A thrilling novel that is fast paced, edge of your seat, read all night awesomeness!! Highly enjoyed this and was sad to flip the last page. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Chris Bohjalian is a favorite at our library. This book is a thriller that will provide fodder for book group discussions. The main characters were well developed, and the plot moved quickly. The book reminded me of Robin Cook's early novels, and I am sure many people will live it.

My past experience with a Chris Bohjalian novel was disappointing because I thought it lacked focus and seemed somewhat disjointed. But “The Red Lotus” is a much better work, I’m happy to say, because the author has evolved into a fabulous writer who seems to have hit his stride as he matures.

Bohjalian is the best selling author of some twenty books that have been translated into 35 languages and have fostered three movies. Perhaps I should reread the one I found wanting but there’s no need because I’m reviewing this story now. I like it and I appreciate his talent.

A young man disappears in Vietnam while on a bike ride and later turns up as a fatal victim of a vehicle accident. His girlfriend, not with him on his ill-fated ride, becomes suspicious of the incident for many reasons, all of which seem obvious to her but less so to acquaintances and the authorities.

The girlfriend grapples with the loss and the discrepancies she sees and discovers some lies he told to her and others before he died. Perhaps the most onerous and disturbing is his stated need to visit Vietnam. She finds connections with rat-induced sicknesses, national interests in obtaining the sources of said diseases, and evil forces dedicated to spreading sickness among large segments of the population.
That’s about all I need to say about the book, except that the author has done his research and draws the reader into the totally believable plan.

I like Bohjalian’s writing style. It’s free flowing and captures the spirit of an onerous plot, one he explains with clarity and riveting interest. The dialogue is realistic and the scenic backdrop is filled in with stunning beauty. I believe most readers will appreciate the quality of the story and the writing and realize that Chris Bohjalian is a writer of escalating appreciation.

The Red Lotus
My thanks to #NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review. Another winner from Chris Bohjalian! Alexis and Austin seem to have it all: a burgeoning relationship, good careers . . . and secrets? When Austin disappears on a biking trip in Vietnam where he was paying tribute to his veteran father and fallen uncle, Alexis goes into tiger-mode to find out the truth. Alexis is soon to discover the biological warfare of the Vietnam War didn’t end with the war, and Austin may have been a key player in modern-day combat.

Bohjalian is truly gifted when it comes to providing a unique novel unlike any he’s written before. The research and study that went into Red Lotus is admirable. Red Lotus is a triumph of exploration of science and culture and human capacity.

I love to start a new book and know within the first couple of chapters that I am going to love it. Hence the 5-star review for this amazing book by Mr. Bohjalian.

This is a compelling story of greed, deception, international intrigue, and the perseverance of a prodigious, strong but flawed, young woman who refuses to give up on the truth. Her journey will bring her devastatingly close to a chilling scenario of biological warfare.

This book is set to be released next year so make sure you put it on your to read list so you can discover what a red lotus and a rat have in common.

Highly recommended!

The Red Lotus: A Novel by [Bohjalian, Chris]

I really enjoyed this; it's nice to have a unique plot for a change. (I don't understand the cover, however.)



Review copy provided by publisher.

Alexis and Austin form an unbreakable bond the night they meet in a hospital emergency room. She sews him back up after he’s been shot in the arm. A few months later, they travel to Vietnam so Austin can visit the place his father died, but things go terribly wrong when Austin disappears. The only sign of him is the energy gel he used while cycling, found on the road. Austin’s family and the FBI get involved in his disappearance while Alexis uncovers a series of disturbing stories and lies that leave her wondering what Austin’s real motive for coming to Vietnam really was. Bohjalian is one of the most gifted, most diverse writers I’ve ever come across. There is nothing formulaic about any of his books, each one is an individual jewel just waiting to be discovered by some lucky reader