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CRISPR
His son was the experiment. The evidence could save millions. But first, they have to survive.
Wallace Blake spent six years designing gene therapies at CDM Pharmaceuticals. He thought he was curing disease. Then he discovered his nine-year-old son was an unauthorized test subject for weaponized CRISPR technology.
Now he's running with stolen evidence, hunted by corporate assassins and satellite surveillance. His only a betrayed mercenary, a lethal operative, and a hacker who sees too much.
What they
A two-stage virus that rewrites human DNA in real time
Unauthorized human trials on children
A CEO who eliminates board opposition with engineered pathogens
Technology days away from going public
From cargo ship ambushes to Houston boardroom infiltrations, the team races to steal proof before every witness is eliminated.
But CRISPR doesn't just edit genes. It edits the future.
Perfect for readers who
✓ Michael Crichton's bio-thrillers
✓ Cutting-edge genetic science
✓ Corporate conspiracy
✓ Pulse-pounding action
✓ Morally complex characters
Book 2 in the Horizon's Wake series. Can be read as a standalone techno-thriller.
Wallace Blake spent six years designing gene therapies at CDM Pharmaceuticals. He thought he was curing disease. Then he discovered his nine-year-old son was an unauthorized test subject for weaponized CRISPR technology.
Now he's running with stolen evidence, hunted by corporate assassins and satellite surveillance. His only a betrayed mercenary, a lethal operative, and a hacker who sees too much.
What they
A two-stage virus that rewrites human DNA in real time
Unauthorized human trials on children
A CEO who eliminates board opposition with engineered pathogens
Technology days away from going public
From cargo ship ambushes to Houston boardroom infiltrations, the team races to steal proof before every witness is eliminated.
But CRISPR doesn't just edit genes. It edits the future.
Perfect for readers who
✓ Michael Crichton's bio-thrillers
✓ Cutting-edge genetic science
✓ Corporate conspiracy
✓ Pulse-pounding action
✓ Morally complex characters
Book 2 in the Horizon's Wake series. Can be read as a standalone techno-thriller.
Audible Audio
Published June 17, 2026
About the author
Lincoln Cole
75 books500 followersLincoln Cole is a bestselling author of dark supernatural thrillers, theological horror, and grimdark fantasy. Known for visceral show-don't-tell storytelling with morally complex anti-hero protagonists, his work explores themes of redemption, faith under pressure, survival in brutal worlds, and the cost of fighting monsters.
His published series include the World on Fire trilogy (Raven's Peak, Raven's Fall, Raven's Rise), the World of Shadows series (The Everett Exorcism, The Vatican Children, The Bishop's Legacy), The Ashen Kingdoms (Blood and Belief, The Hollow Deep), Graveyard of Empires, and the Last Light series.
Cole writes across multiple genres including urban fantasy, space opera, and military fantasy, but maintains his signature style: brutal realism, religious imagery used literally, protagonists willing to damn themselves to save others, and enemies-to-allies dynamics forged in blood.
When he's not writing, Lincoln spends his time building games, hiking Ohio's trails, and working on far too many projects at once.
Website: lincolncoleauthor.com
His published series include the World on Fire trilogy (Raven's Peak, Raven's Fall, Raven's Rise), the World of Shadows series (The Everett Exorcism, The Vatican Children, The Bishop's Legacy), The Ashen Kingdoms (Blood and Belief, The Hollow Deep), Graveyard of Empires, and the Last Light series.
Cole writes across multiple genres including urban fantasy, space opera, and military fantasy, but maintains his signature style: brutal realism, religious imagery used literally, protagonists willing to damn themselves to save others, and enemies-to-allies dynamics forged in blood.
When he's not writing, Lincoln spends his time building games, hiking Ohio's trails, and working on far too many projects at once.
Website: lincolncoleauthor.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 16, 2018
“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.”: Albert Einstein.
Lincoln Cole never ceases to amaze me, the ability to change genres and come out with a great spy thriller! This story achieves that, and what's more it's a well paced, well structured and engrossing read. The characters’humour, the sarcasm and witty dialogue gives a touch of realism to the plot, full of intrigue, corporate secrets and hazy mystery. Fast paced and lovable protagonists. I definitely recommend the book!
