.
With time and clues in short supply, can Harry and his team find the link between events of the past and the deaths of the innocent progeny of Clinique Sobel?
A group of women gather at a fertility clinic where Dr. Margherita Dumas offers a revolutionary, experimental treatment for their infertility problems. A year later, each of the women give birth to healthy baby boys.
Thirty years later, a mysterious killer begins to wipe out the children born as a result of Dumas’ programme. Detective Inspector Harry Houston and his team are assigned to piece together the case and bring the killer to justice.
With time and clues in short supply, can Harry and his team find the link between events of the past and the deaths of the innocent progeny of Clinique Sobel?
- GenresThriller
223 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2007
About the author
Brian L. Porter
62 books71 followersFormerly a member of the Royal Air Force, Brian L Porter is an award-winning author, and a dedicated dog rescuer, with the distinction of having more than twenty Amazon #1 bestsellers to his name. He has written under three pseudonyms, with bestsellers coming under each of his writing guises. The majority of those have come under his Brian L Porter name with four coming under his Harry Porter and Juan Pablo Jalisco names.
Nowadays, he divides his time between writing his popular Mersey Murder Mystery series of books, and his immensely successful true-life Family of Rescue Dogs series, all featuring the dogs that form part of his own family, and all having been Amazon #1 bestsellers.
Nowadays, he divides his time between writing his popular Mersey Murder Mystery series of books, and his immensely successful true-life Family of Rescue Dogs series, all featuring the dogs that form part of his own family, and all having been Amazon #1 bestsellers.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 22, 2019
The Nemesis Cell by Bryan L Porter
If I had to sum this book up in one word I would say “intriguing”. Amazon says this is “a chilling tale of scientific exploitation, murder and mystery.” What would you do if you could not have children but desperately wanted a child? Would you be willing to undergo an experimental procedure that you were not allowed to tell anyone about? A group of women do just this.
Several women undergo an experimental treatment at a fertility clinic run by a Dr. Margherita Dumas. All of them become pregnant. All of them give birth to what seems to be a healthy baby boy. Then the story jumps thirty years and strange things start happening to the fathers of these children and to the children themselves. The women have no contact with each other so have no way of knowing that what is happening to them is not unique to them. Detective Inspector Harry Houston and his team are brought in to find out what is happening and to bring the “killer” to justice.
This is not an ordinary “who dunit” mystery. Bryan Porter tells a tale with twists and turns woven within the chapters. He writes in a style that makes reading go smoothly. He writes in a manner that made me want to keep reading. It was extremely difficult to stop at the end of any chapter to go do something else because the end of each chapter made me want to keep reading.
This is the first book I have read by this author and it definitely won’t be the last.
04.11.19
If I had to sum this book up in one word I would say “intriguing”. Amazon says this is “a chilling tale of scientific exploitation, murder and mystery.” What would you do if you could not have children but desperately wanted a child? Would you be willing to undergo an experimental procedure that you were not allowed to tell anyone about? A group of women do just this.
Several women undergo an experimental treatment at a fertility clinic run by a Dr. Margherita Dumas. All of them become pregnant. All of them give birth to what seems to be a healthy baby boy. Then the story jumps thirty years and strange things start happening to the fathers of these children and to the children themselves. The women have no contact with each other so have no way of knowing that what is happening to them is not unique to them. Detective Inspector Harry Houston and his team are brought in to find out what is happening and to bring the “killer” to justice.
This is not an ordinary “who dunit” mystery. Bryan Porter tells a tale with twists and turns woven within the chapters. He writes in a style that makes reading go smoothly. He writes in a manner that made me want to keep reading. It was extremely difficult to stop at the end of any chapter to go do something else because the end of each chapter made me want to keep reading.
This is the first book I have read by this author and it definitely won’t be the last.
