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Child Zero
From molecular biologist turned Anthony Award-winning author of THE KILLING KIND comes a fact-based thriller in the vein of Michael Crichton about our species’ next great existential threat.
It began four years ago with a worldwide uptick of bacterial infections: meningitis in Frankfurt, cholera in Johannesburg, tuberculosis in New Delhi. Although the outbreaks spread aggressively and proved impervious to our drugs of last resort, public health officials initially dismissed them as unrelated.
They were wrong. Antibiotic resistance soon roiled across the globe. Diseases long thought beaten came surging back. The death toll skyrocketed. Then New York City was ravaged by the most heinous act of bioterror the world had ever seen, perpetrated by a new brand of extremist bent on pushing humanity to extinction.
Detective Jacob Gibson, who lost his wife in the 8/17 attack, is home caring for his sick daughter when his partner summons him to a sprawling shantytown in Central Park, the apparent site of a mass murder. Jake is startled to discover that, despite a life of abject squalor, the victims died in perfect health—and his only hope of finding answers is an eleven-year-old boy on the run from some very dangerous men.
It began four years ago with a worldwide uptick of bacterial infections: meningitis in Frankfurt, cholera in Johannesburg, tuberculosis in New Delhi. Although the outbreaks spread aggressively and proved impervious to our drugs of last resort, public health officials initially dismissed them as unrelated.
They were wrong. Antibiotic resistance soon roiled across the globe. Diseases long thought beaten came surging back. The death toll skyrocketed. Then New York City was ravaged by the most heinous act of bioterror the world had ever seen, perpetrated by a new brand of extremist bent on pushing humanity to extinction.
Detective Jacob Gibson, who lost his wife in the 8/17 attack, is home caring for his sick daughter when his partner summons him to a sprawling shantytown in Central Park, the apparent site of a mass murder. Jake is startled to discover that, despite a life of abject squalor, the victims died in perfect health—and his only hope of finding answers is an eleven-year-old boy on the run from some very dangerous men.
342 pages, Hardcover
First published May 10, 2022
161 people are currently reading
5965 people want to read
About the author
Chris Holm
21 books327 followersChris Holm is the author of the cross-genre Collector trilogy, which recasts the battle between heaven and hell as old-fashioned crime pulp; the Michael Hendricks thrillers, which feature a hitman who only kills other hitmen; and the standalone scientific thriller, CHILD ZERO. He's also a former molecular biologist with a U.S. patent to his name. Chris’ work has been selected for THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES, named a New York Times Editors’ Choice, and won a number of awards, including the 2016 Anthony Award for Best Novel. He lives in Portland, Maine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 251 reviews
June 11, 2022
While Detective Jacob Gibson searches for answers, a preteen boy is on the run evading mass killers who also want to kill him.
Child Zero is a futuristic story taking off from the current Covid launching pad and I was more unnerved than usual reading this because of the direction the world has taken recently.
Bio warfare including antibiotic resistance will probably appeal to those interested in science in particular. Also recommend to those liking futuristic books with kind of an espionage slant.
I tend to tread lightly with dystopian novels because they can depress me if I’m not in a positive mood but it helped that this book had a lot of soul in addition to the action.
Thank you to Novel Suspects, Hachette Book Group, and Chris Holm for my print copy in advance of publication May 10, 2022. Available now.
Child Zero is a futuristic story taking off from the current Covid launching pad and I was more unnerved than usual reading this because of the direction the world has taken recently.
Bio warfare including antibiotic resistance will probably appeal to those interested in science in particular. Also recommend to those liking futuristic books with kind of an espionage slant.
I tend to tread lightly with dystopian novels because they can depress me if I’m not in a positive mood but it helped that this book had a lot of soul in addition to the action.
Thank you to Novel Suspects, Hachette Book Group, and Chris Holm for my print copy in advance of publication May 10, 2022. Available now.
July 16, 2022
Child Zero by Chris Holm, which tells of a ghastly future where antibiotics no longer work, and disease and infections cannot be controlled. Seriously, this unnerving science fiction tale is nothing to sneeze at.
May 31, 2022
Action-packed medical thriller -- scary and plausible.
Antibiotic resistance has resulted in a world wide crisis where a simple infection is now deadly. Historically eradicated disease is once again rampant, and humans live in isolation, quarantine, and fear of the microbes and of each other. Bioterror is the latest weapon for those extremist groups who want to bring about the end of human life. Amidst all the confusion and wariness, a couple of NYPD detectives stumble across a boy who has an unusual gift -- the ability to cure. Unfortunately, they must protect him from powerful factions who want the boy as a pawn.
The science in this work of fiction is very real and the threat of humans losing resistance to disease is looming. The world created by the author of this novel is bleak and dystopian. Government overreach and the protection of human rights are always seemingly at odds. The many characters in this book have their own motives for the actions they take and the philosophies they espouse. In any event, this story will make you think, do some of your own research, and take responsibility for making sure that the narrative does not come to be.
Very fast paced, it was hard to put down and quite enjoyable. I recommend it.
Antibiotic resistance has resulted in a world wide crisis where a simple infection is now deadly. Historically eradicated disease is once again rampant, and humans live in isolation, quarantine, and fear of the microbes and of each other. Bioterror is the latest weapon for those extremist groups who want to bring about the end of human life. Amidst all the confusion and wariness, a couple of NYPD detectives stumble across a boy who has an unusual gift -- the ability to cure. Unfortunately, they must protect him from powerful factions who want the boy as a pawn.
The science in this work of fiction is very real and the threat of humans losing resistance to disease is looming. The world created by the author of this novel is bleak and dystopian. Government overreach and the protection of human rights are always seemingly at odds. The many characters in this book have their own motives for the actions they take and the philosophies they espouse. In any event, this story will make you think, do some of your own research, and take responsibility for making sure that the narrative does not come to be.
Very fast paced, it was hard to put down and quite enjoyable. I recommend it.
May 29, 2022
I did not know fully what to expect when I started Child Zero. That is because I am garbage at reading synopses, and I can live with that. But what I ended up with was a pretty great book that rose above genre lines and gave me a little bit of all the things I love in a story. Let's talk about them!
