With the rise of audiobooks has come the rise of books written for audio. These are not audio dramas as such (although some like this one have multiple narrators) but they are books written specifically for audio. New Zealand author JP Pomare has done a few of these including Tell Me Lies. The interesting thing then is what happens when those narratives jump to print. This is the journey of actor Richard Armitage’s first novel, a thriller called Geneva. The original audiobook was narrated by Armitage and fellow thespians Nicola Walker and Jane Perry. And it is possible the original narration may well have kept listeners on edge, the print version unfortunately does not.
Geneva centres around power couple Sarah and Daniel. Sarah is a Nobel Prize winning scientist, winning the prestigious award for her work on Ebola but since then has stepped back to focus on her family, including her ageing father who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. Her husband Daniel is a successful neurologist, and when the book opens is helping run tests on Sarah who has been not feeling herself. Despite her wobbliness, Daniel convinces Sarah to accept an invitation to be the keynote speaker at a conference in Geneva. The conference is to launch a revolutionary but controversial new treatment that involves putting technology directly into patients’ brains for which they are seeking Sarah’s endorsement. Sarah eventually agrees, but when the pair arrive at the renowned Schiller institute the situation is not quite as Sarah expected and soon is out of control.
One of the keys to a good technothriller is the capacity to suspend disbelief. The idea needs to be plausible enough to be true so that pressure around that idea can be built. Geneva starts with a fundamental problem – explaining how a scientist of Sarah’s character could be asked to endorse a medical product that is outside of her field of research without seeing any of the test results or data about how the thing actually works. And then, why she would agree to do so. This is the just the start of the issues with Geneva which is riddled with plot holes, unbelievable (but mostly predictable) twists and muddled character motivations. Right up to the too-contrived-to-be-true finale which seems to involve the authorities just backing off and letting a form of vigilante justice take its course.
A story like this may still work despite these flaws if it is narrated by actors of the calibre of Armitage and Walker in a way that grabs a listener’s attention. Great thriller movies are full of such contrivances, but are propulsive enough for those elements not to matter. But on the page, the whole enterprise falls flat. Readers have too much time to think about what is not working and there is plenty here that does not work. Geneva has plenty of the elements of a good thriller and Armitage clearly has talent in this regard but a much earlier edit which ran even the most rudimentary logic ruler over the plot would have helped immensely.

Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sarah Collier has started to show the same tell-tale signs of the Alzheimer's disease as her father: memory loss, even blackouts. So she is reluctant to accept the invitation to be the guest of honour at a prestigious biotech conference - until her husband Daniel, also a neuroscientist, persuades her that the publicity storm will be worth it. The technology being unveiled at this conference could revolutionise medicine forever. More than that, it could save Sarah's life. In Geneva, the couple are feted as stars - at least, Sarah is. But behind the five-star luxury, investors are circling, controversial blogger Terri Landau is all over the story, and Sarah's symptoms are getting worse. As events begin to spiral out of control, Sarah can't be sure who to trust - including herself.
I must admit I chose to read this book as it was written by Richard Armitage & I was pleasantly surprised. A well written book which I enjoyed, I didn’t find it a page turner as it seemed to lose itself in the middle & the ending was over the top. The characters were well portrayed. I did have to suspend belief at times but it’s fiction! There were twists & turns & I'm glad I read it
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

