Amped

By: Douglas E. Richards

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Kira Miller is a brilliant scientist who discovers how to temporarily boost human IQ to dizzying levels. But this transcendent intelligence brings with it a ruthless megalomania. Determined to use her discovery to propel human civilization to a higher plane, despite this side effect, Kira and ex-special forces operative David Desh recruit a small group of accomplished scientists, all of whom are safely off the grid. Or so they think...

Soon Kira and her team are fighting for their lives against unknown but powerful adversaries. Worse still, while on the run and being relentlessly attacked from all quarters, Kira comes across evidence of savage acts that the enhanced version of Desh kept hidden, even from himself. Now both she and Desh must question everything they think they know. Can they trust each other? Can they even trust themselves?

And all the while, the greatest threat of all may be coming from an entirely unexpected direction. A threat that could lead to devastation on a global scale. And time is quickly running out...

Like its predecessor, Amped is a smart thriller crammed with breakneck action, unexpected twists, mind-blowing science, and philosophical and ethical concepts listeners will be contemplating long after they've finished listening.

©2012 Douglas E. Richards (P)2013 Recorded Books

Nail biter

Great story with such an awesome twist... Couldn't stop listening. Will definitely read more by this author.

Great book.

Storyline is great. Narrated well.
I got this as a daily deal. What a bargain.

Interesting story idea

Started out okay with an interesting storyline but was pretty ridiculous by the end. Narrator had a nice voice to listen to overall and did a couple of the male characters well, but it felt like other voice impressions were more forced or strained and they did not match very well with the characters as I envisioned them. I would listen to him again though if the story was decent.

I love Douglas E. Richards but...

I have absolutely loved the complexity and tech of all Richard's books but this one was too much...the end revalation was a F you to readers in my opinion. I don't want to dive too much into it as it's still definitely worth reading. This one will just sit as my least favorite so far out of the more than a dozen of his books read.

Good concept. Mediocre execution.

I always like a good mind enhancement story. This one had some good elements. However, the narration was substandard. Some of the male voices were unnaturally effeminate. That would make sense if the character were identified as affectedly gay. But there was no indication of that. For example, Matt sounded like a girl. Also, the bad guys sounded melodramatically snarky--even when delivering factual information. Additionally, over dramatization was committed throughout.

My main critique of the story was that, even though written in the omniscient voice throughout, the main female character was left to do a very long Perry Mason style wrapup at the end. The point of the omniscient is that the author can reveal events as they happen and not keep the reader so much in the dark about what is really going on that it takes a whole chapter to sum up.

But I did enjoy the super mind action hero flavor throughout.