Hybrid Review by Brian O'Grady

 HYBRID IS THE ULTIMATE POWER WORTH HAVING

IF IT COMES FROM THE ULTIMATE EVIL?

 

What sort of untapped abilities lie within the human brain? Could we summon the powers of telepathy, telekinesis or mind control if we only knew how? Dr. Brian O’Grady, a neurosurgeon, explores these intriguing questions in his pulse-pounding medical debut thriller HYBRID (The Fiction Studio; April 7, 2011).

“We have limitless connections between the nerve cells in our brains, yet we only use about 10 percent. Imagine if we could unlock our vast potential?” he asks. The key in Dr. O’Grady’s debut novel is a virus, which unleashes a chain of events in the same spine-tingling spirit of suspense as The Andromeda Strain and the X-Files.

Seven years ago, everyone died in the Honduran camp from the EDH1 virus, but Red Cross worker Amanda Flynn. Airlifted home to America, medical professionals tried to identify why Amanda survived when others died gruesome, agonizing deaths or became violent savages. Little did they know that anyone who survived…changed.

Since her escape from quarantine, Amanda has been in hiding slowly realizing the powers that could have only come from her infection. She can sense things, do things using her mind, things that are incredible and sometimes incredibly dark. But as she resists the pull toward violence, a new survivor has entered her consciousness – one without her willpower to block evil impulses. One who revels in blood lust and seeks to expand his mastery by forcing the end of human society. And he’s coming for Amanda.

A sharply written and engaging cast of characters adds to the fever excitement and suspense – Dr. Phil Rucker, the coroner whose Asperger’s syndrome comes complete with its own demons; Father John Oliver, the kindly priest whose faith is brutally tested; Rodney Patton, the homicide chief who sees what others miss; and Greg Flynn, Amanda’s father-in-law and the man whose moral center guides others in the storm.

 Scraps of Life Book Club Review

This week I had the pleasure of reading Hybrid by Brian O' Grady.  In a way, Hybrid is a medical thriller, reminding me of early Michael Crichton books of the same genre.  Hybrid has a very well-defined story line with an unlikely -and sometimes deadly- infected heroine.

As the story unfolds, we untangle the efforts of government agencies, scientists with agendas and a desire to be rich and famous, and several people just trying to stay alive.  This book is a high energy, fast-moving thriller with enough twists and turns to keep a Dean Koontz fan guessing, and flipping pages.

At this point in my book reviews, I usually point out the ways in which the book spoke to me, or how I might apply what I read and learned in my own life.  In this case, if I have to apply any of this to my own life, I am currently in hiding and sending this from an undisclosed location!  Hybrid is a thriller at heart, a nail-biter designed to keep you on the edge of your seat, and up past bedtime!

About the Author

Brian O’Grady (www.brianjogrady.com) follows in the tradition of Michael Crichton as a physician who brings his in-depth medical knowledge to his craft. A practicing neurosurgeon, O’Grady is a graduate of the University of New Mexico who completed his residency in neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic. His deep insight into the mysterious workings of the human brain brings HYBRID realistically to life.

A copy of the book was given to participate in the Booktrib Book Tour.  SOL Book Review contains our own tasty words and opinions.