An innocent death row prisoner is supposedly executed but is actually alive and has a secret government biological virus tested on him. He must escape with the reporter who was profiling him and stop the virus before it is released.
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The review of this Book prepared by Bill Jacobson
Berkley, Mar 2003, 6.99, 352 pp.
ISBN: 0425189066
With seven days to go before the state of Texas executes him for a murder he never committed, Ramon Willis reconciles with the fact that his decade in death row is almost over though his attorney Barry Resnick tries for a stay. Meanwhile Austin Star reporter Lena Dryer investigates the death penalty and concludes Ramon received a terrible defense, but the state sought conviction not truth.
A week later Dr. Conrad Meeks injects the lethal poison and announces Ramon dead. However, Ramon awakens to find himself a “guest” of the Army conducting chemical experiments on the homeless or the death row inmates. Three weeks later Ramon still lives in perfect health, a shocker as everyone else exposed to the chems dies rather quickly. Lieutenant Charley Green, realizing the illegality of the experiments, frees Ramon before dying. The government chases Ramon to stop him from exposing them and willingly kills innocents like Barry for the “bigger good”. Refusing to hide in Mexico, Ramon turns to Lena as his only hope to destroy a nasty conspiracy.
LIVING PROOF is an exciting cautionary tale that warns on two levels: anything but the facts death penalty (of course the author lives in Illinois) and the hidden military top secret R&D perhaps focusing on biological and chemical warfare. The story line is very exciting from the opening gamut when it is obvious the state is more interested in closing the books than insuring a fair trial before switching to a human guinea pig experiment and finally into a chase thriller. Fans of action packed conspiracy thrillers will appreciate the smooth transitions of Peter J. Thompson's strong tale.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
