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Bite
Tomorrow should be the greatest day of Erica Stroud-Jones's life. The brilliant young British scientist has found a revolutionary way to beat a deadly tropical disease.
Millions of lives could be saved, a Nobel Prize beckons.
She is in Amsterdam. Tomorrow she presents her secret research to a scientific conference. Watching her will be sceptics and rivals, admirers and enemies. Erica's own eyes will be on sculptor Max Carver, her new American love, to whom she wants to dedicate her achievement.
Tomorrow never comes.
Erica vanishes during the night. Max, a tough former coast guard, is determined to find her. As he digs for clues he finds jealousy, malice and cunning. But even he is shocked by the dark terror he finds at the heart of the woman he loves.
Not only a page-turner, Bite gets to the core of the debate about pharmaceutical ethics.
Millions of lives could be saved, a Nobel Prize beckons.
She is in Amsterdam. Tomorrow she presents her secret research to a scientific conference. Watching her will be sceptics and rivals, admirers and enemies. Erica's own eyes will be on sculptor Max Carver, her new American love, to whom she wants to dedicate her achievement.
Tomorrow never comes.
Erica vanishes during the night. Max, a tough former coast guard, is determined to find her. As he digs for clues he finds jealousy, malice and cunning. But even he is shocked by the dark terror he finds at the heart of the woman he loves.
Not only a page-turner, Bite gets to the core of the debate about pharmaceutical ethics.
432 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2007
328 people are currently reading
713 people want to read
About the author
Nick Louth
41 books294 followersNick Louth is a freelance journalist and author, based in Lincolnshire UK.
Before beginning writing fiction, he was a foreign correspondent for Reuters news agency, and a regular contributor to the Financial Times, MSN, and many financial magazines.
Before beginning writing fiction, he was a foreign correspondent for Reuters news agency, and a regular contributor to the Financial Times, MSN, and many financial magazines.
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November 13, 2025
Os Negociantes da Saúde
Quero começar por dizer que chamar a este livro o "thriller mais viciante de sempre" foi um golpe publicitário pouco conseguido. Por um lado, corre o risco de colocar expectativas nos píncaros, o que pode até ser prejudicial, em vez de benéfico. Por outro lado, considero absurdo classificar uma obra literária em termos absolutos pois trata-se de algo tão pessoal, que dir-se-ia idiossincrático.
Não obstante, a história contém ingredientes q.b. que se misturam e combinam num enredo cativante.
Existem 3 linhas de narrativa que constroem progressivamente as 3 peças dum puzzle que só encaixam no final, alcançando o almejado sentido. Até lá, é um fervilhar de questões...
Para finalizar, não posso deixar de referir que este thriller tem um plus:
proporciona-nos uma viagem aos bastidores da industria farmacêutica, mostrando como os jogos de dinheiro e poder são valorizados em detrimento do respeito e consideração pela vida humana.
“E no que toca a esse discurso, Penny. Suponho que eles queiram ouvir o que iremos fazer para melhorar as condições de saúde dos pobres do terceiro mundo, não?
— Algo do género.
— Então, o meu discurso resume-se a uma palavra: nada.
Erskine riu-se e carregou no botão do rés do chão.”
Quero começar por dizer que chamar a este livro o "thriller mais viciante de sempre" foi um golpe publicitário pouco conseguido. Por um lado, corre o risco de colocar expectativas nos píncaros, o que pode até ser prejudicial, em vez de benéfico. Por outro lado, considero absurdo classificar uma obra literária em termos absolutos pois trata-se de algo tão pessoal, que dir-se-ia idiossincrático.
Não obstante, a história contém ingredientes q.b. que se misturam e combinam num enredo cativante.
Existem 3 linhas de narrativa que constroem progressivamente as 3 peças dum puzzle que só encaixam no final, alcançando o almejado sentido. Até lá, é um fervilhar de questões...
Para finalizar, não posso deixar de referir que este thriller tem um plus:
proporciona-nos uma viagem aos bastidores da industria farmacêutica, mostrando como os jogos de dinheiro e poder são valorizados em detrimento do respeito e consideração pela vida humana.
“E no que toca a esse discurso, Penny. Suponho que eles queiram ouvir o que iremos fazer para melhorar as condições de saúde dos pobres do terceiro mundo, não?
— Algo do género.
— Então, o meu discurso resume-se a uma palavra: nada.
Erskine riu-se e carregou no botão do rés do chão.”
December 28, 2015
Scientist Erica Stroud-Jones is missing. She disappears just hours before she will present her secret work to a conference in Amsterdam; research that could finally revolutionize the battle against a deadly tropical disease. But now she is gone and her boyfriend Max Carver must do everything in his power to find her. But that are people out there who would do anything to stop him. And, then people start getting sick, but it seems that someone is behind this new illness...
This book was wonderfully captivating, a real page-turner. There are three different narratives in this book; Ericas diary from her time in Africa, Max Carvers searching for Erica and the doctors who discover the illness and all three of the narratives work perfectly together until the end.
