Pandemic

The Extinction Files, Book 1

By: A. G. Riddle

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

A deadly outbreak in Kenya. A conspiracy beyond imagination. And a race to save humanity in its darkest hour.

From A. G. Riddle, the worldwide best-selling author of The Atlantis Gene and Departure, comes a novel that will change everything you think you know about pandemics.

A hundred miles north of Alaska, an American Coast Guard vessel discovers a sunken submarine at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean. It has no national identification and doesn't match the records of any known vessel. Deep within, researchers find evidence of a scientific experiment that will alter our very understanding of the human race.

In Atlanta, Dr. Peyton Shaw is awakened by the phone call she has dreaded for years. As the CDC's leading epidemiologist, she's among the first responders to outbreaks around the world. It's a lonely and dangerous job, but it's her life - and she's good at it. This time she may have met her match. In Kenya, an Ebola-like pathogen has infected two Americans. One lies at death's door. With the clock ticking, Peyton assembles her team and joins personnel from the Kenyan Ministry of Health and the WHO. What they find in the remote village is beyond their worst fears. As she traces the origin of the pathogen, Peyton begins to believe that there is more to this outbreak - that it may be merely the opening act in a conspiracy with far-reaching consequences.

In Berlin, Desmond Hughes awakens in a hotel room with no memory of how he got there or who he is. On the floor he finds a dead security guard from an international pharmaceutical company. His only clue leads him to Peyton Shaw - a woman who seems to know him but refuses to tell him how. With the police searching the city for him, Desmond desperately tries to piece together what happened to him. To his shock and horror, he learns that he may be involved in causing the outbreak - and could hold the only key to stopping it.

As the pathogen spreads around the world, Peyton and Desmond race to unravel the conspiracy behind the pandemic - and uncover secrets some want to keep buried.

©2017 A. G. Riddle (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Very engaging book.

I wish it were a bit shorter and had less plot lines. Edoardo Ballerini is,as always,at his best with a great performance.

great book!!!

this book is great kinda gets your thinking. get a pretty deep. Should give it a listen.

great listen

loved this book. hope there is a book 2 coming. cant wait to start new adventure....

highly recommend if you like science!

Very entertaining book! there were many detailed plot twists, several interesting characters, and great scientific plot and descriptions. can't wait to read the follow up!

Not bad - could have been much better!

Would you be willing to try another book from A. G. Riddle? Why or why not?

Perhaps. There is potential reflected in this book, but it should have been a 10 hour book instead of a 16-hour book. Too many tangents that should have been edited out. I'll probably try another book by the author to see whether it's a pattern, or whether the author's potential comes through more clearly.

Was Pandemic worth the listening time?

Barely, and I played it at 1.25 speed. A 16-hour audio book should be that long for a reason, and not just because the author was able to fill the space. Unfortunately the latter was the case here.

Average-quality thriller, well narrated.

Some of the technology and technical explanations were quite interesting, and the general idea is very plausible. For me, though, the story was spoiled by several things. First, there were far too many relationship issues. I mean, when the world is crashing, do people really fight over a boyfriend or obsess over their pasts? The issues would have been trite even in ordinary times, but in circumstances like the book describes, they're ridiculous. Second, there were absurd coincidences, where dead people keep popping up, along with all their relatives, in the same place, at the same time ... really? Finally, the characters were too simple, flat, and predictable. That in itself would be OK in a plot-driven novel, but with the other faults, I could hardly wait to be done with the book. The narration, however, was very good, and descriptions of places and times were also excellent.

Great listen.

book was a very entertaining and fun listen.
looking forward to getting book #2.
thank you

A Surprising Ending

Would you consider the audio edition of Pandemic to be better than the print version?

Yes

What was one of the most memorable moments of Pandemic?

The ending, without saying anymore to spoil it for other readers.

What does Edoardo Ballerini bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ballerini narrated very well. He even changed his voice and tone when a woman was talking. So, yeah he's a good reader!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me very sad, and the implications of bio-terrorism is a real possibility in our world.

Any additional comments?

It's a very captivating book!

Good but needs some abridging.

Would be 5 star book if 25% shorter! Great narration, structure a tad confusing at times, really tested my suspension of disbelief a couple times. Overall, a very good read.

Hooked

A conspiracy to end the world to make it better? it all ties together. Brilliant