Book Details:
Book Title: FADE TO BLUE by Hank Scheer
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 288 pages
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Top Reads Publishing
Release date: Mar 2023
Formats Available for Review: print-softback (USA), and ebook (MOBI FILE (FOR KINDLE), EPUB, PDF).
Tour dates: Mar 14 to Apr 3, 2023
Content Rating: PG-13 for some bad language
“Fade to Blue kicks off with shocking twists and attention-grabbing characters. The ongoing discussions between cat and mouse are tense, especially as the lines between terrorists and anti-terrorists working undercover become blurred. The stakes are high but also personal—Marcel’s monologues, while not likely realistic, are a lot of fun. Filled with vivid characters and a fast moving plot, Scheer has written a winning page-turner.” -BookLife, Editor’s Pick
“Hank Scheer’s debut novel offers readers an engaging medical mystery, after which the plot becomes a swiftly paced thriller. Sarah is a capable and appealing protagonist, and a canny plot twist gives the narrative geopolitical heft and spurs interest in what might happen next.” – Kirkus Reviews
“The secondary cast is vibrant and varied; their personalities are distinctive, and their conversations have a charming effect. Sarah’s combative exchanges with René, a French inspector whose penchant for sarcasm matches hers, add particular color. And the well-described settings further flesh out and ground the otherwise dizzying, swift-moving story. Working toward an open-ended but triumphant conclusion, Fade to Blue is an exciting thriller in which a scientist tries to stay alive after creating a brain-destroying drug that others want.” – Foreword Clarion Reviews
“The strong characters, fast-paced action, and ethical dilemmas create thought-provoking reading suitable for book club discussion, contrasting nicely with other standout medical thriller genre reads.” – Midwest Book Review
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MY REVIEW
Character driven stories are a favorite of mine and I really liked Sarah. I’m also a fan of suspense that builds in intensity and endings that aren’t clear and worry me about the outcome. In Fade To Blue I got all of that.
Sarah thought she was an ethical researcher and person. Not one to break the rules. But she gives in to temptation and that’s where the trouble really begins. The author showed me a clear picture of how this could happen to Sarah. Why she did what she did and thought the ends justified the means. But what comes next is something else entirely. This is where Sarah’s true colors show and she uses that talent for seeking answers to solve her own dilemma. I enjoyed how she thought out different scenarios, sometimes acting too quickly and trying again and again.
The opening scene had quite the hook and the plot rolled out quickly .I had to know how it ended and read the book straight through. A very satisfying ending and I’ll definitely be watching for more books by this author.
4 STARS
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Book Description:
Will Dr. Brenalen’s unauthorized experiment lead to a cure for Alzheimer’s, or will it be used for bioterrorism?
Biotech researcher Sarah Brenalen is frustrated by her boss’s dismissal of her controversial theory, so she secretly injects lab mice with experimental Alzheimer’s drugs of her own design. Sarah is stunned when one of her experiments goes horribly wrong. But Marcel and his international cabal are intrigued. Sarah’s brain-destroying T-3 formulation could be just what they need.
Fade to Blue is a high-tech, fast-paced, cat-and-mouse game played for keeps. What Marcel didn’t count on is that two can play this game.
Fade to Blue trims down and gets a new ending
My first version of Fade to Blue featured a 37-year-old man who’s diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. I liked the eighty pages I’d written about him, but realized his saga was a diversion from the main story. I deleted his character altogether (a year’s worth of writing), came up with a new motivation for Dr. Sarah Brenalen to create an Alzheimer’s drug, and finished another version of my novel. It was time to solicit a critique.
I called author/editor Leslie Schwartz and asked her to give Fade to Blue a read. She agreed. I printed out the 327 pages, sent them to her, and waited with bated breath.
Leslie called me two weeks later.
“Did you like it?” I asked.
“When I finished reading it, I was so mad I threw the entire manuscript against a wall,” she replied.
I took that as a “no.”
“Sarah dies halfway through the book! And it has a dystopian ending. You can’t do that. She has to survive and beat the bastards.”
“Thrillers don’t require a happy ending,” I countered.
We debated for twenty minutes, neither of us budging an inch.
Just before ending the call, Leslie said, “I don’t understand why you hate Sarah.”
I was incredulous. “What are you talking about? I really like Sarah.”
“Then why do you want her to die?”
Her question shook me. I had no answer, and realized I didn’t want Sarah to die. “But . . . for her to survive and beat Marcel, I’ll have to rewrite a hundred and fifty pages of the book.”
“Yes!” she exclaimed. “Do it!”
Meet Author Hank Scheer:
Hank Scheer’s writing journey began during a work break when a coworker said, “Hey, let’s write a short story.” They were working for a steel mill in Pittsburg, California, so brainstorming ideas became a fun way to pass the time.
At one point the following week, after the manufacturing process caused a computer to crash, Hank had his idea: an evil scientist creates a drug that destroys a person’s brain.
Now it was a simple matter of plotting the story and writing it. Fade to Blue is the result of three trips to Paris, France, and long weekends spent driving around the San Francisco Bay area.
It doesn’t involve steelmaking, but the science is just as real and the potential for trouble exponentially more terrifying.
Hank is now retired and lives in Martinez, California. He enjoys writing and recording music, world travel, biking, downhill skiing, and supporting other working people fighting for a better world.
FADE TO BLUE by Hank Scheer Book Tour Giveaway
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Captivating and intriguing.
Thank you so much for your review! I’m glad you liked the book.
Great review. The book sounds really good, and is one I would enjoy reading.
Thank you again for your thoughtful review. I really appreciate it.