►An apocalypse-adjacent act of bioterror. Gah, this always freaks me out, because it legit takes one rogue lunatic to end the world, yeah? In this case, the world hadn't ended, per se, but the population did take a huge nosedive and things were not going great. Resistance to antibiotics was the biggest issue, leading to illness that had been fairly benign years earlier to now be deadly. Then, when things were already at their breaking point, some terrible whackos decide to unleash illness that they know can no longer be treated into the world. And, well all know from experience how quickly pandemics travel these days. So basically, it's horrific, and it's plausible.
►As such, The Powers That Be™ are now treating many citizens like trash. Because of course they are. Basically, at some point during the wave of illness from the terrorist, folks were herded like cattle into what is essentially an internment camp in the middle of Central Park. Only as we quickly learn, not all its inhabitants were ill. And one of them, Mateo, is now missing, the rest killed by an unknown entity, and a lot of people are on his tail....
►Which brings us to the mystery portion of the program! Why is everyone after this young kid who has done literally nothing wrong other than exist? Why were a bunch of innocent people murdered in the wake of his disappearance? And of course, during the course of the whole thing, many more mysteries about the current state of the world are explored too.
►As the chase progresses, it becomes a thriller, too! The stakes are, as you can infer, ridiculously high. The story is full of action, and I found the balance between action and character development to be perfect!
►Speaking of, the characters are also really sympathetic and likable. Jake is a single dad, left widowed after his wife succumbed to the bioterror pandemic. His daughter is now ill, with what he doesn't know, but if authorities find out, they can and will take her. He enlists the help of his police partner, Amy, who is awesome, to help hide Mateo, and his ex girlfriend Hannah to take care of daughter Zoe. Mateo, of course, is incredibly sympathetic as he's clearly the most innocent party in this mess.
►Basically, I could not put the book down. I loved learning about the characters and the world, and it was so high stakes and full of action that it was a breeze to read.
Bottom Line: I pre-ordered this for my dad for Father's Day, and he's really picky. So it must be awesome.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
►An apocalypse-adjacent act of bioterror. Gah, this always freaks me out, because it legit takes one rogue lunatic to end the world, yeah? In this case, the world hadn't ended, per se, but the population did take a huge nosedive and things were not going great. Resistance to antibiotics was the biggest issue, leading to illness that had been fairly benign years earlier to now be deadly. Then, when things were already at their breaking point, some terrible whackos decide to unleash illness that they know can no longer be treated into the world. And, well all know from experience how quickly pandemics travel these days. So basically, it's horrific, and it's plausible.
►As such, The Powers That Be™ are now treating many citizens like trash. Because of course they are. Basically, at some point during the wave of illness from the terrorist, folks were herded like cattle into what is essentially an internment camp in the middle of Central Park. Only as we quickly learn, not all its inhabitants were ill. And one of them, Mateo, is now missing, the rest killed by an unknown entity, and a lot of people are on his tail....
►Which brings us to the mystery portion of the program! Why is everyone after this young kid who has done literally nothing wrong other than exist? Why were a bunch of innocent people murdered in the wake of his disappearance? And of course, during the course of the whole thing, many more mysteries about the current state of the world are explored too.
►As the chase progresses, it becomes a thriller, too! The stakes are, as you can infer, ridiculously high. The story is full of action, and I found the balance between action and character development to be perfect!
►Speaking of, the characters are also really sympathetic and likable. Jake is a single dad, left widowed after his wife succumbed to the bioterror pandemic. His daughter is now ill, with what he doesn't know, but if authorities find out, they can and will take her. He enlists the help of his police partner, Amy, who is awesome, to help hide Mateo, and his ex girlfriend Hannah to take care of daughter Zoe. Mateo, of course, is incredibly sympathetic as he's clearly the most innocent party in this mess.
►Basically, I could not put the book down. I loved learning about the characters and the world, and it was so high stakes and full of action that it was a breeze to read.
Bottom Line: I pre-ordered this for my dad for Father's Day, and he's really picky. So it must be awesome.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
July 2, 2022
A plausible thriller set in a world where viruses can no longer be cured by antibodies. When a pandemic hits NY City, non-residents are herded into Central Park where they are imprisoned. Detective Jacob Gibson is home caring for his sick daughter when his partner summons him to a mass killing there. Amazingly, autopsies on the burned victims of a military-precision attack indicate they were in perfect health. When a second attack happens nearby police headquarters, the two detectives rescue an eleven-year-old boy on the run, without understanding why he is a target. He is a special child, but the mayhem results in suspensions for the detectives, and the three are hunted by all, forcing some difficult decisions for the trio.
May 27, 2022
While the blurb made this seem more unique than the average thriller, this was really just a crime novel. The protagonist is a recently suspended cop on the run from the law, a group of highly trained mercenaries, and a dangerous extremist organization. He has to use his unique set of skills to defeat these enemies while repairing his good name. I wasn't offended by it, but upon reflection couldn't think of anything I actually liked about this book. The sciencey elements make it more relevant to current events, but don't actually uniquely affect any of the characters or plot.
June 19, 2022
Four years ago, bacterial infections started spreading across the globe. Modern-day antibiotics were no longer effective to treat them, leading to thousands of deaths. Now, a common cold can kill. Chemotherapy can’t be used anymore because it weakens the body’s immune system to the point of being useless. Most surgeries have been canceled due to the great risk of infection. Sick people are being isolated from the general population in special hospitals, but they are not there to be healed --- they are there to die.
To make matters worse, a terrorist has released a lethal combination of viruses that immediately infect the people subjected to it. Then they unknowingly spread it to others.After the release of the toxins, a large part of Central Park has been sealed off, placing its inhabitants in perpetual quarantine. Many have died, and most of those remaining are living in squalor. No one is supposed to leave the area until they can prove they are healthy.
There is a report of an apparent mass murder in the quarantined area of the park, and detectives are called in to investigate. When the victims are autopsied, the results are startling. All of them were healthy before they were killed. How could this be? Why were they murdered, and who is responsible? The answers may not be so obvious.
