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Unit 51 #3
Mutation
IT LIVES.
In a research hangar in Virginia, a Unit 51 team studies an ancient but long-dormant virus that can transform human physiology—and turn it into something else...
IT MUTATES.
In the Amazon rainforest, a newly evolving life form known as Subject Z acquires the ability to think conceptually, build elaborate traps, create new carriers—and spawn a new race...
IT SPREADS.
In Mexico and Turkey, the men and women of Unit 51 race to uncover a global link between the mutations: a connection as ancient as the oldest tombs on earth—and as alien and unknowable as the universe itself. But time is running out. The infected are growing in number. And the nightmare is going viral.
In a research hangar in Virginia, a Unit 51 team studies an ancient but long-dormant virus that can transform human physiology—and turn it into something else...
IT MUTATES.
In the Amazon rainforest, a newly evolving life form known as Subject Z acquires the ability to think conceptually, build elaborate traps, create new carriers—and spawn a new race...
IT SPREADS.
In Mexico and Turkey, the men and women of Unit 51 race to uncover a global link between the mutations: a connection as ancient as the oldest tombs on earth—and as alien and unknowable as the universe itself. But time is running out. The infected are growing in number. And the nightmare is going viral.
431 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2020
349 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Michael McBride
123 books480 followersMichael McBride was born in Colorado and still resides in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. He hates the snow, but loves the Avalanche. He works with medical radiation, yet somehow managed to produce five children, none of whom, miraculously, have tails, third eyes, or other random mutations. He writes fiction that runs the gamut from thriller to horror to science fiction...and loves every minute of it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
September 28, 2020
WoW! Great Thrill Ride
Science, Excitement, Creatures, Mythology, Religion, Black Ops, Virus, Nazis, Adventure and so much danger that I could just keep going on and on. This is one of those rare books that had non-stop action from the very beginning and just wouldn't let go. Mutation is the third book in a series and I didn't realize this until after I started reading and I so wish I had read the previous books first only because I now know how the series will end. There was no problem with reading this as a stand-alone book because the author did a great job of filling in any holes along the way. Michael McBride is a wonderful writer and he had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. If you are a horror or a suspense, thriller reader I can't recommend this novel enough. Just Read It!
I really enjoyed this story so I have picked up the first two books in the series and am looking forward to reading them even though I know how everything will end. That is how terrific this book was for me. There was a great cast of characters and so much excitement along with a lot of science behind the story. Michael McBride really knows how too write a book that keeps you wanting more and more. The writing was just so good and the author really did an impressive job with all the background information on ancient history, geography and science that was so influential to this intriguing story. I am now looking forward to reading many of Michael McBride's books in the near future.
I want to thank the publisher "Kensington Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend this thrilling novel and have given a rating of 4 1/2 Absolutely Intriguing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
Publication Date is September 29, 2020
Science, Excitement, Creatures, Mythology, Religion, Black Ops, Virus, Nazis, Adventure and so much danger that I could just keep going on and on. This is one of those rare books that had non-stop action from the very beginning and just wouldn't let go. Mutation is the third book in a series and I didn't realize this until after I started reading and I so wish I had read the previous books first only because I now know how the series will end. There was no problem with reading this as a stand-alone book because the author did a great job of filling in any holes along the way. Michael McBride is a wonderful writer and he had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. If you are a horror or a suspense, thriller reader I can't recommend this novel enough. Just Read It!
I really enjoyed this story so I have picked up the first two books in the series and am looking forward to reading them even though I know how everything will end. That is how terrific this book was for me. There was a great cast of characters and so much excitement along with a lot of science behind the story. Michael McBride really knows how too write a book that keeps you wanting more and more. The writing was just so good and the author really did an impressive job with all the background information on ancient history, geography and science that was so influential to this intriguing story. I am now looking forward to reading many of Michael McBride's books in the near future.
I want to thank the publisher "Kensington Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend this thrilling novel and have given a rating of 4 1/2 Absolutely Intriguing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
Publication Date is September 29, 2020
June 14, 2024
I mentioned on my review of Subhuman that McBride reminded me of both Dan Brown and Michael Crichton, but this series also calls to mind Clive Cussler and even Raiders of the lost Ark-- quite a mix! Just about impossible to review the last installment without spoilers for the first two volumes so take this as a warning!
The tale as a whole revolves around our five intrepid scientists introduced in the first volume-- Jade, Anya, Evans, Kelly and Roche-- with skill sets ranging from forensic anthropology to crop circles. All of them become roped into Unit 51, a clandestine government agency that deals with weird (e.g., alien) threats to national security, albeit partially funded by a venture capitalist with an interest in UFOs. Whew. This series started with the discovery of ancient ruins buried under the Antarctica ice; it seems only recently did the plates shift the continent south.
It quickly becomes apparent, however, that all human civilizations have a direct link to some alien presence thousands of years ago, who directed the building of pyramids and so forth all around the world. Why? Well, they all align with certain stars, just like crop circles. Further, some remnants of the aliens lives on. Apparently all the ancient civilizations under thrall to the alien 'gods' all managed to mitigate and isolate them, entombing them around the world. Yet, just add a little blood and they come back like vampires! Don't forget the ancient dinosaurs that also serve as guardians of their remains, who also just need a little water to revive (long story).
Well, take this cosmic mix and toss in some neonazis and we have quite a party. The nazis managed to infiltrate Unit 51 and remain one step ahead of them. What do they want? To release some ancient and perhaps alien plague/virus that will wipe out humanity, excepting the neonazis, who somehow have interbred with the aliens (again, long story)...
