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THE LAZARUS EXPERIMENT
In 2084, in Upstate New York, Dr. Jonathan Kelton, scientist and chemistry professor, returns home after spending a year in a coma. He has literally been put back together after a catastrophic explosion in his home lab, an event that remains mysterious to him. Under the care of the enigmatic Dr. Rose, he discovers strange gaps in his recent memory -- even as he tries desperately to re-bond with his wife, with whom he was in a faltering marriage, and his seven-year-old son. When the body of his one-time 28-year-old, female graduate student surfaces in the Hudson River after a storm -- having been mutilated and submerged a year earlier -- Jonathan is devastated to find himself accused of her murder. In fact, as he pieces together memories on his own -- with the aid of a remote psychiatric device he creates for himself -- he starts to recall details of a possessive and dangerous affair with her; in the face of a jealous boyfriend, a demanding, drug addict half-brother, a possibly sinister connection to a bomb plotter at their own university, and also, the girl’s own increasingly sadomasochistic tendencies. Even as he worries that the doctor’s radical, experimental surgery has left him subject to some form of mind control because of his memory lapses, Jonathan tries to race the police to find out who murdered this scared and wayward girl, to protect himself and his family. Did he ever really know the truth? Can he find out who does? Or could he himself really be the killer?
- GenresScience Fiction
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2014
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 24, 2015
What to say about The Lazarus Experiment... Well, I was left a little underwhelmed to be honest.
I read a couple of the other reviews before I started reading, and the mention of adult content made me keen to see just how it was going to be handled, but I wasn't sure how it would fit in.
As it stands, adultery at the best of times is a tricky business, and I thought Mark managed the lies and duplicity well. The realness and confusion caused by Jonathan's lack of memory also worked well, but that in itself caused issues when reading. The reader cannot trust Jonathan's narration. The reader is exposed to Jonathan working through the lost year of his life. The reader learns of these memories with Jonathan, which allows a connection, but the confusion and disorientation tears that connection.
The memories were a good tool to provide the information the reader and Jonathan needed, but they didn't feel real enough to me. I'd have liked a bit more emersion more sensory information, more vivid imagery. The memories felt muted, which could have been intentional… but if it was, it felt as if the memories were lacking in substance.
The twists at the end were in a way both expected and unexpected. Some of them were obviously bound to happen, some not so much. They were a long time coming, and it did make the book drag a little. A few more breadcrumbs throughout the book would help here… perhaps some memory snippets, or Jonathan being drawn to a specific smell or sound or something. I think that’d encourage the reader to think things through more thoroughly, make the connections (even the wrong connections if desired) it’d make the book more immersive and engaging.
Firmly in the sci-fi genre, there are aspects of thriller and even a few small romance-ish themes. The mystery of who killed Mitcha, who Jonathan can rely on and how, if at all, Johnathan is implicated in the murder and fire at his lab, all tie in to create a story that grips the reader and makes them stay reading until the final pages.
The writing was well constructed, with minimal editing issues, a few I noticed are mentioned below, but generally it was well written. Ultimately I felt the book had a fantastic idea, saw the potential to be really ‘out there’, but drew back to safer ground. This is where I felt let down by the book.
A few things I noticed:
22% - What's shedoing (insert space) now?
58% - Nothing came up,. (Fix punctuation)
60% - "Hop in,(") Cape said
64% - Where did love into (delete into) enter into it?
71% - It was not (delete t) longer human hands...
82% - Jonathan sees anartist's (insert space after an) sketchbook...
**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book in return for an honest review.**
I read a couple of the other reviews before I started reading, and the mention of adult content made me keen to see just how it was going to be handled, but I wasn't sure how it would fit in.
As it stands, adultery at the best of times is a tricky business, and I thought Mark managed the lies and duplicity well. The realness and confusion caused by Jonathan's lack of memory also worked well, but that in itself caused issues when reading. The reader cannot trust Jonathan's narration. The reader is exposed to Jonathan working through the lost year of his life. The reader learns of these memories with Jonathan, which allows a connection, but the confusion and disorientation tears that connection.
The memories were a good tool to provide the information the reader and Jonathan needed, but they didn't feel real enough to me. I'd have liked a bit more emersion more sensory information, more vivid imagery. The memories felt muted, which could have been intentional… but if it was, it felt as if the memories were lacking in substance.
