| Title | : | Darwins Cipher |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 345 |
| Publication | : | First published February 18, 2019 |
Using the algorithm he's developed from the pattern, Juan uncovers what he believes to be the key to conquering humanity's susceptibility to cancer.
Others are interested in using what Juan has dubbed "Darwin's Cipher," however, instead of cancer research, they see very different applications for the new genetic algorithm.
Nate Carrington, an FBI forensic analyst has been struggling with several cold cases when he's alerted to an incident at a nearby ranch. It's a case of a newborn calf who is found in the middle of a herd of dead cattle. It provides a single link to Nate's other cold cases: the DNA analysis of the calf doesn't match anything in the FBI's database.
Somewhere in a rural hospital in West Virginia, four hospital workers are dead and a newborn child has been transported to the NIH's level-4 bio-containment unit.
It's only when the NIH sends out an alert to all hospitals and law enforcement agencies that the world realizes the danger that faces them.
Darwins Cipher Reviews
-
Adult scary smart "technothriller"
This story was riveting. A research scientist has his theory stolen and used for nefarious purposes. And, in a somewhat small way, it is a love story. Got you hooked yet? It will! -
WOW! This is my fist book by M.A. ROTHMAN, and I am really impressed with this medical/scientific thriller. This book has a fascinating plot – involving the nefarious use of cutting-edge cancer research using gene therapy – the research stolen from the scientist and used by “bad guys” trying to create cutting edge bio-weapons. I like science-fiction, but this isn’t sci-fi – this is a medical, scientific thriller. This writer makes the science very understandable. And as a physician, the gene therapy is totally plausible. The characters are very interesting. The author interweaves at least three different plots, with the characters intersecting at various crossroads in the plot. The prose is excellent, and the dialogue is equally good. This reminds me of the best of Michael Crighton, and Robin Cook, and the very recent Tim Tigner's THE PRICE OF TIME.
-
The Cretaceous-Tertiary or K/T extinction event. It happened 65 million years ago. It was a six mile meteor that crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, just off Mexico. It ended the reign of the Dinosaurs and wiped the Earth of vegetation. Yet small mammals , with frontal vision, who lived underground, survived to bring us to where we are today. Darwin would call it Natural Selection, part of evolution. But, what if one could speed-up DNA evolution? What if science could cause Natural Selection in a matter of generations instead of millions of generations?
In a valiant effort to alleviate cancer, the main character in Rothman’s superb novel, Juan Gutierrez thinks the same way. In the thrilling novel “Darwin’s Cipher” by M.A. Rothman. Juan has found an algorithm to speed-up DNA selection:
“…. As you probably know, modern elephants are highly resistant to tumors. They have many extra copies of TP53, a known tumor-suppressor gene. So I wanted to see how that evolved. Then I stumbled onto the pattern I told you about, and it suddenly dawned on me that if I could predictably follow the pattern of all of these different extinct animals and study how various parts of their genetic code evolved, couldn’t I, using the same algorithm, simulate how our genes will evolve in the future?”
.The results are sometimes bizarre: birds behave more like crocs, for example. The group who watches these results napalms their mistakes. Of course we have the innocent victims of mistakes, and the evil characters who want to steal the algorithm. It becomes a race, well plotted and well resolved. You have to read the book for that information, as there are no spoilers here.
What I want to point out is the author’s effective writing methods. They are sharp and clear and I enjoyed the pace of the prose. Mr. Rothman puts the reader mis-en-scene, that is, he arranges, instead of introducing his characters with staccato snapshots, in full action, to allow us to connect to them quickly, and to their place in his multilayered plot.
