Set in Australia, this is the story of Davey Tran, a Vietnamese refugee, who invents a drug that could possibly have a major impact on immunology. With major investors, Davey is touted as the Golden Boy of medicine, and everything is set for the first phase of a human clinical trial with eight male volunteers.

Davey is supported by the Southcott family while he is growing up, living with them in return for him tutoring their son Miles who is pursuing a tennis career. When this fails Miles turns to medicine with the help from his friend Davey. However Davey also has considerable obligations to his family, his mother Mai and his sister Natalie which he maintains while living with the Southcott family who also provide financial and emotional support to Davey's family.

Just as the clinical trial is about to start, Davey Tran is found dead in mysterious circumstances. Based on a true story, this is a fabulous read told from multiple points of view with smart, sassy language. Despite including complicated medical terminology which is clearly explained without detracting from the narrative, it is a fast-paced page-turner. The only small criticism is that apart from Davey, Miles and Rosa, the characters could have been more clearly described as well as lending them more distinctive voices. But the story is so interesting that the reader is mostly concerned about the plot rather than character exposition. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Today’s featured book is Eight Lives by Susan Hurley and I would like to thank both NetGalley and Affirm Press (the publisher) for providing me with this free e-book in exchange for an honest review. By the second half of the book I couldn’t wait to see what happened next and couldn’t put it down.



So what is this book about?

David Tran is the star of Australian medical research and for good reason. He has just developed a miracle drug that will make a fortune for his investors. But right before human trials of the drug commence David dies in suspicious circumstances. The book follows five of his friends trying to figure out how and why he died.

What I liked . . .

I liked having a glimpse into the world of pharmaceutical development and how much work goes into the medicine we take for granted.
That it had an unexpected ending reached by about three different twists and turns.


What I didn’t like . . .

It wasn’t until Part 2 that I became engaged in the book (but after that I couldn’t put it down).
I think it had too many different perspectives for me to follow easily. (And that was one reason why it took me so long to get into the book.)


Conclusions

My Rating 💭/2 purpose 💭originality 💭/2 engagement

Star Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5

This book was an interesting read that immersed me into the stresses of life in the medical world and also of those who invest in it. It is a medical ‘whydunnit’. So if murder mysteries or medical dramas are your thing, track down a copy either by pre-ordering today or tracking down a copy after its release on the 26th of March.

The premise of this book was interesting - a promising young doctor makes a discovery that might change the world, only to have everything go terribly wrong at the trail period. Unfortunately the book's structure made it difficult to enjoy what should have been a cracking medical thriller.

There are eight different POVs in this book, and while a couple of them were distinctive, the others blurred into one another, making it difficult to remember who each character was and what role they played in the story. And it took so long to actually get into the story because each of these people had to introduce themselves before anything actually happened.

The other thing that bugged me was the amount of jargon used. Yes, I know this is a medical thriller, and there is a certain amount of information that a reader needs to understand the facts, but there was far too much here. It started feeling like the author wanted us to know she's an expert in this field.

Overall, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. It took me quite a long time to read, which is unlike me, and I think that didn't help with keeping up with what was going on and who was doing what. But if you like slow-burning thrillers, it might be your cup of tea.

It takes some talent to tell a story about medical research studies and the risks/impacts it has on the human body. Then amongst the medical jargon to throw in side stories of refugees, corporate crime, domestic violence, animal rights and being a vegan. To her credit, Susan Hurley has produced an enlightening insight into what can go wrong in the world of pharmaceutical and medical testing. Her characters are a mixture of the likeable, the gullible, the greedy, the egotistical and the evil. A well rounded collection of individuals who make the book and it's story very real.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher (Affirm Press) for granting me an ARC of this title, which is due to be published on 26 March 2019.
The plot unfolds from the perspectives of five individuals who are each closely connected with the untimely and tragic death of brilliant Vietnamese-Australian immunologist David (Dung) Tran. The nature of his death only becomes apparent by about the half-way point of the book, and is closely tied to his groundbreaking research into a "SuperMAB". (By way of explanation, MAB is the acronym for monoclonal antibody, an extraordinary class of pharmaceutical which are able to specifically target antigens and stimulate immune responses at a molecular level in some autoimmune or inflammatory dieases and certain types of cancers).
While the author was very effective in presenting the quite complex science in a format that was accessible to a non-scientist reader like myself, my feeling is that #EightLives would be most appreciated by readers who have a general interest in medical science and a basic understanding of how the human immune system works. Personally, I found the scientific and medical information contained deftly within the plot absolutely fascinating.
The plot revolves around the often fraught intersection between scientific research for the benefit of mankind and the "big pharma" interests who seek to commercialise these discoveries. The rigorous ethical context within which animal and human trials take place can become clouded by issues of budget, marketing and reputation.
Another major plotline explores David (Dung)'s experience as one of a wave of "boat people" refugees who arrived in Australia in the aftermath of the Vietnam war. As an extraordinarily bright high-school student, he is drawn into the world of Melbourne's private school elite, where opportunity beckons, but he remains to a large extent socially excluded. He maintains an uneasy relationship between his dual identities, adulation as the high flying David and obligation as the frequently absent son and brother Dung (pronounced "Yoong"). While the future looks bright, his past in Vietnam and Hong Kong are somewhat clouded.
I found the structure of the book, whereby elements of the story are gradually revealed from the quite disparate perspectives of the five narrators, was successful in maintaining suspense while also building empathy for the challenges each face in their own lives and in navigating the relationship they have to David and his research. Some of these voices are necessarily more sympathetic than others, and perhaps that's where the reader brings their own background, experience and prejudices to the table.
Overall, I found this a thought-provoking and stimulating read, and would recommend it thoroughly to those readers who enjoy a complex personal drama and like to pick up a little new techical understanding along the way. #NetGalley #EightLives