Two people also have escaped, one of whom is known as "Child Zero." He is being sought by both the good guys and the bad guys. Who exactly is he? How did he get away, and why is he so special?
This outstanding sci-fi thriller takes place in the future, but it’s a future with a frighteningly real scenario that doesn’t seem too far-fetched after all we’ve experienced with the pandemic. It’s a warning to humanity about the overuse and misuse of antibiotics and where that could possibly lead. It’s also a story of hope --- that scientists can come up with different solutions, and there may be those among us with natural immunities who can help others.
For the most part, the writing is fast-paced and full of action, with plenty going on to keep the attention of readers. Chapters are sometimes separated by newspaper headlines, text messages and other correspondence related to what’s happening in the novel, which adds even more interest to the overall story. CHILD ZERO is the first book I have read by Chris Holm, but it certainly will not be my last.
Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin
To make matters worse, a terrorist has released a lethal combination of viruses that immediately infect the people subjected to it. Then they unknowingly spread it to others.After the release of the toxins, a large part of Central Park has been sealed off, placing its inhabitants in perpetual quarantine. Many have died, and most of those remaining are living in squalor. No one is supposed to leave the area until they can prove they are healthy.
There is a report of an apparent mass murder in the quarantined area of the park, and detectives are called in to investigate. When the victims are autopsied, the results are startling. All of them were healthy before they were killed. How could this be? Why were they murdered, and who is responsible? The answers may not be so obvious.
Two people also have escaped, one of whom is known as "Child Zero." He is being sought by both the good guys and the bad guys. Who exactly is he? How did he get away, and why is he so special?
This outstanding sci-fi thriller takes place in the future, but it’s a future with a frighteningly real scenario that doesn’t seem too far-fetched after all we’ve experienced with the pandemic. It’s a warning to humanity about the overuse and misuse of antibiotics and where that could possibly lead. It’s also a story of hope --- that scientists can come up with different solutions, and there may be those among us with natural immunities who can help others.
For the most part, the writing is fast-paced and full of action, with plenty going on to keep the attention of readers. Chapters are sometimes separated by newspaper headlines, text messages and other correspondence related to what’s happening in the novel, which adds even more interest to the overall story. CHILD ZERO is the first book I have read by Chris Holm, but it certainly will not be my last.
Reviewed by Christine M. Irvin
January 25, 2022
In the not too distant future, our antibiotics have become useless and once treatable infections have again become deadly. With the world reeling, a bioterrorism attack is unleashed in New York City leaving countless dead.
Detective Jake Gibson was one of the many who lost a loved one on 8/17. Now years later, with his wife gone, Jake is trying to hold it all together when his daughter falls ill and he is called to the scene of a mass murder in Central Park. Even more shocking than the piles of charred bodies was the fact that the victims were all in perfect health when they met their end. Is there a possible way to heal his ailing daughter Zoe?
I’m going to get this out of the way immediately – when this book hits shelves in May, you need to race to your local bookstore and grab a copy.
Already an award-winning author himself, it’s Chris Holm’s experience as a molecular biologist that gives this book an air of authenticity that could otherwise be fumbled in the hands of another. Above all else, while this book could easily fall into a trap of seemingly endless info dumps and scientific jargon, Chris keeps things moving swiftly and clearly while never once leaving me lost in all the complicated nature of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
While Child Zero excels at the “why”, enough can’t be said of these big action sequences that populate the story. Child Zero reads like the literary equivalent of a standalone big budget summer blockbuster movie that simply isn’t made anymore (well, MCU aside); something that we could use more of. You really feel the urgency on the part of the characters to accomplish their goals while maintaining a sense of grounded reality.
Perhaps the most terrifying aspect of Child Zero is that a scenario like this is entirely possible and could easily happen within our lifetime. Hell, I’m reading and reviewing this during a pandemic right now! In Chris’ novel, the worst of the infected had been quarantined inside of a shantytown within Central Park while affluent neighborhoods in Manhattan push through as if nothing is happening. If that isn’t a direct comparison to the vaccine hoarding of the first world, I’m not sure what is.
Child Zero is not only a thrilling novel, but an urgent warning about our future and the dire consequences we all face if nothing is done to alter the course.
Detective Jake Gibson was one of the many who lost a loved one on 8/17. Now years later, with his wife gone, Jake is trying to hold it all together when his daughter falls ill and he is called to the scene of a mass murder in Central Park. Even more shocking than the piles of charred bodies was the fact that the victims were all in perfect health when they met their end. Is there a possible way to heal his ailing daughter Zoe?
I’m going to get this out of the way immediately – when this book hits shelves in May, you need to race to your local bookstore and grab a copy.
Already an award-winning author himself, it’s Chris Holm’s experience as a molecular biologist that gives this book an air of authenticity that could otherwise be fumbled in the hands of another. Above all else, while this book could easily fall into a trap of seemingly endless info dumps and scientific jargon, Chris keeps things moving swiftly and clearly while never once leaving me lost in all the complicated nature of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
While Child Zero excels at the “why”, enough can’t be said of these big action sequences that populate the story. Child Zero reads like the literary equivalent of a standalone big budget summer blockbuster movie that simply isn’t made anymore (well, MCU aside); something that we could use more of. You really feel the urgency on the part of the characters to accomplish their goals while maintaining a sense of grounded reality.
Perhaps the most terrifying aspect of Child Zero is that a scenario like this is entirely possible and could easily happen within our lifetime. Hell, I’m reading and reviewing this during a pandemic right now! In Chris’ novel, the worst of the infected had been quarantined inside of a shantytown within Central Park while affluent neighborhoods in Manhattan push through as if nothing is happening. If that isn’t a direct comparison to the vaccine hoarding of the first world, I’m not sure what is.
Child Zero is not only a thrilling novel, but an urgent warning about our future and the dire consequences we all face if nothing is done to alter the course.
