Medical fiction at its best. Serum is a pulse-pounding medical thriller. It's a race against time!
For Ronit Levy, leaving Israel appears to be the only way of escaping her ex-boyfriend’s unrelenting barrage of assaults. Reconciliation is totally out of the question. She desperately yearns for a lasting inner-peace, a peace without further threat of emotional anguish. However, her psychopathic ex-lover, John Rothman, is determined to exact his bloody revenge on the only woman who ever walked out on him. In his drugged state, he concocts a sadistic plan to bring closure to the matter. With her disabled brother entrusted into the care of a family friend, Ronit leaves for her new post in Tal Basta, Egypt. The Al-Radah-Corporation, a pharmaceutical monolith, is Ronit’s sanctuary; a place where she can develop her career and put the pieces of her shattered life back together.
The tranquility of her new surroundings coupled with the gracious company of her colleague, Casey Rolf, help to put things into perspective. For a short time, she enjoys the relative calm of life in modern day Egypt. As an assistant to the leading research scientists at the facility, Ronit quickly settles into a routine. However, things soon take a dramatic twist. With an iron curtain enshrouding the research department´s projects, and a ubiquitous armed guard presence outside the laboratories, Ronit begins to question the nature of the activities at the corporation.
Quite unexpectedly, during one of her investigative exploits, she stumbles upon a harrowing plot of unimaginable evil. Forced into a deadly game of cat and mouse, she must outwit her assailants every step of the way. From the terrifying darkness of the laboratory, to the heart wrenching chase scenes along the catwalks, Ronit must avoid detection by a cold-blooded murderer. In the sinister world of the Al-Radah-Corporation, where the scientists have carte-blanche to overstep the boundaries of acceptable ethical conduct, it is up to her to stand her ground. Against this backdrop of treachery, and the perversion of medical science, Ronit fears the worst is yet to come.
She must convince her cynical ally, Casey Rolf, of her suspicions, but even he has a startling confession to make. In an adrenalin-loaded race against the clock, the story tracks the shocking discoveries of Ronit Levy and Casey Rolf. Their nerve-racking pursuits, filled with extraordinary twists and turns, are an endeavor to discover the macabre truth lurking beneath the veneer of the multinational corporation. With imminent disaster of unprecedented proportions about to unfold, the duo risk life and limb, in an all-out effort to dismantle the enemy operation. A neo-fascist research department gone berserk: a place where narcissism and megalomania reign supreme - a place called the Al-Radah-Corporation. Terror has a new playground, come and see for yourself…
Professional Reviews
Gripping
Michael Bafatakis (online165007@telkomsa.net), entrepeneur, 09/24/2005
The story as a whole was well written, truly gripping and highly recommended.
The book started with a strong medical theme, giving very graphic detail as to how the virus actually works while also introducing a lot of the characters. In chapter one, we meet the psychotic Doctor Kratskelau and are introduced to his colleagues from the beginning we learn that although these doctors should be working for the greater good, what they up to is very devious and evil. In the second chapter we are introduced to John and Ronit, Ronit being one the main characters of the book. By their introduction we see that they are not on very good terms bringing to light how the story will begin to unfold. John is described by Ronit in the beginning as being a flawless individual and charismatic gentleman - a great catch! Ronit was definitely in love with this man at the start, but throughout the second chapter it’s brought to light that John abused drugs and his character began to change to being totally abusive and dictating. John’s character in the book actually never showed any form of remorse for his actions, he was a man not used to rejection and found it difficult to come to terms with the fact that his girlfriend walked out on him, creating inside him this need for revenge. He becomes ultimately determined to find Ronit and carry through his threats, even through the story where John is wounded by his victim Gila, then is found by the janitor Avi, all through that time he never broke down, nor showed any form of emotion still he became even more determined to get revenge, giving no regard to the Avi who saved his life, still had it in him to kill him. I found that part unpredictable because clichי would have it as a life for a life, I enjoyed that little twist! As the story goes on, his hate for Ronit becomes stronger. John was a psychotic maniac, which was brought on by mass use of cocaine, creating a personality disorder, changing him from that athletic handsome boyfriend to a conceited, violent and abusive boyfriend, who found revenge because he couldn’t handle rejection. As the book progresses more characters come into play such as Casey Rolf, who charmingly adds that ‘James Bond’ theme to the book, sweeping Ronit off her feet. He is a character that adds mystery, but only reveals himself towards the end. One of the characters I enjoyed was Saeed he gave that ruthless killer impression, smart and cunning, playing the above average henchman to the doctors, being pro-active not only taking orders as his two little Englishmen, but adding danger and definitely action to some parts of the book. Dr Kratskelau is your typically clichיd mad scientist, ready to rule the world with some sick invention or scheme. But there is one little thing different about him, as most stories would reflect a character like him being driven by money or greed, his drive was interesting, it was fueled by passion to complete and take credibility, giving a sense of adoration to him by the reader but also showing that he is truly evil. The story as a whole was well written, truly gripping and highly recommended. Michael Bafatakis
Wow
Silvia Bradman, a cartographer, 03/15/2007
Entertaining from begining to end
Serum was really a great read. There was so much packed into this novel that I found it hard to put down. The ending left a large question mark hanging Highly recommended
Also recommended: Blowfly
Assistant County Attorney Ken Anderson spends his weekends drinking and running around. After waking up with another hangover, Ken decides not to drink so much anymore. Ken and his buddy, Tony, go out to eat and see Mia Correa and Faye Kincaid at the
Kim Jong Eun è morto. L'esercito nordcoreano è ora al comando. Il loro nuovo dittatore militare, il maresciallo Ko, crede che con un'invasione totale possano raggiungere Seul, a sole 35 miglia di distanza.