The twists at the end were in a way both expected and unexpected. Some of them were obviously bound to happen, some not so much. They were a long time coming, and it did make the book drag a little. A few more breadcrumbs throughout the book would help here… perhaps some memory snippets, or Jonathan being drawn to a specific smell or sound or something. I think that’d encourage the reader to think things through more thoroughly, make the connections (even the wrong connections if desired) it’d make the book more immersive and engaging.
Firmly in the sci-fi genre, there are aspects of thriller and even a few small romance-ish themes. The mystery of who killed Mitcha, who Jonathan can rely on and how, if at all, Johnathan is implicated in the murder and fire at his lab, all tie in to create a story that grips the reader and makes them stay reading until the final pages.
The writing was well constructed, with minimal editing issues, a few I noticed are mentioned below, but generally it was well written. Ultimately I felt the book had a fantastic idea, saw the potential to be really ‘out there’, but drew back to safer ground. This is where I felt let down by the book.
A few things I noticed:
22% - What's shedoing (insert space) now?
58% - Nothing came up,. (Fix punctuation)
60% - "Hop in,(") Cape said
64% - Where did love into (delete into) enter into it?
71% - It was not (delete t) longer human hands...
82% - Jonathan sees anartist's (insert space after an) sketchbook...
**Note: I was provided an electronic copy of this book in return for an honest review.**
October 21, 2014
This book was a total mind trip for me. I really really enjoy books that make me think.
Dr. Johnathan Kelton wakes up after spending a year in a coma. He has no real memory of what happened to him. When he is released from the hospital and goes home to his wife Diana, and his son Henry. Things never seem quite right with Johnathan. He is not quite himself. He has literally been put back together through scientific means after the fire his lab.
Johnathan, can't remember anything, and is searching for answers about what happened to him. His wife Diana tries to keep everything as normal as possible at home. He knows that things were not quite right with him and his wife before the fire, but cannot remember what happened. When a girl washes up after being submerged under water for a year, the name seems a bit familiar to Johnathan but he cannot place it. In his search to find out what exactly happened to him facts about the girl who washed a shore, and his life begin to intertwine.
This is when the book gets trippy. Johnathan finds out he is the prime suspect in the murder of this girl, and is determined to clear himself and find out what happened to the girl.
The story takes you on a ride though Johnathan's past, and brings us up to speed on what really happened to Johnathan, his wife, and the dead girl.
Just when you think you have figured something out another plot twist comes into play. I kept thinking I knew who the bad guy was and then bam....another twit. It was awesome.
The ending totally surprised me. It was hard for me to determine who the bad guy, and the killer were. Were they the same or were they two or more people. I enjoyed the ride this book took me on. I love it when a book keeps me guessing about the outcome.
The thought of being able to be brought back to life and have your memories erased is a little crazy to me. There are people in this book who experiment with things that just plain scare me. I know it's just a book, but there is always that "WHAT IF" question. :)
Content: There is language in this book and the "f" word is used a few times. There is sexual content that is sometimes a bit too descriptive for my liking so just be aware if you are getting this book for a younger teenager. BUT, in MY opinion it is an Adult book.
Source: I was given this book by the author in return for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way for this review, These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.
Dr. Johnathan Kelton wakes up after spending a year in a coma. He has no real memory of what happened to him. When he is released from the hospital and goes home to his wife Diana, and his son Henry. Things never seem quite right with Johnathan. He is not quite himself. He has literally been put back together through scientific means after the fire his lab.
Johnathan, can't remember anything, and is searching for answers about what happened to him. His wife Diana tries to keep everything as normal as possible at home. He knows that things were not quite right with him and his wife before the fire, but cannot remember what happened. When a girl washes up after being submerged under water for a year, the name seems a bit familiar to Johnathan but he cannot place it. In his search to find out what exactly happened to him facts about the girl who washed a shore, and his life begin to intertwine.
This is when the book gets trippy. Johnathan finds out he is the prime suspect in the murder of this girl, and is determined to clear himself and find out what happened to the girl.
The story takes you on a ride though Johnathan's past, and brings us up to speed on what really happened to Johnathan, his wife, and the dead girl.
