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Capitol Reflections
"Javitt has written a grab-you-by-the-throat thriller that could easily be tomorrow's lead news story. Under the guise of a compelling read lurks a keep-you-guessing plot that should cause any intelligent reader to worry about the safety of us all. An intrepid female physician, a town full of bad guys, and the safety of the American people at stake. Seems like a surefire recipe for success." -- Janet Rehnquist, former Inspector General, Health and Human Services
380 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 14, 2022
Capitol Reflections by Jonathan Javitt
Fast pace thriller with so many connections as to what's on in the world that links them all together.
To understand all the concepts that are being investigated, everything from cigarettes, coffee and all kinds of experimentations being done.
People are dying after seizures and the clues don't add up for Gwen. Her spouse Jack is also in the field in a different direction so when they work together things happen.
So many government departments are on the trail as those investigating all over the world have raised some threats as they are getting close.
Easy to keep characters straight and there are a lot of them. Love the travel and networking of friends and colleagues to get the right information from things being put under the microscope.
So many new things to learn about, strategies, travel and how they overcome the obstacles in their way. Never thought of human trafficking, there is so much to this story. LOVE it.
About the book, the author, acknowledgments and there are more in this series to read.
Received a review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.
Fast pace thriller with so many connections as to what's on in the world that links them all together.
To understand all the concepts that are being investigated, everything from cigarettes, coffee and all kinds of experimentations being done.
People are dying after seizures and the clues don't add up for Gwen. Her spouse Jack is also in the field in a different direction so when they work together things happen.
So many government departments are on the trail as those investigating all over the world have raised some threats as they are getting close.
Easy to keep characters straight and there are a lot of them. Love the travel and networking of friends and colleagues to get the right information from things being put under the microscope.
So many new things to learn about, strategies, travel and how they overcome the obstacles in their way. Never thought of human trafficking, there is so much to this story. LOVE it.
About the book, the author, acknowledgments and there are more in this series to read.
Received a review copy from The Story Plant and this is my honest opinion.
August 10, 2011
I was hesitant about selecting this book from the Vine program because while I do like medical mysteries, I'm not really a fan of political ones. Since I like to read books in just about every genre, and many reviews had said it was a real page turner, I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, I just could not get into it. It's rare for me to not finish a book, but about 2/3 of the way through this I finally gave up. My main problem was that I just did not care about the characters.
The plot itself is interesting, but the way it was delivered stole the thunder. First, the books switches back and forth between characters too often. Gwen is supposed to be the protagonist, but too much of the book is concerned with other characters that will obviously intersect her path at some point to further the story. The book opens when an anonymous rich man apparently suicides by crashing his jet. Then we jump to a young female attorney struck down by an unknown seizure, then to Gwen, then to a reporter, then to a rich college boy, then.... It goes on like that back and forth without allowing a reader to connect with anyone. I also felt bogged down by unecessary description. Too many metaphors and too many cliches. Lines like "...while some nubile lovely performed acts on him no western woman knew" were likely supposed to convery the moral depravity of the rich, but all I could do was roll my eyes. It felt like the author was trying too hard. And that may well be the fault of the editor. Other revewers have pointed out that the author tends to use big words, when small ones would do and I found this to be the case as well. "Cottage men were known for entering in coats and ties...and never waking up in their own detritus." Detritus?
Another thing that bothered me was that some of the actions of the characters seemed too far fetched. I understand that some suspension of disbelief is required, especially in a thriller. However, I just couldn't buy the rich jock who gets his nerdy roomate to do most of his classwork, spends most of his time drinking or drunk, is a history major, and yet recognized the scientific potential in his roomate's agricultural experiments and stole them? Plus, Gwen Maulder, a health professional, starts this whole ball rolling because she knows her friend's death couldn't have been natural. A friend who was over-worked, over-stressed, weighed only 95 pounds, smoked, probably didn't sleep enough, and didn't eat right. Actually, I found her death completely believable. And the "marital" strife of several characters, that took up so much text, was just unecessary. At several points I was like, "I get it. Move on already."
I also agree with others that the conspiracy behind the gentically modified food was over the top. There doesn't need to be a "bad guy" behind everything. Gwen's involvement would have made more sense as an investigation into an unknown cause - such as the CDC and PHS when they track food poisoning, or outbreaks. Or expose cover-ups such as the tobacco companies executed. Although, I can't completely blame the author for this. So many crime shows on TV have the characters doing things toally out of their purview. My friend is a forensic chemist for the state police. She doesn't interview suspects! She doesn't "raid" locations with police. And as lovely as Jill Hennessey is, coroners don't either. I felt the same with Gwen. She seemed to be reaching beyond her expertise. There were too many tangents in the book as well. The sex-trade thing felt like it was thrown in because that's a "political thing" and this is capitol reflections. The author would be better served to devote his attention to the medical part of a thriller.
