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The Descartes Evolution
A woman with a rare genetic illness must uncover her connection to a terrorist group before their next attack in this exciting new bio-thriller from the author of Disease X.Lucas Grafton has spent the last ten years hunting the Conclave, a secret organization who took everything from him, including his very identity. Now he has a lead—an imminent terrorist attack on London—code-named “Descartes”. But he can’t connect the dots until a seemingly innocent woman appears during his stakeout.Jenna Young can’t believe she was attacked and barely escaped with her life. Now she’s on the run with a stranger…and racing against the clock. With only a note left by her father after his death, telling her to use the code-word “Descartes” to get the pills that slow the progression of her illness, Jenna has only days before her body will start to rapidly deteriorate.Lucas and Jenna must piece together why she’s wanted by a terrorist group she’s never heard of. And why, despite her claims that she needs an unknown and presumably illegal drug to stay alive, she seems to be getting stronger by the day…
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2020
3 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
N.J. Croft
11 books53 followersAfter a number of years wandering the world in search of adventure, N.J. Croft finally settled on a farm in the mountains and now lives off-grid, growing almonds, drinking cold beer, taking in stray dogs, and writing stories where the stakes are huge and absolutely anything can happen.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 28, 2020
Eager to sink my teeth into something with a little pep, I turned to this book by N.J. Croft. Full of mystery and intrigue, it also opens up the world of terrorism and unique weapon technology in a story that will have readers flipping pages until they reach the climactic finish. N.J. Croft has done it again, stunning readers with a story that seems to come out of nowhere with influences that are, quite literally, out of this world. Recommended for readers who have enjoyed Croft's work in the past, as well as those who prefer terrorism thrillers.
Jenna Young always knew that she was special, particularly when her father explained that she had a rare, genetic illness that could only be managed with experimental medication. When he died in a car accident, Jenna receives a letter from him through his solicitor, asking that she see one of his colleagues for more of her medication, using the codeword 'Descartes'. Unsure what to do, Jenna visits a friend and confides that she needs help, revealing all she knows. The next day, her friend is found murdered.
Luke Grafton has been keeping an eye on a group using the name Conclave, sure that they are behind the staged suicide of his father years before. Luke will stop at nothing to dismantle them, hoping that he can learn their truth purpose along the way. When members of Conclave appear to target a young woman, Luke does all he can to save her, while remaining unsure what Jenna Young might have that they want.
On the run, Luke and Jenna forge an unlikely connection. Jenna shares her news and wonders what 'Descartes' might have to do with everything, which triggers Luke to dig a little deeper. It would seem that Conclave have been working on something experimental, potentially useful in a terrorist attack. Descartes, its codename, seems to have had some success during testing on the African continent, but no one is quite sure when or where it will be unleashed.
Off her medication, Jenna begins to feel a lot different, though she cannot entirely understand why. Could it be that her illness is taking over her body? When Luke makes note of it, both he and Jenna realise just how important she could be the Conclave and the larger Descartes mission. That will mean they must stay one step ahead of everyone, while also not resting on their laurels.
This is another stellar piece by N.J. Croft, which keeps the reader attentive until the very end. There's action throughout and even a few moments of cheesy romance for those readers who enjoy that in their thrillers. Posing some moral and ethical questions along the way, Croft keeps the reader wondering until all comes together in the final reveal.
Jenna Young and Luke Grafton play wonderful dual protagonists in this piece. Coming from vastly different backgrounds, their personal stories are developed throughout the narrative, while they appear to develop effectively as the story progresses. Both have had death befall them, though neither can adequately explain what's happened or how things will turn out. As with many Croft pieces, there are sparks and something blossoms, though this cannot (and should not) deter them from focussing their attention on the task at hand.
There is an effective secondary cast throughout the book that complements the protagonists, as well as helping to shape the larger story. With a few key subplots, these individuals serve to push the narrative forward in a number of ways. Great dialogue banter and effective action on the page shows that Croft has been able to properly manage the direction of the piece through the supporting cast on offer. As many of the novels are standalones, there is little chance of reemergence, forcing each character to make their mark in this single novel.
The story as a whole was quite thought provoking and kept me wanting to know more. The thrills were apparent throughout the piece, taking the reader through many twists and turns, leaving little time to catch one's breath.
In those few lulls, Croft takes the reader into something more for the soft hearted reader, with a few romance scenes that do not add much to the overall depth of the piece. I get the desire to (pardon the pun) flesh things out a bit, but it seems more filler than useful for my reading experience.