McBride paces this frenetically, with every chapter leaving a cliff hanger for one set of characters before moving POVs to the next danger zone. If you like your thrillers fast and furious, I cannot think of someone with better pacing. McBride also manages to toss in quite a bit of science here, but not enough to seem like infodumps or derail the story; while I had to suspend my disbelief a bit at times, if you just run with this the author takes you on quite a ride. 3.5 thrilling stars, rounding up as the last volume ties things up nicely.
The tale as a whole revolves around our five intrepid scientists introduced in the first volume-- Jade, Anya, Evans, Kelly and Roche-- with skill sets ranging from forensic anthropology to crop circles. All of them become roped into Unit 51, a clandestine government agency that deals with weird (e.g., alien) threats to national security, albeit partially funded by a venture capitalist with an interest in UFOs. Whew. This series started with the discovery of ancient ruins buried under the Antarctica ice; it seems only recently did the plates shift the continent south.
It quickly becomes apparent, however, that all human civilizations have a direct link to some alien presence thousands of years ago, who directed the building of pyramids and so forth all around the world. Why? Well, they all align with certain stars, just like crop circles. Further, some remnants of the aliens lives on. Apparently all the ancient civilizations under thrall to the alien 'gods' all managed to mitigate and isolate them, entombing them around the world. Yet, just add a little blood and they come back like vampires! Don't forget the ancient dinosaurs that also serve as guardians of their remains, who also just need a little water to revive (long story).
Well, take this cosmic mix and toss in some neonazis and we have quite a party. The nazis managed to infiltrate Unit 51 and remain one step ahead of them. What do they want? To release some ancient and perhaps alien plague/virus that will wipe out humanity, excepting the neonazis, who somehow have interbred with the aliens (again, long story)...
McBride paces this frenetically, with every chapter leaving a cliff hanger for one set of characters before moving POVs to the next danger zone. If you like your thrillers fast and furious, I cannot think of someone with better pacing. McBride also manages to toss in quite a bit of science here, but not enough to seem like infodumps or derail the story; while I had to suspend my disbelief a bit at times, if you just run with this the author takes you on quite a ride. 3.5 thrilling stars, rounding up as the last volume ties things up nicely.
August 29, 2021
WoW!
Great Thrill Ride Science, Excitement, Creatures, Mythology, Religion, Black Ops, Virus, Nazis, Adventure and so much danger that I could just keep going on and on. This is one of those rare books that had non-stop action from the very beginning and just wouldn't let go. Mutation is the third book in a series and I didn't realize this until after I started reading and I so wish I had read the previous books first only because I now know how the series will end. There was no problem with reading this as a stand-alone book because the author did a great job of filling in any holes along the way. Michael McBride is a wonderful writer and he had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. If you are a horror or thriller reader I can't recommend this novel enough. Just Read It!
I really enjoyed this story so I have picked up the first two books in the series and am looking forward to reading them even though I know how everything will end. That is how terrific this book was for me. There was a great cast of characters and so much excitement along with a lot of science behind the story. Michael McBride really knows how too write a book that keeps you wanting more and more. The writing was just so good and the author really did an impressive job with all the background information on ancient history, geography and science that was so influential to this intriguing story. I am now looking forward to reading many of Michael McBride's books in the near future.
I want to thank the publisher "Kensington Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend this thrilling novel and have given a rating of 4 1/2 Absolutely Intriguing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
Great Thrill Ride Science, Excitement, Creatures, Mythology, Religion, Black Ops, Virus, Nazis, Adventure and so much danger that I could just keep going on and on. This is one of those rare books that had non-stop action from the very beginning and just wouldn't let go. Mutation is the third book in a series and I didn't realize this until after I started reading and I so wish I had read the previous books first only because I now know how the series will end. There was no problem with reading this as a stand-alone book because the author did a great job of filling in any holes along the way. Michael McBride is a wonderful writer and he had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. If you are a horror or thriller reader I can't recommend this novel enough. Just Read It!
I really enjoyed this story so I have picked up the first two books in the series and am looking forward to reading them even though I know how everything will end. That is how terrific this book was for me. There was a great cast of characters and so much excitement along with a lot of science behind the story. Michael McBride really knows how too write a book that keeps you wanting more and more. The writing was just so good and the author really did an impressive job with all the background information on ancient history, geography and science that was so influential to this intriguing story. I am now looking forward to reading many of Michael McBride's books in the near future.
I want to thank the publisher "Kensington Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific story and any thoughts and opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I highly recommend this thrilling novel and have given a rating of 4 1/2 Absolutely Intriguing 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 Stars!!
February 21, 2021
I did not come close to finishing this book.
Book one was not great but okay. Too much rambling “facts”. Book two was not good, I had hoped it would get better. It didn’t.
I gave up on this book on page 42. There are 346 pages but I just could not stomach it any longer.
Just before I stopped, four super elite snipers are out to catch the “alien” we are reading the POV of the lead sniper. It has the ability to annihilate mankind in months. They have to kill it.
He sees it. Then he gets a clear view of it, then, he thinks about how his gun that is a will shatter its head into a million pieces
Then he watches it. A creature that is so elusive it takes years to track it. And then he watches it some more. Then it turns around and he looks at is face and thinks about how inhuman it is. Then he watches it scent and realize they are there and then, when it starts to move and kill his buddy he pulls the trigger.
Oh F**** off, really? Just shoot the thing.
Done. I have to remember never to buy another book in this series.
Book one was not great but okay. Too much rambling “facts”. Book two was not good, I had hoped it would get better. It didn’t.
I gave up on this book on page 42. There are 346 pages but I just could not stomach it any longer.