Eight Lives by Susan Hurley is a medical mystery loosely based on a tragic real life story. It tells the story of former refugee David Tran, who develops a highly sophisticated treatment for a multitude of immune system disorders. Set to make him and his investors very wealthy, all seems golden for this golden boy, so what on earth made him decide to carry out the first trial on himself? When it ends in tragedy, his family, friends, colleagues and girlfriend are left to try to work out what happened and why, and as each of their perspectives give us more of the full story we learn that there may be a lot more to his death than suspected.
While the story has a tragic real life basis I could not fail to be impressed by the amount of research into the field of immunology and monoclonal antibodies , and the process involved in getting a new drug through trials and into use, that the author has done. I work in the pharmaceutical field, and take a similar type drug for an autoimmune disorder, and I could not fault the science described in the book. I also thought that it was really well explained in a way that most people would find easy to understand, which is important as it is essential to the story.
The use of multiple perspectives was really well handled, each character was written with a distinctive voice or style that made them stand apart from the others, a very important skill when so many voices are telling parts of the same story. The use of these narrators to gradually unveil the full story worked very well, Also the characters displayed a range of morality , and the differing degrees of their relationship to David gave us a great overall perspective . It's always fun to know more that the narrator, and since each of these voices know almost nothing of the other aspects of the story they speculate along with the reader.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Eight Lives by Susan Hurley was an interesting read. The story was good but there was so much medical jargon that I found myself getting a bit bored. I get that it is a medical book but some of it was just a bit over the top. There was also so many characters to try to keep track of that at times it hard to keep up. Overall I enjoyed this book but it is one that I loved. In saying that I did red it quickly.

It tells the story of David Tran, a former refugee who is now the golden boy of Australian medicine. He has invented a wonder drug that is going to change the world. But as the first trial on humans is set to start David dies under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly everybody in his life - family, friends and colleagues are all under scrutiny and they all have a motive. Was David really as wonderful and he was made out to be? And who wanted him dead.

Thanks to Affirm Press and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

A thriller set in the fascinating, high-stakes world of immunotherapy drug research sounds like winner but "Eight Lives" is more a multi-character drama and it suffers from a busy plot that is modulated confusingly. Don't get me wrong, there is much to like here, and if the topic zings for you, as it did for me, this debut novel is an engaging read. The milieu of pharma drug testing is interesting and the background of immigration offers an interesting twist. The basic plotline - a refugee surgeon who invents a new wonder drug dies a baffling death that ignites a quest for the truth - is sound but Hurley tells the tale through five interlocking characters, with such copious ongoing explanation, that the exoskeleton of the plot blurs, as does tension. The convolutions at the end would serve a better book well. Flawed but a topical diversion.

David Tran is dead. The young doctor was poised to revolutionize immunology with his miracle drug, but just as the first clinical trial is set to begin, he dies under mysterious circumstances. Eight Lives begins in the aftermath as those close to Tran recount their intertwined histories, trying to piece together the truth of this tragedy, unprepared for the secrets they'll uncover about the "Golden Boy" of Australian medicine.

Eight Lives is Susan Hurley's debut novel, and what an spectacular debut it is. One of the aspects of this novel that captured me the most was the technical detail interwoven. Fear not, the impeccable pacing isn't slowed a bit. Instead Hurley enhances every turn of the plot with expertise, her decades of experience in medical research shining through as she shines light on an industry so vital, but so little known.

