Dr. Paul Sloan, a brilliant academic botanist, has developed a technology that will eradicate the coca plant. Supported by several US Government agencies, he naively believes that the only obstacles to his success lay in the nuances of biotechnology. He could not be more wrong. Dr. Sloan's harrowing journey begins in Washington DC and continues in Chicago where he, his family and staff are in mortal danger. Sloan has the support of an admiral in Washington DC but his true protector is Michael Franco, a career Navy officer, who has been placed in Chicago, unbeknownst to Sloan. Although Franco is motivated by an unfailing dedication to duty, he begins to question his commitment and his ability to handle the assignment. He soon realizes that he is facing both an unknown spy and the drug lord Don Ricardo, whose ruthless thugs are waiting to destroy Sloan and all his work. In this mortal game of cat and mouse, Franco is up against a clock. Don Ricardo is set to strike before Franco can expose the traitor and get much needed backup. As this thriller concludes, all of Franco's courage and skill are put to a final test at the hands of Don Ricardo. The unexpected conclusion will surprise even the most veteran of "thriller " readers.
About the Author :
William Claypool's published writings span several genres. He has published scores of technical and scientific papers as a respected researcher and biotech entrepreneur. As a fiction author he has written several screenplays and has recently published his third novel. His fiction is primarily character driven and he strives to keep his story lines as realistic as possible. His style is intentionally sparse and he limits his narration to comments that enhance the character's development and those that will allow for a fast paced plot. The resulting novels engage the reader, making it difficult to put the book (or e-reader!) down. William Claypool graduated from the University of Notre Dame and has held teaching positions at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Illinois Chicago, and the University of Pennsylvania. He has been a physician, research scientist, professor, pharmaceutical executive, entrepreneur, and writer. He lives outside of Philadelphia.
Review :
"In an action-packed joyride of an adventure, The Cocaspore Project, a new political thriller by William Claypool, leads us down the dark paths of life in a drug mafia, and the sometimes equally shadowy intrigue in the world of secret government projects."......The author clearly knows botany, and scientific themes in general, and his writing style is clear enough to keep nonexperts engaged in what's happening in the more academic passages. The story line takes a somewhat unique direction in that the bulk of the novel focuses on the movements of the drug mafia and those chasing them, rather than on Dr. Sloan and his family, who might typically be the central characters. The focus on behind-the-scenes investigative work by those working to protect Sloan and those he loves, and on the political machinations embedded in the culture of those involved in the illicit drug trade, is an inventive way to move the plot forward.....The Cocaspore Project is an engaging, stimulating read that will appeal greatly to any lover of political intrigue, action, and adventure." Foreword Clarion Reviews 4 out of 5 stars
Original, riveting, deftly crafted characters, exceptionally well written plot twists and turns, "The Cocaspore Project" is a consistently compelling read from beginning to end and documents author William Claypool as an impressively gifted storyteller. While highly recommended for community library Suspense Thriller Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Cocaspore Project" is also available in a Kindle format. -
Midwest Book Review