Just before I stopped, four super elite snipers are out to catch the “alien” we are reading the POV of the lead sniper. It has the ability to annihilate mankind in months. They have to kill it.
He sees it. Then he gets a clear view of it, then, he thinks about how his gun that is a will shatter its head into a million pieces
Then he watches it. A creature that is so elusive it takes years to track it. And then he watches it some more. Then it turns around and he looks at is face and thinks about how inhuman it is. Then he watches it scent and realize they are there and then, when it starts to move and kill his buddy he pulls the trigger.
Oh F**** off, really? Just shoot the thing.
Done. I have to remember never to buy another book in this series.
September 26, 2020
Yikes, this was another mile-a-minute adventure by this author!
Those strange creatures with their weird heads are back, and just as creepy and terrifying as in the previous two books. The team members of Unit 51 do their best with their brilliant minds but it is a race against time, over and over again. The settings in this book are very interesting and I have the feeling that the team might just come together at some other point.
Not for the faint of heart, but if you love a rollicking adventure featuring aliens who don't like humans very much and you like technical details in a book, this is the one for you.
4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pinnacle.
Those strange creatures with their weird heads are back, and just as creepy and terrifying as in the previous two books. The team members of Unit 51 do their best with their brilliant minds but it is a race against time, over and over again. The settings in this book are very interesting and I have the feeling that the team might just come together at some other point.
Not for the faint of heart, but if you love a rollicking adventure featuring aliens who don't like humans very much and you like technical details in a book, this is the one for you.
4.5 stars from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pinnacle.
September 23, 2020
Mutation by Michael McBride sees the return of Unit 51 as they investigate an unimaginable alien organism which is discovered in an ancient tomb that could lead to an apocalyptic future for mankind. Meanwhile a creature known as Subject Z is detected forging its way to a self committed destiny that will have global ramifications. Traversing through many locations such as the Middle East, Antarctica and Turkey, horror and action quickly become precedence.
From claustrophobic caverns, creature ridden jungles and deadly viruses, McBride always seems to find authentic horrors that will haunt the reader’s dreams as the unknown is explored. Using these writing skills he allows the reader to not only encounter conceivable perilous surroundings but also experience true monstrosities that are offered throughout the pages. The intelligent aspect to horror this novel contains is not only impressive but also adds to the believable nuance of genuine danger. Using constellations, crop circles and the world map as a background, the author initiates the process of interpreting and decoding religion as well as deities resulting in a historical fiction vibe. Within this atmospheric mood, secrets are unlocked to some of the oldest historical sites known to man in addition to an underlying message of - being in the jaws of death reminds one how precious life really is -.
Michael McBride is one of those authors I never get tired of reading. It still amazes me how he successfully incorporates unknown phenomenons, mysterious prophecies and a unlimited amount of terrifying species pact in each book. Mutation is no exception. When spending your hard earned money on books, choose wisely, this one is a guaranteed bang for your buck.
https://horrorbookwormreviews.wordpre...
From claustrophobic caverns, creature ridden jungles and deadly viruses, McBride always seems to find authentic horrors that will haunt the reader’s dreams as the unknown is explored. Using these writing skills he allows the reader to not only encounter conceivable perilous surroundings but also experience true monstrosities that are offered throughout the pages. The intelligent aspect to horror this novel contains is not only impressive but also adds to the believable nuance of genuine danger. Using constellations, crop circles and the world map as a background, the author initiates the process of interpreting and decoding religion as well as deities resulting in a historical fiction vibe. Within this atmospheric mood, secrets are unlocked to some of the oldest historical sites known to man in addition to an underlying message of - being in the jaws of death reminds one how precious life really is -.
Michael McBride is one of those authors I never get tired of reading. It still amazes me how he successfully incorporates unknown phenomenons, mysterious prophecies and a unlimited amount of terrifying species pact in each book. Mutation is no exception. When spending your hard earned money on books, choose wisely, this one is a guaranteed bang for your buck.
https://horrorbookwormreviews.wordpre...
August 1, 2021
Oh Unit 51, I had planned to read your adventures for years… but it was not to be. I thrilled, laughed, and grieved alongside, as you saved the world one last time.
Read
September 6, 2023DNF - did not work as a standalone. May go back and try book 1 and then eventually try this again.
October 25, 2021
431 pages
3 and 1 / 2 stars
This is an exciting book. It is full of action and science.
On an expedition to Mosul, Turkey, a deep caven is found. Inside are the remains of horrible creatures. The team hurries to cover it up, but it’s too late.
Things begin to go wrong. People are attacked and they metamorphose into hideous creatures with a penchant for killing everything within sight. But they retain their human features. They speak in the voice of the people they have overtaken.
A special team chases one from Antarctica to the jungles of South America. But the creature is very smart. Will they catch it? What will happen when they do - if they do?
The book mostly moves along, except for some rather uninteresting interludes discussing scientific things. Usually, I am interested in these asides, but this book seems to rattle on a bit too long about it.
I didn’t find this novel as good as Mr. McBride’s others. Hopefully, the next will be back to his usual standards.
3 and 1 / 2 stars
This is an exciting book. It is full of action and science.
On an expedition to Mosul, Turkey, a deep caven is found. Inside are the remains of horrible creatures. The team hurries to cover it up, but it’s too late.
Things begin to go wrong. People are attacked and they metamorphose into hideous creatures with a penchant for killing everything within sight. But they retain their human features. They speak in the voice of the people they have overtaken.
A special team chases one from Antarctica to the jungles of South America. But the creature is very smart. Will they catch it? What will happen when they do - if they do?
