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    The Deep Zone: A Novel
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    The Deep Zone: A Novel
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    The Deep Zone: A Novel
    Audiobook14 hours

    The Deep Zone: A Novel

    Written by James M. Tabor

    Narrated by Paul Michael

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    In this gripping debut thriller from James M. Tabor, a brilliant and beautiful scientist and a mysterious special ops soldier must lead a team deep into the Earth on a desperate hunt for the cure to a deadly epidemic.

    When she was unjustly fired from a clandestine government laboratory, microbiologist Hallie Leland swore she would never look back. But she can't ignore an urgent summons from the White House to reenter the realm of cutting-edge science and dangerous secrets.

    "Potentially the worst threat since Pearl Harbor" is how the president describes a mysterious epidemic killing American soldiers in Afghanistan-and now poised for outbreak in the States and beyond. Millions will die unless Hallie and a hastily mobilized team can recover the ultrarare organism needed to create a new antibiotic. The good news is that Hallie knows more about the organism than anyone else on the planet. The bad news is that it can be found only at the bottom of Earth's deepest cave.

    Hallie's team is capable-especially the mysterious Wil Bowman, who knows as much about high-tech weaponry as he does about microbiology-but the challenge appears insurmountable. Before even reaching the supercave, they must traverse a forbidding Mexican jungle populated by warring cartels, Federales, and murderous locals. Only then can they confront the cave's flooded tunnels, lakes of acid, bottomless chasms, and mind-warping blackness. But the deadliest enemies are hiding in plain sight: a powerful traitor high in the Washington ranks and a cunning assassin deep underground, determined to turn Hallie's mission into a journey of no return.

    The award-winning and bestselling author of two nonfiction books about adventure and exploration, James M. Tabor now plunges readers into the harrowing subterranean world of supercaves-and even deeper, into a race-with-the-devil thriller that pits one woman against a lethal epidemic and a murderous conspiracy.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateApr 3, 2012
    ISBN9780307969637
    Unavailable
    The Deep Zone: A Novel

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    Reviews for The Deep Zone

