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Darwin's Cipher: A Medical Thriller
Juan Gutierrez, a cancer researcher, has spent years studying the genome of animals that exhibit immunity to some types of cancer. Over the course of his study, Juan discovers a pattern that allows him to predict the course of a species' evolution across thousands of generations.
Using the algorithm he's developed from the pattern, Juan uncovers what he believes to be the key to conquering humanity's susceptibility to cancer.
Others are interested in using what Juan has dubbed "Darwin's Cipher," however, instead of cancer research, they see very different applications for the new genetic algorithm.
Nate Carrington, an FBI forensic analyst has been struggling with several cold cases when he's alerted to an incident at a nearby ranch. It's a case of a newborn calf who is found in the middle of a herd of dead cattle. It provides a single link to Nate's other cold cases: the DNA analysis of the calf doesn't match anything in the FBI's database.
Somewhere in a rural hospital in West Virginia, four hospital workers are dead and a newborn child has been transported to the NIH's level-4 bio-containment unit.
It's only when the NIH sends out an alert to all hospitals and law enforcement agencies that the world realizes the danger that faces them.
Using the algorithm he's developed from the pattern, Juan uncovers what he believes to be the key to conquering humanity's susceptibility to cancer.
Others are interested in using what Juan has dubbed "Darwin's Cipher," however, instead of cancer research, they see very different applications for the new genetic algorithm.
Nate Carrington, an FBI forensic analyst has been struggling with several cold cases when he's alerted to an incident at a nearby ranch. It's a case of a newborn calf who is found in the middle of a herd of dead cattle. It provides a single link to Nate's other cold cases: the DNA analysis of the calf doesn't match anything in the FBI's database.
Somewhere in a rural hospital in West Virginia, four hospital workers are dead and a newborn child has been transported to the NIH's level-4 bio-containment unit.
It's only when the NIH sends out an alert to all hospitals and law enforcement agencies that the world realizes the danger that faces them.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 18, 2019
1474 people are currently reading
1255 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Rothman
76 books325 followersUSA TODAY bestselling author, M.A. Rothman, is one of the most unlikely novelists you'll ever meet. He's an engineer first and foremost, with a background in the sciences, and somehow or another, this writing habit of his has turned into a bit more than just a run-of-the-mill hobby.
He primarily writes stories that focus on two things: technology and international intrigue. This writing tends to span the genres of science fiction, techno-thriller, and mainstream thrillers.
When not writing, he enjoys cooking, learning about new technology, travel, and spending time with his family.
He primarily writes stories that focus on two things: technology and international intrigue. This writing tends to span the genres of science fiction, techno-thriller, and mainstream thrillers.
When not writing, he enjoys cooking, learning about new technology, travel, and spending time with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 258 reviews
July 13, 2022
Adult scary smart "technothriller"
This story was riveting. A research scientist has his theory stolen and used for nefarious purposes. And, in a somewhat small way, it is a love story. Got you hooked yet? It will!
This story was riveting. A research scientist has his theory stolen and used for nefarious purposes. And, in a somewhat small way, it is a love story. Got you hooked yet? It will!
November 1, 2020
"Darwin's Cipher" is based on an interesting idea. GMO's (a timely boogeyman to pick on) have learned how to modify the DNA of existing animals in an attempt at designer weapons. The scientist who invented the technology is unaware of the nefarious uses it is being put toward, wanting only to benefit mankind by creating a bigger, badder, human who is impervious to the ravages of disease.
We are shown the effects of military intervention in science. Of course, the military wants to weaponize the research, with predictably disastrous results. The plot is basically a race to save mankind from its own folly.
The story, while well-conceived, is poorly executed, in my opinion. Yes, it's readable, if you can ignore the flat characters and jerky scene changes. What I had the most problem with is the series of unbelievable coincidences which brought all the main characters into a tight circle.
First, a dog, who is an escapee from the military experiments, finds a rancher to adopt him. The rancher's daughter just happens to get stranded on a deserted island where the company which discovered the genetic modification protocols just happens to be housing a flock of genetically modified killer finches. Her boyfriend disappears, never to be heard from again, presumably killed by finches and then the evidence is incinerated by the military. She then gets a payoff from the company responsible so she won't tell anyone about the killer finches, which enables her to attend college all the way on the other side of the country, where she just happens to meet the scientist who discovered the DNA modifying capabilities. When her father is diagnosed with cancer, she just happens to call the scientist to ask for help. The scientist just happens to be at lunch with the man who stole his work and gave it to the military, who then tells the scientist to tell the girl that her father can join a test study which just happens to be going on near him and just happens to include testing a drug against his specific type of cancer.
Seriously, there's more but I'm tired of typing "just happens" . . .
If wildly improbable coincidences don't bother you in a plot, then you'll probably like this book.
Unless . . . a flaw in the basic premise of the entire story bugs you as much as it did me. Read on.
The flaw in the premise of this story is that genetic evolution doesn't occur in a vacuum. Rothman wants us to believe that predictable genetic mutations will occur without any outside pressures to encourage their reproduction. This goes against everything Darwin believed. Natural selection, which was Darwin's hypothesis, occurs when a naturally occurring mutation of an individual member of a species gives that individual an advantage over the rest of its species. If one elephant is immune to a certain abundant poisonous plant, that elephant has a food source with no competition, giving it an advantage over the rest of the elephants. If that particular elephant mates and passes on its immunity to its offspring, those offspring will also have an advantage. Over time, as generation after generation of these immune elephants multiply, and if non-poisonous vegetation becomes scarce, eventually, they will survive where other elephants won't. This is natural selection. Coats which are colored to blend in with their surroundings give animals advantages in not being as easy to spot by predators or prey, thus making them more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on this safer coloring on to future generations. This is natural selection.
In Rothman's world, simply decoding the genetic markers for certain traits and modifying them would replicate evolution. Yet without any biological imperative to adapt and change, genes will remain static. Without the addition of new DNA from a mate, genes will simply clone themselves.
Now, I don't pretend to be an expert in genetic research or gene splicing, but this whole premise lacks realism for me. It's possible I simply didn't understand what Rothman was trying to get across, but if that's the case, then I place the blame squarely on Rothman for not making his writing clearer.
In the end, I leave it up to you to decide if this is a book you want to read. For me, I won't be reading any more of Rothman's work.
We are shown the effects of military intervention in science. Of course, the military wants to weaponize the research, with predictably disastrous results. The plot is basically a race to save mankind from its own folly.
The story, while well-conceived, is poorly executed, in my opinion. Yes, it's readable, if you can ignore the flat characters and jerky scene changes. What I had the most problem with is the series of unbelievable coincidences which brought all the main characters into a tight circle.
First, a dog, who is an escapee from the military experiments, finds a rancher to adopt him. The rancher's daughter just happens to get stranded on a deserted island where the company which discovered the genetic modification protocols just happens to be housing a flock of genetically modified killer finches. Her boyfriend disappears, never to be heard from again, presumably killed by finches and then the evidence is incinerated by the military. She then gets a payoff from the company responsible so she won't tell anyone about the killer finches, which enables her to attend college all the way on the other side of the country, where she just happens to meet the scientist who discovered the DNA modifying capabilities. When her father is diagnosed with cancer, she just happens to call the scientist to ask for help. The scientist just happens to be at lunch with the man who stole his work and gave it to the military, who then tells the scientist to tell the girl that her father can join a test study which just happens to be going on near him and just happens to include testing a drug against his specific type of cancer.
Seriously, there's more but I'm tired of typing "just happens" . . .
If wildly improbable coincidences don't bother you in a plot, then you'll probably like this book.
Unless . . . a flaw in the basic premise of the entire story bugs you as much as it did me. Read on.
The flaw in the premise of this story is that genetic evolution doesn't occur in a vacuum. Rothman wants us to believe that predictable genetic mutations will occur without any outside pressures to encourage their reproduction. This goes against everything Darwin believed. Natural selection, which was Darwin's hypothesis, occurs when a naturally occurring mutation of an individual member of a species gives that individual an advantage over the rest of its species. If one elephant is immune to a certain abundant poisonous plant, that elephant has a food source with no competition, giving it an advantage over the rest of the elephants. If that particular elephant mates and passes on its immunity to its offspring, those offspring will also have an advantage. Over time, as generation after generation of these immune elephants multiply, and if non-poisonous vegetation becomes scarce, eventually, they will survive where other elephants won't. This is natural selection. Coats which are colored to blend in with their surroundings give animals advantages in not being as easy to spot by predators or prey, thus making them more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on this safer coloring on to future generations. This is natural selection.
In Rothman's world, simply decoding the genetic markers for certain traits and modifying them would replicate evolution. Yet without any biological imperative to adapt and change, genes will remain static. Without the addition of new DNA from a mate, genes will simply clone themselves.
