The Immortal Gene by Jonas Saul is a sci-fi crime thriller that follows two parallel stories, that of Jeffrey Harris, the Blood Eagle Killer, and Canadian detective Jake Wood. The Blood Eagle Killer is a psychotic criminal who enjoys staking out families with all the positive traits his own lacked, attempting to take over the role of husband and father himself through the grisly elimination of the man of the house, and resurrecting a torturous method of execution once employed by the ancient Vikings. In a plot that runs concurrently, Jake Wood is investigating Harris' most recent murder, leading to an explosive plot twist that originates in the Amazon and launches the story to a whole new level.

The Immortal Gene is a unique story with two main plots and a host of subplots that keep the suspense heightened through to the end (which is not the real end, as the book's finale is a cliffhanger). Jonas Saul has done a fantastic job with character development and both Jeffrey Harris and Jake Wood come to life. There is a good balance of dialogue and narrative with shifting points of view that transition seamlessly, weaving back and forth between both leads until they finally converge. Despite the supernatural trait that Jake Wood ultimately finds himself possessed with, his humanity remains intact and the impact this major change has on his personal life keeps him feeling like an authentic protagonist. I'd recommend this book to lovers of the thriller and suspense genres, particularly when tinted with a bit of sci-fi, and anyone else just looking to get lost in a one-of-a-kind piece of roller coaster fiction.

The Immortal Gene by Jonas Saul is a thriller that is both chilling and mesmerizing. Jake Wood, a capable Canadian homicide detective, seems to have a happy life in front of him. Engaged to marry his beautiful girlfriend, Cindy, he answers a police homicide alarm with his long time partner, Kirk. The notorious Blood Eagle Killer strikes again and murders the Marcello family. Jake is, however, summoned by a friend conducting some kind of experiment for Fortech Industries, involving snakes, in the Amazon rainforest in South America. What was supposed to be a four-day trip turns into an eighteen-month-long nightmare and, as a result, his fiancee married another man. Jake lost his house, his job is in jeopardy, and he comes out of a coma a changed man. And when his new home is broken into, Jake realizes that he is being targeted by a powerful organization. And the Blood Eagle Killer is about to commit murder again.

Fast paced and highly interesting, The Immortal Gene by Jonas Saul is the kind of book you would want to read in one sitting. On its own, the mystery of the Blood Eagle Killer is a gripping tale and on top of this is another twist to the story that will surely leave any reader breathless. Jonas Saul is a master storyteller. His characters are realistic and bigger than life. And there are enough twists and turns in The Immortal Gene that will make your reading exciting. And as you follow Jake's transformation into something that is more than human, you will be astounded that this fantastic story can indeed happen in real life.