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Descent #1
Stillness
Some secrets won’t stay buried…
When people start to succumb to a virulent strain of plague in the seemingly idyllic hamlet of Stillness, the CDC is called in to investigate. Pulled from her training with the Epidemic Intelligence Service, Dr. Lynne Bosworth is tapped to head the investigation.
Many questions surround the outbreak, not the least of which is how did plague find its way to the heartland of America? Determined to find the answers and her own way out of the long shadow cast by her father, Lynne embarks for Iowa. Unable to isolate an index case of bubonic plague, patient zero is traced to Nikolai Markov; an old Russian bio warfare scientist.
Rumors of a bioterror attack are rampant.
Under examination, the bacteria present Lynne with many anomalies but few answers. The antibiotic resistance noted in the field is absent in the lab, while a synthetic gene is found that seemingly has no purpose. For her superiors it’s enough to deem the outbreak a biological attack, a conclusion that Lynne does not share. For her, something about the whole incident remains…elusive.
In search of evidence to either prove or disprove the bioterror claim, she crosses paths with FBI Special Agent Caleb Fine. Together, they come to believe that something other than a biological attack is going on in Stillness, and that the answer to what may lie in solving the fifteen year old murders of Bobby and Maggie Sullivan.
As the body count rises and the pressure mounts, they delve deeper into the shadowy past of this quiet town; in the process exposing secrets long thought forgotten until finally uncovering the shocking truth behind the cause of the outbreak.
When people start to succumb to a virulent strain of plague in the seemingly idyllic hamlet of Stillness, the CDC is called in to investigate. Pulled from her training with the Epidemic Intelligence Service, Dr. Lynne Bosworth is tapped to head the investigation.
Many questions surround the outbreak, not the least of which is how did plague find its way to the heartland of America? Determined to find the answers and her own way out of the long shadow cast by her father, Lynne embarks for Iowa. Unable to isolate an index case of bubonic plague, patient zero is traced to Nikolai Markov; an old Russian bio warfare scientist.
Rumors of a bioterror attack are rampant.
Under examination, the bacteria present Lynne with many anomalies but few answers. The antibiotic resistance noted in the field is absent in the lab, while a synthetic gene is found that seemingly has no purpose. For her superiors it’s enough to deem the outbreak a biological attack, a conclusion that Lynne does not share. For her, something about the whole incident remains…elusive.
In search of evidence to either prove or disprove the bioterror claim, she crosses paths with FBI Special Agent Caleb Fine. Together, they come to believe that something other than a biological attack is going on in Stillness, and that the answer to what may lie in solving the fifteen year old murders of Bobby and Maggie Sullivan.
As the body count rises and the pressure mounts, they delve deeper into the shadowy past of this quiet town; in the process exposing secrets long thought forgotten until finally uncovering the shocking truth behind the cause of the outbreak.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2018
319 people are currently reading
581 people want to read
About the author
Eldon Farrell
17 books106 followersEldon Farrell is an avid reader, writer, and author of the upcoming novel The Thief of Baria. A professionally trained accountant, Eldon has spent more than two decades reading and writing thriller novels. Readers have described his novels as “fast-paced”, “full of action”, and “edge-of-your-seat” reading.
He is a lover of language, and an unapologetic fan of DC Comics, who does recognize the irony in the redundancy. A child of the eighties, when not writing, he can still be found in the shadows of Grayskull or trying to get back to the future.
You can learn more about him and the books he writes at www.eldonfarrellauthor.com
He is a lover of language, and an unapologetic fan of DC Comics, who does recognize the irony in the redundancy. A child of the eighties, when not writing, he can still be found in the shadows of Grayskull or trying to get back to the future.
You can learn more about him and the books he writes at www.eldonfarrellauthor.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 8, 2016
Firstly, thank you to the author Eldon Farrell for offering this book free to my group " A Good Thriller" for our monthly "Readalong" for November and a Q & A's.
Stillness is the story of a small town in Iowa laid waste by a genetically engineered virus and the efforts of an inexperienced CDC doctor, Lynne Bosworth, and an FBI agent, Caleb Fine, to get to the bottom of the outbreak.
Many questions surround the outbreak, not the least of which is how did plague find its way to the heartland of America? Determined to find the answers and her own way out of the long shadow cast by her father, Lynne embarks for Iowa. Unable to isolate an index case of bubonic plague, patient zero is traced to Nikolai Markov; an old Russian bio warfare scientist.
Under examination, the bacteria present Lynne with many anomalies but few answers. The antibiotic resistance noted in the field is absent in the lab, while a synthetic gene is found that seemingly has no purpose. For her superiors it’s enough to deem the outbreak a biological attack, a conclusion that Lynne does not share. For her, something about the whole incident remains…elusive.
In search of evidence to either prove or disprove the bioterror claim, she crosses paths with FBI Special Agent Caleb Fine. Together, they come to believe that something other than a biological attack is going on in Stillness, and that the answer to what may lie in solving the fifteen year old murders of Bobby and Maggie Sullivan.