The research makes us believe the events, and Mr. Rothman tells us he is scientific.. By use of acronyms and scientific dialogues, he puts us, the observers, directly on the edge of the action. Note the pacing, natural speech and the mix of science in this scene, where the birds are detected as not really birds:
“… There was one item that came back with utterly bizarre results. That fluffy bit of red feather you found. From its morphology, I managed to narrow it down to a few species, and when I did a DNA analysis, that’s when things went south. I’m not one hundred percent sure what kind of bird it was, but it looks a lot like a Gouldian finch—same basic feather structure, coloring, and size—but if so, there’s something way wrong with the DNA results. “
“You’re saying you couldn’t get a DNA match to the feather?” Hendrickson shook his head. “Nope. And , the DNA would suggest this creature is closer to a crocodile than to anything having wings and feathers”
“So… what are you saying?” “I’m saying, I think someone’s been playing God.”
When Juan explains his DNA technique, the writing is almost textbook:
“Well, for example, the woolly mammoth.” Juan flipped a page and tapped his finger on a graph. “Its diploid genome has approximately 9.4 billion base pairs—that’s almost fifty percent more genetic material than humans, which the computer encoded into the equivalent of about 2.3 gigabytes of data. I did comparative analyses, normalizing the source to the same general vicinity in Siberia, and using various samples from different points in time along their evolutionary history. My oldest sample is nearly one hundred thousand years old, and I also have samples from seventy-five thousand years ago, forty thousand years, and fourteen thousand years. I mapped those changes against the local environmental conditions from where the samples were found.”
But the method is about to be given to humans with cancer. This is the second part of the saga, and it is worth reading just for the results! If you liked “The Stand” by King, or anything by Michael Crichton,.you will like this novel.
His approach to all the scenes is exact, and I don’t think there’s a wasted word in this novel. I have read many science novels, and this is among the best, to me. The blend of science, social interaction and discovery, for the characters and the reader are selected, stirred and presented in a literate, thoughtful manner. In this case, I salute the author as artist! Splendid job Mr. Rothman! And he sums it in his author’s note: “I’m one of the most unlikely novelists you’ll ever encounter.” He is, readers! -
"Darwin's Cipher" is based on an interesting idea. GMO's (a timely boogeyman to pick on) have learned how to modify the DNA of existing animals in an attempt at designer weapons. The scientist who invented the technology is unaware of the nefarious uses it is being put toward, wanting only to benefit mankind by creating a bigger, badder, human who is impervious to the ravages of disease.
We are shown the effects of military intervention in science. Of course, the military wants to weaponize the research, with predictably disastrous results. The plot is basically a race to save mankind from its own folly.
The story, while well-conceived, is poorly executed, in my opinion. Yes, it's readable, if you can ignore the flat characters and jerky scene changes. What I had the most problem with is the series of unbelievable coincidences which brought all the main characters into a tight circle.
First, a dog, who is an escapee from the military experiments, finds a rancher to adopt him. The rancher's daughter just happens to get stranded on a deserted island where the company which discovered the genetic modification protocols just happens to be housing a flock of genetically modified killer finches. Her boyfriend disappears, never to be heard from again, presumably killed by finches and then the evidence is incinerated by the military. She then gets a payoff from the company responsible so she won't tell anyone about the killer finches, which enables her to attend college all the way on the other side of the country, where she just happens to meet the scientist who discovered the DNA modifying capabilities. When her father is diagnosed with cancer, she just happens to call the scientist to ask for help. The scientist just happens to be at lunch with the man who stole his work and gave it to the military, who then tells the scientist to tell the girl that her father can join a test study which just happens to be going on near him and just happens to include testing a drug against his specific type of cancer.
Seriously, there's more but I'm tired of typing "just happens" . . .
If wildly improbable coincidences don't bother you in a plot, then you'll probably like this book.
Unless . . . a flaw in the basic premise of the entire story bugs you as much as it did me. Read on.
The flaw in the premise of this story is that genetic evolution doesn't occur in a vacuum. Rothman wants us to believe that predictable genetic mutations will occur without any outside pressures to encourage their reproduction. This goes against everything Darwin believed. Natural selection, which was Darwin's hypothesis, occurs when a naturally occurring mutation of an individual member of a species gives that individual an advantage over the rest of its species. If one elephant is immune to a certain abundant poisonous plant, that elephant has a food source with no competition, giving it an advantage over the rest of the elephants. If that particular elephant mates and passes on its immunity to its offspring, those offspring will also have an advantage. Over time, as generation after generation of these immune elephants multiply, and if non-poisonous vegetation becomes scarce, eventually, they will survive where other elephants won't. This is natural selection. Coats which are colored to blend in with their surroundings give animals advantages in not being as easy to spot by predators or prey, thus making them more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on this safer coloring on to future generations. This is natural selection.
