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Collateral Carnage: Money. Politics. Big Pharma. What could go wrong?
Money. Politics. Big Pharma. What could go wrong?As PTSD therapist Claire Wilheit is about to learn, a whole helluva lot. A chance after-hours encounter with a fellow therapist reveals falsified patient files and thrusts Claire into a conspiracy poised to revolutionize treatment for US veterans now and for future generations, with deadly collateral damage.Trapped in an avalanche of events over which she has no control, Claire is locked into a race against time in preventing the sweeping, irreversible and fatally flawed policies that Congress is about to set into play.Collateral Carnage is Chris Saper’s debut novel, a gripping thriller set in a future near enough to be all too terrifying.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2019
6 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Chris Saper
17 books6 followersChris Saper is a portrait painter, teacher and author.
Author of North Light Book's, Painting Beautiful Skin Tones with Color & Light and For Love or Money: A Business Handbook for Portrait Painters, Mostly Monochrome.
Saper has also been published in The Best of Portrait Painting, American Artist Magazine, Artist's Magazine, Pastel Journal, and Pastel Artist International and International Artist Magazines.
Her work is also featured in
North Light Books' Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing; and
Drawing & Painting People: The Essential Guide,
Strokes of Genius 2: The Best of Light and Shadow.
Saper has two instructional DVDs available: "Painting Oil Portraits in Warm Light", and "Capturing the Beauty of Monochrome Oil Portraits", both available through North Light Books' www.artistsnetwork.com.
Since becoming a faculty member of the Portrait Society of America in 2006, Chris has participated at the PSA's annual meeting, "The Art of the Portrait", in the capacity of demonstrator, panelist on topics of interest, portfolio critiques, and book signings. In the fall of 2007, Chris conducted a demo and workshop for the Society's Academy, held at the San Francisco Academy of Art University.
Saper is a contributor to John Howard Sanden's World of Portrait Painting, writing a regular column, "Portraiture and the Pursuit of Excellence."
In addition to her full-time commissioned portrait practice, Saper is an active speaker, demonstrator and instructor, teaching regularly at both the Scottsdale Artists' School and at the Mountain Artists' Guild in Prescott AZ.
Chris Saper has studied with noted portraitists including Bettina Steinke, Burton Silverman, Harley Brown, William Whitaker, Daniel Greene, Phil Beck and Dan Gerhartz. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts and a Master's Degree in Health Care Administration.
Author of North Light Book's, Painting Beautiful Skin Tones with Color & Light and For Love or Money: A Business Handbook for Portrait Painters, Mostly Monochrome.
Saper has also been published in The Best of Portrait Painting, American Artist Magazine, Artist's Magazine, Pastel Journal, and Pastel Artist International and International Artist Magazines.
Her work is also featured in
North Light Books' Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing; and
Drawing & Painting People: The Essential Guide,
Strokes of Genius 2: The Best of Light and Shadow.
Saper has two instructional DVDs available: "Painting Oil Portraits in Warm Light", and "Capturing the Beauty of Monochrome Oil Portraits", both available through North Light Books' www.artistsnetwork.com.
Since becoming a faculty member of the Portrait Society of America in 2006, Chris has participated at the PSA's annual meeting, "The Art of the Portrait", in the capacity of demonstrator, panelist on topics of interest, portfolio critiques, and book signings. In the fall of 2007, Chris conducted a demo and workshop for the Society's Academy, held at the San Francisco Academy of Art University.
Saper is a contributor to John Howard Sanden's World of Portrait Painting, writing a regular column, "Portraiture and the Pursuit of Excellence."
In addition to her full-time commissioned portrait practice, Saper is an active speaker, demonstrator and instructor, teaching regularly at both the Scottsdale Artists' School and at the Mountain Artists' Guild in Prescott AZ.
Chris Saper has studied with noted portraitists including Bettina Steinke, Burton Silverman, Harley Brown, William Whitaker, Daniel Greene, Phil Beck and Dan Gerhartz. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts and a Master's Degree in Health Care Administration.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 4, 2020
I am a big fan of corporate thrillers, especially those that combine corporate interests, financial shenanigans, and big politics – Collateral Carnage is exactly that. Chris Saper makes the medical and pharmaceutical industry the center of the novel, presents us with a great story peppered with plot-twists, relatable characters and lots of mystery
But the best aspect of the novel is the transformation of the heroine, Claire Wilheit, as she grows with the challenges she encounters. All in all Saper demonstrates good storytelling technique, good writing style and ends the novel in an amazing way.
