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Alchemist
Monty Bannerman's father is a leading genetic scientist who has just been seduced into joining what will shortly be the world's biggest pharmaceuticals giant, despite some misgivings about their company ethics. He needs their money, they need his mind. But when Monty stumbles upon a fertility drug trial that is killing women and producing terribly deformed babies it looks like they have unwittingly sold themselves to the devil.
674 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
197 people are currently reading
1065 people want to read
About the author
Peter James
247 books3,673 followersPeter James is a global bestselling author, best known for writing crime and thriller novels, and the creator of the much-loved Detective Superintendent Roy Grace. With a total of 21 Sunday Times No. 1s under his belt, he has achieved global book sales of over 23 million copies to date and has been translated into 38 languages.
Synonymous with plot-twisting page-turners, Peter has garnered an army of loyal fans throughout his storytelling career – which also included stints writing for TV and producing films. He has won over 40 awards for his work, including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award, Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger and a BAFTA nomination for The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons for which he was an Executive Producer. Many of Peter’s novels have been adapted for film, TV and stage.
Synonymous with plot-twisting page-turners, Peter has garnered an army of loyal fans throughout his storytelling career – which also included stints writing for TV and producing films. He has won over 40 awards for his work, including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award, Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger and a BAFTA nomination for The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons for which he was an Executive Producer. Many of Peter’s novels have been adapted for film, TV and stage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
February 1, 2013
When I began this one, I was soon under the impression that I was going to hate it. The writing was bad and the characters unlikable - the main protagonist is first described as looking perfect and handsome and sort of like Tom Cruise - how original, I thought.
It takes about one hundred tedious pages before any kind of plot manages to take shape. But then it suddenly changes, and before you know it, the story begins unfolding into a shockingly dark and sinister tale about evil pharmacists, human-sacrificing satanists, and a global medical company that is a messed up and deranged as it is rich and powerful. This book starts off slow and boring, but before too long it morphs into a fast-paced thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed...
It takes about one hundred tedious pages before any kind of plot manages to take shape. But then it suddenly changes, and before you know it, the story begins unfolding into a shockingly dark and sinister tale about evil pharmacists, human-sacrificing satanists, and a global medical company that is a messed up and deranged as it is rich and powerful. This book starts off slow and boring, but before too long it morphs into a fast-paced thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed...
Read
June 9, 2013Ok, major spoiler in a slightly different way than normal, Peter used to be my brother-in-law, and I helped him a lot with the science.
In fact if you read chapter 117, I turn up as a supporting character.
Haven't re-read it since it first came out. Not entirely sure whether or not it's an entirely good idea to try.
In fact if you read chapter 117, I turn up as a supporting character.
Haven't re-read it since it first came out. Not entirely sure whether or not it's an entirely good idea to try.
July 16, 2022
Mokslininkas Ričardas yra vienas iš garsiausių savo srities specialistų. Tačiau nuolatiniai pykčiai su kolegomis, finansiniai sunkumai verčia mokslininką dairytis labiau finansiškai pelningesnio darbo. Garsų mokslininką ir jo dukterį į darbo pokalbį pasikviečia pasaulinė farmacijos bendrovė „Bendix Schere“, o įmonei sutikus su visomis mokslininko iškeltomis sąlygomis – tėvas su dukra pradeda ir darbų maratoną šioje įmonėje. Tačiau ne viskas yra pagrįsta gerais tikslais – neilgai trukus išryškėja, kad farmacijos bendrovės „Bendix Schere“ veikla pagrįsta nelabai švariais ketininimais.
Pradėkime nuo kūrinio pradžios. Josios minusai – neįvardintų veikėjų/skyrių gausa ir labai lėta pradžia. Skaityti sekėsi sunkiai vien dėl šių įvardintų minusų. Nuolat painiojausi ir nesupratau išvis iš kurio veikėjo varpinės yra kalbama, kokiems veikėjams reikėtų prisikirti jų praeities nuotrupas. O ką jau kalbėti apie veiksmo trūkumą... Vienu metu galvojau, kad taip ir nepabaigsiu skaityti šios knygos, nes žiūrint į josios apimtį (511 puslapių) – tikrai nenorėjau įkliūti į neskaitymo klampynę.