April 24, 2022
Wow - talk about an outstanding and terrifying dystopian thriller!! This was the book equivalent of the old blockbuster movies (think Independence Day type of movie) with action, love, family, science, politics and more. The scariest thing about this book is how realistic it feels, an absolutely terrifyingly plausible scenario. It does deal with disease and pandemics, so while it is not directly about Covid-19, take care if that is a trigger for you. I was completely glued to the page trying to figure out where this was all going and it took a very different direction than I expected! Fast pace and full of twists and surprises, this was a wild ride that I definitely recommend for fans of dystopian novels and sci-fi thrillers! 4.5/5⭐️ rounded up
December 27, 2022
Desperation. Exploitation. Survival.
The world is a not far off future where antibiotic resistance has ravaged the world. Small scrapes now lead to amputations of limbs. Once near-eraticated diseases have made a strong come back. Jake, a single father with a very sick daughter, finds himself in the middle of a government conspiracy and a hunt for a cure.
Reading this felt like watching an action movie honestly. There was gun violence, knife fights, explosions, teargas etc. The characters spent most of their time running from captors. I looked forward to each next chapter. The characters were also incredible clever and cunning.
In my personal opinion, I wish there had been more focus on the state of the world at the time to hear more about the effects of the antibiotic resistant bacteria. I also felt like one specific storyline wasn't elaborated on enough.
Otherwise, I thought it was a great text and would happily read another by Holm.
The world is a not far off future where antibiotic resistance has ravaged the world. Small scrapes now lead to amputations of limbs. Once near-eraticated diseases have made a strong come back. Jake, a single father with a very sick daughter, finds himself in the middle of a government conspiracy and a hunt for a cure.
Reading this felt like watching an action movie honestly. There was gun violence, knife fights, explosions, teargas etc. The characters spent most of their time running from captors. I looked forward to each next chapter. The characters were also incredible clever and cunning.
In my personal opinion, I wish there had been more focus on the state of the world at the time to hear more about the effects of the antibiotic resistant bacteria. I also felt like one specific storyline wasn't elaborated on enough.
Otherwise, I thought it was a great text and would happily read another by Holm.
February 29, 2024
Fairly mid. The cast of characters is too big for the story being told. Otherwise, decent enough with a satisfying ending.
November 3, 2022
This was a weird book!!! A page turner at parts- and then other parts turning the page backwards to try and figure out what’s going on… This book leaves room for interpretation and has great main and supporting characters. Futuristic & realistic! Doomsday could be nearer than we think
July 11, 2022
The initial setup was interesting, but the writing and subsequent plotting were just bad. Painful clichés, overused tropes, and incorrect stereotypes abounded. Not particularly enjoyable.
August 17, 2022
Mildly interesting story; terrible writing, especially the dialogue.
July 16, 2022
This is a science thriller written by an actual scientist. The author (a former molecular biologist) demonstrates how various touchpoints, like unequal access to medical care, draconian public policy, political greed, ethnocentrism, distrust, misinformation, and prejudice, can thwart solutions to global pandemics. We need to examine our decision-making processes, down the line. This is fiction, but it isn't an inconceivable scenario. It's a good story which doubles as a stark warning.
April 11, 2022
I was fortunate enough to win an ARC of this book in a Goodreads giveaway, so I want to say thank you to Goodreads and to Mullholland Books for my copy!
As for Child Zero, what an outstanding story! It's kind of dystopian sci-fi thriller but set in an entirely plausible near future. The author, Chris Holm, is a former molecular biologist, and clearly went to a lot of effort to make this book not only entertaining, but scientifically sound. I can't help but compare it to the recent works of author Andy Weir. Both authors meticulously researched for their novels, and both created themes that were rooted in proven science. Holm's story is just focused on medical science rather than space exploration.
I can't recommend this book enough, and it will undoubtedly be one of my favorite releases of 2022.
As for Child Zero, what an outstanding story! It's kind of dystopian sci-fi thriller but set in an entirely plausible near future. The author, Chris Holm, is a former molecular biologist, and clearly went to a lot of effort to make this book not only entertaining, but scientifically sound. I can't help but compare it to the recent works of author Andy Weir. Both authors meticulously researched for their novels, and both created themes that were rooted in proven science. Holm's story is just focused on medical science rather than space exploration.
I can't recommend this book enough, and it will undoubtedly be one of my favorite releases of 2022.
May 3, 2022
One scary-assed novel. Written by a real scientist, it predicts an all-too-possible future where—due to global warming—an ancient virus is released into the atmosphere from the thawing Arctic permafrost. It mutates in combination with ever-present bacterium to create a virulent strain of viruses which are impervious to most antibiotics. In plain language . . . it means a simple scratch can get infected and kill you. It means no more organ transplants or joint replacements, and a world wide resurgence of dormant diseases that are evermore resistant to antibiotics. Fear among medical scientists and physicians of a totally immune bacteria eventually emerging, cause the U.S. government to pass a bill called the Wellness Act . . . which creates the Department of Biological Security . . . and gives it broad and draconian authority to fight disease, using any means at their disposal. Citizens are required by law to report any incidents of fever, at any time, in anyone.
As the novel begins, NYPD Detective Jacob Gibson, whose wife died early in the pandemic, is home nursing his toddler daughter who has an unbroken fever of 101-plus degrees. He’s not about to call DBS, fearing that they’ll take his daughter and let her die. He’s sure that her illness is a childhood cold, and does what he can to soothe her while waiting for her fever to break. But that’s when he and his partner are ordered out by his NYPD bosses to investigate a massacre in Central Park. It might effect the pandemic and give humanity a chance to survive. The reason is an eleven year-old boy named Mateo. But word has leaked out somehow, and Mateo is on the run from the team of mercenaries who’ll murder anyone trying to protect him. The two meet up as Jake and his NYPD partner race for their lives, trying to protect both children as the novel rockets to its astonishing conclusion. Mr. Holm, a real microbiologist, blends accurate facts with great writing, believable characters and wicked plot twists into a spine-chilling page-turner!!
