Beijing Red: A Thriller
by Alex Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“Beijing Red” (Crooked Lane 2016) is the series debut for what promises to be an exciting, fast-moving adventure starring Nick Foley, former Navy SEAL now working for a non-profit in China, and Dr. Chen Dazhong (nicknamed ‘Dash’), a brilliant and beautiful bio-scientist with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. When a virulent disease breaks out at the site Foley is working, Dash is called in to unravel its origins and determine how to contain it. What she fears is Ebola turns out to be much more worse. When her bosses try to shut down her investigation, she finds an unlikely ally and partner in Foley. Together they search for the cause of a violent illness that is 100% fatal to those who contract it, not knowing how close to home it will be for Dash.
This is the first in a collaborative partnership between Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson, writing under the pseudonym of ‘Alex Ryan’. The plot is well-developed, unfolds believably, and is fast-moving and tight. It includes deep details about identifying and analyzing bioweapons, almost a procedural on this topic. The characters are well-constructed and appealing, with lots of charisma between Dash and Nick to make the series even more exciting. Ryan does a completely natural job of showing how these two very different people ended up relying on each other to save Beijing, delving into their motivations and desires in such a way I never doubted it could happen. The setting in China is a treat. It’s clear these two authors are well-versed on Chinese geography, culture, and customs.
Overall, this is a winner. I’m looking forward to their next in the series.
More scientific thrillers:
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman
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It sounds like a good one. It’s not often that you get to read thrillers set in China 🙂
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I like the description. There’s a lot going on in here and it sounds intense and suspenseful.
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It is both of those. I had trouble putting it down. Most books give you a break, at least to analyze reactions. Not this one.
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Sounds fantastic, Jacqui. Thanks for sharing 😉
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Thanks, Dianne. A little something if you’re looking to fill a few hours. Or a plane trip (here in America, that includes hours waiting in line to be cleared).
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Sounds like an intriguing plot – and current with the focus on an Ebola-like virus, especially now that Zika is scaring us.
I’ve never understood how two writers can work on one book. I understand collaboration when one contributes graphics or photos, or does technical or historical research. But I can’t get my head around them writing collaboratively. Ever thought you’d like to interview the two authors and ask how they did it?
I don’t think I play nicely enough to ever do this.
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And it’s being done more and more. Popular authors who can’t get enough books out on their series are co-writing. I guess it works; I keep reading them.
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I didn’t know that, though Lincoln Child and Douglas Preston are such a famous collaborative team that even I know about them.
Do you think you could co-write? I could be part of a group, each author submitting independent work to be published in one volume, but couldn’t work with someone else to write the same story.
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I like stories like that. Sounds like an interesting book.
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I picked it out of my Vine list out of desperation–couldn’t find anything interesting–and was pleasantly surprised.
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This sounds like a winner – foreign shores, breakneck plot line whilst still retaining good characterisation. What’s not to like?! Have a lovely weekend, Jacqui. 😀
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I’ve become addicted to clever people, who solve problems in unique ways. This definitely qualifies.
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I love stories which take place in foreign countries. Sounds a fascinating read. 😀
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I do too, especially when they spend time on the setting and the culture. It’s the only way I’ll get to some of these places.
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Exactly. I’m all for sofa travel. 😀
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