Now, I don't pretend to be an expert in genetic research or gene splicing, but this whole premise lacks realism for me. It's possible I simply didn't understand what Rothman was trying to get across, but if that's the case, then I place the blame squarely on Rothman for not making his writing clearer.
In the end, I leave it up to you to decide if this is a book you want to read. For me, I won't be reading any more of Rothman's work.
June 5, 2019
WOW! This is my fist book by M.A. ROTHMAN, and I am really impressed with this medical/scientific thriller. This book has a fascinating plot – involving the nefarious use of cutting-edge cancer research using gene therapy – the research stolen from the scientist and used by “bad guys” trying to create cutting edge bio-weapons. I like science-fiction, but this isn’t sci-fi – this is a medical, scientific thriller. This writer makes the science very understandable. And as a physician, the gene therapy is totally plausible. The characters are very interesting. The author interweaves at least three different plots, with the characters intersecting at various crossroads in the plot. The prose is excellent, and the dialogue is equally good. This reminds me of the best of Michael Crighton, and Robin Cook, and the very recent Tim Tigner's THE PRICE OF TIME.
February 25, 2019
The Cretaceous-Tertiary or K/T extinction event. It happened 65 million years ago. It was a six mile meteor that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, just off Mexico. It ended the reign of the Dinosaurs and wiped the Earth of vegetation. Yet small mammals , with frontal vision, who lived underground, survived to bring us to where we are today. Darwin would call it Natural Selection, part of evolution. But, what if one could speed-up DNA evolution? What if science could cause Natural Selection in a matter of generations instead of millions of generations?
In a valiant effort to alleviate cancer, the main character in Rothman’s superb novel, Juan Gutierrez thinks the same way. In the thrilling novel “Darwin’s Cipher” by M.A. Rothman. Juan has found an algorithm to speed-up DNA selection:
“…. As you probably know, modern elephants are highly resistant to tumors. They have many extra copies of TP53, a known tumor-suppressor gene. So I wanted to see how that evolved. Then I stumbled onto the pattern I told you about, and it suddenly dawned on me that if I could predictably follow the pattern of all of these different extinct animals and study how various parts of their genetic code evolved, couldn’t I, using the same algorithm, simulate how our genes will evolve in the future?”
.The results are sometimes bizarre: birds behave more like crocs, for example. The group who watches these results napalms their mistakes. Of course we have the innocent victims of mistakes, and the evil characters who want to steal the algorithm. It becomes a race, well plotted and well resolved. You have to read the book for that information, as there are no spoilers here.
What I want to point out is the author’s effective writing methods. They are sharp and clear and I enjoyed the pace of the prose. Mr. Rothman puts the reader mis-en-scene, that is, he arranges, instead of introducing his characters with staccato snapshots, in full action, to allow us to connect to them quickly, and to their place in his multilayered plot.
The research makes us believe the events, and Mr. Rothman tells us he is scientific.. By use of acronyms and scientific dialogues, he puts us, the observers, directly on the edge of the action. Note the pacing, natural speech and the mix of science in this scene, where the birds are detected as not really birds:
“… There was one item that came back with utterly bizarre results. That fluffy bit of red feather you found. From its morphology, I managed to narrow it down to a few species, and when I did a DNA analysis, that’s when things went south. I’m not one hundred percent sure what kind of bird it was, but it looks a lot like a Gouldian finch—same basic feather structure, coloring, and size—but if so, there’s something way wrong with the DNA results. “
“You’re saying you couldn’t get a DNA match to the feather?” Hendrickson shook his head. “Nope. And , the DNA would suggest this creature is closer to a crocodile than to anything having wings and feathers”
“So… what are you saying?” “I’m saying, I think someone’s been playing God.”
When Juan explains his DNA technique, the writing is almost textbook:
“Well, for example, the woolly mammoth.” Juan flipped a page and tapped his finger on a graph. “Its diploid genome has approximately 9.4 billion base pairs—that’s almost fifty percent more genetic material than humans, which the computer encoded into the equivalent of about 2.3 gigabytes of data. I did comparative analyses, normalizing the source to the same general vicinity in Siberia, and using various samples from different points in time along their evolutionary history. My oldest sample is nearly one hundred thousand years old, and I also have samples from seventy-five thousand years ago, forty thousand years, and fourteen thousand years. I mapped those changes against the local environmental conditions from where the samples were found.”
But the method is about to be given to humans with cancer. This is the second part of the saga, and it is worth reading just for the results! If you liked “The Stand” by King, or anything by Michael Crichton,.you will like this novel.
His approach to all the scenes is exact, and I don’t think there’s a wasted word in this novel. I have read many science novels, and this is among the best, to me. The blend of science, social interaction and discovery, for the characters and the reader are selected, stirred and presented in a literate, thoughtful manner. In this case, I salute the author as artist! Splendid job Mr. Rothman! And he sums it in his author’s note: “I’m one of the most unlikely novelists you’ll ever encounter.” He is, readers!
In a valiant effort to alleviate cancer, the main character in Rothman’s superb novel, Juan Gutierrez thinks the same way. In the thrilling novel “Darwin’s Cipher” by M.A. Rothman. Juan has found an algorithm to speed-up DNA selection:
“…. As you probably know, modern elephants are highly resistant to tumors. They have many extra copies of TP53, a known tumor-suppressor gene. So I wanted to see how that evolved. Then I stumbled onto the pattern I told you about, and it suddenly dawned on me that if I could predictably follow the pattern of all of these different extinct animals and study how various parts of their genetic code evolved, couldn’t I, using the same algorithm, simulate how our genes will evolve in the future?”
.The results are sometimes bizarre: birds behave more like crocs, for example. The group who watches these results napalms their mistakes. Of course we have the innocent victims of mistakes, and the evil characters who want to steal the algorithm. It becomes a race, well plotted and well resolved. You have to read the book for that information, as there are no spoilers here.
What I want to point out is the author’s effective writing methods. They are sharp and clear and I enjoyed the pace of the prose. Mr. Rothman puts the reader mis-en-scene, that is, he arranges, instead of introducing his characters with staccato snapshots, in full action, to allow us to connect to them quickly, and to their place in his multilayered plot.
The research makes us believe the events, and Mr. Rothman tells us he is scientific.. By use of acronyms and scientific dialogues, he puts us, the observers, directly on the edge of the action. Note the pacing, natural speech and the mix of science in this scene, where the birds are detected as not really birds:
“… There was one item that came back with utterly bizarre results. That fluffy bit of red feather you found. From its morphology, I managed to narrow it down to a few species, and when I did a DNA analysis, that’s when things went south. I’m not one hundred percent sure what kind of bird it was, but it looks a lot like a Gouldian finch—same basic feather structure, coloring, and size—but if so, there’s something way wrong with the DNA results. “
“You’re saying you couldn’t get a DNA match to the feather?” Hendrickson shook his head. “Nope. And , the DNA would suggest this creature is closer to a crocodile than to anything having wings and feathers”
“So… what are you saying?” “I’m saying, I think someone’s been playing God.”
When Juan explains his DNA technique, the writing is almost textbook:
“Well, for example, the woolly mammoth.” Juan flipped a page and tapped his finger on a graph. “Its diploid genome has approximately 9.4 billion base pairs—that’s almost fifty percent more genetic material than humans, which the computer encoded into the equivalent of about 2.3 gigabytes of data. I did comparative analyses, normalizing the source to the same general vicinity in Siberia, and using various samples from different points in time along their evolutionary history. My oldest sample is nearly one hundred thousand years old, and I also have samples from seventy-five thousand years ago, forty thousand years, and fourteen thousand years. I mapped those changes against the local environmental conditions from where the samples were found.”
But the method is about to be given to humans with cancer. This is the second part of the saga, and it is worth reading just for the results! If you liked “The Stand” by King, or anything by Michael Crichton,.you will like this novel.
His approach to all the scenes is exact, and I don’t think there’s a wasted word in this novel. I have read many science novels, and this is among the best, to me. The blend of science, social interaction and discovery, for the characters and the reader are selected, stirred and presented in a literate, thoughtful manner. In this case, I salute the author as artist! Splendid job Mr. Rothman! And he sums it in his author’s note: “I’m one of the most unlikely novelists you’ll ever encounter.” He is, readers!
May 8, 2019
The advances in genetics over the last couple of decades has opened up a whole new world of possibilities. Treatments for diseases, screening for genetic illnesses, to name but two. It has also opened up an entire litany of concerns about what might happen if the power to alter the basic building blocks of life should be misused, either by accident or design. Looking at just such possibilities is Darwin Cipher's, a new techno-thriller from writer M.A. Rothman.
Rothman reads likes a cross between two different masters of the techno-thriller genre: Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton. Like Clancy's works, Darwin's Cipher has a large cast of characters with plots that are seemingly unconnected from one another until suddenly they click together like a jigsaw puzzle. The intersection of intelligence, law enforcement, government, and private industry (in this case the biomedical industry) all come into play as well. While the jigsaw nature of the plot does mean that the book gets off to a slow start (and suddenly jumps ahead in time after a few chapters), once it gets going the pace rarely lets up.