04.11.19
July 11, 2017
Birth Death and Suspense
The author, Brian L Porter, gives so much information without giving anything away. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to turn to the back and end the suspense. You know people are dying, but why? Thirty years ago, babies were born to families who supposedly were unable to have children. Only when a Scottish detective, working on the death of a local man makes a connection with similar deaths, in London and in Ireland, do the police discover that all the victims are identical in appearance and share identical DNA. Further investigation by Detective Inspector Harry Houston and his murder squad in Aberdeen finds an unlikely link with deaths as far afield as the USA, Italy, and Poland. Houston is appointed as head of an international task force, and he and his detectives slowly unravel a tentative link to a mysterious fertility clinic in Belgium that was destroyed by fire many years ago, and its brilliant director, Dr. Margherita Dumas. Why did Dumas give birth to identical twins before the birth of the 'miracle babies' and what significance do they have on on Houston's investigation? As death stalks the children born of the Clinique Sobel, Houston unravels a terrifying scenario which carries a sinister connection to the Nazi death camps of World War Two. Find a comfy place and set aside time before reading The Nemesis Cell because you will not put it down until you are finished. It's that good.
The author, Brian L Porter, gives so much information without giving anything away. I can't tell you how many times I wanted to turn to the back and end the suspense. You know people are dying, but why? Thirty years ago, babies were born to families who supposedly were unable to have children. Only when a Scottish detective, working on the death of a local man makes a connection with similar deaths, in London and in Ireland, do the police discover that all the victims are identical in appearance and share identical DNA. Further investigation by Detective Inspector Harry Houston and his murder squad in Aberdeen finds an unlikely link with deaths as far afield as the USA, Italy, and Poland. Houston is appointed as head of an international task force, and he and his detectives slowly unravel a tentative link to a mysterious fertility clinic in Belgium that was destroyed by fire many years ago, and its brilliant director, Dr. Margherita Dumas. Why did Dumas give birth to identical twins before the birth of the 'miracle babies' and what significance do they have on on Houston's investigation? As death stalks the children born of the Clinique Sobel, Houston unravels a terrifying scenario which carries a sinister connection to the Nazi death camps of World War Two. Find a comfy place and set aside time before reading The Nemesis Cell because you will not put it down until you are finished. It's that good.
January 14, 2019
This book definitely has a creepy vibe. My problem with it is that with the changing perspectives, you don't really get to know any of the characters and what makes them tick. You do get the overall perspective of how far the insanity goes. I do wonder if the mothers ever fully know what happened in the end. Considering the cops stance on everything at the end, I am kind of led to believe that they never knew. Overall, it was an interesting book and had it been limited to one or 2 viewpoints, it may have been much better.
August 29, 2021
'The Nemesis Cell' by Brian L. Porter
Present day: The brilliant Doctor Margherita Dumas has made a name for herself in the world of fertility, but she hides a deep secret. In her younger days, Dumas and a male partner carried out an unethical fertility experiment of human cloning without permission. They selected six women who were desperate to conceive and willing to do almost anything to become mothers. These women were chosen for the similarities in their looks, physique and poor economic status.
After their stay in the Clinique Sobel in Brussels where the women agree to certain conditions in order to stay in the trial, they return to their homes across Europe and nine months later, they all give birth to healthy baby boys - or are they?
Almost thirty years later, after a string of tragic events, Dumas’ secret is about to come out, and the cold-hearted doctor resorts to desperate measures to ensure her secret remains hidden.
This is a fast-paced book, that is easy for a layman to understand regarding the science it deals with. A chilling reminder of how far scientific experiments could go when not properly controlled. I found the whole topic thought-provoking, especially during these difficult times with Covid-19 and the vaccines. Let’s hope this writer’s ideas are just that, ideas, and that all of us who have been vaccinated are not ticking time bombs! (Gulp!)
Present day: The brilliant Doctor Margherita Dumas has made a name for herself in the world of fertility, but she hides a deep secret. In her younger days, Dumas and a male partner carried out an unethical fertility experiment of human cloning without permission. They selected six women who were desperate to conceive and willing to do almost anything to become mothers. These women were chosen for the similarities in their looks, physique and poor economic status.
