Customer Reviews

The Karasik Conspiracy

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

This is a novel that could easily be non-fiction. It feels like it's ripped from today's headlines. It's a page turner, entertaining and exciting. A great book to lose yourself in.

Excellent!!! Once you start you cant put it down. It keeps you going from start to finish and the ride is very intriguing and exciting. Well done Julie and Kenin.

While there are some interesting concepts in this book, it's main claim to fame is some typical stupidity at Pharma, the industry trade organization which seems to have locked itself into a 1950s cold war mode action, and tried to help pay for the book to discredit Canadian Internet drug sales. Otherwise it is questionable whether this truly mediocre book would've seen the light of day. It suggests that the Canadian equivalent of the FDA, Health and Welfare Canada is the most inept licensing body for drugs in the world (aboslutely untrue - eh?), that the FDA has a 'cosy' relationship with big pharma and that biotechs and newcomers to the phramaceutical industry are excluded from this relationship which leads to irrelevant and costly delays also untrue and total hogwash - about as credible as James Bond totaling a car and walking away unscathed. This book does a number of disservices to health care, the drug industry and the FDA and Health Canada - and to Switzerland - but worst of all - it mangles the language. Hopefully an embarassment to its authors - but one senses that in addition to having no common sense - they have no taste!

I was struck by the "truth as stranger than fiction" quality to this book. All of the publicity and excitement surrounding the publication of this book didn't prepare me for how much fun it is to read. Excellent characters and believable plot.

It is certainly believable now in light of the fact that the drug industry trade association apparently originally commissioned the writing of this book to highlight the risks that this book explores. Who knows what they would do now to advance their interests?

Once you start the book...well, you know the rest.

I bought this at Borders (sorry Amazon) but loved every page. This is a book everyone should read, and for the stout of heart, give as a Christmas, Hannukka, Kwanzaa, etc. gift!

This is the first Kenin Spivak book I've read and I will read more in the future. The book got really good towards the middle and then I was unable to put it down as I was thrust into a mystery of international concern that pushes the envelope of suspense. As a reader of international mysteries, I consider myself a 'connoisseur' on stories in that genre and this book has the right ingredients: suspense, the evil incarnate, and a plot that keeps one riveted to the last page. Highly recommended!

BUT NOT FOR THE LAZY...A COMBINATION OF FACTS AND FICTION THAT WRAP YOU IN SIMULATANEOUS FITION AND FACTS.THE BIG DRUG LOBBY HAS DONE SO MUCH TO DENEGRATE THIS BOOK THAT I WAS REALLY SURPRISED HOW WELL IT WORKED.WOULD I HAVE READ IT IF NOT FOR THE LOBBYING AGAINST IT? ...PROBABLY NOT. I HAD A GOOD TIME AND YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THIS IF YOU LIKE GOOD THRILLERS.