Of the two, it's Crichton's influence that's felt on the page. Via cancer researcher Juan Gutierrez, Rothman takes readers into the biomedical world and gene therapy. Though I felt like I had a handle on the basics before reading the novel, it still offered an engaging crash course to the field and the opportunities that are just around the corner. Thankfully though, with one deliberate and notable exception, there isn't much lecturing on the topics at hand. Instead, Rothman (and his character) gives the reader enough to not only follow the plot but raise the stakes at just the right moments. It's an easy to grasp science lesson, masterfully wrapped up in a thriller plot.
It also helps that the myriad of characters is just as engaging as the plot. Juan Gutierrez makes for an engaging protagonist, an idealist seeking a cure for cancer, only to discover what his work is capable of, for both better and worse. There are the various members of the O'Reilly family including rancher father Frank and college student daughter Katherine, FBI investigator Nate Carrington, and Juan's bosses at the company who all make for compelling and believable players in the drama. Together, they bring to life and populate the novel's world, making it all the more believable by adding a human dimension to proceedings.
Having said all that, I did find myself having a couple of minor quibbles with the novel. One I mentioned earlier which was the slow start to proceedings, four chapters or so before a sudden jump in time that takes readers to the rest of the narrative. While not against the idea, why it was necessary is never made clear, and the result is slightly jarring. Another occasional issue comes with the dialogue where there is a slight tendency for characters to talk in paragraphs at times, even during non-expositional instances. That crops up a few times but not often enough to take away from the overall effect of the piece. There are also what seems to be a few loose ends left at the end as well, though I can forgive those if there's a potential sequel in the works involving these characters.
For those seeking out a good thriller, especially on the techno end of the genre, Darwin's Cipher is an excellent choice. It combines the best of the genre's masters with an up to the minute topic, a combination of the technical with plot and characters that, despite a slow start, turns into a riveting ride. It's a tale of the promise tomorrow might hold but also the dangers we might face. It might cause a sleepless night or two, albeit for all the best reasons.
And what more can you ask of a good book?
(I received a Kindle edition of the novel in return for an honest review.)
Rothman reads likes a cross between two different masters of the techno-thriller genre: Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton. Like Clancy's works, Darwin's Cipher has a large cast of characters with plots that are seemingly unconnected from one another until suddenly they click together like a jigsaw puzzle. The intersection of intelligence, law enforcement, government, and private industry (in this case the biomedical industry) all come into play as well. While the jigsaw nature of the plot does mean that the book gets off to a slow start (and suddenly jumps ahead in time after a few chapters), once it gets going the pace rarely lets up.
Of the two, it's Crichton's influence that's felt on the page. Via cancer researcher Juan Gutierrez, Rothman takes readers into the biomedical world and gene therapy. Though I felt like I had a handle on the basics before reading the novel, it still offered an engaging crash course to the field and the opportunities that are just around the corner. Thankfully though, with one deliberate and notable exception, there isn't much lecturing on the topics at hand. Instead, Rothman (and his character) gives the reader enough to not only follow the plot but raise the stakes at just the right moments. It's an easy to grasp science lesson, masterfully wrapped up in a thriller plot.
It also helps that the myriad of characters is just as engaging as the plot. Juan Gutierrez makes for an engaging protagonist, an idealist seeking a cure for cancer, only to discover what his work is capable of, for both better and worse. There are the various members of the O'Reilly family including rancher father Frank and college student daughter Katherine, FBI investigator Nate Carrington, and Juan's bosses at the company who all make for compelling and believable players in the drama. Together, they bring to life and populate the novel's world, making it all the more believable by adding a human dimension to proceedings.
Having said all that, I did find myself having a couple of minor quibbles with the novel. One I mentioned earlier which was the slow start to proceedings, four chapters or so before a sudden jump in time that takes readers to the rest of the narrative. While not against the idea, why it was necessary is never made clear, and the result is slightly jarring. Another occasional issue comes with the dialogue where there is a slight tendency for characters to talk in paragraphs at times, even during non-expositional instances. That crops up a few times but not often enough to take away from the overall effect of the piece. There are also what seems to be a few loose ends left at the end as well, though I can forgive those if there's a potential sequel in the works involving these characters.
For those seeking out a good thriller, especially on the techno end of the genre, Darwin's Cipher is an excellent choice. It combines the best of the genre's masters with an up to the minute topic, a combination of the technical with plot and characters that, despite a slow start, turns into a riveting ride. It's a tale of the promise tomorrow might hold but also the dangers we might face. It might cause a sleepless night or two, albeit for all the best reasons.
And what more can you ask of a good book?
(I received a Kindle edition of the novel in return for an honest review.)
February 23, 2019
‘Who knows what lurks in the unknown recesses and genetic combinations that are possible?’
Author M.A (Michael) Rothman is the first member of his family to be born in the United States. His Hungarian grandfather was a WW II refugee and his family fled the Nazi occupation. Michael is an engineer who focuses on computer technology – system software design – and his designs are embedded in all modern computers distributed be the major companies in the world. He has stated ‘Whether it is deeply embedded devices such as missile guidance systems or vehicle navigation systems or general-purpose PCs such as laptops or even gaming consoles, I’ve worked with just about all types of “computers” throughout my career’. As for his writing, he has published three books to date – PRIMORDIAL THREAT, PERIMETER, and DARWIN’S CIPHER – each with themes of technology and international intrigue. .
The polished skill with which Michael relates his intriguing and immensely involving story showcases both his mastery of technology as well as his obvious travels and knowledge of global intrigue. But he steps further into the spotlight with his introduction of chief character Juan Gutierrez by not only making him a brilliant scientist but one coping with an important unknown: ‘Juan had long ago understood just how lucky he was. Not only had he managed to escape the projects of East LA – a rare feat – but he had completed both college and medical school, and now here he was doing cancer research for one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world…Cancer had taken both his parents from him, and those deaths had shaped the man he was today. His father’s death had filled Juan with an unstoppable drive, and his mother had given him the desire to prevent others suffering from the same hideous disease. He was driven by a single-minded obsession. To find a cure for cancer.’
It is this quality of prose that carries his novel to success. The plot is well outlined in the synopsis – ‘Juan Gutierrez, a cancer researcher, has spent years studying the genome of animals that exhibit immunity to some types of cancer. Over the course of his study, Juan discovers a pattern that allows him to predict the course of a species' evolution across thousands of generations. Using the algorithm he's developed from the pattern, Juan uncovers what he believes to be the key to conquering humanity's susceptibility to cancer. Others are interested in using what Juan has dubbed "Darwin's Cipher," however, instead of cancer research, they see very different applications for the new genetic algorithm. Nate Carrington, an FBI forensic analyst has been struggling with several cold cases when he’s alerted to an incident at a nearby ranch. It’s a case of a newborn calf who is found in the middle of a herd of dead cattle. It provides a single link to Nate's other cold cases: the DNA analysis of the calf doesn't match anything in the FBI's database. Somewhere in a rural hospital in West Virginia, four hospital workers are dead and a newborn child has been transported to the NIH's level-4 bio-containment unit. It's only when the NIH sends out an alert to all hospitals and law enforcement agencies that the world realizes the danger that faces them’.
At the end of the novel Michael offers some scientific factual information that heightens the readers interest – frightening but true. Writing of this caliber, having created a mesmerizing lead character whose skills as a human being are staggering, suggests that this book could easily be adapted as a screenplay for a fine motion picture. Having read all of Michael superb novels this reader awaits the inevitable screenplay transformation. Highly Recommended.
Author M.A (Michael) Rothman is the first member of his family to be born in the United States. His Hungarian grandfather was a WW II refugee and his family fled the Nazi occupation. Michael is an engineer who focuses on computer technology – system software design – and his designs are embedded in all modern computers distributed be the major companies in the world. He has stated ‘Whether it is deeply embedded devices such as missile guidance systems or vehicle navigation systems or general-purpose PCs such as laptops or even gaming consoles, I’ve worked with just about all types of “computers” throughout my career’. As for his writing, he has published three books to date – PRIMORDIAL THREAT, PERIMETER, and DARWIN’S CIPHER – each with themes of technology and international intrigue. .
The polished skill with which Michael relates his intriguing and immensely involving story showcases both his mastery of technology as well as his obvious travels and knowledge of global intrigue. But he steps further into the spotlight with his introduction of chief character Juan Gutierrez by not only making him a brilliant scientist but one coping with an important unknown: ‘Juan had long ago understood just how lucky he was. Not only had he managed to escape the projects of East LA – a rare feat – but he had completed both college and medical school, and now here he was doing cancer research for one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world…Cancer had taken both his parents from him, and those deaths had shaped the man he was today. His father’s death had filled Juan with an unstoppable drive, and his mother had given him the desire to prevent others suffering from the same hideous disease. He was driven by a single-minded obsession. To find a cure for cancer.’