As the novel begins, NYPD Detective Jacob Gibson, whose wife died early in the pandemic, is home nursing his toddler daughter who has an unbroken fever of 101-plus degrees. He’s not about to call DBS, fearing that they’ll take his daughter and let her die. He’s sure that her illness is a childhood cold, and does what he can to soothe her while waiting for her fever to break. But that’s when he and his partner are ordered out by his NYPD bosses to investigate a massacre in Central Park. It might effect the pandemic and give humanity a chance to survive. The reason is an eleven year-old boy named Mateo. But word has leaked out somehow, and Mateo is on the run from the team of mercenaries who’ll murder anyone trying to protect him. The two meet up as Jake and his NYPD partner race for their lives, trying to protect both children as the novel rockets to its astonishing conclusion. Mr. Holm, a real microbiologist, blends accurate facts with great writing, believable characters and wicked plot twists into a spine-chilling page-turner!!
April 22, 2022
If you had told me that in 2022 I would pick up a book about a possible future in which disease and bacterial threats run rampant, and not only read the whole thing but ENJOY IT, I would have laughed at you in a way that could only be labeled as insane and hysterical. But guess what? I did.
Chris Holm has a talent. Even consciously feeling a resistance to the subject matter, I couldn't help turning page after page. Why? Because his characters are real. Not only are they real, they are dealing with horrifying life events in as normal a way as possible -- because that's what you do when you're in a real crisis. You stick together with the people who mean something to you, no matter how difficult, and you keep on going, however you can. I'm not a fan of books that manipulate me, that utilize manufactured drama to zoom my emotions all over the place. I had to stop and think after a while - why are my drama alarm bells not going off here?
It's because Child Zero has real heart, and it doesn't tear your heart out to make you feel what the characters are feeling.
I highly recommend giving this book a read. I suspect you'll have a similar experience, and be glad you opened its cover and gave it a try.
Chris Holm has a talent. Even consciously feeling a resistance to the subject matter, I couldn't help turning page after page. Why? Because his characters are real. Not only are they real, they are dealing with horrifying life events in as normal a way as possible -- because that's what you do when you're in a real crisis. You stick together with the people who mean something to you, no matter how difficult, and you keep on going, however you can. I'm not a fan of books that manipulate me, that utilize manufactured drama to zoom my emotions all over the place. I had to stop and think after a while - why are my drama alarm bells not going off here?
It's because Child Zero has real heart, and it doesn't tear your heart out to make you feel what the characters are feeling.
I highly recommend giving this book a read. I suspect you'll have a similar experience, and be glad you opened its cover and gave it a try.
May 3, 2022
This had Covid 19 vibes but scarier - I thoroughly enjoyed this chilling ride and thought it was well written with great character development. This may very well be the thriller of the summer of 2022.
September 16, 2022
Child Zero was a decent, if scary thriller about plague. It had a great cast of likeable characters and nasty bad guys. The writing was excellent with solid third-person, past-tense and a brisk narrative with relatively short chapters. The only real issue I had was the head-hopping which is a pet peeve of mine. What really made it work though was the payoff which left me with not only a sense of relief, but a smile on my face. Highly recommended.
May 10, 2022
Chris Holm's "Child Zero" is set in in a bleak New York City decades from now. Because physicians overprescribed antibiotics for so long, these lifesaving drugs have lost their effectiveness. Three years earlier, a crazed perpetrator released an aerosol containing highly infectious plague into a crowded subway station. This heinous act of terror took the lives of more than one hundred thousand people. Subsequently, the federal government formed the DBS, the U. S. Department of Biological Security, and gave it "unfettered authority." Meanwhile, in New York, more than four thousand detainees, many of them immigrants, are sequestered in a squalid encampment known as Park City.
The hero is thirty-seven-year-old Jacob (Jake) Gibson, a NYPD detective and widower, who has a four-year-old daughter, Zoe. Captain Ian Bavitz, Jake's supervisor, places Jake and his partner, Amira Hassan, on administrative leave after an interrogation that they conducted ended disastrously. Subsequently, Jake, Amira, Jake's ex, surgeon Hannah Lang, and a twelve-year-old named Mateo Rivas struggle to elude pursuers who ordered to track them down. Throughout "Child Zero," which is a blend of science fiction, action-adventure, and political thriller, there is a massive amount of violence: beatings, stabbings, shootings, explosions, and deadly fires.
Holm is a skilled descriptive writer whose elaborate plot deals with influential and wealthy men who employ mercenaries to do their dirty work. These puppet masters have a common goal—to find Jake and kidnap Mateo, a child whose unique abilities could change the world. Although "Child Zero" lacks character development, it may appeal to readers who love chase scenes and military-style weaponry, and who are willing to overlook stilted dialogue and clichéd elements. Furthermore, this hectic and predictable David vs. Goliath tale touches on such timely issues as racism, immigrant-bashing, fringe groups who seek to topple the government, and autocratic rule vs. democracy.
The hero is thirty-seven-year-old Jacob (Jake) Gibson, a NYPD detective and widower, who has a four-year-old daughter, Zoe. Captain Ian Bavitz, Jake's supervisor, places Jake and his partner, Amira Hassan, on administrative leave after an interrogation that they conducted ended disastrously. Subsequently, Jake, Amira, Jake's ex, surgeon Hannah Lang, and a twelve-year-old named Mateo Rivas struggle to elude pursuers who ordered to track them down. Throughout "Child Zero," which is a blend of science fiction, action-adventure, and political thriller, there is a massive amount of violence: beatings, stabbings, shootings, explosions, and deadly fires.
Holm is a skilled descriptive writer whose elaborate plot deals with influential and wealthy men who employ mercenaries to do their dirty work. These puppet masters have a common goal—to find Jake and kidnap Mateo, a child whose unique abilities could change the world. Although "Child Zero" lacks character development, it may appeal to readers who love chase scenes and military-style weaponry, and who are willing to overlook stilted dialogue and clichéd elements. Furthermore, this hectic and predictable David vs. Goliath tale touches on such timely issues as racism, immigrant-bashing, fringe groups who seek to topple the government, and autocratic rule vs. democracy.
