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Outstandiing final chapter of an excellent serialized novel

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2013

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First Bird:Episode 3 is the closing section to a serialized novel by Greig Beck, published in 3 parts, released on June 1, July 1 and August 1, 2013. Beck is simply getting better and better. Each part must be read, in sequence, to get the full benefit. It's really all one single novel, broken up into 3 pieces. But each piece is different, and each is thrilling.

The ending is a real corker. I don't want to reveal too much, especially about the final few pages which upped my already very high esteem for Beck's plotting another few notches. Suffice it to say that the plague introduced in Episode 1, and its source and method of control introduced in Episode 2, both come home to a US in total chaos in Episode 3. There are stark, disturbing and gripping scenes, reminiscent of images from "Swan Song" and "The Stand", but written in an extremely succinct style that permeate this last episode. The action is non-stop, and although the shortest of the 3 sections, I think this is the most terrifying. The ending is simply brilliant, and not what you will expect. That's all I've got to say, although I may post a more detailed comment with some spoilers in a day or two after I've thought about it a bit more.

Greig Beck now has a string of some 5 or 8 hit novels (depending on how one counts them), and not a dud among them. He is a force to be reckoned with, and someone whose work I hope to enjoy for many years to come.

Very Highly Recommended.

J.M. Tepper

J. Buckley

Intriguing end to excellent trilogy

Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2013

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In the final installment of his "The First Bird" novella, Greig Beck wraps up this story in a slam-bang, semi-apocalyptic manner that should thrill everyone who enjoyed the first two installments.

After surviving a lost world in the South American jungle in search of a cure for the deadly parasitic infection sweeping the United States, protagonist Matt Kearns returns to a world he hardly recognizes. In almost no time at all the, infection has wreaked havoc on Kearn's home, leaving cities in ruins and the countryside haunted by the eerily mutated infected. Kearns and his compatriots must risk all in an effort to reverse, or at least halt, the steady progress of the deadly plague.

As always, Mr. Beck's book is meticulously researched, and well-stocked with slimy (often literally) villains, heroic exploits, and even the resolution of a few lingering plot points from the second chapter. If you wondered why creatures from vastly different eras of prehistory were frequenting the same locale, Greig provides a plausible explanation for that as well. It will be interesting to see if the changes wrought on the world at the end of this book carry over into Beck's future Arcadian novels. But even if they don't, this chapter wraps up the trilogy in a thrilling fashion. Highly recommended.

Michael Cast

Becks imagination #3..Be thankful...

Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2014

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...that Becks imagination is trapped in his head! The action never slows. The ending is truly disturbing!

Matt Kearns and the last of the team that plunged into the darkest Amazon to find a cure for the flesh eating, prehistoric mites that are consuming civilization, finally make it back to America with the cure. But everything has changed...all over the globe the infestation is wreaking havoc on a scale never seen before. FAR worse than any disease in the history of the world. The disease/infestation makes Ebola look like a bit of acne in comparison. Not only are people being eaten alive, some are walking incubators called 'Bloomers' ...blistered and mindless, these poor soles are controlled by the mites, the bloomer walks, or stands, covered in dry blisters that burst from time to time releasing billions of air borne eggs. Total infestation is imminent. some are driven mad, and walk around wrapped in bandages to cover their totally SKINLESS bodies. driven mad, cannibalistic, and out for vengeance against the CDC. Just getting the cure through to the people that can create a cure is a gauntlet.

Even after the heroes make it to the CDC headquarters, they find the secured site surrounded by a sea of crazies led by a maniacal, self proclaimed 'messiah' ready to launch missiles at the lab. All hope for a cure would be could snuffed out by a crazed fiend with his finger on THE button.

How this book series ends is beyond strange...BRAVO!! GREAT ending! Horrifying in the extreme. And like I said; thank goodness it's all in the imagination of Greig Beck. The Twilight Zone has nothing on this guy.

Amazon Customer

Good book

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2020

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All three books were well-written. The characters were well-developed, as well as the political and societal structures that helped determine the outcome.

I enjoyed the series and would highly recommend it to people interested in what the CDC does to protect humanity from current and unknown diseases.

Tricia Bennett

Very exciting

Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2013

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I read the first one and had to immediately buy the next two parts. It was well written and kept me reading until I finished the last part.
The only complaint I had was that it wasn't sold as one book. It was good enough that it compelled me to buy the next two installments and still hated for the book to end. You did Your research well and it was so believable that it was very scary. Spiders are my worst fear and I'm talking about normal sized spiders.
Well done and thanks for a great story.

Colin

Exciting and action packed

Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2019

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A fairly common scenario for many books of this kind, but with a few unexpected occurrences. Quite a believable storyline

Chalie W

A new vision of the Apocalypse

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2013

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This is the 3rd and climatic novella in the new "The First Bird" series. It is a new take/vision of what the Apocalypse (or hell on earth) would look like. It was unbelievably exciting and at times, totally disgusting. I loved it! If you have read the 1st 2 episodes, you have to read this one. If you have read any of the "Arcadian/Alex Hunter" series by Greig Beck, give this 3 novella series a try. I think you will like it.

Sandra H.

Engrossing adventure difficult to put down

Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2016

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Believable characters make a good story better...I found it sad to lose so many as the trilogy progressed yet it all fit together nicely. This was book 3, and apparently the final installment. To enjoy it fully I suggest starting with episode 1 as without 1 and 2, I don't think anyone would like nor really understand this segment.

Top reviews from other countries

Bluesarat

Final part of trilogy ups the ante again!!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 17, 2013

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Whilst in part two of this trilogy we left America and took a trip into a forgotten world in an attempt to discover the parasite's origin and a means of control, in the background was the ever present thought of America and the parasitic development left behind...I don't believe any of the team expected the complete apocalyptic scenario that greets them..sure they are aware of the parasites completely exponential spread and aggressiveness but to be confronted with the reality and the massive contrast to Peru and the jungle is almost too much for the brain to comprehend..this is almost their downfall as they fail to adequately assess their surroundings and the new developments,Beck adds new twists keeping the trilogy fresh and exciting culminating in the final...definitely found a new favourite author who raises the bar,fresh inventive gruesome excitement all the way!

Very Unsatisfied Customer

Particularly effective and sobering now

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2020

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Excellent piece of storytelling made all the more believable and chilling by the worlds current Covid19 pandemic.The thin veneer of compassion , political correctness and natural morality that is the norm in every civilized society. Is soon eroded when faced with a potential disaster of this magnitude.

Karen Gray

Excellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 27, 2013

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I love a book that takes the bull by the horns and allows the world to be changed by what happens in the story: all too often amazing discoveries or repercussions are destroyed and only the main characters know what 'really' happened!

Mrs. B. J

Gripping stuff

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 9, 2016

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Really good sci fi read. Actually feasible. Thanks Mr Beck for your tesearch and creativity

Joe

WOW

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 12, 2013

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Couldn't put this one down, read all three episodes inside of a few days...science fiction, adventure, horror, The First Bird has it all....Michael Crichton meets Indiana Jones...nice work, Greig, will be buying your other titles as a Christmas present to myself :-)

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