Customer Reviews

The Y Factor: Scientists discover a genetic secret that threatens to wipe Israel off the map...

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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Mix Clive, Clancy and Ludlum in a pot and you have a boiling cauldron of Liam Roberts. You are transported to a nuclear sub and believe you are actually a member of a Navy Seal extraction team. You experience the joy and trepidation of first love. You feel the searing pain of betrayal, and, trust me, you find out that biology can be fun. Meticulous research, heart stopping suspense and a love story even a guy will like; it is all there in the Y Factor. I loved it and couldn't put it down. Let's have more from Liam.

This book is absolutely CAPTIVATING! I wish the summary here did not tell so much, because the suspense was one of the best parts. Liam has CLEARLY done an extensive amount of research on a variety of topics and uses descriptive detail that places you right in the middle of the story. I can easily see this book being made into a movie and topping the bestseller list. It is easy to read and full of adventure. The hand of God is clearly with the two heroes, and though the hatred and violence are graphic and downright scary, the book continues to draw the reader in to see what will happen next. I am a total scaredycat, but once I got hooked, I could not put this book down and was thankful for the constant change between the good and evil portions of the story. The mystery is incredible, and while I'm sure some of the computer and scientific data went over my head, I found it intriguing and intellectually stimulating. Liam also honestly and accurately portrays the budding relationship between two young adults, acknowledging the male's desire to delve deeper into a physical relationship, yet honoring the female's convictions. Liam provides a new type of "hero" in this way, unlike much of the comtemporary influences our young people come into contact with today. Additionally, Alana is portrayed as a true woman of faith, sticking with her convictions and witnessing to everyone she comes in contact with. This book is not only educational and entertaining, but also acts as an example of Christian love and stewardship for us all. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and highly recommend this as a MUST READ!!!!

The Y Factor for Liam Roberts is a fast-paced action packed thriller about genetics and terrorism. Eric Colburn takes a job at the National Genographic Society after the mysterious disappearance of a friend who was working for the company in Egypt. His girlfriend Alana also takes a job with them in hopes of discovering the truth. The two quickly find themselves caught up in a high-stakes game of terrorism and intrigue that puts their lives at stake. Ahmed Alomari, a shadowy Muslim figure has a secret plan to elevate Muslims into positions of power around the world with the information the Society is discovering in its genetic research, and he's not about to let Eric and Alana get in his way. There's lot of action and nail-biting suspense as the couple travels around the world, battle robed figures, and try to get to the bottom of Alomari's insidious plot. Alana's faith carries her through the rough spots, and Roberts does a good job of making both characters realistic in their prayers and discussions about religion. The book ends with too many unanswered questions. Eric never discovers the truth about his friend's disappearance, the initial impetus for his joining the company, and the truth about Alomari's research is never disclosed. If there's going to be a sequel, these questions really need to be addressed. If this is a stand-alone it's serious flaw in the plot. His descriptions of a Navy SEALS mission seems incredibly realistic and is a highlight of the novel.

I was surprised to find out this was a first novel for Liam Roberts. It was well written and grabbed my interest in the first two chapters. I finished reading it that night about 2am. The story line is original representing fresh plot ideas in a genre that is oftentimess predictable. I hope Roberts writes more books. After reading The Y Factor, I will order his next novel sight unseen.

For a first novel, Roberts has done a great job. Great story line and a can't put down pace. He has included the background information relating to the biblical account of Abraham and his first born, Ishmael and second son, Isaac that has led to the spiritual conflict between the Jews and Muslims. This forms the basis of the plot.

He has obviously done his research and it shows in the plot. Roberts has developed his characters well and made them believable and relational.

This is the only novel I have where the author has included the actual prayers the characters pray in the dire circumstances they find themselves in. I found it refreshing in one sense that it was not super spiritual type but prayers reflecting their fear, concern, anxiety, and even that they (in particular the main male character) admitting defeat in trying to control everything and surrendering himself to God and letting God take control of his dire circumstances.

Roberts has written a sequel, The X Syndrome, but it will not be published unless sales of The Y Factor improve. I am very disappointed that sales of this novel have not been higher as it deserves to be so. I pray that this becomes the reality and the sequel can be published.

Highly Recommended.

Oh my Gor I loved this book . What a storie it was GREAT .