The book mostly moves along, except for some rather uninteresting interludes discussing scientific things. Usually, I am interested in these asides, but this book seems to rattle on a bit too long about it.
I didn’t find this novel as good as Mr. McBride’s others. Hopefully, the next will be back to his usual standards.
September 22, 2020
I honestly don't know what to make of this mixture of action, sci=fi and horror, It's certainly a thriller- the members of Unit 51 are chasing around the world trying to save humanity. There are aliens, Nazis, conspiracies, techno and so on. I hadn't read the earlier books which I think put me at a disadvantage. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, Not my cup of tea but I suspect McBride has a legion of fans who have been eagerly awaiting this and will enjoy it..
November 4, 2020
There is no way that you can put this series into one genre. It is horror/action/ thriller/science fiction combined. I also really like how there was so much archaeological detail without overpowerering the story itself. It is the third book in the series and really makes more sense if you read them in order. I am impressed by the fact that the author was able to keep the momentum of the story going. There seems to be a bit of a possible opening for another book and I really hope there is.
September 10, 2020
I think Michael McBride is my new favorite author. He has a unique take on aliens. When I got this book, I didn't realize it was the third in the trilogy, so of course I had to go read the other two first. When I first started reading the series, I was thinking how do crop circles, ancient civilizations, pyramids, and skull deformities lead to an alien invasion. McBride ties everything together so nicely. He basically put a bow on it for us. It is full of action and edge of your seat battles. Some of the scenes are really gory, so if you can't handle those types of scenes, beware. There is a bit of romance involved in this trilogy. I love the mythology involved in this from the ancient civilizations. How Nazi Germany is involved, and the famed genetic experiments. McBride is masterful in tying it all together. Each character has their own voice and he makes each character unique bringing their own history to life to mold their personalities. Science and Anthropology and genetics, so many different disciplines come together in this book to explain the unexplainable at this time in our current knowledge. Well done, Mr. Mcbride.
September 5, 2020
I received a free ARC copy of the book #Mutation by Michael McBride from #NetGalley and #Kensington Books/Pinnacle in exchange for an honest review. This book is set to be released September 29, 2020.
Mutation by Michael McBride is more in the action/adventure/paramilitary genre than the horror/mystery&thriller they have it listed under. It is the third book, and possibly final, in the Unit 51 series which continues the main story line about the ancient creature found in Antarctica in the first book Subhuman. If you like James Rollins's Sigma Force series, then you will enjoy the Unit 51 series by Michael McBride.
So not to spoil this adventure I won't give out too many details, but I will say that the story once again follows the same characters, each chapter from the view point of one character, as they try to stop the end of the world.
Not scary, but there was blood and such, death of course, and some deaths I was not suspecting, and those were pretty good shocks. It's a good story, flows pretty well, but there is a lot of military and scientific jargon, that in some parts made it kind of boring to read because it was a long string of words, and while some was need for explanation, others could've been shortened.
I did enjoy this story, but not as much as the second in the series, Forsaken, but I would still recommend this book and the series to those over 16.
I give this book a low 4 star rating.
Mutation by Michael McBride is more in the action/adventure/paramilitary genre than the horror/mystery&thriller they have it listed under. It is the third book, and possibly final, in the Unit 51 series which continues the main story line about the ancient creature found in Antarctica in the first book Subhuman. If you like James Rollins's Sigma Force series, then you will enjoy the Unit 51 series by Michael McBride.
So not to spoil this adventure I won't give out too many details, but I will say that the story once again follows the same characters, each chapter from the view point of one character, as they try to stop the end of the world.
Not scary, but there was blood and such, death of course, and some deaths I was not suspecting, and those were pretty good shocks. It's a good story, flows pretty well, but there is a lot of military and scientific jargon, that in some parts made it kind of boring to read because it was a long string of words, and while some was need for explanation, others could've been shortened.
I did enjoy this story, but not as much as the second in the series, Forsaken, but I would still recommend this book and the series to those over 16.
I give this book a low 4 star rating.
August 16, 2020
Just read it when it comes out in about a month
For a full review, please go to https://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
For a full review, please go to https://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
August 21, 2020
The reptilian gods are rising!! This fantastic creature feature and alien invasion combined had me reading constantly. I had to finish Forsaken before starting this one and I'm glad I did because these should be read in order. This series, which starts with Subhuman, is getting really good. I love all the cheesy cliche action scenes, great monsters and an interesting story arc. I'll definitely be buying a copy to complete my set. Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for gifting me an advanced copy of Mutation. I loved it and the whole series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2020
Possibly the last in the series...or perhaps not.
They say you can't tell the players without a program, and in this case, it may be true, for the team is in various locations as they trace the escaping Subject Z from Antarc tica to its destination, and each member is given his own chapter told from his/her point of view. There's a bit of back story for those who tuned in late and then we get to it...with Z and his traveling companions--resurrected ancient Babylonian gods--killing indiscriminately and with murderous intent as they attempt to bring about the end of the current human race and the rise of a newer, improved species, aided by a cult of Nazis.
The pyramids, Stonehenge, and various historical sites of worship contribute their own historical and mythical significance to the chase.
If you have favorites among the Unit 51 group, be prepared to say goodby to some, because there will be casualties galore. Author McBride isn't afraid to kill off characters he's brought through several novels and made us care about.
Written with precision and great depth of explanation and emotional narrative, Mutation would seem to be the end of the Unit 51 saga, but we all are aware that assumption can sometimes be false. After all, the villains in this story are gods, and everyone knows gods are immortal...aren't they?