Tačiau net nepriėjus kūrinio vidurio jis iš esmės pagerėjo – pagaliau buvo pristatyti visi veikėjai, tapo lengviau priskirti vieniems ar kitiems praeities nuotrupas, o ir kūrinio veiksmas paintensyvėjo, pagreitėjo. Jau tada negalėjau atsitraukti nuo šio kūrinio, o 511 josios puslapių ėmė rodytis per mažai – norėjosi dar ir dar sekti veikėjų kovos kelią su pasauline farmacijos bendrove. Pasirodo, norint išties mėgautis šiuo kūriniu turi perlipti pradžios lėtumo barjerą. Tada ir atsiskleidžia kūrinio gerumas – įdomiai išplėtota veikėjų priešistorė, lemianti jų dabartinius pasirinkimus, charakterio savybes.
Šis kūrinys yra puikus pavyzdys, jog kartais gana greitai numesdami „neįdomią“ knygą galime prarasti ypač turiningą laiką su išties puikiu skaitiniu.
Pradėkime nuo kūrinio pradžios. Josios minusai – neįvardintų veikėjų/skyrių gausa ir labai lėta pradžia. Skaityti sekėsi sunkiai vien dėl šių įvardintų minusų. Nuolat painiojausi ir nesupratau išvis iš kurio veikėjo varpinės yra kalbama, kokiems veikėjams reikėtų prisikirti jų praeities nuotrupas. O ką jau kalbėti apie veiksmo trūkumą... Vienu metu galvojau, kad taip ir nepabaigsiu skaityti šios knygos, nes žiūrint į josios apimtį (511 puslapių) – tikrai nenorėjau įkliūti į neskaitymo klampynę.
Tačiau net nepriėjus kūrinio vidurio jis iš esmės pagerėjo – pagaliau buvo pristatyti visi veikėjai, tapo lengviau priskirti vieniems ar kitiems praeities nuotrupas, o ir kūrinio veiksmas paintensyvėjo, pagreitėjo. Jau tada negalėjau atsitraukti nuo šio kūrinio, o 511 josios puslapių ėmė rodytis per mažai – norėjosi dar ir dar sekti veikėjų kovos kelią su pasauline farmacijos bendrove. Pasirodo, norint išties mėgautis šiuo kūriniu turi perlipti pradžios lėtumo barjerą. Tada ir atsiskleidžia kūrinio gerumas – įdomiai išplėtota veikėjų priešistorė, lemianti jų dabartinius pasirinkimus, charakterio savybes.
Šis kūrinys yra puikus pavyzdys, jog kartais gana greitai numesdami „neįdomią“ knygą galime prarasti ypač turiningą laiką su išties puikiu skaitiniu.
November 8, 2011
Oh dear what happened.
I was really enjoying this book, the storyline was great, kept you hooked, now and then there were some silly parts but I could take or leave them bits.
Unfortunately towards the end it got sillier and sillier and I was disappointed that what started as a promising story ended so crap.
I was really enjoying this book, the storyline was great, kept you hooked, now and then there were some silly parts but I could take or leave them bits.
Unfortunately towards the end it got sillier and sillier and I was disappointed that what started as a promising story ended so crap.
March 10, 2020
Not as good as the Roy Grace series. Unnecessarily long and parts of it bordered on fantasy. On the other hand, the science part was fascinating.
February 3, 2024
Intriguojanti knyga, su kiek kitokiu siužetu, šiek tiek mistikos, galios, ir keistų dalykų. Kai dukra su tėvu negaudami finansavimo, nusprendžia pereiti į naują įmonę, prasideda daug netikėtų atradimų, baimė, ir galia, ką gali ši formacijos vieta. Keliaujant šią kelionę, žmonės miršta vienas po kito, nors kažką žinantis, lieka tik jie, trise, prieš visus.
