The Atlantis Gene: The Origin Mystery, Book 1

This first novel offers lots to enjoy and is in many ways impressive, but also suffers from serious deficiencies that really ought to have been remedied before the work made it into print. Let's get past the bad stuff first. As in many of the self-produced, budget-priced first works relentlessly marketed by Amazon, The Atlantis Gene has not been professionally or even thoroughly edited. It is marred by simple spelling errors ("fisherman" instead of "fishermen," "breathe" instead of "breath," and even the horrible misuse of "it's") suggesting that it was spell-checked but not even carefully proofed. Much worse, the presentation of the multi-thread plot hops across many characters and locations -- common enough in adventure/thriller fiction -- but does so in a confusing way that is made hard to track, annoyingly, because the author hasn't employed some of the easy structures and cues that make it possible for the reader to stay comfortably on track. Confusion is not suspense! Multiple names and identities for characters are part of the plot -- fair enough -- but this lends even more confusion than necessary because the characters are not really all that distinct from each other. This "who's who?" headache could have been easily remedied -- but it wasn't. These and other fairly low-level deficiencies really work against the book. They also constitute an (unintended) offense to the reader, who ought not to have to put up with substandard execution. It's disappointed to see a writer like Riddle do the hard things well while making a mess of these relatuvely easy-to-manage features.That the book succeeds despite these problems is a testament to Riddle's various strengths as a writer. Underneath the confusion, there is an intriguing plot and it moves forward nicely. Though characters are unpolished and not always developed, there's enough there to make you care. The historical button-pushing (Atlantis, no less) includes many familiar elements (some of them a bit too familiar from other novels) but still manages to engage and intrigue the reader. Riddle's pacing is good, as is the writing in general, though there are a few akward and ham-fisted passages. Ultimately, the storytelling works -- and once you're 2/3 through the book, you finally know who's who and what's going on -- and succeeds to the extent that you're not really even all that angry when the ending arrives with a heavy-handed climax that announces that you have pretty much only gotten half the story and that, yes, you'll need to read the sequel. OK. I will.It feels bad to rant against this kind of work, but stern criticism is warranted. That Amazon will support new writers by facilitating publishing is great, and if Riddle gets a career based on the success of TheAtlantis Gene, we'll all be happy. But as enjoyable as this novel may be, it is definitely contributing to the lowering of professional standards for authors and publishing. All good writers learn to write from what they read, and while Riddle has benefited from those who went before, The Atlantis Gene lowers standards in some key areas for those who follow. A couple of hours wrestling with a good editor would have -- and should have -- made this good book into something much, much better. There is simply no excuse for this.

"The Atlantis Gene: The Origin Mystery" is a thrilling science-fiction novel written by A.G. Riddle. The book explores the possibility of the existence of a highly advanced and intelligent civilization known as Atlantis, which supposedly disappeared millennia ago. The novel follows the journey of Dr Kate Warner, a geneticist who is on a quest to uncover the mystery of the Atlantis gene and how it might relate to the fate of the human race.The story starts with a prologue that sets the stage for the rest of the book. It details a catastrophic event that occurred over 70,000 years ago, which wiped out most of the human race. From there, the narrative shifts to present-day Antarctica, where a team of researchers discovers an ancient structure buried deep beneath the ice. This discovery leads Dr Warner to uncover a link between the Atlantis gene and a deadly virus that threatens to wipe out the entire human race.The plot of "The Atlantis Gene" is intricate and well-crafted, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers engaged. The novel has an excellent mix of action, suspense, and mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are well-developed and engaging, each with their unique motivations and backstories. The author does a fantastic job of weaving together multiple storylines, creating a cohesive and compelling narrative that is hard to put down.The book is also well-researched, with the author incorporating real scientific concepts and theories into the story. This gives the novel a sense of authenticity and makes it more engaging for readers who are interested in science and technology.Overall, "The Atlantis Gene" is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys science-fiction or mystery novels. It's a well-written, well-researched, and engaging story that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end. If you're looking for an exciting and thought-provoking read, this book is worth checking out.

Very well written, great story. Recommended!

I really liked the simplicity of the language used by the author making it easy for a person yo get back to reading after almost 10 years of having left it. An iblnteresting turn of events and an eye for detail in the character sketches really takes me on a fantastic ride of thrill and enjoyment.

Very suspenseful. Full of historical references. Interesting futuristic premise. I had trouble putting the book down as I couldn't wait to know what would happen next. Non stop action packed story with great momentum and a touch of romance. Very tragic scenes at times, when someone dies, because I loved all the characters even the bad guys.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves history, people, and connections. The characters jump off the page! Great story and completely hooked. Onto book 2!

I'm actually new to fiction, but this book had me hooked from the first pages. I absolutely recommend it. . .