Geneva: A Novel

I was intrigued by this book because I've long admired Richard Armitage as an actor. He's always seemed a bit mysterious and perhaps "broody." And his debut novel is much the same. It takes place in the biotech world and follows the life of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sarah Collier and her husband Daniel, a neuroscientist. They are invited to the Schiller Institute in beautiful Geneva, Switzerland to attend a conference, with Sarah being the guest of honor. Sarah has suffered her share of unfortunate situations, primarily her father's bout with Alzheimer's, and her own rapid-onset symptoms, much like her father's. Sarah would much rather stay home with her husband and their daughter Maddie, but Daniel convinces her to accept the invitation to Geneva. Their trip unleashes a series of mysterious and unsettling events. This book is a true thriller right from the start, and the number of twists and turns never ends until the very last page. It's very well written and fast-paced. I couldn't put it down, and only hope that author Armitage has more thrilling novels planned.

I am a big fan of Richard Armitage as an actor and I was interested in seeing how he would come across as a writer. I was not disappointed.The subject matter was a bit sensitive for me as I know a few that are battling Alzheimer's, in different stages, and it's not easy to watch them slip further away. Kudos to Richard for capturing that struggle so realistically. It made reading some parts difficult, but the story is beautifully written. Definitely a page turner. Once I picked it up, I had a hard time putting it down.I look forward to seeing more from Richard Armitage. As an actor, narrator, or writer, the man is a gem.

Recently I saw a k-drama, Maestra, based on a french production, except that the korean version is not overloaded with sex. The ending part of this thriller, reminded me a lot to Maestra as there is a same plot, just some differences in who and why.That said, I had to download the audio to listen to Richard's voice. It is a good story in general, except that there was a missing point with one of the villains. Other than that, it's a very good work for being Richard's first book.

Admittedly, I approached Geneva with a bit of trepidation. Richard Armitage is one of my favorite actors and in interviews seems like such a charming man, I really wanted to like his first book, and was determined to, despite some reservations about the success rate of artists crossing from one genre to another. Well, my anxiety was for naught.Geneva is an engrossing psychological thriller full of twists and turns, with deeply delineated characters, each of whom has twists and turns of their own. The prologue immediately pulls the reader into the narrative with a strong sense of place, a mysterious character, and, though we may not be aware until we’ve read quite a way into the book (almost the end, in my case), the first of many red herrings. With the bonds of family and the tragedy and terror of Alzheimer’s as motifs weaving the characters and plot strands together, Mr. Armitage explores reality and how his characters perceive it, while allowing us to explore its many layers through their eyes. As the narrative unwinds, however, we gradually realize that nothing is quite as it seems.Maintaining an authentic voice for the duration of a book is challenging for any author, particularly, I’d imagine, one writing his debut novel. Mr. Armitage compounds the challenge by relating the story from multiple voices—admirably maintaining consistency in each of them. Perhaps that is not remarkable for an actor who is accomplished at immersing himself in the voice and viewpoint of each character he portrays; even so, maintaining consistency in multiple voices for the duration of this story must have taken a great deal of thought, and diligent rewriting.I look forward to Mr. Armitage’s next creation, whether a novel or a new character on screen. Am I greedy to hope for both?

I sat down to read a few chapters. I could not put it down and finished it in one sitting. Its been a while since a novel has captured my attention like that. The prose are clear and concise. The different points of view do not distract but enhance the story telling. The twists are nicely executed.

I am a fan of the actor and his body of work, and was curious to see if his talent extended beyond acting. I am happy to say he did not disappoint me. It was difficult to put the book down. I look forward to reading more from him. I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a good nail biter.

This book was exciting with interesting twists. A few parts were hard to keep up with in terms of being real or imagined, but that was the plan. It really put you in the mind of the two main characters. I initially picked the book solely based on the narrators. I don’t usually do that. I’m a big fan of each of f them though. I’m glad I took the chance on it. This would make an excellent screenplay.

I couldn't put it down! Devoured this story. It's so good.Had an ending that I never saw coming! The story was like a delicious pretzel, full of twisty goodness.

Apparently, Richard Armitage is a man of many talents. His writing skills are on a par with his acting skills and I hope for many more books by him!

Non ho ancora finito il libro ma è stato subito amore