The Eighth Day

By: Michael O'Neal

Narrated by: Robert Martinez

What they know might get them killed.

What they are might save us all.

High school seniors Jay Anderson and Kathy Winters have been best friends and next-door neighbors their whole lives. Both have bright futures ahead of them...then in an instant their idyllic small-town lives are turned upside down.

Jay is accused of a crime he didn't commit and immediately becomes social pariah. Kathy and the rest of their small circle of friends seem to be the only ones who believe in his innocence. Risking her own future, she sets out to clear him at any cost. But she rapidly discovers that cost might be their lives. Someone wants Jay out of the equation. Badly. And as they dig deeper, they uncover the shocking truth about the sudden explosion of violence and paranoia around their sleepy little town, the suspicious activity at the city reservoir, and the strange light that streaked across the night sky...

Now, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance, five seemingly ordinary friends must embark on a desperate quest. From the steps of Capitol Hill to the frozen wastelands of Siberia, from the unfriendly skies over Eastern Europe to the treacherous waters of the Caribbean, danger lurks around every corner as they seek to learn the truth about what was created on...

The Eighth Day

About the Author:

Michael O'Neal wrote the first draft of The Eighth Day as a sophomore in high school, and it was the first prize winner of the 2000 Fountainhead Productions National Writing Contest. Since then he graduated from the professional pilot program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and served a tour of duty in the NOAA Corps, America's seventh and smallest uniformed service. When he's not writing he teaches nautical science and is a volunteer aviator with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. He lives in Virginia with his wife and a small zoo of rescued animals.

©2011 Bluewater Press LLC (P)2014 Michael O'Neal

Fun ride even if a bit unrealistic

Jay Anderson and his friends are quirky high school seniors, already ostracized because of their high intelligence. Jay is suddenly accused of selling drugs making him a pariah to his teachers, fellow students and even his parents. The only people who believe him innocent are his best friends, Kathy, Jeff, Ryan and Rachel. Kathy tears apart the evidence managing to get the case dismissed but that doesn’t change the minds of those who were quick to deem him guilty.

Rachel finds an incriminating picture that places a high government official involved in framing Jay. Amid an unusual rash of anger and high tempers in town, Jeff finds evidence of another government cover-up effecting the town’s water reservoir. The 'bug' not only causes the violent tempers but can cause death too. The teens are alarmed and head out in different directions to try to figure out what is going on and how to save their town.

Jay and Kathy visit a Senator in Washington, DC, who is a friend of the family. Jay hopes that perhaps he can give help but the next thing they know they are on the run from government officials. Their race to prevent the deadly plan sends them on a train ride, into desolate, cold mountains on foot and eventually to Russia.

Jay and Kathy have secrets that are a surprise even to them. While certain high level conspirators want them captured, controlled or maybe dead, there is finally a high government force that decides to protect and help them. The problem is the ‘good guys’ can’t get close to the kids to let them know they have back-up.

There is a lot of action that keeps this moving and interesting. However, there are also a lot of improbable episodes. These teens are portrayed as some type of genius superheroes. I enjoyed the quiet faith input and confidence that was portrayed, especially in Jay. I also appreciated the depth of friendship between Kathy and Jay who are resisting the temptations to be ‘friends with benefits’.

This is fun and entertaining as long as you set aside realism. I recommend it as fun action, suspense and entertainment.

Audio Notes: Robert Martinez does a good job providing different voices for the characters. His narration helps to keep the story fun and enhanced the "reading" experience for me.
I received this audiobook through Audiobook Jukebox for an honest review.

The Eighth Day

This was a really good book! Havenbrook people are becoming nasty and hateful to everyone,even family.One teen and his friends try to figure out what is going on,only to be thwarted by the government being already involved,but not in a good way.Finally getting a sample to the right people they help to save what remains of their town. Robert Martinez is a great narrator.
I was given this book free for an honest review.