I would recommend the novel not only to medical professionals, but to all lovers of corporate fiction, especially fast-paced one.
But the best aspect of the novel is the transformation of the heroine, Claire Wilheit, as she grows with the challenges she encounters. All in all Saper demonstrates good storytelling technique, good writing style and ends the novel in an amazing way.
I would recommend the novel not only to medical professionals, but to all lovers of corporate fiction, especially fast-paced one.
December 3, 2019
I write this review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team, and thank her and the author for the ARC copy of the book, which I freely chose to review.
Having worked in the health services (although in the UK) for a number of years, and having treated some patients suffering from PTSD (although I’m no specialist), I was intrigued by this debut novel. I was even more interested when I read the author’s biography and learned of her first-hand experience as a healthcare administrator, as that promised to bring an insider’s perspective into the topic and add complexity to the plot.
This novel is perfect for readers who love conspiracy theory plots and also spy novels. I must confess that I am not much of a reader of spy novels, because I tend to get lost in the huge number of names, where characters often swap identities, and sometimes find it difficult to tell the different players apart. There is some of that here, because we are thrown at the deep end from the beginning. There’s no gentle easing into the subject or much background information provided before we get into the nitty gritty of the story, and the fact that we don’t know what’s happening parallels the experience of the main character, Claire Wilheit.
The story is narrated in the third person, but from a variety of points of view (I’d say almost as many as characters, or at least as many as characters that have some bearing into the outcome of the novel), and although some characters appear often and we become somewhat familiar with them, there are others that only make a fleeting appearance. The point of view, although clearly signalled, can change even within a chapter, and not all readers feel comfortable with so many changes. Chapters are short, the story moves at a quick pace, and although the language is straightforward, and there are no unnecessarily long descriptions, readers need to remain alert and attentive. This is not an easy and relaxed read; the plot has many strands that might appear quite entangled and confusing at first, but if one keeps reading, the story becomes clearer and the subject is both compelling and gripping.
Personally, I felt that this is a story heavier on plot than on characters. There are quite a number of characters I liked (mostly on the “good” side, although I felt some sympathy for the motives of some of the characters on the “bad” side as well), especially Claire, who is determined, intelligent, resourceful, and has managed to overcome pretty difficult circumstances, but because there are so many characters, and they all take their turn, it is difficult to get to know most of them in depth. I think that was in part the reason why, at times, I felt like an observer of the plot and the story, rather than being fully involved and sharing in the experiences of the characters. The end of the novel hinted at the possibility of further adventures involving Claire and some of the other characters (I’m trying to avoid spoilers here), so readers might learn much more about them.
I “enjoyed” (well, it worried me, but you know what I mean), the insight into the pharmaceutical industry, the way the novel spells out the relationship between Big Pharma and politics, and the reflections on how the healthcare system works (or rather, might end up working) in the USA. One of the aspects of the novel that I found captivating was the dystopian edge of the story. I haven’t seen it listed as a dystopia, but it is set in the very near future, with a social order very similar to the current one, but with subtle differences, or perhaps one could call them “developments” that, unfortunately, fit in well with recent events and with the way things are progressing. In the book, the efforts to control costs have resulted in the privatization of ever more services —the police force in Phoenix, for instance, deals with certain kinds of crimes, but at night there is a Militia in charge, and there is a curfew in place—, including the healthcare of the veterans of the many wars that the American military has participated in, and there are large interests involved in all these services. And, of course, those can be manipulated by less than scrupulous people. The most worrying part of the story is that it feels very realistic. It does not take a big stretch of the imagination to see something like this happening, and perhaps with an end far less satisfying than that of the novel (which I liked).
