What do you think?
Rate this book
The Bug Hunter
Terrorists have turned nature itself into a devastating weapon. And only one man can stop it.
The year is 2026 and up and down the Eastern seaboard of the United States a virulent toxin is killing people. What was initially believed to be food poisoning turns out to be a terrorist attack using genetically modified insects to poison the American food supply. For Gabriel Marx, news of the poisoning is eerily familiar. A Marine Corps veteran and trained viticulturist, Gabriel is now working as a vintner at Landmark Estates Winery in California, but was once part of a secret CIA effort to use insect vectors to destroy the Afghan Taliban’s poppy industry. He’s long feared that genetically synthesized toxins delivered by insects could be used as a terror weapon.
One day a stream of black SUVs carrying the Secretary of Homeland Security shows up at the vineyard, and Gabriel is recruited to help the government respond to the attack. He is drawn into a complex web of rogue scientists with links to ISIS and Chechen terrorists, and discovers that an even more devastating attack is imminent.
Merging cutting-edge synthetic biology with global politics and international terrorism, The Bug Hunter is both thriller and cautionary tale of how advances in technology can be used to turn nature itself into a devastating weapon.
The year is 2026 and up and down the Eastern seaboard of the United States a virulent toxin is killing people. What was initially believed to be food poisoning turns out to be a terrorist attack using genetically modified insects to poison the American food supply. For Gabriel Marx, news of the poisoning is eerily familiar. A Marine Corps veteran and trained viticulturist, Gabriel is now working as a vintner at Landmark Estates Winery in California, but was once part of a secret CIA effort to use insect vectors to destroy the Afghan Taliban’s poppy industry. He’s long feared that genetically synthesized toxins delivered by insects could be used as a terror weapon.
One day a stream of black SUVs carrying the Secretary of Homeland Security shows up at the vineyard, and Gabriel is recruited to help the government respond to the attack. He is drawn into a complex web of rogue scientists with links to ISIS and Chechen terrorists, and discovers that an even more devastating attack is imminent.
Merging cutting-edge synthetic biology with global politics and international terrorism, The Bug Hunter is both thriller and cautionary tale of how advances in technology can be used to turn nature itself into a devastating weapon.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2019
81 people are currently reading
1518 people want to read
About the author
Ken Davenport
5 books40 followersKen Davenport is an entrepreneur and novelist based in San Diego, California.
Ken’s built multiple businesses, lived in Switzerland as a kid, did his graduate work in London, spent a nomadic year in Tokyo, where he learned Japanese (or tried), and now spends much of his free time helping military veterans transition to the civilian world.
To learn more about Ken, his current and upcoming novels, news and updates, go to www.kendavenport.net.
Ken’s built multiple businesses, lived in Switzerland as a kid, did his graduate work in London, spent a nomadic year in Tokyo, where he learned Japanese (or tried), and now spends much of his free time helping military veterans transition to the civilian world.
To learn more about Ken, his current and upcoming novels, news and updates, go to www.kendavenport.net.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 7, 2019
This is a good, solid bio-terror action-thriller.
Thoroughly researched, it's also full of fascinating, digestible information about genetic modification, science, geopolitics, Islam and Judaism.
The characters are well-drawn and the pace is fast. I read it in a day, it held my interest so well.
The ending leaves the possibility of a sequel, which I'd love to see.
This was an ARC giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
Thoroughly researched, it's also full of fascinating, digestible information about genetic modification, science, geopolitics, Islam and Judaism.
The characters are well-drawn and the pace is fast. I read it in a day, it held my interest so well.
The ending leaves the possibility of a sequel, which I'd love to see.
This was an ARC giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2019
3 very generous stars.
"The Bug Hunter" is a standard cookie cutter action book that while certainly more than plausible - we don't need the epilogue to tell us that - offers very little in terms of suspense or unique characterizations. The writing is certainly better than most average books of this ilk - though I would put this in a pile called 'airport spy novels', you know, the kind that are purchased during lay-overs and aren't missed if 'accidentally' left on the plane later - but the clichés just build up after a while to the point of making it blindingly dull in parts. And not only do the clichés pile up, but geez, weren't we lucky that every single lead or idea the government had wound up being right from the first try? No way in hell, even giving (negative) credit for at least seeing the realism behind hiring one of Saddam Hussein's main officers as a University professor... derp, which way did he go? One conclusion gleaned from this story is that we are all doomed to die at our own hands probably sooner rather than later.
