When a team of charity workers in rural China suddenly succumbs to a mysterious illness, Nick Foley, an ex-Navy SEAL with a war-torn past, discovers the makings of a global catastrophe.
Still reeling from a mission gone wrong, Nick is reluctant to get back in the game, but with lives hanging in the balance, he must fight to uncover the truth and overcome his own demons. Along for the ride is Dr. Chen Dazhong, a brilliant, beautiful, and tough scientist with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Together, they unveil the outbreak's unsettling ties to the Chinese government--and a conspiracy greater than either could have ever imagined.
As the trail of death leads from village to village, Chen and Foley must race against timeand geopoliticsto thwart an enemy too small to see in James Bradley's debut thrillerBeijing Red.
Industry Reviews
Kirkus Starred Review 02/18/2016 "A fast-moving, tense biothriller set in China. Nick Foley is a 28-year-old former Navy SEAL and combat medic who decides that life is "about stewardship, doing something good with the body and mind." This leads him to do volunteer work on an irrigation project in western China. While he helps dig ditches, a local Uyghur suddenly contracts a horrible disease and dies a grotesque death. Surprisingly to Foley, the illness is not contagious. Soon he's quarantined and interrogated by the Snow Leopards, a Chinese counterterrorism unit investigating the possibility of bioterrorism. They know about Foley's past and suspect him of working for the U.S. government. With them is Dr. Chen "Dash" Dazhong, who is, of course, beautiful, of China's Center for Disease Control. She quickly realizes she can work with Foley to help solve the mystery. Were the disease--if that's what it is--viral or bacterial, it would trigger an epidemic, but this appears to be targeted. They speculate they've witnessed an untraceable weapon being tested in remote China, where supposedly no one cares about the victims. Meanwhile, Maxim Polakov is a Russian spy running a Chinese asset code-named Prizrak. Polakov is very interested in an "entirely new class of weapon" that could kill millions and make him a hero of the new Russia. A number of people die, including a good friend of Dash's. Details aren't for the squeamish--eyes turn to "gelatinous goo"--but all the violence advances the story. Foley and Dash had better get to the bottom of this menace because it has a 100 percent mortality rate, and the ultimate bad guy says "I am going to turn Beijing red" with his opponents' blood. An exciting showdown takes place in Beijing's Underground City, a real Cold War creation of Mao Zedong. A terrific tale for fans of the genre. "Hopefully this first novel to feature ex-Navy SEAL Nick Foley is only the beginning of a long series... Fine reading for fans of special-ops and contagion-driven thrillers" --Booklist "Alex Ryan has masterfully created a plot that can one day actually happen to us if not already happening. The frightening realization is terrifying. I couldn't put this novel down until I read it all." --San Francisco Book Review, 5 out of 5 stars "Alex Ryan's Beijing Red is another compelling thriller of an action/adventure novel from the pen of a true master of the genre." --Midwest Book Review "This heart-pounding adventure...is a major thrill ride that takes chances and is the better for it." --Mystery Scene "Smart and entertaining, a timely tale built around a resilient hero." --Kansas City Star "Beijing Red is like a full-throttle joyride without seatbelts. From the first page to the last, it never lets up. The terrifying technology seems all too real. Great plot, compelling characters all told with a master's touch. Outstanding." --John Gilstrap, author of Friendly Fire and the Jonathan Grave thriller series "Taut, fast-moving... Bursting with the urgency of a 'Breaking News' news flash. If this book feels like it takes you right inside the Op room, it's because it was written by guys in the Op room!" --Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author of One Mile Under "Beijing Red is a compelling, fast-paced and absolutely gripping military thriller. Alex Ryan's fascinating and unique story provides a realistic view of life as a former Navy SEAL living and operating in unknown and dangerous territory, dealing with the intricacies of the Chinese government. I highly recommend this book to anyone in military or anybody looking for a fantastic read." --Don D. Mann, retired SEAL Team SIX member and New York Times bestselling author "Beijing Red is a prescient, timely, and all too plausible tale of a world gone mad. Alex Ryan's startling debut proves an masterful mix of Tom Clancy and the great Vince Flynn with just enough Brad Thor sprinkled in for good measure. This is high stakes, high action at its level best and an absolute must for all thriller fans. A major debut!" --Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of Strong Light of Day "Great read, a former SEAL Team member tells the story as only someone who has 'been there and done that' can tell it." --Howard Wasdin, New York Times bestselling author of SEAL Team Six "Beijing Red hits like a fire alarm, warning of a threat that feels all too real. The authors' in-depth knowledge is pressed into every page. Mesmerizing." --Ward Larsen, USA Today bestselling author of Assassin's Game "A bioterrorism thriller that rings with authenticity from page one. The authors' real-world experience and expertise shine through in each scene. Beijing Red offers up a fictional threat that's all too believable." --Tom Young, author of The Mullah's Storm, Sand and Fire, and The Hunters.
