In the second book in the Extinction Agenda series, Special Agent James Mason is still on the trail of 'the Thirteen' and an engineered virus that could kill millions of people if it is ever released. But it becomes obvious that the departments of government involved, including the FBI, have been infiltrated by people who want to make sure he doesn't succeed in his mission. It's impossible for Mason to tell his friends from his enemies, or just whom he can trust, including his new partner, SA Jessica Layne. Mason wishes the bad guys still wore black hats.

This is a very exciting thriller that is timely in its topic. But what sets it apart is the monster at the heart of the story who seems to have a personal agenda apart from causing the mass destruction of most of the world's population. Thankfully Mace has close friends with considerable skills who help him by digging deep for clues from the past. Always look for the motive as well as 'who benefits.'

Oh sure, Michael Laurence occasionally makes use of some trite thriller scenarios to help build the dramatic tension in the story but the book is still quite entertaining so I'll overlook them. We hear so much about conspiracy theories these days...what if some are true?? Ha! Good luck sleeping tonight!

I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

I really enjoyed this book! I actually haven’t read the first book of the series because I didn’t realize it was a series but it turned out to still be good without it. The book was a little too “secret service” feel than I’m used to but it read almost like a movie which I really enjoyed! The authors writing style was very good.

Deadly nerve gas, far reaching conspiracies, and a lethal countdown to a new year... That's what you can expect in this follow up to The Extinction Agenda. I truly thought this was a great sequel and continued many of the elements from the first one. I love Mason and seeing his growth, along with his cast of supporting characters. Definitely an action packed page turner and not for the faint of heart.

ARC given from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I read the first book in this series, The Extinction Agenda, back-to-back with this one. That is, I started this one within hours after I had finished Extinction, a bit grumpy because I had spent so much time on it and felt so little reward.

Second verse, same as the first, except the Annihilation Protocol is even longer than its prequel.

It's frustrating because Michael Laurence can write -- so why does everything have to be so superficial and exaggerated? Chapter One was over the top, and I don't mean that in a good way. It was extreme, yes, but in a caricaturish fashion, suggesting the characters would be even less realistic in volume two of the series than in volume 1. Oh, dear.

Plowing on, nothing hooked me. It's not that it wasn't good enough. It's that there was too much. I like conspiracy plots. I don't expect thrillers to be literary. I do, however, like complicated characters, both villains and heroes. And I'm turned off by the superficial, in dialogue, motivations and historical treatment.

There was a character near the end who said, "I still can't wrap my head around the idea that we're dealing with an overarching plot spanning four generations." 810 pages later -- Me either, honey.

This is a thriller deeply-rooted in science fiction and horror, which makes sense given that the author has published previously (under another name) in both those genres. In an interview with a local newspaper, he said he had created the Michael Laurence pseudonym because “I accumulated a little baggage with my given name. I put out a lot of books; not all of them have been successful.”

He hopes, the reporter said, "that this series will be a fresh start, some 15 years in the making."

God bless him, I hope so, too. But I'm not planning to take a stab at the planned volume 3 of the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance readers copy.

This book had me hooked from the first chapter. I haven't read book one yet, but now I need to. I wish I had realized it was book two before I started reading, but this book was amazing on its own. I'm excited to go back and read the first book now and I added Laurence to my follow list so that I can keep an eye out for his future work. I'm really excited to see what he is going to come up with next.

This was a fast-paced, intriguing read that kept me wondering what was coming next. An amazing premise and characters. I felt like I knew them and was along for the wild ride. There are some incredible elements to this story that really make it feel like you are a part of it. It is so well written at times I felt like I was watching a movie instead of reading.

I can't wait to see what Laurence comes up with next.

5 Stars!

How Life does imitate Art! The first book of this series. THE EXTINCTION AGENDA, posited the eventual (read: soon) deployment of a flu virus worse than the Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918. Reading reminders of such a tragedy being planned and initiated by an evil Secret Society, while real life is several months into the Coronavirus pandemic, loss of life, and economic disruption. Yet author Michael Laurence has even more terrors waiting in the wings: a nerve gas so potent that literally millions of the global population would die in seconds. While sort-of rogue FBI Special Agent James Mason continues his life quest to expose and end "The Thirteen," another evil mastermind works behind the scenes, against The Thirteen, but with the goal also of eradicating millions.


THE ANNIHILATION PROTOCOL is literally nonstop in-your-face horror, gore, and terror, truly "Who can you trust?" twists and red herrings while the doomsday clock speeds toward global oblivion.

The Annihilation Protocol is the second in a series but could be read as a standalone novel. It's a fast past thrill ride that jumps right into the action from the first page. FBI Agent James Mason and his childhood friends are right back in the thick of investigating a shadowy, Illuminati-esque group called The Thirteen. When it appears that The Thirteen are on the verge of releasing a chemical warfare agent upon the world. Mason and his new partner are investigating the case when they stumble upon a bizarre crime scene that further complicates the investigation.

The Annihilation Protocol is a tighter plot than Extinction Agenda was and the story benefits from that - it seamlessly weaves together history, science, and conspiracy theory in a fast paced plot that is reminiscent of Dan Brown or James Rollins's novels.

Michael Laurence has found his rhythm with the plot and the epilogue left me eager to read the next in the series. I highly recommend The Annihilation Protocol for fans of well-researched and historically tied thrillers like those of James Rollins, Dan Brown, and Steve Berry.

Wow! I really enjoyed the first book in this series (The Extinction Agenda), and this book picks up right where that one ends. Laurence's storytelling is so rich and full of detail. He created characters you will cheer on and others you will loathe. You will believe in conspiracy theories. Definitely read the first book before you read this one. If you like stories with ancient secret societies, you need to add this book/series to your library - you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Somewhat of a lie there as I did not finish this book. Like others I was behind in that I did not read the first book in the series. I want my authors to catch my interest from the get-go and this did not happen here. Do not tell me I have to read a third of the book to get interested.

Lots of imagination no contact with reality

This is a tale, and series, that is like those stories little kids playing with toys make up. They have a plane and the plane can fly faster than anything else, and the guys who fly the plane are super soldiers. The plane has a gun in the nose, and a gun in the back, and it is attacked by a hundred other planes, but the pilot can swoop and spin and the super soldiers with the guns shoot down all the other planes, and then XXX happens far away so the plane becomes a rocket and takes the super soldiers to the XXX and saves everyone, and then the plane becomes invisible and takes the super soldiers to YYY, and… You get the idea. " The Annihilation Protocol" is part of a series about super soldiers in the FBI saving everyone from a centuries old group of evildoers who release horrific diseases to evil ends.

I think this kind of writing is stupid but loads of people like it.

THE ANNIHILATION PROTOCOL by Michael Laurence is a thriller with a conspiracy angle. It is the second book in the Extinction Agenda series and picks up immediately after the end of book one: THE EXTINCTION AGENDA. This series should be read in order. FBI Special Agent James Mason and a multi-jurisdictional team are after someone with enough nerve gas to kill millions. Who can be trusted? Who is behind the threat? Where is the nerve gas? Who will survive?

This book has a bit of historical fiction in it that adds to its appeal to me. Additionally, the story line was very complex with several sub-plots and some very graphic, horrifying scenes. James Mason was a fascinating character and we saw little more depth and insight into his personality. The supporting characters were an odd assortment that enhanced the story line and the addition of a new FBI partner with a larger role added a new dimension to the book. There was enough at stake to keep me engaged throughout the book. The world-building was absolutely fantastic and gave a clear sense of time and place. While the main mystery and issues were resolved in the book, there are several open threads for future books in the series.

Overall, the plot was absorbing and well-paced with lots of action and a twist at the end. I would recommend it to those that enjoy complex conspiracy-driven thrillers. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Michael Laurence for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

It started off a bit confusing because I didn’t read book 1, making this book feel slow and dull initially. And then about 30% of the way in, the pace picked up, ratcheting up the suspense. Mason’s teammates made the book more entertaining with their one liners. A solid 3 star book for me, but it might have been closer to 4 stars if I had read book 1 first.


Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the arc.