This is my kind of book a thriller that until the last page is thrilling to read and that manage to deliver some surprises. I admit that towards the ending I found that I had some problem fully take in the story, but I think it had more to do with me being tired than the book. Also, in this book, not everything is black and white, sure there is some evil people, especially one really nasty person, but I felt that the man behind the all, I could understand him. I could understand how he came to do the things he did and that is not always so when it comes to thriller. Often is it money or power, but in this case, not everything had to do with money, well in a way it did, as it was a one man's greed that started everything.
What really got to me, in the end, was the ending of the book when everything that had happened in the book in the present got explained and it was so perfect! It was just a perfect closing for the book, the explanation how one thing led to another thing.
Thank you Piatkus for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
This book was wonderfully captivating, a real page-turner. There are three different narratives in this book; Ericas diary from her time in Africa, Max Carvers searching for Erica and the doctors who discover the illness and all three of the narratives work perfectly together until the end.
This is my kind of book a thriller that until the last page is thrilling to read and that manage to deliver some surprises. I admit that towards the ending I found that I had some problem fully take in the story, but I think it had more to do with me being tired than the book. Also, in this book, not everything is black and white, sure there is some evil people, especially one really nasty person, but I felt that the man behind the all, I could understand him. I could understand how he came to do the things he did and that is not always so when it comes to thriller. Often is it money or power, but in this case, not everything had to do with money, well in a way it did, as it was a one man's greed that started everything.
What really got to me, in the end, was the ending of the book when everything that had happened in the book in the present got explained and it was so perfect! It was just a perfect closing for the book, the explanation how one thing led to another thing.
Thank you Piatkus for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
September 1, 2014
Rather a brave and arrogant statement - "The most gripping thriller you will ever read" It's certainly very gripping but I've read a lot of gripping thrillers. Unfortunately I think the author shot himself in the foot with this statement which was like a red-rag-to-a-bull to the sorts of people who just relish the chance to shoot down such arrogance! I love the way we, as readers, are so very different in our opinions. Some love this book, some hate it. I'm in the happy category! I didn't think it was too convoluted a plot, I wasn't thrown by the multitude of characters. I found the science of malaria really interesting, and thankfully having no experience of guerilla warfare, I cannot propose that Erica's diary was not conveyed in a realistic way. Max's story was the only one that seemed a little far-fetched at times but it did not spoil my enjoyment of the book as a whole. It was exciting, dramatic, downright disgusting at times and informative - all that I like in a thriller!
June 15, 2014
Started well but became confusing and formulaic with nothing to distinguish it from many books I've read before. The Erica's diary bits were the best but the 'action' was unbelievable and almost desperate.
June 3, 2016
I absolutely loved this book it is well written and keeps you on your toes all the way to the last chapter. Very informative and well researched opened my eyes about Malaria. It could easily have turned into a horror instead of murder/suspense and again makes you remember there are evil people everywhere.
I cant wait for Mirror Mirror to be released.
I cant wait for Mirror Mirror to be released.
December 9, 2014
**4.5 stars**
Brilliant thriller. Clever and addictive. Full review to follow nearer publication of the paperback.
Brilliant thriller. Clever and addictive. Full review to follow nearer publication of the paperback.
October 5, 2015
A forma exagerada com que alguns livros são publicitados, elevando à partida as expectativas do leitor, acaba muitas vezes por os prejudicar em vez de beneficiar. Este não é, de certeza, «o thriller mais viciante de sempre»; Febre é um bom livro. Ponto.
A escrita inteligente de Nick Louth permite-nos desfrutar do livro em toda a sua extensão, aligeirando a compreensão de noções técnicas e científicas. O enredo, enriquecido com uma boa dose de ação e algum mistério, mantém-se interessante até ao fim, quando todos os pontos se reúnem para encaixar na perfeição.
A utilização de agentes patogénicos capazes de desencadear epidemia/pandemia como meio para atingir um fim é assustadora, mas constrói um ótimo enredo. Nick Louth retrata de forma muito interessante o perigo de estarmos totalmente nas mãos de uma indústria farmacêutica extremamente focada no lucro - e nada reflete melhor isso do que a disparidade entre África e grande parte da Europa no que respeita a fármacos/tratamentos disponíveis.
Gostei especialmente de acompanhar as entradas no diário de Érica, em África, e portanto incomoda-me que, embora descreva uma realidade com a qual nunca contactei e que está tão longe da minha vivência, as memórias de Erica pareceram-me muito mais realistas que as ações de Max e do que, aliás, a própria personagem. Mostra que Louth tem grande capacidade para descrição e caracterização mas que optou deliberadamente por cair no exagero e no lugar-comum ao desenvolver Max.
A escrita inteligente de Nick Louth permite-nos desfrutar do livro em toda a sua extensão, aligeirando a compreensão de noções técnicas e científicas. O enredo, enriquecido com uma boa dose de ação e algum mistério, mantém-se interessante até ao fim, quando todos os pontos se reúnem para encaixar na perfeição.