With a mix of chapter lengths, the reader can find themselves riveted and pushing forward to see where things are headed, while stopping should the need arise.
Even as a standalone, the novel has all the reader could need with a strong story, well presented characters, and a twist at the end that will baffle at least a handful.
Kudos, N.J. Croft, for another winner. I always enjoy your novels and cannot wait to see what's next in line!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Jenna Young always knew that she was special, particularly when her father explained that she had a rare, genetic illness that could only be managed with experimental medication. When he died in a car accident, Jenna receives a letter from him through his solicitor, asking that she see one of his colleagues for more of her medication, using the codeword 'Descartes'. Unsure what to do, Jenna visits a friend and confides that she needs help, revealing all she knows. The next day, her friend is found murdered.
Luke Grafton has been keeping an eye on a group using the name Conclave, sure that they are behind the staged suicide of his father years before. Luke will stop at nothing to dismantle them, hoping that he can learn their truth purpose along the way. When members of Conclave appear to target a young woman, Luke does all he can to save her, while remaining unsure what Jenna Young might have that they want.
On the run, Luke and Jenna forge an unlikely connection. Jenna shares her news and wonders what 'Descartes' might have to do with everything, which triggers Luke to dig a little deeper. It would seem that Conclave have been working on something experimental, potentially useful in a terrorist attack. Descartes, its codename, seems to have had some success during testing on the African continent, but no one is quite sure when or where it will be unleashed.
Off her medication, Jenna begins to feel a lot different, though she cannot entirely understand why. Could it be that her illness is taking over her body? When Luke makes note of it, both he and Jenna realise just how important she could be the Conclave and the larger Descartes mission. That will mean they must stay one step ahead of everyone, while also not resting on their laurels.
This is another stellar piece by N.J. Croft, which keeps the reader attentive until the very end. There's action throughout and even a few moments of cheesy romance for those readers who enjoy that in their thrillers. Posing some moral and ethical questions along the way, Croft keeps the reader wondering until all comes together in the final reveal.
Jenna Young and Luke Grafton play wonderful dual protagonists in this piece. Coming from vastly different backgrounds, their personal stories are developed throughout the narrative, while they appear to develop effectively as the story progresses. Both have had death befall them, though neither can adequately explain what's happened or how things will turn out. As with many Croft pieces, there are sparks and something blossoms, though this cannot (and should not) deter them from focussing their attention on the task at hand.
There is an effective secondary cast throughout the book that complements the protagonists, as well as helping to shape the larger story. With a few key subplots, these individuals serve to push the narrative forward in a number of ways. Great dialogue banter and effective action on the page shows that Croft has been able to properly manage the direction of the piece through the supporting cast on offer. As many of the novels are standalones, there is little chance of reemergence, forcing each character to make their mark in this single novel.
The story as a whole was quite thought provoking and kept me wanting to know more. The thrills were apparent throughout the piece, taking the reader through many twists and turns, leaving little time to catch one's breath.
In those few lulls, Croft takes the reader into something more for the soft hearted reader, with a few romance scenes that do not add much to the overall depth of the piece. I get the desire to (pardon the pun) flesh things out a bit, but it seems more filler than useful for my reading experience.
With a mix of chapter lengths, the reader can find themselves riveted and pushing forward to see where things are headed, while stopping should the need arise.
Even as a standalone, the novel has all the reader could need with a strong story, well presented characters, and a twist at the end that will baffle at least a handful.
Kudos, N.J. Croft, for another winner. I always enjoy your novels and cannot wait to see what's next in line!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
June 10, 2020
„The Descartes Evolution“ by N.J. Croft a tantalizing biological thriller on the possible connections between genetic illness and terrorism is without doubt an extraordinary addiction to the genre, and hits perfectly the climate we are living in. Nevertheless, this it’s by no means an opportunistic book. N.J. Croft has previously proven without doubt (Disease X, 2019) his command of the genre.
The story follows Lucas Grafton und Jenna Young through a labyrinthic adventure in search for the truth behind a terrorist group. Lucas has been fighting terrorism in general and the Conclave (a secret organization, that has stealing his very own identity) for over ten years. After discovering an imminent threat to London under the code name “Descartes”, it seems as he finally has a real lead.
Jenna suffers from a very rare illness that can be only slowed down with some mysterious pills provided by her father, but as her father is assassinated, and her only access to the pills is a leftover note prompting her to use the code “Descartes” to obtain the medication, Jenna comes in contact with Lucas. A race to both, obtain the pills and dismantle the terrorist organization begins. Things get complicated, for Jenna the lack of proper medication has very unexpected side effects, that unearth new layers of secrets between the already very thick woven plot.
