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Primordial
PRIMORDIAL is a Crichton-like thriller that centers on the plights of two scientists separated by decades and borders but united in their obsessive quests for the physical location of the soul.Jonas, a hospital attorney, begins to suspect that someone is targeting patients in his hospital. With the help of two residents, his search for answers will bring him face to face with a killer.
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Published December 9, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 25, 2021
Yeah, this was somehow a 50:50 read for me. I like the idea of the story, a decent piece of its flow, the mystery part was good, the precision of the medical terms (if I'm not mistaken, the author is a urologist)…. yeah, that's about all that I liked. Some parts were simply too hard to get attached to, the characters and the relationship dynamics just didn't work for me, and the big conclusion fell flat. It's hard to write a decent review when the book just doesn't get to you *shoulder shrug*
Thank you, Stonewall Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you, Stonewall Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
June 13, 2021
Primordial is one of the most suspenseful medical novels that I've read in a long time. It brings together the experiments of two doctors, decades apart, both searching for the physical location of the soul. The book was exciting to read and just when I thought that I had it all figured out, something new happened and I realized how wrong I was. The tension stays high until the surprising ending.
1944 Poland - A doctor is deep into his research to find the location of the soul in the human brain. Since he is doing his research at a concentration camp, he has lots of prisoners to use for his study - it's no loss to him that his experiments cause pain and death, He has one Jewish helper until a young boy is rescued from the gas chamber to work for him. Ezra is only seven but he realized that working in the operating room and seeing people die is far preferable to certain death in the camp.
Present Day New York - A man approaches hospital attorney Jonas and tells him that he sees a pattern in some of the hospital deaths and is suspicious that there is a killer among them. Jonas finds two interns to help him look into this issue and the further they go with their investigation, the more personal danger they are all in
This debut novel is a very suspenseful page turner that is difficult to put down. The main characters are all well written and believable. There's a lot of medical jargon but nothing too difficult for a non-medical person to understand. Do yourself a favor and read this roller coaster ride of a novel.
1944 Poland - A doctor is deep into his research to find the location of the soul in the human brain. Since he is doing his research at a concentration camp, he has lots of prisoners to use for his study - it's no loss to him that his experiments cause pain and death, He has one Jewish helper until a young boy is rescued from the gas chamber to work for him. Ezra is only seven but he realized that working in the operating room and seeing people die is far preferable to certain death in the camp.
Present Day New York - A man approaches hospital attorney Jonas and tells him that he sees a pattern in some of the hospital deaths and is suspicious that there is a killer among them. Jonas finds two interns to help him look into this issue and the further they go with their investigation, the more personal danger they are all in
This debut novel is a very suspenseful page turner that is difficult to put down. The main characters are all well written and believable. There's a lot of medical jargon but nothing too difficult for a non-medical person to understand. Do yourself a favor and read this roller coaster ride of a novel.
June 15, 2021
Two doctors, separated by decades, but united in their obsession to find out the physical location of the soul in a body. This obsession knows no morals or bounds, suddenly patients are dying in a hospital under mysterious circumstances, and everyone is under a threat.
This was such an enjoyable read, like, truly! Very different from the typical thrillers, and very reminiscent of Michael Crichton. I'm a huge Michael Crichton fan, and this made me super nostalgic. This is a super-fast, edge-of-the-seat medical thriller (I mean when was the last time you read a fast-paced medical thriller? They're such lulls, except a few, imo!), and very interesting! And it sure gets bloody gory too (I'm no chicken but I got shivers!). So, what I'm trying to say, if you like medical thrillers, and grew up reading Michael Crichton, absolutely do not miss out on this one! 🙌
This was such an enjoyable read, like, truly! Very different from the typical thrillers, and very reminiscent of Michael Crichton. I'm a huge Michael Crichton fan, and this made me super nostalgic. This is a super-fast, edge-of-the-seat medical thriller (I mean when was the last time you read a fast-paced medical thriller? They're such lulls, except a few, imo!), and very interesting! And it sure gets bloody gory too (I'm no chicken but I got shivers!). So, what I'm trying to say, if you like medical thrillers, and grew up reading Michael Crichton, absolutely do not miss out on this one! 🙌
July 6, 2021
3.5*
I received a copy of this book for free from PR by the book so thank you so much to them for sending this my way!
I was not sure if I was going to like this book, as I have not read many, if any medical thrillers, but this book was a solid thriller!
The pacing was very good, and goes back and forth between timelines which was very well done! The ending of this book is exactly the type of way I like my books to end, and I think it was done very well.
Overall, I would recommend this book if you are a fan of the genre.