The high school version of the X Files

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This was a fun, fast paced book that is great for all ages. Full of mind controlling aliens, conspiracy theories, and genetically modified super humans that are the key to saving the world. There was always so much going on - never a dull moment.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character, Jay. I felt horrible for him when he was singled out. Great writing makes you care about the characters.

What does Robert Martinez bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Martinez did a really good job with each character having their own voice, very easy to follow.

Any additional comments?

Audiobook provided by author for an honest review.

Fast paced

What made the experience of listening to The Eighth Day the most enjoyable?

I was loving this audio book from start to finish.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Kathy she was great. It helped that I am a Kathy from Iowa too. LOL But she was an amazingly developed character in the story line. The author made her a book smart girl and loyal to her friends. I think that her character was very important in the story line because she kinda gave her friends that little push to do what they all thought was right.

What about Robert Martinez’s performance did you like?

Robert has this great voice for a fast paced government thriller. His talent helped us the listener work through this story line. Robert was a perfect fit this fast paced story lined as it developed.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

genetically modified super humans

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed this story. I liked that they started out just High School friends. The author developed this story line into a mind controlling aliens, conspiracy theories, genetically modified super humans, and a save the world story. All in a book that can be listened to in under 10 hours. There were a corny spot or two in story line but those spots worked out to inform us where the mind set of the characters were. I hope to hear more from this author and differently from the narrator.

Strong Performance

Would you listen to The Eighth Day again? Why?

Probably, I really enjoyed the performance by Mr. Martinez. He was able to create distinct voices for the characters.

What other book might you compare The Eighth Day to and why?

I can't think of a story off the top of my head. The plot was pure YA adventure. There were some instances in the plot where I found myself working hard to suspend my disbelief, but as long as I approached it from the angle that this is young adult fiction, then it wasn't too problematic.

What about Robert Martinez’s performance did you like?

The narrator created distinct and identifiable characters. I had no problems differentiating one from another. Very good work on his part.

Any additional comments?

The audio performance made me think what it would be like if Michael Bey did young adult fiction. The plot was driven by the action and though at times it could seem a bit farfetched as long as you didn't over think it and kicked back to enjoy the ride it is an enjoyable piece. The plot gets 3.5 rounded to 4 and the performance gets 4.5 rounded to 5.

An enjoyable listen.

This is a fast paced and quite enjoyable listen. While there may have been some plot flaws, overall it was really good. This reminded me of one of those movies, where there is a ton of things missing from it, yet you can't help but watch it till the end, because you need to know what happened!!

I don't want to say much about the plot because it's hard to without spoiling something, so all I will say is that there is a lot going on, from a boy being framed to alien lid=fe forms detected!

Character wise, we have a fair few of them in the book, though they were all likable and well written. Poor Jays life turns upside down, though he remained steadfast the whole way through, I think in part that's thanks to Kathy, his best friend.

The book starts in a small town but travels as far away as Russia. You could just picture the Russian prison and imagine the horrors of a place like that!!

So in all, it's an action packed and entertaining listen. We have teens, aliens, mind control, government conspiracy, deception, deceit and friendship, all rolled into one easy listen.

Robert Martinez did a good job differentiating each character! I didn't get confused once while listening to him. He had a clear and concise manner and I enjoyed listening to him.

*I received a copy of this in exchange from an honest review, via Audio Book Blast. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Flawed but enjoyable blockbuster

3.5 / 5

This book is fairly flawed, with plot holes, unbelievable events and giant coincidences that aren't ever explained... yet I cannot help but enjoy it. It's a big dumb summer blockbuster movie, in the form of a book.

The book is fast paced, moving from one event and showdown to the next barely giving time for a breathe in between. And these are the giant set pieces of a summer movie - aerial dogfights, helicopter attacks, submarines, not to mention the final location. It really is cramming ever situation the author could think if into one book. And that is both the good and the bad thing about this book. It's action packed and fun. But by cramming them all in, it makes some of them overly absurd.