I am extremely glad that I only clicked on the 'Kindle Unlimited' button for this book and didn't actually purchase it. Ultimately, this book was VERY 'put-downable' and a slog to get through in many parts, as it was more then predictable and even repetitive in terms of plot and the limited amount of action sequences. One could argue that the accuracy of the scientific focus on the book makes for exciting reading but to me it was like trying to get through the novelization of my old intro to biology textbook. I doubt very seriously that in 6 months I will remember any of it.
"The Bug Hunter" is a standard cookie cutter action book that while certainly more than plausible - we don't need the epilogue to tell us that - offers very little in terms of suspense or unique characterizations. The writing is certainly better than most average books of this ilk - though I would put this in a pile called 'airport spy novels', you know, the kind that are purchased during lay-overs and aren't missed if 'accidentally' left on the plane later - but the clichés just build up after a while to the point of making it blindingly dull in parts. And not only do the clichés pile up, but geez, weren't we lucky that every single lead or idea the government had wound up being right from the first try? No way in hell, even giving (negative) credit for at least seeing the realism behind hiring one of Saddam Hussein's main officers as a University professor... derp, which way did he go? One conclusion gleaned from this story is that we are all doomed to die at our own hands probably sooner rather than later.
I am extremely glad that I only clicked on the 'Kindle Unlimited' button for this book and didn't actually purchase it. Ultimately, this book was VERY 'put-downable' and a slog to get through in many parts, as it was more then predictable and even repetitive in terms of plot and the limited amount of action sequences. One could argue that the accuracy of the scientific focus on the book makes for exciting reading but to me it was like trying to get through the novelization of my old intro to biology textbook. I doubt very seriously that in 6 months I will remember any of it.
April 18, 2019
As advances in CRISPR and synthetic biology are accelerating, terrifying scenarios like The Bug Hunter are inevitable. Davenport wraps this profound change in the relationship between human beings and nature into a nonstop rollercoaster of a thriller. It will suck you in and leave you scanning the headlines for real world corollaries.
February 19, 2020
When it comes to the kind of "mystery" stories I like to read, anything about spies or terrorists, anything at all to do with the Middle East, I don't usually even give a second look at. I am not in the least interested. And yet this time I did, and now that I've finished the story, I have to admit I'm glad that I did.
This was a very well written story, and the fact that it could very well become a reality made it even more potent. The characters were very well defined, and I quickly came to like the the "leading" character very much. I am sure the author has more stories brewing in his mind to carry this person for a while longer. I do not see this as a "one off" at all. But this was a very good, stand alone mystery.
The gist of the tale is that the "enemy" is using bioengineered insects to cause havoc and death to the Infidel Americans, and planning to do it in a way that would destroy the American economy overall, and cause thousands or worse number of deaths at the same time. Thank goodness it was just a "story." But it is also a very real possibility. Very scary stuff here.
Would I recommend it...............YES I most definitely do. Well written, well told, and it definitely held my interest from start to finish.
This was a very well written story, and the fact that it could very well become a reality made it even more potent. The characters were very well defined, and I quickly came to like the the "leading" character very much. I am sure the author has more stories brewing in his mind to carry this person for a while longer. I do not see this as a "one off" at all. But this was a very good, stand alone mystery.
The gist of the tale is that the "enemy" is using bioengineered insects to cause havoc and death to the Infidel Americans, and planning to do it in a way that would destroy the American economy overall, and cause thousands or worse number of deaths at the same time. Thank goodness it was just a "story." But it is also a very real possibility. Very scary stuff here.
Would I recommend it...............YES I most definitely do. Well written, well told, and it definitely held my interest from start to finish.
July 7, 2019
This was a GoodReads giveaway of an electronic Kindle version of the book. I still need to get used to reading more ebooks and work away from my bias against this format.