In Rothman's world, simply decoding the genetic markers for certain traits and modifying them would replicate evolution. Yet without any biological imperative to adapt and change, genes will remain static. Without the addition of new DNA from a mate, genes will simply clone themselves.
Now, I don't pretend to be an expert in genetic research or gene splicing, but this whole premise lacks realism for me. It's possible I simply didn't understand what Rothman was trying to get across, but if that's the case, then I place the blame squarely on Rothman for not making his writing clearer.
In the end, I leave it up to you to decide if this is a book you want to read. For me, I won't be reading any more of Rothman's work. -
The advances in genetics over the last couple of decades has opened up a whole new world of possibilities. Treatments for diseases, screening for genetic illnesses, to name but two. It has also opened up an entire litany of concerns about what might happen if the power to alter the basic building blocks of life should be misused, either by accident or design. Looking at just such possibilities is Darwin Cipher's, a new techno-thriller from writer M.A. Rothman.
Rothman reads likes a cross between two different masters of the techno-thriller genre: Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton. Like Clancy's works, Darwin's Cipher has a large cast of characters with plots that are seemingly unconnected from one another until suddenly they click together like a jigsaw puzzle. The intersection of intelligence, law enforcement, government, and private industry (in this case the biomedical industry) all come into play as well. While the jigsaw nature of the plot does mean that the book gets off to a slow start (and suddenly jumps ahead in time after a few chapters), once it gets going the pace rarely lets up.
Of the two, it's Crichton's influence that's felt on the page. Via cancer researcher Juan Gutierrez, Rothman takes readers into the biomedical world and gene therapy. Though I felt like I had a handle on the basics before reading the novel, it still offered an engaging crash course to the field and the opportunities that are just around the corner. Thankfully though, with one deliberate and notable exception, there isn't much lecturing on the topics at hand. Instead, Rothman (and his character) gives the reader enough to not only follow the plot but raise the stakes at just the right moments. It's an easy to grasp science lesson, masterfully wrapped up in a thriller plot.
It also helps that the myriad of characters is just as engaging as the plot. Juan Gutierrez makes for an engaging protagonist, an idealist seeking a cure for cancer, only to discover what his work is capable of, for both better and worse. There are the various members of the O'Reilly family including rancher father Frank and college student daughter Katherine, FBI investigator Nate Carrington, and Juan's bosses at the company who all make for compelling and believable players in the drama. Together, they bring to life and populate the novel's world, making it all the more believable by adding a human dimension to proceedings.
Having said all that, I did find myself having a couple of minor quibbles with the novel. One I mentioned earlier which was the slow start to proceedings, four chapters or so before a sudden jump in time that takes readers to the rest of the narrative. While not against the idea, why it was necessary is never made clear, and the result is slightly jarring. Another occasional issue comes with the dialogue where there is a slight tendency for characters to talk in paragraphs at times, even during non-expositional instances. That crops up a few times but not often enough to take away from the overall effect of the piece. There are also what seems to be a few loose ends left at the end as well, though I can forgive those if there's a potential sequel in the works involving these characters.
For those seeking out a good thriller, especially on the techno end of the genre, Darwin's Cipher is an excellent choice. It combines the best of the genre's masters with an up to the minute topic, a combination of the technical with plot and characters that, despite a slow start, turns into a riveting ride. It's a tale of the promise tomorrow might hold but also the dangers we might face. It might cause a sleepless night or two, albeit for all the best reasons.
And what more can you ask of a good book?
(I received a Kindle edition of the novel in return for an honest review.) -
Very interesting premise of messing with genes to try and cure cancer with unintended consequences.
