Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: First Horseman is an excellent read. Candidly, it is not as good as The Genesis Code, but that was such a powerful and original story, it would be hard to match. And the idea of plague and biowar seems to be popular, so I was put off by the theme itself. I must admit his use of Spanish Lady (Influenza) as plague is different from the current fad and he explains its potency, which I suppose redeemed the biowar theme in my case. It is after all, a terrifically good story. Mr. Case does his usual twisting and turning of plot and storyline that keeps you turning pages. His writing is crisp, his characters well drawn, and his momentum always fast. Highly reccommended.
Rating:
Summary: Reasonably plausible twist to an overused storyline
Review: Biological thrillers are becoming so prevalent that they are losing their appeal. For some reason, television and the movies haven't caught up yet, but watch out when they do--we'll all get "sick" of them in a hurry! This plot actually seemed plausible for the most part (until the invasion of the compound and subsequent sewer chase). Characters were introduced in small bits and only the important ones carried on, which made this a fun, easy to follow book. "Case" does need to tone down the emphasis on individual words. Almost every page has at least one, and usually several, italicized words to show emphasis. It's as if he doesn't think we can get into the book enough to imagine the voice inflections the characters would have used. I found this incredibly distracting and unnecessary. Other than that, it's a decent book that can provide some entertainment and even makes one wonder a little.
Rating:
Summary: Not in a league with The Genesis Code
Review: Like many of you, I read and truly enjoyed Case's "The Genesis Code". Case's writing style is captivating and yields a "fun" read. But, (always a but...) this second outing was somewhat disjointed and meandering. First, we're in North Korea (with a character that is never seen again), then in Washington with the "sure fire" ring of covert government officials (again, most of whom never continue on), then in Russia... I would have liked to see a more coherent plot development, and less "pin ball" from Case.
Rating: 
Summary: Ho-Hum
Review: Maybe is was because I had just finished Tom Clancy's similarly-themed "Rainbow Six", but I found Case's second novel to be completely routine, far inferior to his fine first effort, "The Genesis Code". So wanting in character development and exposition, it reads like a B-thriller's screenplay. Despite its short length, red herrings abound.If you are a fan of the genre, you might find this novel passable; others beware. At least you should be able to knock it off in just a couple of days and move on to something else a little more satisifying. A disappointing effort from the author of "The Genesis Code".
Rating:
Summary: weak plot, weak characters, weak writing
Review: The characters in this book are one-dimensional and laughable. The events which bring them together are contrived and improbable. The writing jumps from event to event, with little or no glue to tie things together. In short, it's as though John Case had a few pieces of an idea, then tried to throw together a book. Even _The Genesis Code_ was better, which is difficult to say since it, too, suffered from a lot of the same shortcomings.
Rating: 
Summary: A discussion of the research that went into this novel.
Review: I'm often asked by readers about the research that goes into books such as The Genesis Code and The First Horseman. The research is, of course, a prodigious task that involves a lot of reading and interviewing, as well as the occasional trip to exotic locales (like Baltimore), where conferences are held on such arcane subjects as the Solar Phallus Man and the existence of a substance called "red mercury." For the most part, though, the research is fun because one writes about the things that interest one. And the people you meet--the "experts"--are often quite terrific. Occasionally, though, the research is disturbing--as worrisome as it is interesting. Such was the case with The First Horseman, whose plot turns upon the ease with which America might be devastated by a person or group with access to biological weapons--and a deep grudge. When I began the research, I knew the possibility was scary, but I thought it was also quite remote. As I soon found out, however, the possibility is anything but remote. Biological weapons are dirt-cheap, easy to acquire, and completely destructive--nature's very own neutron-bomb. With $2000 and two years of science classes, a highly-functioning madman could probably take a big chunk out of the Big Apple. And there isn't a city in the U.S. that's prepared to cope with the threat--neither New York nor Washington, Pittsburgh or Peoria. In fact, a chemical or biological attack on a single high-rise--just one building--would paralyze New York's hospitals and health care system, and do so almost immediately. A broader attack--by crop duster or pleasure-boat on the Hudson--is . . . well, that's why I wrote The First Horseman. John Case
Rating: 
Summary: Familiar scares, poor writing
Review: Microbiological thrillers are spawning faster than the bugs themselves, but this one relies too much on a well-known epidemic of the past for its scare factor, and the writing and characterization let it down badly. Richard (Hot Zone) Preston has better science, while Patrick (Carriers) Lynch has much better plots and characters. Overall, a bit second rate.
Rating: 
Summary: Mind-blowing story reveals tomorrow's headlines today
Review: Wow! As Case proved in "The Genesis Code," he's a brilliant writer who knows the intelligence "community" inside-out. His characters are real, and the subject-matter is always fascinating. This time, he takes us to a very spooky place where new-age gurus, biological warfare, and apocalypse converge. Nobody does it better---not Ludlum, and not Le Carre. Trust me: if the first chapter doesn't grab you, you might want to check your pulse for vital signs. (I know one thing: I'll never look at a U-Haul---or the Staten Island ferry---the same way again.)
Rating:
Summary: Scary as Hell
Review: Better than Genesis Code, which was excellent. This book is scary as hell in that it could happen. Now I believe that over population is our worst pollution problem, but again the scenar- io set out in this book is scary as hell. The scene with the baby in the plastic bag was really shocking to say the least and of course, we have another fabulous ending as we did in Genesis Code. I'm going to look up that State of Emergency Act, that, too, is scary as Hell.
Rating:
Summary: Doesn't match up to "The Genesis Code"
Review: After devouring "The Genesis Code" in one sitting, I was delighted to find a second novel by anonymous author John Case. Unfortunately, instead of not being able to put the book down, I had to force myself to pick it up. It starts out interestingly enough but the plot bogs down with same-old, same-old stuff about cults taking over the world. Wait for the paperback!
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