Kudos to Michael McBride for another great novel, be it the conclusion of a series, or merely a long-awaited continuation.
This novel was supplied by the author for review and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
They say you can't tell the players without a program, and in this case, it may be true, for the team is in various locations as they trace the escaping Subject Z from Antarc tica to its destination, and each member is given his own chapter told from his/her point of view. There's a bit of back story for those who tuned in late and then we get to it...with Z and his traveling companions--resurrected ancient Babylonian gods--killing indiscriminately and with murderous intent as they attempt to bring about the end of the current human race and the rise of a newer, improved species, aided by a cult of Nazis.
The pyramids, Stonehenge, and various historical sites of worship contribute their own historical and mythical significance to the chase.
If you have favorites among the Unit 51 group, be prepared to say goodby to some, because there will be casualties galore. Author McBride isn't afraid to kill off characters he's brought through several novels and made us care about.
Written with precision and great depth of explanation and emotional narrative, Mutation would seem to be the end of the Unit 51 saga, but we all are aware that assumption can sometimes be false. After all, the villains in this story are gods, and everyone knows gods are immortal...aren't they?
Kudos to Michael McBride for another great novel, be it the conclusion of a series, or merely a long-awaited continuation.
This novel was supplied by the author for review and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.
July 24, 2020
Thank you to Net Galley for an adavnce reader ebook of this book.
This was the third book in the Unit 51 series following, Suhuman and Forsaken. Is it the last Unit 51 novel? I guess we have to wait and see. For one, I am really hoping it isn't these books were fun. A little fantastic at times but entertaining as all get out and isn't that why we read. To get away from the real world? To many authors today keep interjecting theirn politics, etc, into their works, therefore putting a damper on my enthusuasm to read more of their work.
McBride is pure entertainment. If you like books that just move and have science, archeology, ancient mysteries and some pretty scary creatures. This is the book for you.
A word to the wise though, you really need to start at the beginning with Subhuman. McBride shows a deft hand at moving all the parts and locales while building and growing his characters. What is at stake in Mutation? Nothing less than the end of the world as we know it. From the Great Pyramid at Giza to the rainforrests of Mexico and the ruins of La Venta to an abandoned air force base that is much more than it seems. Monsters, pandemics, and ancient mysteries galore are in these books.
You will love them.
This was the third book in the Unit 51 series following, Suhuman and Forsaken. Is it the last Unit 51 novel? I guess we have to wait and see. For one, I am really hoping it isn't these books were fun. A little fantastic at times but entertaining as all get out and isn't that why we read. To get away from the real world? To many authors today keep interjecting theirn politics, etc, into their works, therefore putting a damper on my enthusuasm to read more of their work.
McBride is pure entertainment. If you like books that just move and have science, archeology, ancient mysteries and some pretty scary creatures. This is the book for you.
A word to the wise though, you really need to start at the beginning with Subhuman. McBride shows a deft hand at moving all the parts and locales while building and growing his characters. What is at stake in Mutation? Nothing less than the end of the world as we know it. From the Great Pyramid at Giza to the rainforrests of Mexico and the ruins of La Venta to an abandoned air force base that is much more than it seems. Monsters, pandemics, and ancient mysteries galore are in these books.
You will love them.
June 20, 2020
This is a masterful blend of genres - thriller, science fiction, horror, and action. There are several threads driving this epic novel, all complexly woven together but also uniquely entrancing stories in their own right. As a huge fan of anything to do with ancient civilizations, especially when blended with aliens, I was not surprisingly drawn into that part of the story, gripping to every word. Seeing places I've studied woven into such a heart-pounding narrative made it even more intense.
Characters that you can both love as well as despise where breathed to life as I followed the clues with them, my hands holding the kindle tight enough to snap it. Did I mention it was intense? Just brilliantly wound to the point of breaking, then a slight intake of air, and the winding would start again, in a dance of story art. There were even parts where I chuckled, Maddox, the name, brilliant.
Best of all, there will be more. I'm eagerly awaiting the next part in this series. You don't want to miss this.
Characters that you can both love as well as despise where breathed to life as I followed the clues with them, my hands holding the kindle tight enough to snap it. Did I mention it was intense? Just brilliantly wound to the point of breaking, then a slight intake of air, and the winding would start again, in a dance of story art. There were even parts where I chuckled, Maddox, the name, brilliant.
Best of all, there will be more. I'm eagerly awaiting the next part in this series. You don't want to miss this.
June 25, 2020
Michael McBride proves he knows how to "stick the landing" with Mutation. Too often, it is difficult to sustain a great narrative over the course of a trilogy. Fortunately, this is not the case here. Each Unit 51 novel from McBride builds upon what came before and ups the ante. It's a successful formula and should delight every reader. The thrills and chills we've come to expect from Unit 51 are here. McBride has soared to the top of the sci-fi/thriller list with this satisfying, suspenseful conclusion to this Unit 51 storyline. #Mutation #NetGalley
July 26, 2020
This is part of a series, so I had to read those first! This was a wild ride!! From page to page it keeps you on your toes. Loved it, loved the series too!
February 21, 2025
I really enjoyed this series. Here are what where negative and positive points for me:
Negative:
1. Since most of all of the main characters are specialists, there’s a lot scientific facts during the whole story. As the story goes I thought it was not big deal not understanding completely what’s being said. By the end of the book I had to back up a little to understand what this guys really are. I still believe that is not necessary to know or understand all these scientific facts but it is necessary to put attention to every single detail.
2. I felt the end being rushed. There was still a lot going on but the book was almost over. For that reason I hated the way Jade and Evan died. One moment they were trying to figure it out what to do the next they were dead. It was the same with Barnett 😩.