What I liked:
-Multiple storylines coming together.
-Great premise, very creative in a science kind of way.
-Good characters
What I didn't like:
-I felt it slowed down a little at the end
Over all very good. -
‘Who knows what lurks in the unknown recesses and genetic combinations that are possible?’
Author M.A (Michael) Rothman is the first member of his family to be born in the United States. His Hungarian grandfather was a WW II refugee and his family fled the Nazi occupation. Michael is an engineer who focuses on computer technology – system software design – and his designs are embedded in all modern computers distributed be the major companies in the world. He has stated ‘Whether it is deeply embedded devices such as missile guidance systems or vehicle navigation systems or general-purpose PCs such as laptops or even gaming consoles, I’ve worked with just about all types of “computers” throughout my career’. As for his writing, he has published three books to date – PRIMORDIAL THREAT, PERIMETER, and DARWIN’S CIPHER – each with themes of technology and international intrigue. .
The polished skill with which Michael relates his intriguing and immensely involving story showcases both his mastery of technology as well as his obvious travels and knowledge of global intrigue. But he steps further into the spotlight with his introduction of chief character Juan Gutierrez by not only making him a brilliant scientist but one coping with an important unknown: ‘Juan had long ago understood just how lucky he was. Not only had he managed to escape the projects of East LA – a rare feat – but he had completed both college and medical school, and now here he was doing cancer research for one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world…Cancer had taken both his parents from him, and those deaths had shaped the man he was today. His father’s death had filled Juan with an unstoppable drive, and his mother had given him the desire to prevent others suffering from the same hideous disease. He was driven by a single-minded obsession. To find a cure for cancer.’
It is this quality of prose that carries his novel to success. The plot is well outlined in the synopsis – ‘Juan Gutierrez, a cancer researcher, has spent years studying the genome of animals that exhibit immunity to some types of cancer. Over the course of his study, Juan discovers a pattern that allows him to predict the course of a species' evolution across thousands of generations. Using the algorithm he's developed from the pattern, Juan uncovers what he believes to be the key to conquering humanity's susceptibility to cancer. Others are interested in using what Juan has dubbed "Darwin's Cipher," however, instead of cancer research, they see very different applications for the new genetic algorithm. Nate Carrington, an FBI forensic analyst has been struggling with several cold cases when he’s alerted to an incident at a nearby ranch. It’s a case of a newborn calf who is found in the middle of a herd of dead cattle. It provides a single link to Nate's other cold cases: the DNA analysis of the calf doesn't match anything in the FBI's database. Somewhere in a rural hospital in West Virginia, four hospital workers are dead and a newborn child has been transported to the NIH's level-4 bio-containment unit. It's only when the NIH sends out an alert to all hospitals and law enforcement agencies that the world realizes the danger that faces them’.
At the end of the novel Michael offers some scientific factual information that heightens the readers interest – frightening but true. Writing of this caliber, having created a mesmerizing lead character whose skills as a human being are staggering, suggests that this book could easily be adapted as a screenplay for a fine motion picture. Having read all of Michael superb novels this reader awaits the inevitable screenplay transformation. Highly Recommended. -
Ever since the mid-twentieth century geneticists and molecular biologists have been mucking around in the human genetic code. Medical researchers have been seeking ways to cure diseases or prevent them entirely. Others have been toying with techniques to heighten critical elements in our physiological or psychological makeup such as intelligence or strength. Yet other scientists envision altering human physiology to adapt us for life on other planets with dramatically different atmospheric conditions. Meanwhile, a code of ethics has been widely adopted among researchers to prevent missteps that might bring tragic consequences. However, sometimes . . . well, accidents happen. And this thoughtful and inventive novel explores one such fraught development when genetic research goes awry.
Dr. Juan Gutierrez, a brilliant medical researcher, is pursuing a novel line of inquiry for his employer, the pharmaceutical giant Agrimed Global. Despite belt-tightening at the company, the director of research protects his position because he sees promise in Juan’s unorthodox approach. And Juan has set his sights on nothing less than a genetic cure for cancer.