January 18, 2021
Messy
Took a while to get going,then the plot line became quite interesting, though the main characters a bit weak. Male quote : Hollywood looks ect, female blonde beautiful and super smart, although she does some incredibly stupid things. The final part is frankly a mess when it becomes wrapped up in the occult. I couldn't understand.why the super efficient evil doers became so lax.
Took a while to get going,then the plot line became quite interesting, though the main characters a bit weak. Male quote : Hollywood looks ect, female blonde beautiful and super smart, although she does some incredibly stupid things. The final part is frankly a mess when it becomes wrapped up in the occult. I couldn't understand.why the super efficient evil doers became so lax.
April 10, 2021
Such a long book and not once did i feel it was dragging, could not put it down loved every second of this book definately a winner in my eyes
June 13, 2023
Excellent book
September 30, 2024
670 pages of what happens next - vintage Peter James
February 9, 2023
As I've been working my way through Peter James' pre-Roy Grace novels, I found a rapid improvement as he moved away from fairly generic horror novels into a more chiller-based approach that seemed to suit his writing better and provides more of a hint of what he was to become. What was less than ideal was that as he had become more comfortable as a writer, Peter James tended to write much longer novels, which were still good, but had a little more padding than was entirely necessary.
"Alchemist", the seventh novel I had read, but the twelfth James had published, is initially the story of Dr Dick Bannerman and his daughter Montana, known as Monty. Bannerman is a geneticist who has won a Nobel Prize for his research but due to refusing to patent his work or move to the private sector, he doesn't have a huge amount of money. One day, the Bannermans are approached by a pharmaceutical giant in the form of Bendix Schere, who promise to vastly increase both their remuneration and their available laboratory space.
Despite their facade of being a caring company, Bendix Schere have some restrictive rules for their employees, banning them from drinking and smoking, even outside working hours. They are also very keen on shutting down any kind of dissent, even from within their own business and they will watch carefully over employees who don't seem inclined to do everything without question. The company's professional activities are also raising suspicions, as several women who were taking a fertility drug they produce have had strange symptoms and deformed babies and when Montana is approached by a local news reporter, whose daughter dies giving birth to one of these, she starts trying to find out if it's true.
As with the last novel I had read, "Host", I did feel that the novel went into a little too much detail on occasion. The success of Bendix Schere was a mixture of medical research and Satanic ritual and whenever some of the characters were engaged in either, it went into more detail than was necessary and this slowed the advance of the plot. Some of the computing trickery that was involved in hacking into their systems for information also took too long to get into although, given the age of the novel, they do seem rather simplistic by today's technology. What this also meant was that when the story came to an end, it seemed to finish quite quickly relative to what had gone on before and left the novel as a whole feeling a touch unbalanced.
Whilst the plot was a little lacking in some areas, the characterisation was much better in comparison, at least where the major characters were concerned. It was obvious which side we were supposed to be rooting for, with the good-natured breaking of the rules of the Bannermans and Conor Molloy and the kindly nature of Winston Smith (a name I very much doubt was a random choice) and HUbert Wentworth contrasting nicely with the single-minded drive of Dr Crowe and Major Gunn and the urbane smoothness of Sir Neil Rorke. Some of the minor characters weren't as well-written and some where there simply to be collateral damage later on, only some of which seemed to add much to the plot.
The blurb on the novel suggested that they felt Peter James was finding areas between Michael Crichton and Stephen King with this novel. I would argue at the latter, as the only thing he owes to King was the length of the novel, but the scientific thriller nature did evoke Crichton's "Jurassic Park" in some aspects and "The Andromeda Strain" in others. Whilst "Alchemist" may ultimately be a touch darker than Crichton's work and has a lot more padding, the scientific thriller genre of novel this is certainly bears comparison and whilst it may benefit from a touch more brevity, it's a decent read.
