Customer Reviews

Runners' Blood

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

 

 

Excellent book! Gave it as a gift to a friend and both of us were glued to the book, reading it in every spare moment we had. James Fischer brings together an intriguing mix of medical science and elite running, that leaves you pondering the possibilities during and after reading the book. In Sean O'Rourke, Fischer captures the heart and soul of the competitive runner. The scientific premises are fascinating and written to give the average reader a clear understanding of their basis. Runners' Blood is a real treat, and not only for runners, doctors or scientists. It's for anyone who enjoys a good suspenseful plot, with plenty of details for you to immerse yourself in while unraveling the mystery along the way!

Sean Rourke is an Irish distance runner and a favorite for winning the Sydney competition. When he is beaten in a road race by a middle-aged man a series of events occur which culminate in the theft of a scientific discovery, murder, and the descent into a tainted world of international intrigue and athletic competition. There is a new performance enhancing drug apparently responsible for Chinese runners with East German coaches. Who is behind it -- and is Sean's lovely teammate Susie involved? Runner's Blood is a terrific medical mystery set within the world of international sports.

I saw an ad for this book at the Marine Corps Marathon expo and thought that I had to have it, seeing as I'm a marathoner, and a molecular biologist. Unfortunately that was my most exciting remembrance of this book. I found most of the characters to be fairly shallow, and the plot a bit unbeleivable... It brought back memories of the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mystery novels that I read in middle school, but with a bit more technical information.

Fischer clearly wrote Runners Blood with the experience of an athlete and the insight of a scientist. His detailed knowledge of the workings of modern biomedical research and university politics shines through. But his writing is poor. To call his characters two-dimensional would be to give them too much depth. One character even repeats entire portions of conversation. I suggest this book only to readers with a specific interest in sports physiology.

Knowing the author was my incentive to read this book, but the story is exciting and I enjoyed the book for both reasons.