February 28, 2023
Almost worse book I have read this year
Don’t waste your time
Don’t waste your time
April 22, 2022
I finally read my ARC from Goodreads and I loved this book. It’s part modern day Chriton and part dystopian nightmare. The book feels very relevant in our times of covid, rampant conspiracy theories, and tense political climate. This was my first book by this author and I can’t wait to check out his other works. I def recommend this fast paced story
May 5, 2022
CHILD ZERO – FIVE STARS!!!
Set in the not-too-distant future, Child Zero is a dystopian thriller with a heavy dose of current-events-reality woven in, making it doubly gripping and captivating. Holm’s ability to build a credible future state relies on actual scientific knowledge, which lends Child Zero its superb backdrop: a world in which a scratch could kill you, the common cold means government involvement, and antibiotics are no longer effective against even previously eradicated diseases. The themes are poignant and timely, focusing on government’s role in a crisis and harkening back to laws such as the Patriot Act to build the case for more control.
Child Zero follows NYPD officers Jake and Amy on the case of a mass murder event at a quarantine encampment where 12-year-old Mateo flees from the operatives trying to capture him, a doctor on the front lines of the health crisis, and politicians attempting to pull all the strings while not getting their own hands dirty.
The story moves at a breakneck pace, urging you through expertly built tension to read just-one-more-chapter, until you hit the end without ever putting it down. While equal measure frightening and thrilling, Child Zero has deep roots in hope and humanity, which personally made for a quite meaningful read. In the great tradition of such geniuses as Michael Crichton, Robert McCammon, and Stephen King, Holm accomplishes something really magical with Child Zero. You will not want to miss this book. What a stunner!
Many thanks to author Chris Holm, #NetGalley, and Mulholland Books for the opportunity to read and review Child Zero.
Set in the not-too-distant future, Child Zero is a dystopian thriller with a heavy dose of current-events-reality woven in, making it doubly gripping and captivating. Holm’s ability to build a credible future state relies on actual scientific knowledge, which lends Child Zero its superb backdrop: a world in which a scratch could kill you, the common cold means government involvement, and antibiotics are no longer effective against even previously eradicated diseases. The themes are poignant and timely, focusing on government’s role in a crisis and harkening back to laws such as the Patriot Act to build the case for more control.
Child Zero follows NYPD officers Jake and Amy on the case of a mass murder event at a quarantine encampment where 12-year-old Mateo flees from the operatives trying to capture him, a doctor on the front lines of the health crisis, and politicians attempting to pull all the strings while not getting their own hands dirty.
The story moves at a breakneck pace, urging you through expertly built tension to read just-one-more-chapter, until you hit the end without ever putting it down. While equal measure frightening and thrilling, Child Zero has deep roots in hope and humanity, which personally made for a quite meaningful read. In the great tradition of such geniuses as Michael Crichton, Robert McCammon, and Stephen King, Holm accomplishes something really magical with Child Zero. You will not want to miss this book. What a stunner!
Many thanks to author Chris Holm, #NetGalley, and Mulholland Books for the opportunity to read and review Child Zero.
April 17, 2022
In the aftermath of antibiotics failing against new, aggressive strains of bacterial infections, New York becomes ground zero to the world's single largest and deadliest act of bioterrorism. Detective Jacob Gibson lost his wife in the 8/17 attack, and is now called away from caring for his sick daughter to investigate a new possible act of terrorism - this time against the indigent immigrants living in a makeshift shantytown cum concentration camp situated in Central Park. It's a scene of gross, indiscriminate slaughter with one startling peculiarity in this new age of medical catastrophe: all of the victims were remarkably healthy. And one of them, a 12-year-old boy named Mateo, is missing, on the run, and hunted by the mercenaries that perpetrated this mass murder.
Chris Holm's Child Zero is roundly situated in scientific plausibility and grounded in America's harsher realities of racism and xenophobia. Holm paints a rich, and frightening, view of the near-future wherein our last line of defense against sickness, infections, and plague have completely collapsed. A simple scratch can lead to amputation, or even death, and despite mankind's other technological advances, like electric cars and high-speed internet, medicine has been taken back to the Dark Ages. To top it all off, a group of endtimes cultists are hellbent on finishing off humanity, once and for all.
It's a heady mix of regressive forecasting for humanity's days ahead, and all the scarier for its plausibility. Couple all that with the nature of the guarded, fenced-in, concrete-barriered Park City housing much of New York's immigrant population and travelers who found themselves stuck in the Big Apple in the aftermath of 8/17 years earlier, and things get darker all that much faster. Although it's set just a few years ahead, Child Zero holds a potent familiarity thanks to our post-Trump, COVID-19 present, not to mention the book's fictional Department of Biological Security and the draconian, authoritarian laws that have been swept into place in the wake of bioterrorism, which makes the Patriot Act look downright quaint.
Holm's world-building is top-notch, and richly compelling. It all blends together with some smart characters, a nice dose of conspiracy and paranoia, and plenty of action to seamlessly create a frenetic thriller. On the paranoia front - we're not just talking about Jacob not knowing who he can trust or who to turn to. The paranoia is so much more pervasive and existential here! If somebody is caught on the streets past curfew, or, worse, maskless, what do you do and what can happen? If somebody is unmasked and coughs in your general direction, in a world where medicine has been all but curtailed, it takes on much more significance and concern, even beyond what we've grown accustomed to during these last couple years of the pandemic. The fact that Child Zero is dealing with much broader systemic failures, presenting a world once again rife with literal plague, well, reading this at a time when quarantines and lockdown are still very much a part of our reality, the tension here is real, and Holm makes his characters, and by extension his readers, squirm.
Child Zero is an achingly effective thriller, and one that some readers may not be entirely ready for given the last two years. Despite our having a reliable vaccine to fight against COVID-19 infections, we are still in the midst of an on-going pandemic, which can make certain sections of Child Zero a little uncomfortable to read and bring issues of loss and fear very close to home. It also paints an uncompromising picture of what the next pandemic could look like, based on our current abuses of antibiotics in agriculture, unnecessary prescriptions, and lack of novel antibiotics and vaccines. It's scary stuff, made all the scarier for its plausibility.