I received a copy of this book for free from PR by the book so thank you so much to them for sending this my way!
I was not sure if I was going to like this book, as I have not read many, if any medical thrillers, but this book was a solid thriller!
The pacing was very good, and goes back and forth between timelines which was very well done! The ending of this book is exactly the type of way I like my books to end, and I think it was done very well.
Overall, I would recommend this book if you are a fan of the genre.
June 14, 2021
What do you get when a lawyer is tied up in a medical thriller? Primordial!
Jonas is a member of the legal team at a hospital in New York City and enjoys his quiet life. He’s good at his job and enjoys living with his dad, even if his dad does wish he would get involved with someone. When one of the hospital’s research analyst determines that someone has been killing patients and provides a list to Jonas of the next potential victims, he pays little mind to it. But then he finds that one of the patients who dies the next night was on the list! With only the help of two medical residents, Jonas begins to uncover something sinister that dates back to concentration camps in WWII.
This is one of those rare books that you don’t expect to keep on your shelves after you’ve read it, but you are so surprised by how good it was that you think about rereading it. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of this book and watching the characters relationships get intertwined with each other. It was a little bit cat and mouse mixed with some medical/legal thriller aspects that kept me turning the pages. And how about that ending? I wasn’t sure how the flashbacks were going to tie into the present-day story, but WOW! Can this thing have a sequel?
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
Jonas is a member of the legal team at a hospital in New York City and enjoys his quiet life. He’s good at his job and enjoys living with his dad, even if his dad does wish he would get involved with someone. When one of the hospital’s research analyst determines that someone has been killing patients and provides a list to Jonas of the next potential victims, he pays little mind to it. But then he finds that one of the patients who dies the next night was on the list! With only the help of two medical residents, Jonas begins to uncover something sinister that dates back to concentration camps in WWII.
This is one of those rare books that you don’t expect to keep on your shelves after you’ve read it, but you are so surprised by how good it was that you think about rereading it. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot of this book and watching the characters relationships get intertwined with each other. It was a little bit cat and mouse mixed with some medical/legal thriller aspects that kept me turning the pages. And how about that ending? I wasn’t sure how the flashbacks were going to tie into the present-day story, but WOW! Can this thing have a sequel?
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
June 13, 2021
Dr. Sobel pens a good medical thriller. Being a doctor in the medical field does really help as his experience and knowledge really helps with the storyline. Another thing I did like about the book is that there was not big medical terms or such used in the story. So, readers don't have to figure out what is being said.
Jonas is likable as well as relatable. I was rooting for him. In regards, to the other characters in this story, they were fine but most of them I did not form a strong connection with. Thus part of my feels towards this book. The other issue I had was the pacing of the story. It was an ebb and flow.
In the beginning, I was hooked. Then my attention kind of waived for a bit with the slower pacing but did start going back up as the story was building. It did this a few more times throughout the story. The last third of the story did pick up and my attention was there until the end. Which was a good ending. I would read another book by Dr. Sobel.
Jonas is likable as well as relatable. I was rooting for him. In regards, to the other characters in this story, they were fine but most of them I did not form a strong connection with. Thus part of my feels towards this book. The other issue I had was the pacing of the story. It was an ebb and flow.
In the beginning, I was hooked. Then my attention kind of waived for a bit with the slower pacing but did start going back up as the story was building. It did this a few more times throughout the story. The last third of the story did pick up and my attention was there until the end. Which was a good ending. I would read another book by Dr. Sobel.
April 21, 2021
Ticks all the boxes, with a bonus, just when you think the problem is solved halfway through, and you wonder where the author can go from there, you’re strapped onto a gurney and taken there.. It was no surprise to me that the author is a medical doctor, the detail given is enough to provide the reader with a mental picture, however not so much that the layman gets lost. Synopsis? Patients are dying at a hospital. Not unusual, it happens. However, the pattern of patients’ deaths alerts Jonas, the hospital’s lawyer, who is alerted to this pattern by a distressed visitor, ably assisted by surgical residents Rachel and Early, starts tracking down the killer, but discover more about history than they knew existed. Seamlessly sliding between a concentration camp in the dying days of WW2 and present-day New York, the book comes to life as stories are learned, and secrets uncovered. Add in a good dose of action, and there’s several days of my life lost in the words. Again. My only hesitation is where I did get a bit lost/confused in the final couple of chapters. It took a slow re-reading to figure it out.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this copy of the book for review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this copy of the book for review.