Just when you think you have figured something out another plot twist comes into play. I kept thinking I knew who the bad guy was and then bam....another twit. It was awesome.
The ending totally surprised me. It was hard for me to determine who the bad guy, and the killer were. Were they the same or were they two or more people. I enjoyed the ride this book took me on. I love it when a book keeps me guessing about the outcome.
The thought of being able to be brought back to life and have your memories erased is a little crazy to me. There are people in this book who experiment with things that just plain scare me. I know it's just a book, but there is always that "WHAT IF" question. :)
Content: There is language in this book and the "f" word is used a few times. There is sexual content that is sometimes a bit too descriptive for my liking so just be aware if you are getting this book for a younger teenager. BUT, in MY opinion it is an Adult book.
Source: I was given this book by the author in return for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way for this review, These are my own PERSONAL thoughts on the book.
April 13, 2015
Welcome to the year 2084, Dr. Jonathon Kelton has just awoken from a year long coma. After being blown up in his lab.
Not remembering anything he is under the care of Dr Oskar Rose who basically rebuilt him. As he recovers his memories slowly come back to him . He is up for murder of his mistress and his family is falling apart and he has to fix his relationship with his young son. He races against time and the police to find out the truth before his life and the life of the ones he loves are destroyed forever.
This book is set in the future but really not that far when you actually think about it . This is was a real page turner for me . I couldn't put this book down. I so wanted to get to the end to find out what the heck happened and wanting to find out who the killer actually was. But then there is the dread that I have when I am into a good book . The dread that the book will come to an end. Then what would I do
The characters are so well written and you want to help Johnathon out so badly . You can feel his frustration as he tries to piece his life back together and build his life back up. As you dive into his character you really have this feeling you can't shake . Is he an innocent man or a cold blooded killer. The author takes us on such a ride. You just never know as you read along. You also get a real funky mad scientist vibe from Dr. Oskar Rose. Which to me added a lot to the story line . There are some graphic sex scenes and the F bomb is dropped a few times but it doesn't sway from the story at all.
This is an edge of your seat read for anyone who loves crime and sci fi readers . You have the best of both in this book. You will be reading this book well into the night. Trust me you will not figure this out until the end and then you will be shaking your head going what the heck just happened . You will be so lost in this book that time will fly. So if you want a great read that will make you think. This is the book for you.
October 10, 2014
I received this book for the purpose of a fair review.
Overview: Jonathan Kelton has returned home after a year long recovery from an accident in his lab. His memories are a bit shot, but here in the good old year 2085 that kind of re-growth can be easily encouraged by the mind-d. Now why would the police think that he might be responsible for the death of a former student?
Likes: Mr. DeGasperi’s story definitely shows just how important the truth is. Everything Jonathan does is aimed at finding the truth, much to everyone’s chagrin.
Dislikes: We have an unreliable narrator in the form of Jonathan. He has very little memory, so we are left as confused as he is, most of the time.
And some of the new technology used here makes this novel a bit jarring if you read it aloud.
Conclusion: It’s a good story, just read it quietly. That way you can get the best enjoyment out of the book. I hope you have fun with it.
Overview: Jonathan Kelton has returned home after a year long recovery from an accident in his lab. His memories are a bit shot, but here in the good old year 2085 that kind of re-growth can be easily encouraged by the mind-d. Now why would the police think that he might be responsible for the death of a former student?
Likes: Mr. DeGasperi’s story definitely shows just how important the truth is. Everything Jonathan does is aimed at finding the truth, much to everyone’s chagrin.
Dislikes: We have an unreliable narrator in the form of Jonathan. He has very little memory, so we are left as confused as he is, most of the time.
And some of the new technology used here makes this novel a bit jarring if you read it aloud.
Conclusion: It’s a good story, just read it quietly. That way you can get the best enjoyment out of the book. I hope you have fun with it.
October 22, 2014
This novel is in the future, the year 2084 to be exact. It is a world that I personally hope never comes to be!! There are twists and turns in this book to the point that you will NEVER figure out the ending!! The depiction of what "medical science" was capable of and the devastation of New York State were eye openers-I sincerely hope this never ever happens. I really can't write anymore without giving away the plot-so I will let you read what was written on Amazon (and the back of the book). This futuristic murder mystery will surely give you chills!!THE LAZARUS EXPERIMENT
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