From Publishers WeeklyGenetically designed savages known as chimera, named after the hybrid monsters of Greek myth, make trouble in this inventive thriller from Wellington (Monster Island). Four of these big fellowswhose DNA is 99% human, with the remainder coming from chimpanzees, rattlesnakes, and water bearshave escaped from a military prison camp in upstate New York. Pentagon officials know the creatures intend to kill eight people across the country, including a judge recently nominated for the Supreme Court. The task of stopping the beasts falls to Capt. Jim Chapel, a one-armed Afghanistan war veteran who works for the army's Intelligence and Security Command. Chapel is tough, but his quarry is tougher, and he must also contend with the CIA and the folks who designed the experiment that created the chimera. While the overwritten romantic elements distract, the constant action and novel concept will satisfy fans of this subgenre. Agent: Russell Galen, Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency. (Aug.)From BooklistThe author of horror novels such as 32 Fangs (2012) and the Monster Island trilogy sticks a toeor perhaps an entire footinto Jonathan Maberry territory. Jim Chapel, who used to be in the Special Forces until he lost an arm in Afghanistan, is given a new job tracking down four escaped military detainees. Heres the problem: the escapees are infected with a man-made virus, one that gives them superhuman abilities (and a taste for human flesh), and they are systematically hunting down and killing specific men and women across the country. Assisted by Angel, a brilliant computer hacker, and by the daughter of one of the victims, Chapel sets out not only to stop the escaped killers but also to find out why they were created in the first place. Its a good book, crisply written and exciting, but readers familiar with Maberrys Joe Ledger novels might experience a bit of been-there, done-that: the genetically modified killers; the tough, no-nonsense hero; the powerful government organization. On the other hand, if youve read all the Ledgers and are jonesing for more, this might take the edge off. --David Pitt Sure to score with those who like a little touch of science fiction with their action thrillers. (Kirkus s)A good book, crisply written and exciting. (Booklist)The constant action and novel concept will satisfy fans of the genre. (Publishers Weekly)Highly recommended because of its diverse and credible characters, as well as its confident, skillful structure and prose throughout. All hallmarks of one of the finest authors working in todays horror genre. (Bookgasm)This is a good and entertaining read, first page to last. (Examiner.com)A very captivating political thriller ... definitely a page-turner. (Military Press)It maintains the same breakneck pace of 13 Bullets throughout. (Unshelved) what is a good novel to read Chimera: A Jim Chapel Mission (Jim Chapel Missions)
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Overly long and convoluted, suitable for pure escapismBy KeithTHE GOOD: I really liked the backstory. All of the history of the covert project was fully developed, it was interesting, and it could have been the premise of a good techno-thriller. In other words, I liked all of the stuff that didn't involve Jim Chapel or his mission. It's not that I disliked him. But the info dumps were more interesting than his mission. The action scenes were pretty good, but nothing extraordinary.THE BAD: Plot holes and inconsistencies. I usually don't have any trouble with willful suspension of disbelief. I was fine with all of the sci-fi genetics stuff in this book, for example. All I need is for the author to make things sound halfway plausible, establish some self-imposed rules for his universe, and maintain internal consistency. I didn't get any of that in this book. For example:1) Jim Chapel is sent to track down four homicidal maniacs (the chimeras) who are traveling separately and who intend to assassinate eight people all across the country as quickly as possible. Obviously, one person alone can't do this, but they can't send more than one person on this mission because they need to maintain secrecy. Uh, the CIA and the military only have one person who can keep a secret? Even though this conspiracy already involves dozens of people? And having these alien-looking creatures running around killing people in public isn't a risk to secrecy? Despite the need for absolute secrecy, he is told that they can always get local law enforcement to help him as much as necessary...?2) He's chosen in large part because he's good at keeping secrets, but he starts blabbing to the first civilian he runs into, and discusses sensitive information in the back of a taxi.3) The chimeras have no ability to control their rage and they brutally kill everyone they get mad at, yet one of them inexplicably abandons a fight with Chapel, leaving him with only superficial injuries.4) There's a guy who has been on the run from assassins for a decade, and he rigs a booby trap in his house to kill the next one that comes after him, but he also leaves a note in his kitchen that explains how to find him...? Chapel again inexplicably escapes death in that house, illogically yet correctly deduces that the booby trap was intended for bad guys searching the house and the note in the kitchen was intended for good guys searching the house, and he tracks the guy down over the course of just a couple of pages. Um, what???5) Chapel was given a private jet with a military pilot and stewardess to use on his mission, and after he begins to defy direct orders he thinks he can still use that jet and it never occurs to him that his superiors might just order the pilot to take him to the nearest military base to arrest him. And, inexplicably, such an order is never given. Instead they just chase after him... did they forget that it was their own jet and their own pilot???6) This is one of those books where hackers are magicians who can take control of any and every electronic device in the world with just a couple of keystrokes, plus a lot more. By extension, this means that Jim Chapel and the CIA and military intelligence have essentially unlimited powers -- so, in other words, there is no upper bound for how ridiculous the conspiracy might be.I couldn't ever get into the story because I could never trust that the author would have things make any logical sense. Some of the apparently illogical things turned out to have an explanation once you understand all the details of the conspiracy (though not necessarily good and convincing explanations, mind you). But many of them were just plot holes. It's just not very satisfying to try to solve a mystery where you have to guess at what's a clue and what's a plot hole. Unsurprisingly, some of the main details of the conspiracy turn out to be quite far-fetched and convoluted.THE UGLY: This book is 613 pages long. You might think that it has a really complex plot, a big cast, many different viewpoint characters with their own story arcs... but you would be wrong. I have no idea how or why this book is so long, other than that the author is really wordy. Between the word count and the plot holes, I think I'd advise the author to find a new editor. This book had a lot of unrealized potential.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Its Been Done Before...but...By Hank LajoieOver zealous CIA figures, national security agents, evil virus creations and an army hero all come together in this tale that follows a familiar pattern. It is a wonder how a writer can take such a familiar story line and still keep the reader engrossed. Wellington does it by sprinkling some good people into the mix and making the reader really care what happens to them. Like good theatre, it is easy to willfully suspend disbelief and really enjoy the story. There are more Jim Chapel tales out there, so dont be afraid of getting hooked. Good escapism.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent ReadBy SichuanThis is an excellent story with well developed, (choose your poison) likable/likeable characters. It was hard to put down when I had other things to do. You know how it goes; I'll read just one more page...............Anyway, it's one of those scenarios that occur when mankind creates something that it can't quite control, resulting in the destruction of the creation due to fear and the unknown. Such a thing is not unheard of nor has mankind learned from mistakes of the past. The human race has a history of creating things without any concern for the consequences.I didn't realize that the author of this book writes predominately Zombie stories until I checked out his other books after finishing this one. Zombie stories and movies have never interested me. Be that as it may, I don't consider the Chimeras in this story to be Zombies as they have nothing in common with Zombies. I may, in the future, read some of his other books but only after I finish a few hundred books by other authors. All in all, an excellent story that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the work of talented and imaginative authors. It's not much of a stretch for me to predict that this will be made into a movie at some point in the future.