A utilização de agentes patogénicos capazes de desencadear epidemia/pandemia como meio para atingir um fim é assustadora, mas constrói um ótimo enredo. Nick Louth retrata de forma muito interessante o perigo de estarmos totalmente nas mãos de uma indústria farmacêutica extremamente focada no lucro - e nada reflete melhor isso do que a disparidade entre África e grande parte da Europa no que respeita a fármacos/tratamentos disponíveis.
Gostei especialmente de acompanhar as entradas no diário de Érica, em África, e portanto incomoda-me que, embora descreva uma realidade com a qual nunca contactei e que está tão longe da minha vivência, as memórias de Erica pareceram-me muito mais realistas que as ações de Max e do que, aliás, a própria personagem. Mostra que Louth tem grande capacidade para descrição e caracterização mas que optou deliberadamente por cair no exagero e no lugar-comum ao desenvolver Max.
January 13, 2015
When a book is advertised as 'the most gripping thriller you will ever read' that really does set expectations very high. This book was a) unbe
ieveable, the lead character became an armed super spy in the blink of an eye with zero character development (he was an artist!) b) Ridiculous - when I got to the end, I actually laughed c) The side story was also completely unbelieveable, I was very interested in that at first and thats what kept me reading but I just couldn't empathise or understand any decision that was made at all! I have given this book 2 stars as I did read it quickly and did want to know how it ended but aside from lovely descriptions of Amsterdam, you have to really suspend all belief and common sense to buy into this book.
ieveable, the lead character became an armed super spy in the blink of an eye with zero character development (he was an artist!) b) Ridiculous - when I got to the end, I actually laughed c) The side story was also completely unbelieveable, I was very interested in that at first and thats what kept me reading but I just couldn't empathise or understand any decision that was made at all! I have given this book 2 stars as I did read it quickly and did want to know how it ended but aside from lovely descriptions of Amsterdam, you have to really suspend all belief and common sense to buy into this book.
November 19, 2021
Neste livro, vão alternando três narrativas, a de Erica e Max na atualidade, no momento em que Erica se prepara para apresentar em público os resultados de uma investigação que permitiria combater uma mortífera doença tropical; a de Erica e Paul, em 1992, escrita em forma de diário – o Diário de Erica; a do momento em que John Davies abre, numa viagem de avião, um tupperware aparentemente vazio, sem nada que fizesse prever um potencial perigo, que trará consequências terríveis. Max seguia nesse voo; é a partir daqui que surge uma suposta variante da Malária, uma febre tropical difícil de explicar e extremamente contagiosa.
Pensava eu que o momento do diário acalmasse o ritmo frenético da narrativa, mas estava enganada. A ação é bastante rápida, narrada de forma cinematográfica e empolgante.
Logo no início, quando já está tudo preparado para ouvir a conferência de Erica, esta desaparece. Max, o namorado, que a acompanhava, empreende todos os esforços para a encontrar.
É muito fácil embrenharmo-nos na história. Este é um thriller que se lê num ápice e tive pena de não ter tido mais tempo para o ler mais rápido. Foi com esforço que fui pousando o livro, impedida de continuar pela azáfama profissional, também ela tão ou mais frenética que a ação do livro.
Bem escrito, inteligente, é um thriller muito bem conseguido.
Aconselho a leitura.
Pensava eu que o momento do diário acalmasse o ritmo frenético da narrativa, mas estava enganada. A ação é bastante rápida, narrada de forma cinematográfica e empolgante.
Logo no início, quando já está tudo preparado para ouvir a conferência de Erica, esta desaparece. Max, o namorado, que a acompanhava, empreende todos os esforços para a encontrar.
É muito fácil embrenharmo-nos na história. Este é um thriller que se lê num ápice e tive pena de não ter tido mais tempo para o ler mais rápido. Foi com esforço que fui pousando o livro, impedida de continuar pela azáfama profissional, também ela tão ou mais frenética que a ação do livro.
Bem escrito, inteligente, é um thriller muito bem conseguido.
Aconselho a leitura.
June 9, 2022
Um livro dividido em três narrativas, que são extremamente interessantes. Tem ingredientes que agradam a todos os leitores que procuram emoção: rapto, teorias da conspiração, batalhas sangrentas, morte, uma nova estirpe de malária... Querem mais? É só ler o livro, mas não confiem no que a capa vos diz. Isto não é o "thriller mais viciante de sempre".
July 5, 2015
Eine verschwundene Wissenschaftlerin und Fälle einer neuen Malariaform in Amsterdam.
Max, der eigentlich seine Freundin Erica Stroud-Jones auf einen Kongress begleiten möchte, steht vor einem großen Fragezeichen.
Denn Erica ist spurlos verschwunden. Und dies an genau dem Tag, an dem sie ihre Entdeckung präsentieren wollte.
Gleichzeitig erkranken die Menschen in Amsterdam an einer neuen Art von Malaria. Es gibt kein Medikament, was helfen könnte und der Verdacht wird schnell greifbar, dass diese Krankheit von Menschenhand geplant wurde.
Bereits in den sozialen Netzwerken, aber auch durch sein auffälliges Cover ist mir „Die Suche“ von Nick Louth aufgefallen.
