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E&M Technothriller #1
State of Matter
A "superior thriller" (Kirkus Reviews) from the author of The Bone Hunter series and The Slayer Rule
One rogue engineer. Two unlikely allies. Three chances to stop a nuclear disaster.
In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, a brilliant Russian engineer vanishes into the irradiated ruins of the Polygon—once the Soviet's nuclear testing ground. Decades later, CIA operative Bill Estes and FBI agent Michelle Marsh uncover evidence of stolen nuclear material and the missing Russian bomb maker who may have resurfaced.
Then a U.S. warship is destroyed in a nuclear blast. Washington scrambles for answers.
As Estes tracks leads across the globe, he suspects a far-reaching conspiracy—one that implicates more than just Iran. Meanwhile, Marsh, digging into the Russian's past, reaches an unsettling the very man they're hunting may be the only one who can stop the next attack, on American soil.
From Moscow to Kazakhstan to the White House, State of Matter blends espionage, nuclear science, and geopolitical brinkmanship into a timely and chillingly plausible thriller.
"DeGrandpre brings a sense of authenticity to this propulsive global thriller, which spans decades and features far-flung locations." —Kirkus Reviews
One rogue engineer. Two unlikely allies. Three chances to stop a nuclear disaster.
In the aftermath of the Soviet Union's collapse, a brilliant Russian engineer vanishes into the irradiated ruins of the Polygon—once the Soviet's nuclear testing ground. Decades later, CIA operative Bill Estes and FBI agent Michelle Marsh uncover evidence of stolen nuclear material and the missing Russian bomb maker who may have resurfaced.
Then a U.S. warship is destroyed in a nuclear blast. Washington scrambles for answers.
As Estes tracks leads across the globe, he suspects a far-reaching conspiracy—one that implicates more than just Iran. Meanwhile, Marsh, digging into the Russian's past, reaches an unsettling the very man they're hunting may be the only one who can stop the next attack, on American soil.
From Moscow to Kazakhstan to the White House, State of Matter blends espionage, nuclear science, and geopolitical brinkmanship into a timely and chillingly plausible thriller.
"DeGrandpre brings a sense of authenticity to this propulsive global thriller, which spans decades and features far-flung locations." —Kirkus Reviews
- GenresMystery
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 8, 2024
252 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 17, 2025
Tough read
The tale starts off with details about nuclear weapons. Are they true,it would take someone who was very knowledgeable about such things to know. I’m not that person. It left me confused and not too interested in what came next.
I was able to skip entire chapters without losing the plot? There is no way that I could have come up with the many twists and turns that the writer uses. Some were most ingenious while others were not believable.
Try this book to come to your own conclusions.
The tale starts off with details about nuclear weapons. Are they true,it would take someone who was very knowledgeable about such things to know. I’m not that person. It left me confused and not too interested in what came next.
I was able to skip entire chapters without losing the plot? There is no way that I could have come up with the many twists and turns that the writer uses. Some were most ingenious while others were not believable.
Try this book to come to your own conclusions.
February 23, 2025
The author has a good understanding of nuclear weapon technology and spends too much time explaining it to the reader, slowing plot progression to the point where one is tempted to stop reading. The plot idea is good but the writing, while well edited, moved too slowly for a thriller. Not a page-turner.
July 1, 2025
An engrossing story
A multi layered story that leaves you guessing to the end.... and beyond!
A well put together yarn and sufficiently believable to keep interest.
Recommended for fans of this genre.
A multi layered story that leaves you guessing to the end.... and beyond!
A well put together yarn and sufficiently believable to keep interest.
Recommended for fans of this genre.
January 1, 2025
Took real effort to finish reading this massively disconnected mishmash.
The basic concept could have made a good story, but the writing style spoiled it.
The basic concept could have made a good story, but the writing style spoiled it.
July 4, 2025
This was a good book but there was too many characters to keep a hold of and it seems a bit eerie bearing in mind all that is going on with Israel, Iran and the USA at the moment. Scary stuff.
August 26, 2025
Spy v. Spy Couldn’t Be Better
This story had me going from the first chapter. Each new section gave new twists and information. Maybe the old MAD Magazine had it right.
This story had me going from the first chapter. Each new section gave new twists and information. Maybe the old MAD Magazine had it right.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews