The First Bird, Episode 3

By: Greig Beck

Narrated by: Sean Mangan

Length: 4 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Matt Kearns and the remnants of the scientific team return to a ravaged America. Modern medicine has failed to halt the spread of the flesh-consuming parasite, and humans have been forced to hide, even from one another.

The infected roam the cities and suburbs of a ruined nation. But the devastating effects on human physiology are only the beginning. Something has been let loose, something that the team were not prepared for - human nature itself.

Matt and Carla must make it back to the CDC headquarters, crossing the apocalyptic countryside that proves every bit as dangerous and deadly as the South American jungle. The race is on to test their eradication cure, before their world suffers the same fate as that of the giant saurians of prehistory.

But there is something they don't count on - the solution has a high price. If they don't use the cure it means the end of mankind, but what if the remedy is worse than the disease?

©2013 Greig Beck (P)2013 Bolinda

Get the real stuff real!!

Any additional comments?

Really? .99 caliber rifles, guided RPG's and Corporals flying helicopters.
The fantasy is more believable if the factual is not flawed!!

Continuity?

I've read most of Greig Beck's books now - they're always entertaining - but since he's working on a series with characters such as Matt Kerns that carry over from book to book...it's a bit sloppy to end one book with a massive event that forever changes the face of the planet and begin the next involving the same characters with no mention of the previous book beyond a brief comment about a break up.

Mr. Beck please fact check first it kills the mood

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I guess yes but only because I had time invested into reading the first two episodes so I had to see how it ended.

What could Greig Beck have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Ok look I love Greig Beck's work I actually enjoy everything he puts out but in this book a fairly large scene takes place in a small town called Tullahoma in Tennessee which I'm very familiar with and it has just under 19,000 population. However Mr. Beck describes the place as a population of 500,000 and actually says its not a backwaters place when in fact that is exactly what it is. I had trouble getting past that plus he refers to one rifle as .99 caliber which is ridiculous there has never been such a thing, there is however a sniper rifle made by Barrett that is a monster .50 caliber and called the model 99 which I think possibly got mixed up in Mr. Becks or editors research. That sort of stuff really puts me off because now I have to wonder if everything else I'm reading needs fact checked. There is science fiction where authors can get away with well just about anything I get that but then there is real life things that need to be told accurately

What about Sean Mangan’s performance did you like?

Sean Mangan is again a great narrator, I hope he continues narration in all of Greig Beck books.

Short should have been part of episode 2.

An abrupt ending to a very complex story was disappointing. This type of ending could have taken place at any point in episode 2. It seems like the author just got tired, had enough, broke his pencil in two and went home.

great.

Love the lost world/end of world stuff. onto book 1. the first three pre books were good. Have to get over crazy discussions made by scientists but still great.

The First Bird - Loved the first two books

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend this book - however - some of the character actions in this (book 3) took a leap to left field crazy. Overall I enjoyed the series, however a few things in this book crushed the enjoyment. The book kind of recovers in the end but it just feels this part was rushed and not realistic in several scenarios.

Action and Adventure

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

if you like Archaelogy , Science and Epidemiology with Dangerous Jungle Adventure, you'll enjoy this book

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I was on the edge my seat wondering what would happen next and who would DIE !

Which character – as performed by Sean Mangan – was your favorite?

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Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

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One Cliche Too Many; But Still a Good Listen

The second episode finds the research team deep in the Amazon jungle. The action is quick and the team quickly dwindles. The writing isn't bad but sometimes less really is more. IMHO, drawing out the suspense over a few scary incidents might have been more effective than trying to include every jungle cliche ever imagined. I did enjoy part two but it could have been better. Looking forward to episode three.

Just one other note. It was somewhat annoying that part three of the story was available a week before part two. Be sure you are listening to the books in the right order.

Excellent but a bit of extortion

The First Bird was really, really good. I have definitely become a fan of this author, but I am very displeased that I essentially had to use three credits for one book. Each 5 hour episode cost $10.46 (US) but "episode" is the key word here, because it's just one book that has been divided up. I am definitely going to be leery of that in the future.

Listened to the first 2 episodes so naturally...

After listening to and enjoying the first two episodes I naturally wanted to listen to the third. Although, I didn't dislike to series I just felt like I wanted something more out of it when it was all said and done. Guess I'm a sucker for more detailed explanations and back story. In the end I was fairly entertained throughout the story.