But this is more than a thoroughly researched thriller, Eight Lives is woven together with incredible precision. The story is told from the perspectives of David's sister, his childhood friend, his lab assistant, his long-time girlfriend, and a "fixer" employed by his investors. Their stories, though many of them have nothing in common besides their relation to David, come together elegantly. Each holds a crucial piece to the puzzle and it is a thrill to watch realizations coalesce between parties that are, at times, completely at odds with one another. The truth of David's death comes together slowly and painstakingly. It took my breath away as the truth was finally realized and Eight Lives has been in my thoughts for days since I finished. I'm certain this is one of those books you'll have to read twice to truly appreciate.

I received my copy of Eight Lives from Affirm Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Cover art courtesy of Affirm Press.

Eight Lives by Susan Hurley is the based on a true story of a drug trial gone bad.

David Tran is the centre character. He is the “Golden Boy” who developed a miracle drug that can cure many incurable diseases. But when something goes wrong and David dies. Many blame themselves for his death.

This tale is told through five different characters. I found them all very relate able and likeable. They each give us their side of the story of what could have happened to David.

I enjoyed reading this book very much. I loved how even the hardest concepts in Immunology was explained so well that even a simple person like me who has never worked or studied medicine could understand.

Thanks to Netgalley and Publishers Affirm Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Wow, what a book! Clever yet immensely accessible, written in a fresh voice (or is it voices?) of very diverse characters - no matter whose head you're in, you like that character, even if it's only for the duration of their narrative. A psychological thriller, a why-dunnit, call it what you will, but be sure to read it. Un.Put.Down.Able.

I'm sorry to report that I could not finish this book. I read 25% of it and was....well..bored, sorry to say. There were so many POV's that I found the shifts between them jolting where they should be smooth and seamless. I couldn't care about any of the characters, not even the Golden Boy doctor who came across as some sort of medical god.

The premise was intriguing - a dodgy medical trial and a dead doctor prodigy - and if you like medical thrillers I would suggest giving it a go. But I felt smothered by the medical and legal particulars - and I am no dummy! - but they were delivered in a dry, matter-of-fact kind of way.

Maybe it improves further along. It certainly has positive reviews, but unfortunately for me there was no connection.

Copy received from Affirm Press via Netgalley for an honest review

Eight Lives is an intriguing story, based on a true story.

At first the medical jargon (there is a bit of it, but not unexpected with the author's background) can feel a bit overwhelming, however we are given plenty of explanation so it should not be a barrier for readers.

We are told the story through many sets of eyes, however they all have distinct voices, so whilst it could be easy to get lost in them all, this reader didn't.

when the "golden boy" of Australian medical research dies, it sets the wheels in motion and will have the reader wondering if these drug trials are worth it in the end?

Some of the descriptions can get a bit icky, so it may not be for every one to read.

i did find the first half and all the set up did drag a bit, however once that was out of the way the story took off and it was one heck of a ride, that would not always take us where we thought it would.

This story is a bit confronting, however I could not put it down once it got going.

An imaginative and elaborate tale, with all loose ends tied up by the final page. The first half of the book moved quite slowly, but the context was intriguing enough that I kept with it and the pace did pick up towards the end. It was refreshing to find a more diverse cast of characters than usual and the research, thought and creativity needed to tell the story from so many angles does shine through. That said, individually (with the exception of Miles), the personalities were a little too one-dimensional and the clipped, first-person narrative style came across to me as a bit forced, which distracted from an otherwise rich and engaging storyline.

Review also posted on Goodreads.

Wow I had no idea what to expect from this book, and I loved it!

The story surrounds the development of a super drug by a brilliant young doctor, Dung (or David) Tran. It follows the viewpoints of multiple characters, including Tran's lab assistant, girlfriend, best friend, and more. I enjoyed the different viewpoints, especially Rosa and Miles, as I thought they were given the most interesting parts to tell.
I know nothing about the creation of new drugs, and the book is extremely detailed in explaining how they work, which you can imagine would be quite boring but actually I found it really digestible. The author managed to make it understandable for the non-medically inclined.

The book builds anticipation really well, and there were many twists that you just couldn't have guessed. I felt like the first half of the book moved a little slowly for me, but the second half was gripping. Since finishing this book I've read all about the drug trial this story is inspired by, and wow so interesting!

Definitely worth a read!!

This is a little bit different than the books I normally read, so I wasn't sure if it would capture me. While the first half moved a little slowly, the contents were so necessary in order to truly set up the second half of the book. I felt like the author did a great job of outlining and educating the reader on the necessary terminology, and the development on how each character related to the story was well done. By the time I got to the second half of the book, I had no idea how it was going to end. I was hanging on to every word until the end. I would definitely recommend this read to others.

David Tran, a Vietnamese refugee who grew up in Australia to become a doctor is the "Golden Boy" of Biomedical Research. He's developed a powerful immunotherapy, a super drug that shows a lot of promise and could be used to treat a number of diseases including cancer. He's completed all the laboratory work and the pre-clinical testing in rats to show that it works and now he's on the verge of starting a phase one clinical trial, which will test the safety of the drug in eight healthy people. If successful the drug will go on to clinical trials to treat a range of diseases and make a lot of people very rich. But something goes badly wrong and David dies.

Told from the viewpoint of David's friends, relatives and business associates this is a multifaceted mystery. Each of the narrators sheds a different light on the tragedy and their role in it. Not many of the characters are very likeable and don't have David's best interests at heart but that just adds to layers of the story. The novel is well written and the medical basis of the drug well explained in simple terms. The underlying motive for David's death is revealed at the end and may be confronting for some readers. I very much enjoyed this debut medical mystery from Susan Hurley and hope she goes on to write further novels of this type.

This read has quite a bit of medical jargon in it due to the author’s experience in medical research. Fortunately most of it includes explanations as part of the dialogue and should not be a hindrance to non medic readers. All the characters are in the first person giving accounts of their relationships with Dr Tran and their involvement with the events that unfolded. The story is comprehensive and it is a good read, although it seemed a little bit like a powerpoint presentation. All the characters are colourful and diverse. The ending is disturbing and could have been edited out. It would have left Mai’s and Dr Tran’s illness diagnosed but not resolved. The author’s role is not necessarily to conclude all elements and in this instance most readers would accept the obvious ending.
I love the cultural mix of this read and the Australian vernacular which may have some international readers startled. The description “Fairweather Friends” a terminology used a lot in the past but doesn't seem to be in much use today, however it does ideally describe some acquaintances.
Dung/ Dr Tran/Davey is thought of amongst his colleagues as a Wonder Boy, a medical research doctor/professor, a Vietnamese refugee who in his early life in Australia has been lucky to attract a rich Australian benefactor, Sally Southcott who takes him under her wing. Son Miles Southcott is not particularly impressed at first with his mother's “cause”, however with young Davey’s reserved personality and high intelligence it's not long before Miles accepts his new bro. After his failed tennis pro endeavours Miles completes his own medical training and becomes an Admitting Officer at the hospital. He appears to be a bit of a flake throughout the story until the end when he does change for the better.
Rosa Giannini has returned to live in the isolated community over 100kms from Melbourne with Aunt Frankie and Uncle Pep after a relationship breakup and from where she commutes each day to the laboratory, she is a budding scientist looking to be accepted as a PhD entrant but after an unfortunate incident with one of her experiments she is tossed out. Dr Tran throws her a lifeline by involving her in his new wonder drug. This new drug Eight shows all the signs of being a huge success, however as with all things of this nature large monetary investment is needed. Charlie Cunningham, provides the investment through his father's wealth. However Charlie is an all round failure, typical offspring of rich parents. To cover his losses from a previous bad investment he manipulates the financial structure of his involvement with the Eight drug. In the meantime Rosa undertakes secret investigations into Eight, disclosing her concerns to Dr Tran. To add to the mix a standover man from Mai’s (Davey's ma?) past is causing trouble for her and her daughter, Natalie. Davey, Dr Tran has always taken care of Mai and Natalie. Mai’s and Davey’s escape from Vietnam reveals a time of extreme hardship with sad and terrible experiences. Combined with the manipulative financial changes, Rosa's concerns and family secrets revealed Dr Davey Tran makes a life threatening decision.

‘Golden Boy, that’s what we called him.’

As a child, Dung (David) Tran was a refugee from Vietnam. He and his mother were among those who undertook the perilous trip to Australia by boat. As an adult, Dr David Tran has become known as the Golden Boy of Australian medical research. He’s invented a drug which could transform immunology. But, just after eight volunteers have been recruited for the first human trial of the drug, David dies in very unusual circumstances.

What has happened, and why?

The story is told to us by five of David’s family, friends and business associates. Each of them must carry some responsibility for his death but finding out how (and why) takes a reader on a complicated journey. And you’ll need to pay attention because there are more than a few twists in this tale. This is not a book for the squeamish: details of some of the procedures involved in drug trials are upsetting. It’s the kind of reading that may have you questioning whether the costs involved in developing and trialling drugs justify the benefits.

The origin of this novel was in a real drug trial that ended in tragedy. This may have been Ms Hurley’s starting point, but there are several other issues covered in the novel. It took me a while to get into the novel (reading multiple perspectives often slows me down) but once I had the voices straight, I found it very hard to put the novel down.

And the mystery of David’s death? You’ll need to read to the very end to find that out.
I enjoyed this novel, although I found some aspects quite confronting.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Affirm Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

I got an email about this from Netgalley and of course I requested it immediately. Unfortunately though there was just something about it that didn't sit right with me. I can't pinpoint what it was but there was just something.
I"d be interested in reading from this author again though!