In summary, this is a novel for lovers of conspiracy theories and/or fairly realistic spy thrillers, that like puzzles and complex plots and don’t shy away from hard topics. The author injects her knowledge into the story without overwhelming it and the research is well integrated into the plot. There is no graphic violence and no romance here but a dire warning of how things could end up if money continues to be the governments’ (not only that of the USA) only consideration when dealing with people’s wellbeing. The characters are not as important as the story, but I think there is room for their development in future instalments. As a note to the author, I wonder if a list of characters might help people not to get lost, especially at the beginning of the book. I know that because of the nature of the plot, it might be difficult to do that without spoiling some of the surprises, although there might be ways around it. I will keep a close watch on the author’s writing career.
Having worked in the health services (although in the UK) for a number of years, and having treated some patients suffering from PTSD (although I’m no specialist), I was intrigued by this debut novel. I was even more interested when I read the author’s biography and learned of her first-hand experience as a healthcare administrator, as that promised to bring an insider’s perspective into the topic and add complexity to the plot.
This novel is perfect for readers who love conspiracy theory plots and also spy novels. I must confess that I am not much of a reader of spy novels, because I tend to get lost in the huge number of names, where characters often swap identities, and sometimes find it difficult to tell the different players apart. There is some of that here, because we are thrown at the deep end from the beginning. There’s no gentle easing into the subject or much background information provided before we get into the nitty gritty of the story, and the fact that we don’t know what’s happening parallels the experience of the main character, Claire Wilheit.
The story is narrated in the third person, but from a variety of points of view (I’d say almost as many as characters, or at least as many as characters that have some bearing into the outcome of the novel), and although some characters appear often and we become somewhat familiar with them, there are others that only make a fleeting appearance. The point of view, although clearly signalled, can change even within a chapter, and not all readers feel comfortable with so many changes. Chapters are short, the story moves at a quick pace, and although the language is straightforward, and there are no unnecessarily long descriptions, readers need to remain alert and attentive. This is not an easy and relaxed read; the plot has many strands that might appear quite entangled and confusing at first, but if one keeps reading, the story becomes clearer and the subject is both compelling and gripping.
Personally, I felt that this is a story heavier on plot than on characters. There are quite a number of characters I liked (mostly on the “good” side, although I felt some sympathy for the motives of some of the characters on the “bad” side as well), especially Claire, who is determined, intelligent, resourceful, and has managed to overcome pretty difficult circumstances, but because there are so many characters, and they all take their turn, it is difficult to get to know most of them in depth. I think that was in part the reason why, at times, I felt like an observer of the plot and the story, rather than being fully involved and sharing in the experiences of the characters. The end of the novel hinted at the possibility of further adventures involving Claire and some of the other characters (I’m trying to avoid spoilers here), so readers might learn much more about them.
I “enjoyed” (well, it worried me, but you know what I mean), the insight into the pharmaceutical industry, the way the novel spells out the relationship between Big Pharma and politics, and the reflections on how the healthcare system works (or rather, might end up working) in the USA. One of the aspects of the novel that I found captivating was the dystopian edge of the story. I haven’t seen it listed as a dystopia, but it is set in the very near future, with a social order very similar to the current one, but with subtle differences, or perhaps one could call them “developments” that, unfortunately, fit in well with recent events and with the way things are progressing. In the book, the efforts to control costs have resulted in the privatization of ever more services —the police force in Phoenix, for instance, deals with certain kinds of crimes, but at night there is a Militia in charge, and there is a curfew in place—, including the healthcare of the veterans of the many wars that the American military has participated in, and there are large interests involved in all these services. And, of course, those can be manipulated by less than scrupulous people. The most worrying part of the story is that it feels very realistic. It does not take a big stretch of the imagination to see something like this happening, and perhaps with an end far less satisfying than that of the novel (which I liked).
In summary, this is a novel for lovers of conspiracy theories and/or fairly realistic spy thrillers, that like puzzles and complex plots and don’t shy away from hard topics. The author injects her knowledge into the story without overwhelming it and the research is well integrated into the plot. There is no graphic violence and no romance here but a dire warning of how things could end up if money continues to be the governments’ (not only that of the USA) only consideration when dealing with people’s wellbeing. The characters are not as important as the story, but I think there is room for their development in future instalments. As a note to the author, I wonder if a list of characters might help people not to get lost, especially at the beginning of the book. I know that because of the nature of the plot, it might be difficult to do that without spoiling some of the surprises, although there might be ways around it. I will keep a close watch on the author’s writing career.