A very intelligent thriller, that blends facts and fiction to a highly enjoyable mix; with very relatable main characters, intelligent crafted enemies, carefully depicted action situations, and a good use of pace, that allows the story to begin in a relatively slow and relaxed motion to pick up the pace until the very last page. The book is easy to read, a real page turner, where the reader feels immersed into the plot from the very first chapter, racing along Lucas and Jenna in pursuit of the truth, savoring every new clue and suffering throughout the losses. A highly satisfying thriller!
The story follows Lucas Grafton und Jenna Young through a labyrinthic adventure in search for the truth behind a terrorist group. Lucas has been fighting terrorism in general and the Conclave (a secret organization, that has stealing his very own identity) for over ten years. After discovering an imminent threat to London under the code name “Descartes”, it seems as he finally has a real lead.
Jenna suffers from a very rare illness that can be only slowed down with some mysterious pills provided by her father, but as her father is assassinated, and her only access to the pills is a leftover note prompting her to use the code “Descartes” to obtain the medication, Jenna comes in contact with Lucas. A race to both, obtain the pills and dismantle the terrorist organization begins. Things get complicated, for Jenna the lack of proper medication has very unexpected side effects, that unearth new layers of secrets between the already very thick woven plot.
A very intelligent thriller, that blends facts and fiction to a highly enjoyable mix; with very relatable main characters, intelligent crafted enemies, carefully depicted action situations, and a good use of pace, that allows the story to begin in a relatively slow and relaxed motion to pick up the pace until the very last page. The book is easy to read, a real page turner, where the reader feels immersed into the plot from the very first chapter, racing along Lucas and Jenna in pursuit of the truth, savoring every new clue and suffering throughout the losses. A highly satisfying thriller!
September 7, 2021
Riveting medical thriller…
This gripping story begins with the main character, Jenna Young, dealing with the sudden loss of her father, a physician who has been treating Jenna’s rare genetic illness for her entire life. As she is running perilously short of her vital medication, she begins to realize that she actually knows very little about her illness or the medication her father has always supplied so Jenna is forced to seek help. For reasons unknown to her, her search for the answers she desperately needs puts her in the crosshairs of a clandestine cabal of wealthy and powerful individuals bent on world domination through the use of an incredibly lethal biological agent of mysterious origins. Fortunately for Jenna, a handsome and enigmatic stranger arrives in time to save her from a terrifying fate but his motives and intentions are suspect. Can she trust him? Will he be able to help her find the answers she needs? The medical and scientific aspects of this story will appeal to fans of Michael Crichton and Robin Cook. The full-throttle action, the unexpected twists, and the unremitting intrigue make this book an absolute delight for enthusiasts of the medical thriller genre. Don’t miss out on this one.
I was provided with an advance copy of this book by the author and I am voluntarily offering my honest and unbiased review.
This gripping story begins with the main character, Jenna Young, dealing with the sudden loss of her father, a physician who has been treating Jenna’s rare genetic illness for her entire life. As she is running perilously short of her vital medication, she begins to realize that she actually knows very little about her illness or the medication her father has always supplied so Jenna is forced to seek help. For reasons unknown to her, her search for the answers she desperately needs puts her in the crosshairs of a clandestine cabal of wealthy and powerful individuals bent on world domination through the use of an incredibly lethal biological agent of mysterious origins. Fortunately for Jenna, a handsome and enigmatic stranger arrives in time to save her from a terrifying fate but his motives and intentions are suspect. Can she trust him? Will he be able to help her find the answers she needs? The medical and scientific aspects of this story will appeal to fans of Michael Crichton and Robin Cook. The full-throttle action, the unexpected twists, and the unremitting intrigue make this book an absolute delight for enthusiasts of the medical thriller genre. Don’t miss out on this one.
I was provided with an advance copy of this book by the author and I am voluntarily offering my honest and unbiased review.
June 1, 2020
This action packed thriller starts out on the Ivory Coast of Africa in a little village that has been razed to the ground with no survivors. The reason for this destruction was a mystery, one that Lucas Grafton would like to get to the bottom of. He has been trying to get a good lead on the Conclave for 20 years and this might just be the in he was searching for. Jenna Young is grieving the loss of her father and he used to give her shots of an unusual medication to prevent her from dying of a mysterious illness that he said she had. The note he left for her told her to use the code name Descartes to obtain this medication. It wasn't that simple. Instead of weakening towards dying, she seemed to be getting stronger. and Luke was trying to help her escape from someone who seemed to want to kill her. There is action galore and interspersed with mysterious people and strange happenings to keep Jenna and Lucas from the truth. There is a connection to a terrorist group, a few murders, daring escapes and confusing information galore in this thriller. It is a very good read.