Positive:
1. The story is very interesting and well done. It sounds like something that could be real. What I mean is it sounds like something it can be explained if ever happens.There’s also all these scientific facts that as I already said are hard to follow but added realism to the story.
2. There’s action non stop. At book two and three the characters are divided in two or three groups. Each group has its own dangers but related to each other. This is great it keeps the story entertaining.
3. I wasn’t not sure what to think about the characters deaths since in the first book some of the people killed had a pov I thought they were main characters so everyone will possibly be killed. Then on the second book it was obvious they were pov for many of the characters whether they were of importance or not. That’s was good it kept me on the unknown about who will be next.
4. I loved most of the characters and was cheering for them to survive although it was obvious that some would be going to died 🙁.
5. As I said I loved most of the characters. Some of them were of course my favorites and it surprised me. Roche to my eyes was the big hero since book one. He not just had knowledge but was always taking action plus his relationship with Kelly was very sweet. I’m really glad they both survived. I like Richard and I grief his dead. His story was sad because of his childhood. I did completely understood his need to know more. Finally Jade, I was really surprised how much I liked her. Most of the time I hate female characters like her, they tend to be rude/annoying in a bitchy way. This time I really liked her and I was rooting for her to survive at the end. I was sad she didn’t specially for the way she was killed 😔.
I am glad I came across this series. Usually in social media suggestions are just for the new books.
Negative:
1. Since most of all of the main characters are specialists, there’s a lot scientific facts during the whole story. As the story goes I thought it was not big deal not understanding completely what’s being said. By the end of the book I had to back up a little to understand what this guys really are. I still believe that is not necessary to know or understand all these scientific facts but it is necessary to put attention to every single detail.
2. I felt the end being rushed. There was still a lot going on but the book was almost over. For that reason I hated the way Jade and Evan died. One moment they were trying to figure it out what to do the next they were dead. It was the same with Barnett 😩.
Positive:
1. The story is very interesting and well done. It sounds like something that could be real. What I mean is it sounds like something it can be explained if ever happens.There’s also all these scientific facts that as I already said are hard to follow but added realism to the story.
2. There’s action non stop. At book two and three the characters are divided in two or three groups. Each group has its own dangers but related to each other. This is great it keeps the story entertaining.
3. I wasn’t not sure what to think about the characters deaths since in the first book some of the people killed had a pov I thought they were main characters so everyone will possibly be killed. Then on the second book it was obvious they were pov for many of the characters whether they were of importance or not. That’s was good it kept me on the unknown about who will be next.
4. I loved most of the characters and was cheering for them to survive although it was obvious that some would be going to died 🙁.
5. As I said I loved most of the characters. Some of them were of course my favorites and it surprised me. Roche to my eyes was the big hero since book one. He not just had knowledge but was always taking action plus his relationship with Kelly was very sweet. I’m really glad they both survived. I like Richard and I grief his dead. His story was sad because of his childhood. I did completely understood his need to know more. Finally Jade, I was really surprised how much I liked her. Most of the time I hate female characters like her, they tend to be rude/annoying in a bitchy way. This time I really liked her and I was rooting for her to survive at the end. I was sad she didn’t specially for the way she was killed 😔.
I am glad I came across this series. Usually in social media suggestions are just for the new books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2021
This trilogy has been a ride... if rollercoasters were designed on ski hills with large areas bogged down by mud... some excitement but largely down hill with areas where it feels like you have to get out and push...
I gave the first book 3.5 stars for overindulging in explaining science that was superflous to the plot and more about showing what McBride knows.. or researched... the second book got away from that a bit and garnered 4 stars for just a good driving story... and raising my hopes for number 3
the third,mutation, gets 3 for slipping in even more superfluous science, like: "had been extracted and stabilized using a phosphate-buffered formalin fixating agent, chemopreserved with osmium tetroxide and epoxy resin monomers," sigh...
and don't get me wrong I love science... my current favourite book being the scienced focused Project Hail Mary, but don't throw it in where it doesn't matter or fit and just kills the momentum... like when our genius medical pathologist, Jade, out of the blue knows a lot of esoteric things about Czeck cars... "The silver SUV was essentially the Czech version of the Volkswagen Tiguan, only bigger." what???
.... there are just too many of them: "Evans recognized it as one of the previously unexplored structural voids discovered inside the Pyramid of Khufu on the muographic scan—an imaging technique that created three-dimensional volumetric renderings of solid structures using cosmic radiation that passed through matter in the same manner as X-rays were used to image the human body..." just kill everything after the first dash..
in the end McBride is either, like Dickens, paid by the word... or horrible disserved by his editor who should have had a heavy digital red pen for this work...
and don't get me started on the ending....
if you got this far.... step up your speed reading an get through it.. or not... there are much better out there...
I gave the first book 3.5 stars for overindulging in explaining science that was superflous to the plot and more about showing what McBride knows.. or researched... the second book got away from that a bit and garnered 4 stars for just a good driving story... and raising my hopes for number 3
the third,mutation, gets 3 for slipping in even more superfluous science, like: "had been extracted and stabilized using a phosphate-buffered formalin fixating agent, chemopreserved with osmium tetroxide and epoxy resin monomers," sigh...
and don't get me wrong I love science... my current favourite book being the scienced focused Project Hail Mary, but don't throw it in where it doesn't matter or fit and just kills the momentum... like when our genius medical pathologist, Jade, out of the blue knows a lot of esoteric things about Czeck cars... "The silver SUV was essentially the Czech version of the Volkswagen Tiguan, only bigger." what???