Wo es sonst meist in den Büchern und Filmen zu Katastrophen in den USA kommt, hat sich der Autor Nick Louth Europa ausgesucht. Um genau zu sein Amsterdam, was ja nicht sehr weit von unserer Heimat entfernt liegt.
Dort tauchen die ersten Fälle einer neuen Form von Malaria auf, die dazu im Stande ist, sich weltweit zu verbreiten.
Der Horror, wenn so etwas wirklich passieren würde. Denn was tun? Auch im Buch stehen die Ärzte und Wissenschaftler vor einem Rätsel. Ist es doch so, dass auch im Fall von Ebola ein sofortiges Medikament nicht vorhanden ist und vor allem es sich für die Pharmaunternehmen „nicht lohnt“, ein solches zu produzieren. Denn genau dies wird auch in „Die Suche“ beschrieben. Medikamente für die reiche Bevölkerung dieser Erde sind lohnenswert, aber für die Menschen in den Ländern der zweiten und dritten Welt, wird eine Forschung nicht finanziell unterstützt und ist aus diesem Grund auch nicht erstrebenswert für die einzelnen Firmen. Was sehr schockierend ist.
Dies ist ein Fakt und ich war sehr gespannt, was Nick Louth daraus machen würde. Denn das ein Virus die Menschen bedroht ist nichts neues, aber eine Krankheit die es bereits gibt und die neu entwickelt wurde, interessierte mich dann doch sehr.
Kurz, die Geschichte hat Potential, das Thema ist gut und nun geht es an die Umsetzung. Und genau hier bekam ich meine Probleme mit „Die Suche“.
Zwar ist der Schreibstil von Nick Louth unterhaltend und liest sich gut, trotzdem war es für mich so, dass der Autor einfach zu viele Baustellen hatte.
Da gab es die Geschichte um die Erkrankungen, dann gehen wir mit Max auf die Suche nach seiner Freundin Erica und wir Leserinnen und Leser verfolgen auch die vergangenen Tagebucheinträge der Wissenschaftlerin.
Alles schön und gut und alles auch so, dass es immer noch funktionieren könnte, nur für mich tat es dies leider nicht.
Ich brauche immer ein Thema das mich reizt, mich fesselt und nicht mehr loslässt. In diesem Buch ging die Angst einer Malariaepedemie komplett unter. Zwar wurde beschrieben, was zum Teil passiert ist und wie aussichtslos eine Heilung ist, aber dann sprangen wir auch schon wieder zum nächsten Thema und das vorherige geriet (für mich) in den Hintergrund.
Solche Dinge finde ich sehr schade und leider schadete es auch der Spannung. Ich verfolgte drei Handlungsstränge und keiner von ihnen war so ausgearbeitet, dass ich mich auf ihn freute. Spannende Momente gab es durchaus, aber in einem zu kleinen Maß, als dass es mich reizen würde und so quälte ich mich doch ein wenig durch die Geschichte.
Mein Fazit:
Ein Buch, das viel zu erzählen hat und mich einfach nicht packen konnte. Es fehlte mir der Nervenkitzel und die Spannung, die ich hier in einem deutlich größerem Maß vermutet hätte. Meins war es nicht.
Max, der eigentlich seine Freundin Erica Stroud-Jones auf einen Kongress begleiten möchte, steht vor einem großen Fragezeichen.
Denn Erica ist spurlos verschwunden. Und dies an genau dem Tag, an dem sie ihre Entdeckung präsentieren wollte.
Gleichzeitig erkranken die Menschen in Amsterdam an einer neuen Art von Malaria. Es gibt kein Medikament, was helfen könnte und der Verdacht wird schnell greifbar, dass diese Krankheit von Menschenhand geplant wurde.
Bereits in den sozialen Netzwerken, aber auch durch sein auffälliges Cover ist mir „Die Suche“ von Nick Louth aufgefallen.
Wo es sonst meist in den Büchern und Filmen zu Katastrophen in den USA kommt, hat sich der Autor Nick Louth Europa ausgesucht. Um genau zu sein Amsterdam, was ja nicht sehr weit von unserer Heimat entfernt liegt.
Dort tauchen die ersten Fälle einer neuen Form von Malaria auf, die dazu im Stande ist, sich weltweit zu verbreiten.
Der Horror, wenn so etwas wirklich passieren würde. Denn was tun? Auch im Buch stehen die Ärzte und Wissenschaftler vor einem Rätsel. Ist es doch so, dass auch im Fall von Ebola ein sofortiges Medikament nicht vorhanden ist und vor allem es sich für die Pharmaunternehmen „nicht lohnt“, ein solches zu produzieren. Denn genau dies wird auch in „Die Suche“ beschrieben. Medikamente für die reiche Bevölkerung dieser Erde sind lohnenswert, aber für die Menschen in den Ländern der zweiten und dritten Welt, wird eine Forschung nicht finanziell unterstützt und ist aus diesem Grund auch nicht erstrebenswert für die einzelnen Firmen. Was sehr schockierend ist.