"Alchemist", the seventh novel I had read, but the twelfth James had published, is initially the story of Dr Dick Bannerman and his daughter Montana, known as Monty. Bannerman is a geneticist who has won a Nobel Prize for his research but due to refusing to patent his work or move to the private sector, he doesn't have a huge amount of money. One day, the Bannermans are approached by a pharmaceutical giant in the form of Bendix Schere, who promise to vastly increase both their remuneration and their available laboratory space.
Despite their facade of being a caring company, Bendix Schere have some restrictive rules for their employees, banning them from drinking and smoking, even outside working hours. They are also very keen on shutting down any kind of dissent, even from within their own business and they will watch carefully over employees who don't seem inclined to do everything without question. The company's professional activities are also raising suspicions, as several women who were taking a fertility drug they produce have had strange symptoms and deformed babies and when Montana is approached by a local news reporter, whose daughter dies giving birth to one of these, she starts trying to find out if it's true.
As with the last novel I had read, "Host", I did feel that the novel went into a little too much detail on occasion. The success of Bendix Schere was a mixture of medical research and Satanic ritual and whenever some of the characters were engaged in either, it went into more detail than was necessary and this slowed the advance of the plot. Some of the computing trickery that was involved in hacking into their systems for information also took too long to get into although, given the age of the novel, they do seem rather simplistic by today's technology. What this also meant was that when the story came to an end, it seemed to finish quite quickly relative to what had gone on before and left the novel as a whole feeling a touch unbalanced.
Whilst the plot was a little lacking in some areas, the characterisation was much better in comparison, at least where the major characters were concerned. It was obvious which side we were supposed to be rooting for, with the good-natured breaking of the rules of the Bannermans and Conor Molloy and the kindly nature of Winston Smith (a name I very much doubt was a random choice) and HUbert Wentworth contrasting nicely with the single-minded drive of Dr Crowe and Major Gunn and the urbane smoothness of Sir Neil Rorke. Some of the minor characters weren't as well-written and some where there simply to be collateral damage later on, only some of which seemed to add much to the plot.
The blurb on the novel suggested that they felt Peter James was finding areas between Michael Crichton and Stephen King with this novel. I would argue at the latter, as the only thing he owes to King was the length of the novel, but the scientific thriller nature did evoke Crichton's "Jurassic Park" in some aspects and "The Andromeda Strain" in others. Whilst "Alchemist" may ultimately be a touch darker than Crichton's work and has a lot more padding, the scientific thriller genre of novel this is certainly bears comparison and whilst it may benefit from a touch more brevity, it's a decent read.
June 9, 2013
Be afraid, be very afraid of big pharmaceutical organisations. When Montana Bannerman’s Nobel prize-winning father sells his company (including his genetics research and laboratory) to a giant corporation, Bendix Schere, that labels itself as ’caring,’ she and her father think their financial problems are over. All they need to do now is research for cures that will benefit mankind. Right? Wrong. Within a short space of time, a pushy reporter (Zandra Wollerton) working on a wild and seemingly far-fetched story is dead. Too many babies are being born with Cyclops Syndrome. Is this coincidence or genetic engineering? Then when more people connected to the company and the investigation start dying—sometimes in front of Monty—she takes fright. Who is behind the world’s most caring company’s hidden agenda? And when Monty narrowly escapes an attempt on her life, she wonders who can she trust? A co-worker? The police? Everyone she speaks to ends up dead!
What a thriller. I read this book a while ago and enjoyed it even more on the second read. It is a thought-provoking novel with enough of a sprinkling of the occult to remain credible. The Satanic/occult side is not overdone, and wasn’t magic really science in disguise thousands of years ago? There is also enough science and genetics to keep the reader interested without overwhelming the layman with too much ‘stuff.’ Flashbacks are relevant and add to the story. The author has a way of keeping readers intrigued as new information filters through. I liked the characters very much and found them believable. The action jumps between scenarios to keep the readers on the edge of their seats. The plot is complex, but ‘big reveals’ are surprising and conspiracy theorists will be satisfied with this book.
One wonders, after reading this book, if the author knows something we do not. Even though this book was published in 1999, its relevance for today is perhaps even more compelling. We have become so dependent on medication, and (most interestingly) a new trend coming to the fore is genetic analysis. People can have themselves tested to see what diseases they might develop in the future and take steps accordingly to prevent such diseases developing. Perhaps big pharmaceutical companies will see a gap here and fact becomes stranger than fiction…
What a thriller. I read this book a while ago and enjoyed it even more on the second read. It is a thought-provoking novel with enough of a sprinkling of the occult to remain credible. The Satanic/occult side is not overdone, and wasn’t magic really science in disguise thousands of years ago? There is also enough science and genetics to keep the reader interested without overwhelming the layman with too much ‘stuff.’ Flashbacks are relevant and add to the story. The author has a way of keeping readers intrigued as new information filters through. I liked the characters very much and found them believable. The action jumps between scenarios to keep the readers on the edge of their seats. The plot is complex, but ‘big reveals’ are surprising and conspiracy theorists will be satisfied with this book.
One wonders, after reading this book, if the author knows something we do not. Even though this book was published in 1999, its relevance for today is perhaps even more compelling. We have become so dependent on medication, and (most interestingly) a new trend coming to the fore is genetic analysis. People can have themselves tested to see what diseases they might develop in the future and take steps accordingly to prevent such diseases developing. Perhaps big pharmaceutical companies will see a gap here and fact becomes stranger than fiction…
June 15, 2018
A brilliant, if not slightly predictable thriller/horror book dealing with medicine and genetic engineering. I've noticed that several of Peter James's books follow a certain formula where the two main characters meet and then predictably fall in love. Some really messed-up things happen in this book, as well. Hell, as early as the prologue you've got Satanic rituals, goat sacrifice and a torn-apart human torso.
November 17, 2024
A slow starter for me, took me a few attempts of picking it and up before I could get into it. There were parts of the story I loved, that had the excitement of a great thriller but other parts that felt a bit long winded. I really enjoyed the premise of Big Pharma controlling us all but the occult part just didn’t work for me. I couldn’t get the two stories to belong as one in my brain.
Overall a good read, I liked the authors writing style and appreciated the research into it all.
Overall a good read, I liked the authors writing style and appreciated the research into it all.
March 3, 2013
Not his best novel, a little far fetched and seemed to go on and on
December 7, 2025
This is a novel by English crime writer Peter James. The plot revolves around an evil pharmaceutical firm, which would be enough for a good thriller, since drug companies have a nefarious reputation in the modern zeitgeist. The action sequences are engaging, and there’s enough intrigue and threat to the protagonists to keep you turning the pages. But the book is full of odd flaws. The technology on show hasn’t aged well, particularly the way the characters use the Internet as it was in 1994. This can be forgiven, as the book is of course a product of its time. A worse sin is that the American characters, particularly the male lead, don’t speak in a particularly American way, which erases suspension of disbelief and should’ve been addressed by a sharp-eyed editor. But the strangest narrative choice was making the bad guys occultists (the “Alchemist” of the title) then failing to explain why that was necessary, as they don’t really perform much alchemy and could’ve done all their dark deeds without any help from the supernatural. This extra detail was distracting to the main plot, made the book excessively long and felt like an excuse for an over-the-top, ridiculously gory climax to the story in a mystical cave in the Middle East. Lastly, I have no idea what the publishers were thinking, as the cover blurb “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…” has no logical place in the story.
My best advice for improvement would be to make it seem supernatural while keeping it firmly grounded in reality in the reveal. That would be a plot twist worth waiting for. Based on online reviews, this is not Peter James’ finest work. Apparently his Roy Grace detective series, which he started several years later, is much better. So I might revisit him. Let’s see.
My best advice for improvement would be to make it seem supernatural while keeping it firmly grounded in reality in the reveal. That would be a plot twist worth waiting for. Based on online reviews, this is not Peter James’ finest work. Apparently his Roy Grace detective series, which he started several years later, is much better. So I might revisit him. Let’s see.