.... there are just too many of them: "Evans recognized it as one of the previously unexplored structural voids discovered inside the Pyramid of Khufu on the muographic scan—an imaging technique that created three-dimensional volumetric renderings of solid structures using cosmic radiation that passed through matter in the same manner as X-rays were used to image the human body..." just kill everything after the first dash..
in the end McBride is either, like Dickens, paid by the word... or horrible disserved by his editor who should have had a heavy digital red pen for this work...
and don't get me started on the ending....
if you got this far.... step up your speed reading an get through it.. or not... there are much better out there...
August 14, 2021
Great story that gets bogged down in details
I had a big time gap between reading the previous book and this one, so a lot of the background was lost on me. This series is definitely designed to be read one right after the other. The author briefly references plot points from the previous two novels, but never really explains them very well, so I was at a bit of a disadvantage. Part of that is my own fault for taking so long to get to this book, but the author definitely could have done better quickly reviewing previous events to get readers up to speed.
I've read quite a few books by the author and this series is definitely one he focuses more on over other novels. It's longer, has more and diverse characters, and the plot is more solid. A lot of his other works he just yadda-yadda's over explanations, but not this series. The author goes into great scientific and historical detail, sometimes too much. There's several instances in the book where a character just repeats a long paragraph of historical knowledge, or a scientist goes on a long winded speech about genetics. It definitely slows parts of the book down.
The action and suspense are really good. Trying to figure out what the creature's endgame is was entertaining. Almost like a mashup of Predator, Aliens, and parts of The Thing. Some surprising turns for some characters. The ending felt a bit rushed. There's a very long and gradual build up of events, and then literally boom it's done.
Overall it's a good book. I'd be interested to see if the author continues the series.
I had a big time gap between reading the previous book and this one, so a lot of the background was lost on me. This series is definitely designed to be read one right after the other. The author briefly references plot points from the previous two novels, but never really explains them very well, so I was at a bit of a disadvantage. Part of that is my own fault for taking so long to get to this book, but the author definitely could have done better quickly reviewing previous events to get readers up to speed.
I've read quite a few books by the author and this series is definitely one he focuses more on over other novels. It's longer, has more and diverse characters, and the plot is more solid. A lot of his other works he just yadda-yadda's over explanations, but not this series. The author goes into great scientific and historical detail, sometimes too much. There's several instances in the book where a character just repeats a long paragraph of historical knowledge, or a scientist goes on a long winded speech about genetics. It definitely slows parts of the book down.
The action and suspense are really good. Trying to figure out what the creature's endgame is was entertaining. Almost like a mashup of Predator, Aliens, and parts of The Thing. Some surprising turns for some characters. The ending felt a bit rushed. There's a very long and gradual build up of events, and then literally boom it's done.
Overall it's a good book. I'd be interested to see if the author continues the series.
February 13, 2021
Mutation is the third and probably final novel in this potentially end-of-the-world thriller. It’s full of icky bugs plus a bunch of traitors out to cause mayhem every step of the way. Since this is the apparent end, there is a higher than normal body count, which is, unfortunately, to be expected.
The writing, as with the other two, was outstanding, with solid third-person limited and past-tense. Each point of view character was broken down into their own chapter or scene, which kept things easy to work with and follow. The chapters and scenes were relatively short. The only issue with this one was that the writing and narrative was a bit more dense than in the previous two, or seemed so. That made the story almost drag a bit, at least compared to what I’ve been reading lately. On the other hand, I can’t say the action ever let up. It was one obstacle after the other, making me wonder if the heroes would ever persevere at all.
The payoff made this series worth it. That being said, it wasn’t without plenty of sacrifices. It was still satisfying enough to make me happy, even with the inevitable B-movie type ending.
Overall, I had a great time, and I can say that good icky bug like this is hard to find. Highly recommended.
The writing, as with the other two, was outstanding, with solid third-person limited and past-tense. Each point of view character was broken down into their own chapter or scene, which kept things easy to work with and follow. The chapters and scenes were relatively short. The only issue with this one was that the writing and narrative was a bit more dense than in the previous two, or seemed so. That made the story almost drag a bit, at least compared to what I’ve been reading lately. On the other hand, I can’t say the action ever let up. It was one obstacle after the other, making me wonder if the heroes would ever persevere at all.
The payoff made this series worth it. That being said, it wasn’t without plenty of sacrifices. It was still satisfying enough to make me happy, even with the inevitable B-movie type ending.
Overall, I had a great time, and I can say that good icky bug like this is hard to find. Highly recommended.
May 13, 2024
Giving it 2.5 star here since 2 is ok and 3 is like it. It had qualities I liked, but was getting too out there in the science jargon for my enjoyment, and started to lull me into skipping some words, or having to re-read sections. Maybe I'm just getting too old. LOL.
This is the third and final novel of the Unit 51 trilogy and my least favorite. The team is split into mainly 3 groups in this novel and again, each chapter revolves around a member of the group which I liked.
If you like Indiana Jones, Alien and Michael Crichton movies, then you would like some of this, and some scenes reminded me of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
The book is geographically diverse, with one group moving from South American into Mexico, another group in Turkey and Egypt and the other back home near DC.
The main plot is to figure out where Subject Z is after, Subject Z being similar to an alien Gray, and the crop circles related to the solar system. Another group (Nazis) are out to release a virus and raise corpses they think are long lost gods, in order that they too may become demigods.
The last few chapters were really good, but at times, the book dragged.
This is the third and final novel of the Unit 51 trilogy and my least favorite. The team is split into mainly 3 groups in this novel and again, each chapter revolves around a member of the group which I liked.
