The Miracle Strain: A Genetic Thriller

It's probably not fair to review a book about genetics and religious mega-conspiracy so long after its original publication date -- too much water under the bridge with this genre. Even if the reader makes a firm commitment to avoid comparing it to "The Da Vinci Code," what about Lewis Perdue's "The Daughter of God" or James Rollins' "Map of Bones"? The list is huge. This book was first published in 1997 as "The Miracle Strain," before many of the better-known religious conspiracy books. Michael Cordy may have offered us an embarrassment of riches in combining the two main plot elements, religion and genetics. Neither element feels completely original, and there's a slight awkwardness in the way they fit together. To paraphrase Lewis Carroll, it's a bit like trying to believe six impossible things before breakfast. The travel's too easy, the geneticist's genius sidekick too naive, the science a little too shallowly portrayed, the ethical decision-making too facile. Oh, and the characters could have done with much more development All that said, the book is an absorbing thriller and still a very good read. The plot manages to throw a few surprises at the reader, and even the predictable developments are reasonably well presented. I recommend this book for traveling or any time when your attention is partially committed elsewhere: you may not lose yourself entirely in it but you'll be able to pick it up and dive right back into it.

There's nothing better than books with wonderful plots, and this book's plot is exceptionally well formulated. The characters, however, were just a little bit more than pasteboard, but the story works. Highly recommended. Other books I highly recommend is The Vatican Knights by Richard L. Jones and anything from Steve Berry and Vince Flynn.

For all you fans of The DA Vinci Code looking for another fix look no further: this is even better. Forget searching for Christ's burial place- and instead start searching for a sample of his DNA. What would you find there? The Genes of God? And what would you do with these genes? Great characters, thought provoking ideas, fantastic twists and an incredible ending. What more could you ask for?

I have read all the other critic's of Mr. Cordy's book, and I disagree with most of them. This book is clear, too-the-point, and well-written. It left me wanting for more. It seems to me Michael Cordy should continue writing novels. This is one of the best novels I have ever read

It has been quite a while since I bought any "fun fun" book that have been able to capture my attention. Can't wait for Disney to turn it into a movie ... but considerable care must be taken on the outcome of the story from the point of moral and religious issues.