The Karasik Conspiracy [Hardcover]

Kenin M. Spivak (Author), Julie Chrystyn (Author), Julie Chrystyn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2005

The man: Billionaire Ken Karasik didn't get rich entirely by legitimate means. Born in Communist-controlled Bosnia, Karasik has devoted his life to securing freedom for the Slavs in the Balkans, at any price. The trigger: When Slobodan Milosevic kills Karasik's family and Ivan Maslac resumes ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, Karasik and his powerful Commission set in motion the deadliest terror attack the world has ever seen. The weapon: Tainted drugs unleashed in a terrifying attack on those most in need of help; thousands may die before anyone even knows an attack has begun and there is no cure. The irony: Pharmaceutical giant PharmCorp has the same plan; with loyalty to no one, its goal is to protect billions of profit. The investigators and the traitor: If the FBI's Barry Weiner and his sexy new paramour, investigator Francine Pye, can't stop them, maybe the mysterious Judas will -- if he doesn't join them first. Murder. Intrigue. Politics. Polemics: The story takes us from Washington, D.C. to New York to London, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Kumming, Guadalajara and beyond as the Karasik Commission, PharmCorp, Alexa and billionaire smuggler Faisal Ayoub seek revenge and execute their lethal plans on a global scale.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 424 pages
• Publisher: Phoenix Books; First edition (December 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597775193
• ISBN-13: 978-1597775199
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,600,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Miss This Exciting Thriller!, December 1, 2005

By 

Edward Swanson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Karasik Conspiracy (Hardcover)

How far will the American pharmaceuticals industry go to prevent cheap drugs from entering the U.S. from Canada and the rest of the world? In the exciting first novel by businessman Kenin M. Spivak, co-authored by columnist and author Julie Chrystyn, two terrorist plots become intertwined - one by Balkan nationalists, led by billionaire Ken Karasik, and the other by pharmaceutical giant PharmCorp, which hopes to scuttle the inflow of foreign drugs into America by purposely tainting certain ones. The plot is frighteningly realistic, and the book is one of that rare breed that thoroughly delights the senses while stimulating the mind.

The history of this book is almost as thrilling as the book itself. According to news reports earlier this year, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America originally commissioned a novel that would scare Americans who buy cheap drugs from Canada. Several payments apparently were made by PhRMA to a Los Angeles book publisher for the book before withdrawing from the project in July. PhRMA has stated that the book was not commissioned by the association's leaders, and that when they found out about it they stopped it. Authors Spivak and Chrystyn, however, went forward with their own version of the book, turning down a proposed $100,000 settlement to drop the book on condition that they never speak ill of the pharmaceutical industry. Regardless of the true history behind the writing of the book, the book is a fun read at the cutting edge of reality.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read: Entertaining, Informative & Thought Provoking, December 7, 2005

By 

Marilyn Tam "author of, How to Use What You'v... (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Karasik Conspiracy (Hardcover)

Well Done! I am not one that usually read thrillers but this book grabbed and held my attention. Truth and fiction are so well interwined in the story that it is hard to discern which is which. Read this book for the entertainment value, read it for information on how porous and vulnerable our economic system is to abuse, and read it to raise your awareness about the world. Read it.
Congratulations Julie & Kenin, you deserve much success.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Karasik Conspiracy, December 3, 2005

By 

Stephen Sepher (LA, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Karasik Conspiracy (Hardcover)

This book surprised me well on all levels. It taps into the heartbeat of conspiracy to the fullest in the pharmaceutical world. What a refreshing story with a whole new outlook. It kept me glued to the page.