It is this quality of prose that carries his novel to success. The plot is well outlined in the synopsis – ‘Juan Gutierrez, a cancer researcher, has spent years studying the genome of animals that exhibit immunity to some types of cancer. Over the course of his study, Juan discovers a pattern that allows him to predict the course of a species' evolution across thousands of generations. Using the algorithm he's developed from the pattern, Juan uncovers what he believes to be the key to conquering humanity's susceptibility to cancer. Others are interested in using what Juan has dubbed "Darwin's Cipher," however, instead of cancer research, they see very different applications for the new genetic algorithm. Nate Carrington, an FBI forensic analyst has been struggling with several cold cases when he’s alerted to an incident at a nearby ranch. It’s a case of a newborn calf who is found in the middle of a herd of dead cattle. It provides a single link to Nate's other cold cases: the DNA analysis of the calf doesn't match anything in the FBI's database. Somewhere in a rural hospital in West Virginia, four hospital workers are dead and a newborn child has been transported to the NIH's level-4 bio-containment unit. It's only when the NIH sends out an alert to all hospitals and law enforcement agencies that the world realizes the danger that faces them’.
At the end of the novel Michael offers some scientific factual information that heightens the readers interest – frightening but true. Writing of this caliber, having created a mesmerizing lead character whose skills as a human being are staggering, suggests that this book could easily be adapted as a screenplay for a fine motion picture. Having read all of Michael superb novels this reader awaits the inevitable screenplay transformation. Highly Recommended.
February 13, 2022
The storyline honestly has a lot of potential. The premise is strong, the characters are diverse, and the pacing is well done. And YET, the narration leaves much to be desired.
Rothman is what I would call an aspiring poor man's (medical) John Grisham. I know that sounds like high praise considering Grisham's an excellent author who knows how to build a story and then hook, line and sinker keep you anchored, but I don't have a lot of wonderful things to say about Rothman's writing.
The storyline has all elements of a thriller - a deady virus that's suddenly wrecking havoc, a deadline to work against, a brilliant scientist (kudos for making a non-white protagonist though, that was a good touch), and a mysterious enemy turned vigilante.
But that's where it all went to hell. The writing is quite choppy, my nail paint had more layers (2) than the characters. Scenes were foreshadowed and then just... left..??? Plot points that were brought up and then it's as if the writer lost his thread of thought, and went "eh, nobody's gonna know". Finding the cure to the virus (the literal climax) was anticlimactic, which was a let down after building it up so much; one could argue, that it is very much in line with real life where very complicated problems have a very simple solution sometimes, but I did not pick up a thriller FICTION novel for real life depictions of disappointments.
The book did not leave me with the satisfaction of a good-read, but at least it got me out of my phone and back to reading after many months, so I guess it wasn't a complete waste. If this is Rothman's usual writing style, I don't see myself picking up his other works anytime soon.
Rothman is what I would call an aspiring poor man's (medical) John Grisham. I know that sounds like high praise considering Grisham's an excellent author who knows how to build a story and then hook, line and sinker keep you anchored, but I don't have a lot of wonderful things to say about Rothman's writing.
The storyline has all elements of a thriller - a deady virus that's suddenly wrecking havoc, a deadline to work against, a brilliant scientist (kudos for making a non-white protagonist though, that was a good touch), and a mysterious enemy turned vigilante.
But that's where it all went to hell. The writing is quite choppy, my nail paint had more layers (2) than the characters. Scenes were foreshadowed and then just... left..??? Plot points that were brought up and then it's as if the writer lost his thread of thought, and went "eh, nobody's gonna know". Finding the cure to the virus (the literal climax) was anticlimactic, which was a let down after building it up so much; one could argue, that it is very much in line with real life where very complicated problems have a very simple solution sometimes, but I did not pick up a thriller FICTION novel for real life depictions of disappointments.
The book did not leave me with the satisfaction of a good-read, but at least it got me out of my phone and back to reading after many months, so I guess it wasn't a complete waste. If this is Rothman's usual writing style, I don't see myself picking up his other works anytime soon.
December 11, 2022
Very interesting premise of messing with genes to try and cure cancer with unintended consequences.
What I liked:
-Multiple storylines coming together.
-Great premise, very creative in a science kind of way.
-Good characters
What I didn't like:
-I felt it slowed down a little at the end
Over all very good.
What I liked:
-Multiple storylines coming together.
-Great premise, very creative in a science kind of way.
-Good characters
What I didn't like:
-I felt it slowed down a little at the end
Over all very good.
May 8, 2023
5 stars.
I LOVED THIS. This is a niche book, I imagine it will appeal to only a very specific type of person, but totally my niche: Government conspiracy meets cancer research meets mysterious deaths. I don’t often read sci-fi because my imagination isn’t always good enough and I find it difficult to absorb (often the complicated writing doesn’t help), this was absolutely not the case here and I enjoyed every page of it. The build-up with Juan and the scientific background was really good, before the detectives and the FBI start to get introduced and things get properly weird.
There are multiple plotlines here: . The ending wasn’t entirely unexpected, but I don’t think the author was going for the shock factor, and I did like how things were wrapped up in the end. Also,
Will definitely be looking out for more of Rothman’s books.
I LOVED THIS. This is a niche book, I imagine it will appeal to only a very specific type of person, but totally my niche: Government conspiracy meets cancer research meets mysterious deaths. I don’t often read sci-fi because my imagination isn’t always good enough and I find it difficult to absorb (often the complicated writing doesn’t help), this was absolutely not the case here and I enjoyed every page of it. The build-up with Juan and the scientific background was really good, before the detectives and the FBI start to get introduced and things get properly weird.
There are multiple plotlines here: . The ending wasn’t entirely unexpected, but I don’t think the author was going for the shock factor, and I did like how things were wrapped up in the end. Also,
Will definitely be looking out for more of Rothman’s books.
December 20, 2022
Manipulación genética y una buena trama de suspense, así que ha sido una lectura muy interesante, pero… suspenso para la editorial Samarcanda (que recibe muy buenas críticas en su labor y premios) y que ha editado un libro con una pésima traducción haciéndole un flaco favor al autor en su primera novela en el mercado español.
May 27, 2023
3,5 ⭐️, hat wirklich super spannend begonnen und an sich auch eine sehr interessante Thematik.
Nur wurden für mich manche Zusammenhänge nicht wirklich aufgeklärt, sodass nach dem Beenden noch einige ? Offen sind.
Nur wurden für mich manche Zusammenhänge nicht wirklich aufgeklärt, sodass nach dem Beenden noch einige ? Offen sind.
February 26, 2023
Lo primero que me llamó la atención del libro fue su portada, con ese ojo tan llamativo. El título me llamaba la atención y al leerlo comprendí el porqué de ese título y de la portada. Una historia con vocabulario técnico que, aunque estudié ciencias, a veces se me quedaba amplio, pero que he entendido lo suficiente para comprender la trama. Está contada desde varios puntos de vista que le aportan al lector una experiencia más real y capaz de hacer suposiciones. Es la primera vez que leo un techno-thriller y me ha parecido muy interesante. Podéis adentraros en su interior y descubrir cómo funciona la investigación.
June 29, 2020
Ever since the mid-twentieth century geneticists and molecular biologists have been mucking around in the human genetic code. Medical researchers have been seeking ways to cure diseases or prevent them entirely. Others have been toying with techniques to heighten critical elements in our physiological or psychological makeup such as intelligence or strength. Yet other scientists envision altering human physiology to adapt us for life on other planets with dramatically different atmospheric conditions. Meanwhile, a code of ethics has been widely adopted among researchers to prevent missteps that might bring tragic consequences. However, sometimes . . . well, accidents happen. And this thoughtful and inventive novel explores one such fraught development when genetic research goes awry.
Dr. Juan Gutierrez, a brilliant medical researcher, is pursuing a novel line of inquiry for his employer, the pharmaceutical giant Agrimed Global. Despite belt-tightening at the company, the director of research protects his position because he sees promise in Juan’s unorthodox approach. And Juan has set his sights on nothing less than a genetic cure for cancer.
Early on, we know that genetic research has gone awry
Meanwhile, at a secret Air Force base in the Nevada desert, a wandering Marine is set upon and killed by a pair of enormous dogs. Somehow, the German Federal Intelligence Service is involved—and organizes a coverup of the murder. To investigate a vague report of the incident, veteran FBI Special Agent Nate Carrington is dispatched from his base at Quantico. Nate is a member of the “Evidence Response Team Unit, the world-renowned FBI forensics lab,” but he turns up nothing other than a list of unanswered questions.
Near the Air Force base an older couple, Frank and Megan O’Reilley, come across a huge Labrador retriever on their cattle ranch. Megan names the dog Jasper. She has fallen instantly in love with him. And so does their daughter Kathy, who returns home from Alaska after her fiancé has died a grisly death when their sailboat took shelter at a private island in the Pacific. After escaping with her life—and a $200,000 payment to keep her mouth shut about what she has seen on the island—Kathy wants nothing more than to hide and reexamine her life.
Genetic research goes awry
As the story unfolds, the lives of Juan, Nate, and Kathy will intersect in dramatic ways. And they will all become caught up in a race against time to prevent a looming catastrophe unleashed by the theft and misuse of Juan’s research.
About the author
M. A. (Michael) Rothman describes himself as “one of the most unlikely novelists you’ll ever meet.” He’s an engineer with a background in the sciences. He has written eight books.
Dr. Juan Gutierrez, a brilliant medical researcher, is pursuing a novel line of inquiry for his employer, the pharmaceutical giant Agrimed Global. Despite belt-tightening at the company, the director of research protects his position because he sees promise in Juan’s unorthodox approach. And Juan has set his sights on nothing less than a genetic cure for cancer.
Early on, we know that genetic research has gone awry
Meanwhile, at a secret Air Force base in the Nevada desert, a wandering Marine is set upon and killed by a pair of enormous dogs. Somehow, the German Federal Intelligence Service is involved—and organizes a coverup of the murder. To investigate a vague report of the incident, veteran FBI Special Agent Nate Carrington is dispatched from his base at Quantico. Nate is a member of the “Evidence Response Team Unit, the world-renowned FBI forensics lab,” but he turns up nothing other than a list of unanswered questions.
Near the Air Force base an older couple, Frank and Megan O’Reilley, come across a huge Labrador retriever on their cattle ranch. Megan names the dog Jasper. She has fallen instantly in love with him. And so does their daughter Kathy, who returns home from Alaska after her fiancé has died a grisly death when their sailboat took shelter at a private island in the Pacific. After escaping with her life—and a $200,000 payment to keep her mouth shut about what she has seen on the island—Kathy wants nothing more than to hide and reexamine her life.
Genetic research goes awry
As the story unfolds, the lives of Juan, Nate, and Kathy will intersect in dramatic ways. And they will all become caught up in a race against time to prevent a looming catastrophe unleashed by the theft and misuse of Juan’s research.
About the author
M. A. (Michael) Rothman describes himself as “one of the most unlikely novelists you’ll ever meet.” He’s an engineer with a background in the sciences. He has written eight books.
September 14, 2023
This novel calls its readers dumb, as if we would not mind all the coincidences, not notice the stupidity of the 'bad guys" and the fact that the amazing Darwin's Cipher, the algorithm, simply ignores evolutionary pressures. Moreover, all the characters fall flat and the plot just isn't interesting. Any science article or book on genetics is more thoughtprovoking.
For example, I just don't find it credible that the 'bad guys' cover up a the death of a man who witnesses something on an island he shouldn't have, but patch his girlfriend up and let her go even though she is also a witness. And somehow, despite patching her up they don't notice she has stolen a data drive. I mean, they could have searched her thoroughly since they know she has been hiding literally in their secret lab. And why even isn't it locked. Just so that random civilians stranding on that island can walk in and we might consider her a brave heroine?
In my mind, Kathy also would have also died on that island. I wouldn't have missed her character. The author intended for us to consider her that smart, resilient and beautiful woman when in reality she only serves as the love interest of the male hero. All she does for 3/4 of the novel is call him for help and as a thanks he gets her. Great love story.
It is also funny that she never even has the thought to suspect the male hero (Juan, the cancer researcher) to be with the 'bad guys', despite having seen him with the man who has made her sign an NDA about the whole island business.
About the GMOs. Wow. Some scary non-dogs running about. Some scary non-birds flying about. And then it turns out that some cancer patients who have undergone an unlawful risky gene therapy just have thought it a good idea to feed their experimental medicine (not even knowing what is is) to their pregnant cows. Like, what the frick, Frank? I liked Frank up to that point. But that just calls him dumb, too.
So some cows and people die but ultimately the hero saves the day and gets the woman. The moral of the story is small steps, people, don't mess with thousands genes at a time.
Best part is the dog.
For example, I just don't find it credible that the 'bad guys' cover up a the death of a man who witnesses something on an island he shouldn't have, but patch his girlfriend up and let her go even though she is also a witness. And somehow, despite patching her up they don't notice she has stolen a data drive. I mean, they could have searched her thoroughly since they know she has been hiding literally in their secret lab. And why even isn't it locked. Just so that random civilians stranding on that island can walk in and we might consider her a brave heroine?
In my mind, Kathy also would have also died on that island. I wouldn't have missed her character. The author intended for us to consider her that smart, resilient and beautiful woman when in reality she only serves as the love interest of the male hero. All she does for 3/4 of the novel is call him for help and as a thanks he gets her. Great love story.
It is also funny that she never even has the thought to suspect the male hero (Juan, the cancer researcher) to be with the 'bad guys', despite having seen him with the man who has made her sign an NDA about the whole island business.
About the GMOs. Wow. Some scary non-dogs running about. Some scary non-birds flying about. And then it turns out that some cancer patients who have undergone an unlawful risky gene therapy just have thought it a good idea to feed their experimental medicine (not even knowing what is is) to their pregnant cows. Like, what the frick, Frank? I liked Frank up to that point. But that just calls him dumb, too.
So some cows and people die but ultimately the hero saves the day and gets the woman. The moral of the story is small steps, people, don't mess with thousands genes at a time.
Best part is the dog.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2024
Este libro, este autor, ha sido un gran descubrimiento.
Lo cogí de la selección gratuita de Amazon Prime Reading porque me llamó la atención tanto la portada, como el título, como la sinopsis.
Y ha superado con creces lo que me esperaba.
Soy científica, me fascina la genética aunque no es mi especialidad y he trabajado algunos años en investigación. Combinar esa realidad con mi género literario preferido que es el thriller, intriga, para mí ha sido la fórmula ideal.
Hay algún pasaje técnico que, sabiendo un poco del tema, he disfrutado enormemente, pero no es necesario tener conocimientos científicos para poder seguir la novela.
La idea que plantea la novela suscita un debate muy interesante: Los límites éticos de los avances o de la investigación científica.
Sin embargo, no todo es maravilloso. He encontrado algún fallo de traducción, algún calco del inglés que, en español, queda poco natural.
Además, en la versión digital hay algún fallo de maquetación.
Por último, del mismo modo que he disfrutado los pasajes específicos en los que se explica la ciencia que hay detrás de lo que sucede (no doy detalles para no desvelar la trama) la explicación final se me queda corta. El autor pasa muy por encima de la gran solución final. Me faltó algo más de explicación ahí.
Terminé el libro con la sensación de que me quedaba algún cabo suelto.
En cualquier caso, recomiendo este libro y buscaré más tanto de este autor como de este género tecnothriller recién descubierto.
Lo cogí de la selección gratuita de Amazon Prime Reading porque me llamó la atención tanto la portada, como el título, como la sinopsis.
Y ha superado con creces lo que me esperaba.
Soy científica, me fascina la genética aunque no es mi especialidad y he trabajado algunos años en investigación. Combinar esa realidad con mi género literario preferido que es el thriller, intriga, para mí ha sido la fórmula ideal.
Hay algún pasaje técnico que, sabiendo un poco del tema, he disfrutado enormemente, pero no es necesario tener conocimientos científicos para poder seguir la novela.
La idea que plantea la novela suscita un debate muy interesante: Los límites éticos de los avances o de la investigación científica.
Sin embargo, no todo es maravilloso. He encontrado algún fallo de traducción, algún calco del inglés que, en español, queda poco natural.
Además, en la versión digital hay algún fallo de maquetación.
Por último, del mismo modo que he disfrutado los pasajes específicos en los que se explica la ciencia que hay detrás de lo que sucede (no doy detalles para no desvelar la trama) la explicación final se me queda corta. El autor pasa muy por encima de la gran solución final. Me faltó algo más de explicación ahí.
Terminé el libro con la sensación de que me quedaba algún cabo suelto.
En cualquier caso, recomiendo este libro y buscaré más tanto de este autor como de este género tecnothriller recién descubierto.
November 5, 2023
Spannende Geschichte, die mich sehr gefesselt hat und nicht völlig biologisch unrealistisch AAAABER
ich fands ein kleines bisschen enttäuschend am Ende, das ging plötzlich alles zu schnell und vieles wurde angeschnitten, aber nie zu Ende gebracht:
1. es wird überhaupt nicht genau erklärt, wieso neugeborene Lebewesen plötzlich toxisch sind?! das hat überhaupt keinen Sinn ergeben, wie reagiert da was?
2. der Handlungsstrang mit den Hunden wurde total ignoriert und nix mehr dazu gesagt
3. Natürlich haben alle von "den Guten" überlebt, das wäre bei Frank Schätzing nicht passiert, tststs langweilig
4. Welchen Sinn hatte Kathy, außer "main love interest"? Sie hat inhaltlich nix beigetragen, außer, dass sich so *zufällig* die Handlungsstränge verknüpfen
ich fands ein kleines bisschen enttäuschend am Ende, das ging plötzlich alles zu schnell und vieles wurde angeschnitten, aber nie zu Ende gebracht:
1. es wird überhaupt nicht genau erklärt, wieso neugeborene Lebewesen plötzlich toxisch sind?! das hat überhaupt keinen Sinn ergeben, wie reagiert da was?
2. der Handlungsstrang mit den Hunden wurde total ignoriert und nix mehr dazu gesagt
3. Natürlich haben alle von "den Guten" überlebt, das wäre bei Frank Schätzing nicht passiert, tststs langweilig
4. Welchen Sinn hatte Kathy, außer "main love interest"? Sie hat inhaltlich nix beigetragen, außer, dass sich so *zufällig* die Handlungsstränge verknüpfen
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2025
Outstanding. My inner science nerd thoroughly enjoyed it and I don’t often willingly subject myself to books with cancer in the plot. I gave it 5 stars but it’s a solid 4.5. Goodreads, let us do half stars!!!!!
September 27, 2020
For a free, kindle recommended book, this is surprisingly great. It reminds me of early Grisham but with the medical field instead of law. I'm hoping this new author has more.
September 3, 2025
If my regular diet of books can be categorized as healthy, and well balanced, well this book is a Costco hot dog with a side of McDonald’s fries. But you know, sometimes that exactly what your soul craves. A “techno-thriller” that kept me entertained. Not up to the level of Daniel Suarez, but give him time. I enjoyed reading the authors note at the end of how he became a writer, basically started writing bed time stories for his kids. Also follows the trend of technical people writing about what they know. I believe it was self published, which explains why I was able to grab this for $1.95 from a BookBub recommendation. Will read more.
April 3, 2023
Sehr spannendes Buch, sehr zu empfehlen
September 1, 2025
Amazing!!
I rarely give 5 stars but this book is incredible!! I was hooked from the beginning and the attention to detail and accuracy was great! I highly recommend this book!!!
I rarely give 5 stars but this book is incredible!! I was hooked from the beginning and the attention to detail and accuracy was great! I highly recommend this book!!!
September 11, 2025
Love the genre of techno thriller. This book keeps your interest with scenarios that are believable but pretty scary if it actually happens. Also a small love story included.
November 19, 2022
Cuando leí que el autor clasificaba “El algoritmo de Darwin” como techno-thriller, reconozco que tuve mucha curiosidad con lo que podría encontrarme y ha sido una gratísima sorpresa. M. A. Rothman consigue crear una historia de buen ritmo manteniendo al lector en vilo respecto al enigma científico que se esboza ya en las primeras páginas. A partir de este momento, juega con el lector ofreciendo pistas acerca de las posibles conexiones que puedan unir todos los acontecimientos misteriosos que están ocurriendo al mismo tiempo. Por otro lado, valoro que el escritor nos adentre en el mundo fascinante del genoma humano y algunos de los conflictos éticos que la investigación genética lamentablemente suscita precisamente por las posibles aplicaciones de algunos de sus resultados.
El investigador Juan Gutiérrez se encuentra en una fase avanzada de su trabajo científico para hallar una cura contra el cáncer. A través del estudio del genoma de algunos animales que han presentado una resistencia a esta enfermedad, cree poder aislar un algoritmo que le permita predecir la evolución de una especie a través de miles de años y aplicarlo a los humanos para conseguir la ansiada inmunidad. Por su parte, el analista forense del FBI Nate Carrington, se halla ante una serie de misteriosas muertes en diferentes partes del mundo que parecen tener algo que ver con otro tipo de aplicaciones de este patrón denominado “Algoritmo de Darwin”.
Siempre me ha fascinado todo el mundo de la investigación en genética y adentrarme en una novela que toque este tema de una forma tan original ha sido una delicia. El autor consigue atrapar con sus conocimientos científicos que, aunque explicados de una manera bastante llana (a esto ayudan mucho los personajes que se encuentran fuera de la esfera de especialidad del protagonista o directamente legos en la materia), nos lleva por derroteros muy complejos logrando una trama especialmente absorbente. Quizás me han quedado algunas dudas acerca del final y de la explicación de las muertes, pero han sido hilos muy concretos que en nada han lastrado mi disfrute del libro. Además, Rothman nos transporta a escenarios muy diversos (en algunos casos como el de la isla nos podemos llegar a preguntar qué tiene que ver en principio con el argumento principal) de una forma muy visual casi como si de una película se tratase.
Por otra parte, hay que destacar las interconexiones que crea entre los personajes y cómo los va uniendo al hilo de los sucesos. En este sentido, el papel que toma Kathy me ha parecido crucial y su devenir, casi siempre en el ojo del huracán de alguna manera, me ha resultado sobresaliente. Creo que además el autor trata un tema primordial hoy en día y logra tocar especialmente la fibra sentimental al hablarnos tangencialmente de los problemas que puede suscitar una investigación tan necesaria como la que se nos presenta. Si bien en este caso han sido exagerados y novelados, la propia base es muy real y se refiere a la aplicación indebida y lucrativa de sus resultados. Considero que esta mezcla de ficción que derrocha tensión con ese realismo de la investigación genética que invita a reflexionar nos arroja como resultado una trama de infarto con un broche final espectacular.
El investigador Juan Gutiérrez se encuentra en una fase avanzada de su trabajo científico para hallar una cura contra el cáncer. A través del estudio del genoma de algunos animales que han presentado una resistencia a esta enfermedad, cree poder aislar un algoritmo que le permita predecir la evolución de una especie a través de miles de años y aplicarlo a los humanos para conseguir la ansiada inmunidad. Por su parte, el analista forense del FBI Nate Carrington, se halla ante una serie de misteriosas muertes en diferentes partes del mundo que parecen tener algo que ver con otro tipo de aplicaciones de este patrón denominado “Algoritmo de Darwin”.
Siempre me ha fascinado todo el mundo de la investigación en genética y adentrarme en una novela que toque este tema de una forma tan original ha sido una delicia. El autor consigue atrapar con sus conocimientos científicos que, aunque explicados de una manera bastante llana (a esto ayudan mucho los personajes que se encuentran fuera de la esfera de especialidad del protagonista o directamente legos en la materia), nos lleva por derroteros muy complejos logrando una trama especialmente absorbente. Quizás me han quedado algunas dudas acerca del final y de la explicación de las muertes, pero han sido hilos muy concretos que en nada han lastrado mi disfrute del libro. Además, Rothman nos transporta a escenarios muy diversos (en algunos casos como el de la isla nos podemos llegar a preguntar qué tiene que ver en principio con el argumento principal) de una forma muy visual casi como si de una película se tratase.
Por otra parte, hay que destacar las interconexiones que crea entre los personajes y cómo los va uniendo al hilo de los sucesos. En este sentido, el papel que toma Kathy me ha parecido crucial y su devenir, casi siempre en el ojo del huracán de alguna manera, me ha resultado sobresaliente. Creo que además el autor trata un tema primordial hoy en día y logra tocar especialmente la fibra sentimental al hablarnos tangencialmente de los problemas que puede suscitar una investigación tan necesaria como la que se nos presenta. Si bien en este caso han sido exagerados y novelados, la propia base es muy real y se refiere a la aplicación indebida y lucrativa de sus resultados. Considero que esta mezcla de ficción que derrocha tensión con ese realismo de la investigación genética que invita a reflexionar nos arroja como resultado una trama de infarto con un broche final espectacular.
May 7, 2022
Ending is rushed and wrapped up with a Deus Ex Machina. Also it was unbelievable cringey with how awful it was written, absolutely the dumbest thing I've read in a while.
Its a shame too because I was absolutely enjoying all the build up, tension, mystery and character building going on throughout the book.
There's a lot of really interesting stuff going on, like the situation with a overly smart dog, killer birds and a conspiracy going on with the Germans. However, i feel like absolutely nothing is done with any of that. When the book wrapped up I definetly was going 'but..... But what about all that other cool stuff? I wanted to know more about that'. It felt so throwaway and you could tell that it was just intended to be used for some shock value I guess instead of for any real meaningful plot, which is a shame.
Also this situation driving the plot was scary and had a lot of potential to be super destructive. I was actually hoping for a moment that it would get destructive, wildly out of control and more of a large scope impact on the world. However, once again, it doesn't do anything with it and keeps it feeling super localized, easy to remedy by the end and was mostly in control but with a lot of worry over keeping it in control.
