• Epidemic

  • Kendall, Book 3
  • By: John Holt
  • Narrated by: Mark Sando
  • Length: 13 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (26 ratings)

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Epidemic  By  cover art

Epidemic

By: John Holt
Narrated by: Mark Sando
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Publisher's summary

Tom Kendall, a down-to-earth private detective, is asked to investigate the death of a young newspaper reporter. The evidence shows quite clearly that it was an accident: a simple, dreadful accident. That is the finding of the coroner and the local police. Furthermore, there were two witnesses. They saw the whole thing. But was it an accident, or was it something more sinister? Against a backdrop of a viral epidemic slowly spreading from Central America, a simple case soon places Kendall up against one of the largest drug companies in the country.

Although a standalone novel, it is also the third in a series featuring Tom Kendall, private detective.

©2013 John Holt (P)2018 John Holt

What listeners say about Epidemic

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Great Read

Epidemic (Kendall #3) was a good read by John Holt. Tom Kendall is a private investigator who is asked to investigate the death of a young newspaper reporter. The local police and coroner believe that it was an accident. But the young reporters family believe he was murdered. There is also a viral epidemic that is spreading from Central America. This was a good read and I can't wait to read more by the author.

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Great audiobook.

This audiobook had a few tiny glitches, but it didn't detract from the book itself. Narrator did a great job. And as it is now 2021, I was struck by the numerous similarities we have in our current pandemic. The only this is... Mr. Holt was a considerably more conservative in his numbers and actions. If only he knew....

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interesting especially with covid happening

this story really centers around powerful people in the pharmaceutical industry and the influence they have. the main story takes place around the outbreak of a dangerous world wide pandemic. this is the first book in this series that I've read and I found the characters interesting and well developed. overall for me the story has a very Perry Mason feel to it. Kendall thinks a bit outside the box to find his answers.

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coverups medical mystery

Unscrupulous big pharma strikes again. I'm in the medical field, and this resonated with me. Drugs and money-what a convoluted connection. It made me furious how so many people were more concerned with money than they cared about lives. Beyond twisted. Elements of this story are eerily reminiscent to some of the things we are now experiencing in the pandemic, which I found intriguing and interesting. Similar to some of the coverups and goings on we are seeing. All the disposable lives sickened me. Great thriller. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. The narrator did a great job with voices and expressions bringing it to life.
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Suspense

John Holt is an excellent author and his Kendall series is better than exceptional. It keeps you guessing or doesn’t it. Read the books anything with John holt as its author is one of the best or more. Excellent narration great job to both. I look forward to more.

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Pharmaceutical, Greed, Murders and Virus

A detective story to find a murderer, virus creator and death of 24 people out of 58 at first and in the end way to many death. The year is 1955 a virus appears and people starts to die from this strange unknown virus then it comes to light the original virus appeared 1905 in a small town in Costa Rica. Story is based on the strange accidental death of a reporter name Richard who is investigating about a virus that appeared in 1905 in Costa Rica with no records in Costa Rica or in the US by a company called Trenton Pharmaceuticals .
You follow the detective from the moment he takes the case from Richard's mother to the end of the investigation were he finds that there were more accidental death that turns out to be murders of two reporters, a lab worker and a handicapped gardener at Trenton Pharmaceuticals. And alone the way you see how the pharmaceutical companies get away with both illegal testing, the cost to the public and creating a test virus to try find a cure but the cure does not work and suddenly start killing the test subject. So all proof of the test are destroyed, paying off Costa Rica officials and test subject in 1905 but in 50 years people start dieing of the virus created in1905 not just a 24 people but in the hundreds. You follow the Trenton Pharmaceuticals a money trail of the accident death, paying off both Costa Rica and US officials and holding up a cure till enough people have come sick or died.
I recommend this audiobook the writing is awesome and the narrator does a great job bringing the book, the characters alive. At first it was a bit hard to follow but as the story goes on the storyline becomes more interesting and you get hooked and you can not stop listening.

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My new favorite Kendall book!

I don’t know how John Holt keeps making each book more exciting than the last. When I started reading this one it was quite daunting beings it was 13 hours long, but as I read it time flew by and it will when you are nervous and anxious and waiting for the next shoe to drop. Poor Kendall always gets himself in a world of problems only he can solve. Just when you think him solving A reporter’s death is his biggest problem the house and why behind it or even more great it may even reach international levels. I love John Holtz books and the narration was great. Can’t wait to start the next one. If you like high drama and action you will love this book of coarse there is comedic relief in the book which I love, but then again I love everything upbout the Kendall series and don’t worry if you’ve never read a book from this serious before each one is a standalone and this one definitely is. Not to mention it is so good oh did I say that?

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Great Book

I really enjoyed this book. The narrator done a great job telling the story. Well done!

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Intriguing mystery which takes you step by step

This book flowed pretty smoothly with the story. The mystery was solved step by step from each linked person. The storyline is believable. The narrator did an excellent job.

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Kendall continues to amuse

Book 3 in the Kendall series finds our like-able private investigator/detective trying to lose weight. He’s beginning to worry about his health. Perhaps that has something to do with the amount of people who are dying around him. Unfortunately for him, he can’t resist those cookies. He’s still rather blase about solving cases, and when he is asked to prove a young reporter is murdered, as opposed to dying in an accident, he doesn’t see the point. After all, the coroner ruled it an accident, and his best friend, the cop, tells him to leave it alone. Nevertheless, as he begins his investigation, he starts to question the coroner’s findings. As the case progresses, his own life is at risk. The book starts out reading like a Robin Cook mystery, but quickly switches to John Holt’s style. Pay attention to the characters mentioned in the first part of the story; they will appear again. My only ding (sorry John) is that in this book, Kendall comes across at times as a clueless investigator. I want to slap him in the head and say, “Duh, open your eyes.” Still, I enjoyed the story and Kendall’s witty personality. I can’t wait to see what he is up to in the next book. I recommend this book to people who like old-fashioned detective stories.

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  • ZOE R
  • 11-29-18

Book 3

I was totally into the storyline once the first murder happened to cover up the origin of the epidemic. I loved the relationship between Kendall and Mollie. It reminded me of the old Perry Mason episodes. Kendall h reminded me of the old Columbo episodes.

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  • deafmick
  • 01-11-22
Listener received this title free

100%

As all ways John Holt work is 100 % I hope there is a lot more to come

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  • Isabella
  • 06-21-21
Listener received this title free

enjoyable



I love John's books. This one is no exception. A murder to cover up the origin of the epidemic. Very apt.

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  • caroline
  • 11-06-20

Don't be put off by the title - great crime listen

Firstly let me say I really do enjoy John's previous books and this is the first of Kendall that I have listened to, I listened out of order but that is just how audible choose it.

The narrator is amazing - so easy to listen to, I will investigate more by him as well.

Although the title is epidemic, and is suitable but would have been easier to pick when it was written, now might put people off. DON'T. It is more about the investigation and how the murder is solved, the epidemic is just a side issue.
If I had one criticism, it is just about the access to the CEO. I struggled with that and how Kendall could just walk in for meetings etc. But I get that it was a plot device.

I was given a free copy of this audible by the author for a fair and impartial review which I have done so.

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  • Bev
  • 09-28-20

sorry

I couldn't get on with this one. even though I I love John's work sorry my dear xx

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  • Siobhan D
  • 06-22-20
Listener received this title free

He will get there !!

Loved the narrator

I loved the story an murder to cover up the origin of the epidemic.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Jacky
  • 02-20-20

Brilliant book

Absolutely loved this next book in the PD Kendall series lots of twists and turns

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  • Dan Raskoll
  • 12-08-19

Epidemic review

I didn't like this book, its really not my sort of story and didn't enjoy it at all 3 out of 5

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  • Deedra
  • 08-06-19

Epidemic

The story is good.A pharmaceutical company sets up a group trial no one knows about in a remote area.A journalist gets the scoop,but no one believes him.The journalist is found dead...who did it?Who knows,everyone shakes their heads,then again,one more time.The head shaking really got to me.There was a lot of repetition.I felt like I was in grade school.I was hoping for a better review.Mark Sando has a good voice.I don;t know if it was him or the material dragging out this story.Cut by a few hours it would have been good.Maybe a new editor would help. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.' 

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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  • KarenThornton
  • 07-02-19

Really interesting story but character is repetitive

I really enjoyed the plot and the characters had good relationships. The PI was a bit too slow on the uptake for me and tended to repeat clues several times. I found this too slow for my personal tastes. If you usually struggle to solve the mystery yourselves and need that extra time, then this is the book for you. The overall plot is good and I liked the relationship between Kendal the PI and his secretary Molly. Every detail is revealed in the end so you are not left wondering.

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