After their stay in the Clinique Sobel in Brussels where the women agree to certain conditions in order to stay in the trial, they return to their homes across Europe and nine months later, they all give birth to healthy baby boys - or are they?
Almost thirty years later, after a string of tragic events, Dumas’ secret is about to come out, and the cold-hearted doctor resorts to desperate measures to ensure her secret remains hidden.
This is a fast-paced book, that is easy for a layman to understand regarding the science it deals with. A chilling reminder of how far scientific experiments could go when not properly controlled. I found the whole topic thought-provoking, especially during these difficult times with Covid-19 and the vaccines. Let’s hope this writer’s ideas are just that, ideas, and that all of us who have been vaccinated are not ticking time bombs! (Gulp!)
April 28, 2017
The storyline had potential but just didn't get anywhere. The writing was poor and jerked along, there was no flow at all. For whatever reason the author felt the need to over explain or re-explain many things, perhaps thinking the reader forgot what was on the previous page or somehow lacked the sense to make a reasonable connection. There was also a lot of time being overly descriptive about things that didn't matter. The characters were poorly developed, I didn't feel a connection to any of them, good or bad. In addition, there were a significant number of spelling and grammatical errors which is always irritating.
Here's a typical long winded and overly descriptive sentence: When Simon Carlisle, a man of some wealth and standing from the town of Windsor in Berkshire had been found dead lying next to an equally deceased salmon of huge proportions on the banks of the River Dee not far from the brand new Craigdarroch Hotel near the picturesque little town of Banchory, about 18 miles from the city, (are you still reading!?!) Houston and his team were called in to solve the puzzling case.
You'd think after all that, this was a vital part of the story, but no, completely unconnected.
Two stars was generous.
Here's a typical long winded and overly descriptive sentence: When Simon Carlisle, a man of some wealth and standing from the town of Windsor in Berkshire had been found dead lying next to an equally deceased salmon of huge proportions on the banks of the River Dee not far from the brand new Craigdarroch Hotel near the picturesque little town of Banchory, about 18 miles from the city, (are you still reading!?!) Houston and his team were called in to solve the puzzling case.
You'd think after all that, this was a vital part of the story, but no, completely unconnected.
Two stars was generous.
September 6, 2020
When a group of young couples from working-class backgrounds are offered fertility treatment in order to produce a much wanted child, it almost seems too good to be true. Whisked away to a private clinic in Brussels, the mothers are put under the watchful eyes of Doctors Dumas & Renaud, who have gone as far as having a set of twins using the same ground-breaking process. However, as years pass, it’s evident that there was a flaw in the genetic makeup which will have far-reaching consequences for all involved. With a great plot, plenty of twists & an expertly told storyline, this is yet another great read from one of my favourite authors.
August 2, 2022
Un misterio bien construido permite la intriga y que poco a poco se vaya develando (ahora es "desvelando" pero eso siempre fue quedarse en vela), es decir que la incontinencia verbal arruinaría la intriga y es exactamente lo que sucede con este libro.
Quizá, si hubiera puesto más detalle, este libro tendría unas 600 páginas pero eso requeriría meditar y de tiempo. La premisa es interesante, al menos para pasar el rato, el desarrollo es una cuestión distinta. Nacen los niños y se da a entender desde un principio que no es lo que parece, cuando finalmente nos topamos con la idea del autor, ni siquiera nos sorprendemos.
¿La excusa? La doctora Margherita Dumas, el cerebro de la operación es mala. Así, no hay mucho más que el ser hija de (tampoco es demasiado pensado en esa parte) y de haber criado a los niños sin corazón porque para ella el exceso de sentimentalismo es malo. O sea, que el autor avala el exceso de sentimentalismo, como así también comenta en una parte que ella es de derecha (eso la haría aun más perversa, ¿eh?) y que no quiere tener a ningún socialista como referente de nada, acto seguido tiene una foto de Hitler. Brian Porter debería revisar los libros de historia de nuevo, se ve que no entendió muy bien que nazismo es una abreviatura de nacionalsocialismo, menos mal que no los quería cerca.