Early on, we know that genetic research has gone awry
Meanwhile, at a secret Air Force base in the Nevada desert, a wandering Marine is set upon and killed by a pair of enormous dogs. Somehow, the German Federal Intelligence Service is involved—and organizes a coverup of the murder. To investigate a vague report of the incident, veteran FBI Special Agent Nate Carrington is dispatched from his base at Quantico. Nate is a member of the “Evidence Response Team Unit, the world-renowned FBI forensics lab,” but he turns up nothing other than a list of unanswered questions.
Near the Air Force base an older couple, Frank and Megan O’Reilley, come across a huge Labrador retriever on their cattle ranch. Megan names the dog Jasper. She has fallen instantly in love with him. And so does their daughter Kathy, who returns home from Alaska after her fiancé has died a grisly death when their sailboat took shelter at a private island in the Pacific. After escaping with her life—and a $200,000 payment to keep her mouth shut about what she has seen on the island—Kathy wants nothing more than to hide and reexamine her life.
Genetic research goes awry
As the story unfolds, the lives of Juan, Nate, and Kathy will intersect in dramatic ways. And they will all become caught up in a race against time to prevent a looming catastrophe unleashed by the theft and misuse of Juan’s research.
About the author
M. A. (Michael) Rothman describes himself as “one of the most unlikely novelists you’ll ever meet.” He’s an engineer with a background in the sciences. He has written eight books. -
For a free, kindle recommended book, this is surprisingly great. It reminds me of early Grisham but with the medical field instead of law. I'm hoping this new author has more.
-
I am not a medical thriller fan. I haven’t read a book in this genre that I liked. So when I was approached with an invite to review Darwin’s Cipher, I was hesitant. But then I read the blurb, and my interest was caught. So I accepted. I am happy I did because this book was fantastic.
The plot with Juan made me both angry and sad at the same time. I was sad because he poured his life into researching a cure for cancer. I was mad because people were using his research in the wrong ways. I was interested in seeing what went on behind the scenes in a research lab. The author was able to capture the sacrifices researches make in their quest to find a cure.
The plotline involving Nate and his investigation was interesting. It was interesting to see what he was going up against in his investigation. The scene where the evidence disappeared from the locker was huge. Like he said, how does evidence disappear from a protected federal agency?
Frank and Katie’s plotline showed a 3rd side to what was going on. It was refreshing to see everything happen from a regular person’s point of view. Every thing that Frank, and then Katie went through, horrified me. Even now, I get shivers thinking about it.
All the main characters in Darwin’s Cipher were well written. I was able to form a connection to them. They were 3d. Everytime I thought I had a character figured out, another layer would be revealed. Loved it.
Out of the three main characters, I’d have to say that I liked Katie the best. She was an ordinary woman caught up in something that bigger than her. Her actions and reactions would be close to what I would do. I also liked how her character developed throughout the book. She started as an immature girl and ended up as a mature woman.
Juan was a force of nature in this book. He was passionate about his research. The author did a fantastic job of portraying that. He sacrificed so much to get where he was. My only fault with him was that he had tunnel vision about his career. But, that passion came in handy at the end of the book.
Nate was the only character in the book that I felt I could have gotten to know better. Still, I liked him.
The secondary characters in Darwin’s Cipher added depth to the book. I will include the dog in with the secondary characters. Not saying why. Need to read the book to find out.
The bad guys gave me chills. While I understood why one of the bad guys did what he did, I couldn’t get past it. The other bad guys were evil. There were surprises about them, though. A couple of people who I thought were in on it wasn’t. And a person who I thought was on Juan’s side wasn’t.
Darwin’s Cipher does get technical. I don’t even begin to understand lab procedures. There was also technical jargon that made me go “huh.” I was able to google/use my Kindle dictionary to look that stuff up.
I wasn’t a fan of the Juan/Katie romance in the book. It did make sense at the end of the book. It fueled Juan to do what he did. But, I didn’t like it.