June 13, 2021
Jonas is an attorney for a hospital in NYC. Some one on the staff randomly shows up in his office with a strange list. It is a list of patients which have been targeted and died in the hospital. Well, of course, no one believes this and Jonas throws the list away. But then…someone else is murdered!
I enjoyed the characters in this read. Jonas, Early and Rachel just enhance each other with their intellect. I especially loved Early. He is a resident which is not very popular with his peers. But, there is just something about him that is absolutely adorable.
I have not read a medical thriller in quite a while and this book hit the spot! It is a bit far fetched in places….but there is a reason for that. The author ties it all together at the end with a huge twist! A twist I did not see coming!
Need a good chilling read…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the author for a honest review.
I enjoyed the characters in this read. Jonas, Early and Rachel just enhance each other with their intellect. I especially loved Early. He is a resident which is not very popular with his peers. But, there is just something about him that is absolutely adorable.
I have not read a medical thriller in quite a while and this book hit the spot! It is a bit far fetched in places….but there is a reason for that. The author ties it all together at the end with a huge twist! A twist I did not see coming!
Need a good chilling read…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!
I received this novel from the author for a honest review.
April 17, 2021
Fascinating medical thriller!!
Twisty and engrossing. Really loved this novel and the historical context was amazing. I know the author, but I had no idea this story existed in his head! Well done Dr. Sobel!
Twisty and engrossing. Really loved this novel and the historical context was amazing. I know the author, but I had no idea this story existed in his head! Well done Dr. Sobel!
March 26, 2021
Great thriller. Did NOT see the ending coming!
December 2, 2024
Excellent medical/ identity Thriller
Excellent read! Highly recommend. Well crafted multi layered narrative provides an in-depth multi-generational story that examines complex themes from WWII and post WWII
Excellent read! Highly recommend. Well crafted multi layered narrative provides an in-depth multi-generational story that examines complex themes from WWII and post WWII
March 10, 2022
primordial - /prʌɪˈmɔːdɪəl/
adjective: primordial existing at or from the beginning of time; primeval.
Biology (of a cell, part, or tissue) in the earliest stage of development. "primordial germ cells"
Not exactly sure what I was expecting when I first picked this book up, but it exceeded any expectations I had! It's a healthly mix of science, history, and mystery.
Jonas is a lawyer at a prestigious hospital and his job is pretty straight forward dealing with and preventing law suits. One day a guy comes into his office and says he thinks that patients at the hospital are being murdered. Jonas doesn't directly believe him as it's a hospital and people die all the time, the guy hands him a list of patients he think will be next and leaves.
Jonas then sends an email to his superior and asks what he should do with the list. That email starts the chain of events that makes up this story and what a journey it is!
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of science and adventure and mystery!
I really enjoyed this story as I do enjoy a good historical scavenger hunt for life changing information. The only thing that felt a bit lacking was the characters were a little two dimensional, but that wasn't enough for me to mark it as anything but 5 stars as they were a tool to tell the story and maybe didn't need to be more then what they were.
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*As some of the story takes place in a concentration camp during Nazi occupation in Germany/Poland a few trigger warnings: Abuse (physical, mental, emotional, verbal, sexual) - Suicide - Excessive or gratuitous violence - Needles - Kidnapping (forceful deprivation of/disregard for personal autonomy) - Death or dying
adjective: primordial existing at or from the beginning of time; primeval.
Biology (of a cell, part, or tissue) in the earliest stage of development. "primordial germ cells"
Not exactly sure what I was expecting when I first picked this book up, but it exceeded any expectations I had! It's a healthly mix of science, history, and mystery.
Jonas is a lawyer at a prestigious hospital and his job is pretty straight forward dealing with and preventing law suits. One day a guy comes into his office and says he thinks that patients at the hospital are being murdered. Jonas doesn't directly believe him as it's a hospital and people die all the time, the guy hands him a list of patients he think will be next and leaves.
Jonas then sends an email to his superior and asks what he should do with the list. That email starts the chain of events that makes up this story and what a journey it is!
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a bit of science and adventure and mystery!
I really enjoyed this story as I do enjoy a good historical scavenger hunt for life changing information. The only thing that felt a bit lacking was the characters were a little two dimensional, but that wasn't enough for me to mark it as anything but 5 stars as they were a tool to tell the story and maybe didn't need to be more then what they were.
-
*As some of the story takes place in a concentration camp during Nazi occupation in Germany/Poland a few trigger warnings: Abuse (physical, mental, emotional, verbal, sexual) - Suicide - Excessive or gratuitous violence - Needles - Kidnapping (forceful deprivation of/disregard for personal autonomy) - Death or dying
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews