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If Nobody Listens Part One
She does not know them. They know all about her.
When Paul Bild offers millionaire Jeffrey Hughes a chance to save his sick daughter, he and his partner Tom Avild are about to get their international breakthrough. Anybio Analytics is the best bacterial analysis software on the market. Tom travels to the branch office in Ukraine to investigate unexplained delays. On arrival, he finds out that their branch manager Yulia Kuznetsova has gone missing.
Tom and Vasili Romanov are in a world where no one can be trusted. A world where powerful forces are prepared to kill for what they want.
When Paul Bild offers millionaire Jeffrey Hughes a chance to save his sick daughter, he and his partner Tom Avild are about to get their international breakthrough. Anybio Analytics is the best bacterial analysis software on the market. Tom travels to the branch office in Ukraine to investigate unexplained delays. On arrival, he finds out that their branch manager Yulia Kuznetsova has gone missing.
Tom and Vasili Romanov are in a world where no one can be trusted. A world where powerful forces are prepared to kill for what they want.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2019
224 people are currently reading
608 people want to read
About the author
Rikard Sommer
3 books14 followersRikard Sommer was born in 1965, and lives in a suburb outside of Oslo, Norway with his wife. He has done a lot of different things; worked at an ice cream factory in the summer holidays, been a cab driver, served five years in the Army, sold office machines, built professional audio/video systems and travelled around the world. He also picks up the guitar or keyboard and plays in a hobby band, as he is a true fan of classic pop music. He thinks XTC is one of the best-hidden gems and The Beach Boys’ God Only Knows is the ultimate pop song, which sometimes has gotten him into deep and vivid discussions with his mates.
If Nobody Listens is his debut novel, although he has been writing most of his life. When he is not writing, he enjoys fishing and mountain trips and singing pop songs from the sixties around the campfire.
If Nobody Listens is his debut novel, although he has been writing most of his life. When he is not writing, he enjoys fishing and mountain trips and singing pop songs from the sixties around the campfire.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 23, 2017
Somewhat engaging.
This story started at the beginning of internet and Paul found out he was dying. And jumped forward, he has a almost bankrupt business, Airbio specialized analytic antibiotics. Hackers, selling of body parts, stolen source code and homeless children's in Ukraine streets, how they are being manipulated. Good writing but story definitely it wasn't what I expected.
This story started at the beginning of internet and Paul found out he was dying. And jumped forward, he has a almost bankrupt business, Airbio specialized analytic antibiotics. Hackers, selling of body parts, stolen source code and homeless children's in Ukraine streets, how they are being manipulated. Good writing but story definitely it wasn't what I expected.
August 26, 2019
I received this rather plodding corporate suspense novel, which was published in 2017, as a Read Now from NetGalley, along with the sequel which was being published about a month ago. I was interested because it purported to be about the intersection between two areas that I work in - clinical research and Travel Medicine (which has a strong focus on infectious diseases) but actually that was just the backdrop, and had little to do with the actual plot. It’s competently translated from the original Norwegian but it’s always hard to assesses how much has been lost in the process.
One of the confusing things about the book is how many Point of View characters are introduced, and then never seen again, before it becomes clear who the main protagonist is. It begins by introducing software developer Paul Bild, whose company Anybios has created a revolutionary new way of analysing bacteria, which would speed up the process of developing new antibiotics against the very real threat of emerging multi-drug-resistant pathogens. Then we meet American millionaire Jeffrey, powerless to help his dying daughter, and Ukrainian orphanage manageress Olga, grateful for the medical attention provided to her charges by the stern visiting nurse. Eventually it’s hulking scarred ex-hacker & Krav Maga expert-with-a-heart Tom Avild and his overweight geeky colleague and friend Vasili, aka DeathVader, who prove to be the heroes, as they investigate the disappearance of Yulia, office manager of Anybios’ Ukrainian base, while sinister elements also seem to be looking for her.
Unfortunately it was very far into this book before anything happened that could be considered thrilling. It did all come together at the end, but there were an awful lot of extended conversation scenes and pointless flashbacks, introduced presumably to flesh out the characters’ personalities, but all they achieved was slowing down the narrative to a crawl, only to then have all the action compressed into the last 20%.
The reveal of what is actually going on was well sign-posted, so not really a surprise, and then there’s a strange part two at the end, retelling what has just happened - it’s unclear whether this is the beginning of the sequel or just a confusing alternative ending. Had this not been an ARC I would’ve abandoned it, and I don’t feel much enthusiasm for the sequel, but I will get to it after a break, and just have to hope that it continues at the faster pace of the last part of this one. (Honestly, there were pages and pages devoted to the heroes’ attempts to crack Yulia’s computer password, which was important to the story but so dull to read about.)
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC and provide an honest review.
One of the confusing things about the book is how many Point of View characters are introduced, and then never seen again, before it becomes clear who the main protagonist is. It begins by introducing software developer Paul Bild, whose company Anybios has created a revolutionary new way of analysing bacteria, which would speed up the process of developing new antibiotics against the very real threat of emerging multi-drug-resistant pathogens. Then we meet American millionaire Jeffrey, powerless to help his dying daughter, and Ukrainian orphanage manageress Olga, grateful for the medical attention provided to her charges by the stern visiting nurse. Eventually it’s hulking scarred ex-hacker & Krav Maga expert-with-a-heart Tom Avild and his overweight geeky colleague and friend Vasili, aka DeathVader, who prove to be the heroes, as they investigate the disappearance of Yulia, office manager of Anybios’ Ukrainian base, while sinister elements also seem to be looking for her.
Unfortunately it was very far into this book before anything happened that could be considered thrilling. It did all come together at the end, but there were an awful lot of extended conversation scenes and pointless flashbacks, introduced presumably to flesh out the characters’ personalities, but all they achieved was slowing down the narrative to a crawl, only to then have all the action compressed into the last 20%.
The reveal of what is actually going on was well sign-posted, so not really a surprise, and then there’s a strange part two at the end, retelling what has just happened - it’s unclear whether this is the beginning of the sequel or just a confusing alternative ending. Had this not been an ARC I would’ve abandoned it, and I don’t feel much enthusiasm for the sequel, but I will get to it after a break, and just have to hope that it continues at the faster pace of the last part of this one. (Honestly, there were pages and pages devoted to the heroes’ attempts to crack Yulia’s computer password, which was important to the story but so dull to read about.)
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC and provide an honest review.
February 26, 2018
If Nobody Listens
surprised me because the plot development was so strong and original for a debut novel. We are given several main POVs in this story, but the main character that I felt was the lead protagonist is Paul Bild. Paul Bild is a biologist who was given a chance at medical stability in hopes of creating something more with this new chance at life. Paul ends up establishing Anybio Analytics, a company that categories medicine used to treat bacterial diseases. His company uses this legendary software, deemed Analytics, that has paved the way for his company to succeed. The dynamic duo behind Analytics are software developers Tom Avild and Vasili Romanov. Both Tom and Vasili work side-by-side with Paul in hopes of not only combating disease, but also adding to their net worth. As time progresses, the team starts to see things slowly unraveling in the process and are brought to a moral standstill. In a world where a company is focused on medical achievement, you wouldn't think that the road to success would be dark, twisted, and devious—but it is.
Rikard Sommer is a great storyteller in If Nobody Listens and I really enjoyed seeing a new author tell an original story. I really didn't see how the story was going to develop as I flipped through the pages, and that task is a difficult feat for an author, let alone for a debut. I have to deduct a few stars as I felt that there were too many characters involved with too many storylines to weave through. I wish we had less main characters and there was a bigger focus on the central arc of the story. I felt that this was a big reason for my lack of concentration throughout the story. Other than that critique, I did find enjoyment in reading If Nobody Listens and will be curious to see what Mr. Sommer has up next.
Rikard Sommer is a great storyteller in If Nobody Listens and I really enjoyed seeing a new author tell an original story. I really didn't see how the story was going to develop as I flipped through the pages, and that task is a difficult feat for an author, let alone for a debut. I have to deduct a few stars as I felt that there were too many characters involved with too many storylines to weave through. I wish we had less main characters and there was a bigger focus on the central arc of the story. I felt that this was a big reason for my lack of concentration throughout the story. Other than that critique, I did find enjoyment in reading If Nobody Listens and will be curious to see what Mr. Sommer has up next.
July 22, 2017
Paul Bild struggles to keep his business afloat since he knows first-hand the importance of customizing medical treatment to match the needs of the patient. His fear is an inevitable antibiotic resistant epidemic that will kill millions and cripple whole countries. As he travels to promote his analytic database to potential clients, Paul shows a special interest in Jeffrey Hughes daughter, who is also in need of individualized medical care.
Rikard Sommer shows how ugly and powerful those who control the medical research and medicine can become when the race to gain new research is underway. Anybio Analytics is leading in the medical database race for an answer, but someone is only interested in making millions off the sick. Tom and Vasili are unsure if they should contact the police to investigate a search for Yulia and have people digging around in their computers for data problems. What if the next time Tom isn’t just badly beaten but worse?
Rikard Sommer shows how ugly and powerful those who control the medical research and medicine can become when the race to gain new research is underway. Anybio Analytics is leading in the medical database race for an answer, but someone is only interested in making millions off the sick. Tom and Vasili are unsure if they should contact the police to investigate a search for Yulia and have people digging around in their computers for data problems. What if the next time Tom isn’t just badly beaten but worse?