I really didn't like how small small scope the story kept itself. There really wasn't anything even done to get outsider percpective or showing impact or impressions the world may have. The author did this cheap trick of excusing the lack of a broader scope because it's 'top secret'. So that 'top secret' approach kept everything small scope and was a cheap excuse to not need to write about broader impacts. I'm sorry but I have a hard time believing something like this wouldn't be leaked easily given how many people were involved, impacted and died already. It's super unrealistic that this would be so in control and easily remedied like it was.
The deus ex machina ending was the final straw for me to absolutely hating this book by the end. Unfortunately I had to get to the end to realize that I hated it. It was just cheap and felt super disrespectful of my time. I think honestly the author maybe bit off more then they could chew with trying to write a book like this. Like they were trying to desperately keep the story contained to one book. This kind of a story though, to do it right, it would require a book 3x this size or a series being made out of it. The tricks to keep the book smaller in scope by plugging in these top Secret excuses and lack of fleshing out the other potential plot devices that would have made this better really felt like this was all done to keep the book contained to one stand alone novel. It was a good way to have control over the books length I guess but this kind of plot just really felt so put to waste.
Its a shame too because I was absolutely enjoying all the build up, tension, mystery and character building going on throughout the book.
There's a lot of really interesting stuff going on, like the situation with a overly smart dog, killer birds and a conspiracy going on with the Germans. However, i feel like absolutely nothing is done with any of that. When the book wrapped up I definetly was going 'but..... But what about all that other cool stuff? I wanted to know more about that'. It felt so throwaway and you could tell that it was just intended to be used for some shock value I guess instead of for any real meaningful plot, which is a shame.
Also this situation driving the plot was scary and had a lot of potential to be super destructive. I was actually hoping for a moment that it would get destructive, wildly out of control and more of a large scope impact on the world. However, once again, it doesn't do anything with it and keeps it feeling super localized, easy to remedy by the end and was mostly in control but with a lot of worry over keeping it in control.
I really didn't like how small small scope the story kept itself. There really wasn't anything even done to get outsider percpective or showing impact or impressions the world may have. The author did this cheap trick of excusing the lack of a broader scope because it's 'top secret'. So that 'top secret' approach kept everything small scope and was a cheap excuse to not need to write about broader impacts. I'm sorry but I have a hard time believing something like this wouldn't be leaked easily given how many people were involved, impacted and died already. It's super unrealistic that this would be so in control and easily remedied like it was.
The deus ex machina ending was the final straw for me to absolutely hating this book by the end. Unfortunately I had to get to the end to realize that I hated it. It was just cheap and felt super disrespectful of my time. I think honestly the author maybe bit off more then they could chew with trying to write a book like this. Like they were trying to desperately keep the story contained to one book. This kind of a story though, to do it right, it would require a book 3x this size or a series being made out of it. The tricks to keep the book smaller in scope by plugging in these top Secret excuses and lack of fleshing out the other potential plot devices that would have made this better really felt like this was all done to keep the book contained to one stand alone novel. It was a good way to have control over the books length I guess but this kind of plot just really felt so put to waste.
October 22, 2022
Rothman clasifica a su novela de Techno-Thriller. Un Thriller de ciencia ficción repleto de temas científicos y tecnológicos, haciéndola entendible a todos los lectores, con un lenguaje accesible. La parte de ciencia ficción es muy sutil, no hay ni nuevos mundos, ni viajes por el tiempo, ni extraterrestres, solo vemos como avanzan los estudios sobre el ADN.
Todo empieza con la investigación para encontrar una cura para el cáncer, a partir de ahí se desatan unos accidentes y unos crímenes encubiertos donde, un analista del FBI será el encargado de la investigación. Una lucha a contrarreloj de lo que podría llegar a ser la extinción de la humanidad.
Una novela entretenida y llena de intriga, que te engancha. Capítulos no muy extensos. Las descripciones son las justas y necesarias para ponernos en situación. Amor, familia, lealtad, poder, traición. Y un final... Una historia que da que pensar.
Una novela que ha revolucionado la ficción en Estados Unidos con 150.000 ejemplares vendidos. Vale la pena leerla.
Y no os saltéis el Anexo, es muy interesante.
Muy recomendable.
Todo empieza con la investigación para encontrar una cura para el cáncer, a partir de ahí se desatan unos accidentes y unos crímenes encubiertos donde, un analista del FBI será el encargado de la investigación. Una lucha a contrarreloj de lo que podría llegar a ser la extinción de la humanidad.
Una novela entretenida y llena de intriga, que te engancha. Capítulos no muy extensos. Las descripciones son las justas y necesarias para ponernos en situación. Amor, familia, lealtad, poder, traición. Y un final... Una historia que da que pensar.
Una novela que ha revolucionado la ficción en Estados Unidos con 150.000 ejemplares vendidos. Vale la pena leerla.
Y no os saltéis el Anexo, es muy interesante.
Muy recomendable.
May 3, 2021
Can someone explain to me what the scientifically modified dog was doing in this story???
Very lightweight plot, clunky dialogue and seemingly endless coincidences that strain and stretch any remaining credibility
Very lightweight plot, clunky dialogue and seemingly endless coincidences that strain and stretch any remaining credibility
April 25, 2019
I am not a medical thriller fan. I haven’t read a book in this genre that I liked. So when I was approached with an invite to review Darwin’s Cipher, I was hesitant. But then I read the blurb, and my interest was caught. So I accepted. I am happy I did because this book was fantastic.
The plot with Juan made me both angry and sad at the same time. I was sad because he poured his life into researching a cure for cancer. I was mad because people were using his research in the wrong ways. I was interested in seeing what went on behind the scenes in a research lab. The author was able to capture the sacrifices researches make in their quest to find a cure.
The plotline involving Nate and his investigation was interesting. It was interesting to see what he was going up against in his investigation. The scene where the evidence disappeared from the locker was huge. Like he said, how does evidence disappear from a protected federal agency?
Frank and Katie’s plotline showed a 3rd side to what was going on. It was refreshing to see everything happen from a regular person’s point of view. Every thing that Frank, and then Katie went through, horrified me. Even now, I get shivers thinking about it.
All the main characters in Darwin’s Cipher were well written. I was able to form a connection to them. They were 3d. Everytime I thought I had a character figured out, another layer would be revealed. Loved it.
Out of the three main characters, I’d have to say that I liked Katie the best. She was an ordinary woman caught up in something that bigger than her. Her actions and reactions would be close to what I would do. I also liked how her character developed throughout the book. She started as an immature girl and ended up as a mature woman.
Juan was a force of nature in this book. He was passionate about his research. The author did a fantastic job of portraying that. He sacrificed so much to get where he was. My only fault with him was that he had tunnel vision about his career. But, that passion came in handy at the end of the book.
Nate was the only character in the book that I felt I could have gotten to know better. Still, I liked him.
The secondary characters in Darwin’s Cipher added depth to the book. I will include the dog in with the secondary characters. Not saying why. Need to read the book to find out.
The bad guys gave me chills. While I understood why one of the bad guys did what he did, I couldn’t get past it. The other bad guys were evil. There were surprises about them, though. A couple of people who I thought were in on it wasn’t. And a person who I thought was on Juan’s side wasn’t.
Darwin’s Cipher does get technical. I don’t even begin to understand lab procedures. There was also technical jargon that made me go “huh.” I was able to google/use my Kindle dictionary to look that stuff up.
I wasn’t a fan of the Juan/Katie romance in the book. It did make sense at the end of the book. It fueled Juan to do what he did. But, I didn’t like it.
The end of Darwin’s Cipher was a nail biter for me. The author had everything happening so quickly that I almost couldn’t keep up reading. I had to reread pages so I could process what was happening. The way the book ended had me wondering if there was going to be another book.
I would give Darwin’s Cipher an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.
I would reread Darwin’s Cipher. I would also reccomend this book to family and friends.
I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Darwin’s Cipher.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
The plot with Juan made me both angry and sad at the same time. I was sad because he poured his life into researching a cure for cancer. I was mad because people were using his research in the wrong ways. I was interested in seeing what went on behind the scenes in a research lab. The author was able to capture the sacrifices researches make in their quest to find a cure.
The plotline involving Nate and his investigation was interesting. It was interesting to see what he was going up against in his investigation. The scene where the evidence disappeared from the locker was huge. Like he said, how does evidence disappear from a protected federal agency?
Frank and Katie’s plotline showed a 3rd side to what was going on. It was refreshing to see everything happen from a regular person’s point of view. Every thing that Frank, and then Katie went through, horrified me. Even now, I get shivers thinking about it.
All the main characters in Darwin’s Cipher were well written. I was able to form a connection to them. They were 3d. Everytime I thought I had a character figured out, another layer would be revealed. Loved it.
