Amped

By: Douglas E. Richards

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Kira Miller is a brilliant scientist who discovers how to temporarily boost human IQ to dizzying levels. But this transcendent intelligence brings with it a ruthless megalomania. Determined to use her discovery to propel human civilization to a higher plane, despite this side effect, Kira and ex-special forces operative David Desh recruit a small group of accomplished scientists, all of whom are safely off the grid. Or so they think...

Soon Kira and her team are fighting for their lives against unknown but powerful adversaries. Worse still, while on the run and being relentlessly attacked from all quarters, Kira comes across evidence of savage acts that the enhanced version of Desh kept hidden, even from himself. Now both she and Desh must question everything they think they know. Can they trust each other? Can they even trust themselves?

And all the while, the greatest threat of all may be coming from an entirely unexpected direction. A threat that could lead to devastation on a global scale. And time is quickly running out...

Like its predecessor, Amped is a smart thriller crammed with breakneck action, unexpected twists, mind-blowing science, and philosophical and ethical concepts listeners will be contemplating long after they've finished listening.

©2012 Douglas E. Richards (P)2013 Recorded Books

Good concept. Mediocre execution.

I always like a good mind enhancement story. This one had some good elements. However, the narration was substandard. Some of the male voices were unnaturally effeminate. That would make sense if the character were identified as affectedly gay. But there was no indication of that. For example, Matt sounded like a girl. Also, the bad guys sounded melodramatically snarky--even when delivering factual information. Additionally, over dramatization was committed throughout.

My main critique of the story was that, even though written in the omniscient voice throughout, the main female character was left to do a very long Perry Mason style wrapup at the end. The point of the omniscient is that the author can reveal events as they happen and not keep the reader so much in the dark about what is really going on that it takes a whole chapter to sum up.

But I did enjoy the super mind action hero flavor throughout.

Excellent story twist

Loved the story and the multiple plot twists. Couldn't stop listening to the audio book.

Doug Richards knows how to raise the stakes

This book was very nearly as good as the first. Another fantastic adventure that builds on everything set up in the initial release. More from the core protagonists that readers have already come to love, and obviously there are new bad guys this time around. The good news is, the bad guys are so bad they don't disappoint. Not only are there multiple antagonists but there is a cataclysmic threat to the world. When Doug Richards wants to raise the stakes, he knows how to turn the threat dial.

This appears to be the conclusion to the two book series. And while I'm disappointed there won't be more from these characters, this was a great story to end on.

Nail biter

Great story with such an awesome twist... Couldn't stop listening. Will definitely read more by this author.

Great book.

Storyline is great. Narrated well.
I got this as a daily deal. What a bargain.

Interesting story idea

Started out okay with an interesting storyline but was pretty ridiculous by the end. Narrator had a nice voice to listen to overall and did a couple of the male characters well, but it felt like other voice impressions were more forced or strained and they did not match very well with the characters as I envisioned them. I would listen to him again though if the story was decent.

I love Douglas E. Richards but...

I have absolutely loved the complexity and tech of all Richard's books but this one was too much...the end revalation was a F you to readers in my opinion. I don't want to dive too much into it as it's still definitely worth reading. This one will just sit as my least favorite so far out of the more than a dozen of his books read.

OK story

This book was okay. The technique of finding out that what you thought was the case isn't actually the case, deceits being revealed, was a bit over used. Became tiresome after a while. Character development could have been a little better. Nice clean Romance, but without a lot of dimension. The book was okay to get me through housework or a long run, but it wasn't one that I would not be able to put down. I did zone out occasionally, but had no trouble listening through to the end. The narrator was kind of annoying. His Evil Genius voice was the same for every character. It was well read otherwise.

Pleasant Surprise. Again!

I listened to this book non-stop over this week-end. Great that I can cook, etc., and still be able to listen to my iPod. Fantastic writer. Plenty of twists & turns. There was one point where the narrator seemed to develop a British accent, but it was only in one scene I think (Crazy Eddy's Carpet installer). Larger than life characters--super brainy, Commando fighting skills, etc.

Relistened this weekend and still five stars *****. 3/31/19

Good narration but predictable story

The super intelligent protagonists sometimes feel more like rather predictable superheroes: people with magical than intellectual superpower. The story lacks a genius like Sherlock Holmes, who is always a few steps beyond the reader. Other than that, it is a nice Sci-fi story with lots of military action!