The complicated subject matter in this book also deals with some well researched medical and scientific issues., mixed it with a wide selection of characters, a complex story, than builds to a great fast paced action thriller for the last third of the book.
Four stars.
Only fault to this book is the amount of characters and complex story to follow, but saying that a well researched debut from this author.
Stillness is the story of a small town in Iowa laid waste by a genetically engineered virus and the efforts of an inexperienced CDC doctor, Lynne Bosworth, and an FBI agent, Caleb Fine, to get to the bottom of the outbreak.
Many questions surround the outbreak, not the least of which is how did plague find its way to the heartland of America? Determined to find the answers and her own way out of the long shadow cast by her father, Lynne embarks for Iowa. Unable to isolate an index case of bubonic plague, patient zero is traced to Nikolai Markov; an old Russian bio warfare scientist.
Under examination, the bacteria present Lynne with many anomalies but few answers. The antibiotic resistance noted in the field is absent in the lab, while a synthetic gene is found that seemingly has no purpose. For her superiors it’s enough to deem the outbreak a biological attack, a conclusion that Lynne does not share. For her, something about the whole incident remains…elusive.
In search of evidence to either prove or disprove the bioterror claim, she crosses paths with FBI Special Agent Caleb Fine. Together, they come to believe that something other than a biological attack is going on in Stillness, and that the answer to what may lie in solving the fifteen year old murders of Bobby and Maggie Sullivan.
The complicated subject matter in this book also deals with some well researched medical and scientific issues., mixed it with a wide selection of characters, a complex story, than builds to a great fast paced action thriller for the last third of the book.
Four stars.
Only fault to this book is the amount of characters and complex story to follow, but saying that a well researched debut from this author.
June 17, 2017
Stillness sits squarely in the genres of mystery & thriller. It provides a central narrative without plot holes, that delivers on suspense, and has an excellent and well crafted ending.
There are two key flaws.
The story is weak in the beginning. The first 20% suffers by trying to do too much with insufficient focus on the main characters of Lynne, Caleb and Will who are central to the main story and I was so confused by jumping back and forth in time that I almost DNF'ed the story.
A sub-plot is added of cheating spouses and vengeful husbands which distracts from and dilutes the power and pacing of the main narrative thrust, and also provided the venue for the appearance of a monstrous character who shows up for one scene only - perhaps, (as I suspect) this monster will appear in the sequels.
Clarify the start and get rid of the subplot, and the story would be five stars.
3.5 stars, rounded up to four due to the meticulous research and the fact that I really like a tightly plotted story line - which is very much in evidence in both the main and the sub-plot narratives.
One for those who like a slow burn thriller with a medical/science angle.
There are two key flaws.
The story is weak in the beginning. The first 20% suffers by trying to do too much with insufficient focus on the main characters of Lynne, Caleb and Will who are central to the main story and I was so confused by jumping back and forth in time that I almost DNF'ed the story.
A sub-plot is added of cheating spouses and vengeful husbands which distracts from and dilutes the power and pacing of the main narrative thrust, and also provided the venue for the appearance of a monstrous character who shows up for one scene only - perhaps, (as I suspect) this monster will appear in the sequels.
Clarify the start and get rid of the subplot, and the story would be five stars.
3.5 stars, rounded up to four due to the meticulous research and the fact that I really like a tightly plotted story line - which is very much in evidence in both the main and the sub-plot narratives.
One for those who like a slow burn thriller with a medical/science angle.
November 28, 2016
I really enjoyed this thriller. Thanks to the A Good Thriller group for introducing me to this author!
I have a weakness for a good medical/epidemic thriller, so I really enjoyed this. It also introduced some very engaging teenage/young adult (or is it new adult, now?) characters who were complex and fully formed.
We had political intrigue, government interference, small town politics, and some great pacing. I will definitely be reading this author again!
I have a weakness for a good medical/epidemic thriller, so I really enjoyed this. It also introduced some very engaging teenage/young adult (or is it new adult, now?) characters who were complex and fully formed.
We had political intrigue, government interference, small town politics, and some great pacing. I will definitely be reading this author again!
August 30, 2016
This is a great mystery book, full of suspense. The author describes everything and everyone, and you get to really see the places and understand the complex characters evolving in the quiet town of Stillness.
So many mysteries kept me turning the pages eagerly, trying to find out more. There’s a good build up from the beginning, without giving away too much. The characters themselves are complex – no one is who they seem nor as they seem.
For the pure scientific part of the book, with the mysterious plague… I’m no scientist, but it’s clear the author did his research, as the entire plot is very believable.
It reads like a movie, slowly building in crescendo until you’re biting your nails on the edge of your seat, flipping through pages.
Loved it! Once I really got into it, after the introductory first chapters, I devoured it. Will definitely be recommending it.
*I received a free copy of the book in exchange for my true, honest and unbiased review*
So many mysteries kept me turning the pages eagerly, trying to find out more. There’s a good build up from the beginning, without giving away too much. The characters themselves are complex – no one is who they seem nor as they seem.
For the pure scientific part of the book, with the mysterious plague… I’m no scientist, but it’s clear the author did his research, as the entire plot is very believable.
