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tasmanian_bibliophile's review
4.0
‘Compromise is not a weakness but a wisdom’
This was a page turning 'comfort' read for me. Well, not so much comforting given the subject matter as engaging. I read the book rather than listened to the CD so the experience may well be different for those who choose to listen.
In a world jittery about terrorism, who could ignore the threat of a devastating biological attack? Particularly a threat which comes from a brilliant Muslim microbiologist, in China’s western-most province close to the Pakistan border in the period before the 2008 Olympic Games. The US President and his cabinet dismiss the threat, but others are not so sure.
CIA agent Curtis O’Connor, an expert in bioterrorism, and Dr Kate Braithwaite who is working on a top-secret biological weapons program work together to unravel the warnings being given and to make sense of the information uncovered. The terrorism of fundamentalism is not confined to one country, religious group or ideology. Brilliant individuals with agenda of their own, who lust for power at any cost provide additional dimensions to this novel.
This novel contains fast action, plausible threats and some superb tension between the amorality of absolute power and the relative morality of those who seek to negotiate in order to find compromise. Mr d’Hage has a message in this novel, and at times the message threatens to overwhelm the ability of the characters to convey it.
In general, the characters did not engage me. But the story itself certainly did. The threat of bioterrorism, the ability of a few to manipulate others and the inability of leaders to learn from history each contribute to a plausible novel where a few well targeted attacks can wreak devastation around the globe. Not brilliant literature, but a great novel. Terrorism has causes and consequences: perhaps if we sought constructively to understand those causes, we might actually be able to make some headway in removing some of the concerns and grievances that fuel it.
I recommend this novel but I’m glad I didn’t read it in a public place.
This was a page turning 'comfort' read for me. Well, not so much comforting given the subject matter as engaging. I read the book rather than listened to the CD so the experience may well be different for those who choose to listen.
In a world jittery about terrorism, who could ignore the threat of a devastating biological attack? Particularly a threat which comes from a brilliant Muslim microbiologist, in China’s western-most province close to the Pakistan border in the period before the 2008 Olympic Games. The US President and his cabinet dismiss the threat, but others are not so sure.
CIA agent Curtis O’Connor, an expert in bioterrorism, and Dr Kate Braithwaite who is working on a top-secret biological weapons program work together to unravel the warnings being given and to make sense of the information uncovered. The terrorism of fundamentalism is not confined to one country, religious group or ideology. Brilliant individuals with agenda of their own, who lust for power at any cost provide additional dimensions to this novel.
This novel contains fast action, plausible threats and some superb tension between the amorality of absolute power and the relative morality of those who seek to negotiate in order to find compromise. Mr d’Hage has a message in this novel, and at times the message threatens to overwhelm the ability of the characters to convey it.
In general, the characters did not engage me. But the story itself certainly did. The threat of bioterrorism, the ability of a few to manipulate others and the inability of leaders to learn from history each contribute to a plausible novel where a few well targeted attacks can wreak devastation around the globe. Not brilliant literature, but a great novel. Terrorism has causes and consequences: perhaps if we sought constructively to understand those causes, we might actually be able to make some headway in removing some of the concerns and grievances that fuel it.
I recommend this novel but I’m glad I didn’t read it in a public place.
joseperth's review
1.0
Although the plans and attacks and the "evil" genius is actually competent, it seemed to me that the hero or heroes were missing for more than 1/2 of the book! and the real confrontation was between the bad guys and the "bad-er" guys. I don't know, it wasn't even a great intro to Curtis and Kate.
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