Dies ist ein Fakt und ich war sehr gespannt, was Nick Louth daraus machen würde. Denn das ein Virus die Menschen bedroht ist nichts neues, aber eine Krankheit die es bereits gibt und die neu entwickelt wurde, interessierte mich dann doch sehr.
Kurz, die Geschichte hat Potential, das Thema ist gut und nun geht es an die Umsetzung. Und genau hier bekam ich meine Probleme mit „Die Suche“.
Zwar ist der Schreibstil von Nick Louth unterhaltend und liest sich gut, trotzdem war es für mich so, dass der Autor einfach zu viele Baustellen hatte.
Da gab es die Geschichte um die Erkrankungen, dann gehen wir mit Max auf die Suche nach seiner Freundin Erica und wir Leserinnen und Leser verfolgen auch die vergangenen Tagebucheinträge der Wissenschaftlerin.
Alles schön und gut und alles auch so, dass es immer noch funktionieren könnte, nur für mich tat es dies leider nicht.
Ich brauche immer ein Thema das mich reizt, mich fesselt und nicht mehr loslässt. In diesem Buch ging die Angst einer Malariaepedemie komplett unter. Zwar wurde beschrieben, was zum Teil passiert ist und wie aussichtslos eine Heilung ist, aber dann sprangen wir auch schon wieder zum nächsten Thema und das vorherige geriet (für mich) in den Hintergrund.
Solche Dinge finde ich sehr schade und leider schadete es auch der Spannung. Ich verfolgte drei Handlungsstränge und keiner von ihnen war so ausgearbeitet, dass ich mich auf ihn freute. Spannende Momente gab es durchaus, aber in einem zu kleinen Maß, als dass es mich reizen würde und so quälte ich mich doch ein wenig durch die Geschichte.
Mein Fazit:
Ein Buch, das viel zu erzählen hat und mich einfach nicht packen konnte. Es fehlte mir der Nervenkitzel und die Spannung, die ich hier in einem deutlich größerem Maß vermutet hätte. Meins war es nicht.
May 6, 2015
Originally posted on: http://www.albainbookland.com/2015/05...
I found Bite to be a really clever and intriguing thriller. Maybe not the most gripping one I'll ever read but it certainly kept me on my toes during the whole story. The story revolves around Malaria and combines a story in the present, when a new type of this disease has been released and a world expert who might have a cure has been kidnapped, and a story in the past (1992) when this Malaria expert was in Africa and was captures by a guerrilla. I especially liked reading the part in the past as it was written as a diary and we could really connect with the character of Erica, all her emotions, thoughts and struggles when she was kept as hostage in terrible conditions in the middle of Africa, felt very real and really got me.
In the present time, we've got Max, Erica's boyfriend, as the main character. He is supposed to be an artist but with a military past so when Erica disappears, he takes it on his own hands to find her. It's admirable to see his determination to continue searching and unmasking what is going on. He certainly finds a lot of obstacles in the way and some macabre characters. The story turns quite dark and complicated as more secrets are uncovered and the malaria infection expands, first in the Netherlands, where the first one appeared, and then in multiple countries, leaving all the experts with no clue of how to stop it.
You can tell there's been a lot of research behind this novel. All the information about the disease and its ramifications can be a bit overwhelming but it certainly caught my attention. Also very critical with the pharmaceutical companies it has made me think a lot of how much of it is not only fiction unfortunately.
Intriguing until the last chapter, when everything finally fits together, Bite is fast-paced and unpredictable thriller that will surprise you more than once.
I found Bite to be a really clever and intriguing thriller. Maybe not the most gripping one I'll ever read but it certainly kept me on my toes during the whole story. The story revolves around Malaria and combines a story in the present, when a new type of this disease has been released and a world expert who might have a cure has been kidnapped, and a story in the past (1992) when this Malaria expert was in Africa and was captures by a guerrilla. I especially liked reading the part in the past as it was written as a diary and we could really connect with the character of Erica, all her emotions, thoughts and struggles when she was kept as hostage in terrible conditions in the middle of Africa, felt very real and really got me.
In the present time, we've got Max, Erica's boyfriend, as the main character. He is supposed to be an artist but with a military past so when Erica disappears, he takes it on his own hands to find her. It's admirable to see his determination to continue searching and unmasking what is going on. He certainly finds a lot of obstacles in the way and some macabre characters. The story turns quite dark and complicated as more secrets are uncovered and the malaria infection expands, first in the Netherlands, where the first one appeared, and then in multiple countries, leaving all the experts with no clue of how to stop it.
You can tell there's been a lot of research behind this novel. All the information about the disease and its ramifications can be a bit overwhelming but it certainly caught my attention. Also very critical with the pharmaceutical companies it has made me think a lot of how much of it is not only fiction unfortunately.
Intriguing until the last chapter, when everything finally fits together, Bite is fast-paced and unpredictable thriller that will surprise you more than once.
