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The Virus

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About this listen

From renowned British politician Stanley Johnson, an exciting, intelligent thriller about the rise of a mysterious virus and one man's fight to stop a deadly pandemic, perfect for fans of Michael Crichton and Dan Brown.

How do you stop an invisible killer?

When a young woman in New York City dies mysteriously after a trip to Brussels, top epidemiologist Lowell Kaplan identifies the cause of death as the Marburg Virus - a fatal strain that has surfaced only once before in history. Determined to trace the source of the disease, Kaplan follows a trail of intrigue from the labs of Germany to the jungles of Central Africa. With danger nipping at his heels and the secrets of the virus' origin kept deliberately under wraps, Kaplan must go to unimaginable lengths to stop a deadly scheme.

©2020 Stanley Johnson (P)2020 W. F. Howes Ltd Genre Fiction Medical Thriller & Suspense Fiction Africa

Critic reviews

"Johnson blends concerns about infectious disease, animal rights, biological warfare and late Cold War politics into an enjoyable adventure.... A well-told tale that should appeal to many." (Library Journal)

"Mr. Johnson, a former member of the European Parliament and the father of British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, clearly knows all the drills. The author of 25 earlier works of fiction and nonfiction, he has a lifetime's expertise." (The Wall Street Journal)

"There are some novelists who, by instincts or study, understand perfectly the independent components of a thriller. Stanley Johnson is one of them." (Daily Telegraph)

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Okay Stanley is very knowledgeable but it wasnt great. Slightly bored. Glad to finish it.

The virus

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This was a captivating book and a great listen
It was a good book to have in the background

Surprisingly good

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I'm not sure what kept me listening, the narrator was so unutterably appalling.
The writing is most certainly a product of it's time and could also do with an easy edit but that narrator - OMG. I increased the speed to 1.5 and then it was almost bearable.
I persevered as I had heard about the book (from the author's authors punt of it on TV) when Covid first came out and I have to say, quite a few interesting twists - not a bad book - just make sure you read it yourself!

the narrator RUINED the entire book

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Loved the story and the places are described in the book. Exciting storyline and twists.

Exciting, engaging

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