Devil's Cure: A Novel

by Kenneth Oppel

Convicted murderer David Haines sits on death row. Meanwhile, researcher Dr. Laura Donaldson discovers that Haines’s blood may hold the cure to cancer. When she unwittingly helps Haines escape, she and FBI agent Kevin Sheldrake embark on a terrifying manhunt. It is imperative that Haines be brought back alive—but he’d sooner kill himself than offer his blood to medical science.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Canada, Mystery, Book Club, Science Fiction, Thriller Suspense

568 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

I was born in 1967 in Port Alberni, a mill town on Vancouver Island, British Columbia but spent the bulk of my childhood in Victoria, B.C. and on the opposite coast, in Halifax, Nova Scotia...At around twelve I decided I wanted to be a writer (this came after deciding I wanted to be a scientist, and then an architect). I started out writing sci-fi epics (my Star Wars phase) then went on to swords and sorcery tales (my Dungeons and Dragons phase) and then, during the summer holiday when I was fourteen, started on a humorous story about a boy addicted to video games (written, of course, during my video game phase). It turned out to be quite a long story, really a short novel, and I rewrote it the next summer. We had a family friend who knew Roald Dahl - one of my favourite authors - and this friend offered to show Dahl my story. I was paralysed with excitement. I never heard back from Roald Dahl directly, but he read my story, and liked it enough to pass on to his own literary agent. I got a letter from them, saying they wanted to take me on, and try to sell my story. And they did.

Reviews

[Jacob Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

One thing you can definitely say about Kenneth Oppel is that his novels are always incredibly well researched. I learned more about cancer research and cults than I ever would have imagined, or even would have liked, to be honest.

Unfortunately, for a thriller, the suspense was left until far too late. The novel plodded along with semi-interesting characters until a thrilling conclusion, but it was almost too little, too late. Informative and not entirely unentertaining, but not something I would recommend.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanted to take a short break from YA novels, and give adult novels a try. Am glad that I picked this one.
Kenneth Oppel never disappoints. The story incorporates science, religion, romance and lots of action (and also FBI!) I love how the story pulls three drastically different characters together, but in a way, they are also very alike, each holding strongly to their beliefs. Oppel seems to have a tendency of crafting extremely persistent main characters, which adds a lot of energy to the book.
I also love the constant dynamic between science and religion. The book seemed to show that there is just a fine line between these so-called polar opposites, for instance, David Haines used to be a high performing student in medical school, yet his immersion in science doesn't cease him from pursuing a religious life. On the other-hand, Dr. Donaldson's unwavering belief in everything science, can be viewed as a religion in itself. The one I find most complex and confusing is Kevin Sheldrake, a man who has lost his faith in religion and cults yet still searches for deeper meaning with spiritual fervor.
The book never tells you the answer, but the little details in this book just gives out an aura of some unseen power, pushing all the events to place.
What's interesting is that in the book, all three of them seemed to give up a little of their religion for love. David, by keeping his son alive. Laura, by killing David, and with it the cure to cancer, in order to protect Kevin. And Kevin, defying his boss to pursue what he thinks is right. Perhaps in the past, they've all missed out on the highest religion of all...
I feel like there's still so much to this book which I am too dim to grasp~

As for the writing, the tension and pacing never bores you, and the ending, though hanging, leaves us with a bright tone of hope.

[Shelby Suderman]

The Devil's Cure is an adult thriller. It tells the story of a doctor, Laura, one of the leading experts working on the cure for cancer, who discovers that a serial killer on death-row secretly carries the key to a cure in his blood. Just days before his execution, the man in question, David, escapes from prison, leading to a nation-wide manhunt. The story is told mainly from the point of view of Laura, David, and Kevin, the haggard FBI agent who cracked the original case and apprehended David the first time around.

There's a lot going on in this novel. The theme of science versus religion and freedom of religion being one of them. David was a member of a religious cult (his violent ideas got him kicked out, though he never lost his faith), and said cult's views on medicine and how blood IS the soul means he's willing to do whatever it takes to make sure no cure is ever found through him.