De ahí en adelante es todo una cuesta abajo. Y los asesinatos son idénticos, lo siento si les arruino esa parte pero es así, ni siquiera varían y tan lineales son que sólo describe los primeros. Hemos gastado valiosos minutos, además, en conocer desde el nacimiento hasta la adultez del detective que investigará el caso no sé muy bien para qué.
Como dijo alguien por ahí, al llegar al final, ya sabíamos todo.
Quizá, si hubiera puesto más detalle, este libro tendría unas 600 páginas pero eso requeriría meditar y de tiempo. La premisa es interesante, al menos para pasar el rato, el desarrollo es una cuestión distinta. Nacen los niños y se da a entender desde un principio que no es lo que parece, cuando finalmente nos topamos con la idea del autor, ni siquiera nos sorprendemos.
¿La excusa? La doctora Margherita Dumas, el cerebro de la operación es mala. Así, no hay mucho más que el ser hija de (tampoco es demasiado pensado en esa parte) y de haber criado a los niños sin corazón porque para ella el exceso de sentimentalismo es malo. O sea, que el autor avala el exceso de sentimentalismo, como así también comenta en una parte que ella es de derecha (eso la haría aun más perversa, ¿eh?) y que no quiere tener a ningún socialista como referente de nada, acto seguido tiene una foto de Hitler. Brian Porter debería revisar los libros de historia de nuevo, se ve que no entendió muy bien que nazismo es una abreviatura de nacionalsocialismo, menos mal que no los quería cerca.
De ahí en adelante es todo una cuesta abajo. Y los asesinatos son idénticos, lo siento si les arruino esa parte pero es así, ni siquiera varían y tan lineales son que sólo describe los primeros. Hemos gastado valiosos minutos, además, en conocer desde el nacimiento hasta la adultez del detective que investigará el caso no sé muy bien para qué.
Como dijo alguien por ahí, al llegar al final, ya sabíamos todo.
August 1, 2022
Another excellent book by Brian Porter. This story is a medical thriller based in Scotland and other parts of Europe, with some scenes set in New York. I have no knowledge of medical practices, so began to read with some trepidation, which proved completely unnecessary.
The quality of the writing carries the reader on a trip that he or she will enjoy. I am not a fast reader, preferring to savour and analyse as I progress, but the Nemesis Cell is an absolute page-turner.
I do not like to put spoilers in reviews, so will not give away the plot. However, I will say that the central medical character, Dr. Margueritte Dumas and her partner in a Belgian fertility clinic, are not what a concerned patient would hope for. A large part of the story is set in Aberdeen, in Scotland, which added to the appeal, as that city is relatively close to my home.
The story builds up, always holding the reader’s attention with quality writing, and with numerous twists and turns. Unusually, the main characters are not on the side of the Angels, but support the dark forces. The main ‘good’ character is Inspector Harry Houston, a Scottish policeman from the rural heartland of Aberdeenshire. In a way, he reminds me of some of the solid 19th century Scottish police who emerged from the north to terrorise the criminal element of the south. Donald Mackay, perhaps, the Caithness copper who ruled Dundee with a truncheon of iron.
Houston manages to jig-saw together an international set of clues to solve a very unpleasant set of incidents that has echoes of both the past and future in this extremely clever novel.
I give it a very easy five stars.
The quality of the writing carries the reader on a trip that he or she will enjoy. I am not a fast reader, preferring to savour and analyse as I progress, but the Nemesis Cell is an absolute page-turner.
I do not like to put spoilers in reviews, so will not give away the plot. However, I will say that the central medical character, Dr. Margueritte Dumas and her partner in a Belgian fertility clinic, are not what a concerned patient would hope for. A large part of the story is set in Aberdeen, in Scotland, which added to the appeal, as that city is relatively close to my home.
