Customer Reviews

The Blood Artists

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

My first time reading Hogan turned out to be a fun romp through mystery and science, a chase for the virus that spreads though blood, one commodity that is rare to keep and difficult to obtain. Blood is the river that links all the lakes in this story, all the characters have something in common, the latest epidemic of outbreaks that kill in a horrific way has to start somewhere, two brilliant scientists who are at the center of it all end up enemies, both have dome some questionable things, who is the bad good and who is really good?

This is the basis for the tale, add some sneaky backstabbing characters, a nasty virus that does some really icky things with its new favorite host; the human body, making you an expert at recognizing and diagnosing mortality rates after you learn about the blister sores and blood ratio on the victims and it makes you want to wash your hands, close the windows and not go outside, I love these types of books, they will cheer you up on the rainiest day, once you put them down of course, the moment when you feel safe after having a front row seat at a macabre show of man versus disease. This might be "Outbreak" lite but it still packs a punch, I enjoyed for what it was and had a good time reading it. Basically the story evolves around two people; Doctors Stephen Pearse and Peter Maryk. They work at the Bureau of Disease Control and have time and money to devote to doing fantastic research, they get tangled into a doomsday scenario upon truing to help victims in an isolated Congo village, where one of them though an act of mercy begins something that will haunt not only them but the world forever. They reunite as enemies two years later in America where the same virus they tried to eradicate keeps sprouting up all over the country, and it seems to have some human help, the questions that rise are great, the answers terrifying, the story begins!

This was not without flaws but I enjoyed the story and I'm glad I go to read it, I have a soft spot in my heart for all sorts of science thrillers, especially the super viral ones, they seem to shake the reader harder than any monster could ever try.

- Kasia S.

As a medical technologist, this book had special meaning to me. Hogan does a great job of exploring both major personalities in the novel, while at the same time showing a decent understanding of the viral world and medical technology. It catches you up in the evolution of this killer virus which displays its own personality throughout the novel and really becomes a character in and of itself. It is interesting to imagine when those of us in medicine/science will have to leave our labs and take more militant action in defending the human race. Hogan does a great job of portraying that...it kept me up many a night!

I love this book and since I live in the town that it takes place (i'll leave it up to you to find out)it makes it even more exiting. Though I doubt the town will ever reach 20,000 people. It's very interesting how a small town like ***** gets a deadly virus that kills every one exept 2. I don't want to give to much away so I'll leave it up to you.

This not a book for someone who wants and "easy" read - you have to pay attention to what is going on! It is well written and keeps the suspense and action going at a sure pace. Definitely worth reading.

Blood Artists isn't the most realistic story ever written and the author tends to over describe at times but all that aside, it is one of the most engaging books that I have ever read. Peter Mayrk is what makes this novel a great success. His physicality and personality make you love him and sometimes despise him at the same time. If you enjoy a good medical sci-fi thriller then you will love Blood Artists. By all means pick up a copy and read it today.

I cannot say enough (good) about this book! Not only does it "deliver the goods" in terms of adrenaline and suspense, but it has poetic language and uncommonly lovable characters. There's plenty of scientific, thought-provoking discussion, too. The book makes no bones about the fact that humanity is really straining its leash in terms of invading the environment. Also: I LOVE Dr. Peter Maryk! He does for the needle what Jimi Hendrix did for the guitar.

I've just started reading Mr. Hogan's novels and I like what I have read so far. This is the third book to read after Prince of Thieves and Killer Moon and have also read the novels "The Strain" and "The Fall" with Guillermo del Toro. Awesome books and I recommend them to anyone. Looking forward to reading the rest of his books and to books coming out soon! I am definitely a fan of his!

In Hogan's future world, overuse have rendered anti-biotics completely ineffective and blood becomes sacred. Could never happen? Don't bet on it. The pace is fast, the characters are very well drawn and you are hooked from word one. The future Hogan describes is completely believable. Don't start this one at bedtime unless you are prepared to see the sun come up!

In 2010, virologists Peter Maryk and Stephen Pearse work together on developing a synthetic blood substitute. However, their work is interrupted by a new type of viral epidemic in Africa. Failing to stop the disease, they have the village and its residents destroyed to abort a pandemic outbreak. In 2012 that same virus kills most of the inhabitants of a Massachusetts town and seems to be eliberately striking other places as well.

By 2016, Pearse is dying from the disease, which seems to be purposely spread by a malevolent being who is a virus in human form. Only one person, a survivor of the Massachusetts outbreak, has the immunity to stop the deliberate and cunning killer, who plans to use more mundane means to eradicate his only threat.

THE BLOOD ARTISTS is a strange futuristic thriller filled with plenty of action. The characters are all top rate, especially the two virologists, the Massachusetts survivor, and the serial killing virus. Though there are moments when the tale seems to need a blood transplant due to uneven pacing, Chuck Hogan's newest novel will be fully enjoyed by fans of the sub-genre as a one sitting chiller.

Harriet Klausner

Well, I wasn't sure at first I was going to like this novel. Hogan's use of first person during the first few chapters is not my favorite writing style but I stuck with it and VOILA!!! What a TERRIFYING, TOTALLY GROSS, CAN'T-PUT-IT-DOWN story this turned out to be. This makes you cringe at Humankind's defenselessness!

First there are Drs. Stephen Pearse and Peter Maryk, "The Blood Artists." Together, they are a whole person, acting with both commitment and conscience. When they separate and go their own way for a few years, neither can act as complete and dedicated (and honorable) scientists, one possessing the charm and goodness (Pearse), the other (Maryk), possessing the determination and devotion to the "virus".

Then there are the survivors of the devastagin "Plainville" virus that wiped out the entire town, except MILKMAID, LANCET and BLOSSOM. Though they survived, their lives are hopelessly and completely changed forever.

Finally, we meet Oren Ridgeway a.k.a. "Patient Zero". But really he is never Ridgeway in the story, only "Zero", as is totally and evily fitting.

In spite of the complicated story and the plethora of "Main Characters", author Hogan does a fine job of weaving the plot and the lives of the characters into a story that you can actually care about. In the end, I actually hoped for a sequel!!! Perhaps Hogan will grant us that someday for after all, "Plainville" isn't really dead....