Title: Biological Deception
Subtitle: Daniel Cross Political Thriller Trilogy Book 1
Author: Geoffrey Bott
Publisher: Readersmagnet, LLC
ISBN: 9798890916273
Pages: 226
Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Thriller
Review: Susan Brown
Pacific Book Review
International intrigue, government officials run amok, a high-priced diamond, espionage, murder plus a potential biological maelstrom set the stage for this fast-paced, geopolitical suspense novel Biological Deception, the first of three to come from the author Geoffrey Bott.
At the center of all the action is the protagonist, Daniel Cross, a British scientist enlisted by various governments and thrust into a “secret service” role when he’s charged with thwarting extremist attempts to overthrow them. Cross, a stylish, smart and strikingly handsome man, kicks off the action when he is asked to authenticate the value of a high-priced diamond. At that consultation, he determines the diamond is a fake; the woman accompanying him dies in his arms and he bolts from the encounter in a flurry of gun fire. That is just the beginning, however, of the chaos that ensues as he works to unravel an international plot, complete with criminal organizations, traitorous government bureaucrats and untrustworthy foreign contacts.
There is a lot going on in this novel, but the author connects the various players and their exploits with skillful writing. The characters are well-defined, the international destination details expertly researched, and the science-based elements are plausible. As an added plus, in the midst of all of the happenings, a love story unfolds between Cross and a Middle Eastern confidante, working alongside Cross to help stop the evolving mayhem, adding an element of humaneness to a fairly rough and tumble story.
I’m an avid reader of mysteries, thrillers, crime novels and detective stories. I base my like or dislike on how soon I figure out the plot twists. The good whodunits keep you guessing until the very end. Mr. Bott has written a good one. He doesn’t overly complicate the narrative. Short chapters help the reader keep track of who’s who. There are not a lot of unnecessary, extraneous particulars. It’s tightly written, which moves the story along in an intelligible manner. Since there is more than enough to keep track of in a thriller, I always appreciate not being unduly confused.
I found myself liking Daniel Cross as a Bond-like character. The author suitably captured the government spy persona. I’m looking forward to the second and third books in this trilogy to see what happens next with Cross. Take an afternoon off from whatever you’re doing and lose yourself in this entertaining political thriller. It’s a page turner with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep you engaged. Biological Deception launches Geoffrey Bott’s explosive new political thriller trilogy, where espionage meets cutting-edge science in a heart-pounding race against time.