The end of Darwin’s Cipher was a nail biter for me. The author had everything happening so quickly that I almost couldn’t keep up reading. I had to reread pages so I could process what was happening. The way the book ended had me wondering if there was going to be another book.
I would give Darwin’s Cipher an Adult rating. There is no sex. There is language. There is violence. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.
I would reread Darwin’s Cipher. I would also reccomend this book to family and friends.
I would like to thank the author for allowing me to read and review Darwin’s Cipher.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book** -
Ending is rushed and wrapped up with a Deus Ex Machina. Also it was unbelievable cringey with how awful it was written, absolutely the dumbest thing I've read in a while.
Its a shame too because I was absolutely enjoying all the build up, tension, mystery and character building going on throughout the book.
There's a lot of really interesting stuff going on, like the situation with a overly smart dog, killer birds and a conspiracy going on with the Germans. However, i feel like absolutely nothing is done with any of that. When the book wrapped up I definetly was going 'but..... But what about all that other cool stuff? I wanted to know more about that'. It felt so throwaway and you could tell that it was just intended to be used for some shock value I guess instead of for any real meaningful plot, which is a shame.
Also this situation driving the plot was scary and had a lot of potential to be super destructive. I was actually hoping for a moment that it would get destructive, wildly out of control and more of a large scope impact on the world. However, once again, it doesn't do anything with it and keeps it feeling super localized, easy to remedy by the end and was mostly in control but with a lot of worry over keeping it in control.
I really didn't like how small small scope the story kept itself. There really wasn't anything even done to get outsider percpective or showing impact or impressions the world may have. The author did this cheap trick of excusing the lack of a broader scope because it's 'top secret'. So that 'top secret' approach kept everything small scope and was a cheap excuse to not need to write about broader impacts. I'm sorry but I have a hard time believing something like this wouldn't be leaked easily given how many people were involved, impacted and died already. It's super unrealistic that this would be so in control and easily remedied like it was.
The deus ex machina ending was the final straw for me to absolutely hating this book by the end. Unfortunately I had to get to the end to realize that I hated it. It was just cheap and felt super disrespectful of my time. I think honestly the author maybe bit off more then they could chew with trying to write a book like this. Like they were trying to desperately keep the story contained to one book. This kind of a story though, to do it right, it would require a book 3x this size or a series being made out of it. The tricks to keep the book smaller in scope by plugging in these top Secret excuses and lack of fleshing out the other potential plot devices that would have made this better really felt like this was all done to keep the book contained to one stand alone novel. It was a good way to have control over the books length I guess but this kind of plot just really felt so put to waste. -
The storyline honestly has a lot of potential. The premise is strong, the characters are diverse, and the pacing is well done. And YET, the narration leaves much to be desired.
Rothman is what I would call an aspiring poor man's (medical) John Grisham. I know that sounds like high praise considering Grisham's an excellent author who knows how to build a story and then hook, line and sinker keep you anchored, but I don't have a lot of wonderful things to say about Rothman's writing.
The storyline has all elements of a thriller - a deady virus that's suddenly wrecking havoc, a deadline to work against, a brilliant scientist (kudos for making a non-white protagonist though, that was a good touch), and a mysterious enemy turned vigilante.
But that's where it all went to hell. The writing is quite choppy, my nail paint had more layers (2) than the characters. Scenes were foreshadowed and then just... left..??? Plot points that were brought up and then it's as if the writer lost his thread of thought, and went "eh, nobody's gonna know". Finding the cure to the virus (the literal climax) was anticlimactic, which was a let down after building it up so much; one could argue, that it is very much in line with real life where very complicated problems have a very simple solution sometimes, but I did not pick up a thriller FICTION novel for real life depictions of disappointments.
