Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars – “A wild ride, with genuinely unexpected plot twists and a bold driving pace; perfect for fans of techno-thrillers who enjoy a unique blend of science and suspense”  

But first, readers should be aware that the prologue contains extremely graphic and brutal violence. I had a very hard time getting through it myself, and was tempted to skip the entire scene all together. However, as abhorrent as it was, this section served its purpose — we are introduced to the main character Erin Palmer, whose entire life was shaped by a severely traumatic experience with a psychopath when she was just eleven years old.

Now a grad student, Erin has dedicated much of her life to studying and trying to understand psychopathy. When her research attracts the attention of neuroscientist Hugh Raborn who contacts her with a possible treatment and ultimately a cure for the condition, one would think Erin would be over the moon. And yet, she is troubled by the ethical implications of a such a revolutionary scientific breakthrough, not to mention her suspicions that Raborn isn’t being completely honest with her.

Then, enter the HUGE twist. Let’s just say I spent a lot of time during the first third of this book scratching my head trying to figure out where the “science fiction” aspect comes in with regards to the plot. Granted, the author gets innovative and very high-tech when it comes to the science and medical theory, but up to this point, The Cure came across as more of a suspense-thriller. Suffice to say, everything changed when Richards drops a huge bombshell, at once giving me my sci-fi fix and taking the story in a direction I never would have seen coming in a million years!

For obvious reasons, I can’t say much more pertaining to this development without revealing any major spoilers, and really, where would be the fun in that! If the book’s plot sounds intriguing to you though, I do encourage you to check it out; albeit I admit I was initially skeptical over this new turn of events, they gradually grew on me. By the end of the revelation I was at least curious enough and willing to go along to see where Richards will take me, and it’s a good thing I did because the rest of the book can only be described as one wild ride — and emphasis on wild. If nothing else, this twist has definitely piqued my interest in the author’s other books.

When first faced with the driving pace and unique blend of suspense and science in The Cure, one of my earliest thoughts was that Douglas E. Richards’ style reminds me very much of the late Michael Crichton’s. It also came as no surprise when I finished the book and did some further reading to discover that many others have made the same comparison. The writing took some time to get used to, since at times it was awkward and seemed almost didactic in nature, but it is clear Richards knows what he’s talking about. I am no molecular biologist like the author, nor am I well-versed in fields like quantum physics or psychology, but he took some very complex theories and made it straightforward enough to make the story compelling, and for me to understand that there is a lot at stake.

The book wraps up nicely, which is astounding in light of the widely different subjects involved as well as multiple twists in the plot. The story is suspenseful, audacious and a lot of fun, especially if you’re a fan of the kind of science-fiction thrillers by authors like Crichton or Douglas Preston. Once in a while, a book like this comes along and shakes up my reading list, which is something I can appreciate, and on top of that, it gave me plenty to think about.

 4 of 5 stars

A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.