It reads like a movie, slowly building in crescendo until you’re biting your nails on the edge of your seat, flipping through pages.
Loved it! Once I really got into it, after the introductory first chapters, I devoured it. Will definitely be recommending it.
*I received a free copy of the book in exchange for my true, honest and unbiased review*
March 27, 2017
Fast-paced and full of action, Stillness is anything but still. Farrell starts his book off with a bang and keeps up the frenetic timeline with the same urgency of a country on the verge of a medical emergency. People are dying and the question for the authorities is- is it bio warfare, a mutant gene, or something even more sinister than that? If you like Robin Cook, Clive Cussler, or Robert Ludlum you'll enjoy this book. Graphic and realistic there are parts that made me squeamish, but the overall story made it worth pushing though the gore to find out what was happening and why. Well-researched as it is well-written, Stillness is a nightmare of a story about the risk of contagion and our powerlessness to stop that kind of monster.
February 20, 2017
This is a fast-paced, suspenseful, and well-written story. The main plot revolves around people in a small town getting sick and dying rather quickly. The CDC is called in to help determine the cause and help find a cure. There are sub-plots, some directly related to the reason for the virus, while others occur as a result of the virus. At times I had trouble following all the characters and situations. There's a lot going on in this small town and it certainly isn't predictable. With many decades old secrets festering about, there are a lot of twists and turns.
The description states this is book one of a series. I found the story to be complete and everything was resolved in the end. There was no cliffhanger.
The description states this is book one of a series. I found the story to be complete and everything was resolved in the end. There was no cliffhanger.
August 1, 2016
My kind of book! A small town filled with mysterious deaths and lots of action! Very complicated subject matter that seemed really well researched. Full of gripping suspense. The plot is both an interesting and compelling premise. The dialogue is believable. There are allot of characters, yet they are well developed and three dimensional. I liked the main character Lynn, she is someone you care about, and you end up wanting her to succeed throughout. I really enjoyed reading it. An easy five stars!
July 11, 2016
4.5 stars. Recommend to readers who enjoy fast paced, complex thrillers which are very action rather than character led. The book also deals with some well researched scientific issues.
I can't really add much more to the book's blurb, a highly infectious and deadly virus is spreading through the small town of Stillness. While panic rises there are fears of a foreign biological weapon attack although it may be the source of the infection is closer to home.
Although the book started a little slow I found towards the end I couldn't put the book down as revelation followed revelation as several mysteries are resolved. Possibly not for the faint hearted but there are some brilliant action scenes (some of which are quite violent) and a great building of suspense. The scientific and technical elements are weaved into the story and are easy to follow. The dialogue was particularly good and very believable.
The progress of the infection and the race to discover the cause drives the story. Although the many characters are well drawn the book has no main character. The actions of the good, the bad and the innocent caught up in the disaster are all given equal weight as the various strands of their stories intersect one another.
Overall I couldn't fault the writing, this is an exciting, well presented and thought provoking read. But I did find one element of the plot completely unbelievable. Over 600 people are infected in a small rural town of 3000 and at one point the mortality rate is 90% but there was no quarantine of the area and no one healthy tried to leave. And when violence did erupt it was directed at the stores of local people rather than the authorities.
That one issue aside I found this an intriguing story with an intelligent and interesting underlying theme. I especially liked the last few lines -
"The world never really ends, no matter how dark it gets, the light of humanity never goes out. It will always chase away the darkness that is forever there inside each of us.
No matter what is lost, that light will always shine so long as life persists."
I can't really add much more to the book's blurb, a highly infectious and deadly virus is spreading through the small town of Stillness. While panic rises there are fears of a foreign biological weapon attack although it may be the source of the infection is closer to home.
Although the book started a little slow I found towards the end I couldn't put the book down as revelation followed revelation as several mysteries are resolved. Possibly not for the faint hearted but there are some brilliant action scenes (some of which are quite violent) and a great building of suspense. The scientific and technical elements are weaved into the story and are easy to follow. The dialogue was particularly good and very believable.
The progress of the infection and the race to discover the cause drives the story. Although the many characters are well drawn the book has no main character. The actions of the good, the bad and the innocent caught up in the disaster are all given equal weight as the various strands of their stories intersect one another.
Overall I couldn't fault the writing, this is an exciting, well presented and thought provoking read. But I did find one element of the plot completely unbelievable. Over 600 people are infected in a small rural town of 3000 and at one point the mortality rate is 90% but there was no quarantine of the area and no one healthy tried to leave. And when violence did erupt it was directed at the stores of local people rather than the authorities.
That one issue aside I found this an intriguing story with an intelligent and interesting underlying theme. I especially liked the last few lines -
"The world never really ends, no matter how dark it gets, the light of humanity never goes out. It will always chase away the darkness that is forever there inside each of us.
No matter what is lost, that light will always shine so long as life persists."
November 18, 2016
The story opens with someone searching for justice. And the reader can tell this isn't going to be easy. Digging up your parents' grave doesn't seem the right thing to do, so the reader knows there's a lot at stake. By the time the parents are re-interred, we've been treated to a well written, well told and fast paced story.