The book did not leave me with the satisfaction of a good-read, but at least it got me out of my phone and back to reading after many months, so I guess it wasn't a complete waste. If this is Rothman's usual writing style, I don't see myself picking up his other works anytime soon. -
An Engaging, Accessible Scientific Thriller
This book was an entertaining techno thriller. The author has a strong scientific background and caught the writing bug. This book is an engaging book. It blends science and drama better than many others. The science is advanced, but I love how it was explained to be easy to follow for non science readers and kept as a real plausible key to the story. It was not boring as some technical explanations can be. It also has great character development. The young research, Juan was intelligently written, with nods to his heritage and dreams of helping others. The ranching family of the O'Reillys, were warm, caring and very realistic. It is a fast paced thrill ride, and I also appreciated how it was trim and highly written. It was very realistic, not all ends were tied up and it mirrored real life. I read this book using immersion reading, while listening to the audiobook. Narrator Tim Campbell was wonderful, capturing the characters beautifully and handles the technical language so well. The book also offers some base information about GMOs and Gene Therapy at the end with easy to follow descriptions that educate and inform those who aren't familiar with the scientific principles.
Definitely a great read with thrilling elements. -
This book is a reasonable facsimile of a Michael Crichton story. In fact, the author points out Crichton as an inspiration.
I did get tired of the author talking, mostly about himself. First he writes an opening note about covid. Okay, fine, whatever. Then he feels compelled to add an Author’s Note after the story, and an Addendum after that! Enough already! I don't need another lecture about Golden Rice. One of the characters already did that in the story. And just in case you have yet to figure out who the author is . . . after all that . . . you can catch About the Author at the end.
A few eyerolls:
“I’m going to share with you a secret.
“This isn’t the first time an event like this has occurred . . .”
-- I SERIOUSLY doubt an FBI agent would say this!
“I can scan the databases to see if either of those names pop up as having entered the country . . .”
-- Really? Two German intelligence agents would fly in under their own names?
Also, one character is supposed to be a legendary forensics guy. Mostly what he did was take samples. Heck, even I've done that.
Still, the story was enjoyable. I especially appreciated Juan's regard of the President near the end. And the ending itself was piquant. I'm a sucker for sci-fi that actually does contain science, so I'll probably read more of this author's work. -
Maybe it's because I read Michael Crichton mostly when I was young, and now I'm a jaded middle-aged adult? That is possible. But this wasn't quite hitting the notes I wanted.
The plot here is very straightforward. If it sounds like a conspiracy, it's a conspiracy. If it looks and acts like a bad guy, it's a bad guy. There weren't any moments where I was truly surprised or got floored with an awesome new idea.
And I had trouble liking the main characters. There were some aspects of them that seemed too ditzy or shallow, not presented as character flaws to be addressed (they never were), but just as oopsie-that's-how-s/he-is. I look for heroes when I'm reading fiction. Crichton usually presented at least one protag that I could really root for.
Still, this is a fast read! And who doesn't love a story that shows the law of unintended consequences? Cure for cancer becomes something with huge implications. That is just a fantastic premise. -
Knocked off a star for the incomplete ending. Sequel coming? 4 stars for the Audiobook version
I listened to the Audible version and loved it. “Darwin’s Cipher” has a fascinating plot line with two stories running in tandem—first, featuring a cancer research scientist and then an FBI agent/forensic analyst.
Narrator Tim Campbell did an outstanding job with the voices. Furthermore, he glides through the science passages without hesitation or mispronunciations. Had I read the book or the Kindle version, I’d have rated this 2 stars, because of the writing problems which other reviewers have discussed.
I don’t like important threads left hanging at the end, regardless whether a sequel is being written. Plus, the entire denouement is rushed almost as though the author needed to have finished it yesterday. -
FULL DISCLOSURE: I received a free Kindle copy of this book via the First Reads program.
FULLER DISCLOSURE: I had already planned to buy this book, due to the recommendations I had seen.
FULLEST DISCLOSURE: This book was awesome!
