Flashblind

by Paul Bernstein

A half-century after the dawn of the atomic age, the Freedom of Information Act forces the United States government to release the actual records of the Congressional Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments. FLASHBLIND exposes the truth behind the final Manhattan Project secret that would change the world forever. Jake Holden, a leading-edge geneticist, returns to the Los Alamos Human Genome Project when his brother, who has Xeroderma Pigmentosa, a rare genetic DNA disorder, is diagnosed with terminal cancer. His only hope is to sequence and repair the gene in the Los Alamos National lab, the site of their father's fatal radiation accident and his nightmares. Iran, Iraq, and growing terrorist threats put new life into a cold war doomsday plan to give the government more options than just "duck and cover." Doctor William Ramsdale, a fossil left over from the days of the Manhattan Project, gets the go ahead to continue his unethical program of human radiation experiments to find a way to protect our DNA from radiation poisoning. Patients, including pregnant women, prisoners and retarded children, were used without their knowledge or consent, because "they are cheaper than chimpanzees." With the help of the Los Alamos Lab's beautiful Navajo personnel director, Jake uncovers the clandestine relationship between the Department of Energy and the Human Genome project, a discovery that destroys his career and threatens his life. His dream of saving his brother depends on uncovering the secrets of the past while struggling in the mire of a modern day big pharma and government conspiracy. To cure his brother, Jake must possess the Holy Grail of modern science--the ability to rewrite human DNA--and stop Ramsdale from taking everyone down a path of madness. Is it a coincidence or conspiracy that the two most significant scientific races of our time--namely the development of the atomic bomb and the sequencing of the genetic code--took place in the U.S. Department of Energy laboratories in Los Alamos, New Mexico? The author, Paul Bernstein, MD, has treated patients who were intentionally exposed by the government to atomic bomb radiation, and subsequently developed malignant cancers. He understands their suffering and has dedicated this book to them. Dr. Bernstein, a Head and Neck Surgeon, is the Medical Director of the largest medical group in California, the former Chairman of the American Cancer Society's Head and Neck Division, and has appeared as a medical expert on radio and television.

Genres: Thriller

370 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2012

About the author

The author, Paul Bernstein, MD, has treated patients who were intentionally exposed by the government to atomic bomb radiation, and subsequently developed malignant cancers. He understands their suffering and has dedicated this book to them. Dr. Bernstein, a Head and Neck Surgeon, is the Medical Director of the largest medical group in California, the former Chairman of the American Cancer Society’s Head and Neck Division, and has appeared as a medical expert on radio and television.





For more information please contact the author at paulbernstein@flashblindnovel.com or www.zovabooks.com.

Reviews

[Peter Okonkwo · Rating 5 out of 5]

FLASHBLIND BY PAUL BERNSTEIN, MD

A highly suspenseful, gritty medical thriller

"I think it splashed on me, on my skin. And I think some went in my mouth." An excerpt from page 233.

Flashblind is a one-of-a-kind novel that held me enthralled, captivated, and emotional until I finished reading the last page. I have read some of Paul Bernstein's novels, but this one knocks me off my heels. Powerfully descriptive, overly emotional, intriguing characterization, vivid laboratory description, scenic storytelling techniques, extensive vocabulary, and many more. Undoubtedly, this book will make a great movie, as well as deserving a prestigious literary award.

Flashblind detailed the story of Jake Holden, a brilliant geneticist who relocated to his hometown to continue his research on a rare genetic disorder, one that is killing his brother Sean and he urgently needs to find a cure for it. However, on getting to Los Alamos National Lab, he finds out that the lab has a history of illegal experiments. One that piqued his interest most was to uncover the cause of the many hidden secrets, especially the one lined with the history of his family's health.

Jake, while working on sequencing the Xeroderma Pigmentosa realized that there is much to the XP sequencing. First, by the strict instruction of his contract working in Ramsdale's lab, one of which information cannot be shared, long roles of seeking approval, and many more. Jake's suspicion was heightened when Edward Copeland, another prestigious laboratory in the country offered him a contract to work with him, and when his hard drive went missing. This together with the death of his hard-earned Bat left him thinking someone out there has plans to sabotage his research.

Los Alamos National Lab is well known for its history in research. And so, there is a huge sum of money that would be earned by whoever got the gene sequencing, which in return, would save not only America, but the entire world, and help humans survive the impediment nuclear war. On the other way around, greedy Edward Copeland is trying hard to be the first to present the human genone project, to sequence the gene responsible for DNA repair, illegally of course. He had set a gang up to track and steal Jake's files.

While Jake works at Los Alamos, he begins to realize the secrets behind his family history, especially knowing that his mother who suffers from cancer has been nothing less than a lab rat in the hands of Dr. Ramsdale. He explored the death of his father, Sam Holden who once worked at the same lab. Jake through courage and fear sneaked into Ramsdale's office to retrieve the 1968 Atomic Energy Commission file, after uncovering Ramdsale's secret plans of testing radiation on his patients without their consent. As Jake persist, many more secret continues to unfold. He later discovered how the government released RaLa into the air, and how his mother was pregnant at the time of this release. Again, on how tissue specimens were removed from his father's brain and lungs without his mother's consent. And many more medical atrocities that Ramsdale has done. This part reads shockingly captivating.

I love the introduction of different characters along the line, the likes of beautiful Blaire, I cried knowing how she was mistakenly exposed to radiation and how her father had a bad experience with it too. Blaire, while at the point of death told Jake what to do and how he should stop Ramsdale and Edward from presenting the wrong information. Dr. Williams, Ramsdale's physician has an amazing switch too, one that I wasn't expecting. More reason why I find the book so suspenseful and scenic. Then, my lovely comical Sean, one who despite his health challenges finds peace and acceptance. Michael, Dr. Brigham, Dr. Stuart, Tess Holden, and unrelenting Straub, the most annoying characters in the novel. I wished he had died when the storage room collapsed.

I will restrict revealing more in an attempt to keep this review spoiler-free. However, I would want you to check out if Jake was able to outsmart Ramsdale. Was he able to expose Ramsdale's horrendous secret to the public? Who won the sequencing presentation? Jake, Edward, or Ramsdale? Did Sean who is at the point of death, survive his medical condition? How about Blaire, did she survive the radiation exposure? Who will save the world from the effects of radioactive exposure? Would Ramsdale work away with his medical atrocities? This book left me doing a lot of research. It rekindles my love and admiration for medicine. Been the first medical thriller I've ever read, I found it so profound and there is something extraordinary about Paul Bernstein's writing style. Thoughtful, provoking, scenical, and wonderfully written. I solely recommend Flashblind to lovers of medical thrillers and literature at large.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book I won on Goodreads from Firstreads:

I started off reading this really fast and although my life changed to a slower pace with my having to work, this book never slowed! I loved it every page was so exciting, and towards the end somewhat heart jerking. The main character's brother Sean is diagnosed with melanoma that spreads to his liver and jerks your tears right from your eyes when he displays strength and stubborness at the same time, a true fighter. I loved the writing style I think this book deserves more publicity as many will enjoy this read. I found this book far different a thriller then everyone else is writing, which makes it that much more enjoyable and unique. I rate this book 4 stars and will definitely be recommending it to my friends!