Chris Holm's Child Zero is roundly situated in scientific plausibility and grounded in America's harsher realities of racism and xenophobia. Holm paints a rich, and frightening, view of the near-future wherein our last line of defense against sickness, infections, and plague have completely collapsed. A simple scratch can lead to amputation, or even death, and despite mankind's other technological advances, like electric cars and high-speed internet, medicine has been taken back to the Dark Ages. To top it all off, a group of endtimes cultists are hellbent on finishing off humanity, once and for all.
It's a heady mix of regressive forecasting for humanity's days ahead, and all the scarier for its plausibility. Couple all that with the nature of the guarded, fenced-in, concrete-barriered Park City housing much of New York's immigrant population and travelers who found themselves stuck in the Big Apple in the aftermath of 8/17 years earlier, and things get darker all that much faster. Although it's set just a few years ahead, Child Zero holds a potent familiarity thanks to our post-Trump, COVID-19 present, not to mention the book's fictional Department of Biological Security and the draconian, authoritarian laws that have been swept into place in the wake of bioterrorism, which makes the Patriot Act look downright quaint.
Holm's world-building is top-notch, and richly compelling. It all blends together with some smart characters, a nice dose of conspiracy and paranoia, and plenty of action to seamlessly create a frenetic thriller. On the paranoia front - we're not just talking about Jacob not knowing who he can trust or who to turn to. The paranoia is so much more pervasive and existential here! If somebody is caught on the streets past curfew, or, worse, maskless, what do you do and what can happen? If somebody is unmasked and coughs in your general direction, in a world where medicine has been all but curtailed, it takes on much more significance and concern, even beyond what we've grown accustomed to during these last couple years of the pandemic. The fact that Child Zero is dealing with much broader systemic failures, presenting a world once again rife with literal plague, well, reading this at a time when quarantines and lockdown are still very much a part of our reality, the tension here is real, and Holm makes his characters, and by extension his readers, squirm.
Child Zero is an achingly effective thriller, and one that some readers may not be entirely ready for given the last two years. Despite our having a reliable vaccine to fight against COVID-19 infections, we are still in the midst of an on-going pandemic, which can make certain sections of Child Zero a little uncomfortable to read and bring issues of loss and fear very close to home. It also paints an uncompromising picture of what the next pandemic could look like, based on our current abuses of antibiotics in agriculture, unnecessary prescriptions, and lack of novel antibiotics and vaccines. It's scary stuff, made all the scarier for its plausibility.
April 19, 2022
Child Zero (2022) byChris Holm. It seems there are going to be many, many books written now and in the near future which will be set in a pandemic society. That is fine in as much as the writing is not just a regurgitation of sights and sounds we have been living with for two years. Something fresh is called for, a twist to our status quo if you will, I don’t mind seeing a pattern, just give it significant differences from the others.
Child Zero is just such a book. Set in a slightly alternate universe from our own, it concerns the outcome of a terrorist attack that is commonly referred to as 8/17. This time it is a biological attack brought about by a single individual. Working in a college lab, one man devised a weapon that renders antibiotics useless. With the initial spread of this weapon, diseases long thought to be extinct rush across the globe leaving medicos with little or no weapons to use against infection. A simple infected paper cut can now kill.
In this world we find NYPD Detective Jacob Gibson. He lost his wife in 8/17 and is now at home caring for his sick daughter, Zoe. Taking her to a hospital is tantamount to handing her to the nefarious Biological Security Agency, who will sweep her away to some isolation area. Jacob fears he would never see her again.
When his partner, Amy, calls him out to a crime scene, he manages to leave Zoe with his ex-girlfriend who is a doctor. The crime is a massacre in Central Park, home to a quarantined community of the poor. More than 100 people were killed overnight, their bodies left in a funeral pyre.
SOC determines that the victims were completely healthy prior to death, a very, very odd situation.
The story follows Jacob and Amy who get embroiled in something way over their pay grades. They quickly become enemies of the state, go on the run while still trying to solve the crime. Large government agencies and vast private companies play a role in the situation, and there is a miracle along the way.
Mr. Holm effectively uses a slightly alterer New York City as the grid this game of hide and seek gets played out on. There are plenty of twists, and the ending is a bit different from what you might expect, but the whole thing is a fun ride with plenty of twists and surprise revelations.
I won this book through Goodreads.
Child Zero is just such a book. Set in a slightly alternate universe from our own, it concerns the outcome of a terrorist attack that is commonly referred to as 8/17. This time it is a biological attack brought about by a single individual. Working in a college lab, one man devised a weapon that renders antibiotics useless. With the initial spread of this weapon, diseases long thought to be extinct rush across the globe leaving medicos with little or no weapons to use against infection. A simple infected paper cut can now kill.
In this world we find NYPD Detective Jacob Gibson. He lost his wife in 8/17 and is now at home caring for his sick daughter, Zoe. Taking her to a hospital is tantamount to handing her to the nefarious Biological Security Agency, who will sweep her away to some isolation area. Jacob fears he would never see her again.
When his partner, Amy, calls him out to a crime scene, he manages to leave Zoe with his ex-girlfriend who is a doctor. The crime is a massacre in Central Park, home to a quarantined community of the poor. More than 100 people were killed overnight, their bodies left in a funeral pyre.
SOC determines that the victims were completely healthy prior to death, a very, very odd situation.
The story follows Jacob and Amy who get embroiled in something way over their pay grades. They quickly become enemies of the state, go on the run while still trying to solve the crime. Large government agencies and vast private companies play a role in the situation, and there is a miracle along the way.
Mr. Holm effectively uses a slightly alterer New York City as the grid this game of hide and seek gets played out on. There are plenty of twists, and the ending is a bit different from what you might expect, but the whole thing is a fun ride with plenty of twists and surprise revelations.
I won this book through Goodreads.
May 17, 2022
Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley
For years, the overuse of antibiotics threatened to create antibiotic resistance among the people. When it finally happened some four years ago, aggressive diseases doomed the unprepared populace, often within days.