Middle Eastern religious driven terrorists. I don't like this default bad guy. I guess I miss the old days of suspense / thriller novels of battles between the superpowers. Anyway, it started me on the wrong foot. But the book was very well researched and used the setup very effectively. I questioned the prelude scene. Why use a mortar delivery when a drone would have worked? But other than that, I found the technology plausible and logical. There was some attention to detail and I am a bit of a detailed driven reader.
This was a GoodReads.
Middle Eastern religious driven terrorists. I don't like this default bad guy. I guess I miss the old days of suspense / thriller novels of battles between the superpowers. Anyway, it started me on the wrong foot. But the book was very well researched and used the setup very effectively. I questioned the prelude scene. Why use a mortar delivery when a drone would have worked? But other than that, I found the technology plausible and logical. There was some attention to detail and I am a bit of a detailed driven reader.
This was a GoodReads.
February 24, 2020
I won a copy of The Bug Hunter and was excited to give it a read.
In 2026, the US is under attack from a terrorist group. Their weapon of choice? The bugs that most people wouldn't even think to check. But when the authorities turn to expert Gabriel Marx, he uncovers a potentially devastating plan.
I thought the beginning of the book was a bit hard to get into, but after the first 80 pages or so, I started to really get into the story. The fact that this is a real possibility in today's world is a frightening thought. I'm glad I continued to read through to the end because overall, I enjoyed it.
In 2026, the US is under attack from a terrorist group. Their weapon of choice? The bugs that most people wouldn't even think to check. But when the authorities turn to expert Gabriel Marx, he uncovers a potentially devastating plan.
I thought the beginning of the book was a bit hard to get into, but after the first 80 pages or so, I started to really get into the story. The fact that this is a real possibility in today's world is a frightening thought. I'm glad I continued to read through to the end because overall, I enjoyed it.
May 30, 2019
A really good book. Fast and engaging read. The core concept of genetically engineered insects as well as the setting gives a reader a futuristic feel while firmly grounding them in the present. Really enjoyed this book.
December 26, 2019
Fast-Paced Foreign Threat Thriller
Tight, suspenseful story centered on Muslim sleeper agents planning to destroy America through genetically modified insects created to spread deadly diseases. Strong characters and fact based science prove a potent combination.
Tight, suspenseful story centered on Muslim sleeper agents planning to destroy America through genetically modified insects created to spread deadly diseases. Strong characters and fact based science prove a potent combination.
December 29, 2019
Very good read
This is a fast paced thriller with good characters, a story that is believable and holds your interest, and an ending that sets up nice opportunities for subsequent titles in a series. I am looking forward to learning what happens next.
This is a fast paced thriller with good characters, a story that is believable and holds your interest, and an ending that sets up nice opportunities for subsequent titles in a series. I am looking forward to learning what happens next.
September 16, 2021
It's Only a Bug!
Great story, well written with a good cast of characters, I enjoyed everything about the book, it was an exciting read and also scary as hell, to think that something like this could be possible, thankfully this time it was fiction at it's best..
Great story, well written with a good cast of characters, I enjoyed everything about the book, it was an exciting read and also scary as hell, to think that something like this could be possible, thankfully this time it was fiction at it's best..
May 31, 2019
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. Alarmingly plausible but irritating in spots. 2.5?
June 2, 2019
THE BUG HUNTER is a frightening thriller about genetically modified insects. You will find it very difficult to put down and even more difficult to get out of your mind. A MUST READ.
November 23, 2019
DNF. This book was written like a fantasy for a very specific person--wine loving, 'Murica military fetishists. Free ARC copy (I am glad I didn't have to pay for the experience)
December 5, 2019
Good book but ended rather abruptly.
December 17, 2019
Pretty good technothriller. Not Crichton, obviously, but certainly hard to put down and definitely worthy of a read.
December 19, 2019
This is a page turner. You think the story is going one way and then surprise, it goes into a new direction. I would highly recommend this book. I am hoping the author will write a sequel to this book with the same characters.
March 31, 2021
Solid bio-terror thriller
September 15, 2022
This book is absolutely great. I love reading things about bugs and what can be done with genetics and genomics. It can be quite scary sometimes. But this weaves a fascinating and almost all to true story.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews