The Gemini Effect

By: Chuck Grossart

Narrated by: Phil Gigante

2014 Winner - Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award - Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror

A single raindrop opens a Pandora's box of horrors when the spawn of perverse genetic research performed during World War II - refined by Cold War enemies and perfected by nature - are unleashed on an unsuspecting world. By dawn only a dead city remains, eerily quiet and still except for the mutant beasts who hide from the light, multiply, and await the shadows of day's end.

Ordered to investigate the unfolding crisis, biowarfare specialist Carolyn Ridenour barely escapes the creatures' nocturnal onslaught, saved in the nick of time by Colonel Garrett Hoffmann, who has lost hundreds of his troops to the mutant army that neither bombs nor bullets can break.

As Carolyn and Garrett race to stop the plague, a battered and broken US government is preparing to release the fury of America's nuclear arsenal on its own soil.

©2015 Chuck Grossart (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Twists and Turns

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

I did not expect the direction taken in this book. At each point where I thought there would be some resolution, there was a surprise. If it were a movie, I would have been on the edge of my seat! As it was, I sat in my driveway several evenings for a full five minutes because I didn't want to shut off the player.

What does Phil Gigante bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narration built tension in all the right places. I could easily differentiate between characters, subtle accents and intonations made it very real and engrossing.

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

Time permitting, I would have loved to listen in one sitting.

Very interesting

At first I was unsure about the book. After the first few chapters though I was hooked. The plot is really interesting and the jar rotator of the audio book is fantastic!

A slightly entertaining mess.

Any additional comments?

How this audiobook came into my possession, I don't know. However, now that I'm driving for work, I decided to give "The Gemini Effect" a shot. What exactly was Grossart trying to do with this? This was a blatant first novel, that, while I was never bored by it or tempted to turn it off and put something new on, definitely had me shaking my head or chuckling to myself from time to time at how ridiculous it could get. It's the 21st century and we're still using the Soviets as our big bad enemies? I can count one specific scene in the book that actually effected me on a real emotional level, and while it was quite heavy, it was just a bit too little too late. If you're looking for mindless entertainment, look no further. If you're looking for something that has even a modicum of depth to the story, I'd keep searching.

Really different!

An unexpected jewel! It started out fast & never let up. I’ve read thousands of books during my lifetime & I’ve never read one quite like this. Get ready for s surprise

Only one major issue

I enjoyed the story & narration, but the male narrator needs to work on his female voices; they're all a bit too breathless and southern. It can't be easy, but hopefully he'll improve on this one issue!