March 16, 2017
The resident of Stillness, a small town in America’s Heartland, are under attack and no one is immune to this virus. The CDC is called in to investigate, led by Dr. Lynne Bosworth. While the CDC assumes it is a biological attack, Lynne thinks otherwise. Teamed up with FBI Agent Caleb Fine, she’s determined to get to the bottom of this mysterious outbreak. As the body counts rise, she knows she’s running out of time. Will she discover the culprit even if it means exposes long buried secrets and ruining her career or will she toe the CDC political line?
I’m a big fan of medical thrillers and Stillness kept me guessing until the very end. Filled with intriguing characters and multiple story lines, Stillness read like a HBO television series. Descriptive, well-researched medical backdrop reminded me of Robin Cook while the heart-stopping plot twists reminded me of Michael Crichton. Some of the transitions were abrupt and I got lost a few times so I had to drop it from five stars to four. I couldn’t put it down and the subject matter is relevant in today’s scientific and political society. Well done, Farrell. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I’s review it.
Favorite Character: I found I could relate with Dr. Lynne the greatest and while she dealt with a huge amount in a short time, it was believable. Emotional angst is high but that seemed to solidify my connection with her. Strong-willed, logical and brave, she’s my kind of thriller heroine.
Favorite Quote: The world never really ends, no matter how dark it gets, the light of humanity never goes out. It will always chase away the darkness that is forever there inside each of us.
My Rating: 4 stars
This review first appeared: https://princessofthelight.wordpress.com
I’m a big fan of medical thrillers and Stillness kept me guessing until the very end. Filled with intriguing characters and multiple story lines, Stillness read like a HBO television series. Descriptive, well-researched medical backdrop reminded me of Robin Cook while the heart-stopping plot twists reminded me of Michael Crichton. Some of the transitions were abrupt and I got lost a few times so I had to drop it from five stars to four. I couldn’t put it down and the subject matter is relevant in today’s scientific and political society. Well done, Farrell. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I’s review it.
Favorite Character: I found I could relate with Dr. Lynne the greatest and while she dealt with a huge amount in a short time, it was believable. Emotional angst is high but that seemed to solidify my connection with her. Strong-willed, logical and brave, she’s my kind of thriller heroine.
Favorite Quote: The world never really ends, no matter how dark it gets, the light of humanity never goes out. It will always chase away the darkness that is forever there inside each of us.
My Rating: 4 stars
This review first appeared: https://princessofthelight.wordpress.com
December 31, 2018
Disease,death,murder and love
An incredible mixture of emotional elements, almost too many. The need to see justice kept me reading to the end.
An incredible mixture of emotional elements, almost too many. The need to see justice kept me reading to the end.
April 11, 2019
A brilliant, beautiful young epidemiologist is assigned her first case. an outbreak of the plague is killing people in a small Midwest town. Finding the origin of the disease and stopping it are less daunting than dealing with political pressures, infighting and the evil behind it all.
I am mixed on this book. There are some exciting scenes. but the book is hindered by way too many characters. You need a flow chart to keep track. This, of course, means that the main characters get short shrift. Some, like the sheriff, are laughably shallow and stereotypical. The first half of the book is bogged down with over descriptive prose. We really don't need to know everyone's hair and eye colors, whether their stomachs are straining at their shirts. I personally am not a fan of present tense narrative. although apparently growing in popularity it feels clunky. The scientific information appears to be well researched but dumped clumsily in the story. The ending did not answer all the questions or resolve all the storylines. The book has promise but never reaches its potential. 2.5 stars
I am mixed on this book. There are some exciting scenes. but the book is hindered by way too many characters. You need a flow chart to keep track. This, of course, means that the main characters get short shrift. Some, like the sheriff, are laughably shallow and stereotypical. The first half of the book is bogged down with over descriptive prose. We really don't need to know everyone's hair and eye colors, whether their stomachs are straining at their shirts. I personally am not a fan of present tense narrative. although apparently growing in popularity it feels clunky. The scientific information appears to be well researched but dumped clumsily in the story. The ending did not answer all the questions or resolve all the storylines. The book has promise but never reaches its potential. 2.5 stars
July 3, 2016
Stillness is the story of a small town in Iowa laid waste by a genetically engineered virus and the efforts of an inexperienced CDC doctor, Lynne Bosworth, and an FBI agent, Caleb Fine, to get to the bottom of the outbreak.
Overall, the book is well-written, evoking clear images and strong emotions. Occasionally, the author over-sensationalizes a bit, or pushes the prose to the point of being strained, or provides some asides (e.g., life in a small town) that seem out of place, but these issues are minor. Character development is likewise good, aided to some degree by the fact that several are stereotypical (e.g., the overweight, brutal sheriff). I personally like it when authors give a short physical description of the main characters; it helps me form a mental image. But this book took it a bit farther by providing somewhat detailed accounts of physique and attire (right down to the color and pattern of the ties the men wore). This was a bit much for me. The dialog was excellent. You could almost hear many of the exchanges between friends and family as they fought for survival. There were also some good twists at the end; for the most part, the author keeps you guessing. And finally, I really liked the connections the author drew between what happened in the book and recent genetic research – it was excellent. It gave the story a realistic feel, increasing the drama substantially for me.