I really appreciated the examination into cults in this novel, how they hook a person, how they keep you, and the mark they leave on members fortunate enough to get out. I wasn't aware of the cult-aspect going into this, so that was a pleasant surprise.

I will say it's a very slow-burn at the start, though the payoff is excellent.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suppose you were a person who believed that medicine was interfering with God's purpose and was just a snare and entrapment by the powers of evil. Now suppose that a researcher with a sister suffering from cancer discovers what may be a cancer healing enzyme in your blood.
That would be enough to be going on with but Mr. Oppel adds to it. The person carrying the enzyme is a serial killer who is on death row in the US and it is illegal to take blood from anyone by force. The researcher is one of that forceful sort who will push through everything to facilitate "the cure". The good of the community as opposed to the rights of the individual.
The story had to be set in a specific part of the US because the death penalty no longer exists in Canada and is only available in certain states of the US. This was written in the 1990s but most of the events would still be possible today. It would still take help from outside to get out of the prison and ongoing help to get far enough away to be safe.

[Kathy Plank · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this because I like his Airborn series, but this one was stupid. Plodding plot, no depth. Yuck. Not worth your time. If you like medical crime and mysteries, there are so many more good ones out there.

[Sara Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed in this book. The concept was fantastic, but the lack of character development and the stiffness in the writing really hinder my enjoyment. The fact is, I didn't care about any of the characters, really, because they were so flat.

[Grat Slade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I’m surprised there hasn’t been a movie or a sequel.

[Courtney Chambers · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting.

[Gloo The third · Rating 1 out of 5]

The back got me excited and the content left me disappointed.

[Shayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 - I did not like the ending and the characters make some very stupid and unrealistic decisions.

[Faye D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book from start to finish. Have reread multiple times. The three main characters are driven by their own ambitions. The story does not feel plot driven even for a moment.

[Diana Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wished it had finished differently. I think I was more interested in the ethics...

[Heidi Schuschitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insgesamt sehr spannend, jedoch mit einem mehr oder weniger offenen Ende, das den Leser unbefriedigt zurücklässt

[betty boop · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just wasn’t feeling a connection 🙄 it was tew bland

[Maggie Gordon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kenneth Oppel writes some outstanding YA books, but adult thrillers are obviously not his strong point. The Devil's Cure is not a terrible book, but it's also not a very interesting book. The characters are bland, the plot moves very slowly, and nothing of consequence actually seems to happen. It feels very much like Oppel followed a how-to on thriller writing, but lacked the spark and suspense that this genre is supposed to have.

The novel is about Laura Donaldson, a cancer researcher, stumbling across a possible therapy for cancer in the blood of a man that is about to be executed for killing doctors. When she obtains a court order to take a sampling of his blood, an action forbidden by the convict's religion, he breaks free from prison, causing the FBI to get involved to try and get him back. The book's second protagonist is Kevin Sheldrake, the FBI cult specialist who tracked down and brought in David Haines, the doctor killer, after his first killing spree. Together with Donaldson, the two protagonists must try to predict what Haines is going to do with his new found freedom so that they can figure out a way to recapture him so that his blood can be studied.

All of the characters in this book are meant to be haunted individuals, tortured by their own failures and tragedies. However, readers never really see enough of their suffering to fully understand why they are meant to be so full of despair. There also wasn't a lot of interesting techno-babble behind the cancer issues, and in the end, Donaldson was no closer to her goal of finding a cure or therapy for cancer than she was in the first chapter. The love story was stale and not particularly believable, and there were many missed opportunities for more in-depth discussions of morality and religion.

Unfortunately, The Devil's Cure was a disappointment. It doesn't have any of the depth of characterization that Oppel's other books have, and it lacks the excitement and breakneck pace of a good thriller.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 1 out of 5]

Long. Slow. I forgot I had finished.

Doctor Laura overdoses on uppers and jealousy for cancer-ridden sister Sandra (on quack cures like Tijuana) as being always more "beautiful, irresistible" p223, popular, successful. Sandra gave her parents the sixteen photos on display p232; if Laura wanted more, she should have supplied them.