June 17, 2020
Claire Wilheit is a therapist for a private company serving veterans who are suffering from PTSD in this dystopian thriller that takes place in Phoenix in 2024. In a series of very short chapters, the author builds a future world whose central antagonist is a giant medical service/pharmaceutical company that Claire works for. AllMed is what you’d imagine if you were creating a soleless business whose leaders have no trouble sacrificing lives for profits. AllMed’s founder started out with good intentions, but when he had a chance to dominate the market with a futuristic drug, he was not above accepting help from a politically connected billionaire or engaging in deceptive practices to win government contracts.
Claire is the unwitting victim of two schemes––one run by the evil company; the other hatched by a sister. Unaware of both, she teams up with another therapist who alerts her to the fact that her patients’ records have been altered without her knowledge. Then, just as they are about to become collateral damage, they are rescued by a man who has infiltrated a private police force as part of a Congressional investigation into the crooked company.
While the plot of Collateral Carnage contains multiple intriguing elements, it is overly complex. Saper builds her story on a foundation of futuristic creations in the fields of law enforcement, international relations, computer technology as well as pharmacology. To her credit Saper has spent a good deal of time researching these disparate information fields, but expecting the reader to master them as well detracts from the flow of the story.
Complicating her story is Saper’s injection of dozens of characters throughout the novel. When she introduces some of the new characters, she gives us their life story, as if we needed to know all those details at that moment. Some of these life stories are lengthy and complex, and their relevance to the main story at that moment is often only tangential. The effect is to slow down and lengthen the novel.
The plot of Collateral Carnage has plausibility problems. Thus, all of the therapists who work for AllMed and all of the patients in the drug trial are people without families. The better to dispose of them if and when they became inconvenient. Another factor resulting from the overly complex plot is that the primary protagonist, Claire, needs to be rescued by a character who doesn’t come into the story until page 70. Other important characters arrive on the scene late in the story.
Claire, who is passive for much of the story, suddenly gets backbone half way through the story, but just as that occurs Saper diverts us to a secondary track—the side story of Claire’s scheming sister. I’m sure readers would have prefered had Saper kept more of the story in Claire’s point of view.
Saper’s originality and evidence that she put a lot of work into this novel suggest she will conquer some of her rookie mistakes in subsequent stories.
Claire is the unwitting victim of two schemes––one run by the evil company; the other hatched by a sister. Unaware of both, she teams up with another therapist who alerts her to the fact that her patients’ records have been altered without her knowledge. Then, just as they are about to become collateral damage, they are rescued by a man who has infiltrated a private police force as part of a Congressional investigation into the crooked company.
While the plot of Collateral Carnage contains multiple intriguing elements, it is overly complex. Saper builds her story on a foundation of futuristic creations in the fields of law enforcement, international relations, computer technology as well as pharmacology. To her credit Saper has spent a good deal of time researching these disparate information fields, but expecting the reader to master them as well detracts from the flow of the story.
Complicating her story is Saper’s injection of dozens of characters throughout the novel. When she introduces some of the new characters, she gives us their life story, as if we needed to know all those details at that moment. Some of these life stories are lengthy and complex, and their relevance to the main story at that moment is often only tangential. The effect is to slow down and lengthen the novel.
The plot of Collateral Carnage has plausibility problems. Thus, all of the therapists who work for AllMed and all of the patients in the drug trial are people without families. The better to dispose of them if and when they became inconvenient. Another factor resulting from the overly complex plot is that the primary protagonist, Claire, needs to be rescued by a character who doesn’t come into the story until page 70. Other important characters arrive on the scene late in the story.
Claire, who is passive for much of the story, suddenly gets backbone half way through the story, but just as that occurs Saper diverts us to a secondary track—the side story of Claire’s scheming sister. I’m sure readers would have prefered had Saper kept more of the story in Claire’s point of view.
Saper’s originality and evidence that she put a lot of work into this novel suggest she will conquer some of her rookie mistakes in subsequent stories.
January 13, 2020
In any war, there are casualties on both sides. Even though who return home ‘safe’ or ‘victorious’ often suffer due to the horrendous deeds they have suffered, witnessed, and been coerced or forced to participate in.