The primary weakness of the book was that it seemed to push for violent action, even when it seemed inconsistent or unnecessary to the plot. For example, faced with a highly infectious and deadly disease, people did not barricade themselves in their homes, or even avoid the sick. They were still visiting, interacting, and in one case, joining together to ransack the town. Even the CDC did not see fit to quarantine the ill. As a result, in Stillness, Iowa, population 3000, 410 died in a couple of months; that’s more than the West Nile Virus ever killed in the entire US in a full year. But there were also side stories, involving affairs, domestic violence that ended in death, and torture. None of these subplots seemed to have anything to do with the story, other than being located in the same town. By the end, the violence felt somewhat gratuitous.
Overall, Stillness has good character development, dialog, and suspense, and I suspect it will satisfy most everyone’s taste for action, while being a bit overboard for others.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, nonreciprocal review.
Overall, the book is well-written, evoking clear images and strong emotions. Occasionally, the author over-sensationalizes a bit, or pushes the prose to the point of being strained, or provides some asides (e.g., life in a small town) that seem out of place, but these issues are minor. Character development is likewise good, aided to some degree by the fact that several are stereotypical (e.g., the overweight, brutal sheriff). I personally like it when authors give a short physical description of the main characters; it helps me form a mental image. But this book took it a bit farther by providing somewhat detailed accounts of physique and attire (right down to the color and pattern of the ties the men wore). This was a bit much for me. The dialog was excellent. You could almost hear many of the exchanges between friends and family as they fought for survival. There were also some good twists at the end; for the most part, the author keeps you guessing. And finally, I really liked the connections the author drew between what happened in the book and recent genetic research – it was excellent. It gave the story a realistic feel, increasing the drama substantially for me.
The primary weakness of the book was that it seemed to push for violent action, even when it seemed inconsistent or unnecessary to the plot. For example, faced with a highly infectious and deadly disease, people did not barricade themselves in their homes, or even avoid the sick. They were still visiting, interacting, and in one case, joining together to ransack the town. Even the CDC did not see fit to quarantine the ill. As a result, in Stillness, Iowa, population 3000, 410 died in a couple of months; that’s more than the West Nile Virus ever killed in the entire US in a full year. But there were also side stories, involving affairs, domestic violence that ended in death, and torture. None of these subplots seemed to have anything to do with the story, other than being located in the same town. By the end, the violence felt somewhat gratuitous.
Overall, Stillness has good character development, dialog, and suspense, and I suspect it will satisfy most everyone’s taste for action, while being a bit overboard for others.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest, nonreciprocal review.
September 1, 2016
This thriller is an intriguing story with a lot going on. The plot was a thick and meaty stew of characters and bodies, with some extra ingredients thrown in.
The story starts off with bodies exhumed from a grave, and a body being found in a cave. Then an outbreak of plague pneumonia hits the small town of Stillness, a small town with a shadowy past. The virus is lethal, killing 90% of the people who contract it while infecting 20% of the town.
Lynne Bosworth of the CDC is called in to assess the outbreak and find out what this virulent disease is.
To begin with, I found the complex storyline hard to get into because there were so many characters, with no main character to tie them to. But I'm glad I stayed with it.
Things got interesting once I had a handle on who was who.
The story built up into quite a crescendo and the end of the book was riveting.
A shadowy "off-the-books laboratory" called Chimera is discovered lurking behind the scenes. But we never really do find out just who is behind Agri-Chem – the front for Chimera.
Alex Cummings, the general from the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases is responsible for the facility - but the order to build the facility came from the top echelons of government.
After saying the president is merely a figurehead put in place for the people, Cummings explains about the shadowy cabal at his arrest;
“All the while—lost amongst the collective delusion—are the true decision makers of this nation. They are the people you don’t know and never see. You never know they even exist because they are so adept at pulling the strings of those they put in power.”
“I see that look on your faces now, what I’m saying is abhorrent to you. Yet the shadow government is necessary for the functioning of this nation. A sitting President is never capable of seeing the big picture. They see only four years, and maybe four more. But without seeing the big picture they lack the capacity to see the correct course of action. That is why we need those in the shadows who
have a much longer time horizon.”
I found the hidden cabal to be as scary as the virus. Both are invisible, both kill, and both need to be contained.
All in all, it was believable – even though the town of Stillness never got quarantined. It was a really good read. I recommend it for readers who don't mind a slow start and a bit of violence.
The story starts off with bodies exhumed from a grave, and a body being found in a cave. Then an outbreak of plague pneumonia hits the small town of Stillness, a small town with a shadowy past. The virus is lethal, killing 90% of the people who contract it while infecting 20% of the town.
Lynne Bosworth of the CDC is called in to assess the outbreak and find out what this virulent disease is.
To begin with, I found the complex storyline hard to get into because there were so many characters, with no main character to tie them to. But I'm glad I stayed with it.
Things got interesting once I had a handle on who was who.
