Customer Reviews

Immunity

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

DEA Agent Castro Baxter and his partner, Ted are out on a stakeout, when all of a sudden Ted starts having convulsions. Ted's whole body is rapidly swelling. Before Castro can get help Ted dies. Castro's boss thinks Ted died of a drug overdose but Castro believes that's not true. When Dr. Alexandra Blake gets involved, her tests prove Ted didn't die of an overdose but of something more horrifying. Before Alex knows it people all over are dying. It is turning out to be a major outbreak of the dangerous kind. Alex will have to use every part of her knowledge as well as wits about her in order to keep more people from dying. That's the easy part. The obstacle will be staying alive. The people responsible for starting this whole epidemic don't appreciate Alex sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. Will the bad guys end up on top this time or can Alex come out the hero?

Readers who have followed Dr. Alexandra Blake will not be disappointed in Lori Andrew's latest Immunity. The plot for this book was both intriguing and frightening. Intriguing that something like this could happen so easily and frightening for the same fact. For anyone who likes medical thrillers then you will enjoy reading this book. From the first couple of pages till the end, Immunity was first-class. I thought Immunity was a mix between a Tess Gerritsen novel and CSI. Need I say more? Ms. Andrews brings so much intensity with her expertise on genetics and law. See for yourself what I am talking about in Immunity.

I randomly picked up this book, so I am not familiar with Alexandra Blake's previous adventures, but I was terribly disappointed with this book. The beginning really hooks you, with the DEA and the date rape drug, and then the crazy thing that starts killing people. However, the rest of the action in the book seems almost like an afterthought. The heroine spend most of her time thinking about how much she doesn't know that when something finally does happen (like 300 people dying), you almost miss it.

Although the book hooked my interest, incorrect statements made me give up on it about 1/4 of the way into it. For example, concerns about the AFIP being sued by the mother of the dead DEA agent - the government and its agencies have sovereign immunity and cannot be sued. The author, a lawyer, should know that.

Then describing the U.S. Navy's program to identify the remains of drowned SOLDIERS????

While my reading choices may not be at the most exalted literary levels, poor grammar and factual inconsistencies ruin a book for me.

Having come across the audio version of this book, I was interested by the early plot hook - a horrible date rape drug variant and its deadly consequences. Then another book took over and lost me ...

For an alleged highly connected and respected researcher, the central character is so naive it became annoying. A maniacal Homeland Security head (now becoming a thriller cliche), DEA agents, mysterious bloating deaths, greedy investors, and then I became hopelessly lost - and (frankly) was grateful. So preposterous, I really don't care how it turns out but assume Dr Alex is the heroine and saves the day. Recommend for insomniacs as I fell asleep listening to this tall tale.

Seldom do I close a book without finishing, but I was glad to bid adieu to Dr Alexandra Blake novels. Certainly, I wish I had had Immunity to this confusing tale.

Lori Andrews has outdone herself again with her unique blend of bioethics, law,action and high suspense this engrossing Alex Blake thriller. A must read. Excellent material for book clubs.

andrews brilliant mix of science and law makes her books sui generis. get every one of them. they do not disappoint.

I've found Lori to be a very good murder mystery author, I will read all of her books if an when available.

DEA Agents Ted Silliman and Castro Baxter are part of a joint workforce with the Las Vegas Police Department investigating the use of the date rape drug "J"; the victims end up in many cases mutilated and dead. Evidence leads to the Fantasy Resort owned by septuagenarian Frankie "The Bayonet" DiBondi, but it makes no sense for him to deal with an illegal relatively minor remittance when his legal brothel brings in a million declared dollars a month and who knows how much of the profit iceberg remains beneath the surface. Still they follow DiBondi onto an Indian Reservation when Ted suddenly goes into convulsions and dies.

The official response is an overdose of cocaine, but Castro rejects it as inane because he knew his partner and knows what a cocaine death looks like. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Dr. Alex Blake conducts an autopsy and agrees with Castro. She believes Simmons died from his body violently reacting with a hyper-immune response. Soon afterward his corpse disappears and DEA grabs the autopsy results and all related information to the Simmons' death. Teaming up with Castro, Alex learns of eight other identical deaths on that same night that all tie back to a fountain in a Taos, New Mexico public square. Based on unnamed government sources the media blames Native American radical rights group Red Rights for introducing a new "silent assassin" disease into the drinking water as a widening epidemic seems imminent with new deaths; shockingly Homeland Security chief Martin Kincade demands Blake and Castro back down or else.

This exhilarating conspiratorial thriller will grip readers with the opening prologue when the seemingly healthy but tired Silliman suddenly convulses. The story line is fast-paced and filled with plenty of action and strong characters (including the lead duo) with personal agendas; these protagonists represent real groups' goals such as denoting Native American issues and signifying Homeland Security leaderships' self interests. Readers will enjoy the latest AFIP adventure.

Harriet Klausner