As I absolutely delight in listening to Richard Armitage as an AudioBook narrator, I was more than happy to see that he had moved into the realm of actually writing the material himself. This book started off life as just an AudioBook, mainly narrated by Richard and also, another favourite, Nicola Walker. I duly jumped on that train as soon as it was available and I have to say that I was more than impressed.
But, what started off as just the Audio version soon metamorphosed into an actual pages and everything (real or virtial) (e)book. And that really got my juices running. So... I swiftly snaffled up a copy as soon as I could. And it did not disappoint.
Sarah Collier is a highly regarded Nobel prize-winning scientist. She is married to Daniel, also a scientist and, as we first meet them, also her carer as she is showing signs of early onset Alzheimers, a disease that her father also suffers from. But she is trying to get on with what she has left of her life and is currently in Geneva at the Schiller medical conference which is set to launch a new breakthrough which will set the medical-scientific world alight.
But there are dark forces bubbling under. Those who have more of a stake in the game. Those who wish to exploit Sarah. But who and why is the real mystery. And what of Terri, a blogger on a mission...?
Yes, OK, like a few others I had to suspend belief on occasion. There were a few things that, to me anyway, were a tad implausible. And other which weren't explained fully enough for me to wholly accept. But, you know what? The characters were delicious and the story action packed and, apart from rolling my eyes on occasion, I had a fun time throughout. And the ending, when it came, was definitely worth all the niggles.
If you want a book that will just entertain without the need for complete accuracy. Something to escape into then this is definitely worth your time and trouble. I see he has a new one coming next year so this is definitely not a one and done, itch scratched, and I for one am very excited for that!
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Unusual story about a scientist who begins to have symptoms of Alzheimer’s, just as he father had before her. She is reluctant to attend a conference but is persuaded to go by her husband as her presence will give the whole proceedings a bigger profile. With really well portrayed characters this is a tense, roller coaster ride. I’ll certainly keep my eyes open for more by this author

After reading Geneva, Richard Armitage’s debut thriller, my verdict is that he’s written a very competent and entertaining novel. Sarah Collier Nobel Prize winning scientist, has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her father already has the disease, and she is fully aware of the impact it will have on her future life and that of her family. She’s invited to travel to Geneva to endorse Neurocell, a breakthrough discovery which could revolutionise diseases like Alzheimer’s and although she is concerned her condition is becoming worse, she is talked into it by her husband Daniel.
Narrated by Sarah, Daniel and a mysterious blogger named Terri Landau, Geneva is full of twists and turns. After arriving Sarah’s symptoms seem to worsen, plunging her into a frightening and dangerous world where the line between truth and reality becomes blurred and treachery is everywhere, even in the most unexpected places.

I would like to thank the author, Faber and Faber and Netgalley for an ARC of Geneva in exchange for an honest review.

This was incredible!!! What an amazing storyline. It's hard not to like Sarah pretty much instantly from the start. Reading about what she has achieved and what she is going through just makes you like her.

When the purpose for the 'trip' is revealed it makes sense - you can see why her husband Daniel wants to convince her to go. However, when they get there - that's when the twists and turns start! I loved the fact that the twists and turns were not predictable and some I was literally gasping out loud!

I couldn't put it down, I just had to keep reading to see how this was going to end. It's no wonder the tagline is trust no-one, not even yourself as there were ties where I was just gobsmacked at what was happening.

I feel like the pacing of the book was perfect, I'm reading and then as were getting more into it the pace picks up and I'm reading and reading and at times my heart is literally in my mouth waiting to see what happens next.

Geneva Richard Armitage

5 stars

What an unusual plot, fascinating!

Sarah Collier is a brilliant scientist who has won the Nobel Prize for her work with gene therapy and Ebola. However she has taken early retirement in order to concentrate on her husband Daniel and her young daughter Maddie.

Daniel is a Professor at the London College of Neurology but has always been in his wife’s shadow workwise. When the Schiller Institute in Geneva announce the launch of a new drug that can cure most brain injuries including dementia, Daniel is desperate for his wife to attend the launch conference which will endorse the new drug and also further his career.

Sarah’s farther is suffering from dementia and Sarah is beginning to realise that she also has the symptoms of early onset dementia herself. By attending this conference not only can she further her husband’s career but this drug just might be able to cure her.

The scene is set and Sarah is treated like a goddess by Professor Mauritz Schiller, the owner of the Institute and his ultra-efficient PR lady, Helen Rider and is happy to speak at the launch. However a lot of people on social media are very wary of the claims of this new super drug, in particular, Terri Landau a Canadian blogger.

Sarah soon realises that all is not as it seems and as her symptoms become more severe she finds herself fighting against a sinister plot which will threaten her life.

The story is fast-paced and full of twists that I did not see coming and I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was different from any other thriller that I have read. I would recommend it and look forward to any further books by this author.


Karen Deborah

Starting with a cinematic opening in the Swiss Alps, it’s clear that Richard Armitage has brought his acting experience into Geneva. I was thrown initially with all the different POVs and it took me a while to settle into it. But once settled, I was gripped. I’m a very visual person and so when I read, I see the chapters as scenes in my head. We’re never too sure who the antagonist is and for poor Sarah, struggling with Alzheimer’s symptoms, she has less of a clue.

The idea of ‘Neurocell’, a biotech invention capable of overriding neurological conditions, seems both preposterous and plausible at the same time. Richard Armitage plays the balance well, knowing how far to push the plot.

I’ve only spent a few hours in Geneva, and most of that was around the lake, so it wasn’t that easy for me to picture some of the places. Although the traffic jams were captured pretty well! But the whole idea of a biotech billionaire living in his medical institute in the mountains was something I could buy into. There’s a scene where VR headsets are used and I actually felt quite disorientated afterwards. That’s how good the descriptions are.

Overall, it’s a fast-paced thriller, with memorable characters and a plot that, in the near future, could be a reality.

Thank you for the early read.

‘A sudden jolt, blinding light pierces my eyelids, and I swallow down my claustrophobia.’

Sarah Collier is a Nobel prize-winning scientist, happily married to Daniel, a neurologist when she receives a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Sarah is starting to experience some of the same symptoms as her father (also a sufferer), including memory loss and blackouts. Sarah’s symptoms make her reluctant to accept an invitation to the much-publicised Schiller Conference in Geneva. Her husband convinces her that it will be worthwhile. There’s a new technology to be unveiled at this conference, and it may assist Sarah.

‘Neurocell can act like a pacemaker for the brain, reconnecting and recultivating dying cells and making use of new ones to counteract the effects of early onset dementia and even, we hope, advanced cases.’

Imagine: a new therapy that might slow the progress of dementia (and perhaps even reverse it)! How wonderful … if it existed and worked.

Sarah and Daniel travel to Geneva, where Sarah is put under pressure to endorse the brain implant Neurocell. But as Sarah becomes increasingly unwell and confused, who can she trust?

While the story most unfolds from the points of view of Sarah and Daniel, there are other key characters including Helen Alder, the marketing executive who is determined to make the launch successful at any cost, and controversial blogger Terri Landau, who ‘started this blog to bring you the truth about the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry’.

Yes, this novel has it all: conspiracy theories, supersized egos, heroes, villains, a Russian agent, and potential sabotage. Success at any cost.

I have mixed feelings about the novel. Yes, I’d like to see a therapy which helps dementia sufferers. And yes, I can imagine that any such therapy would attract a great deal of interest. But aspects of this story did not work for me although they have clearly worked for others. There’s plenty of action here but the medical aspects didn’t work for me.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Faber and Faber Ltd for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Quite a slow start for me and I wasn’t at all sure about this book till about half way through it kicked up a gear and became the intense psychological thriller it was billed as. Not overly likeable characters and some twists that pushed the boundaries of believable but intriguing none the less.

Professor Sarah Collier is a Nobel prize winning scientist, married to neuroscientist Daniel with a daughter Maddie. Her father has Alzheimer’s and is slowly fading away from her. Sarah also suffers from bouts of illness and disorientation and an MRI scan reveals she has signs of early onset Dementia. This immediately hit home to me. My mother had dementia and I worked for a dementia research charity for many years, it’s an insidious disease. This was an interesting, albeit rather far fetched, plot; well paced and entertaining.

Briefly, in Geneva the Schiller institute have developed a new revolutionary product for people with dementia and other neurological disorders and want her to endorse it but it involved a brain implant and Sarah has ethical concerns. Reluctantly, due to Daniels perseverance, she agrees to attend. What follows is a deeply disturbing foray into a world of industrial espionage, betrayal and murder.

The author provides a good sense of place with vivid descriptions and good characterisations. Sarah’s story was harrowing and I’m sure anyone who has known anyone who lives/lived with dementia will be equally as disturbed. A cleverly written slow burn thriller with a shocking climax. A good debut.

This book is slow to start and I felt I wasn’t engaging with the story or the characters. Every time I thought it was getting more interesting it would slow again. However, I persevered and after a huge twist about halfway through it suddenly escalated into the page turner I was hoping for. Sarah Collier has been awarded the Nobel prize and is invited to a launch of a major scientific development in Geneva. However, as she and her husband Dan are due to leave she is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. A cruel diagnosis for one of the world’s most ingenious brains. Despite feeling unwell Sarah agrees to go to Switzerland and although she feels the worst thing has already happened to her she little knows just how bad things will become. There were twists galore in the second half of this book and I recommend reading through the rather dull first part. It is worth it.