July 11, 2017
Alchemist was written during the tail end of a surge in conspiracy thrillers. The mid-90s saw many authors writing stories involving sinister organisations and cabals, each with their own diabolical schemes and malevolent plans for domination. James has tweaked it, adding an unusual tilt which means this novel doesn't sit squarely in any one genre.
It's a lengthy yarn though and at times it rinses and repeats it content rather than just getting on with it. The characters are interesting enough however James' insistence on keeping back information for big reveals near the end can be somewhat frustrating. These flaws are smoothed over by the sheer scale of the hopelessness the central characters must face and the claustrophobic nature of the plot.
It's a lengthy yarn though and at times it rinses and repeats it content rather than just getting on with it. The characters are interesting enough however James' insistence on keeping back information for big reveals near the end can be somewhat frustrating. These flaws are smoothed over by the sheer scale of the hopelessness the central characters must face and the claustrophobic nature of the plot.
October 10, 2018
Intricate sub-plots, science, mystery, superstition, and the supernatural, James has it all combined. I really enjoyed the story, being led through the events with the characters. I'd have liked to give another star but the characters were somewhat cardboard, except for the main female protagonist and the main male protagonist's mother who had personality I could immerse in. I think the story could have been tightened down, but this is just one reader's preference and a bit of one writer's learning opinion. However, it was surprisingly difficult to predict what would happen in the plot (the characters are another story) and that was refreshing.
July 23, 2020
Monty n'en peut plus de courir constamment derrière les financements pour que le laboratoire de son père puisse tourner, elle finit donc par le convaincre de le faire racheter par une grande multinationale pharmaceutique qui lui permettra de continuer sereinement ses recherches sans pression financière... mais était-ce vraiment une bonne idée ?!
Comme pour tous les livres de Peter James, le suspens est au rendez-vous et le mystère aussi mais contrairement à d'habitude, j'ai trouvé que les ficelles étaient un peu trop grosses et l'histoire un peu trop téléphonée par moments. J'ai passé un bon moment de lecture mais ce ne fut pas fabuleux.
En bref : moins plaisant que d'habitude.
Comme pour tous les livres de Peter James, le suspens est au rendez-vous et le mystère aussi mais contrairement à d'habitude, j'ai trouvé que les ficelles étaient un peu trop grosses et l'histoire un peu trop téléphonée par moments. J'ai passé un bon moment de lecture mais ce ne fut pas fabuleux.
En bref : moins plaisant que d'habitude.
July 21, 2024
I really love James’ Roy Grace series. So much that I automatically get hold of any Peter James book I can find. Unfortunately, this one was not for me. I nearly gave up on it twice. I wanted to know how Monty was going to stop the bad guys. That element was fine. But I really didn’t like the whole Satanic thing. I’d have preferred a straightforward mad/bad guy. That’s just me.
One other thing which niggled was an error unworthy of an author of James’ calibre. Chapter 1 has Sarah conceive in November 1993. Even assuming the 30th, that would make September 5th (chapter 9) more than the 8.5 months claimed. She would in fact be overdue.
One other thing which niggled was an error unworthy of an author of James’ calibre. Chapter 1 has Sarah conceive in November 1993. Even assuming the 30th, that would make September 5th (chapter 9) more than the 8.5 months claimed. She would in fact be overdue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2017
One of Peter James’ earlier novels from 1996, this deals with genetic modification. Monty and her Nobel winning scientist father, agree to be taken over by huge pharmaceutical company Bendix-Schere based in London. Monty meets Hubert, the father of one of her previous employees, who has recently died after giving birth to a Cyclops Syndrome baby. She had been taking a fertility drug, Maternox, made by Bendix and Hubert has details of two identical cases. A really good, detailed story that lays open the greed of such companies and the lengths they will go to, to make more money
June 13, 2018
An intriguing plot about the daughter of an eminent scientist who uncovers wrongdoings at BigPharma, Bendix Schere. Montana Bannerman and her dad Don join BS so that he can do more gene therapy research. BS want him on the payroll so that they can doctor existing drugs to carry diseases, which they then cure - at a price. Patent lawyer, Conor Molloy joins the team with the secret goal of avenging the death of his father. Satanism plays a big role in the book with the interwoven story of Daniel Judd, a boy who is persecuted by religious parents.