August 12, 2014
This book is billed as the most gripping thriller you will ever read, quite a bold statement and a good marketing ploy (it worked, I bought it), but it isn't true. It is a good read and it is reasonably well written for a first novel. The title is appropriate but makes the book feel and look like cheap pulp fiction when in fact there are many serious elements going on here and the title simply doesn't do the book any justice. The plot is good, well researched and covers some serious ground. It will make you think 'what if....'. The plot just about hangs together but there are some obvious holes. Characterisations are fine and solid. An overall enjoyable read with a serious point. Worth a look if you ignore the packaging and are willing to get under the skin.
June 8, 2014
Writing "The most gripping thriller you will ever read" into the title don't necessarily make it so! This book is just, and only just a beach book holiday read, the convoluted plot is just too complex to stand any chance of credibility, let's be frank it is bollocks! Note to self; It is a Kindle "deal" for a reason. Note to author; you stole some of my life.
August 13, 2014
I read four reviews about this book, two for and two against, but the write up was good so I purchased it, and I have to say that I am in the for group, it was Brilliant, I enjoyed it from start to finish and would it recommend to anyone who love's a thriller.
May 10, 2014
A surprisingly good freebie!
January 3, 2018
A clever thriller but not one I particularly enjoyed.
October 21, 2015
I was quiet surprised by the quality of this book. Addictive, exhilarating and surprising! Hope to read more from Nick Louth.
January 23, 2024
Iznenađujuće dobar triler. Scene kao u akcionim filmovima. Ocjena 4
August 10, 2017
REVIEW
"Um romance empolgante, inteligente e assustadoramente plausível." The Guardian
Febre, escrito pelo autor ingles, Nick Louth, em 2007 e que obteve o seu auge tornando-se bestseller em 2014 foi uma deliciosa surpresa para mim. De facto, não me surpreendeu este aclamado sucesso, pois desde o primeiro momento que começei a ler até à sua última página a coneção criada com o leitor é de facto reveladora de uma capacidade escrita absorvente. Cativante, sem dúvida alguma!
É óbvio o fascínio e a dedicação do autor sobre o mundo da medicina. Ironicamente, Febre, originou-se quando o autor veio de uma conferência médica em Amesterdão.
É então claro que toda esta sua obra desdobra-se no mundo do comércio farmaceutico, da medicina e dos seus avanços.
Ação e tempo: Toda a ação e tempo estão presentes de forma coordenada e coerente. Não me desilude a sua escrita e a forma como desenrolou todo o enredo, fê-lo de uma maneira inteligente e cativante. A ação é definida por 3 momentos, que o leitor identificará com facilidade, são esses: 1 diário da Érica, passado na África, sendo uma ação secundária; 2/3 em Amestardão, ação principal onde decorre maior parte dos acontecimentos pertinentes com Max e também com os cientistas e a evolução da doença, sendo duas ações em simultâneo. Relativamente ao tempo, temos uma analepse envolvida, diário da Erica, que será como pistas que o leitor usará para perceber toda a história narrada. Já as duas ações principais, decorridas em simultâneo, serviram ambas como caminhos distintos que buscam a verdade, uma sobre o desaparecimento de Érica e a outra sobre o misterioso caso do novo vírus da malária.
Toda a desenvoltura da história é narrada por um narrador heterodiegético, que não é omnisciente e que por isso torna a leitura ainda mais curiosa e envolvida.
Personagens: o leitor irá deparar-se com várias personagens, muitas delas bem definidas, psicologicamente e fisicamente, diretamente com algumas descrições presentes no texto e indiretamente, através das suas atitudes. As personagens principais: Max, Erica e Lisbeth são personagens redondas, com grande densidade psicológica e atitudes reais e coerentes com a sua personalidade. Max, sempre persistente, corajoso, inteligente, perspicaz e com a mesma atitude do início ao fim, que era a de encontrar Erica é a personagem que luta e demonstra o amor que tem, não de uma forma cliché, mas sim irreverente. Erica, dedicada, sensível, apaixonada torna-se ao longo da história ainda mais misteriosa e firme das suas decisões pela luta da sua sobrevivência. Lisbeth, sensual, carismática, misteriosa, louca, descabida e pulsante, desvenderá imensos segredos junto com Max e deixará tantos outros.
Pontos positivos: É um thriller!! É vibrante, misterioso e absolutamente bem escrito. Estruturado e apoiado em 3 momentos, não poderia ser tão bem delineado!
Pontos negativos: A parte final, onde se desmacara a pessoa por detrás de todo o enredo, poderia ser mais prolongada e caracterizada com mais promenores.
Aprovado com 5 pontos!
Boas leituras a todos!
"Um romance empolgante, inteligente e assustadoramente plausível." The Guardian
Febre, escrito pelo autor ingles, Nick Louth, em 2007 e que obteve o seu auge tornando-se bestseller em 2014 foi uma deliciosa surpresa para mim. De facto, não me surpreendeu este aclamado sucesso, pois desde o primeiro momento que começei a ler até à sua última página a coneção criada com o leitor é de facto reveladora de uma capacidade escrita absorvente. Cativante, sem dúvida alguma!