    4/5

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    • 5/5
      Excellent! Reminds me of classic Michael Crichton and early Preston/Child. In this book, you've got a virus with no known cure except, possibly, one. And the source of this cure had been found in the depths of a very big cave in Mexico. Unfortunately, the little that had been collected previously is now gone and more must be retrieved. Add to that national security issues, spies, and well developed characters and you've got the makings of an excellent techno-thriller.
    • 3/5
      There are far too many of these books on global (viral) disasters, but this was fun to read. Caves can hold my interest for quite a while.
    • 4/5
      Excited to start another first reads giveaway. Love the feel of a new book and wondering if e- reader users can get the same little thrill from downloading something as I get from holding a book in my hands...the pages are bright white and the type is crisp. When I found out I was getting the ARC, I went back to the description and thought to myself that it sounded more like the type I might enjoy listening to in the car - kind of light, not requiring a ton of attention. I was pleasantly surprised that I could barely put it down this weekend and stayed up past midnight this morning to finish it. The first chapter really pulled you in quickly. It was really just a very fun and extremely interesting read with the level of detail that was provided, and it came through that some things that would read like science fiction to a regular Joe were far more closer to science fact. Mr. Tabor knows his stuff, and he had me hook, line and sinker. His prose flows very nicely, and while yes of course there were a few things that were just a tad bit of a stretch, or too coincidental, the end result is that I was very much entertained and look forward to his next work!
    • 4/5
      I’m pretty mixed on my thoughts of this book, and part of that is my fault. I read Frozen Solid as an ARC before ever hearing of this book, so reading this one after the second book in the series isn’t a good idea. There are a number of different story threads, all related to the sudden threat of a devastating disease and why it exists. We get the military angle mostly from the doctor treating the first to become infected, scientists trying to find a cure, some from the group that started the disease to begin with and a few others. But most of the story centers around a doctor/scientist who had been set up a year ago and forced to resign by the very government who is now counting on her to find the cure via a dangerous supercave expedition to reach an organism deep underground that holds the key to a new antibiotic.Be prepared for plenty of detailed description; sometimes more than I found interesting especially involving the expedition. But it’s obvious the author has experience or done a lot of research on diving and climbing. Apparently elements from many known supercaves are all thrown into this one fictitious cave. And those who do have some knowledge of these topics will most likely appreciate all of these details. The author does a great job of intertwining the various story threads—some of which you’ll wonder for a while why they exist-- to bring us to a conclusion. The mystery aspect is well done and you’ll be kept wondering until fairly close to the end on what a solution might be.But I have a problem with two aspects of the story that just have huge holes in them. I can’t really discuss them without giving things away, and I’m no expert on different subjects, but they just don’t make sense and really aren’t explained.On the whole though, an interesting story that pulled me along and I’m glad I read it.
    • 4/5
      I recieved this book through the early reviewers progarm and I was instantly drawn in by the plot. The book was very fast paced with no slow spots. Thought it was kinda odd where they had to go to get the cure for the deadly virus. Overall a good book though.
    • 4/5
      By the time I was 10 years old, I was reading Clive Cussler, Robin Cook, Michael Crichton, and Peter Benchley. Some things never change. Apparently, I was born a lover of adventure, science, and thrillers, and I will be until the day I die. James M. Tabor is a descendent of those 70’s greats I grew up reading. So, there is never a scenario when I’ll see a book like The Deep Zone and not want to read it.I actually got my first taste of both Mr. Tabor and this novel through his e-story, Lethal Expedition. I was pleased to see that the writing in the novel was actually stronger than in this short story, but I was very glad to have taken the time to have read it. It’s certainly not necessary, but the events documented in Lethal Expedition are referenced several times within the novel, and it was very helpful to have that background info firsthand, as it were.On to the main novel. The first couple of chapters inform us there is secret skullduggery afoot of a pharmaceutical nature. Next, we’re at the front in Afghanistan with a wounded soldier. After that, we’re introduced to the novel’s main protagonist, Hallie Leland, as she leads a cave dive in Florida. Soon enough, we learn that Hallie is not a dive bum, but rather a former government researcher, until she ran afoul of her federal employers. (Which is the story documented in Lethal Expedition.) She is, “Dr. Hallie Leland, BS in microbiology from Georgetown University, PhD in Microbiology, Johns Hopkins University. Extremophiles are her area of research. She is an accomplished climber and master technical diver. Her research has taken her into many caves.” Now, it turns out there’s a deadly, drug-resistant bacteria running rampant through the military hospitals and it poses an unparalleled threat to national security.Suddenly the feds want Hallie back. It turns out that she’s the only researcher with the right science background and the right fieldwork background to save the day. Prior to her firing, Hallie had been working on a promising antibiotic derived from the sample of an extremophile discovered in the darkest depths of a remote Mexican cave. They’ve run out of the substance, but they want Hallie to lead a new expedition into this most dangerous environment.All of this expedition takes quite some time to come about. We don’t even meet Hallie’s cave team until about 70 pages in. It could certainly be argued that the story takes too long to get going, so be prepared to exhibit some patience at the novel’s opening. Things pick up once the characters are in the field, with the story moving back and forth between Hallie’s trouble-plagued expedition, and events taking place elsewhere around the world.Ultimately, I had a good time with this book, but it had flaws. While Mr. Tabor has significant writing background, he’s a relative new-comer to the world of fiction. This is a thriller, so let’s not dwell on character development. It is what it is. Hallie’s a well-rounded and likeable enough protagonist. I suppose that my biggest problems with this novel were some predictable plotting, as well as some plot contrivances, some just plain dumb stuff, and a fairly clunky romantic subplot. These flaws were countered with a lot of fun in the story being told. And Tabor does a pretty terrific job with the novel’s exotic setting. (I’m probably one of the few readers who knows people who actually engage in the high-risk activities these characters do—a few of them are even still alive.) This kind of world-class cave exploration is fascinating. The science is mostly unobtrusive, but well-handled in general. And there are some very entertaining plot twists and turns. Once the novel finally gets going, things are quite fast-paced. In the end, despite my criticism, I had a really good time reading this novel. It’s exactly the sort of science-y adventure tale that I wished we saw more of. So I’m excited by Mr. Tabor’s debut. I hope that he continues to develop his craft, and that we shall soon see more adventure from him.
    • 3/5
      A deadly disease begins showing up in U.S. servicemen who are wounded in Afghanistan.A group of scientists is assembled at a secret government lab to find the material that could lead to a cure. Dr. Hattie Leland had worked for this lab but been fired with what she felt was inadequate justification but now she's called upon to lead the group looking for the matter that might cure the disease. It is found at the bottom of one of the world's deepest caves.We follow parallel stories of the medical staff working with the soldiers and others who come down with the disease. Then we see the progress of the group descending into the depth of the cave. We also observe the people back at the lab who are working on a cure but also dealing with a mole but they don't know who it is.There is a group at work that doesn't want this information to reach the authorities.The author does a good job in pulling the various parts of the story together. However, when two characters who had incidents in the cave, come back into the story, it didn't seem logical.Otherwise, I enjoyed the story and think it would make a nice vacation read.
    • 4/5
      As a diver and a caver The Deep Zone really appealed to me, but some of the excitement from my experience was dampened by the mystery gadgets that are pulled out at every obstacle. The story is interesting, relevant and keeps your attention. The machinations of Corporate Greed, genetic engineering and developing medical technologies really make this book a fun and frightening read.I hope to see Bowman in another book.
    • 4/5
      As another Early Reviewer wrote this was my first book by James M Tabor. I found the story interesting, the characters well developed, and the book became a "magnet" as I got further into it. I'm not usually one who is attracted to scientific thrillers, but this was a good read. Will certainly try other books by him.
    • 4/5
      The Deep Zone is a face-paced thriller meshing together current military operations, medical science, and emerging technologies with the shadowy worlds of semi-public government agencies and underworld private conglomerates. The book is well-written, hinging not on the fantasy that Tabor creates, but rather on how realistic the story arc is. This reality is only enhanced with the afterword, detailing just how real the issues presented are.
    • 5/5
      I received this book through the Early Reviews program. What a page turner! The writing reminds me a bit of Michael Crichton. The story starts quickly and continues to move, pulling the reader along. The book is about a race against time to develop an antidote to a new viral infection that starts in Afghanistan with a US military member who is wounded and ends up with a terrible infection that kills him rather rapidly. In the meantime other soldiers have come in contact with him and have been shipped to other military hospitals--both overseas and in the US. The possibility of an pandemic is very real. A team is sent to a super cave in Mexico where a potential natural antidote exists, but not everyone wants them to succeed in their mission. This is one of the best books I have received in the program, and I highly recommend it to anybody who loves fast action in their reading. It won't win a Pulitzer, but it is well worth picking up.
    • 5/5
      Tautly written thriller about an outbreak of a terrible virus and the quest for a cure, believed to be housed in a special fungus with medicinal properties. The fungus is called moonmilk and is located deep in the earth in a gargantuan and dangerous cave system. The team that gets sent to collect it is dangerous too, especially to one another. James Tabor creates a cast of of despicable characters to offset the very appealing heroine. An excellent read, and a big-time surprise find.
    • 4/5
      Enjoyed this medical thriller for the most part. After an outbreak of a deadly, antibiotic-resistant infectious disease amongst soldiers in the Middle East, a team of scientists/explorers embarks for a super cave to retrieve "moonmilk" which is thought to be able to combat the disease. The story switches locations/characters frequently, so you have to pay attention. One complaint I have is the use of acronyms without explanation. This happens throughout the book and is annoying if you aren't familiar with a lot of military/medical acronyms.All in all, a good fast-paced book with a satisfying, if somewhat implausible, ending.
    • 4/5
      Following an outbreak of a mysterious disease affecting U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan that antibiotics cannot kill, infectious disease specialist, Dr. Hallie Leland is called back by her former boss to lead an expedition of medical professionals into Mexico while avoiding bandits and the military to enter a cave (The Deep Zone) where she had barely survived an earlier expedition. A mile deep into the cave a miracle substance,Moon, milk exists and can combat a disease resistant to strong antibiotics attacking the troops. Hallie and her team of four must battle and overcome numerous obstacles in complete darkness in one of the biggest super caves in the world to reach the Moonmilk. Following their success in retrieving the Moonmilk a team of mercenaries awaits them to intercept Hallie and her team, kill them, and take the Moonmilk and deliver it to their bosses. Time is running out for the soldiers and medical staff exposed to the deadly bacteria so Hallie and her team are willing to fight to the death too keep the Moonmilk and get it where it's needed. Fast paced action, suspense, and a bit of medical science combine to make this one of the year's best thrillers.
    • 5/5
      Gripping indeed. A deadly disease worse than Ebola has a grip on the military and into the civilian area. Where did it come from? How can it be cured? A trip into the deepest cave for something called moonmilk. But there are people trying to stop them, they don't want a cure until they get all the money they can from the drug they have that is slowing this disease down but not stopping it. I didn't want to put it down. Lots of twists and turns.
    • 5/5
      It all begins with the war in Afghanistan and a young soldier is shot. Medic care is provided immediately. Everything looked good.But something went horribly, horribly wrong, and a strain of bacteria that would make Eboli look weak threatens to take out the US military forces.If you like a good book, take a deep breath, you're about to go on a wild ride that won't let you put this book down until you've consumed it. And I seldom say that about any book these days.Tabor tells a story of espionage at a level that's gonna make you shiver with fear, and become so angry you'll want to spit in someone's eye! Then take you to plummeted levels of despair and dying. Only to raise you up to newfound love. And through it all, courage is born. Over and over.Fraught with suspense [don't try to read a bit and then attempt to go to sleep.... you'll be too wound up!] you'll find yourself tensing at every turn. And quaking in fear at the possibilities of what you might find around every corner, or stalagmite [or is that stalactite?]I give this book Five Stars and my Thumbs Up!I highly recommend this read for anyone over the age of 15. Younger teens might be okay with it if they can handle some violence. Parents should make that decision before allowing them to read this.****DISCLOSURE: The copy that I read was an "Advanced Reader's Edition" and as such may vary from the actual finished edition. The cover above is on the Advanced Reader's Edition, the actual sale copy may differ. The book will debut and begin selling on April 3rd. This copy was provided by Amazon Vine, in exchange for an independent and non-biased review.
    • 4/5
      Dr. Hallie Leland is asked to work in the same government laboratory that she was fired from after soldiers in Afghanistan have come down with a bacterial infection that is highly contagious and could reach epidemic proportions in days! The only possible cure can be found in a cave deep in the Mexico. A team must endure the cave’s infrastructure, Mexican bandits and even the government itself. This debut novel is filled with tension, action, suspense and a collection of intriguing characters that make this a must read for anyone that loves a good thriller.
    • 4/5
      First, just let me say I enjoyed reading this book very much. If you are someone who likes adventure thrillers, this ticks all the right boxes. BUT, it was a little too formulaic. I felt like I had read it before. Not in the literal "is this republished" sense, but the "I can tell you what is going to happen next" sense. I call it the Mary Higgens Clark syndrome - I loved her books, read everyone for a while, then realized the murderer was always the only character with no apparent motive, means, or opportunity. I continued to read and enjoy her for a while, but then couldn't take the predictability anymore and haven't read one in perhaps a decade.I was close to it here, but perhaps don;t read so many adventure thrillers that predictability ruined the escapist thrill. So this is ultimately a recommendation with a strong caveat. The book is fast paced, interesting and generally speaking a good read, but there wasn't one single plot twist that caught me by surprise.
    • 5/5
      The Deep Zone by James Tabor is a good thriller that keeps you in suspense throughout the book. The story is a combination of a medical/science and military thriller. The writing makes you feel like you are actually in the cave with the characters. As with all thrillers, there are a few portions of the book that you have to suspend your belief that the individual actually accomplished what was described. Fortunately there are very few of these in the book.I will have to go back and read some of his other novels now that I have read this book. I will be adding this author to the list I search for when looking for new books.
    • 5/5
      This book pushed all my favorite adventure/suspence buttons, thank you Mr Tabor! The Deep Zone is an excellent read...just don't start it at bed time because you will not be putting it down until all 400 pages have been read. I hope some of these characters will be back in future books I want to share more adventures with them. I've got an early review copy...the rest of you have to wait until April 3rd to pick up a copy it's a read well worth new release hardcover cost.
    • 5/5
      This is my first book by Mr. Tabor. I was quite pleased with it, his story moves right along and keeps you waiting for what will happen next. I have found a new author always something great to have happen.
    • 4/5
      This is an extremely well written book, exciting to the end. While I do not have speleologic expertise nor a medical degree, I do know what is readable, and this book is. I think a possible pandemic is an event that has crossed everyone's mind at some point in time. This novel brings such a possibility to the fore and events unfold from there. Excitement follows. Pick up this book and you'll be entertained until you lay it down.
    • 5/5
      Mr. Tabor's writing includes superb character development. I found that I could 'see' and relate to his characters, both good and bad. The suspense and action is realistic, the 'bad guys' are believable! I was 'upset' when one of the key characters disappeared in the cave, adding to the suspense of the novel. I would rank Mr. Tabor up there with James Rollins and Jeff Long! I am looking forward to the next fiction novel by Mr. Tabor!
    • 4/5
      *This is an advanced readers copy*After a fatal disease breakout Dr. Hallie Leland is sent with a team to dive into a dangerous cave located in an equally dangerous part of Mexico to find what she needs for the cure. The cave is the least of her and her team’s worries though and knowing who is on whose side or who to trust can mean the difference between life and death.This is a fast paced action packed adventure. The timing is incredible and the pages just kept turning effortlessly. I have never done any climbing or diving but I could picture it all very easily and at times I even tensed up with the descriptions. I was on the edge of my seat throughout and the twists and turns along the way kept me second guessing myself. The characters and relationships are well developed and I found myself cheering a couple of them on. My complaint is that there was a little bit of cluttering with some secondary characters, they felt like they were unnecessary to the plot. Otherwise I really liked this novel and easily recommend it to anyone who likes action and adventure.
    • 4/5
      Won this book as a Goodreads First Read. The Deep Zone will be a great read for thriller fans. At a small army outpost hospital in war-torn Afghanistan the appearance of a drug-resistant, bacterial infection marks what could be the start of a pandemic. Highly contagious, deadly and with no current effective treatment, the race is on to find a cure. The best possibility seems to be an "extremophile" (organisms that survive only under extremely hostile conditions) found only in a supercave in southern Mexico. A team is assembled and sets off on a journey where they will have to battle not only the hosile environment of the supercave but also a region in Mexico occupied by violence prone drug cartels, Federales, and potentially unfriendly locals. And then there are also shadowy figures who seem to be intent on sabotaging the mission. I enjoyed this book. It read fast and the various subplots blended together well. I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending but would recomment it, especially to thriller/adventure fans.