The First Horseman: A Novel of Suspense

by John Case

Book Overview

In the Book of Revelations, the Four Horsemen herald the arrival of the Apocalypse. When the First Horseman thunders forth, pestilence will spread throughout the land. For the First Horseman is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345435796
• Release Date: May 1999
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.0" x 1.0" x 4.1"

Customer Reviews

Tension Galore in this Terrific Thriller

In the North Korean village of Tasi-ko a medical officer, who is scared witless, gets out of the village just before North Korean troops raze, then bury the village. The CIA is afraid that the North Koreans are developing a weapon based on the Spanish flu which killed something like twenty million people in 1918. They need a sample of the virus to get a vaccine. And it just so happens that a couple miners who died of the disease way back when are buried in the permafrost is Spitsbergen, a Norwegian island in the Arctic Circle. Doctors Benton Kicklighter and Anne Adair are sent along with Washington Post reporter Frank Daly on an expedition to retrieve a sample of the virus, but Daly gets left behind and when he finally catches up, he's told that the good doctors weren't successful. He doesn't believe them and that is the crux of this thriller. Daly has to find out what's going on, because catastrophe looms, the world is in danger and the reporter has to save it. Of course, there will be those who don't like his meddling. It wouldn't be a thriller otherwise. There is tension galore in this perfectly and fast-paced thriller. Daly is an impressive character who I'd like to read more of.

A story that hits home

The second book by the team of Carolyn and Jim Hougan writing under the name of John Case is just as enthralling as the NY Times bestseller The Genesis Code. Any good thriller needs to have a believability or a basis in fact. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, this applies to The First Horseman.

Realistic read.

Excellent story, Well grounded in its scientific facts and sets the scene in our current political and social atmosphere which takes the plot to a whole new level of credebility.

WHO IS JOHN CASE?

Whoever he may be, he ranks with Michel Creighton and Robin Cook. His mixture of fact with fiction gives his story both suspense and credibility. There really was an expedition to Norway to hunt for the virus. The 1918 flu was pandemic. My 90 year old grandmother lived through it and to her flu equals death. She would no sooner take a flu vaccine then I would an AIDS vaccine. Anyone who has worried about biological terroism should read this book. Lets just hope Saddam Hussain doesn't get hold of the copy. As for those who compain about this not being a "thriller" they must be addicted to gun battles and car chases. This is a psychological thriller based on the very real capabilities of anthrax brewing terrorists. If you want blood, gore and ridiculous story lines go back to Dean Koontz.

Incredible, believable marvelous thriller

I thought the first book, Gensis Code, by Case was good, but this one is excellent!! It is a real page turner and very enjoyable. I think anyone who likes thrillers with a touch of Le Carre and others will enjoy this one. John Case gets better and better. Can hardly wait for the next release.