June 29, 2020
If you loved The DaVinci Code be prepared to be wowed again by The Descartes Evolution, which hides another secret several hundred years old.
Jenna’s physician father had always told her she must take her medicine to prevent the genetic disease she carries in her body from progressing. When he is killed, she turns to his partner to determine what is in the mysteriously unlabeled pill bottle. Jenna then gets a letter from her father that tells her to tell no one about her disease but a Dr. Merrick and to mention the word Descartes. Unfortunately, Dr. Merrick is out of town and events spiral quickly out of control. Jenna is forced to trust the mysterious Luke. Together, they seek the answer to both the treatment of her disease and a possibly worldwide syndicate planning a terrorist plot.
The Descartes Evolution is an exciting and dark look at what really might underlie the world order. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!
Thanks to Sideways Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Jenna’s physician father had always told her she must take her medicine to prevent the genetic disease she carries in her body from progressing. When he is killed, she turns to his partner to determine what is in the mysteriously unlabeled pill bottle. Jenna then gets a letter from her father that tells her to tell no one about her disease but a Dr. Merrick and to mention the word Descartes. Unfortunately, Dr. Merrick is out of town and events spiral quickly out of control. Jenna is forced to trust the mysterious Luke. Together, they seek the answer to both the treatment of her disease and a possibly worldwide syndicate planning a terrorist plot.
The Descartes Evolution is an exciting and dark look at what really might underlie the world order. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!
Thanks to Sideways Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 2, 2020
thrilling and exciting! These are just a couple of words that you were used to describe the first book of the series. in the first 15–20 chapters, it is a little slow. However, like many good things, a slow ride can eventually build into a fast pace time of thrills! when Jenna‘s father passes away, he leaves her a note to tell her to continue taking a medication that he has a left for her. The pills are plain, no marks, no identification to indicate what they are, or what they are for. when Jenna stops taking the medication, things begin to change. She begins to notice things about herself that should not be happening. Jenna and Luke attempt to find out what is going on. As the threads are slowly woven together, Jenna and Luke are, somehow tied into a worldwide terrorist plot. By the time you get to the end of this book, you will be desperately, and I do mean desperately seeking the next book in the series!
June 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this fascinating story with twists & turns around every corner. N. J. Croft has given us a true winner with "The Descartes Evolution". This book has it all from biological thriller to international intrigue & even has a little romance thrown in. Jenna Young is the lead character. She suffers from some sort of genetic problem; her father, a doctor, has treated her throughout her life. He dies unexpectedly leaving Jenna to fend for herself as she's almost out of the medication her father formulated for her. Lucas Grafton enters the story & helps the young Jenna out. Lucas has been fighting terrorism & stumbles on a cryptic outfit known as the Conclave. Together, Jenna & Lucas search for what is happening to her in hopes of finding a cure. What they find out will blow your mind. No spoilers here; you'll have to read the book to find out the deep hidden secrets. I highly recommend this book. Can hardly wait for the next one in the series. Action galore.
June 29, 2020
I am exhausted. I loved the book and I loved the cliff hangers.
This is a great read and an intriguing idea.
My heart felt for both the hero and heroine throughout the book.
The action and twists drive you further into the book. I guess that's why I am so exhausted.
I could not put it down (only to sleep). I read it in two long sittings.
If this is a sense of your writing I want more and will be looking to fill my library with past books and future books.
This is a great read and an intriguing idea.
My heart felt for both the hero and heroine throughout the book.
The action and twists drive you further into the book. I guess that's why I am so exhausted.
I could not put it down (only to sleep). I read it in two long sittings.
If this is a sense of your writing I want more and will be looking to fill my library with past books and future books.
July 2, 2020
Awesome book! Have stayed up way too late to finish it as I really could not put it down. Fast paced. Suspenseful. Thriller sci fi. I didn’t see the twists coming, although hindsight is 20/20 and perhaps I should have.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Loved it and would thoroughly recommend it.
June 9, 2020
An action packed thriller with well developed characters and a solid storyline. The story starts slow and then picks up speed with plenty of suspense. An exciting book that was hard to put down and highly recommended. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
July 15, 2020
This is a very good thriller. It's engaging with plenty of action and twists and with a great build to the end. The author also created interesting characters. Recommended.
Thanks very much for the review copy!!
Thanks very much for the review copy!!
