Mutation

The extensive bibliography at the back of the book both reflects the amount of research that Roy Hunt has undertaken and also poises in the reader's mind how near to reality (if not somewhere hidden away already realised) is the central prognosis of the book that genetically modified bacteria produced for commercial purposes can mutate with deadly consequences into an entity. The book begins on the real Lough Ree in Roscommon central Ireland on a May day in 1997 where Marcus Fee is preparing to commit suicide but just before he commits his final act he sees flames and black smoke on the loch and steers his craft towards this.

The story then goes back via Havana the previous year and then 5 days earlier to to the nearby textile plant on the loch's edge where the central character crane operator Mark Coles is lifting an aerator when a sudden violent storm with thunder and lightening commences. With an obvious reference to Mary Shelly the lightening causes a reaction with the contents of what Mark is lifting leading to the formed creation (monster, mutation) escaping into the nearby waters of Loch Ree which will have fatal consequences for anyone coming into contact with it.

As the story continues and the body count increases we get to discover exactly what has been going on and how corporate greed and lack of environmental control in some countries is enabling such dangerous abominations the possibility to come into existence. Once the story gets going and the main action on the loch takes place with the baddie unmasked it certainly becomes quite gripping and there is also an added supernatural element that is added in keeping with the folklore and myths of this isolated waterway. The ending certainly leaves open the possibility of a sequel in another location and leaves the reader strongly supportive of the need for environmental vigilance and protection.

An environmental horror with a few gruesome deaths along the way, this certainly had me entertained. The cover sets the tone of the book and is quite graphic and enticing too.

I really enjoyed the underlining theme/message of genetic engineering. It is scary to think that something like this could ACTUALLY happen. I really enjoy horror and I especially like it when it takes from actual events or current events. It makes it believable...which makes it scare the crap out of me.

What a cracker of a debut novel. Mark Coles is a self-employed crane driver setting out on what he thinks will be just another working day. A haunted night’s sleep and shocking weather don’t deter him from the importance of getting the job done. On the job he sees the shape of something ominous escape from his toolbox and attempts to track it down before something major occurs. Teaming up with an engineer called Derek he discovers they are dealing with genetically modified bacteria which has far reaching implications for the environment.
It was a joy to get to know each character and discover how they would cope. I enjoyed the figure which appeared on the water when they most needed help and the folklore of the area. Also the reference list at the end was an interesting surprise.
Pollution, industrial, nuclear and so on, have become such massive problems. The theory of using bacteria to break down some substances seemed a great idea and this story is not unbelievable in real life. Also it is funny the things you notice in the news when reading something like this. A New Scientist magazine (24/8/18) contained an article on bacteria holding the key to universal donor blood. Researchers recently discovered that enzymes in the gut can be used to turn type A blood into type O, then used in transfusions for any blood group. Fictional or true discoveries with far reaching implications which arent always good ones.
This book has great scene setting, atmosphere and an ending involving a grisly discovery leaving me nervous and dreading the outcome.
My final few words: Environment, madness and a killer. What more could a reader ask for.
You won’t want to wear denim after finishing this one! This certainly is frighteningly believable reading.
A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of this book in return for an honest review. Full marks to the author.

On a day in May in Ireland at the Lough Ree in Roscommo, Marcus Gee is planning suicide with a gun and a bottle of whiskey. He's eighty three and lonely and sick. He sees smoke on the water and decides to investigate. A while before, scientists in Cuba are working on a way to clean bodies of water with a genetically altered bacteria. They don't understand that it is becoming else. Back in Ireland, Mark Coles is a crane operator who is called to lift an aerator from a mill in the middle of a storm. As he is lifting it, lightning hits the water. The bacteria which looks like an oil slick, violently reacts and escapes into the water of Lough Ree. It kills and eats several people that have come to fish or sit by the water. Greedy corporations, tough locals and a genetically produced monster combine to make this one of the scariest horror stories written. Scary because we know that this kind of engineering is possible and and can be used for the wrong thing. Well written with many references included. I received this book from Net Galley and BooksGoSocial for a honest review and no compensation otherwise.

Mutation by Roy Hunt was received direct from the publisher. I am a new reader of this author but will certainly seek out his other works. Books about genetic engineering and creatures this produces, be it large creatures from nightmares or microscopic organisms, are generally difficult to read and understand. Not this one, it is a creature novel through and through. If you or someone you buy gifts for likes Ireland, water based creatures or biotech stories, give this reprint a read.

4 stars

This was a pretty interesting story about killer bacteria that starts hunting people. The monster was pretty interesting and the science behind it was pretty solid. I didn't care much for the human characters mind you and as such didn't really care if they lived or died. Not sure if it was just the kindle version but the formatting was all over the place.

That said I still enjoyed the story and was invested enough to keep reading to find out what was going to happen and how they were going to defeat the creature.

No Sharks, But You Still Need a Bigger Boat

I love stories of ordinary people in places I'd love to visit. Put them on the water in boats, and I'm even happier. Especially if there are monsters in the water!

This book is an update of the classic scifi/horror story about a scientific wonder, created to help, but turned horribly wrong. The main characters are very likable, drawing me anxiously into the story as the suspense kept building. Mr. Hunt has developed his writing style for this genre well through the publication of many notably scary additions to it. Check out his list!

In this particular book, there's a Crichton-esque basis in fact to the premise, which makes it a book that will likely haunt you long after you've closed the cover. However, there are two other elements that made the story even more successful in keeping me interested: Irish paranormal folklore; and the sad truth that human beings can outdo the horror of “monsters” any day.

Mutation is about science lab created bacteria that finds and eliminates pollutants from water. The only problem is that it kills everything else in the water too. It is a well researched, thrilling, horror novel with the most original monster that I have read about.

The story was very thrilling with both monster and man adding to the tension. Killer bacteria released in a lake can really do a lot of damage, and I found myself routing very hard for the the protagonists. It was definitely fast-paced, and full of excitement.

If you are a fan of fast-paced monster stories you should consider checking this one out.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Mutation by Roy Hunt.
Crane operator Mark Coles is hard at work near the pristine lake of Lough Ree, when something evil escapes into the water.  A large greenish-black singular body, roughly the size of a dead cow’s hide; a hideous mutation.  
I really enjoyed this book. Great story. 4*.