Killer's swoony fat penpal Gail obsesses on "stupid frizzy hair and her marshmallow face" p157, and gives him addresses for victims from her confidential job files. FBI agent Sheldrake fasts and prays, almost as crazy as target Haines, cooking full meals and dumping them straight into the garbage can for "penance .. suffering, self-mortification" to "enlightenment p245. How can he expect to be at the top of his mental and physical game for pursuit?

Slit throats spurt heavily. Haines "felt himself stir between his legs and bloat with an evil abandonment" p259 because Laura touches his arm. Gross. Putting thoughts in italics "F-,f-,f-!" p266 does not make them worth sharing. Are we supposed to get an understanding of psycopathic cult leaders who advocate killing doctors? Feel touched that two faulty experts in their fields connect? Congratulate Laura for growing up some when Sandra says "it's just not easy being your sister" p456? Ick all round.

The only reason to read is to find out if killer lives. Let me save you the trouble. Nope. But his son does. Happy ever after Laura and Haines will get together after he's healed.

Typos:
p32 "Wit were me" is "If it were"
p57 "tb have cancer" is "to have"
Annoying grammar glitch: every word ending with s uses possessive 's. I finally tried to ignore, with difficulty
p93,94 Andrews's to Andrews'
p102, 266, 363, 370 Haines's to Haines'
p107 Helms's to Helms'
especially when p504 finally says Walshes'

[Aryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely my favourite book now.
I was into it from the very first page, and stuck through to the end with adoration and suspense. It doesn't rush into things, it takes things slow, while also continuing to tell the story from multiple characters' points of view, which I think is really cool in novels.

And though we're dealing with a serial killer in the book with an insane occultish state of mind, I can honestly saw I kind of loved him and was upset by his fate in the end of the book.

The only thing I'm disappointed in (unless there's a second book?? :D), is that we never find out if Sean's blood contains a cure like his father, and we never find out if Laura and the detective (I forget his name) hit it off/if she ever sees him again, and also that we never find out how Laura's sister is doing and if she lives.

If there's a second book, I'll be reading it pronto. If not, I really hope Kenneth writes one, because this story was phenomenal and drove my emotions and anticipation through the roof. Excellent read.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kenneth Oppel is one of my favorite authors, but I think YA is really his forte. If I'm right, this is his one and only adult novel. It was good. The plot was engaging, and I really liked the philosophical tussle between religion and science that was at the heart of the book. I thought the characters were well-fleshed out and believable. There was obviously a lot of research that went into this book, both in the areas of cancer research, serial killers, and cults. I know that sounds like a strange combination, but it will make perfect sense if you read this book. I do think his YA novels are much more engaging and interesting, though. That's obviously his strength area because he SOARS when we writes YA. So, as much as I enjoyed this book, read it straight through without becoming bored with it, I hope Mr. Oppel continues to write in the area that best suits him. (And I hope he writes another Viktor Frankenstein book as his next one!)

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed 'The Devil's Cure'; it kept my interest from start to finish. 'The Devil's Cure' was Kenneth Oppel's first foray into adult literature and it was a successful venture! The story hinges around Dr. Laura Donaldson who thinks she may have found a potential cure for cancer in the blood of convicted serial killer David Haines. Haines is a religious fanatic on death row who refuses to let Dr. Donaldson draw and test his blood. When Haines escapes Laura and FBI agent, Kevin Sheldrake work together to re-capture the killer.
Oppel has constructed a solid storyline designed to draw the reader into Laura and Kevin's lives. The plot is suspenseful and intriguing. He successfully combined mystery with the ethics of human research. I look forward to reading his next adult novel when it comes out.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Idee, die dem Buch zugrunde liegt, ist originell. Die Suche nach einem Heilmittel gegen Krebs. Das Gegenmittel vermutet im Blut eines Killers. Und während Laura versucht, das Gegenmittel herzustellen, gelingt dem mehrfachen Mörder die Flucht aus dem Gefängnis. Spannende Idee, spannend umgesetzt. Die zu Beginn geweckte Neugier hat mich bis zum Schluss nicht mehr losgelassen.

[KatherineC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense!

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a great read steady action and suspense. Only wish I knew more about some if the loose ends at completion of the book