The Medusa Strain (The Gil and Tara Martin Medical Thriller Series Book 1) (English Edition) [Kindle-editie] beoordelingen het boek quotes

The Medusa Strain, a Foreword Magazine finalist for best mystery, is a gripping novel of bioterrorism that stunningly portrays the dangers of biological terrorism in ways non-fiction never could.Editor Reviews:In his modern, well-supported lab in Iraq, Mohammed Ali Ossman, minus two fingers and his new bride thanks to a Gulf War bombardment, exercises his creativity to develop a variety of anthrax, normally contracted by inhaling its spores directly, that is communicable person-to-person. This genetically modified weapon, the Medusa strain, enables just six martyrs to spread the deadly illness in six major U.S. cities, including L.A., the novel's primary setting. The lively story progresses in the Middle East by presenting characters who legitimately hate their enemies and have access to salable secrets, while in the U.S. it realistically follows the rehabilitation of alcoholic ER physician Gil Martin and his marriage. Attempted murders, the president and first lady in the White House, and the spreading anthrax epidemic serve as attention-getting details, and the well-thought-out and believable U.S. counterattack device--the "Perseus Factor"-- dangles a shiny biotech hook for readers who want still more to like about a commendable first novel.~ William Beatty, American Library Association~ * ~Race with government and civilian virus chasers as they trace how this plague disease travels from Iraq throughout the United States. The author's medical technology is up to the minute, as is his understanding of the spook world. This thriller incorporates the very best of military, government and civilian disease centers, and political knowledge. The threat is chillingly real and is portrayed in a highly believable manner. Once you begin reading this story, hang on. You will lose track of time and yourself within these pages; then you'll lose sleep asking 'Could this really happen?' The author takes the time to leave your teeth on edge in parting with his knowledgeable reassurances in the epilogue that this bio-weapon technology is with us today. The Medusa Strain really COULD happen.~ Heartland Review~ * ~The Medusa Strain, written well before the current war with Iraq, nevertheless has an Iraqi setting for its attention-grabbing premise."An Iraqi scientist with a long-standing grudge against the United States has devised a way to combine anthrax with a cold virus to make it extremely contagious. A half-dozen Iraqi terrorists enter the U.S. infected with the strain, even though, interestingly, they aren't aware of it. They are hoping for a more 'glorious' martyrdom than death in a hospital bed. "If not for the courage of a fearless emergency-room physician in L.A., and the eventual discovery of an antidote, Holmes' fictional America would have become grave indeed. "But there's more here than theory. Holmes easily envisions a secret lab not just in Mosul, Iraq -- his fictional site -- but in the hills of North Korea, the deserts of Libya or the jungles of Cuba.~ Alan Bostick, The Tennessean~ * ~Could the person sitting next to you on a plane have a cold or could it be something more deadly...?Terrorists develop a new airborne strain of anthrax. Six of the terrorists are unknowingly infected with the anthrax and placed on separate flights to the US. The symptoms mimic the common cold. The terrorists' coughs and sneezes spread the virus to those trapped in the plane with him.Dr. Chris Holmes brings his expertise from his first novel The Mosquito Tapes to The Medusa Strain. Holmes deftly creates a convincing plot. His use of medical terminology lends to the believability of this work of art. Holmes' characters are interesting. The combination of mystery and romance are perfect. The romance adds depth to the lead characters, Gil and Tara. However, Holmes never lets romance over power the mystery. Holmes is a talented author, and I look forward to reading more of his work.~ Debra Gaynor, Review Your Book