Lincoln Cole never ceases to amaze me, the ability to change genres and come out with a great spy thriller! This story achieves that, and what's more it's a well paced, well structured and engrossing read. The characters’humour, the sarcasm and witty dialogue gives a touch of realism to the plot, full of intrigue, corporate secrets and hazy mystery. Fast paced and lovable protagonists. I definitely recommend the book!
August 8, 2018
I have been following this author for a while now and every book I read keeps me going.
This newest story is a great spy thriller. Once I started reading it, I could put it down. Characters were well developed and story line followed a logical order. At no time did the story go off course.
One of the factors that really impacted my favorable rating was that there was some humor inserted in the banter between the main characters. It made the story more human then most spy thrillers, which tend to be too structured.
Another thing I like about Lincoln is that each story can be self contained. No need to move on to the next story to get to a finish point, though I can’t wait to meet these characters again.
This newest story is a great spy thriller. Once I started reading it, I could put it down. Characters were well developed and story line followed a logical order. At no time did the story go off course.
One of the factors that really impacted my favorable rating was that there was some humor inserted in the banter between the main characters. It made the story more human then most spy thrillers, which tend to be too structured.
Another thing I like about Lincoln is that each story can be self contained. No need to move on to the next story to get to a finish point, though I can’t wait to meet these characters again.
November 19, 2018
An intricate plot woven around a potential, technological nightmare
In terms of doomsday scenarios, editing human genes with horrifying, heritable results has to be near the top of the list. That, in a sentence, is the scientific terror featured in Lincoln Cole’s latest technothriller, CRISPR. And in case you think this is all in the imagination of a creative author, note that if you search for CRISPR in Amazon books, his fiction will appear right alongside the laboratory manuals and academic tomes on this gene-editing methodology. There’s more truth to Cole’s fiction than we might want to admit.
The plot Cole weaves around this potentially lethal science is complex, with old acquaintances on opposing sides – one trying to destroy a mysterious cargo while the other tries to save it. And even loyalty within a team is just a matter of money, as crosses and double-crosses abound. I won’t describe the plot further, because the reader has to peel back this onion right along with our co-protagonists. And that mystery is almost half the book.
Our co-protagonists are Kate Allison and Lyle Goldman, individuals hired for the dirty jobs big business doesn’t want us to know about. Kate is the experienced hand, craving the adrenaline rush she gets from the work. Lyle is the newbie, expert software hacker and … well, this one sentence summarizes him for me. “Lyle picked the comfiest-looking chair in the room, which still ended up too hard and cold ….” But his self-absorption is fading, albeit slowly, as he tries to fit into Kate’s world.
There are a few minor inconsistencies in the story. For example, early on, a caterer stumbles on a room that later was described as an area only our villain could access. And the leisurely way the bad guys attacked their targets, seemingly unconcerned if the police were more than 30 seconds away, was a bit of a stretch. But in general, the action was intense, fast-paced, and believable.
Overall, CRISPR boasts an intricately fashioned plot woven around a potential, technological nightmare. I couldn’t get enough of it.
In terms of doomsday scenarios, editing human genes with horrifying, heritable results has to be near the top of the list. That, in a sentence, is the scientific terror featured in Lincoln Cole’s latest technothriller, CRISPR. And in case you think this is all in the imagination of a creative author, note that if you search for CRISPR in Amazon books, his fiction will appear right alongside the laboratory manuals and academic tomes on this gene-editing methodology. There’s more truth to Cole’s fiction than we might want to admit.
The plot Cole weaves around this potentially lethal science is complex, with old acquaintances on opposing sides – one trying to destroy a mysterious cargo while the other tries to save it. And even loyalty within a team is just a matter of money, as crosses and double-crosses abound. I won’t describe the plot further, because the reader has to peel back this onion right along with our co-protagonists. And that mystery is almost half the book.
