Deep as the Marrow

by F. Paul Wilson

Book Overview

When the president of the United States decides to back the legalization of marijuana, organized crime decides he must die. But for them to succeed, he must die without blame on them. So they are going to make his best friend--his personal physician--kill him. First, they kidnap the doctor's daughter.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765363100
• ISBN13: 9780765363107
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.0" x 6.2"

Customer Reviews

Thought provoking

In a bold move, President Thomas Winston proposes legalizing drugs, thus subjecting them to regulation, while at the same time removing their glamour. This proposal causes predictable reactions: liberals are ecstatic, conservatives are outraged. The media, pleased with the ongoing dispute, fan the flames of controversy at every opportunity. Columbian drug lord Carlos Salinas, perceiving danger to his criminal empire, launches a plan to eliminate the President. Having gained access to Winston's confidential medical history, he knows that the President can be disabled or killed with a dose of chloramphenicol, a little used antibiotic which almost killed him at age three. Salinas arranges to have the young daughter of the President's personal physician, Dr. John Van Duyne, kidnapped, hoping to blackmail the doctor into administering the drug. Although the actual kidnapping goes off without a hitch, the situation soon becomes very complicated. The architect of the kidnapping, Mike MacLaglen (known in criminal circles as "Snake"), is not aware that Katie Van Duyne has a potentially fatal seizure disorder, a form of epilepsy. Additionally, the people he has hired to "baby-sit" Katie, Paul DiCastro and his girlfriend, Poppy Mulliner, almost immediately have second thoughts about kidnapping a child. Snake's problems are multiplied by John Van Duyne 's unwillingness to sit tight while his daughter is in danger, coupled with his reluctance to harm his life long friend. Deep as the Marrow has a lot of things going for it--among them believable characterization and an incredibly even handed discussion of a controversial social issue--but readers will probably be most impressed by Wilson's deft plotting. The action, which begins in Washington D.C. and concludes in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, never lets up. Wilson always plays fair with his readers, even while surprising them. Those expecting horror may be disappointed by Deep as the Marrow, which, despite its title, contains little that may be deemed horrific. However, readers who enjoyed Sibs, The Select and Implant should feel right at home.

Plausible terror. A fathers worst nightmare comes true

Wilson weaves a tale like very few writers can. The believability in the choice the Doctor faces, to kill one of his oldest friends, the President of the United States to save his childs life is gripping and tense and you feel in the middle of it all. You are taken away and left emotionally drained as you can't stop turning pages. I find myself recommending everything Wilson writes!

Could it really happen? Makes you wonder.

Drug lords have unimaginable power. When coming events threaten their livelyhood anything goes, even killing the President. Terminology is intriguing and real. The plot and flow of the story is like velcro. Once you're stuck, forget anything else until you finish the book. It's that good.

Edge of your seat, non-stop action !

This "yarn" cuts eerily close to reality in today's money hungry world. The plot shows how modern technology can invade even the most protected peoples lives if the price is high enough, and how the war on drugs will never be won because there are too many people in high places getting rich off of the drug economy. Including kidnappers with hearts was a nice touch. I really enjoyed this book. It is well written, with believable characters, and a steady stream of action up to the ironic ending. This was the first F. Paul Wilson book I have read, but I am looking forward to reading more of his books.

A fun ride!!

Deep as the Marrow is described as a political thriller, but don't let the word "political" turn you off. F. Paul Wilson has used an attempted assassination of the President as a vehicle for a great kidnapping novel. After pushing for legislation to legalize all forms of drugs, the cartel conspires to kill the President. They kidnap the daughter of his closest friend and force him to either kill the President or never see his daughter alive again. The author goes through 404 pages of one frustration after another. There is a crazy ex- wife who shows up at the worst times, traitors in high places, mountain people (right out of Deliverance) and scenes of mayhem, even necrophelia. I was a little disappointed in the start of the book, but it picked up and got rolling. Don't write this off as another "Ransom". This is not your typical kidnapping book, it's just like the Energizer Bunny - it keeps going and going and going. F. Paul Wilson has a reputation for writing good stories and this is no disappointment. I recommend it to anyone who likes suspense and multiple twists in a story. If someone tells you that they figured out the ending halfway through you can tell yourself, "Yeah, right."