The story built up into quite a crescendo and the end of the book was riveting.
A shadowy "off-the-books laboratory" called Chimera is discovered lurking behind the scenes. But we never really do find out just who is behind Agri-Chem – the front for Chimera.
Alex Cummings, the general from the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases is responsible for the facility - but the order to build the facility came from the top echelons of government.
After saying the president is merely a figurehead put in place for the people, Cummings explains about the shadowy cabal at his arrest;
“All the while—lost amongst the collective delusion—are the true decision makers of this nation. They are the people you don’t know and never see. You never know they even exist because they are so adept at pulling the strings of those they put in power.”
“I see that look on your faces now, what I’m saying is abhorrent to you. Yet the shadow government is necessary for the functioning of this nation. A sitting President is never capable of seeing the big picture. They see only four years, and maybe four more. But without seeing the big picture they lack the capacity to see the correct course of action. That is why we need those in the shadows who
have a much longer time horizon.”
I found the hidden cabal to be as scary as the virus. Both are invisible, both kill, and both need to be contained.
All in all, it was believable – even though the town of Stillness never got quarantined. It was a really good read. I recommend it for readers who don't mind a slow start and a bit of violence.
July 19, 2016
"Stillness" by Eldon Farrell is an infectious disease thriller novel in which an outbreak of deadly plague occurs in a small town in Iowa. The CDC is called in and eventually the mysterious origin of the bacteria is discovered but not before many die of plague pneumonia. Their fatal lung infection seems impervious to a variety of antibiotics which should work but do not, which heightens the fear factor and frustration of healthcare workers attending the sick and dying. This lack of effective treatment harks back to hundreds of years ago in the pre-antibiotic era when black plague epidemics ravaged Europe and Asia.
Farrell effectively tells the story of how the town is thrown into turmoil by the outbreak and the impact it has on the lives of the many characters vividly described in the book. There's plenty of action and gore galore, almost too much at times.
As a physician specialist in infectious diseases and epidemiologist, I enjoyed the story which held my interest throughout and which is very well crafted by the author who does not have a medical background. One criticism I would have is that in reality, such a serious, deadly outbreak would attract a horde of media personnel to the town as well as would justify mobilization of a small army of epidemiologists and medical personnel and equipment to help control the outbreak and treat victims. This didn't happen in the book but I don't think it detracts from the story the author tells. Also, in reality, the CDC would focus more on interruption of transmission of the bacterium than on identification and characterization of the outbreak plague bacteria and it's original source. For example, knowledge of the ways HIV was transmitted led to implementation of measures to protect the blood supply, to ensure safer sex, etc. These measures saved many lives long before HIV itself was fully discovered and characterized. But again, for the average reader, the relative lack of this component doesn't detract from the story that is told.
The book is well written. The dialogue is realistic and the descriptions are nicely detailed. It is fast-paced and entertaining. I highly recommend it for fans of the genre and for anyone else who likes a good story! I look forward to reading more from the author.
Farrell effectively tells the story of how the town is thrown into turmoil by the outbreak and the impact it has on the lives of the many characters vividly described in the book. There's plenty of action and gore galore, almost too much at times.
As a physician specialist in infectious diseases and epidemiologist, I enjoyed the story which held my interest throughout and which is very well crafted by the author who does not have a medical background. One criticism I would have is that in reality, such a serious, deadly outbreak would attract a horde of media personnel to the town as well as would justify mobilization of a small army of epidemiologists and medical personnel and equipment to help control the outbreak and treat victims. This didn't happen in the book but I don't think it detracts from the story the author tells. Also, in reality, the CDC would focus more on interruption of transmission of the bacterium than on identification and characterization of the outbreak plague bacteria and it's original source. For example, knowledge of the ways HIV was transmitted led to implementation of measures to protect the blood supply, to ensure safer sex, etc. These measures saved many lives long before HIV itself was fully discovered and characterized. But again, for the average reader, the relative lack of this component doesn't detract from the story that is told.
The book is well written. The dialogue is realistic and the descriptions are nicely detailed. It is fast-paced and entertaining. I highly recommend it for fans of the genre and for anyone else who likes a good story! I look forward to reading more from the author.
September 11, 2016
Excellent debut novel by Eldon Farrell. The author obviously took a lot of care in crafting this medical mystery which is about an outbreak of a deadly plague in a small town, Stillness, in Iowa. He knows how to bring characters alive on the page although sometimes the narrative gets a little bogged down in the scrupulous detail of physical descriptions.
Mr. Farrell also knows how to build suspense as the protagonists of his novel proceed to investigate whether the plague is an act of bioterrorism. The dialogue is entirely believeable, and FBI Special Agent Caleb Fine is one cool customer so I am happy to see that he returns in Mr. Farrell's subsequent works, Taken and Realm of Shadows.
Judging by the bibliography at the end of the novel, Mr. Farrell did oodles of research into his medical subject, and that knowledge comes through very naturally in the book without it being rammed down the reader's throat.