July 20, 2017
History Has Two Sides - The Final Version is Written by the Victors
Paul Bild, a biologist, is sitting in a bar contemplating his limited future. His doctor's prognosis for Paul is grave. While thinking on these things, Paul is interrupted by an attractive woman offering him, perhaps, a new lease on life. She hands him her business card, invites him to call and then leaves.
Fast forward to seven years in the future and Paul, seemingly, has a new lease on life. He has started a business, Anybio, that may be attractive to drug companies as it categorizes various medications used to treat bacterias. His company accomplishes this service through software known as Analytics.
The development genius behind Analytics are two legendary software code designers known as the Karate Kid, Tom Avild, and DeathVader, Vasili Romanov.
And so the threesome come together to fight disease and in the process, hopefully, create their fortune.
However, the password protected computer of Yulia, a fellow staff member within the company, suddenly takes the company and the three key members of the management team down a road that is dark, sinister and inhumane.
If Nobody Listens by Rikard Sommer is a very engaging book. The dark plot is well developed and thought out and is replete with mystery, suspense, surprises. An especially engaging twist is the technology aspect which adds to the enjoyment of the book and the unfolding of the plot.
Paul Bild, a biologist, is sitting in a bar contemplating his limited future. His doctor's prognosis for Paul is grave. While thinking on these things, Paul is interrupted by an attractive woman offering him, perhaps, a new lease on life. She hands him her business card, invites him to call and then leaves.
Fast forward to seven years in the future and Paul, seemingly, has a new lease on life. He has started a business, Anybio, that may be attractive to drug companies as it categorizes various medications used to treat bacterias. His company accomplishes this service through software known as Analytics.
The development genius behind Analytics are two legendary software code designers known as the Karate Kid, Tom Avild, and DeathVader, Vasili Romanov.
And so the threesome come together to fight disease and in the process, hopefully, create their fortune.
However, the password protected computer of Yulia, a fellow staff member within the company, suddenly takes the company and the three key members of the management team down a road that is dark, sinister and inhumane.
If Nobody Listens by Rikard Sommer is a very engaging book. The dark plot is well developed and thought out and is replete with mystery, suspense, surprises. An especially engaging twist is the technology aspect which adds to the enjoyment of the book and the unfolding of the plot.
October 4, 2019
Such a good book. You start out thinking it's aboSuch a ut a computer company trying to get started and come away with a whole different story. I don't want to say to much in spoil it, but I highly recommend this book. Especially, if you like suspense. This is a slow burn that will have you on fire by the end! Can't wait to read Part 2. Thanks for the book Netgalley!
March 6, 2018
This is a story about Paul Bild who has troubles getting people to understand and invest in the kind of business he has created. He believes in his business and the good he could do but getting others to understand the importance of Analytics is hard. Paul needs money to grow his business and show future investors that the company is worth investing in so he engages in a side business.
Paul has employed people he trust and has created a partition between them. While he handles the sales and marketing sides along with Yulia, Tom Avild and Vasili Romanov handles the tech side of company. Together they do a good job of running the company and putting it ahead of its competitors.
Rikard Sommer could write a thousand page detailing every thing and everyone but he doesn't. He develops each plot carefully and make his readers understand the characters. He shines light on the under developement and lack of research in the field of antibiotics. He also analyses a dangers of living in poverty.
It was not easy getting into the book but understanding the characters is key to enjoying the book. Most times the stories are cut short and develops into a different story.
The end of the story wasn't at all what I was expecting but it was a nice a nice twist. Knowing how a book end from the beginning kinda sucks, so good job RS. it wasn't as thrilling as I expected it to be but it was "surprisingly good" towards the end tho.
Paul has employed people he trust and has created a partition between them. While he handles the sales and marketing sides along with Yulia, Tom Avild and Vasili Romanov handles the tech side of company. Together they do a good job of running the company and putting it ahead of its competitors.
Rikard Sommer could write a thousand page detailing every thing and everyone but he doesn't. He develops each plot carefully and make his readers understand the characters. He shines light on the under developement and lack of research in the field of antibiotics. He also analyses a dangers of living in poverty.
It was not easy getting into the book but understanding the characters is key to enjoying the book. Most times the stories are cut short and develops into a different story.
The end of the story wasn't at all what I was expecting but it was a nice a nice twist. Knowing how a book end from the beginning kinda sucks, so good job RS. it wasn't as thrilling as I expected it to be but it was "surprisingly good" towards the end tho.
May 17, 2019
The idea that big data could be harnessed for a highly lucrative criminal undertaking is a cool premise, and I liked the two tech guys who found themselves in over their heads as they tried to unravel the mystery. However, some major plot holes and an inconsistent perspective made this a challenging read for me. For starters, the cover doesn't seem to fit the story, which is not really much about the character depicted. It was not clear to me which character was central, in fact, until I was well into the book. It might have helped if there had been some transitions to connect the dots. Also, too much of the story is told through long, improbable conversations instead of shown through the characters' actions. That's especially true in the last few chapters. Punctuation left something to be desired -- I found the innumerable comma splices and improperly used question marks distracting. Still, I found the story and characters original enough to keep my interest to the end, so I don't regret taking the time to read this book -- I just wish the puzzle pieces had slid together more smoothly.
May 28, 2019
"If Nobody Listens" is a rivetting tale of industrial espianage that becomes intermingled with organized crime. The multifaceted plot is carefully crafted by the author so that it all ties together. The characters are well developed and very human. The story unfolds piece by piece and is told in such a way as to build suspense and keep the reader guessing. The pace of the action increases tempo in the second half of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The conclusion was just indefinite enough so that this novel could be the first in a series. There are still some unanswered questions swirling around.
July 19, 2018
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. (Thanks!)
This was a good book. I took some breaks to read other books while working on this one (only because they were library books and I don't like keeping those longer than I need to), and it was a bit difficult to get back into this one each time. I finished the last two-thirds of this straight through while camping and it was good. It's no more unlikely (doesn't everyone have extreme survival and defensive skills?!) than the majority of other suspense/thriller books, but at least there was a nice twist at the end. You know something is coming, you just aren't entirely sure which way the plot will break. Overall, a worthwhile read.
This was a good book. I took some breaks to read other books while working on this one (only because they were library books and I don't like keeping those longer than I need to), and it was a bit difficult to get back into this one each time. I finished the last two-thirds of this straight through while camping and it was good. It's no more unlikely (doesn't everyone have extreme survival and defensive skills?!) than the majority of other suspense/thriller books, but at least there was a nice twist at the end. You know something is coming, you just aren't entirely sure which way the plot will break. Overall, a worthwhile read.
August 2, 2023
This was an interesting read - not quite what I expected, but interesting nonetheless. I will warn you - you get the story from a lot of POVs, sometimes you only hear from those characters once (hence 4 instead of 5 stars, it got to be a little confusing after a while). While I appreciate getting to see so many facets of the story, I think narrowing it down to a key character or two would've worked out better. The plot is interesting, and moves along fairly quickly. Overall, a decent thriller, and I'm looking forward to part two!
May 12, 2018
I really enjoyed this one, it was a good little crime story with likeable characters. The technobabble was a bit annoying some times, with some inaccurate tech language, but it wasn't so much as to be extremely annoying. I enjoyed this one a lot.
October 8, 2018
This book is everything a psychological thriller/mystery should be! The author created characters that are well developed and a plot that moves along quickly! I found myself completely immersed in this one! Highly recommend!
May 29, 2018
Interesting
There are a lot of twist and three to the plot. Very good read.
It keeps the reader interested and guessing..
There are a lot of twist and three to the plot. Very good read.
It keeps the reader interested and guessing..
November 11, 2022
love it so much
September 7, 2019
Paul Bild has decided to make his life’s work fighting against multi-resistant bacteria. He offers a very rich man a chance to save his sick daughter. He and his partner Tom Avila get to become an international company. On Tom’s arrival to his office in the Ukraine, he finds Yulia has left a note saying she would be back in a week. Tom laters that Yulia has disappeared. Tom and Vasili discover that that they can only trust each other and no one else. What they discover is a shock to them. What do they discover? What will Tom and Vasili do? Will they survive?
The novel is an excellent mystery. At first I was wondering what was so mysterious about Yulia’s travels. Why were the two men supposedly police interested in Yulia’s computer? There were a few twists and turns that surprised me. The ending was unexpected for me.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The novel is an excellent mystery. At first I was wondering what was so mysterious about Yulia’s travels. Why were the two men supposedly police interested in Yulia’s computer? There were a few twists and turns that surprised me. The ending was unexpected for me.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
October 29, 2019
I was intrigued by the idea of a thriller that has the fight against multi-resistant bacteria as a cornerstone of the novel. I expected certain things (e.g. someone trying to make a strain of bacteria that conventional drugs can not combat) to be part of the story. And, it is.
However, I wasn't expecting the other storyline showing where Paul Bild was really financing his fledgling company. And that is why Yulia Kuznetsova, manager of the Ukrainian branch office, goes missing.
Overall, a compelling narrative with the occasional stilted English.
Grateful for the chance to read this novel and it's sequel thanks to NetGalley. Because when Part One ends, you want to read the next book.
However, I wasn't expecting the other storyline showing where Paul Bild was really financing his fledgling company. And that is why Yulia Kuznetsova, manager of the Ukrainian branch office, goes missing.
Overall, a compelling narrative with the occasional stilted English.
Grateful for the chance to read this novel and it's sequel thanks to NetGalley. Because when Part One ends, you want to read the next book.
November 25, 2019
Lest på norsk! " Hvis ingenting finnes" . Ok debut av krimforfatter 😀
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