There is an international detour in the middle of the book (as the blurb for the book) that doesn't actually add much to the story other than giving it an international section (its now a world wide issue/conspiracy!) and adding a cool (but utterly unbelievable) series of action pieces.

The characters are similarly over the top and do things far outside of believable action for people of their age and training, plus the knowledge and intelligence of several of them is over the top (photographic memory, being really smart in just the exact fields and areas of knowledge required for what they get in to). You occasionally hear of some of their weakness yet none of those weaknesses actually affect the characters in any real way (hey, this guys is smart but not very athletic... just ignore all the athletic and death defying stuff he is doing without any training).

One thing I did like about the writing and the characters was that while some were overtly Christian or religious, and some bigger questions about God and his plans were brushed on, the author did not reduce those characters to charactertures or stereotypes. Actually the Russians weren't stereotypes either. So while the main characters may have been over the top in some ways, I think all the characters were 3 dimensional (as best they can be for the time they are given). That is very un-blockbuster-like.

There is also a giant coincidence that runs through the whole book that I don't believe was explained at all: two 'special' people, the only two like them in the world, happen to live in the same small town and that small town is the place where a major event happens (one that couldn't have been controlled to have been forced to be in that town because it was pure chance), and their specialness is the right type of specialness to keep them safe from the event (and the thing that thrusts them into the story). It's pure luck not explained by the story and thus comes off as weak writing to me.

I seem really down on the book... but I really enjoyed it. Sometimes you want a book that is fun for the sake of fun, that you don't want to think about. This is that book.

Narration would be a 3.5 / 5 too. Generally really good, with good audio production. There is the occasional annoyance. Things like a nerdier character is given a nasally voice - although this does seem to fade a little as the book goes on it is very pronounced at the start. Or that despite there being several Russian characters (or at least people from Russia) some of the voices didn't have Russian accents. this was fine, I didn't mind, until later another Russian came along and i thought the narrator did a great Russian accent. So he could make Russians sound Russian, he just didn't at times. Strange choice.
I did think the narrator did good, believable females though. And that is actually rarer than you would expect.

Overall, a good performance. Good audio production, with little things like static and 'over the radio' type distortion when people were talking over the radio. It was used sparingly and done well. Which is the way i like it. Too often becomes too much very quickly.

Quite an adventure

In a small town in Iowa, life turns messy for highschool senior Jay Anderson. He is accused of a drug crime he didn’t commit. Luckily, his friend Kathy sways the jury and gets him acquitted. But more than that is going on in this small town. Pretty soon Rachel, Ryan, and Jeff are pulled into the mystery as well. It seems some sort of sickness is spreading through out their town, making people irritable and paranoid. Men in suits with an unusually large armament show up. Pretty soon, the 5 friends have to leave the town or end up in a bad way.

In this action flick, the teens take on fantastic abilities while trying to save their friends and family, and perhaps the entire nation. It’s a mix of genres, with some gene splicing going on, alien life, conspiracy theories, and a touch of Christian morals lacing through it all. Jay and Kathy get the most page time and have the most character growth in the book. Ryan and Jeff play important second fiddles as the 5 travel the USA, then to Russia, and finally the Caribbean. Rachel often became non-existent in the narrative as she had so few lines; in fact, I had completely forgotten that she had traveled with the guys until her voice reappeared near the end.

The story starts off strong, with it’s mystery asteroid, the men in suits, and Jay prosecuted on false drug charges. The plot started to drift a bit after that, the various threads spreading so thinly that I wasn’t sure where the story was going. But during the final quarter of the book, the author brings it all back home and does a good job of wrapping it up. So if you started this book and felt that you were getting a bit lost, keep going – it all makes sense at the end.

