Wow, wow, wow!

What a brilliant story. So very well written and keeps you guessing from beginning to end! I definitely need to listen to the rest of the series!
And Jonathan, well he was already one of my favourite narrators and he does no no less than superb job with this book too!
It’s going to take a lot to find a book better than this for a while!
This is my honest opinion of a free review copy!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

^Very scary -- as dystopias go

I'm a huge fan of Dystopias, so when I read the synopsis of the Condition series, I  asked for a copy to listen to. I wasn't disappointed. The story of book one, along with the author's background, makes you chill to the bone. Are such things even possible?

We've all profited from medical research and progress at some point in our lives, and I, at least, tend to not think about where a certain medication came from overly much.

We're aware that new medicine is tested on animals, and on human volunteers before it is declared 'safe' from whichever board is in charge. There are numerous films about viruses developed (and accidentally set free) by the military -- and if we are to believe the press, there are secret military laboratories researching very dangerous viruses.

It never seemed as close to home as in the UK, though, and after listening to this book, I really don't want to know what the Germans are up to in that regard.

This book is not about viruses, however, but it begs the question:

Are we all doomed, not from Mssrs Trump or Kim Jong Un firing nuclear weapons, but from secret medical experiments?

The book makes you ponder these questions and more. It is a topic I'd rather put firmly in the science fiction corner, but alas, it is only too real.

In this regard, the author managed to make me think, and, let's face it, to frighten me. However, the way the book is written takes some patience to keep listening. For a long while, the reader, as well as the protagonist, doesn't have a clue what the heck is going on. It takes ages before some light is shed on the whole affair and you get an idea what this could be about.

There isn't a lot in way of character development, as all the characters remain quite distant. I couldn't build a relation to the main character, because he was so confused most of the time, and it was all so weird. Even though much of it is revealed later on, there isn't any character who really got me rooting for him or her.

Still, the idea and the topic are well worth being known by a wider public, and there are two more sequels which might well change my mind about some of the characters.

Jonathan Keeble is a very gifted narrator. His character interpretations, his pace and narration were perfect. He is certainly a new voice in my library of audio books. I have to listen to more of his narrations.



I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Alec Birri. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

There's always a bigger fish, Father.

Dan Stewart awakes in hospital, right arm heavily bandaged, after being in the graphically described plans crash and fire which opens the book. He remembers the crash, but little else. All is confusing - where is he? How long has he been there? Why are the others there in a seemingly similar condition to himself? How could anyone survive 100% burns? Why is the red pill so important? Why are the staff and visitors so reticent to answer his questions? It is as nonsensical to the reader as it is to Dan himself, nightmarish, for this reader, therefore, proper horror. Then things seem to be explained - but are they? From medical to relationships to political, nothing is quite what it seems. Or is it?

Whilst all of the protagonists are given good, basic outline, it is Dan who is best characterized despite his not knowing who, where or when he is. But sufficient is given to provide an excellent caricature of all those involved to bring everything to bright visual life. The narration is also excellent, with a deeply involved emotional rendering. A fine performance by Jonathan Keeble.

My thanks to the rights holder of Condition, who, at my request freely gifted me with a complimentary copy. A book hard to leave once trapped in it's peculiar mystery, I am now very much in need of book two and hope that some, at least, of my questions, fears and expectations will there be resolved. Highly recommended but, potential new reader, beware - you will not want to stop at the end of this book

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!