Special FBI agent James Mason is immersed in a complex and dangerous investigation involving both chemical and biological agents ... at stake our the lives of millions ... not only in the U.S. but across the globe. Even his own organization has been infiltrated with operatives of a shadowy cabal that has its origin many generations ago. The syndicate of the Thirteen families reaches back nearly three and half centuries. There is turmoil and juggling for power amongst the family heads.... the one known as Secundus hopes to rise to ultimate power by releasing a bioengineered virus upon the world that will devastate the globe. He will then reap billions in revenue with his already manufactured vaccine. And, as a direct result will be elevated to Primus. But, instead the altered dynamics has led to a virtual free-for-all for supremacy. ... with complex machinations amongst the others. Mason must locate and retrieve a cache of the notorious Novichok A-234 .... an upgrade of the German created sarin gas. ... which has an increased efficacy and stability over its volatile nerve gas precursor. The Thirteen has insinuated itself not only into the government but also multiple law enforcement agencies. Agent Mason utilizes a band of diverse and amazingly competent friends to thwart the cabal. He is aware their goal is to cull the world population to a size that could more easily be controlled and ruled ... swoop in with a "cure" and assume the role of savior , rather than oppressor.
Laurence spins a complex and twisted narrative ... chock full of scientific and political details, while the body count rises along with the unraveling of a suspenseful and dramatic denouement. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. ( at readersremains.com )

And BAM! We are dropped into the action that hits the ground running! If you are looking to relax into a good book, THE ANNIHILATION PROTOCOL by Michael Laurence is not relaxation material, but it IS VERY GOOD! FBI Agent James Mason and his unlikely hero cohorts may be all that stands in the way of a plot to control the world through systematic releasing of a lethal nerve gas in every major city across the globe.

Who can he trust besides his truly unique friends as New York becomes ground zero for the mysterious monster known as the Scarecrow? Who is pulling the Scarecrow’s strings? Have the Thirteen found a way to achieve total domination?

Filled with non-stop action, detailed scenes and characters that border on comic book superheroes, I have to say, I really enjoyed this edge-of-your-seat read! Looking for dark conspiracies? Prepared for the good guys to be a little tarnished? Want to feel what is happening in your gut? Michael Laurence has outdone himself with this one! It will have you wondering just what is going on in the shadows as you live your blindly “normal” life, because, "What if...?"

I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Press! This is my honest and voluntary review.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series - I read it last year when it was on here and gave it five enthusiastic stars. I remember falling into the story straight away and not being released from its pull until the very last page was turned. And even then, I wrote in my review that I couldn't wait to see where things were going next.

This time around I really struggled tho, and the story from the first is not fresh enough in my mind to know if it's a difference in approach and detail (which was my initial feeling) or simply a result of the different state of mind I find myself in as a result of the differing state of the world right now.

I have seen other reviewers say they did not read the first book and didn't think you had to because the author gave plenty of background and detail in this one. I disagree with that. I read the first one, and only a year ago, and I still found myself struggling to remember the relationships between the characters and the details of the conspiracy and events it describes. As a result, I found myself struggling to keep up almost from the opening pages of this one. The characters, the plots - they're very involved and it is the untangling of the webs surrounding them that makes the revelation of the conspiracy so intriguing. When you feel like you are floundering to keep track of all of those connections, it makes a read like this much more difficult I think. Frankly I could have done with a two-page synopsis of the high points of the first book and the relationships it described. Unfortunately that wasn't included here.

I found this one a slower-going read entirely, and also struggled to find my way into the story this time around. As I say though, I'm not sure if that is me as a reader or the book. The world is a very different place than it was a year ago, and conspiracy theories about the release of pandemic agents or nerve gas resonate on a different frequency now than they used to, and I have found that as a reader I have a tougher time with books in that genre lately than I ever have before.

Still, this was not my favorite and I almost couldn't believe it was the follow-up to a book I reviewed so positively last year... As a result I netted out at only the stars this time, and frankly am not sure if I'll go on to the third book - or at least not if it follows straight away.