‘Collateral Carnage’ is the story of PTSD therapists Claire Wilheit and Robert Kingston, by Chris Saper, who holds a Masters in health care administration. Along with a cast of other characters (colleagues, family, nemeses), Claire and Robert inhabit a world in which curfews are now normal, and the “privatized vigilante law enforcement” of the Arizona Freedom Brigade patrols the streets. A country which has seen continuous ground wars in the Middle East since 2003. And in which there is now an entire generation who have grown up knowing nothing but war, and, more pertinent to Saper’s novel, there is a continuous conveyor-belt supply of fresh PTSD victims for the for-profit venture Lucident to ‘treat’.
It is a world (obviously) uncomfortably close to our own, in which diagnoses are formulated and given not so much for their ability to explain a patient’s health, but for their ability to access a certain category of funding from services which should be public and yet, have been privatised. A world in which patents and proprietary secrets and profit margins compromise patient care.
Chris Saper’s writing style reminds me of Dan Brown mixed with George Orwell – hugely appropriate for her chosen genre. ‘Collateral Carnage’ is fast-paced and easy-to-read – the very definition of a page turner. It jumps right into the action and doesn’t let up until the ending. Claire and Robert’s adventure is extremely well-written, and the locations they inhabit are superbly evoked – gritty and atmospheric.
Saper weaves a complex web of plots, from immigration crackdowns leading to coerced military enrollment, and endless foreign wars leading to big profits for private corporations, including the pharmaceutical industry, and pervasive government surveillance. Truthfully, this all feels (and one may even say, is) too real to read as speculative. ‘Collateral Carnage’ deals with greed on both a large (national and corporate) and small (family and personal) level, exploring the sometimes fine line between treatment and trauma.
‘Collateral Carnage’ is a must-read for anyone concerned by the worrying ties between private corporations and public services, who is fascinated by the kinds of experiments one reads about in psychology courses (with a twist), who is disturbed at the woeful treatment of veterans, or who just plain loves suspenseful, thrilling reads.
‘Collateral Carnage’ is the story of PTSD therapists Claire Wilheit and Robert Kingston, by Chris Saper, who holds a Masters in health care administration. Along with a cast of other characters (colleagues, family, nemeses), Claire and Robert inhabit a world in which curfews are now normal, and the “privatized vigilante law enforcement” of the Arizona Freedom Brigade patrols the streets. A country which has seen continuous ground wars in the Middle East since 2003. And in which there is now an entire generation who have grown up knowing nothing but war, and, more pertinent to Saper’s novel, there is a continuous conveyor-belt supply of fresh PTSD victims for the for-profit venture Lucident to ‘treat’.
It is a world (obviously) uncomfortably close to our own, in which diagnoses are formulated and given not so much for their ability to explain a patient’s health, but for their ability to access a certain category of funding from services which should be public and yet, have been privatised. A world in which patents and proprietary secrets and profit margins compromise patient care.
Chris Saper’s writing style reminds me of Dan Brown mixed with George Orwell – hugely appropriate for her chosen genre. ‘Collateral Carnage’ is fast-paced and easy-to-read – the very definition of a page turner. It jumps right into the action and doesn’t let up until the ending. Claire and Robert’s adventure is extremely well-written, and the locations they inhabit are superbly evoked – gritty and atmospheric.
Saper weaves a complex web of plots, from immigration crackdowns leading to coerced military enrollment, and endless foreign wars leading to big profits for private corporations, including the pharmaceutical industry, and pervasive government surveillance. Truthfully, this all feels (and one may even say, is) too real to read as speculative. ‘Collateral Carnage’ deals with greed on both a large (national and corporate) and small (family and personal) level, exploring the sometimes fine line between treatment and trauma.
‘Collateral Carnage’ is a must-read for anyone concerned by the worrying ties between private corporations and public services, who is fascinated by the kinds of experiments one reads about in psychology courses (with a twist), who is disturbed at the woeful treatment of veterans, or who just plain loves suspenseful, thrilling reads.
December 28, 2019
I received Collateral Carnage as a holiday gift and what a treat it was.
I found it to be a fast paced thriller that included murder, suspense, high stakes, internal moral conflict, and unabashed greed. The writer’s voice is engaging and the story itself is very topical and believable.
The main character, Claire Wilheit, is a therapist caught up in a big pharma conspiracy that exploits veterans suffering from PTSD and reaches to the highest levels of government.