É óbvio o fascínio e a dedicação do autor sobre o mundo da medicina. Ironicamente, Febre, originou-se quando o autor veio de uma conferência médica em Amesterdão.
É então claro que toda esta sua obra desdobra-se no mundo do comércio farmaceutico, da medicina e dos seus avanços.
Ação e tempo: Toda a ação e tempo estão presentes de forma coordenada e coerente. Não me desilude a sua escrita e a forma como desenrolou todo o enredo, fê-lo de uma maneira inteligente e cativante. A ação é definida por 3 momentos, que o leitor identificará com facilidade, são esses: 1 diário da Érica, passado na África, sendo uma ação secundária; 2/3 em Amestardão, ação principal onde decorre maior parte dos acontecimentos pertinentes com Max e também com os cientistas e a evolução da doença, sendo duas ações em simultâneo. Relativamente ao tempo, temos uma analepse envolvida, diário da Erica, que será como pistas que o leitor usará para perceber toda a história narrada. Já as duas ações principais, decorridas em simultâneo, serviram ambas como caminhos distintos que buscam a verdade, uma sobre o desaparecimento de Érica e a outra sobre o misterioso caso do novo vírus da malária.
Toda a desenvoltura da história é narrada por um narrador heterodiegético, que não é omnisciente e que por isso torna a leitura ainda mais curiosa e envolvida.
Personagens: o leitor irá deparar-se com várias personagens, muitas delas bem definidas, psicologicamente e fisicamente, diretamente com algumas descrições presentes no texto e indiretamente, através das suas atitudes. As personagens principais: Max, Erica e Lisbeth são personagens redondas, com grande densidade psicológica e atitudes reais e coerentes com a sua personalidade. Max, sempre persistente, corajoso, inteligente, perspicaz e com a mesma atitude do início ao fim, que era a de encontrar Erica é a personagem que luta e demonstra o amor que tem, não de uma forma cliché, mas sim irreverente. Erica, dedicada, sensível, apaixonada torna-se ao longo da história ainda mais misteriosa e firme das suas decisões pela luta da sua sobrevivência. Lisbeth, sensual, carismática, misteriosa, louca, descabida e pulsante, desvenderá imensos segredos junto com Max e deixará tantos outros.
Pontos positivos: É um thriller!! É vibrante, misterioso e absolutamente bem escrito. Estruturado e apoiado em 3 momentos, não poderia ser tão bem delineado!
Pontos negativos: A parte final, onde se desmacara a pessoa por detrás de todo o enredo, poderia ser mais prolongada e caracterizada com mais promenores.
Aprovado com 5 pontos!
Boas leituras a todos!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2015
Thank you to Sphere for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review
Kidnap, Conspiracy, Outbreak, Hello you have my attention!
Those three words on the cover usually herald the arrival of a great book with plenty of twists and turns that keeps you guessing and gripped till the last but it can also herald several hundred pages of a dull story that can become bogged down with too many characters and a lot of useless facts and dialogue.
Bite thankfully is the former, it sucks you in straight away as the author creates his game board and moves his pieces in to play getting you ready for a thrilling read.
Erica Stroud-Jones is a brilliant English scientist about to attend a major conference Amsterdam to present the findings of her secret research, joining her having flown from the States is her American boyfriend Max Carver. She hopes her work will be a revelation in the field of fighting tropical diseases, her peers await with great interest of her findings but Erica doesn't make it to her conference.
On the morning of the conference Max discovers her missing, the police don't care, her peers are sceptical, Max is on his own. He sets out to find Erica but doing so brings him down a road he never expected to travel, finding more about about the woman he loves and her past.
Now here is where I ponder, how much more should I tell you without giving away major plot points! So I will tell you this much, the main story which is set in the present runs alongside Erica's POV from her time in Africa years before, what happened to her out there was horrific and what happened has started to catch up with her in the present.
There are lots of other supporting characters who all serve their part well, the start of the book is a plane journey from America to Holland and on this flight you meet both main and supporting characters, pay attention to them!
Bite despite the name is not about Vampires, it is a great read and delivers on its promise of Kidnap, Conspiracy and Outbreak, they all feature heavily in the book. A lot of this book can be based in reality, the threat of tropical disease outbreaks of course is very real with Ebola heavily in the news. Bite deals with everything very well, I think the author has at least taken the time to do his research and hasn't just made it up as he goes along, it doesn't always take itself seriously but I assure you it is a seriously good read.
Kidnap, Conspiracy, Outbreak, Hello you have my attention!
Those three words on the cover usually herald the arrival of a great book with plenty of twists and turns that keeps you guessing and gripped till the last but it can also herald several hundred pages of a dull story that can become bogged down with too many characters and a lot of useless facts and dialogue.
Bite thankfully is the former, it sucks you in straight away as the author creates his game board and moves his pieces in to play getting you ready for a thrilling read.
Erica Stroud-Jones is a brilliant English scientist about to attend a major conference Amsterdam to present the findings of her secret research, joining her having flown from the States is her American boyfriend Max Carver. She hopes her work will be a revelation in the field of fighting tropical diseases, her peers await with great interest of her findings but Erica doesn't make it to her conference.
On the morning of the conference Max discovers her missing, the police don't care, her peers are sceptical, Max is on his own. He sets out to find Erica but doing so brings him down a road he never expected to travel, finding more about about the woman he loves and her past.
Now here is where I ponder, how much more should I tell you without giving away major plot points! So I will tell you this much, the main story which is set in the present runs alongside Erica's POV from her time in Africa years before, what happened to her out there was horrific and what happened has started to catch up with her in the present.
There are lots of other supporting characters who all serve their part well, the start of the book is a plane journey from America to Holland and on this flight you meet both main and supporting characters, pay attention to them!
Bite despite the name is not about Vampires, it is a great read and delivers on its promise of Kidnap, Conspiracy and Outbreak, they all feature heavily in the book. A lot of this book can be based in reality, the threat of tropical disease outbreaks of course is very real with Ebola heavily in the news. Bite deals with everything very well, I think the author has at least taken the time to do his research and hasn't just made it up as he goes along, it doesn't always take itself seriously but I assure you it is a seriously good read.
February 7, 2017
Ich hatte schon vorher gehört, dass die Meinungen zu diesem Buch sehr zwiegespalten sind. Leider muss ich mich dem Team zuordnen, dem es nicht wirklich gefallen hat.
Der Anfang war eigentlich noch ganz vielversprechend: schneller Schreibstil, interessantes Thema und ein mysteriöser "Anschlag" im Flug.
Leider hat mich das Buch dann sehr schnell verloren. Für mich gab es kaum Spannung und seitenweise ging es im Insekten und biologische Abläufe. In diesem detaillierten Ausmaß hat es mich leider gar nicht interessant. Genau uninteressant fand ich die jahrealten Tagebucheinträge von Erica, die ich dann sehr schnell übersprungen habe.
Max hat mir als Held der Geschichte leider ebenso wenig gefallen und kam einfach nur stümperhaft und dämlich rüber.
Ebenso störend waren für mich diverse Logikfehler und Ungereimtheiten.
Ein interessantes Thema, dass für mich leider nicht spannend umgesetzt wurde, auch wenn vieles für einen Pageturner spricht.
Der Anfang war eigentlich noch ganz vielversprechend: schneller Schreibstil, interessantes Thema und ein mysteriöser "Anschlag" im Flug.
Leider hat mich das Buch dann sehr schnell verloren. Für mich gab es kaum Spannung und seitenweise ging es im Insekten und biologische Abläufe. In diesem detaillierten Ausmaß hat es mich leider gar nicht interessant. Genau uninteressant fand ich die jahrealten Tagebucheinträge von Erica, die ich dann sehr schnell übersprungen habe.
Max hat mir als Held der Geschichte leider ebenso wenig gefallen und kam einfach nur stümperhaft und dämlich rüber.
Ebenso störend waren für mich diverse Logikfehler und Ungereimtheiten.
Ein interessantes Thema, dass für mich leider nicht spannend umgesetzt wurde, auch wenn vieles für einen Pageturner spricht.
January 13, 2016
Honestly I did not think I would enjoy this book as much as I did. I've had it on my shelf for years but I finally picked it up the other day because I wanted an easy book I could punch out in a few days (the whole thing was less than 300 pages).
The book's description doesn't offer much insight to what the story is about so here's a quick peek: Someone releases a biochemical weapon resistant to treatment, and an important scientist gets kidnapped. The story is about finding the girl and stopping the disease. I feel like that's a spoiler free summary but I'll tag this post as a spoiler anyway.
Anyhoo, if you're looking for a good thriller I recommend this book. I couldn't put it down.
The book's description doesn't offer much insight to what the story is about so here's a quick peek: Someone releases a biochemical weapon resistant to treatment, and an important scientist gets kidnapped. The story is about finding the girl and stopping the disease. I feel like that's a spoiler free summary but I'll tag this post as a spoiler anyway.
Anyhoo, if you're looking for a good thriller I recommend this book. I couldn't put it down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2017
Rip roaring thriller with twists and turns
An action thriller with likeable lead characters and proper evil baddies. I found the African sections harrowing but great narrative kept me going
An action thriller with likeable lead characters and proper evil baddies. I found the African sections harrowing but great narrative kept me going
December 18, 2018
Jedna od boljih knjiga ove godine. Posebno mi se svidjela promjena perspektiva sadašnjost - prošlost, koje su raspoređene ravnomjerno. Ipak, dijelovi iz Erikinog dnevnika su za nijansu uzbudljiviji u odnosu na događaje iz sadašnjosti. Sve u svemu ovo je odlično.
September 5, 2014
Having just read I am pilgrim, this book was never going to set the world on fire - and it didn't...
March 9, 2016
3,5.Não deu para 4.
December 5, 2016
A fantastic book!!! Brilliant and exciting story, that is very well written!!! An exceptional medical thriller that I couldn't put down.
May 21, 2017
I enjoyed this book..a little long winded on the malaria problem,but good story line that held the interest until the end.
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