Chris Bohjalian never disappoints. And the wonderful thing about his stories is that they are all so different, and well researched. He doesn’t stick to a formula, and I love him for it.
The Red Lotus is a fascinating mystery set mainly in Vietnam, where Alexis and Austin have gone for vacation. Except Austin had more than a vacation in mind. When he goes missing, everything Alexis thought she knew is questioned.
A romantic vacation that turns into a biological plague thriller....so good!

I'm a huge fan of Mr. Bojalian and he never disappoints. This is a solid thriller focused on bioterrorism and a modern day plague. Some passages were technical and dry so I found myself skimming but all in all, I think his fans will be pleased.

I am constantly amazed by the writings of Chris Bohjalian. I have read every novel by him; not one is alike. In the day of authors just repeating the same story line with different characters, it is refreshing to read something different. I also appreciate the description of Vietnam. Can't wait to see what he writes next.

Half-way through this one I realized that I was only reading it because it was written by Chris Bohjalian. If this had been a debut author I would not have gotten even to the half-way point. The writing is seriously uneven - in places it is well-done and lyrical, and too often it feels over-blown and dramatic simply for mama’s sake. I was intrigued by story line in the beginning, but soon lost interest because of the way this was written - too much cloak-and-dagger and mystery, too little to pull me into the story, and the asides about rats and plague were more distracting than they were helpful in pushing the story forward. A disappointing book from an author I love.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Alexis is an ER doctor in Manhattan who meets her boyfriend, Austin, while healing him from a gunshot wound. After six months, they go on a biking vacation together to Vietnam, where his uncle died and his father was injured in the war. Austin goes off by himself one day to visit the site of his uncle's death and never returns. The investigation that follows covers the chemical warfare in Vietnam and its effects in the present, leading to the very hospital Alexis works in.
It was really hard to write a review of this book without giving away any of the plot surprises. I love the description of the beautiful countryside in Vietnam and the people they meet there. The idea of using rats to spread a pandemic is fascinating and presented in a well-researched and believable way. This was a really great book and I'm so excited I got a chance to read it!

A thrilling, unputdownable mystery of a book that I thoroughly enjoyed ... like most of Bohjalian's books.
A young ER doctor goes on a biking trip to Vietnam with her boyfriend. Then he disappears, and the story is about finding out not only what happened to him, but about who he really was.

The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian is an excellently written mystery/thriller that combines the harmful effects of herbicides such as Agent Orange that were used during the Vietnam War and a possible new antibiotic-resistant plague that's threatening to go worldwide with devastating effects on the world's population. All of this is tied together using rats and their quick spawning of many generations over a short period of time. A fast-paced story that ill keep the reader captivated. Read and enjoy!

One of Bohjalian's stronger recent efforts. I was engaged throughout, though I do wish the reveal had been a little more clear-by the end I was still somewhat confused about who was guilty of what, and what their relationships all were to each other. Also, there's a subplot involving the main protagonist, (her cutting) that doesn't get adequately explored that I wish had either been developed more or cut out completely. Still, it's a fast paced, spooky look into a topic I really knew very little about.

4 Stars! This was my first book by Chris Bojalian and it definitely hooked my enough that I would read more from him. Alexis meets Austin while working as a doctor in an emergency room when he arrives with a bullet wound. They soon begin dating after he recovers and plan a trip to Vietnam. Austin goes missing while on a solo bike ride and Alexis searches for answers to his disappearance. This book was difficult to put down! Alexis quickly discovers that there was a lot more to Austin then she realized and she could be putting herself in danger as she continues her quest. There are a lot of layers to unravel in The Red Lotus and several twists and turns. This was book a mystery and a thriller. Chris Bojalian weaves together a really thought provoking and well researched story that makes you think and raises a lot of interesting topics that would provide for a good book club read.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

An interesting premise - rats evolved because of exposure to Agent Orange during the war in Vietnam. Fantastic but somewhat intriguing political thriller.

Another great book from Chris Bohjalian! This story takes the reader from Viet Nam to New York City and back again, with lots of intrigue and questions.

Alexis is an ER doctor from NY who is on a bike tour of Viet Nam with her boyfriend, when he goes missing and then is found dead from a car crash while he was riding solo through the mountains, on a personal search for connection to his father and uncle, both of whom served in the war. when she returns home, she finds out that he was not the person she thought he was.

Alexis enlists the help of a private investigator to help answer her questions. This leads her into the world of rats and bio-weapons.

This is definitely a page turner. By the end, I was reading faster than I could flip the pages.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have to fan girl a little because Chris Bohjalian is hand down one of my favorite writers. Countless times I say to Christin "ugh I could really go for Bohjalian book right about now". So I was beyond excited to get The Red Lotus. I have a habit of not reading the descriptions for authors that I adore. I love knowing nothing especially in a thriller.
I have to say this book was so good and a favorite of the year! I can not wait to read more from Chris!!!

I want to like the author so bad but I struggle when reading Bohjalain’s books. I know people love the works but they are not my cup of tea.

I love Chris Bohjalian's work. His books are always well researched, compelling, and something different to read. The Red Lotus was no exception. Alexis' character was fascinating--it was great to see hew develop and become more real as the book progressed and we met more people in her life. Some parts of this book were a little weird and didn't seem to fit the overall arc of the story, but I still enjoyed it. The (relatively) happy ending was a bit of a surprise and I'm still not 100% sure what I thought, but it was a good read.

This author clearly does his research to provide insightful context for all of his novels -- and The Red Lotus is a strong example of this background work. While the beginning of the novel seemed to drag, the middle and end were both exciting and well-developed.

I was not the biggest fan of this, I just couldn't get into the story. Oh well, maybe his next book will be for me :)

I choose this book based on the author's other book: The Flight Attendant. This was ok. I found myself getting confused by all the characters and not really caring about what happened to the boyfriend who died. There was a "cutting" storyline that felt strange--maybe not believable? I also didn't understand the italicized entries every so often. I know it was supposed to lend intrigue about one of the characters having additional knowledge, but it wasn't a surprise when it was revealed. Solid meh.

I was willing to give Chris Bohjalian another chance even though I wasn't crazy about The Flight Attendant. I think I just don't jive with this authors style. Did not finish.

I absolutely LOVED this book and could not put it down! I have read Bohjalian's work before, and this one is up there with one of his best, in my opinion.
It starts off with a missing person, and only gets more twisty and complex, bringing in rats, biological weapons, relationships and even a hint of espionage. It left me wanting more and thinking about what I read for days to come. I am so thankful for this advance reading copy, and highly recommend this book! Read it!

I adored Bohjalian's earliest works. He told great stories with character development and intriguing plots.
His last few books though, and this one kn particular. he seems more interested in showcasing his descriptive muscles and command of language. Those are admirable qualities, of course, but moot points if the reader doesn't care about characters or find a story that holds their attention.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review