August 5, 2022
What was really clever about this book was the fact that (like many of Peter James' novels) it was so plausible. It was scary to think that this might actually be really happening in our pharmaceutical companies right now. Indeed his introduction set the scene for the possibility that our drug companies might introduce problems which require drugs which only they can sell - genius especially following the recent global pandemic! The book was a great read which you really wanted to follow and believe was solved or the wrong righted in the end.
January 8, 2019
Not for the fainthearted
Well constructed with clearly a very well researched story line that provokes deep thought and concern. Intertwined with a satanic storyline that some readers may find deeply disturbing.
Spoilt as so often by far to many careless and stupid typos. The author thanks his editors, the reader may wonder why. It seems the art of proof reading no longer exists.
Well constructed with clearly a very well researched story line that provokes deep thought and concern. Intertwined with a satanic storyline that some readers may find deeply disturbing.
Spoilt as so often by far to many careless and stupid typos. The author thanks his editors, the reader may wonder why. It seems the art of proof reading no longer exists.
February 26, 2025
"Cobras always smile before they strike".
I must admit, I didn't go for this book because of the blurb, as it didn't excite me at all. I purely went for the fact it was by Peter James. Yes, it started off slow and some of the technical, medical terms flew way over my head but I still really enjoyed it. I can relate the experience of reading this book to riding a roller coaster. At first, the long slow climb. Then you reach the top and whoosh!
The revelation of the "Baddie" was no surprise to me at all though.
I must admit, I didn't go for this book because of the blurb, as it didn't excite me at all. I purely went for the fact it was by Peter James. Yes, it started off slow and some of the technical, medical terms flew way over my head but I still really enjoyed it. I can relate the experience of reading this book to riding a roller coaster. At first, the long slow climb. Then you reach the top and whoosh!
The revelation of the "Baddie" was no surprise to me at all though.
July 15, 2017
A clever storyline; part of which that is not outside the realm of possibilities as technologies continue to advance.
Perhaps the most amusing part of this book though was the long descriptions of how to create and use an 'eMail', which swiftly dated the text, but also provided for some amusing chapters.
Perhaps the most amusing part of this book though was the long descriptions of how to create and use an 'eMail', which swiftly dated the text, but also provided for some amusing chapters.
March 31, 2022
The first 100 pages were a bit of a satanic slog and then it turned into a different book - more of a thriller - and the pace picked up. Overall I enjoyed it but the whole occult side felt very superfluous and as if the writer was out of his area of expertise. If he'd just made it a medical thriller it would have been a much better [and shorter!] book.
October 7, 2022
Had to DNF it on page 30.. Such unlikeable and stubborn protagonist, followed everywhere by his puppy daughter. I can't push myself anymore. In future I will give it another chance because the reviews are usually quite good, the story as given on the back of the book has potential hence why I decided to take it on.. Maybe in future.
December 17, 2022
When Monty persuades her Dad the Nobel prize winning genetics to join a global pharmaceutical business, she is delighted - no more worries about money.
But when a journalist comes to her with a story, she starts to investigate what is really going on and has no idea how dangerous it is going to get.
Fast paced thriller about ethics and morality.
But when a journalist comes to her with a story, she starts to investigate what is really going on and has no idea how dangerous it is going to get.
Fast paced thriller about ethics and morality.
March 15, 2024
Book was bad and was a complete torture reading it. It was excruciating.
Plot took too long to thicken and when it did, it was only a mere 50 pages of real content. Too much fillers and unnecessary chapters. Imagine reading it and waiting for 600 over pages to find out where it was going towards.
Please do yourself a favour and don’t buy this book
Plot took too long to thicken and when it did, it was only a mere 50 pages of real content. Too much fillers and unnecessary chapters. Imagine reading it and waiting for 600 over pages to find out where it was going towards.
Please do yourself a favour and don’t buy this book
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