If you like Indiana Jones, Alien and Michael Crichton movies, then you would like some of this, and some scenes reminded me of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
The book is geographically diverse, with one group moving from South American into Mexico, another group in Turkey and Egypt and the other back home near DC.
The main plot is to figure out where Subject Z is after, Subject Z being similar to an alien Gray, and the crop circles related to the solar system. Another group (Nazis) are out to release a virus and raise corpses they think are long lost gods, in order that they too may become demigods.
The last few chapters were really good, but at times, the book dragged.
September 25, 2020
I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Mutation is the third volume of a trilogy. I have not read the first two books in the series, and that may play a part in my evaluation of it. I chose to request this book through Net Galley because the description of it sounded like something I’d enjoy. A top secret government agency trying to chase down murderous aliens hits on multiple reading interests.
While the premise attracted me, the major problem I had with this book was the writing. I felt there were too many POV characters, too much description, and too much scientific detail. While there was a lot of action in the story, all of the description and detail caused the pacing to be off. As the book went on, the author employed sentence fragments more and more often – sometimes having 3-4 consecutive fragments within a paragraph.
I gave Mutation three stars on Goodreads. The premise was interesting, but the writing limited my enjoyment of this book.
Mutation is the third volume of a trilogy. I have not read the first two books in the series, and that may play a part in my evaluation of it. I chose to request this book through Net Galley because the description of it sounded like something I’d enjoy. A top secret government agency trying to chase down murderous aliens hits on multiple reading interests.
While the premise attracted me, the major problem I had with this book was the writing. I felt there were too many POV characters, too much description, and too much scientific detail. While there was a lot of action in the story, all of the description and detail caused the pacing to be off. As the book went on, the author employed sentence fragments more and more often – sometimes having 3-4 consecutive fragments within a paragraph.
I gave Mutation three stars on Goodreads. The premise was interesting, but the writing limited my enjoyment of this book.
April 1, 2023
This book created the perfect ending to the Unit 51 trilogy through its captivating suspense, ties into history, and characters. Multiple chapters had me on the edge of my seat as I wondered what would happen or how specific actions would change the course of the story. I was very impressed with the attention to detail of the characters while they were faced with thrilling situations. The historical aspect of this book, along with the rest of the trilogy, is what kept me truly entertained. New secrets were unlocked which revealed links between ancient civilizations and gods. These discoveries kept the story on track, creating an even more captivating read. McBride did an excellent job at portraying each character through their thoughts and actions. Having each chapter from a different perspective allowed for both constant cliffhangers, but also showed different outlooks on the same situations. This story is perfect for anyone who enjoys a good thriller, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone with an interest in ancient archaeology.
February 5, 2021
What a fun, over-the-top, ridiculous, genre-encompassing blast this series was. You like guns? Check. You like aliens? Check. You like monsters? Check. You like alien monsters? Double check. There's info dumps, science competency porn (one of my favorite tropes is you have, say, a botanist but the story needs someone to know about astrophysics, so the botanist says something to the effect of, "Well, this is not my field but..." and then gives a doctoral level explanation). I love it! Also, McBride is not afraid to kill off a character that you were sure would survive the whole series. If you're a fan of Preston/Child, James Rollins, Matthew Reilly, give these a go.
The narration sounds serious, but doesn't take itself too seriously. I listened to these while running, ad it made me look forward to my run even more, and was very motivating to get out, even in the cold weather, so I could listen more.
The narration sounds serious, but doesn't take itself too seriously. I listened to these while running, ad it made me look forward to my run even more, and was very motivating to get out, even in the cold weather, so I could listen more.
March 13, 2022
I don't usually write a synopsis of the plot, too many do that, but if I did it would be quite the chore.
This novel, has plenty of action and suspense. The author's writing seemed to improve with each of the books in the series, though the last two are much more readable than the initial offering.
The writing device of switching back and forth between locations with the name of the character as the chapter heading got even more irritating with this one. It seemed to interrupt the continuity of the story and the excitement. Still I found myself wishing that I had this series one after the other in a space of a couple of weeks, instead of the 26 months it actually was. I found that I had forgotten a lot of really interesting "stuff". I do recommend this series and would love to see more "Unit 51" novels, or at least one with the survivors.
This novel, has plenty of action and suspense. The author's writing seemed to improve with each of the books in the series, though the last two are much more readable than the initial offering.
The writing device of switching back and forth between locations with the name of the character as the chapter heading got even more irritating with this one. It seemed to interrupt the continuity of the story and the excitement. Still I found myself wishing that I had this series one after the other in a space of a couple of weeks, instead of the 26 months it actually was. I found that I had forgotten a lot of really interesting "stuff". I do recommend this series and would love to see more "Unit 51" novels, or at least one with the survivors.
April 14, 2024
So, the “Unit 51” series started with a slow burn first entry into the series that left me wanting more. A little too verbose and drawn out which had me fearing that these novels wouldn’t live up to my love of his “Viral Apocalypse” series. Well, I was wrong… McBride hooked me again!
The final book of this series wrapped things up way better than I could have hoped for! There were twists and turns I didn’t see coming and this 3rd book is anything but a “slow burn”. Non-stop action that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! While not quite as epic as the other series I mentioned, McBride is hands down my new favorite author and I will be binging his novels for the foreseeable future!
The final book of this series wrapped things up way better than I could have hoped for! There were twists and turns I didn’t see coming and this 3rd book is anything but a “slow burn”. Non-stop action that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time! While not quite as epic as the other series I mentioned, McBride is hands down my new favorite author and I will be binging his novels for the foreseeable future!
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