I can see the potential in the author's work. As an MD, he has the knowledge and research to provide factual details and good background information on medical issues. Knowing what tests to run, which health professionals would encounter certain scenarios, etc. This is vital for a medical thriller. Plus, the author's passion for the field is clearly evident. I liked the genetically-modified food angle. Sometimes the best mysteries involve things we take for granted and know little about. This is an issue that could have serious unforseen consequences. However, these pros weren't enough to overcome the overall poor execution. To me the most important criteria in a mystery is that I like, or at least identify with, the sleuth. I never connected with Gwen.
The plot itself is interesting, but the way it was delivered stole the thunder. First, the books switches back and forth between characters too often. Gwen is supposed to be the protagonist, but too much of the book is concerned with other characters that will obviously intersect her path at some point to further the story. The book opens when an anonymous rich man apparently suicides by crashing his jet. Then we jump to a young female attorney struck down by an unknown seizure, then to Gwen, then to a reporter, then to a rich college boy, then.... It goes on like that back and forth without allowing a reader to connect with anyone. I also felt bogged down by unecessary description. Too many metaphors and too many cliches. Lines like "...while some nubile lovely performed acts on him no western woman knew" were likely supposed to convery the moral depravity of the rich, but all I could do was roll my eyes. It felt like the author was trying too hard. And that may well be the fault of the editor. Other revewers have pointed out that the author tends to use big words, when small ones would do and I found this to be the case as well. "Cottage men were known for entering in coats and ties...and never waking up in their own detritus." Detritus?
Another thing that bothered me was that some of the actions of the characters seemed too far fetched. I understand that some suspension of disbelief is required, especially in a thriller. However, I just couldn't buy the rich jock who gets his nerdy roomate to do most of his classwork, spends most of his time drinking or drunk, is a history major, and yet recognized the scientific potential in his roomate's agricultural experiments and stole them? Plus, Gwen Maulder, a health professional, starts this whole ball rolling because she knows her friend's death couldn't have been natural. A friend who was over-worked, over-stressed, weighed only 95 pounds, smoked, probably didn't sleep enough, and didn't eat right. Actually, I found her death completely believable. And the "marital" strife of several characters, that took up so much text, was just unecessary. At several points I was like, "I get it. Move on already."
I also agree with others that the conspiracy behind the gentically modified food was over the top. There doesn't need to be a "bad guy" behind everything. Gwen's involvement would have made more sense as an investigation into an unknown cause - such as the CDC and PHS when they track food poisoning, or outbreaks. Or expose cover-ups such as the tobacco companies executed. Although, I can't completely blame the author for this. So many crime shows on TV have the characters doing things toally out of their purview. My friend is a forensic chemist for the state police. She doesn't interview suspects! She doesn't "raid" locations with police. And as lovely as Jill Hennessey is, coroners don't either. I felt the same with Gwen. She seemed to be reaching beyond her expertise. There were too many tangents in the book as well. The sex-trade thing felt like it was thrown in because that's a "political thing" and this is capitol reflections. The author would be better served to devote his attention to the medical part of a thriller.
I can see the potential in the author's work. As an MD, he has the knowledge and research to provide factual details and good background information on medical issues. Knowing what tests to run, which health professionals would encounter certain scenarios, etc. This is vital for a medical thriller. Plus, the author's passion for the field is clearly evident. I liked the genetically-modified food angle. Sometimes the best mysteries involve things we take for granted and know little about. This is an issue that could have serious unforseen consequences. However, these pros weren't enough to overcome the overall poor execution. To me the most important criteria in a mystery is that I like, or at least identify with, the sleuth. I never connected with Gwen.
August 31, 2014
Obviously an intelligent author, but as a writer, needs work to get up to above the basic pot-boiler level. I hate, HATE plots with the kind of "lazy writing" that brings all kinds of "convenient" occurances together. Here's an example from this book: "She'd been named director of [the CDC's] Project BioNet because she was both an excellent physician and a master at the keyboard thanks to some undergraduate classes in computer programming." OK: WHAT!?! Really!?!! "Some undergraduate classes" are what made this woman qualified to run a highly sophisticated and likely multi-million dollar CDC program!!??!! Such clunky writing is really the mark of a journeyman novelist in my mind. It's too pat and hurts the believability of the story; ruins the organic reality of the world you're trying to be immersed in. Dang it! I had high hopes for the possibilities of this book as a series of great medicalthrillers. But, now -- having read Capitol Reflections -- I can't say I'll be particularly rushing out to read more of this author. Too bad.
November 5, 2008
an interesting thriller in that it plays off of a topic we may not think too much about when it comes to thrillers: genetically modified foods. but the subject is VERY pertinent today and makes you think about what our foods can become, and who holds to power. it's crazy to think about!!
September 11, 2019
I loved it!
May 10, 2023
There's elements of a solid thriller here, but it's undercut by ridiculous characters (for example, we have the drunken college wastrel somehow comprehending the commercial value of his genius roommate's biological research and killing him for it), a heavy-handed political agenda, and unnecessary subplots.
November 26, 2011
This is a really good read and in my opinion, in the right price range. Who doesn't love a medical mystery combined with a conspiracy theory mixed with government wrongdoings, coverups and dirty tricks? I'm certainly not one to resist that combination!
There was enough thrill in the story that by the time I was one-third into the book, I had a hard time putting it down. My brain was whirling with the whodunit and conspiracy of it all. I'm only rating it a 3 because, while it was a really good read, it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat. Javitt throws in a few surprises right at the end, but they're almost token, as if to say see, you still don't know the whole story. I never felt the tension built to the point where it was unbearable; at some points, it was even anticlimactic.
Part of my problem with the tension building was that the story became pretty predictable by the second half. Sure, there were a few details to work out, but not sufficient to maintain the tension. There were several times when I should've felt the characters' lives were in danger, where I should've asked myself the author isn't going to kill of a main character - is he? But I didn't. The story just never took me to that far edge of suspense. There was a sense of danger, but it never overwhelmed me.
But don't get me wrong - I enjoyed reading the book and I recommend it for anyone who likes a conspiracy theory and/or medical mystery. And it had me seriously considering - not for the first time this year - planting a garden and growing my own food (the last time was when I was paying $1 each for bell peppers).
There was enough thrill in the story that by the time I was one-third into the book, I had a hard time putting it down. My brain was whirling with the whodunit and conspiracy of it all. I'm only rating it a 3 because, while it was a really good read, it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat. Javitt throws in a few surprises right at the end, but they're almost token, as if to say see, you still don't know the whole story. I never felt the tension built to the point where it was unbearable; at some points, it was even anticlimactic.
Part of my problem with the tension building was that the story became pretty predictable by the second half. Sure, there were a few details to work out, but not sufficient to maintain the tension. There were several times when I should've felt the characters' lives were in danger, where I should've asked myself the author isn't going to kill of a main character - is he? But I didn't. The story just never took me to that far edge of suspense. There was a sense of danger, but it never overwhelmed me.
But don't get me wrong - I enjoyed reading the book and I recommend it for anyone who likes a conspiracy theory and/or medical mystery. And it had me seriously considering - not for the first time this year - planting a garden and growing my own food (the last time was when I was paying $1 each for bell peppers).
August 13, 2016
Fans of The X-Files may enjoy this science-fiction thriller, the debut novel by Dr. Javitt, whose impressive government credentials aren't quite matched by the sophistication of his plot. Chair of President Bush's Health Subcommittee of the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee and an epidemiologist, Javitt imagines a recent past-2005-in which the threat of genetically modified food has become a reality. When Marci Newman, a workaholic New York City attorney, dies after a mysterious seizure, Newman's best friend, Gwen Maulder, who's a division chief with the Food and Drug Administration, investigates. Aided by her ex-Secret Service husband, Jack, and her former flame and current Washington Post columnist Mark Stern, Maulder finds that Newman's seizure may be part of an epidemic that may be connected with coffee-seller Pequod's, the new mega-company that has overtaken Starbuck's. The bad guys are led by Hawaiian senator Henry Broome, whose past includes several murders and the theft of some genetics research from his Princeton roommate. The writing and pacing are adequate, and Javitt throws in a nice twist at the end, but the action sequences tend to overwhelm the science.
October 20, 2008
Full disclosure: the publisher is a friend of mine and I read this book in order to assist with marketing.
To my surprise this is one of my favorite novels I have read in recent years. As one of the blurbs suggested, it grabs you by the throat. I may be naturally inclined to believe in conspiracy theories, but this book suggests one -fiction or fantasy it may be- that rings true and is extremely unnerving since it is about the food and drinks we consume. But that's just the background behind the story, the story itself pulls us right in and strong characters keep us involved.
This book has a few flaws but they are easily forgiven. I recommend it highly for anyone interested in fiction based in contemporary politics and culture who wants a fun and engrossing read. That has got to be alot of people :)
To my surprise this is one of my favorite novels I have read in recent years. As one of the blurbs suggested, it grabs you by the throat. I may be naturally inclined to believe in conspiracy theories, but this book suggests one -fiction or fantasy it may be- that rings true and is extremely unnerving since it is about the food and drinks we consume. But that's just the background behind the story, the story itself pulls us right in and strong characters keep us involved.
This book has a few flaws but they are easily forgiven. I recommend it highly for anyone interested in fiction based in contemporary politics and culture who wants a fun and engrossing read. That has got to be alot of people :)
March 17, 2012
It was a good read, well paced and not too technical. One thing that struck me as I was reading was all the product placement. At times, I had to wonder if I was reading a commercial. Perhaps the author funded part of the book with the product placement? But, otherwise it was a pretty good book. It was reminiscent of The Cobra Event by Richard Preston. There were no problems in the eBook edition and only 1 noticeable misspelling.
July 9, 2012
Lots of intrigue and multiple characters/plots with interesting possibilities of genetically engineering coffee and tobacco to enhance addiction (already documented with the latter) and the unintended side effects on humans. With the pervasiveness of GMO corn and all the things containing it--perhaps a little too close for comfort. Again, this is a bland title for a medical/political thriller. The author said his inspiration was a real character who should inspire us all, Frances Kelsey who kept Thalidomide off the pharmacy shelves in the US.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2009
I couldn't put this book down. What's killing people across America? Dr. Gwen Maulder wants to find out after her best friend has a seizure in the courtroom right before trying a case.
It's an adventure that takes you from the FDA, to Hawaii, to the political board rooms. The characters are very well thought out and draw you into their lives. This terrifying story line could be the front page news.
Excellent read!
It's an adventure that takes you from the FDA, to Hawaii, to the political board rooms. The characters are very well thought out and draw you into their lives. This terrifying story line could be the front page news.
Excellent read!
January 7, 2012
Good, tight medical thriller that is a real page turner. This story involves a healthy,driven young lawyer who dies unexpectently. When her friend Gwen, a scientist, seeks to find out why, she discovers a much bigger and dangerous mystery putting herself in danger with some very important people. Will Gwen be able to escape? This book had all the right elements for me. It was a page turner and great fun.
December 16, 2015
This was a freebie for the Kindle and I'll certainly be on the lookout for the next tale in this series which we're promised !!
It's about a young female lawyer who dies very unexpectedly and her best friend's quest to learn why she died as she just shouldn't have done. It is very believable indeed and you do have to wonder about all this genetically modified "stuff" that's around these days and continues to be created.
I'd highly recommend this one.
It's about a young female lawyer who dies very unexpectedly and her best friend's quest to learn why she died as she just shouldn't have done. It is very believable indeed and you do have to wonder about all this genetically modified "stuff" that's around these days and continues to be created.
I'd highly recommend this one.
February 19, 2014
This was free when I downloaded it to my Nook library. It is a work of fiction with more than enough facts to make the danger to its innocent victims plausible.
I recommend it to all readers of medical thrillers and conspiracy investigations.
...there is currently no law that require premarket safety review of genetically modified food...
I recommend it to all readers of medical thrillers and conspiracy investigations.
July 22, 2014
A young woman dies unexpectedly and her best friend can't believe it's just unlucky. A journalist notices odd news stories of people acting crazy. Is there a connection ? Biothriller with a plot that holds the attention.
January 2, 2012
I liked this one...a little bit medical mystery, a little bit thriller. The problem presented was interesting and new, not something that had been used ad nauseum (like the evil corporation spewing out harmful chemicals into the environment). Kudos for a little creativity.
November 21, 2012
A decent medical/political thriller. I've read better novels in this genre, but this book was more interesting than I had expected. If you enjoy reading Robin Cook or Michael Palmer, then you may find this one worth reading.
February 25, 2009
Written by a friend of mine, Capitol Reflections is based on hard science and presents chilling scenarios related to potential terrorist actions. A real thriller.
November 24, 2011
I enjoyed reading this book...some parts a little far fetched, but that's action/ adventure.
January 6, 2012
Kindle eBook-Free
January 29, 2012
This book is so interesting--a very fast read. My firt ime reading this author and I am impressed.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews