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J.A. Schneider
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EMBRYO (EMBRYO: A Raney & Levine Thriller, Book 1) Kindle Edition

by J.A. Schneider (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 3,163 ratings
"Holy hell, what a read!" - The Reading Café
"Incredible thriller that will leave you breathless!! - The Kindle Book Review
"Immediately reels you into a whirlwind!" - Readers Favorite

Is a malignant genius tinkering with women's bodies...? COULD babies be grown in an artificial womb?
Obstetrical intern Jill Raney determines to investigate tragedies at a famous fertility hospital. When two pregnant women die and a fetus is born with severe abnormalities, Jill's superiors - including handsome, smitten-with-her resident David Levine - insist there's no common link.

But her suspicions deepen with the murder of a third pregnant woman. And when a fourth woman miscarries and then disappears, Jill frantically searches for her - following a terrifying path that seems to link all the victims: Is someone playing with life...and the structures of human life itself?

Advance praise for EMBRYO

"From the first line, your heart is pounding, your breath quickens. Reading EMBRYO - wow - is a nonstop thrill ride, plus I learned things. I do know about the birth of the world's first test tube baby, Louise Joy Brown in England; so to those who call this science fiction...no it isn't, it's HERE. They can do this. EMBRYO is a stunning page turner. The action is non-stop, and just when you think you know what's happening, you find out that you don't. The sections describing the progression of hominids (our earliest fossil ancestors) to Cro-Magnon Man are fascinating & come astonishingly to life. There's also a love story that I loved. Five stars!" Goodreads reviewer Charlotte Wills

"This blew me away. It's breathtaking and original from anything I've read. I also have a mad crush on alpha male David Levine - this is an incredible love story too!" Goodreads reviewer Emma Fournier

"Wonderfully suspenseful. As a physician, I can confirm that the research and details are perfect, the scenarios brilliant. The pace is high speed and, most astonishing, what is depicted here is not only possible but is already being done. Mainly, it's a terrifically exciting read." Goodreads reviewer Martin Dempsey, M.D.
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  1. Book 1 of 6
    EMBRYO - A Raney & Levine Thriller
  2. Print length
    208 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    May 7, 2012
  6. File size
    798 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 6 books in this series.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Readers will absolutely love it!" Literati Literature Lovers
"Both EMBRYO and EMBRYO 2 start from page one & DO. NOT. STOP. The suspense is continuous! Holy hell what a read!" The Reading Cafe

From the Author

J.A. (Joyce Anne) Schneider is a former writer at Newsweek. Once a Liberal Arts major (French Lit), she has become increasingly fascinated with medicine and forensic science. Decades of being married to a physician who loves explaining medical concepts and reliving his experiences means there'll be medical concepts even in "regular" thrillers that she writes. She lives with her family in Connecticut, USA, and loves to hear from her readers. Email her at joyce@jaschneiderauthor.net or come say hi at  facebook.com/joyce.schneider.142?fref=ts

Series order:
  • Embryo ..... Is a malignant genius tinkering with women's bodies?
  • Embryo 2: Crosshairs ... A killer stalks women & an unborn baby.
  • Embryo 3: Raney & Levine...A murderous religious zealot threatens women ("sinners!") and a newborn.
  • Embryo 4: Catch Me ... A serial killer just targets couples.
  • Embryo 5: Silver Girl ... A beautiful young TV star dies mysteriously...
  • EMBRYO 6: RAZOR SHARP: A Jack the Ripper type killer is murdering male prostitutes, with the exception of one vulnerable young woman. Why? Police ask Jill and David to help investigate...
What created the idea for Embryo?

The idea came like a lightening bolt when hearing a conversation between my husband (who did OB before switching to Cardiology), and an Ob/Gyn friend who was excited about IVF and its advances in curing diseases in utero. Having already published fiction and non-fiction, I thought about all human discoveries - from fire to atomic energy - and the unsettling fact that they can be either good or very bad if they fall into the wrong hands. It was a thought that wouldn't let go.

Don't miss Embryo's sequel, Embryo 2: Crosshairs. Reviewers say:
"Holy hell, what a read!" - The Reading Café
"Incredible thriller that will leave you breathless!! - The Kindle Book Review
"Immediately reels you into a whirlwind!" - Readers Favorite

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0081CUVIU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ R.G. Schneider, M.D.
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 7, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 798 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 6 ‏ : ‎ EMBRYO - A Raney & Levine Thriller
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 3,163 ratings

About the author

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J.A. Schneider

J.A. Schneider

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Joyce Schneider is a former writer at Newsweek and the author of multiple murder mysteries and psychological thrillers. She has studied at the Sorbonne and been an exchange student in the Soviet Union. Now her idea of more than enough excitement is writing thrillers and gardening (chasing off deer and using a crowbar to get out stubborn rocks). She lives with her family and two funny dachshunds in Connecticut. To write Joyce or find more of her thrillers, check out jaschneiderauthor dot net. Thanks for reading!

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
3,163 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this medical thriller thrilling to the end, with a fast-paced plot full of action and well-written dialogue. The book features amazing characters that are easy to keep track of, and customers appreciate the well-researched science content with lots of medical knowledge. Customers say the book keeps them interested from beginning to end, with one review noting it's a page-turner. The scariness level receives mixed reactions, with some customers finding it exciting and frightening.

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ReadabilityPacingWriting qualityCharacter developmentScience contentInterestScariness level
467 customers mention "Readability"467 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an interesting and fun page-turner.

"...I found this to be a good read; The first page drew me right in. That's hard to do with me...." Read more

"...It was a very good book and the ending just blew my socks off. Good read and I will read more of of this authors work." Read more

"...this is a great read.. I have embryo 2 and will be reading it next.. Great read." Read more

"...A great read, and I will definitely be following along in this series of books." Read more

174 customers mention "Pacing"155 positive19 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing, describing it as a fast-moving plot with plenty of action.

"...Fast paced and well written this book will keep you interested till the end." Read more

"...Lots of action and fast paced. Not boring...." Read more

"...It was a fast read that kept me on the edge of my seat from page one. Well done! It's the best book I read in a very long time." Read more

"The title intrigued me. This was a quick read. It had all the makings of a good thriller, including a love twist...." Read more

167 customers mention "Writing quality"148 positive19 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting it is clearly written with well-crafted dialogue that keeps readers engaged.

"...All in all, the book is well written and kept me turning pages (well, okay, tapping a stylus on my Kindle Fire) far longer at a time than I intended..." Read more

"...Medical lingo not overdone. Well written. Don't read a lot medical thrillers but really enjoyed this one...." Read more

"...I read the book in one day. I enjoyed it very much. It was a fast, easy read and I am about to buy the second book...." Read more

"...It is a well written book that you won't want to put down! I am looking forward to reading the next in this series...." Read more

125 customers mention "Character development"104 positive21 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them amazing and easy to follow, with one customer noting their distinct personalities.

"...I found that I couldn't put it down, fast paced, interesting characters! When I have extra money, I will defiantly get the next two books!..." Read more

"...for all of the real life medical scenes, the interesting and believable characters and the satisfying resolution...." Read more

"...Great characters and surprise ending. I have already started reading Embryo 2. This book series is a good as it gets!..." Read more

"...albeit futuristic science, suspenseful and gripping plot line, great characters...." Read more

114 customers mention "Science content"95 positive19 negative

Customers appreciate the scientific content of the book, noting its well-researched details and credible medical knowledge.

"Entertaining. Interesting concept. Silly ending....wait, there was no real ending! So what happened next? How did that child develop? Who raised it?" Read more

"...Unable to put down. Highly recommend reading if you like mystery and medical intrigue. Well written and highly probable story." Read more

"This book was a medical mystery much in the line of Robin Cook. It was fast paced with a surprise ending." Read more

"...Medical mystery,suspense and romance all mixed together. Great book and very creative author." Read more

90 customers mention "Interest"83 positive7 negative

Customers find the book highly engaging, keeping them glued to the pages from the first page to the end.

"Ok. Different subject, same story. It kept my interest, "called me" to come back and read...." Read more

"...Very different from what I usually read . It kept my attention and I found i did not want to stop reading...." Read more

"Great fast paced read that was entertaining...." Read more

"A Nice read that kept your interest without getting too detailed on the medical side...." Read more

35 customers mention "Scariness level"24 positive11 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the scariness level of the book, with some finding it exciting and suspenseful, while others describe it as terrifying.

"...experimentation in genetics, patient care, happiness and sorrow, murder, kidnapping, romance and intrigue...." Read more

"This is one book that is a Must read. It's sad, scary, fascinating, frustrating and leaves you speechless all at once.. I've experienced ART-..." Read more

"...A very scary thought, indeed!" Read more

"Scary but intriguing concept--a good read!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Karen B
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great piece of fiction
    Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I read a lot of reviews of this book before picking it up, both positive and negative. I had a gotten a copy of "Embryo 5 Silver Girl" through my Kindle Unlimited membership, but after reading a few pages realized I realized I needed to go back to the beginning to understand what was happening. I am not a medical expert. I am a reader who enjoys good fiction and this is one good book! Not since Robin Cook's COMA have I been so "on the edge of my seat" caught up in a medical thriller. There may be a few medical errors but none that jumped out at me. What I read was a well developed plot full of suspense. Although there were clues leading up to the identity of "the man behind the curtain" it was not obvious who the bad guy would turn out to be. The characterization is excellent providing enough information to feel I know the characters, and yet not so much as to drag the book down. This was a fast read for me and I had trouble putting it down just because "life" got in the way. I especially liked the explanation of GMOs (Genetically modified organisms) with the example of corn. This is an issue I have been pondering when I grocery shop. I guess the more controversial aspects have to do with human gene exploration. Designer babies scare the heck out of me and so the subject of the novel was very timely. I was not looking for a medical textbook and I know this is fiction. In all fiction I think there has to be a suspension of disbelief to enjoy the story. Although it could have, the romance did not overwhelm the conflict of the novel. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • GDH
    4.0 out of 5 stars Embryo
    Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2025
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I like this book. It was an interesting premise and easy to read. It seems like it could easily be the plot of a movie. The main character is engaging and you can root for her even as she takes chances.
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  • Sheila LS
    5.0 out of 5 stars Reminds Me of Robin Cook
    Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Normally I download mostly free books—and I hardly ever download a whole series at one time. The few times I have downloaded a series it is because I read the first book and liked it so well that I went ahead and downloaded the rest of the books. But when I read the description of this series and read all the reviews, I knew instinctively that this was going to be one of those series that I was going to want. So I downloaded the first 5 books immediately and never regretted it.

    I was a nurse for 33 years so I am very attracted to medical thrillers—and this book was exactly that kind. I could not help but think of Robin Cook as I read this story because the action & suspense was so much alike—kept me turning the page and sitting on the edge of my seat. And as in the books of Cook (thinking of "Coma" here), the villain was very diabolical and was conspiring to do what no one could ever imagine! Won't give away the plot, you'll just have to read the book.

    One thing I look for in a medical thriller is if the author is in the medical profession or not. If not, I usually don't even bother to get the book because it makes me cringe when I read medical terms or read medical misinformation that is incorrect & lay people do this a lot when they attempt to write a medical story. As I was reading this book I came to the conclusion that the author must be a doctor because all the medical information was spot on. Imagine my surprise when I finished the first book & then looked up the author and found out that she wasn't! But as I read on I discovered her husband was a doctor and that he was always sharing with her his expertise—so that explained why she was able to write this story using the correct medical terms and medical information.

    I didn't describe the story itself because I know others will do that so no need to reap the story again. Just wanted to explain why I liked this story so much & that when I finish this series I will look for other books by this author.

    OBTW: This story has a satisfying conclusion & is a stand alone story.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • E. Browning
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good read but implausible plot....and cartoon ending
    Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This writer has talent for dialogue, characters, complicated human relationships, and describing a medical environment with convincing specifics. The plot is highly implausible, yet it held my interest until just a few pages at the end where I almost had a tantrum of incredulity. Without spoiling any suspense, I can say this:

    Young intern in a large hospital begins to notice anomalies in OB/GYN patients and outcomes. There's a rapidly unfolding (as in, immediate) love interest between this intern and an attending (which strikes me as a horrible idea career-wise), and the attending is described in a nicely ambiguous way: is he one of the good guys, or is he involved in some evil shenanigans? Attending guy is implausibly oblivious to possible sexual harassment charges as he hustles the intern into bed in their on-call room. Intern seems to have no clue whatsoever that she might get herself and him into trouble. This tone-deafness to potential career suicide runs throughout the book.

    As the anomalies mount, and become screaming sirens and red flags over the hospital to anyone not involved in writing this book, pregnant and infertile patients continue to seek out the hospital and ignore its stats. No one in hospital administration raises an eyebrow at the deaths, malformed births, and other assorted catastrophes. (Hello? At the very least, the greedy insurers would have had some suspicions.)

    It is not until Young Doctor Fire-Me-I'm-a-Sexy-Intern begins to make inquiries that the plot thickens.

    There are some exciting and suspenseful scenes as the dark doings begin to emerge and Young Doctor FMIaSI endangers herself (and all her patient roster, whom she conveniently ignores for most of the book) by becoming a Nancy-Drew like amateur sleuth. Finally the big reveal occurs, and it is near the end of the book that the author decides to abandon all caution and transform her novel into a cartoon send-up complete with a fetal clown.

    In all, this writer has talent and some decent knowledge of medical technology. I look forward to seeing her develop a bit more balance and a better sense of endings that won't leave readers mumbling "No way in Hell...".
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Rebecca Verghese Paul
    5.0 out of 5 stars Exhilarating
    Reviewed in India on August 31, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    It's been a long time since I read a medical thriller that kept me pumped full of adrenaline. Good story,enough facts and twists. The way David and Jill came together feels a little forced though. But the thought of ivf being twisted around like this is scary,to say the least. Seems a little weird too that obstetricians would turn detectives!!
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  • Debergerac
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Read.
    Reviewed in Australia on July 1, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I found Embryo a very believable story, with twists and turns throught the story line you are placed on a knifes edge through out the entire book, very racy heart pounding page to page has you enthralled from start to finish.
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  • rita
    5.0 out of 5 stars Embryo
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2014
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    What a fabulous, fast-paced medical thriller. This is the first book I have read by this author, and I am looking forward to more. I already have the next book in this series ready to read on my kindle. The characters were well developed and I felt I knew them by the end of the book. The medical aspects were on point, and I felt empathy for the "patients" in this novel. I would recommend this book to all those who love a good medical mystery.
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  • Linda
    4.0 out of 5 stars Scary
    Reviewed in Germany on April 16, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Four stars. A gripping medical thriller that makes you think. We're probably not far away from this kind of situation...
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  • Amazing
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on September 10, 2015
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Good read!
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