What happens if you are the sole survivor of a plane crash? Targeting the Telomeres: A Thriller by Richard Shapiro is the story of Amanda Michaels, who was the sole survivor of a plane crash. For some time, her life was at a standstill, especially after she found out that she has genetically modified cells called Telomeres in her system. Although these cells might extend her life, she is no different from other college students. Now that the hubbub has died down a little, she is looking forward to a relaxing summer back in her home and enjoying her life. Little does she know that this is not possible!

On returning home, she realizes that nothing is as perfect as she thought this summer would be. There is a conspiracy going on in that some notorious people want to take charge of her father’s research, which can help in increasing the lifespan of humans. While the research done by her father is very valuable for human life and for medical science, the people after his research are targeting her and her family consistently. She has no choice but to take some action and stand up against the attacks. But who can she trust, especially when she is up against some very dangerous and powerful people? Is this the end of the road for Amanda?

This was an intense, dramatic and very entertaining novel. From the very start, the story is packed with action and I really enjoyed it. There is never a dull moment in this novel; every page brought something new, something better and something unexpected that made me want to read on. The character development was really good and helped in building the plot and making it even more interesting. The element of suspense and mystery was kept until the end and I was not able to guess what would happen next - something that I can easily do when reading such novels, so kudos to the writer. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative, the writing style and how I could almost feel the characters in the author's words. This is a simply brilliant novel!

In Targeting the Telomeres by Richard Shapiro, there has been a plane crash and the only apparent survivor is Amanda Michaels. However, her father, Ron, a research scientist, has also survived and is now in protective custody. His breakthrough studies into telomeres, which can prolong life, have attracted the attention of the Chinese and his life is in mortal danger. Was the plane deliberately tampered with? A series of events throw Amanda and her Uncle Andy's lives into turmoil. A huge cover-up of the reasons for the plane crash is about to go public, unveiling political corruption, unscrupulous attorneys, and child kidnapping. Amanda must travel into Communist China with an unlikely ally to execute a rescue attempt of the missing child. If they succeed, her family will no longer have to live in hiding. If she fails, she will be dead.

There are not many novels where the subplots are as strong and detailed as the main plot. The way the author has woven so much detail into this story is outstanding. Each character has been given a strong role in the story, their dialogue and actions are believable and gripping. The plot is fast moving and the conflict kept me totally engaged. There are no dull moments at all throughout the plot and the tension is superb, especially when Amanda and her ally enter China. I literally have no fingernails left. The ending was explosive and definitely not what I was expecting. The author is a true master of weaving elements of a suspense novel together and has provided a truly unforgettable story. I hope there is a sequel!

Targeting the Telomeres: A Thriller by Richard Shapiro provides a wonderful entertainment for fans of action-packed, cunningly plotted thrillers with great settings. Amanda Michaels didn’t think her summer vacation would be eventful, but then with her family being targeted by powerful enemies bent on stealing her father’s work, she is pulled into a whirlwind of action, facing espionage of the highest kind. Her father is an expert in cell telomeres and has made breakthroughs that may extend human life. Now, Amanda finds herself on an unprecedented journey to China, accompanied by an unusual ally. With well-equipped enemies everywhere, do they have what it takes to succeed in this rescue mission?

I just became a fan of Richard Shapiro’s writing, thanks to the masterful handling of plot and character in this novel. The characters are just gorgeous and it’s interesting to meet Ron Michaels, the man thought dead by many, but who has been working in the shadows, doing his research. Amanda is a tough character too, and readers will enjoy the way she evolves throughout the story, a young woman who is watched 24/7. She is intelligent and determined. There is a cast of other interesting characters that readers will get excited about. The prose is crisp and it has descriptions of scenes, characters, and places that leave vivid images in the minds of readers and dialogues that help to build plot. The author is a master at creating surprising turns and exciting moments throughout the narrative. Targeting the Telomeres: A Thriller is engaging, a novel with a huge conflict and strong elements of sci-fi. One of those stories I read straight through the night.

The sequel to Richard Shapiro’s first novel, Taming the Telomeres, Targeting the Telomeres continues the saga of the renowned biological scientist, Ron Michaels, and his family as Ron makes a groundbreaking scientific discovery that could change the fate of humanity forever. Now, it’s been more than a year since the horrific plane crash that claimed the lives of everyone on board. Everyone, that is, except for Ron’s daughter, Amanda Michaels. Ron was believed to have been on board the plane with his wife and daughter, and was officially counted among the dead, but all is not as it seems, and the brilliant scientist continues to work on his important research with the telomeres, carefully hidden in protective custody. But nowhere is 100% safe, as Ron and Amanda are about to discover in this edge-of-your-seat thriller.

Targeting the Telomeres by Richard Shapiro is a gripping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat from cover to cover. With a wide cast of characters, double agents, espionage, kidnapping, daring rescues, and a shocking ending, Targeting the Telomeres is anything but boring. Despite the story having an expansive and diverse cast of characters, Richard Shapiro manages to make each individual unique, with a fascinatingly complex personality and backstory to explore. The plot is expansive and well unified, keeping your interest to the very last page. The settings are explored in enough depth to give us a good visual image of where the characters are, without choking out the story. Altogether, Targeting the Telomeres is a gripping story that I highly recommend!