Lisa von Biela

I t has been a very long time since I have read such a wonderful dark corporate conspiracy novel. I recall many years ago discovering Fever by the renound Robin Cook and was particularly taken in by the chase mentality of the book...a lone father, a cancer specialist discovering his daughter has leukemia and his battle against a conspiracy within a large corporation, his race against time. Now if we forward to recent times Scott Sigler publised the brilliant Infected which contained not only show more a great story (the central character Perry being infected by an alien virus) but made terrific use of horror and dark humour with a splattering of SF. The Genesis Code is an equally "edge of the seat" unputdownable read. Yes I know that lots of reviewers use this idiom but The Genesis Code is a worthy recipient of this accolade. It is a fast paced story, that never lets up, has a great list of both good and bad characters, excellent plot and a very satisfying conclusion. Mark Weston is starting a new job at OneMarket, the premiere worldwide provider of global trading solutions guaranteeing to their clients that there will never be any "downtime" and that computer "gremlins" are a thing of the past (oh right....we believe you!) Mark needs this job because his wife Sheila is in fear of Altzheimers Disease (her father died of the disease) and their finances are non existant. This is the answer to Mark and Sheilas prayers, the only problems seems to be that he will be expected to "sell his soul" to OneMarket in return for all the cash and incentives. The beauty of reading this book is that you know (and probably Mark as well) that it will all go wrong nothing is ever what it seems and no individual is programmed to work 24/7...all work and no play :(

The entrepreneurial head of OneMarket Simon Harris has acquired some cutting edge technology known as "The Genesis Code" an invasive technology which offers the ability to plant information in an employees brain, a truly machiavellian concept and a dangerous tool in the hands of a twisted mind...the inventor Josh Taylor! "The entire population of employees tricked into receiving a chip capable of forcing information into their minds. Downloading technical information specific to their jobs was one thing, but how long would it be before less benign uses came along? Mind control, behavioral adjustments, attitude shifts. If Harris didn't mandate them he was sure Tyler would test them out in his newfound pool of human lab subjects" Mark is a recipient of the genesis code together with a fellow worker and the result, you will not be surprised to know is catastrophic...Will Mark be saved from the evil clutches of Harris and Taylor? Will the lovely Sheila get her man back along with a few badly needed dollars? Will the bad boys get their just rewards?...all is revealed in a riveting, fast and at times bumpy ride...but well worth hanging on for :)

There is however one incident which I puzzle to understand and question if it added value to the story. Mark on his first day meets Toni Hanson, Manager of New Recruits, a rather cold, crisp, bloodless strikingly beautiful lady. At a later stage in the book, and feeling somewhat neglected by Sheila, Mark and Toni have a brief impulsive affair. There is no further mention of this incident, and no one is ever aware that it happened...so why did it occur? and what was its contribution in the overall telling of the story. Apart from this rather strange episode The Genesis Code is more than worthy of 5 stars, an amazing first novel from Lisa von Biela and I look forward to her future publications. show less

I received an ARC copy of this title from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another fine novel from Darkfuse. I really enjoyed this medical/sci-fi thriller. Very topical in light of recent ebola outbreaks in the states. I would like to think of this as entirely fictional but I can't discount the plausibility of the story line.

Plot driven novel that is well thought out with not a single lull in the action, I read this in two sittings and am definitely show more interested in reading more of Ms. Von Biela's works.

4 stars from me. show less

Review copy

Lisa von Biela worked in Information Technology for twenty-five years, then dropped out to attend the University of Minnesota Law School, graduating magna cum laude in 2009. She now practices law in Seattle, Washington, and writes whenever she can. Lisa has found a bit of a niche with speculative fiction where science has run amok.

In her latest novel, Lisa introduces us to Dr. Kyle Sommers and his lovely young family. Kyle has just been accepted into the CDC's two year Epidemic show more Intelligence Service program. His initial assignment is to be part of a team created to investigate the unprecedented number of seemingly random acts of violence around the country, violence that appears to have originated in the Midwest, but which has quickly spread to other areas around the country.

What Kyle discovers has far-reaching and devastating consequences for both farmers and the population at large.

No one takes an idea from public consciousness and runs with it better than Lisa von Biela. For several years now, discussions on the merits of genetically modified food has been a hot topic and Lisa's lastest book will certainly not set your mind at ease.

Broken Chain is speculative fiction at its finest. The story gets off to a quick and bloody start and doesn't let up until its terrifying conclusion. There are a number of well developed sub-plots, with plenty of intriguing characters along the way, including Kyle's precocious four-year old, Kara. What a sweetie.

This story does not have a fairy tale ending and left this reader feeling helpless in a number of ways. But that's a good thing.

Broken Chain is currently available as a paperback from Darkfuse publishers.

Recommended. show less

This book surprised me, having read The Genesis Code and thoroughly enjoyed I expected to find similar satisfaction in this latest offering from Lisa von Biela. It's not a bad book but the subject matter ( the illegal harvesting/use of human parts) has been done much better in the past. Two good examples being the somewhat dated Coma by Robin Cook and the more recent Harvest by Tess Gerritsen. The storyline in The Janus Legacy is different from these two predecessors but the central issue of show more transplant and the associated ethics remains. The story revolves around Jeremy Magnusson, crohn's disease sufferer, and the vast wealth he inherits from his father Ivan on his unexpected death. However as part of his inheritance Jeremy must endeavor to continue with his father's experiments into this dreaded disease even though he may dispute the methods used, and perhaps by continuing his fathers work he may find a cure. Although Jeremy has my sympathy most of the supporting characters were bland and tedious in the extreme: his ex partner Amanda decides to leave the pompous Rick and return to Jeremy, Tim ( very dim!) and Glen ( self absorbed egotist) two supporting surgeons at the SomaGene institute and the rather pathetic figure of "The Subject" who drifted somewhere between a human existence and the great beyond....This book would probably have worked much better as a novella as I found myself wishing for the end to happen and Jeremy's fate, whatever that may be to please happen soon....before I drifted off to sleep zzzzzz.... show less