The story builds up, always holding the reader’s attention with quality writing, and with numerous twists and turns. Unusually, the main characters are not on the side of the Angels, but support the dark forces. The main ‘good’ character is Inspector Harry Houston, a Scottish policeman from the rural heartland of Aberdeenshire. In a way, he reminds me of some of the solid 19th century Scottish police who emerged from the north to terrorise the criminal element of the south. Donald Mackay, perhaps, the Caithness copper who ruled Dundee with a truncheon of iron.
Houston manages to jig-saw together an international set of clues to solve a very unpleasant set of incidents that has echoes of both the past and future in this extremely clever novel.
I give it a very easy five stars.
September 3, 2021
The Nemesis Cell; Brian L. Porter
Present day: The brilliant Doctor Margherita Dumas has made a name for herself in the world of fertility, but she hides a deep secret. In her younger days, Dumas and a male partner carried out an unethical fertility experiment of human cloning without permission. They selected six women who were desperate to conceive and willing to do almost anything to become mothers. These women were chosen for the similarities in their looks, physique and poor economic status.
After their stay in the Clinique Sobel in Brussels where the women agree to certain conditions in order to stay in the trial, they return to their homes across Europe and nine months later, they all give birth to healthy baby boys - or are they?
Almost thirty years later, after a string of tragic events, Dumas’ secret is about to come out, and the cold-hearted doctor resorts to desperate measures to ensure her secret remains hidden.
This is a fast-paced book, that is easy for a layman to understand regarding the science it deals with. A chilling reminder of how far scientific experiments could go when not properly controlled. I found the whole topic thought-provoking, especially during these difficult times with Covid-19 and the vaccines. Let’s hope this writer’s ideas are just that, ideas, and that all of us who have been vaccinated are not ticking time bombs! (Gulp!)
Present day: The brilliant Doctor Margherita Dumas has made a name for herself in the world of fertility, but she hides a deep secret. In her younger days, Dumas and a male partner carried out an unethical fertility experiment of human cloning without permission. They selected six women who were desperate to conceive and willing to do almost anything to become mothers. These women were chosen for the similarities in their looks, physique and poor economic status.
After their stay in the Clinique Sobel in Brussels where the women agree to certain conditions in order to stay in the trial, they return to their homes across Europe and nine months later, they all give birth to healthy baby boys - or are they?
Almost thirty years later, after a string of tragic events, Dumas’ secret is about to come out, and the cold-hearted doctor resorts to desperate measures to ensure her secret remains hidden.
This is a fast-paced book, that is easy for a layman to understand regarding the science it deals with. A chilling reminder of how far scientific experiments could go when not properly controlled. I found the whole topic thought-provoking, especially during these difficult times with Covid-19 and the vaccines. Let’s hope this writer’s ideas are just that, ideas, and that all of us who have been vaccinated are not ticking time bombs! (Gulp!)
January 31, 2022
What happens when scientific advancement is entrusted to the wrong hands? This is an ethical question that Mr Porter poses in The Nemesis Cell. Fame and fortune drive two brilliant scientists to apparently grant the dearest wish of five infertile couples carefully selected from around the globe. As the story unfolds, their fondest desire transforms into a nightmare. A brilliant young Scottish detective enhances his reputation by pitting his wits against the fanaticism of an unscrupulous, but extremely intelligent scientist. In this book, Brian Porter addresses a real ethical theme debated by preeminent scientific and political minds at the end of the last century. Always bold and clear-thinking, the author has created a thought-provoking and thrilling crime novel: definitely 5 stars from this reader.
January 16, 2021
Playing God
A brilliant doctor with a twisted mind and cold heart pairs with an equally intelligent and ambitious physician to perfect human cloning. Preying on the desperation of infertile and impoverished couples, they loose into the world the results of their experiment. But when it comes time to pull the plug the doctor is shocked to learn that law enforcement is not that far off.
This is an interesting fast paced book. No good comes from playing God and the saddest part was that the love and nurture eschewed by the doctor made a tremendous difference in the lives of some of the clones. Good book, fast and enjoyable read.
