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Dark Seed: No One Knows What Really Grows
A disillusioned journalist and the grieving daughter of a murdered scientist uncover an immoral and destructive global plot by the largest developer of genetically engineered seed and its parent pharmaceutical conglomerate. Nick Barnes and Morgan Elles learn that the goal of the man behind these organizations is the complete control of human existence. He eliminates opposition and interference without hesitation or remorse. The couple quickly find themselves fighting for their lives. And yours. Grab hold for a wild ride with this exciting, high concept thriller that tackles one of the big issues of our time.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2013
9 people are currently reading
5095 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence Verigin
5 books105 followersLawrence Verigin is the author of the multiple award winning Dark Seed trilogy - DARK SEED, SEED of CONTROL and BEYOND CONTROL.
His goal is to entertain readers while delving into socially relevant subjects that need more attention brought to them.
In his spare time Lawrence enjoys cooking good food, rich red wine, travel, running, reading and numerous rounds of golf.
Lawrence and his wife, Diana, live in beautiful North Vancouver, Canada.
His goal is to entertain readers while delving into socially relevant subjects that need more attention brought to them.
In his spare time Lawrence enjoys cooking good food, rich red wine, travel, running, reading and numerous rounds of golf.
Lawrence and his wife, Diana, live in beautiful North Vancouver, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
May 13, 2015
"The genetic modification of food is intrinsically dangerous. It involves making irreversible changes in a random manner to a complex level of life about which little is known. It is inevitable that this hit-and-miss approach will lead to disasters. It must disrupt the natural intelligence of the plant or animal to which it is applied, and lead to health-damaging side-effects."
----Dr Geoffrey Clements, leader of the Natural Law Party, UK.
Lawrence Verigin, a Canadian author, has penned his debut novel, Dark Seed which is an ecological thriller based on the most socially as well as politically influenced topic- the effects of genetically engineered crops in our ecosystem, centering around two human beings trying to put a stop to this dangerous invention, even if they have to put their lives at risk.
Synopsis:
A disillusioned journalist and the grieving daughter of a murdered scientist uncover an immoral and destructive global plot by the largest developer of genetically engineered seed and its parent pharmaceutical conglomerate.
Nick Barnes and Morgan Elles learn that the goal of the man behind these organizations is the complete control of human existence. He eliminates opposition and interference without hesitation or remorse.
The couple quickly find themselves fighting for their lives. And yours.
Nick is a journalist who is hired by Dr. Carl Elles to write his memoir who was a scientist at Naintosa Corporation, where they worked on the genetically engineered crops. Unfortunately, when Nick went to meet with Elles for the details and the research of his projects, Nick found that Dr. Elles was already dead and soon within few hours, he too was dragged deep into this puddle of the mess. Morgan, Carl's daughter, is trying hard to find her father's killers as well as helping Nick to publish her father's memoirs, thus enlightening the people of the world about it's adverse effects. Caught in between them, Nick's best-friend, Sue, who too jumps into the dangers in saving the world without any question.
The theme of the book is really great and thoroughly enlightening. I loved how the author flawlessly incorporated this social topic into his storyline and turned it into something highly thrilling. Nick and Morgan were constantly on a chase by the people who would do anything from stopping them. From America to Canada and then back to America, they were on a constant run and on their dangerous path, they got nearly got killed quite a lot of times, but still the fear of getting killed didn't shut them down, and they did everything to make that book publish.
The writing is nice, but a bit slow paced since the author have intricately structured his whole plot. There weren't much twists in this book to keep us on the loop, Nick and Morgan were constantly thrown to face difficult challenges and how they overcame them, simply kept me glued to the book.
The best thing about the book is it's strong plot which not only enlightens us, but also forces us to take a wild ride all through the borders of America and Canada, following Nick and Morgan's footsteps. And till the very end of the story, the author kept me engaged with his articulate narrative style.
The primary characters are strongly crafted, and I liked how the author have masked them with their flaws despite of their brave and determined demeanor. There was also a bit of chemistry between the primary characters which the author have lightly depicted through their journey, but that inevitable attraction between them was very evident from their behavior. Overall, it's an engrossing as well as a compelling book that kept me glued till the very end.
Verdict: This book will highly appeal to all the political crime thriller fans.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Lawrence Verigin, for giving me an opportunity to read and review his book.
----Dr Geoffrey Clements, leader of the Natural Law Party, UK.
Lawrence Verigin, a Canadian author, has penned his debut novel, Dark Seed which is an ecological thriller based on the most socially as well as politically influenced topic- the effects of genetically engineered crops in our ecosystem, centering around two human beings trying to put a stop to this dangerous invention, even if they have to put their lives at risk.
Synopsis:
A disillusioned journalist and the grieving daughter of a murdered scientist uncover an immoral and destructive global plot by the largest developer of genetically engineered seed and its parent pharmaceutical conglomerate.
Nick Barnes and Morgan Elles learn that the goal of the man behind these organizations is the complete control of human existence. He eliminates opposition and interference without hesitation or remorse.
The couple quickly find themselves fighting for their lives. And yours.
Nick is a journalist who is hired by Dr. Carl Elles to write his memoir who was a scientist at Naintosa Corporation, where they worked on the genetically engineered crops. Unfortunately, when Nick went to meet with Elles for the details and the research of his projects, Nick found that Dr. Elles was already dead and soon within few hours, he too was dragged deep into this puddle of the mess. Morgan, Carl's daughter, is trying hard to find her father's killers as well as helping Nick to publish her father's memoirs, thus enlightening the people of the world about it's adverse effects. Caught in between them, Nick's best-friend, Sue, who too jumps into the dangers in saving the world without any question.
The theme of the book is really great and thoroughly enlightening. I loved how the author flawlessly incorporated this social topic into his storyline and turned it into something highly thrilling. Nick and Morgan were constantly on a chase by the people who would do anything from stopping them. From America to Canada and then back to America, they were on a constant run and on their dangerous path, they got nearly got killed quite a lot of times, but still the fear of getting killed didn't shut them down, and they did everything to make that book publish.
The writing is nice, but a bit slow paced since the author have intricately structured his whole plot. There weren't much twists in this book to keep us on the loop, Nick and Morgan were constantly thrown to face difficult challenges and how they overcame them, simply kept me glued to the book.