Two minor criticisms which did not affect the overall reading enjoyment: the first, which should be fixed since it is an unnecessary distraction, was the author's grammatical blind spot which is found throughout the book of confusing plurals with the possessive. Thus, a sentence like "... he prays his parent's won't find him like this" when it should have read "...he prays his parents won't find him like this."
The second was the unresolved mystery of the very brutal and graphic murder of the town's mayor. At the end, I wasn't sure either of the motivation for the murder or who was guilty of it. Of course, it is entirely possible, that I somehow missed the answer, and therefore the fault lies with me as reader and not Mr. Farrell as author.
Mr. Farrell also knows how to build suspense as the protagonists of his novel proceed to investigate whether the plague is an act of bioterrorism. The dialogue is entirely believeable, and FBI Special Agent Caleb Fine is one cool customer so I am happy to see that he returns in Mr. Farrell's subsequent works, Taken and Realm of Shadows.
Judging by the bibliography at the end of the novel, Mr. Farrell did oodles of research into his medical subject, and that knowledge comes through very naturally in the book without it being rammed down the reader's throat.
Two minor criticisms which did not affect the overall reading enjoyment: the first, which should be fixed since it is an unnecessary distraction, was the author's grammatical blind spot which is found throughout the book of confusing plurals with the possessive. Thus, a sentence like "... he prays his parent's won't find him like this" when it should have read "...he prays his parents won't find him like this."
The second was the unresolved mystery of the very brutal and graphic murder of the town's mayor. At the end, I wasn't sure either of the motivation for the murder or who was guilty of it. Of course, it is entirely possible, that I somehow missed the answer, and therefore the fault lies with me as reader and not Mr. Farrell as author.
August 22, 2016
Stillness is a medical suspense by Eldon Farrell. It is a little confusing as it starts out telling about many characters. Once you get past that, it grabs your attention very fast. You sit on the edge of your seat trying to figure out what is going on and how to get out of it. I highly recommend this book.
Stillness, Idaho is a small, sleepy, boring town. Mayor Donald Lincoln is hoping to attract new businesses to the town but they are slow coming. Very little of interest happens in town. Then one day, Tyler Perry and his friend Josh find the body of a dead man in the caves outside of town, William Sullivan pays others to dig up his parents’ bodies, Zach Palmer, Agnes, and Michael Brown all die of mysterious reasons. No one knows what it killing the people of Stillness. Lynne Bosworth of the CDC is called in to make an assessment and try to figure out what the disease is that is killing people. Can they figure it out in time to same most of the people in town?
I highly recommend the book.
Stillness, Idaho is a small, sleepy, boring town. Mayor Donald Lincoln is hoping to attract new businesses to the town but they are slow coming. Very little of interest happens in town. Then one day, Tyler Perry and his friend Josh find the body of a dead man in the caves outside of town, William Sullivan pays others to dig up his parents’ bodies, Zach Palmer, Agnes, and Michael Brown all die of mysterious reasons. No one knows what it killing the people of Stillness. Lynne Bosworth of the CDC is called in to make an assessment and try to figure out what the disease is that is killing people. Can they figure it out in time to same most of the people in town?
I highly recommend the book.
July 25, 2016
Stillness is a captivating thriller about a plague outbreak in small town America. There are many different characters in the novel, though no main character, and each person draws the reader to keep turning the page and figure out a piece of the puzzle as to how and why this outbreak began. There were many twists and turns throughout the novel that kept me guessing and compelled to keep reading. I found the descriptions and dialogue to be well written and believable. I was worried that the scientific component of the novel might be hard to follow but I found that although it seemed to be thoroughly researched, it was easy to follow and explained well as each piece of the story was unravelled. I am looking forward to reading the next book from this author!
November 10, 2016
People in Stillness are dying and a doctor from the CDC (Lynne) is sent to the town. The disease is a form of the plague but they can't find how it got there or how to stop it. None of the typical antibiotics seem to affect it.
There are many characters and I had to take notes as I read to keep myself straight and to keep straight about what was happening which was a detraction from my enjoyment of the book. In addition I found the numerous grammatical errors particularly with word choice (too and to) even more distracting. The story itself was good once I got beyond those two areas but they were enough of a problem to make it only worth 3 points to me.
There are many characters and I had to take notes as I read to keep myself straight and to keep straight about what was happening which was a detraction from my enjoyment of the book. In addition I found the numerous grammatical errors particularly with word choice (too and to) even more distracting. The story itself was good once I got beyond those two areas but they were enough of a problem to make it only worth 3 points to me.
March 28, 2021
Something out of my comfort zone, but nonetheless, a well written book, reminiscent of the last year with the pandemic. Located in a small town, strange symptoms start showing up in people, and scientists and doctors are at a loss to find out what this is. The culprit is identified, but not before disaster hits. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense!
December 27, 2020
Mesmerizing!
I could not stop reading! Quick start, not waiting several chapters to grab your interest! And scary with me reading it during the 2020 Pandemic!
Get this book and enjoy!!
I could not stop reading! Quick start, not waiting several chapters to grab your interest! And scary with me reading it during the 2020 Pandemic!
Get this book and enjoy!!
January 25, 2023
Excellent book.
