Brainrush, a Thriller (Brainrush Series Book 1)

By: Richard Bard

Narrated by: R.C. Bray

Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Listed in The Wall Street Journal as the number-one Bestselling Action/Adventure in their "Readers Guide to Self-Published Big Sellers" (December 9, 2011).

When terminally ill combat pilot Jake Bronson emerges from an MRI with extraordinary cognitive powers, everyone wants a piece of his talent - including Battista, one of the world's most dangerous terrorists. To save his love and her autistic child, Jake is thrust into a deadly chase that leads from the canals of Venice through Monte Carlo and finally to an ancient cavern in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan, where Jake discovers that his newfound talents carry a hidden price that threatens the entire human race.

An original weave of current events bound by colorful locations and cutting-edge technology, Bard's novel is a must-listen for fans of Michael Crichton, James Rollins, Clive Cussler, and Brad Thor. A dynamic mix of fast-paced action and thought provoking soul, this book challenges the listener to keep pace with every sharp turn and shocking twist. Acclaimed by fans of action, sci-fi, and political thrillers alike, Brainrush is one of the most innovative and entertaining books of the year.

Brainrush was in the top 10 of the Amazon - USA Top-Rated List for over four months straight. The sequel, Brainrush II, The Enemy of My Enemy, was released in December 2011 to rave reviews. Within a few weeks it became the number-one Top-Rated Action/Adventure stories on Amazon.

©2009, 2011 Richard A. Bard (P)2011 Richard Bard

Critic reviews

" Brainrush explores the bonds of friendship while pushing the boundaries of science, creating a compelling, action-packed thriller with a climax that's a knock-out!" (C.J. Lyons, New York Times best-selling author)"A terrifically entertaining thriller with three finely executed set pieces strung together with nice characterization. Especially successful is Bronson, an amiable, low-key tough guy able to rescue his princess, survive brutality, and retain a sense of humor." ( Publishers Weekly)

Interesting plot twists

The story has nice plot surprises that keeps you guessing most of the time, which makes for a good read.

Fantastic!!!

What made the experience of listening to BRAINRUSH, a Thriller the most enjoyable?

This was one of the most exciting stories I've ever listened to. It kept my attention the entire time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jake, the main character, was courageous and real.

What about R. C. Bray’s performance did you like?

He kept the story going and he made all the characters in the story come alive.

Could have been great..

Would you try another book from Richard Bard and/or R. C. Bray?

People who like Impossible situations and constant tension building would like this. Not sure I can stand to get through another drama queen attempt.The narration was decent and the reason I enjoyed the book to some degree.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

First halve of the book was great. Interesting listen, but then the author changed gears and seem to think that building tension means that you write one imposible situation on top of another and then miraculously the situation gets resolved. If I was reading, I would have skipped whole pages.Spoiler alert:I did not think the alien artifact/possible invasion should have been in here.

Which character – as performed by R. C. Bray – was your favorite?

Tony

Was BRAINRUSH, a Thriller worth the listening time?

Barely

Any additional comments?

I wish the author did not try to "step it up" in the second part of the book and thereby turning it into a soap opera.This story really has/had potential.

Best Book I've listened to in a long time!

What made the experience of listening to BRAINRUSH, a Thriller the most enjoyable?

The characters are both down to earth and unstoppable. There are plenty of twist and turns in the story line, but not so many that any of them drag or get lost in too much detail.

What was one of the most memorable moments of BRAINRUSH, a Thriller?

The black obelisk rocketing off.

What does R. C. Bray bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He has good changes of voice for the different characters and good energy.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I actually stayed up all night to finish it!

Any additional comments?

This book is one of the best that I've listened to in a very long time! Totally worth the money and time to listen to. It's one that I'll be listening to again!

Great start for a series

What did you love best about Brainrush, a Thriller?

Action-packed.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Brainrush, a Thriller?

When he first uses his new-found mental powers

Which character – as performed by R. C. Bray – was your favorite?

The lead.

Any additional comments?

So much was revealed in this first book, I am afraid that the next ones will either be redundant or a let down. Hope I am wrong!

Fantastic

Great book and Witty characters tony cracks me up. Great listen and Rv bray does it again.

Awesome!

Action packed! Loved the characters and I would love to see this made into a movie!

Can't wait to read the next book

If you could sum up BRAINRUSH, a Thriller in three words, what would they be?

Good listen and interesting story idea.

What was one of the most memorable moments of BRAINRUSH, a Thriller?

When he was in the MIR machine.

Which scene was your favorite?

At the bar when he discovered his abilities.

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

The end.

Too many elements...

And too much disbelief to suspend. We've got Jason Bourne with added supernatural abilities, terrorists using scientific experimentation and brain implants, the hero and his friends are so well connected they can form their own SEAL team.
Okay. Sure.
Then the final "twist" is a major leap that will send the sequels spiraling in a totally different direction.

The new mental abilities were something unique and kept me interested.

Main heroine was wimpy -- ended up crying a lot and screaming in fear and had to be rescued and carried. She had mental abilities that were barely used.
Overall -- interesting enough. Not interested in the sequels.

Meh.

Any additional comments?

This story had so much potential and just kept missing the mark. If you're looking for a great airplane or beach read/thriller, this is your book. But if you're looking for a Clive Cussler or Dan Brown thriller, this is a bit of a disappointment. There are just too many improbabilities and the execution was silly.