I actually quite enjoyed this, despite Scandi Noir feel of the story, which isn’t a genre I normally go for. It did feel a little slow and plodding at the beginning, though once it got to around a third of he way through the story picked up pace and became more interesting and gripping.

Yes a little far fetched and must admit apart from Sarah herself and an ex Russian spy there are no likeable characters in this story.

This is an impressive debut for Richard Armitage, who I will admit I have admired as an actor for some time. He shows real promise as an author.

Disengage brain, get in your comfiest armchair and give this story a try.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review.

“Geneva" by Richard Armitage is an intense psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, blending science, suspense, and human emotions. The story revolves around Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sarah Collier, who is grappling with the early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Faced with a critical decision of embracing life-saving technology or succumbing to her failing health, Sarah's journey is both harrowing and engrossing.
The snowy backdrop of Geneva is vividly described, adding an extra layer of danger to the narrative. Sarah's struggle with memory loss and her husband Daniel's aspirations for success in the scientific community create a complex dynamic that adds depth to the storyline. Armitage maintains a palpable tension throughout the book, propelling readers forward at a brisk pace.
While the story may require some suspension of disbelief, the relentless suspense and intricate character relationships keep readers hooked. As Sarah battles her deteriorating reality and the dangers that lurk, the blurred lines of trust and deception come to the forefront. Armitage's debut work demonstrates his ability to weave a thrilling tale and sets the stage for an exciting exploration of the thriller genre. For those who enjoy psychological suspense, "Geneva" offers an engaging and promising start to an enthralling literary journey.

For a debut novel Geneva is very good .A little slow to start off with but it soon picked up .This story is about a brilliant scientist facing a devastating diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease who is asked to be the face of a wonderful new idea ,a brain implant that could possibly reverse her condition .There are some very good characters many twists and turns ,some things are not as they seem .Plenty of action and excitement and set in Switzerland ,a great psychological thriller .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC

This book had a lot of potential- the story line was good- a famous scientist is lured to Geneva to endorse a new product invented at the Schiller Institute. Professor Sarah Collier is a Nobel prize winning scientist but she is suffering from strange blackouts and does not feel herself. She fears she is going down the same road as her dementia stricken father.
When her husband, Daniel, suggests the trip to Geneva, she forces herself to go with unexpected and dangerous consequences.
Basically this is a thriller where no one is who they seem and most of the characters are fairly unpleasant. It is told from Sarah’s and also Daniel’s point of view and the reader gradually gets to know what is going on.
Some bits were very well described, Sarah’s paranoia and hallucinations being a good example. However parts of the story ended up being quite unbelievable and I did manage to guess a major point of the plot before the big reveal.
That being said, I did finish it fairly quickly and I definitely wanted to know how it was all going to end. The pace certainly picked up from about half way through and then it did move very quickly and turned out to be a more compelling read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

An entertaining read. The story centres around the launch of a new medical technology in Geneva. It soon becomes obvious that not everyone is as they seem. There is fraud and dirty dealings at play.
The story is told from three perspectives. Firstly there is the first person narrative of Sarah Collier, a Nobel prize winning scientist who has been asked to endorse the new product. Secondly there is the first person narrative of her husband, Daniel, who sees himself as constantly in his wife's shadow. Lastly there is a third person narrative that covers the actions of the Schiller Institute, the body responsible for the new technology.
Initially I found the alternating narratives somewhat confusing until I'd sorted out what was happening. But once I'd got into it, the pace really picked up.
Overall, an enjoyable reading, a promising debut novel.

This felt very much like a debut novel; a simplistic style made it easy enough to read but it didn't bring anything new to the genre and I hope if the author should write another one he will concentrate more on motivation and character development.
Thank you to netgalley and Faber and Faber for an advance copy of this book.

I found this ploddy and a little predictable. It got better but I feel like the opening needs some work

The plot was okay but I found it a bit far-fetched and at times a bit hammy. However, it's an easy read and overall, I enjoyed it.