The book is indicated as being a follow-up to a previous novel by the author titled "The Extinction Agenda". There are references to events depicted in that book that are referred to in the current one. From the point of view of the current excellent read I am sorry that I did not know about that one to start. The Annihilation Protocol begins as James Mason, a special agent of the FBI and his crew narrowly prevent a global pandemic and are immediately thrust into the possibility of an attack utilizing nerve gas killing millions. Clues to this possibility are found in the bodies of impaled victims found in New York's Central park as well as corpses discovered hidden behind walled in areas. Mason and his team realize that a killer known as the "Scarecrow" has plans to use the gas as a means of murdering the entire population of New York city. Moreover, the Scarecrow has ties to a centuries old group of individuals known as the 13. Since their inception this group has manipulated world events, toppled governments and has become more powerful than any government.
As Mason begins his investigations to stop the use of the nerve gas by capturing or killing the Scarecrow, he encounters opposition by the full force of the U.S. Department of Homeland security which indicates that they will handle the entire investigation. Mason and his team must stand down and just keep themselves available in the event that their help is asked for. He and his team obey that restraining order for the few seconds it takes them to walk out of the door where their meeting with DHS takes places. Their search is one involving continuous action and personal danger. The descriptions ensure a very compelling read and one which will keep the reader glued to the novel for as long as it takes to finish it.
The novel contains several very graphic descriptions of the victims of the Scarecrow. They are such that readers should be prepared for them, with the caveat that they are used as indications of the type of monster that is being dealt with. With this my recommendation for the book is for the reader to enter into a mesmerizing novel and when finished await the next outing of James Mason and his group.

This is a very wide spread thriller. You find a lot of elements from James Bond, Dan Brown and along with perhaps a Tom Clancy. But overall, the story is very convoluted and confusing. At time hard to separate the important characters from the ones of little importance. For my personal taste the story is too widely spread to remain thrilling throughout. I think Michael Laurence has a great future as a writer, but he still needs to ripen a little bit.

This is a very complex thriller that is considerably more engaging than most published today. A word of warning... Even though I read predecessor novel, The Extinction Agenda, shortly before I read this one, it was still nearly a third of the way into the book before I had the huge cast of characters figured out again. There is virtually no reintroduction of any of them, and someone starting with this title will be very confused. If you do, press on because it is worth the effort. One of the main features that distinguishes this book from most others is the large, well-drawn, believable and sympathetic ensemble of characters. The good guys, that is. The bad guys are suitably greedy, evil and downright creepy in a couple of cases. I would have liked to have been able to read this in one sitting, but there are only 24 hours in a day. I am very much looking forward to the next installment.

I am the kind of reader who likes to read books in a series chronologically. Some writers are excellent at not referring too much on past books in the series in case the reader had jumped into the series at a later stage. The publisher's marketing people - as well as quite a few other Goodreads reviewers of the book - had let me know that reading this book - number two in Michael Laurence's Extinction Agenda series - was a book that could be read more or less independently from the first in the series. Well, I soon realized that I strongly disagree with that notion. Yes, there are many pages spent on telling about the super important events in book 1, but still I felt like I was joining a vacation that everybody else in the party had been taking part in for weeks before I arrived. The story development and how the characters knew each other and were bound by past experiences just made me feel like I had too much to catch up on while at the same time hanging on to the new developments of book 2. That resulted in me struggling quite a bit in the first third of the book - even having me reconsider numerous times whether reading book 2 before book 1 was such a great idea.
Grumpy chronological reader comments aside, the book is a super well crafted thriller with credible plot twists and turns, good detective work, cyber geeks extraordinaire, super evil villains, and blurring lines between who is good or bad. Especially the last third of the book is super exciting as the protagonists are fighting the clock without knowing how much time they have left, while at the same time avoiding being sidelined from the investigation due to an inter-agency pissing contest.
Four big stars!

This was a decent conspiracy novel... Very much like the original - lots of stories within the story and they are always changing.

Our three main characters from the first book are back and still strong. The introduction of Agent Layne was a nice rounding to the team's personality. You will learn a lot of chemical terms and ideas with this story! Science lovers should enjoy that tidbit. The twist ending was quite surprising, lots of action, and a more clear picture about who the bad guys actually were.

Overall, I felt the book could have focused on one main plot and it would have given the reader more structure, bringing more depth but maybe not as much volume.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.