This is the first book by Mr. Rothman that I have read, but I will definitely be ordering more of his work. It is tagged as "Sci Fi" but I would argue that it is more scientific/medial thriller than anything. Well-written, with an intriguing, engaging and totally believable plot -- a definite page-turner! Rothman blended concepts of cutting-edge science and medical research (gene therapy) with corporate espionage and theft, with plenty of action and engaging characters. And several separate plots are woven together, intersecting perfectly to create a riveting story. Fans of Michael Crichton will love Darwin's Cipher! -
Science and Technology Become a Thriller
I must qua gift this review by saying I am not into reading science fiction or science as the basis for fiction. That being said, I really enjoyed this book. Mr. Rothman utilizes science in his story, but does so not by dumbing down his writing but by thoroughly explaining that science so the "average Joe" can understand it. I've read -- or tried to read -- some works of fiction in which the author spent countless words trying to explain, in great detail, the premise he was utilizing for developing his story. It got tedious to read! Done! But Mr. Rothman clearly weaves the details of the science he is writing about and develops his story, all at the same time. Refreshing and interesting. Darwin's Cipher is a really interesting story. It's premise is believable. It's just a really good.book! -
Though I prefer non-genre fiction, I agreed to take a look at this one and maybe - or maybe not - review it. Rothman's foray into genetic modification gone dangerously wrong grabbed me early on and kept me reading to the satisfying end. His passion for science, combined with his skill as a storyteller, leads to a novel that is as believable as it is compelling. There's plenty of skullduggery for the thriller reader and an ending that made me laugh out loud.
For some reason, the book kept crashing my Kindle app, but that's likely just a corrupt copy rather than a problem with the ebook. Fair warning though: If you start Darwin's Cipher on a work night, you might be bleary eyed the next day. It is gripping and hard to put down. -
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a decent thriller with good characterizations and a suspenseful plot. I pretty much read this in one sitting and while I had hoped for a bit more action, it definitely kept me engaged and entertained throughout. I felt the gene technology angle was well thought out and it offered some chilling consequences of scientists getting ahead of themselves and rushing into testing before fully vetting their findings. I felt the resolution was a bit rushed, but it left open the possibility of a sequel. Whether Rothman writes it, or we write it in our heads is up in the air. It's been a week since I finished the book and I am still thinking about it. That to me is the best indication of a good read. -
I won this as a Goodreads Giveaway and am very grateful for the chance to read this story. It is a fairly routine thriller with a hint of science fiction dealing with genetic experimentation gone wrong. And when I say it is routine I dont mean that in a bad way. This was a well written fast paced tale that wwas pretty easy to follow, with characters that I cared about and a realatively realistic plot. The routine part is because it didnt really introduce any truly far out elements that were outside the norm for this kind of story.
I did get a bit confused about who the "bad guys" really were. At the end of the novel I was not quite sure who exactly was responsible and why they did it. Something to do with Germans and one of the lead scientists former friends. A tad frustrating and probably more to do with me not paying attention but the reasons/people behind these genetic screw ups seemed vague.
Otherwise though a fine thriller that I read quickly and enjoyed very much. -
A pleasant surprise. I bought this book at a discounted price because the plot sounded intriguing and found that the story was both original and complex with excellent characters and a good balance between relationships and action. Juan Guitterez is developing a genetic modification that will eliminate cancer. But there are other people who see opportunities for using his discovery to develop mutated animals for weapons. In a "Jurassic Park" type scenario, these weaponized genetic mutants get loose and alert Guitterez' company to the theft. But it gets personal when for Juan when his girlfriend becomes infected with the mutated virus. Can Juan find a cure for her, and for all of those who have become pawns in a game of money and power? A well written page turning thrill ride!
-
This is a well-written book without too much detail to bog down the story. The information is easily read and understood and moves at a fast enough pace to keep you reading and interested, as well as open up a new story.
I enjoy the detail in books, but not always. This book hit that mark exactly. Easy to follow and somewhat predictable, but you still had to follow the science and the areas that were covered in the book. I found myself actually looking up things and seeing just what they were.
By the end, you have a well-done story and a book that is put together well. If you are a fan of science, love, and day to day items that we all have done or can relate to in one way or another, don't wait, go ahead and give this one a read.