Through out the tale, the kids do some fantastical things. Granted, two of them have some unusual biological abilities, but that doesn’t give them the ability to win trials or parachute jump successfully or fly airplanes (all on the first try). So I felt certain scenes were definitely stretching my ability to part with sensible reality. I wanted to root for the kids, but I also felt they weren’t truly equipped to do some of the things they accomplished in this book. Plus, many of the adults were written as simple obstacles meant to be pushed over by these young heroes. They didn’t have to struggle too much against the social norms or government system. There you have my one real criticism about this book. So, if you have a great ability to suspend disbelief, then check this book out.

Through out the book were touches of Christian morals and beliefs. I am not Christian, and for the most part, these didn’t bother me, until the last little bit of the book. There, I felt that the author was borderline preachy at points. By that point, I was invested in the book and wanted to see how it all turned out more than I was annoyed by the Christian moral advice. If you are into Christian fiction, then you would probably enjoy this little addition to the storyline.

I felt that Kathy did a good job of rescuing one of the guys as often as she needed rescuing. I would have liked to see more female characters. We have Kathy, her friend Rachel, someone’s mom, and much later in the book a female Navy or military officer. There is a plethora of male characters.

Over all it was an entertaining listen once I suspended by disbelieve and became attached to the two main characters. I also liked the addition of a dolphin later in the story.

Narration: Robert Martinez did a really good job with this story. He had a good range in voices and accents, making it easy to keep track of characters. Also, the characters were often thinking to themselves, so Martinez made the extra effort to put those lines into an internal dialogue sound. There was also a fighter pilot scene and he made it sound like the dialogue was coming over a radio. Very good performance!

a fun teen action/adventure Sci-Fi military

In a small town in Iowa, local nerd Jay Anderson just wants to finish high school and go to college, then medical school. That all changes when a Martian meteorite crashes into the local water supply causing strange symptoms in the local population. Everyone is affected, except for Jay and his lifelong friend Kathy. First Jay is framed for drug charges, his future ruined, then he and Kathy are forced to flee not just their town, but ultimately the country. There are enemies everywhere, even the government; with no one to trust, they can only turn to each other.

This young adult action/adventure story is part alien invasion and part military action. There is also the awkward love story of the two friends deciding if they should move beyond just friendship. The story can get a little farfetched, and the protagonists are almost too lucky to believe, but it makes for a fun ride.

The alien invasion becomes a kind of forgotten backdrop at times, pushed aside by the military adventure. The author is clearly more comfortable describing various kinds of military gear and high-tech transport and steers the story towards a modern spy drama. There is nothing wrong with any of this, just that the science fiction definitely takes a backseat to the war-craft.

This is a lighthearted and quick listen, with enough action and chase scenes to satisfy most action junkies. The teen drama is generally believable and enjoyable. Jay and Kathy are incredibly lucky and seem to have learned just the right knowledge for what they are faced with. It makes for reluctant heroes many of us enjoy.

The story is performed by Robert Martinez, who does a good job with the character voices. They are differentiated well and the accents are believable. The producer uses a subtle echo sound to let us know when they are thinking to themselves. There are other subtle sound effects, very few and not overdone.

The Eighth Day is a fun teen action/adventure Sci-Fi military alien invasion love story. You won’t strain your brain trying to follow the plot. Just sit back and enjoy the ride as everything gets neatly sorted out in the end like a well wrapped present.

Audiobook was provided for review by the author.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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Hard to Believe Action Story

What did you like best about The Eighth Day? What did you like least?

It was full of action and moved at a fast pace.
Many of the situations presented are not plausible and the overall story isn't very believable.
I can suspend disbelief, but only so far.

Any additional comments?

The whole book is a little overwrought. Many scenes are a real stretch to believe and the scenarios explaining them are strained. Two college kids spending several nights outdoors while walking through the mountains with no preparation was a real stretch. Then deciding to fly to Russia to escape the government and under assumed names..?
I think the author tried to pack to much into the book. There are a lot of plot lines and twists and they seem to get lost and confused.

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.