Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
This had its moments, but they were few. Some details/passages were repeated unnecessarily, and the women characters were wholly unbelievable (e.g., during surveillance, one female "straight-arrow" operative noted the breasts of an adolescent girl -- twice! just creepy). I didn't expect great literature, but I did hope for an intricate and exciting plot. Um...no.
audiobook note: poor quality of recording and sub-excellent narration
audiobook note: poor quality of recording and sub-excellent narration
Review: This one was just above average. There wasn’t anything spectacular, nor anything wrong with this one. It was a solid read.
•
Read August 2023
•
Read August 2023
Gabe and Drew were once college roommates back at Annapolis. Now one of them is a small-town doctor and the other is President of the United States. When Gabe gets a call saying he’s needed in Washington, he comes. But things quickly spiral out of control. Drew has been experiencing mysterious medical attacks, a fact which has been kept from the public, and no one can figure out the cause. Worse, Gabe believes someone may be out to harm him.
This book started out somewhat slowly at first, however at about 20% into it, things began to really pick up and the pieces began coming together into a very interesting medical thriller. Michael Palmer has a medical background and the level of detail in his books is wonderfully done. I really enjoyed the combination of presidential/secret service plot lines, along with the medical/technology plot lines and all the twists and turns this one threw in.
This book started out somewhat slowly at first, however at about 20% into it, things began to really pick up and the pieces began coming together into a very interesting medical thriller. Michael Palmer has a medical background and the level of detail in his books is wonderfully done. I really enjoyed the combination of presidential/secret service plot lines, along with the medical/technology plot lines and all the twists and turns this one threw in.
This was another book I listened to because Phil Gigante was the narrator. I've never read/listened to a Michael Palmer book before. I liked it for the most part because he injected a lot of humorous dialogue into it. The story itself was pretty interesting, though the science part of it was a little iffy to me.
I liked the main character, though the twist at the end was pretty predictable. It was still an enjoyable listen.
I liked the main character, though the twist at the end was pretty predictable. It was still an enjoyable listen.
Despite the almost endless "AMERICA! FUCK YEAH!"-wanking and a slowish start, it was quite entertaining in the end. I was expecting (or I was prepared for) more twists in the end, but things went a bit differently. Not complaining about that, it's fun that stories aren't predictable :)
Thrillers involving the POTUS and/or family always seem to carry an extra sense of urgency because of the stakes being higher than with "lesser" persons. Palmer delivers that urgency very well with an intriguing concept about the high-tech delivery of serious or even deadly chemicals using nanotechnology.
The protagonist's issues and background add a fish-out-of-water element to the story which adds nicely to the pressure he faces. Supporting characters are decently drawn and all have motives that sometimes conflict with other characters' motives, which adds to the tension and suspicion of who the "bad guy" is.
The "muscle" in the book, two goons who don't seem particularly vicious or competent, are the weakest element of the story. They add a threatening menace around the edge of the plot but don't seem to be a formidable obstacle to the protagonist.
Subplots lend complexity and interest to the overall story. Even though the good guys prevail in the end, there's a twist that is unexpected and adds a real-life satisfaction to the ending, even if it is a bit "noble" for the hero and denies him true justice in his eyes.
I was close to giving it 5 stars early on, but enough weak points cropped up that I couldn't do that. Still highly recommended and a great way to pass the time driving across the midsection of America for two long days.
The protagonist's issues and background add a fish-out-of-water element to the story which adds nicely to the pressure he faces. Supporting characters are decently drawn and all have motives that sometimes conflict with other characters' motives, which adds to the tension and suspicion of who the "bad guy" is.
The "muscle" in the book, two goons who don't seem particularly vicious or competent, are the weakest element of the story. They add a threatening menace around the edge of the plot but don't seem to be a formidable obstacle to the protagonist.
Subplots lend complexity and interest to the overall story. Even though the good guys prevail in the end, there's a twist that is unexpected and adds a real-life satisfaction to the ending, even if it is a bit "noble" for the hero and denies him true justice in his eyes.
I was close to giving it 5 stars early on, but enough weak points cropped up that I couldn't do that. Still highly recommended and a great way to pass the time driving across the midsection of America for two long days.
I liked it, but it was kind of improbable, and there wasn't enough explanation after the climax.
[b:The First Patient|3399738|Sherlock Holmes Collector's Edition|Arthur Conan Doyle|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|1222101] is a quick paced drama set in D.C. I picked this one up to have as a quick read that offered drama, action and a bit of suspense but did not require much thought. [a:Michael Palmer|110485|Michael Palmer|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-M-50x66.jpg] delivered. The story was a bit predictable; I had it figured out pretty early. But the action was good, the writing was quick and to the point. The dialogue was a bit forced in some areas and a little weak in others but overall [b:The First Patient|3399738|Sherlock Holmes Collector's Edition|Arthur Conan Doyle|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg|1222101] matched my expectations.
I needed a lighter, quick read after finishing a 900+ page book and this one was handy. I have read Michael Palmer books and found them enjoyable and interesting. This one fit the bill. It's is a mystery/thriller involving the president's personal physician, a Wyoming rancher/doctor who was the president's college room-mate and a plot to discredit the president. While not great literature, it was interesting - both the insights into medical coverage of the president and some of the issues of nanotechnology - and moved along fairly well. I would recommend the book if you were looking for a quick read in the mystery/thriller genre.