There were various characters introduced throughout the story that could have been a distraction, but the writer tied up everything very nicely as the story went along.
For fans of intellectual thrillers that don’t rely on graphic blood and guts to keep you on the edge of your seat, Collateral Carnage is a must read.
I found it to be a fast paced thriller that included murder, suspense, high stakes, internal moral conflict, and unabashed greed. The writer’s voice is engaging and the story itself is very topical and believable.
The main character, Claire Wilheit, is a therapist caught up in a big pharma conspiracy that exploits veterans suffering from PTSD and reaches to the highest levels of government.
There were various characters introduced throughout the story that could have been a distraction, but the writer tied up everything very nicely as the story went along.
For fans of intellectual thrillers that don’t rely on graphic blood and guts to keep you on the edge of your seat, Collateral Carnage is a must read.
March 30, 2020
"Collateral Carnage: Money. Politics. Big Pharma. What could go wrong?"
What could go wrong is that this is an eerie prediction as we are going through the COVID-19 pandemic. While this book is a work of fiction, it is scary how realistic the storytelling is. The author has written an excellent thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and totally enthralled in following PTSD therapists Claire Wilheit and Robert Kingston as they fight against greed and corruption.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
What could go wrong is that this is an eerie prediction as we are going through the COVID-19 pandemic. While this book is a work of fiction, it is scary how realistic the storytelling is. The author has written an excellent thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat and totally enthralled in following PTSD therapists Claire Wilheit and Robert Kingston as they fight against greed and corruption.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
February 24, 2022
I read this on a recommendation from a friend. I am not a huge fan of thriller books, and I didn't really engage well with some of the characters, but I loved the behind-the-scenes puppet-master who invested in the drug.
And I loved all the characters that acted with integrity and stood up for their values no matter what.
And I loved all the characters that acted with integrity and stood up for their values no matter what.
September 2, 2019
The Review
From the book’s first pages the stage is set for a massive cover up, as files are discovered having been tampered with and one therapist’s day off turns into a life altering journey as she becomes part of a massive conspiracy involving several of her patients, (along with others), and discovers the lengths they are willing to go to in order to make money and cover up their actions.
What really sold this story however was not just the action and suspense, but the very human element of the protagonists, especially Claire. The integration of the family drama Claire begins the story in and integrating the shocking turn of events Claire goes through, the characters driving this narrative home feel more personal and relatable than most espionage/conspiracy thrillers these days. What also set this story apart was the blend of this human element with the scary future that could always become a reality that the author integrates, using curfews within neighborhoods and privatizing organizations to patrol the streets apart from the police, making the world feel like it is on the brink of becoming a privatized police state.
The Verdict
This was a massively entertaining, engaging and fun read. Fans of the great Tom Clancy will be on the edge of their seat throughout this fantastic novel. The fusion of conspiracy thriller with family drama and ordinary people thrust into dark tales of corruption and life threatening action like no other, author Chris Saper has done a wonderful job of reigniting this genre for the modern reader. With a shocking twist ending that leaves the door open, readers can only hope to see more of Claire and author Chris Saper in the future. If you haven’t yet, grab your copy of “Collateral Carnage” today!
From the book’s first pages the stage is set for a massive cover up, as files are discovered having been tampered with and one therapist’s day off turns into a life altering journey as she becomes part of a massive conspiracy involving several of her patients, (along with others), and discovers the lengths they are willing to go to in order to make money and cover up their actions.
What really sold this story however was not just the action and suspense, but the very human element of the protagonists, especially Claire. The integration of the family drama Claire begins the story in and integrating the shocking turn of events Claire goes through, the characters driving this narrative home feel more personal and relatable than most espionage/conspiracy thrillers these days. What also set this story apart was the blend of this human element with the scary future that could always become a reality that the author integrates, using curfews within neighborhoods and privatizing organizations to patrol the streets apart from the police, making the world feel like it is on the brink of becoming a privatized police state.
The Verdict
This was a massively entertaining, engaging and fun read. Fans of the great Tom Clancy will be on the edge of their seat throughout this fantastic novel. The fusion of conspiracy thriller with family drama and ordinary people thrust into dark tales of corruption and life threatening action like no other, author Chris Saper has done a wonderful job of reigniting this genre for the modern reader. With a shocking twist ending that leaves the door open, readers can only hope to see more of Claire and author Chris Saper in the future. If you haven’t yet, grab your copy of “Collateral Carnage” today!