It kept my interest. It has a lot of twists and turns and keeps you guessing. Coming from the medical field, I understand the language about the virus and genetics.
It kept my interest. It has a lot of twists and turns and keeps you guessing. Coming from the medical field, I understand the language about the virus and genetics.
July 30, 2019
Rated 3.0
When people start to succumb to a virulent strain of plague in the seemingly idyllic hamlet of Stillness, the CDC is called in to investigate. Pulled from her training with the Epidemic Intelligence Service, Dr. Lynne Bosworth is tapped to head the investigation.
Many questions surround the outbreak, not the least of which is how did plague find its way to the heartland of America? Determined to find the answers and her own way out of the long shadow cast by her father, Lynne embarks for Iowa. Unable to isolate an index case of bubonic plague, patient zero is traced to Nikolai Markov; an old Russian bio warfare scientist.
Rumors of a bioterror attack are rampant.
Under examination, the bacteria present Lynne with many anomalies but few answers. The antibiotic resistance noted in the field is absent in the lab, while a synthetic gene is found that seemingly has no purpose. For her superiors it’s enough to deem the outbreak a biological attack, a conclusion that Lynne does not share. For her, something about the whole incident remains…elusive.
In search of evidence to either prove or disprove the bioterror claim, she crosses paths with FBI Special Agent Caleb Fine. Together, they come to believe that something other than a biological attack is going on in Stillness, and that the answer to what may lie in solving the fifteen year old murders of Bobby and Maggie Sullivan.
As the body count rises and the pressure mounts, they delve deeper into the shadowy past of this quiet town; in the process exposing secrets long thought forgotten until finally uncovering the shocking truth behind the cause of the outbreak.
Plague plot intriguing as the epidemiologists search for where the epidemic is started/centered and how it is being passed among town folk. The subplots got lost in the weeds.
When people start to succumb to a virulent strain of plague in the seemingly idyllic hamlet of Stillness, the CDC is called in to investigate. Pulled from her training with the Epidemic Intelligence Service, Dr. Lynne Bosworth is tapped to head the investigation.
Many questions surround the outbreak, not the least of which is how did plague find its way to the heartland of America? Determined to find the answers and her own way out of the long shadow cast by her father, Lynne embarks for Iowa. Unable to isolate an index case of bubonic plague, patient zero is traced to Nikolai Markov; an old Russian bio warfare scientist.
Rumors of a bioterror attack are rampant.
Under examination, the bacteria present Lynne with many anomalies but few answers. The antibiotic resistance noted in the field is absent in the lab, while a synthetic gene is found that seemingly has no purpose. For her superiors it’s enough to deem the outbreak a biological attack, a conclusion that Lynne does not share. For her, something about the whole incident remains…elusive.
In search of evidence to either prove or disprove the bioterror claim, she crosses paths with FBI Special Agent Caleb Fine. Together, they come to believe that something other than a biological attack is going on in Stillness, and that the answer to what may lie in solving the fifteen year old murders of Bobby and Maggie Sullivan.
As the body count rises and the pressure mounts, they delve deeper into the shadowy past of this quiet town; in the process exposing secrets long thought forgotten until finally uncovering the shocking truth behind the cause of the outbreak.
Plague plot intriguing as the epidemiologists search for where the epidemic is started/centered and how it is being passed among town folk. The subplots got lost in the weeds.
May 3, 2019
Stillness
This was an excellent read. People are dying in the small town of stillness. Everyone is trying to find out how this illness began and how to fight it.
The characters in this book were well developed.
This was an excellent read. People are dying in the small town of stillness. Everyone is trying to find out how this illness began and how to fight it.
The characters in this book were well developed.
April 19, 2019
Great new find
Found a new author to follow. This is just read intrigue as well as a good everyone in town is sick and dying. Great Characters
Found a new author to follow. This is just read intrigue as well as a good everyone in town is sick and dying. Great Characters
May 21, 2019
Fantastic read
This book was captivating. Full of drama and suspense. Reading it knowing thAt there are things like this that can happen in our world. Great writing. Thank you
This book was captivating. Full of drama and suspense. Reading it knowing thAt there are things like this that can happen in our world. Great writing. Thank you
July 26, 2020
Stillness starts off bringing you swiftly in and filling you with uneasy feelings and terror of how today’s world is so similar to this story.
But the good guys win, oh wait...one bad guy gets away!
But the good guys win, oh wait...one bad guy gets away!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2020
Fiction or reality
Very well written book. So well researched that I could see this as a reality. I am anxious to read more Eldon Farrell books.
Very well written book. So well researched that I could see this as a reality. I am anxious to read more Eldon Farrell books.
December 23, 2020
Good read
Good writer hard to remember all characters in the beginning but tied up in unexpected bow I enjoyed the whole thing.
Good writer hard to remember all characters in the beginning but tied up in unexpected bow I enjoyed the whole thing.
April 12, 2021
Painful
Too many threads, characters and cliches. A truly bad read. So bad as to be rare. Definitely don’t recommend at all!
Too many threads, characters and cliches. A truly bad read. So bad as to be rare. Definitely don’t recommend at all!
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