A brilliant doctor with a twisted mind and cold heart pairs with an equally intelligent and ambitious physician to perfect human cloning. Preying on the desperation of infertile and impoverished couples, they loose into the world the results of their experiment. But when it comes time to pull the plug the doctor is shocked to learn that law enforcement is not that far off.
This is an interesting fast paced book. No good comes from playing God and the saddest part was that the love and nurture eschewed by the doctor made a tremendous difference in the lives of some of the clones. Good book, fast and enjoyable read.
May 29, 2017
Predictable
Not a lot of suspense, story drags on. The author then tries to tie loose ends to conclude the scenario.
Not a lot of suspense, story drags on. The author then tries to tie loose ends to conclude the scenario.
July 25, 2017
Very old-fashioned and derivative.
January 14, 2018
The Nemesis cell
Not my typical type of book to read but honestly I could not put it down. It is scary to think this could possibly happen. I really enjoyed reading this book
Not my typical type of book to read but honestly I could not put it down. It is scary to think this could possibly happen. I really enjoyed reading this book
October 12, 2018
Very different but good in a futuristic way and was intriguing to read.
October 2, 2017
The Nemesis Cell by Brian L. Porter is one of the author’s earlier works, predating his well-received Mersey cozy mystery series. Featuring Detective Inspector Harry Houston and his partner Debbie Forbes, it is an intriguing and suspenseful sojourn across Europe into the world of medical engineering. A highly secretive social experiment known as the Genesis Project begins to bear fruit under the guidance of Dr. Margherita Dumas and Dr. Alexander Renaud. Genetic engineering allows couples to raise families with their gifted offspring. Only a trail of murders leads Houston to believe the children’s environments are being molded by any means necessary. It leads him into a conspiracy beyond anything he could imagine.
Porter’s novel provides a glimpse behind the scenes into one of the controversial topics of our generation. More and more couples are considering scientific alternatives for reasons of infertility or genetic deficiencies. Although the concept of genetic engineering is not new and the question of ‘nature vs. nurture’ even more dated, the medical options grow more available as well as questionable. The author’s research makes this an authentic read and one well worth contemplation. Pick up a copy of The Nemesis Cell by Brian L. Porter and enjoy the ride.
Porter’s novel provides a glimpse behind the scenes into one of the controversial topics of our generation. More and more couples are considering scientific alternatives for reasons of infertility or genetic deficiencies. Although the concept of genetic engineering is not new and the question of ‘nature vs. nurture’ even more dated, the medical options grow more available as well as questionable. The author’s research makes this an authentic read and one well worth contemplation. Pick up a copy of The Nemesis Cell by Brian L. Porter and enjoy the ride.
November 30, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this very well written novel. Porter created great characters, used a premise that demanded to be built into an enigma and then blasted the reader with what was expected but with twists and turns. The book is masterfully crafted and built to a final crashing climax, then you are left with a real question mark. I give it a five star review for a variety of reasons, the most important of which is its readability.
February 7, 2018
Great concept,’but the execution failed. I would have preferred to know more about the men as adults, more Inspector Houston and his road to becoming the right sort of detective necessary to solve such a crazy case.
And waaaayyy too many “Little did they know” type phrases at the end of sections. It got annoying fast.
And waaaayyy too many “Little did they know” type phrases at the end of sections. It got annoying fast.
June 24, 2015
This book is more for the sci-fi minded rather than a mystery lover. The actual investigation actually takes up only the last 15% of the book. It is okay as a quick read, but the premise alone--babies at any price--was a turn-off.
September 27, 2016
Interesting and creepy!
Fast paced, strong characters and good plot. Finished this quickly - had to know the ending...... Hope there's more from Scottish Harry? X
Fast paced, strong characters and good plot. Finished this quickly - had to know the ending...... Hope there's more from Scottish Harry? X
April 18, 2017
Excellent read for thriller readers . Had me gripped from start to finish
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December 19, 2017Free on Kindle today :)
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