July 31, 2019
I greatly enjoyed this book, and especially appreciated the detail and obvious political, scientific, medical and legal research that went into writing it. While the author has chosen a field (working with Post Traumatic Distress Syndrome veterans) in which she has toiled, she was not shy about exploring the nuances of related areas of the law and politics that greatly impact such important treatment. The blending of the varied and sometimes competing forces helped solidify the plot, while avoiding over-written, and run-on pedantic portions typical of such efforts.
I also welcomed how some of today’s federal policies were woven into a futuristic (but not that far away) world fraught with danger and draconian approaches to health care for some of America’s most troubled and vulnerable people. Chris Saper, an award-winning portraitist, transfers her well-known attention to detail to paint a disturbing literary picture for readers that will be appreciated for its sometimes suspenseful sections, and for focusing on legitimate and vital concerns about our society.
The characters were well developed and the dialogue sharp. There were some unexpected twists but they weren't forced. This is not a long novel, and I hope there's a sequel.
I also welcomed how some of today’s federal policies were woven into a futuristic (but not that far away) world fraught with danger and draconian approaches to health care for some of America’s most troubled and vulnerable people. Chris Saper, an award-winning portraitist, transfers her well-known attention to detail to paint a disturbing literary picture for readers that will be appreciated for its sometimes suspenseful sections, and for focusing on legitimate and vital concerns about our society.
The characters were well developed and the dialogue sharp. There were some unexpected twists but they weren't forced. This is not a long novel, and I hope there's a sequel.
October 16, 2019
The story based in Arizona with futuristic world settings. And these futuristic glimpses are true projections of current times. There are such as privatization of government sectors, stringent law, and order, etc (there are more but I don’t want to spill the beans).
It has the elements of fabulous corporate espionage or thrillers. It is more realistic than other books in the same genre. The book moved at a good pace with the author giving the reader a notion of the timeline. The entire thing happens in a short span of time.
An interesting read with a touch of reality. The author paved way for next book in the series (at least I hope that’s the case).
For a debut novel, Chris Saper has done a tremendous job with such an important topic.
My rating is 4 stars.
Find the complete review on: https://www.ideasflyhigh.wordpress.com/2019/10/16/collateral-carnage-a-book-review/
It has the elements of fabulous corporate espionage or thrillers. It is more realistic than other books in the same genre. The book moved at a good pace with the author giving the reader a notion of the timeline. The entire thing happens in a short span of time.
An interesting read with a touch of reality. The author paved way for next book in the series (at least I hope that’s the case).
For a debut novel, Chris Saper has done a tremendous job with such an important topic.
My rating is 4 stars.
Find the complete review on: https://www.ideasflyhigh.wordpress.com/2019/10/16/collateral-carnage-a-book-review/
Read
September 9, 2019Collateral Carnage is a thrilling read, told from the perspectives of several characters, that tells a compelling story about a health care system wrought with corruption. The characters were real and believable, each with his/her own motivations and stakes. Chris Saper is obviously an expert, well-research on her medical practices and science.
While I hope that I never have to witness a story like this take place in the industry that I've proudly worked my whole life, the plausibility is truly terrifying. Money always seems to win. This book will make you think long and hard about what's really going on in big pharma.
While I hope that I never have to witness a story like this take place in the industry that I've proudly worked my whole life, the plausibility is truly terrifying. Money always seems to win. This book will make you think long and hard about what's really going on in big pharma.
October 16, 2019
I loved this book. It kept my interest from beginning to end. It was fun to read, interesting to learn about the issues, and scary to ponder the consequences of the subject matter.
I appreciated the fact that the chapters were short, making it easier to put down when I needed to get back to the real world!
The ending left me with a lot of questions, but then again I presume (and hope!) the author is working on a sequel which will answer them. Great first novel!
J. R.
I appreciated the fact that the chapters were short, making it easier to put down when I needed to get back to the real world!
The ending left me with a lot of questions, but then again I presume (and hope!) the author is working on a sequel which will answer them. Great first novel!
J. R.
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