Our co-protagonists are Kate Allison and Lyle Goldman, individuals hired for the dirty jobs big business doesn’t want us to know about. Kate is the experienced hand, craving the adrenaline rush she gets from the work. Lyle is the newbie, expert software hacker and … well, this one sentence summarizes him for me. “Lyle picked the comfiest-looking chair in the room, which still ended up too hard and cold ….” But his self-absorption is fading, albeit slowly, as he tries to fit into Kate’s world.
There are a few minor inconsistencies in the story. For example, early on, a caterer stumbles on a room that later was described as an area only our villain could access. And the leisurely way the bad guys attacked their targets, seemingly unconcerned if the police were more than 30 seconds away, was a bit of a stretch. But in general, the action was intense, fast-paced, and believable.
Overall, CRISPR boasts an intricately fashioned plot woven around a potential, technological nightmare. I couldn’t get enough of it.
October 9, 2018
Computer hackers, gene hackers, and a twisty plot
I first encountered Kate Allison and Lyle Goldman in Lincoln Cole’s UAV novella. I gave it four stars. I was several chapters into CRISPR before I made the connection between the two. (I wish that Amazon had indicated the linkage between the two. I guess UVA would be a prequel to CRISPR – which is apparently “Horizon’s Wake Book 1 according to the title page of the paperback…)
For the record, I received the paperback copy as a reward for contributing to Lincoln Cole’s Kickstarter Fund Campaign. I purchased the e-book version so that I would get the “Verified Purchase” cachet when writing the review. (And the e-book version mentions that UAV is Horizon’s Wake Book 0… )
It would seem that a considerable amount of time has passed between the two books. What had started as an accidental encounter between meek and mild computer hacker Lyle Goldman, and bad-assed Kate Allison, has evolved into a high-risk partnership. This contract is about a pharmaceutical company with evil intent, the conflicting priorities of multiple forces, and a nice flow of action blended with the idea of gene manipulation as a targeted method of killing.
If it has a weakness, it is in the lack of character background, although there is a bit of character development as the story unfolds.
Bottom line – I await the next novel in this series with considerable anticipation.
I first encountered Kate Allison and Lyle Goldman in Lincoln Cole’s UAV novella. I gave it four stars. I was several chapters into CRISPR before I made the connection between the two. (I wish that Amazon had indicated the linkage between the two. I guess UVA would be a prequel to CRISPR – which is apparently “Horizon’s Wake Book 1 according to the title page of the paperback…)
For the record, I received the paperback copy as a reward for contributing to Lincoln Cole’s Kickstarter Fund Campaign. I purchased the e-book version so that I would get the “Verified Purchase” cachet when writing the review. (And the e-book version mentions that UAV is Horizon’s Wake Book 0… )
It would seem that a considerable amount of time has passed between the two books. What had started as an accidental encounter between meek and mild computer hacker Lyle Goldman, and bad-assed Kate Allison, has evolved into a high-risk partnership. This contract is about a pharmaceutical company with evil intent, the conflicting priorities of multiple forces, and a nice flow of action blended with the idea of gene manipulation as a targeted method of killing.
If it has a weakness, it is in the lack of character background, although there is a bit of character development as the story unfolds.
Bottom line – I await the next novel in this series with considerable anticipation.
January 28, 2019
3.5 rounded to 4* more action than science, action was very good, but some personal
conversations between the MC's male and female where too repetitive and boring.
Longer review to follow and be published when I feel like it.
conversations between the MC's male and female where too repetitive and boring.
Longer review to follow and be published when I feel like it.
December 31, 2020
This is a neat story as if you like a well written book, you will enjoy this book. Mercenaries Kate Allsion and Lyle Goldman take on a job that blows up in their face. They become the hunted by powerful people who want them silenced permanently. Hard to put this book down until you finsih it.
February 24, 2020
A very deeply-woven plot full of twists and turns. A fantastic tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat right through to the end.
July 21, 2021
I expected more real science, not a watered-down thriller with unbelievable characters.
July 28, 2021
Lincoln Cole is an amazing author who works magic into his books. CRISPR showcases his talent and intelligence. Excellent novel!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews