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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 3,160 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. Publication date
    May 7, 2012
  5. File size
    798 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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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. (May 7, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 7, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 798 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 208 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 3,160 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
3,160 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this medical thriller engaging, with a fast-paced narrative that moves without extraneous dialogue and keeps readers glued to the story from beginning to end. The book features well-written dialogue and characters that are easy to follow, while also providing credible medical knowledge through its well-researched content. Customers disagree on the scariness level of the book.

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579 customers mention "Suspenseful"485 positive94 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful, describing it as an exciting medical thriller with an intriguing plot that pulls readers in.

"...I am not a medical expert. I am a reader who enjoys good fiction and this is one good book!..." Read more

"...easily be a cardboard heroine, making Raney both likeable and innately flawed as she tirelessly pursues her medical career -- with a few distractions..." Read more

"...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...." Read more

"...Every action is economical and straightforward. Every scene flows logically into the next making for a fast-paced read...." Read more

466 customers mention "Readability"466 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an amazing and fun page-turner that holds their interest throughout.

"...I am a reader who enjoys good fiction and this is one good book!..." Read more

"...years so I am very attracted to medical thrillers—and this book was exactly that kind...." Read more

"...Besides, I reasoned, the book is only 238 pages - an easy three-day read even if I don't have a lot of extra time...." Read more

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

161 customers mention "Writing quality"147 positive14 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it very good and easy to read, with well-crafted dialogue that keeps readers engaged.

"...The characterization is excellent providing enough information to feel I know the characters, and yet not so much as to drag the book down...." Read more

"...Besides a great plot, the writing is sharp, the characters for the most part well-drawn, and I found the twists and turns in the story completely..." Read more

"This writer has talent for dialogue, characters, complicated human relationships, and describing a medical environment with convincing specifics...." Read more

"...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

159 customers mention "Pacing"151 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as a quick read with a lot of action that moves quickly without extraneous chit chat.

"...This was a fast read for me and I had trouble putting it down just because "life" got in the way...." Read more

"...The pacing is tight, the romantic subplot compelling without distracting from the main plot, and the medical details are utterly fascinating...." Read more

"...Every scene flows logically into the next making for a fast-paced read...." Read more

"...The book was fast-paced and I liked the way Jill and David's characters were drawn out...." Read more

124 customers mention "Character development"103 positive21 negative

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

"...Besides a great plot, the writing is sharp, the characters for the most part well-drawn, and I found the twists and turns in the story completely..." Read more

"This writer has talent for dialogue, characters, complicated human relationships, and describing a medical environment with convincing specifics...." Read more

"...The writing is superb, the action tense, the characters fully developed, and the research for EMBRYO flawless...." Read more

"...Jill Raney & David Levine came to life in this book. They are riveting characters & I eagerly look forward to the rest of the books. &#..." 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.

"...In all, this writer has talent and some decent knowledge of medical technology...." Read more

"...This enhances both their artistic and math abilities, isn’t that amazing?” This story didn’t take long to get from 0 to 60...." Read more

"...I actually LIKED that the author steered clear of too many technical details. Look, I read a story to ESCAPE reality...." Read more

"...a bit of romance, a doctor who knows how to use a gun, some icky medical details, and a contemporary Dr Frankenstein..." 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.

"...There is not one wasted word or phrase (that I could find) in the entire novel. Every action is economical and straightforward...." Read more

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

"I must say that this book was written very well and kept my interest up until near the end...." Read more

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

"...Sure to please the most discerning fans of the genre, EMBRYO is a provocative, intelligent medical thriller from an author I'm very much looking..." Read more

"...It's sad, scary, fascinating, frustrating and leaves you speechless all at once.. I've experienced ART-Assisted Reproductive Technology- to try and..." Read more

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

"...There's nothing in it too scarey for a teen or even preteen, so it's a good book for most age groups...." 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
    Verified 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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  • Jen Blood
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Well-Thought-Out, Gripping Medical Thriller Sure to Stay With You
    Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    J.A. Schneider's medical thriller EMBRYO opens with every woman's worst nightmare: Very pregnant mother-to-be Maria Moran is crossing a busy street when crippling pain suddenly brings her to her knees. Within moments, she is bleeding from virtually every orifice and barely coherent as strangers cry for help.

    From that gripping prologue, Schneider launches directly into the life of Dr. Jill Raney, a brilliant and appropriately beautiful resident at Madison Hospital Medical Center in New York City. The author deftly brings to life what could easily be a cardboard heroine, making Raney both likeable and innately flawed as she tirelessly pursues her medical career -- with a few distractions. One of those distractions is the equally gorgeous and brilliant Dr. David Levine, who also manages to avoid being cast as a forgettable leading man through Schneider's evocative writing and some great characterization. The other -- considerably less pleasant -- distraction for Raney is a sudden influx of unexplained failed pregnancies and rare genetic anomalies in the hospital that immediately raise questions for the young intern. Raney puts her medical career -- and her life -- in jeopardy when she refuses to back down from hospital administration's demands that she drop the matter and move on. Raney's search leads her into the bowels of the old hospital, and there are some great twists and a compelling final chapter that had me on the edge of my seat to the very end.

    It's rare these days that I find a novel I can't wait to get back to, but EMBRYO was just such a novel. The pacing is tight, the romantic subplot compelling without distracting from the main plot, and the medical details are utterly fascinating. Besides a great plot, the writing is sharp, the characters for the most part well-drawn, and I found the twists and turns in the story completely unpredictable. Though I thought one aspect of the ending was a little too sci-fi for the integrity of the rest of the story, and the romance between Raney and Levine was a bit rushed for my taste, neither of those things was enough to detract from my overall enjoyment of the novel. Since finishing, I've found myself returning to the plot and the chilling real-world possibilities Schneider presented -- "Haunting" seems an apt descriptor. Sure to please the most discerning fans of the genre, EMBRYO is a provocative, intelligent medical thriller from an author I'm very much looking forward to reading more of. A very strong four stars from this reviewer.
    3 people found this helpful
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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
    Verified 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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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
    Verified 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
    Verified 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
    Verified 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
    Verified 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
    Verified Purchase
    Good read!
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