The best thing about the book is it's strong plot which not only enlightens us, but also forces us to take a wild ride all through the borders of America and Canada, following Nick and Morgan's footsteps. And till the very end of the story, the author kept me engaged with his articulate narrative style.
The primary characters are strongly crafted, and I liked how the author have masked them with their flaws despite of their brave and determined demeanor. There was also a bit of chemistry between the primary characters which the author have lightly depicted through their journey, but that inevitable attraction between them was very evident from their behavior. Overall, it's an engrossing as well as a compelling book that kept me glued till the very end.
Verdict: This book will highly appeal to all the political crime thriller fans.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Lawrence Verigin, for giving me an opportunity to read and review his book.
October 29, 2014
This was a really interesting story that captured my attention from the very beginning. The storyline was intriguing, the adventure was fun. Being part of things as they figured out what all was going on, while trying to stay alive, kept me reading long after bedtime - I couldn't put it down; my brain would not let me stop until I found out the full story. The characters were an interesting mix: Nick and Morgan, the main characters, seemed to not have much in common when the thing began; Morgan's father was someone I wish had been around longer in the story because he was someone I would have liked to know more about; his two friends that helped them out along the way were interesting as well. I also liked Sue, Nick's best friend. The bad guys were well written - you couldn't help but dislike them, but at the same time, you wanted to know more about them.
My issue with the book, and the reason it received a lower rating (4 stars instead of 5, rounded up from 3 1/2), is the editing. I am hoping that the copy he gave the blog tour company was incorrect, that he accidentally gave them the unedited copy, because I can't imagine how someone could let this go to press. Besides the punctuation issues and lack of capitalization, there were some repetitive parts, ideas stated more than once, as if it just came to them then, not in the chapter before, or the time it was mentioned before that. There's also information that is not needed, which messes up the flow, making parts of it a little slow. I know that there are a lot of people that won't be bothered by such a thing, and usually I just mention the editing issues in passing (even though I am an editor, I read these books purely for enjoyment), but the punctuation and capitalization problem especially made this book a little cumbersome reading. I would have to go back and re-read a sentence, realizing that I had missed a period and without that capitalization at the beginning of the sentence, I hadn't even noticed that we had moved on to a new one. Lawrence, cleaned up a little bit, this could definitely be a 5 star book.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.
My issue with the book, and the reason it received a lower rating (4 stars instead of 5, rounded up from 3 1/2), is the editing. I am hoping that the copy he gave the blog tour company was incorrect, that he accidentally gave them the unedited copy, because I can't imagine how someone could let this go to press. Besides the punctuation issues and lack of capitalization, there were some repetitive parts, ideas stated more than once, as if it just came to them then, not in the chapter before, or the time it was mentioned before that. There's also information that is not needed, which messes up the flow, making parts of it a little slow. I know that there are a lot of people that won't be bothered by such a thing, and usually I just mention the editing issues in passing (even though I am an editor, I read these books purely for enjoyment), but the punctuation and capitalization problem especially made this book a little cumbersome reading. I would have to go back and re-read a sentence, realizing that I had missed a period and without that capitalization at the beginning of the sentence, I hadn't even noticed that we had moved on to a new one. Lawrence, cleaned up a little bit, this could definitely be a 5 star book.
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.
October 20, 2014
Bell, Book & Candle | Dark Seed Review, Spotlight and Giveaway
As much as I love paranormal/ fantasy books, I have to say there is truly something special about a story that mirrors reality. In today's world, unless you're planning to go organic there really isn't any food that is left untouched by chemicals or hormones. In my opinion, this has got to be a huge factor in why so many people are getting cancer nowadays- including me and some of my friends. It's probably the government's way of "population control". But you didn't hear that from me...lol.
Megan slowly nodded. "Or, how about this; if they've found a cure for cancer or some big disease, they could keep it quiet because they would sell fewer drugs if everyone were healthy. The sicker everyone is the more money they make."
"It's crazy." I didn't want to believe it. "Could this really be the way the system works?"
I should start off by mentioning that the story is based around the year 2000. Technology was still sort of new then, and I myself forgot about that fact. There was a part in the story when one of the characters used a credit card and I was like, "Why?! That was a stupid mistake; you're leaving a paper trail." Then I remembered that this is based around the new millennium and I was like "Oh yeah, my bad."
I loved how fast paced this book was- I was always on edge and my paranoia was getting the best of me, and had me constantly thinking "Don't trust that dude!" Every time Nick and Morgan were caught, I kept having heart palpitations and kept thinking they were about to sleep with the fishes- literally. I always love it when I read or watch something where the secret government organization/ whatever is hunting down people to "shut them up". I.e. Nikita and the Bourne series. For the characters, it is probably not as exciting when you don't have the skill set of Jason Bourne or Nikita.
Speaking of which, I liked Nick Barnes as a character. I'm usually not a fan of journalists- whether fiction or real. They just seem to put themselves in harm's way, and then later on wonder why they are in quite the predicament and are about to die. Nick wasn't like that- or at least was able to discern what was going on around him. Although if I were him, *spoiler ahead* As soon as I would have seen the same car follow me around for a while before and after my meeting with Dr Elles, I would have run the other way and been out...like Audi 5000, you know what I'm saying? I do commend him for trying to expose what the "Powers that Be" are doing to crops everywhere. It's very...Julian Assange, but Nick better hope he doesn't end up like Assange. On a side note, it's sort of comical how the government gets a little miffed when their secrets are spilled. They're just mad they were caught red handed...with the hand in the cookie jar! But I digress.
"I tried to concentrate on editing, but when I came across the word fact, my mind wandered sideways. When you break it down, isn't everything just someone's opinion? Is there really such a thing as a fact ? As journalists, were we really qualified to decide what was a fact and what was not? Ususally we weren't even present when the event occured. Even the people who witnessed the event might not have really seen exactly what happened. Or two people could see the same thing and describe it in totally different ways" - Nick
I'm not going to lie, I don't really know if I trust Morgan. For all we (we being the main character and me) know, she can be a double agent or worse...a TRIPLE agent- like Severus Snape. I do like Sue however, but she could be in on it too. Let's just say I trust no one, but keep your friends close and your enemies closer...as they say.
I loved the conspiracy theories in this book as well as the thrilling action. The characters were good too. I'm under the impression that this is a stand alone novel, unfortunately, as I would love to see what happens next. It is quite the eye opener, so don't sleep on this!
As much as I love paranormal/ fantasy books, I have to say there is truly something special about a story that mirrors reality. In today's world, unless you're planning to go organic there really isn't any food that is left untouched by chemicals or hormones. In my opinion, this has got to be a huge factor in why so many people are getting cancer nowadays- including me and some of my friends. It's probably the government's way of "population control". But you didn't hear that from me...lol.
Megan slowly nodded. "Or, how about this; if they've found a cure for cancer or some big disease, they could keep it quiet because they would sell fewer drugs if everyone were healthy. The sicker everyone is the more money they make."
"It's crazy." I didn't want to believe it. "Could this really be the way the system works?"
I should start off by mentioning that the story is based around the year 2000. Technology was still sort of new then, and I myself forgot about that fact. There was a part in the story when one of the characters used a credit card and I was like, "Why?! That was a stupid mistake; you're leaving a paper trail." Then I remembered that this is based around the new millennium and I was like "Oh yeah, my bad."
I loved how fast paced this book was- I was always on edge and my paranoia was getting the best of me, and had me constantly thinking "Don't trust that dude!" Every time Nick and Morgan were caught, I kept having heart palpitations and kept thinking they were about to sleep with the fishes- literally. I always love it when I read or watch something where the secret government organization/ whatever is hunting down people to "shut them up". I.e. Nikita and the Bourne series. For the characters, it is probably not as exciting when you don't have the skill set of Jason Bourne or Nikita.
Speaking of which, I liked Nick Barnes as a character. I'm usually not a fan of journalists- whether fiction or real. They just seem to put themselves in harm's way, and then later on wonder why they are in quite the predicament and are about to die. Nick wasn't like that- or at least was able to discern what was going on around him. Although if I were him, *spoiler ahead* As soon as I would have seen the same car follow me around for a while before and after my meeting with Dr Elles, I would have run the other way and been out...like Audi 5000, you know what I'm saying? I do commend him for trying to expose what the "Powers that Be" are doing to crops everywhere. It's very...Julian Assange, but Nick better hope he doesn't end up like Assange. On a side note, it's sort of comical how the government gets a little miffed when their secrets are spilled. They're just mad they were caught red handed...with the hand in the cookie jar! But I digress.
"I tried to concentrate on editing, but when I came across the word fact, my mind wandered sideways. When you break it down, isn't everything just someone's opinion? Is there really such a thing as a fact ? As journalists, were we really qualified to decide what was a fact and what was not? Ususally we weren't even present when the event occured. Even the people who witnessed the event might not have really seen exactly what happened. Or two people could see the same thing and describe it in totally different ways" - Nick
I'm not going to lie, I don't really know if I trust Morgan. For all we (we being the main character and me) know, she can be a double agent or worse...a TRIPLE agent- like Severus Snape. I do like Sue however, but she could be in on it too. Let's just say I trust no one, but keep your friends close and your enemies closer...as they say.
I loved the conspiracy theories in this book as well as the thrilling action. The characters were good too. I'm under the impression that this is a stand alone novel, unfortunately, as I would love to see what happens next. It is quite the eye opener, so don't sleep on this!
June 13, 2014
KIRKUS REVIEW
In Verigin’s debut thriller, a journalist takes on the story of his career when he agrees to write a book exposing the corruption and deadly dealings of an agribusiness giant.
Disenchanted with his work at the Seattle News, Nick Barnes is intrigued when he is approached by Dr. Carl Elles, a former scientist at agricultural company Naintosa. Although Nick had just written a positive article on Naintosa’s genetically engineered vegetables, the doctor convinces him that not all is as it seems with these supercrops, and the two arrange a meeting to look at Elles’ notes. When Nick finds him dead in his office, he can’t shake the thought that something is amiss: An imposing man claiming to be a policelieutenant arrives on the scene well before any other police officers, and a gray car seems to be following his every move. Nick doesn’t start putting the pieces together until he meets with Morgan Elles, daughter of the late doctor. Assuring Nick that she has copies of her father’s notes, she convinces him to continue with the project and write the exposé. Nick agrees, and the two set out on an international game of cat and mouse with the thugs who will do anything to stop them. Throughout the story, Verigin’s pacing is masterful and adept. He imbues Nick with self-deprecating humor and intelligence, lending him a credibility that makes even the occasional red herring a little more fun. Readers may find the perfectly beautiful Morgan less nuanced, and while Nick’s attraction to her is understandable, some may tire of his frequent descriptions of her outfits. Dialogue is lively and realistic, an asset in maintaining the suspense. The level of conspiracy in the story, however, might seem over-the-top; still, most readers will be quick to overlook it and get on with the ride. Verigin has left the door wide open for a sequel, and this entree should earn him a base of eager fans.
Strong writing and a swift plot make for a solid debut.
In Verigin’s debut thriller, a journalist takes on the story of his career when he agrees to write a book exposing the corruption and deadly dealings of an agribusiness giant.
Disenchanted with his work at the Seattle News, Nick Barnes is intrigued when he is approached by Dr. Carl Elles, a former scientist at agricultural company Naintosa. Although Nick had just written a positive article on Naintosa’s genetically engineered vegetables, the doctor convinces him that not all is as it seems with these supercrops, and the two arrange a meeting to look at Elles’ notes. When Nick finds him dead in his office, he can’t shake the thought that something is amiss: An imposing man claiming to be a policelieutenant arrives on the scene well before any other police officers, and a gray car seems to be following his every move. Nick doesn’t start putting the pieces together until he meets with Morgan Elles, daughter of the late doctor. Assuring Nick that she has copies of her father’s notes, she convinces him to continue with the project and write the exposé. Nick agrees, and the two set out on an international game of cat and mouse with the thugs who will do anything to stop them. Throughout the story, Verigin’s pacing is masterful and adept. He imbues Nick with self-deprecating humor and intelligence, lending him a credibility that makes even the occasional red herring a little more fun. Readers may find the perfectly beautiful Morgan less nuanced, and while Nick’s attraction to her is understandable, some may tire of his frequent descriptions of her outfits. Dialogue is lively and realistic, an asset in maintaining the suspense. The level of conspiracy in the story, however, might seem over-the-top; still, most readers will be quick to overlook it and get on with the ride. Verigin has left the door wide open for a sequel, and this entree should earn him a base of eager fans.
Strong writing and a swift plot make for a solid debut.
October 7, 2014
Reading this book was a treat. When I was asked if I would be interested in reading the Dark Seed I was a little sceptical because it doesn’t really fall into my choice of genres, but after reading the storyline I thought it a good idea to give it a go and I must say I am very pleased that I did, I found Lawrence Verigin’s writing style very captivating, the story pulled me in from the get go, once I took a break from reading I was left wondering what would happen next; In my book that is a very good sign.. Dr Carl Elles had a point to make and was determined to expose Naintosa for what they were planning on doing and have been doing for some time, It’s up to Morgan and Nick Barnes to carry out his wishes and that they do but not without ease, this book is filled with suspense, action and yes a little romance to. I would definitely recommend anyone to read this although it’s not part of your choice of genres you will be glad you did.
October 24, 2014
Once again, a pacific northwest writer hits it out of the park! DARK SEED, the new novel by Lawrence Verigin, is a thriller about a disillusioned newspaper journalist in Seattle who is approached by a plant geneticist to write an exposé on the corporation he has spent his life doing research for. When he winds up dead under mysterious circumstances, our journey into a world of foul corruption and ever deepening conspiracy begins. This story touches a nerve as it weaves through the false guise of world food supply betterment through genetic research, as modeled by a number of corporate entities, and the totally dangerous and out of control commodities they produce. Mr. Verigin brings to light these truths with style, grace, and plenty of thrills and chills that kept me tuned into the bigger truth all the way to the end. I love all his characters, and the creepy faces of the corporate mercenaries smacked of total amorality. This is a world class read and very highly recommended!
October 7, 2014
The author did a wonderful job of bringing a socially relavant subject to light in a fascinating, well plotted novel that kept me reading late into the night. Verigin's descriptions of the Pacific Northwest locations made me feel I was right there and feeling the cold Canadian winter right along with the heroes. The main characters have a depth to them that makes them totally believable, and the growth they display over the course of their ordeal makes for a satisfying ending, even if some questions are left unanswered. I'm looking forward to the sequel!
April 9, 2015
SYNOPSIS:
"A disillusioned journalist and the grieving daughter of a murdered scientist uncover an immoral and destructive global plot by the largest developer of genetically engineered seed and its parent pharmaceutical conglomerate.
Nick Barnes and Morgan Elles learn that the goal of the man behind these organizations is the complete control of human existence. He eliminates opposition and interference without hesitation or remorse.
The couple quickly find themselves fighting for their lives. And yours.
Grab hold for a wild ride with this exciting, high concept thriller that tackles one of the big issues of our time."
CHARACTER BACKGROUND:
Nick Barnes is a smart man who meditates, often describes a certain woman’s outfit, and oh -- saves the world. Overall, he’s just an average Joe who just so happened to be sucked into a world of conspiracy, science, and death. Yep! Pretty ordinary.
TO LOVE:
This is my first full-on thriller book, so I don’t really have anything to compare it to, but I found it pretty amazing.
Places, acts, and people were described really well. You can clearly picture the scenes playing in your head. The characters’ physical attributes, clothes, and actions were detailed. For me, this is very effective, because it gives me the impression that the author really took his time to make us, his readers, see what he had envisioned.
The plot is really interesting – and freaky. Some people might think it’s too far-fetched, but I think there’s a possibility that this is happening, or can happen in the future. Modified foods…Yeesh! Terrifying.
The dialogue and actions of the characters were very realistic. They didn’t suddenly turn into super spies with kickass skills at scary situations, which I’ve read at some books. The flow was very believable. I can sort of see myself doing and saying the same things in certain situations, so that’s definitely a thumbs-up.
The only downside that I can say about this book is the ending. I felt like it’s just hanging there, you know? Like it didn’t really conclude, rather just…stopped. Am I the only one who got that feeling?
SUMMARY:
I would give this book 4 stars, because for my first of this genre, this novel did pretty good. I would recommend this to everyone because it discusses a subject that everybody has the right to be made aware of. Awesome work here Mr. Verigin.
"A disillusioned journalist and the grieving daughter of a murdered scientist uncover an immoral and destructive global plot by the largest developer of genetically engineered seed and its parent pharmaceutical conglomerate.
Nick Barnes and Morgan Elles learn that the goal of the man behind these organizations is the complete control of human existence. He eliminates opposition and interference without hesitation or remorse.
The couple quickly find themselves fighting for their lives. And yours.
Grab hold for a wild ride with this exciting, high concept thriller that tackles one of the big issues of our time."
CHARACTER BACKGROUND:
Nick Barnes is a smart man who meditates, often describes a certain woman’s outfit, and oh -- saves the world. Overall, he’s just an average Joe who just so happened to be sucked into a world of conspiracy, science, and death. Yep! Pretty ordinary.
TO LOVE:
This is my first full-on thriller book, so I don’t really have anything to compare it to, but I found it pretty amazing.
Places, acts, and people were described really well. You can clearly picture the scenes playing in your head. The characters’ physical attributes, clothes, and actions were detailed. For me, this is very effective, because it gives me the impression that the author really took his time to make us, his readers, see what he had envisioned.
The plot is really interesting – and freaky. Some people might think it’s too far-fetched, but I think there’s a possibility that this is happening, or can happen in the future. Modified foods…Yeesh! Terrifying.
The dialogue and actions of the characters were very realistic. They didn’t suddenly turn into super spies with kickass skills at scary situations, which I’ve read at some books. The flow was very believable. I can sort of see myself doing and saying the same things in certain situations, so that’s definitely a thumbs-up.
The only downside that I can say about this book is the ending. I felt like it’s just hanging there, you know? Like it didn’t really conclude, rather just…stopped. Am I the only one who got that feeling?
SUMMARY:
I would give this book 4 stars, because for my first of this genre, this novel did pretty good. I would recommend this to everyone because it discusses a subject that everybody has the right to be made aware of. Awesome work here Mr. Verigin.
November 17, 2014
In Verigin’s debut thriller, a journalist takes on the story of his career when he agrees to write a book exposing the corruption and deadly dealings of an agribusiness giant.
Disenchanted with his work at the Seattle News, Nick Barnes is intrigued when he is approached by Dr. Carl Elles, a former scientist at agricultural company Naintosa. Although Nick had just written a positive article on Naintosa’s genetically engineered vegetables, the doctor convinces him that not all is as it seems with these supercrops, and the two arrange a meeting to look at Elles’ notes. When Nick finds him dead in his office, he can’t shake the thought that something is amiss: An imposing man claiming to be a police lieutenant arrives on the scene well before any other police officers, and a gray car seems to be following his every move. Nick doesn’t start putting the pieces together until he meets with Morgan Elles, daughter of the late doctor. Assuring Nick that she has copies of her father’s notes, she convinces him to continue with the project and write the exposé. Nick agrees, and the two set out on an international game of cat and mouse with the thugs who will do anything to stop them. Throughout the story, Verigin’s pacing is masterful and adept. He imbues Nick with self-deprecating humor and intelligence, lending him a credibility that makes even the occasional red herring a little more fun. Readers may find the perfectly beautiful Morgan less nuanced, and while Nick’s attraction to her is understandable, some may tire of his frequent descriptions of her outfits. Dialogue is lively and realistic, an asset in maintaining the suspense.
Disenchanted with his work at the Seattle News, Nick Barnes is intrigued when he is approached by Dr. Carl Elles, a former scientist at agricultural company Naintosa. Although Nick had just written a positive article on Naintosa’s genetically engineered vegetables, the doctor convinces him that not all is as it seems with these supercrops, and the two arrange a meeting to look at Elles’ notes. When Nick finds him dead in his office, he can’t shake the thought that something is amiss: An imposing man claiming to be a police lieutenant arrives on the scene well before any other police officers, and a gray car seems to be following his every move. Nick doesn’t start putting the pieces together until he meets with Morgan Elles, daughter of the late doctor. Assuring Nick that she has copies of her father’s notes, she convinces him to continue with the project and write the exposé. Nick agrees, and the two set out on an international game of cat and mouse with the thugs who will do anything to stop them. Throughout the story, Verigin’s pacing is masterful and adept. He imbues Nick with self-deprecating humor and intelligence, lending him a credibility that makes even the occasional red herring a little more fun. Readers may find the perfectly beautiful Morgan less nuanced, and while Nick’s attraction to her is understandable, some may tire of his frequent descriptions of her outfits. Dialogue is lively and realistic, an asset in maintaining the suspense.
February 11, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the author as part of the Good Reads First Reads program. Thank you Lawrence! It was a great read.
This book will terrify anyone with doubts about GMO foods. I wasn't sure what to expect from a story about genetically engineered food but I wasn't expecting a mystery/thriller. Many of the premises put forth are in line with the opinions of extreme GMO opponents. Do GMOs really cause allergies, cancer, and other horrible diseases? I have no idea, but this book certainly makes it sound plausible.
Of course there is the requisite mystery group of people intent on controlling the world for their own nefarious purposes but that's more of a side plot than the main story. The main characters spend the entire book running from the mysterious organization that's trying to kill them in order to prevent them from writing and publishing an expose of how their GMO products are killing people and the environment.
The star of the story is really nature itself and the horrific effects caused by tampering with it. I haven't done much research on GMO food, though I've always fallen slightly closer to the "organic non-GMO" side of the argument. After reading this book, I think I'm a little further over on that side.
This book will terrify anyone with doubts about GMO foods. I wasn't sure what to expect from a story about genetically engineered food but I wasn't expecting a mystery/thriller. Many of the premises put forth are in line with the opinions of extreme GMO opponents. Do GMOs really cause allergies, cancer, and other horrible diseases? I have no idea, but this book certainly makes it sound plausible.
Of course there is the requisite mystery group of people intent on controlling the world for their own nefarious purposes but that's more of a side plot than the main story. The main characters spend the entire book running from the mysterious organization that's trying to kill them in order to prevent them from writing and publishing an expose of how their GMO products are killing people and the environment.
The star of the story is really nature itself and the horrific effects caused by tampering with it. I haven't done much research on GMO food, though I've always fallen slightly closer to the "organic non-GMO" side of the argument. After reading this book, I think I'm a little further over on that side.
April 5, 2015
I love a good thriller and Lawrence Verigin did not disappoint with Dark Seed! I admit, I was hooked after reading the book's synopsis. Monsanto, farming, and talk of GMO's can be found circulating throughout daily media. It's a major issue in our world and one that personally freaks me out.
Nick Barnes seems to be your average journalist who falls into a complex situation of battling scientists and genetically modified food experiments. A company that portrays themselves as doing good for the planet is actually a very secretive and destructive organization. I feel the characters realistically reacted to dramatic situations. They didn't go from common human to crime-fighting heroes in a split second, there was a believable evolution of their character.
I enjoyed riding the roller coaster ride of emotions and events with the characters as they attempted to uncover the ecological mystery. Dark Seed is a nail-biter and will have you reading non-stop until the end. Even then, part of the story is left open which means we need Verigin to finish up a follow up to this thriller asap.
Nick Barnes seems to be your average journalist who falls into a complex situation of battling scientists and genetically modified food experiments. A company that portrays themselves as doing good for the planet is actually a very secretive and destructive organization. I feel the characters realistically reacted to dramatic situations. They didn't go from common human to crime-fighting heroes in a split second, there was a believable evolution of their character.
I enjoyed riding the roller coaster ride of emotions and events with the characters as they attempted to uncover the ecological mystery. Dark Seed is a nail-biter and will have you reading non-stop until the end. Even then, part of the story is left open which means we need Verigin to finish up a follow up to this thriller asap.
April 21, 2014
This is an exciting book which draws on the author’s extensive knowledge of GMOs.
For those of us who are aware of the problems associated with GMOs it’s a reminder to, at the very least, avoid corn, wheat, soy and sugar grown in North America. For those of us unaware of the danger of GMOs it’s a wake up call. The only sure way of avoiding these products is to use organic food. There is no food labeling in North America of GMO products.
The plot draws a connection between the fictional supplier of GMOs which cause allergies and even cancers, and the fictional supplier of pharmaceuticals who provide drugs to keep these allergies under control, but not to cure them.
I wonder.
Either way it would appear that insufficient research is done on the supply of GMOS.
So this fast paced thriller, with a very appropriate title, draws attention to a growing problem which appears to be ignored by the governments meant to protect us, our farmers and most importantly the food chain.
And it's a great read.
For those of us who are aware of the problems associated with GMOs it’s a reminder to, at the very least, avoid corn, wheat, soy and sugar grown in North America. For those of us unaware of the danger of GMOs it’s a wake up call. The only sure way of avoiding these products is to use organic food. There is no food labeling in North America of GMO products.
The plot draws a connection between the fictional supplier of GMOs which cause allergies and even cancers, and the fictional supplier of pharmaceuticals who provide drugs to keep these allergies under control, but not to cure them.
I wonder.
Either way it would appear that insufficient research is done on the supply of GMOS.
So this fast paced thriller, with a very appropriate title, draws attention to a growing problem which appears to be ignored by the governments meant to protect us, our farmers and most importantly the food chain.
And it's a great read.
April 24, 2014
Just how deviant can a plan get? Just how far will some go to conceal the truth? Nick Barnes, an uninspired beat reporter, is about to find out. Readers be warned: the ride you are about to take is tense, fast paced, exciting and full of unexpected turns. Lawrence Verigin has written a real 'page turner'. A handful of years ago the plot might have been considered fantastical but this is the 21st century and what once was implausible is now precisely the opposite. The bonus in the thriller 'Dark Seed' is its thought provoking storyline. Highly Recommended!
June 11, 2015
The scariest part of this thriller is that a lot of the facts are true. This book consists of a group seeking to expose the truths about genetically modified food but they continually harassed by those who would prefer the truth remain covered.I appreciated this thriller as I have never read a book presented this way about this subject.Really original.I could have done without all the visions,meditations and premonition stuff.It's just not my thing and I found it distracting towards the story. Overall pretty good
#####I won this book through goodreads in exchange for an unbiased review######
#####I won this book through goodreads in exchange for an unbiased review######
April 6, 2014
The novel, "Dark Seed," is an easy read; fast paced, with a heart rate to match. I enjoyed it. The topic is more than timely, and for those not aware of the dangers of genetically modified foods, it’s an eye opener, scary!
Stories are a perfect way to learn and the more engaging the better.
More novels like this please, Mr. Verigin. Education and entertainment—unforgettable. Exactly what’s needed!
October 26, 2014
Nick and Morgan discover a conspiracy by a pharmaceutical company. This conspiracy is all about food manipulation to take complete and total control over human existence. This leads Nick and Morgan on a chase that threatens their lives
This fast paced thriller leaves the reader breathless. This is an exciting read with many twist and turns. And the amazing thing...It could happen!!
This fast paced thriller leaves the reader breathless. This is an exciting read with many twist and turns. And the amazing thing...It could happen!!
July 8, 2016
The book was exciting and page turning. I liked the idea of knowing all the places the characters went as I have visited them myself so I could visualize very easily ... I can hardly wait for book 2
April 15, 2015
This thriller was interesting due to the idea that genetically grown food can harm rather than help us, something I've felt rather strongly about for years now. Nick and Morgan find themselves embroiled in a cover up of the worst kind as they do their best to reveal the truth about genetically engineered food and how the pharmaceutical companies can benefit from the ill effects such food creates.
Though these facts were interesting, and the beginning started out strong, I felt that there were a few things toward the middle of the story that caused the thrill factor of the book to taper off, and I hate to bring up the cons of the book because I understand the hard work that went into this novel. I hope my critique will be viewed as constructive and taken with a grain of salt.
As they are traveling in Vancouver there is simply, well, quite a bit of traveling, which I wouldn't have minded if there had been more of a connection between Morgan and Nick. I felt like most of their conversations were either superficial in nature, far too short, or centered solely around where to hide and what info they were uncovering.
The dailogue was a bit choppy, and for two people thrown together in such a high stress situation with all of that alone time they spend together you would expect them to grow closer rather than remain uncomfortable acquaintances. I wasn't expecting a budding romance since this is a thriller, but the author mentioned several times Nick's attraction and feelings for Morgan, yet their interactions did little to develop much of a friendship let alone a romance though that was not the focus, and understandably so. I just didn't buy the level of feeling between the two and so the stakes were less high.
The initial realization that Nick is in danger and the events leading up to that were a bit nail biting in nature, which is why I thought the beginning so promising.
I did enjoy the parts where they were being chased or captured. These moments drew my attention and pulled me into the story. I liked Sue, Nick's best friend, and felt a stronger connection to her. She seemed strong, resilient and level headed, willing to tell Nick the hard truth even when it hurt, and in the beginning it did. Nick appeared to be floundering after a journalism experience gone terribly awry. The use of meditation in order to stay centered and in tune with the possible danger around them was an interesting addition. I don't know that it fit in with the tone of the book, but I enjoyed the idea of gaining insight and clarity through meditation.
Traveling in cars or airplanes can be a bit of a gamble for an author because this is sometimes used as a filler to get from scene to scene instead of actually furthering the plot or developing a character. I'm not saying they can't be in a novel, those scenes simply need to further the plot or be briefly mentioned. If we're going to be stuck in an airplane or in a car for any length of time then the conversations, inner narrative etc. need to do something for the story and take the reader somewhere emotionally. Through all of this traveling I was hoping the conflict would deepen or there would be new dimensions of character weaved into the story, but those scenes failed to do either, and the tension of the situation relaxed when it shouldn't have.
Also, the editing left something to be desired. The beginning of sentences weren't capitalized, the formatting prevented me from being able to tell who was speaking at times, and the author's name kept cropping up in the middle of pages. I'm hoping this was just the end result of a reviewer's copy and not the final product on Amazon.
I really think the whole premise of the book and the point the author wanted to make is solid and noteworthy, but I felt very little for Nick and even less for Morgan. I still can't pinpoint her true character or personality. Unfortunately, I can only give it three stars.
February 28, 2021
The concept of Dark Seed intrigued me from the very beginning. I love a good thriller and, better yet, this dealt with produce and GMOs which I'd never seen or read before, and the idea of it hooked me.
Overall, all characters are written very well. Even though I was unsure about Sue at first, I started liking her as I got to read about her as she appeared more later on. I even liked all the villains in this story. It was clear they had their personal motivations, that they believed in them, and that they felt they were doing "the right thing."
On the topic of villains, the author included three "interlogues" which focused on a character named Peter. I normally am not a big fan of these as they tend to break the flow of storytelling for me, but in these cases, they provided more information on the villains' side of the story. It added more to the book and its plot rather than take away from it, and it especially added more suspense and anxiety for the reader because you can see the progress Peter is making or might make in getting close to finding/catching Nick and Morgan and stopping their plans, which made me root for Nick and Morgan even harder.
The main characters, Nick and Morgan, meditate and on occasion receive premonitions or visions, sometimes even in dreams. When it was first introduced into the story, I was unsure whether or not it would be a good additional concept to the storyline, or if it would turn out to be needless fluff added in to increase the book-length or something to that effect. But I was pleasantly surprised that it was written into the story very well and wasn't made any bigger to the plot than it needed to be. It also added a deeper dimension to Nick and Morgan's anxiety and stress because their visions and instincts kept them wary and on alert.
There were very rare portions in the book that didn't seem necessary or added anything crucial to the plot or story overall, but no more than five incidences. One such example was on page 150 where there was a quick rundown of Nick and Morgan going out to eat dinner. It included descriptions of the atmosphere, how good the food was, and what they ate.
Everything came together really nicely in the end. The culmination of everything was a bit predictable for me when it came to the where and when, but at the same time it also had a twist. Even though this is the first book in the series, I feel Dark Seed will read well as a stand-alone. Excluding the epilogue, it concludes well and left me feeling satisfied with how the story developed and ended. When including the epilogue, it leaves it off at a good point and a bit of a cliffhanger that I feel leads well into the next book but also leaves me wanting to read the rest of the series to see what happens next for Nick, Morgan, and Sue. While this exact concept/storyline isn't one I find or read often, it was executed well in this book and can't wait to finish the series and see how everything unfolds and how it ends!
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author himself in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, all characters are written very well. Even though I was unsure about Sue at first, I started liking her as I got to read about her as she appeared more later on. I even liked all the villains in this story. It was clear they had their personal motivations, that they believed in them, and that they felt they were doing "the right thing."
On the topic of villains, the author included three "interlogues" which focused on a character named Peter. I normally am not a big fan of these as they tend to break the flow of storytelling for me, but in these cases, they provided more information on the villains' side of the story. It added more to the book and its plot rather than take away from it, and it especially added more suspense and anxiety for the reader because you can see the progress Peter is making or might make in getting close to finding/catching Nick and Morgan and stopping their plans, which made me root for Nick and Morgan even harder.
The main characters, Nick and Morgan, meditate and on occasion receive premonitions or visions, sometimes even in dreams. When it was first introduced into the story, I was unsure whether or not it would be a good additional concept to the storyline, or if it would turn out to be needless fluff added in to increase the book-length or something to that effect. But I was pleasantly surprised that it was written into the story very well and wasn't made any bigger to the plot than it needed to be. It also added a deeper dimension to Nick and Morgan's anxiety and stress because their visions and instincts kept them wary and on alert.
There were very rare portions in the book that didn't seem necessary or added anything crucial to the plot or story overall, but no more than five incidences. One such example was on page 150 where there was a quick rundown of Nick and Morgan going out to eat dinner. It included descriptions of the atmosphere, how good the food was, and what they ate.
"The food turned out to be superb. We shared an olive tapenade. For the main course, I had a pork and potato dish, while Morgan ate salmon with rice. We stuffed ourselves."It was weird to read and the book would have done well without it.
Everything came together really nicely in the end. The culmination of everything was a bit predictable for me when it came to the where and when, but at the same time it also had a twist. Even though this is the first book in the series, I feel Dark Seed will read well as a stand-alone. Excluding the epilogue, it concludes well and left me feeling satisfied with how the story developed and ended. When including the epilogue, it leaves it off at a good point and a bit of a cliffhanger that I feel leads well into the next book but also leaves me wanting to read the rest of the series to see what happens next for Nick, Morgan, and Sue. While this exact concept/storyline isn't one I find or read often, it was executed well in this book and can't wait to finish the series and see how everything unfolds and how it ends!
I received a copy of this book courtesy of the author himself in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2015
Dark Seed by Lawrence Verigin is an excellent fictional novel on the ever growing dangers of genetically modified foods and the repercussions of letting scientific research to continue in industries unchecked by any governing type of body that is not easily bought off to further line the pockets of these industries at the expense of human life, health and existence. I can definitely believe that these practices are already getting ahead of the general population, so that when we do wake up, it might be too late. I was totally impressed with the initial premise of how this all began.
I was lucky enough to receive an autographed copy through Goodread's Giveaways, but will end up going out to purchase some extra copies because I know people who just have to read this book (it's that good).
I was lucky enough to receive an autographed copy through Goodread's Giveaways, but will end up going out to purchase some extra copies because I know people who just have to read this book (it's that good).
April 3, 2015
Through a feasible plot, a relatable primary character and an important political and social issue (GMO foods) that concerns us all, this story unfolds quickly; suspenseful right to the end. It's informative and makes one re-think what we eat! Well done first novel. I look forward to the sequel.
September 10, 2016
Dark Seed is an engaging, exciting, and yet disturbing ecological thriller. Murder, intrigue, and romance are set against a worrisome backdrop of multinational conspiracy involving genetically-modified food and pharmaceuticals. Definitely a Good Read.
September 29, 2021
Nick, a journalist, is approached by Dr. Elles, a scientist, to write a memoir on organisations who are genetically modifying food to try and harm the population is suddenly put in a sticky situation when he is dragged into the murder of Dr. Elles even before any work has been done.
Morgan, who is the daughter of Dr. Elles captivates Nick with her beauty when he meets her at the funeral of her father and the duo end up fighting for their lives as they continue to try and uncover the whole story of the organisations working together to try and control the human population; their mission - to expose the truth!
Sue, Nick's best friend is dragged into it all and the three of them are bound together trying to fight for the human race.
Will they succeed or will they be terminated just like Dr. Elles?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was hard to put down. Such a page turner and it is one to definitely keep you oVoraciousn your toes.
Thank you to Voracious Readers Only and Lawrence Verigin for giving me the chance to read this.
Morgan, who is the daughter of Dr. Elles captivates Nick with her beauty when he meets her at the funeral of her father and the duo end up fighting for their lives as they continue to try and uncover the whole story of the organisations working together to try and control the human population; their mission - to expose the truth!
Sue, Nick's best friend is dragged into it all and the three of them are bound together trying to fight for the human race.
Will they succeed or will they be terminated just like Dr. Elles?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was hard to put down. Such a page turner and it is one to definitely keep you oVoraciousn your toes.
Thank you to Voracious Readers Only and Lawrence Verigin for giving me the chance to read this.
December 2, 2018
Dark Seed is a hard to put down thriller. So much (if not all) of the ecological issues are based on fact and that makes the story even more interesting. If you care about the environment and the changes being made to our food sources you will enjoy this story. Conspiracies and secret societies combine with interesting characters who are not quite sure what the truth is. The story follows NIck and Morgan as they try to stay alive and uncover the truth with the help of some people who may or not be their allies.
It's twisty and fast paced enough to keep your attention. I would have finished it sooner if I wasn't reading it over the holiday. I will definitely be recommending this and passing it on for my friends to read, but it's one I'll want back.
(I received this book in a goodreads giveaway.)
It's twisty and fast paced enough to keep your attention. I would have finished it sooner if I wasn't reading it over the holiday. I will definitely be recommending this and passing it on for my friends to read, but it's one I'll want back.
(I received this book in a goodreads giveaway.)
September 22, 2019
@voraciousreadersonly introduced me to yet another great author! Lawrence Verigin explores a very real possibility of big corporations choosing to fill their pockets at the expense of society’s health. Nick Barnes, a journalist trying to climb his way out of career accident, is approached by a ecological scientist to write a book which will expose the dangers that a big corporation is inflicting on its clientele. He quickly learns that there are secrets about the food this corporation grows that they are willing to murder in order to keep hidden. Nick then has to decide whether alerting the public that their food sources could create a slew of health issues is worth being on the run to stay alive. I give this book 👍🏼👍🏼! I want to thank Lawrence for being sweet enough to send me this autographed copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 23, 2019
Received a complimentary copy of this novel from the author via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is a real cat and mouse thriller of a tale and centres around the topical debate of GM crops v organic foods.
The two central characters, the stunningly beautiful Morgan, and average joe reporter Nick stumble upon the sinister goings on at the laboratories where Morgan’s parents once worked. Whilst trying to collate and translate the evidence of a major cover up, and the body count rising, the two heroes are chased across some of beautifully described scenic countries.
A fabulous story that is a real throat grabbing page turner that whisks you along with the unlikely heroes as they try to keep ahead of the bad guys. The conclusion, when it comes doesn’t disappoint and leaves you wanting to download the next in the series.
This novel is a real cat and mouse thriller of a tale and centres around the topical debate of GM crops v organic foods.
The two central characters, the stunningly beautiful Morgan, and average joe reporter Nick stumble upon the sinister goings on at the laboratories where Morgan’s parents once worked. Whilst trying to collate and translate the evidence of a major cover up, and the body count rising, the two heroes are chased across some of beautifully described scenic countries.
A fabulous story that is a real throat grabbing page turner that whisks you along with the unlikely heroes as they try to keep ahead of the bad guys. The conclusion, when it comes doesn’t disappoint and leaves you wanting to download the next in the series.
June 22, 2020
Journalist Nick Barnes has written an article on all the good things Naintosa Corporation has done for humanity through genetic engineering and is surprised to hear from Dr. Carl Elles, who tells him his information is all wrong. Dr. Elle wants Nick to help him expose the real truth about the corporation but ends up dead before Nick can read his research. Dr. Elle’s daughter Morgan steps into the picture and has a copy of her father’s full report. She joins up with Nick to get the truth out, but they find that they are the next targets and go on the run. They soon discover frightening links between major corporations and their plans to control humanity. This is a very well researched topic, and the author must have personal knowledge of all the places in the story as they are so well detailed. Especially relevant in today’s world!
August 8, 2020
(I received a free copy of this book via Voracious Readers Only in exchange for a review)
An enjoyable page turner set in the murky world of genetically modified crops that had me hooked from the outset. Lawrence Verigin goal is apparently to 'entertain readers while delving into socially relevant subjects.', which I think he has achieved with this book.
There were occasions when the plot started to feel a little far-fetched, but the author managed to drop in enough plausible detail to pull me back in with. (I can't be the only one wondering about the similarities of the companies implicated with Monsanto and Bayer?...)
Dark Seed is the first in a trilogy and based on this first instalment I'm going to be adding the second and third instalments to my 'to read' list - surely praise enough?
An enjoyable page turner set in the murky world of genetically modified crops that had me hooked from the outset. Lawrence Verigin goal is apparently to 'entertain readers while delving into socially relevant subjects.', which I think he has achieved with this book.
There were occasions when the plot started to feel a little far-fetched, but the author managed to drop in enough plausible detail to pull me back in with. (I can't be the only one wondering about the similarities of the companies implicated with Monsanto and Bayer?...)
Dark Seed is the first in a trilogy and based on this first instalment I'm going to be adding the second and third instalments to my 'to read' list - surely praise enough?
October 21, 2020
Although a little different from the types of books I normally read I really enjoyed this and found I didn't want to stop - in fact I ended up glued to it and went through it in a couple of days! I did feel that the book didn't give too much detail about the characters themselves but in fact I think that only served to make the dark and nefarious plot stand out all the more! I have to say I really came away thinking a lot more about how the food we eat gets to our plates. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Voracious Readers Only and have to say the author himself was an absolute legend, replying several times to help me to get the copy to work on my Kindle (which it did, thank you!). I now can't wait to get stuck into the next book (Seed of Control) to see how the plot thickens.
May 2, 2021
An enthralling book that makes you question the world we live in.
A journalist desperate to prove himself and the daughter of a murdered scientist who is determined to carry on the mission of her father join hands to expose the nefarious plot of world’s largest agrochemical company. Challenging the influential people soon made them start running for their lives, but with the wails of humanity ringing in their ear, they knew they could not give up.
With the constant presence of suspense and action, there is never a dull moment in the book. The amalgamation of the thrill of the fiction and the portrayed issue that has been yanked right out of the present world does not quite allow the reader to put the book down and relax.
If the topic of ‘Genetically Modified Food’ intrigues you, you won’t regret giving this book a shot.
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