But something even more terrifying awaited New York City.
Spencer Brutsch, harboring radical beliefs, released a multidrug-resistant strain of bacteria in a New York City subway station. It took two days for the infected to begin dying. As the outbreak continued to spread, the death toll rose.
While caring for his sick daughter, Zoe, widower New York Police Department Detective Jacob Gibson, summoned by his partner, Amira Hassan, finds mass murder victims who, despite their squalid living conditions, died in perfect health.
Now Jake must find eleven-year-old Mateo Rivas before the powerful men who will use him for their own nefarious ends can locate him.
=========
Dark, disturbing, and frighteningly within the realm of possibility, this story pulls the reader into the telling of the tale from the outset. As the plot twists and turns, the events become even more horrifying, keeping the suspense high. A constant undercurrent of apprehension keeps readers guessing and the pages turning at breakneck speed.
Believable, nuanced characters, a strong [albeit harrowing] plot, and non-stop action combine to create an unputdownable story filled with tension, behind-the-scenes machinations, mercenaries, and political conspiracies. It’s a not-to-be-missed book that belongs on every reader’s must-read list.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Mulholland Books and NetGalley
#ChildZero #NetGalley
For years, the overuse of antibiotics threatened to create antibiotic resistance among the people. When it finally happened some four years ago, aggressive diseases doomed the unprepared populace, often within days.
But something even more terrifying awaited New York City.
Spencer Brutsch, harboring radical beliefs, released a multidrug-resistant strain of bacteria in a New York City subway station. It took two days for the infected to begin dying. As the outbreak continued to spread, the death toll rose.
While caring for his sick daughter, Zoe, widower New York Police Department Detective Jacob Gibson, summoned by his partner, Amira Hassan, finds mass murder victims who, despite their squalid living conditions, died in perfect health.
Now Jake must find eleven-year-old Mateo Rivas before the powerful men who will use him for their own nefarious ends can locate him.
=========
Dark, disturbing, and frighteningly within the realm of possibility, this story pulls the reader into the telling of the tale from the outset. As the plot twists and turns, the events become even more horrifying, keeping the suspense high. A constant undercurrent of apprehension keeps readers guessing and the pages turning at breakneck speed.
Believable, nuanced characters, a strong [albeit harrowing] plot, and non-stop action combine to create an unputdownable story filled with tension, behind-the-scenes machinations, mercenaries, and political conspiracies. It’s a not-to-be-missed book that belongs on every reader’s must-read list.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Mulholland Books and NetGalley
#ChildZero #NetGalley
May 13, 2022
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I'm really into medical/scientific thrillers right now. Child Zero hit the target for me with a near-future world where humans have become resistant to antibiotics and a bioterrorist attack has further decimated the population, leading to new government offices (The Department of Biological Security) and paramilitary groups (the People’s Army, the New Confederacy.) Almost all communication is monitored and the Fourth Amendment is revoked, however, there are illegal hacklabs where you can gain anonymous, encrypted internet access. A guarded quarantine zone is attacked and its inhabitants all have been murdered--except one boy. As you can guess, this is the Child Zero of the title. I really liked all the different storylines and characters in this book but it really felt like it should be the beginning of a series rather than a standalone novel.
Come chat with me about books here, too:
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I'm really into medical/scientific thrillers right now. Child Zero hit the target for me with a near-future world where humans have become resistant to antibiotics and a bioterrorist attack has further decimated the population, leading to new government offices (The Department of Biological Security) and paramilitary groups (the People’s Army, the New Confederacy.) Almost all communication is monitored and the Fourth Amendment is revoked, however, there are illegal hacklabs where you can gain anonymous, encrypted internet access. A guarded quarantine zone is attacked and its inhabitants all have been murdered--except one boy. As you can guess, this is the Child Zero of the title. I really liked all the different storylines and characters in this book but it really felt like it should be the beginning of a series rather than a standalone novel.
Come chat with me about books here, too:
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
May 26, 2022
Frightening real futuristic pandemic tale
This scary tale reminded me in many ways of the first time I read THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN so many years ago. Scared the bejeebers out of me.
In the near future bacterial infections have taken over the world. Antibiotics no longer work and old diseases that were once cured have made a comeback and the slightest scratch and infection can kill you.
The story centers in New York City (a vastly changed city in this horrible future especially after a terrible act of bioterrorism) with the main protagonist being NYC Detective Jake Gibson, suspended from duty with his partner, Amy, who both get caught up protecting a young, very important immigrant boy.
This is a story that read all too real. I highly recommend it, if you want to be scared to death while you're reading it...and while you think about it afterwards.
This scary tale reminded me in many ways of the first time I read THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN so many years ago. Scared the bejeebers out of me.
In the near future bacterial infections have taken over the world. Antibiotics no longer work and old diseases that were once cured have made a comeback and the slightest scratch and infection can kill you.
The story centers in New York City (a vastly changed city in this horrible future especially after a terrible act of bioterrorism) with the main protagonist being NYC Detective Jake Gibson, suspended from duty with his partner, Amy, who both get caught up protecting a young, very important immigrant boy.
This is a story that read all too real. I highly recommend it, if you want to be scared to death while you're reading it...and while you think about it afterwards.
August 22, 2022
In the near future, bacteria have won. The entire world went up in flames after the release of the Harbinger virus on 8/17. If your immune system was compromised, you died. If you scratched yourself while shaving, you died. If your appendix burst, you died. Or, if you got bitten, your leg had to be amputated. Jacob Gibson is caring for his sick daughter when he gets a callout to a mass casualty scene. His partner, Amy Hassan, is managing the site where bodies have been burned beyond recognition. Jake and Amy follow a lead to a squatters' building in Manhattan and discover a miracle, a child, Mat, who can heal the sick. Only problem is, two different, but equally evil predators are hunting Mat. Jack and Amy must protect him long enough to get him into the custody of the NYPD and the government. A real adrenaline ride and an all too logical plot. Stop taking so many antibiotics!
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