June 8, 2020
A horrifyingly fun book. I truly enjoyed the characters and cried when one died. Very upset at the ending, not a fan of cliff hangers. I know that I will read the next one. This is an awesome book
July 6, 2020
My first book by N.J Croft and it was a winner! Exciting and thrilling, the Descartes Evolution kept me engaged from the start! I loved it!
July 13, 2020
Wow !! This is not my normal genre of books to read but it was amazing. It keeps you on the edge of your seat right until the very end. Fast paced thriller with lots of twists and turns.
June 22, 2020
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review. This is the first book of N.J. Croft I have read. While it started slow, it really picked up and by the end of the book I was hooked. I will admit by the end I didnt want it to stop, and yes I stayed up way past my bedtime reading. The story was interesting and had a few twists I didnt see coming. I found the characters were well written, I really liked Jenna's character in particular, she was a strong heroine, I would love to see more of her in other books. Also, I liked "the conclave" the shadowy organization trying to control the world. The story was solid and well thought out, if you are looking for a good action/ thriller/suspense type novel this would be a great choice. After reading this book I will definitely be looking at reading more by N.J. Croft.
July 17, 2020
~I received a free copy by the author in exchange for a review~
I really loved another book (Diesease X) by the author and was super excited to read their newest release. Sadly, this wasn't what I wanted it to be.
The majority of this is a thriller/mystery plot to find out more about Jenna and a secret organisation. What I wanted more of was the scifi/medical aspect of the story, but it only really started to come up 60% into the book and was never fully explored.
What we got plenty of were a ton of interrogation/torture scenes, action-packed shoot-outs and explosions. All these were written well and for someone who enjoys these kinds of stories, this is definitely the right book. But for me this wasn't it.
Another thing I didn't like at all was the romance. For me it was completely unnecessary.
I really loved another book (Diesease X) by the author and was super excited to read their newest release. Sadly, this wasn't what I wanted it to be.
The majority of this is a thriller/mystery plot to find out more about Jenna and a secret organisation. What I wanted more of was the scifi/medical aspect of the story, but it only really started to come up 60% into the book and was never fully explored.
What we got plenty of were a ton of interrogation/torture scenes, action-packed shoot-outs and explosions. All these were written well and for someone who enjoys these kinds of stories, this is definitely the right book. But for me this wasn't it.
Another thing I didn't like at all was the romance. For me it was completely unnecessary.
September 16, 2022
When your genes betray you
Jenna Young thinks she has a rare form of Huntington's disease that only her father has the medication to manage it. When her father died suddenly, life for Jenna becomes more bizarre than she could ever have imagined.
Jenna receives a letter from her Dad, advising her to go to his partner, Dr. David Griffith and mention the word "Descartes". Jenna sets up a meeting, tells him why, and discovers him tortured to death.
Thus begins Jenna's contact with the shadowy, controlling and deadly organization called the Conclave. And an equally secret group who opposes them, led by Luke Hockley.
Descartes is full of astonishing fact reveals, near death escapes and plot twists you'll never see coming. No character is who they really seem to be and death waits around each corner.
I loved how well developed each main character was and how much I was drawn into the world of the story. So much so that I was indignant to find out that this book is not the end. I highly recommend this series.
Jenna Young thinks she has a rare form of Huntington's disease that only her father has the medication to manage it. When her father died suddenly, life for Jenna becomes more bizarre than she could ever have imagined.
Jenna receives a letter from her Dad, advising her to go to his partner, Dr. David Griffith and mention the word "Descartes". Jenna sets up a meeting, tells him why, and discovers him tortured to death.
Thus begins Jenna's contact with the shadowy, controlling and deadly organization called the Conclave. And an equally secret group who opposes them, led by Luke Hockley.
Descartes is full of astonishing fact reveals, near death escapes and plot twists you'll never see coming. No character is who they really seem to be and death waits around each corner.
I loved how well developed each main character was and how much I was drawn into the world of the story. So much so that I was indignant to find out that this book is not the end. I highly recommend this series.
September 19, 2020
Cliffhanger and I am done
I was with the story through the torture, through the secret society,, though her changing, but I won't be reading the next book. The idea introduced at the end (and, yes, vaguely hinted at earlier,) turned me right off. Won't give it away for others. The writing is good, the story exciting, but I have no desire to go further.
I was with the story through the torture, through the secret society,, though her changing, but I won't be reading the next book. The idea introduced at the end (and, yes, vaguely hinted at earlier,) turned me right off. Won't give it away for others. The writing is good, the story exciting, but I have no desire to go further.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews