La formula segreta

by John Altman

La crociera, per Hannah Gray, avrebbe dovuto essere solo un modo per allontanarsi da Chicago, dall'ex amante Frank e dal timore che lui l'avesse denunciata nella speranza di scaricare su di lei la responsabilità della frode ordita ai danni di un'azienda farmaceutica. Per questo, quando Vicky Ludlow le aveva offerto di prendere il suo posto sulla nave, Hannah aveva accettato e, temendo di essere ricercata, si era imbarcata sotto il nome dell'amica. Quello che non poteva immaginare era che fra i passeggeri di quella nave ci fosse Steven Epstein, anziano scienziato che lavorava per un'agenzia segreta del governo degli Stati Uniti, anche lui in fuga dopo aver fatto una delle più sensazionali scoperte del secolo. Una scoperta che però, nelle mani sbagliate, si sarebbe potuta trasformare in una minaccia per l'umanità...

Genres: Thriller, Espionage, Fiction, Adventure, Mystery

268 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2003

About the author

John Altman's thrillers have sold over a quarter-million copies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Poland, and the Netherlands. He graduated from Harvard University in 1992. He lives with his wife and children in Princeton, New Jersey, where he is at work on his next book.
"If there are thriller writers betters than this," Jack Higgins said, "I'd like to know who they are."

Reviews

[Cynthia]

This book is part espionage and part who done it, but definitely a pleasant read. This is the story of Hannah who finds herself doctoring her passport as she surreptitiously slips out of the U.S. to board a cruise off the Greek islands. She unwittingly gets caught up in a hotbed of trouble when she is befriended by an elderly and seemingly harmless couple on the cruise 🚢. But as Hannah is soon to learn, things are not always as they appear to be on the surface. And so begins the stuff of covert secrets, espionage, and gambling with ones life!
Liked this so much I plan to read other books 📚 by this author (once the libraries reopen).

[Priscilla]

Fast paced story line with unpredictable twists and turns. Very good read.

[Heidi]

I had a hard time deciding whether this rated 3 or 4 stars, because I enjoyed it so very much, right up until the end, which I found extremely unsatisfying.

[Shaghaf Awad]

" Don't judge the book by its cover" Only this time, the cover gave the impression that the book was good while in reality it was NOT. I could not relate to the main characters or at least sympathize with them, the plot was weak but in all fairness the language was good.
I would say it is a poor attempt to follow Dan Brown's style.

[Eddy George Eden]

Loved it !

[Myprivatebookclub]

Lots of characters created some confusion, but I realized that was enjoying the read.
There were lots of happenings, not much dragging, interesting plot twists, some of which unpredictable. I loved the scenery of the book, although it was short and not detailed at all, I managed somehow to follow the characters in the narrow streets, in the luxurious villas, in the cabs.
I do not really feel to have a closure at the end of the book; but I guess this was the aim of the author, so that we can finish the story just as we like it.
The author did not feel pity for either of the characters – one can never expect who will be spent and who will be spared.

[Booklily]

I couldn't find the book I wanted in the library so just picked a random book to try. I took this book only because the description mentioned the names of Eric Ambler and John Le Carre who happened to be my favorite authors. I had a doubt as soon as I started the book. What the chance is for two men with exact same name staying in the same hotel at same time? I then lost 70% interest, plus the last minute cruise and airfare transfer, forged passport, etc. not really plausible.

[Bryan Neighbors]

I found this a well written and compelling story, but the further along it went the more frequent completely implausible things kept happening.

[Luci]

A decent thriller but not exceptional. While interesting and a quick read, I really didn't care about the characters.

[Lesley]

What an incredible ride! Altman comes through again. In A Gathering of Spies and A Game of Spies, Altman proved himself a master of suspense and period detail. In Deception, Altman delivers a compelling story with nuanced characters and a scientific riddle that laymen will understand and physicists will love. Keep spinning these fabulous yarns, John!

[Graham Page]

Lots of moving parts, inferences, characters, and a slow boiling plot that keeps getting thicker as the book goes on. A classic thriller that should be made into a movie, say a film noir international thriller. Well done sparse but intriguing novel. Enjoyed more once I got deeper and deeper into it.

[Patrick]

A quick-paced but dull "thriller." A scientist on a cruise ship dies and a woman picks up a book that has a formula for some kind of weapon in it. Then she's on the run from a baby-faced assassin. It didn't really hold my interest very well. On the acknowledgments the author thanks his author, who didn't really do a good job since there were a few typos in the manuscript.

[Karen]

This is a solid thriller. Better-written than most. The plot is somewhat tried-and-true, but the good writing makes it fresh and fun to read.

[Esther Reimer]

The story line was very interesting but the changing narrative and names were confusing at times.

[Ruth]

spy novel with complex, confusing story line and no likable characters.