The Y Factor by Liam Roberts kept me holding on by the seat of my pants after the last page was turned and I set the book down my only thought was "Father please let none of this be true." Unfortunately, even through this is a fiction book, I fear there is a lot of truth mixed in with Roberts' fiction. Why you ask? Liam Roberts is an unknown, writing under a pseudonym, but when I picked up The Y Factor I was immediately hooked.

The Y Factor includes computer and genetics technology, scientific data, military tactics, al Qaeda assassins, and detailed information on the Muslim religion, culture and history. Roberts' was able to make technical detail easy to understand even for the everyday lay person. If you love the thriller suspense genre, you will love The Y Factor. But like I mentioned at the beginning, I pray to God there is more fiction than fact in The Y Factor, but my fear is there is equal parts. I strongly recommend this book!

A few weeks ago,I received my review copy of The Y Factor. I admit that I was skeptical. I figured Roberts would have a difficult time equaling well-know authors. He's an unknown, writing under a pseudonym, published by a publisher I'd never heard of. But, within the first couple of chapters, I was hooked.

What if you got an e-mail from a friend that sends a chill of fear up your spine? What if you thought that friend was in grave danger, the kind only terrorists can create? What if you hadn't heard from that friend in weeks? Rumor has it, he's vanished. In The Y Factor, computer scientist Eric Colburn receives just that sort of message. Fearing what may have happened to his friend Hamdi, who has been working on an international genetics project in Cairo, Colburn and his girlfriend Alana, another mutual friend of Hamdi, decide to put their skills to work the genetics research company.

What follows is a mind-blowing series of events that kept me turning pages late into the night. From the moment the drama unfolds, Colburn, Alana, and another co-worker named Joey demonstrate the reality of living in mortal fear. The book gives the reader a glimpse into the world of al Qaeda and the violence that is a way of life in some countries. I'm not sure what the actions of al Qaeda are really like, because I have no connections to the middle east. However, 9/11 stands as evidence of the brutality that simmers in the hearts of some men. Liam Roberts has captured this well in The Y Factor. I left me feeling like I ought to be watching over my shoulder.

This book is well written. Roberts' style reminded me a lot of Ted Dekker especially in Dekker's Blessed Child. I seriously wondered part of the way through if Dekker was writing under a pseudonym. The medical aspects of the story reminded me of Randy Ingermanson's Oxygen.

The violence in the book is handled tastefully, and there are so many examples of good Christian conduct in the business world in the book. So at first, I was thinking it would be a great read for teens and adults alike. But there is just one part I wish could have been avoided. Like a fabulous movie with one objectionable scene that could have been left out, there was one scene in the book when Alana is held in captivity that pushed the book off my list of recommendations for teens. Assault is reality, I know and it wasn't a rape. But either way I suggest parents use their judgment. The scene disappoints me only because the rest of the book is such an example of morality and good conduct despite the violent reality. Eric and his girlfriend agree not to be intimate until marriage and that's a great message for young people. Plus, the gospel is woven throughout the entire story line without it being preachy. That's an accomplishment for a writer.

I highly recommend this book to readers, both male and female, and I'm looking forward to other books by Roberts. Y factor should stand for yes factor in my opinion.

Fantastically well researched & well written, The Y Factor is difficult to put down. Roberts' ability to make technical detail fit seamlessly into a well developed story line makes for a thoroughly enjoyable read. I look forward to his next work.

If you like suspense, mystery and action then this book is definitely for you.

`The Y Factor' is Liam Roberts' first novel and although that fact shows a little at times with too much description of some events and not enough of others, I found it to be entertaining, suspenseful, informative and a little frightening.

Roberts is writing about the world of terrorism and Muslim fanaticism and does so from what I understand is a very educated real-world understanding of these things. The picture he paints is quite scary and, considering that he wanted to portray the true threat from Islamic Jihad, it really makes the reader think about what is really happening just beyond the limits of our experience.

Eric Colburn and his girlfriend, Alana McKinsey, are thrust into a world of terrorism and religious fervor when their friend, Hamdi, mysteriously goes missing in Cairo. Their rollercoaster journey to uncover the truth behind Hamdi's disappearance and what it has to do with the National Geographic Genographic project involves assaination attempts, kidnappings, torture and the eventual intervention of a Navy SEAL team - but will they be too late to save the intrepid pair?

It's a great, clean, educational thriller with a subtly shared gospel message to boot.

I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who loves a good suspense thriller!