Out of the three main characters, I’d have to say that I liked Katie the best. She was an ordinary woman caught up in something that bigger than her. Her actions and reactions would be close to what I would do. I also liked how her character developed throughout the book. She started as an immature girl and ended up as a mature woman.
Juan was a force of nature in this book. He was passionate about his research. The author did a fantastic job of portraying that. He sacrificed so much to get where he was. My only fault with him was that he had tunnel vision about his career. But, that passion came in handy at the end of the book.
Nate was the only character in the book that I felt I could have gotten to know better. Still, I liked him.
The secondary characters in Darwin’s Cipher added depth to the book. I will include the dog in with the secondary characters. Not saying why. Need to read the book to find out.
The bad guys gave me chills. While I understood why one of the bad guys did what he did, I couldn’t get past it. The other bad guys were evil. There were surprises about them, though. A couple of people who I thought were in on it wasn’t. And a person who I thought was on Juan’s side wasn’t.
Darwin’s Cipher does get technical. I don’t even begin to understand lab procedures. There was also technical jargon that made me go “huh.” I was able to google/use my Kindle dictionary to look that stuff up.
I wasn’t a fan of the Juan/Katie romance in the book. It did make sense at the end of the book. It fueled Juan to do what he did. But, I didn’t like it.
The end of Darwin’s Cipher was a nail biter for me. The author had everything happening so quickly that I almost couldn’t keep up reading. I had to reread pages so I could process what was happening. The way the book ended had me wondering if there was going to be another book.
I would give Darwin’s Cipher an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.
I would reread Darwin’s Cipher. I would also reccomend this book to family and friends.
I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Darwin’s Cipher.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
October 19, 2025
El enigma de Darwin es un tecnothriller que no escatima en explicaciones científicas acerca del avance médico que sirve como eje de la historia, aunque en ningún caso llega a abrumar con ellas. Lo que sí consigue gracias a ello es que todo parezca bastante lógico y con sentido (una pena que este avance sea fruto de la ficción y no del mundo real).
El primer cuarto es un poco confuso, saltando cada pocos párrafos de unos personajes a otros, pero pasado ese arranque, poco a poco las piezas -y los personajes- van encajando y el puzzle empieza a coger sentido.
Sentí que a mitad de la historia perdía un poco de ritmo. Mi yo interior me decía “venga, deja de mirar al infinito sin hacer nada y continúa con el libro” pero no estaba ansioso por continuar (en ningún caso el abandono se asomó como opción).Por suerte, no duró mucho este pequeño bajón de ritmo y la segunda mitad acaba recuperándolo completamente cuando todo se empieza a torcer, hasta el punto de que en el último tercio ya no había espacio para sugerencias de ese “yo interior”. Ya estaba metido de lleno y no había momentos para mirar al infinito sin hacer nada.
Por poner un pequeño pero, creo que ese ritmo que coge al final daba para un mayor desarrollo de lo que ocurre y provocó que al final se me quedara la sensación de que todo termina de una forma un poco abrupta. Que está bien, pero me quedé con la sensación de que todo lo que estaba ocurriendo daba para algo más épico. ¡No se puede tener todo!
𝓔𝓷 𝓭𝓮𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓪, se trata de un libro 💫𝓡𝓔𝓒𝓞𝓜𝓔𝓝𝓓𝓐𝓑𝓛𝓔💫, con varios ingredientes jugosos (al menos para mi), como son los avances científicos, el impacto global de este avance cuando cae en manos de quien no debe, la investigación policial, momentos trepidantes e incluso un (muy ligero) romance.
El primer cuarto es un poco confuso, saltando cada pocos párrafos de unos personajes a otros, pero pasado ese arranque, poco a poco las piezas -y los personajes- van encajando y el puzzle empieza a coger sentido.
Sentí que a mitad de la historia perdía un poco de ritmo. Mi yo interior me decía “venga, deja de mirar al infinito sin hacer nada y continúa con el libro” pero no estaba ansioso por continuar (en ningún caso el abandono se asomó como opción).Por suerte, no duró mucho este pequeño bajón de ritmo y la segunda mitad acaba recuperándolo completamente cuando todo se empieza a torcer, hasta el punto de que en el último tercio ya no había espacio para sugerencias de ese “yo interior”. Ya estaba metido de lleno y no había momentos para mirar al infinito sin hacer nada.
Por poner un pequeño pero, creo que ese ritmo que coge al final daba para un mayor desarrollo de lo que ocurre y provocó que al final se me quedara la sensación de que todo termina de una forma un poco abrupta. Que está bien, pero me quedé con la sensación de que todo lo que estaba ocurriendo daba para algo más épico. ¡No se puede tener todo!
𝓔𝓷 𝓭𝓮𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓪, se trata de un libro 💫𝓡𝓔𝓒𝓞𝓜𝓔𝓝𝓓𝓐𝓑𝓛𝓔💫, con varios ingredientes jugosos (al menos para mi), como son los avances científicos, el impacto global de este avance cuando cae en manos de quien no debe, la investigación policial, momentos trepidantes e incluso un (muy ligero) romance.
April 7, 2019
An Engaging, Accessible Scientific Thriller
This book was an entertaining techno thriller. The author has a strong scientific background and caught the writing bug. This book is an engaging book. It blends science and drama better than many others. The science is advanced, but I love how it was explained to be easy to follow for non science readers and kept as a real plausible key to the story. It was not boring as some technical explanations can be. It also has great character development. The young research, Juan was intelligently written, with nods to his heritage and dreams of helping others. The ranching family of the O'Reillys, were warm, caring and very realistic. It is a fast paced thrill ride, and I also appreciated how it was trim and highly written. It was very realistic, not all ends were tied up and it mirrored real life. I read this book using immersion reading, while listening to the audiobook. Narrator Tim Campbell was wonderful, capturing the characters beautifully and handles the technical language so well. The book also offers some base information about GMOs and Gene Therapy at the end with easy to follow descriptions that educate and inform those who aren't familiar with the scientific principles.
Definitely a great read with thrilling elements.
This book was an entertaining techno thriller. The author has a strong scientific background and caught the writing bug. This book is an engaging book. It blends science and drama better than many others. The science is advanced, but I love how it was explained to be easy to follow for non science readers and kept as a real plausible key to the story. It was not boring as some technical explanations can be. It also has great character development. The young research, Juan was intelligently written, with nods to his heritage and dreams of helping others. The ranching family of the O'Reillys, were warm, caring and very realistic. It is a fast paced thrill ride, and I also appreciated how it was trim and highly written. It was very realistic, not all ends were tied up and it mirrored real life. I read this book using immersion reading, while listening to the audiobook. Narrator Tim Campbell was wonderful, capturing the characters beautifully and handles the technical language so well. The book also offers some base information about GMOs and Gene Therapy at the end with easy to follow descriptions that educate and inform those who aren't familiar with the scientific principles.
Definitely a great read with thrilling elements.
February 22, 2023
This book is a reasonable facsimile of a Michael Crichton story. In fact, the author points out Crichton as an inspiration.
I did get tired of the author talking, mostly about himself. First he writes an opening note about covid. Okay, fine, whatever. Then he feels compelled to add an Author’s Note after the story, and an Addendum after that! Enough already! I don't need another lecture about Golden Rice. One of the characters already did that in the story. And just in case you have yet to figure out who the author is . . . after all that . . . you can catch About the Author at the end.
A few eyerolls:
“I’m going to share with you a secret.
“This isn’t the first time an event like this has occurred . . .”
-- I SERIOUSLY doubt an FBI agent would say this!
“I can scan the databases to see if either of those names pop up as having entered the country . . .”
-- Really? Two German intelligence agents would fly in under their own names?
Also, one character is supposed to be a legendary forensics guy. Mostly what he did was take samples. Heck, even I've done that.
Still, the story was enjoyable. I especially appreciated Juan's regard of the President near the end. And the ending itself was piquant. I'm a sucker for sci-fi that actually does contain science, so I'll probably read more of this author's work.
I did get tired of the author talking, mostly about himself. First he writes an opening note about covid. Okay, fine, whatever. Then he feels compelled to add an Author’s Note after the story, and an Addendum after that! Enough already! I don't need another lecture about Golden Rice. One of the characters already did that in the story. And just in case you have yet to figure out who the author is . . . after all that . . . you can catch About the Author at the end.
A few eyerolls:
“I’m going to share with you a secret.
“This isn’t the first time an event like this has occurred . . .”
-- I SERIOUSLY doubt an FBI agent would say this!
“I can scan the databases to see if either of those names pop up as having entered the country . . .”
-- Really? Two German intelligence agents would fly in under their own names?
Also, one character is supposed to be a legendary forensics guy. Mostly what he did was take samples. Heck, even I've done that.
Still, the story was enjoyable. I especially appreciated Juan's regard of the President near the end. And the ending itself was piquant. I'm a sucker for sci-fi that actually does contain science, so I'll probably read more of this author's work.
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