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Geneva
Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sarah Collier has started to show the same tell-tale signs of the Alzheimer's disease as her father: memory loss, even blackouts. So she is reluctant to accept the invitation to be the guest of honour at a prestigious biotech conference - until her husband Daniel, also a neuroscientist, persuades her that the publicity storm will be worth it. The technology being unveiled at this conference could revolutionise medicine forever. More than that, it could save Sarah's life.
In Geneva, the couple are feted as stars - at least, Sarah is. But behind the five-star luxury, investors are circling, controversial blogger Terri Landau is all over the story, and Sarah's symptoms are getting worse. As events begin to spiral out of control, Sarah can't be sure who to trust - including herself.
In Geneva, the couple are feted as stars - at least, Sarah is. But behind the five-star luxury, investors are circling, controversial blogger Terri Landau is all over the story, and Sarah's symptoms are getting worse. As events begin to spiral out of control, Sarah can't be sure who to trust - including herself.
Audible Audio
First published October 20, 2022
About the author
Richard Armitage
82 books605 followersBritish actor and audio-book narrator.
Richard Armitage was born in 1971, the second son of Margaret, a secretary, and John, an engineer. He grew up in a village outside the city. Some of his favourite childhood stories included The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
At the age of fourteen he transferred from a local state middle school, Brockington College, to Pattison’s Dancing Academy in Coventry (now Pattison College), an independent boarding school specialising in Performing Arts. The school arranged regular theatre visits, and it was here, watching a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, that he discovered an interest in acting: “I remember having that moment of finally understanding what was going on. They were having such a good time and the audience was having such a good time and I just thought that was where I wanted to be. I remember thinking they were doing something they loved and they were getting paid for it”. [2]
Pattison’s introduced him to the demands and obligations of an acting career: "It... instilled me with a discipline that has stood me in good stead - never to be late, to know your lines and to be professional." It gave its pupils opportunities to appear in local amateur and professional productions, and by the time Richard left school at 17, he had already appeared in Showboat, Half a Sixpence, as Bacchus in Orpheus and the Underworld and in The Hobbit at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham. [3]
After leaving school, Richard joined The Second Generation, a physical theatre group, working for eight weeks in a show called Allow London at the Nachtcircus in Budapest. Here he “threw hoola hoops to a skateboarding Russian and held ladders for [a] juggling act…did guide roping for the trapeze, and…a weird kind of UV glow-in-the-dark mime illusion thing”. [4] Though he later described “sleeping next to the elephants” as “a low point in show business”, it was sufficient to gain him his Equity card, a pre-requisite at the time for entry to the profession. [1]
Returning to the UK, he embarked on a career in musical theatre, working as assistant choreographer to Kenn Oldfield and appearing in the West End and on tour in a series of musicals including 42nd Street, My One and Only, Nine, Mr Wonderful, Annie Get your Gun and Cats.
By 1995, inspired in part by seeing Adrian Noble’s classic 1994 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Stratford, he was laying the foundations of an acting career, appearing at the Actors’ Centre’s Tristram Bates Theatre as Macliesh in Willis Hall’s The Long and the Short and the Tall, and at the Old School Manchester as Henry in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing, Flan in John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation and Biff in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. He was also studying for a Society of British Fight Directors qualification.
This was the year that Richard enrolled on a three-year Acting course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Here he appeared in student productions including Pericles as Antiochus the Great, David Copperfield as Uriah Heep, Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart as Felix, and as Buscher in Manfred Karge’s metaphorical drama of unemployment The Conquest of the South Pole.
In his final year at LAMDA, an advert on the college notice board for film extras led to his first experience of acting in a feature film: a one-line role in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. It was a humble, though interesting, entry into film: “I felt very nervous saying my line - I had practised it for three weeks… I actually ended up as a computer graphic in the film, I think”. [4] Despite being unidentifiable on screen, he found himself besieged by Star Wars fans when touring Japan with the RSC two years later.
Graduating in the summer of 1998, he immediately joined the cast of Hamlet at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, having already appeared at the Edinburgh Festival
Richard Armitage was born in 1971, the second son of Margaret, a secretary, and John, an engineer. He grew up in a village outside the city. Some of his favourite childhood stories included The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
At the age of fourteen he transferred from a local state middle school, Brockington College, to Pattison’s Dancing Academy in Coventry (now Pattison College), an independent boarding school specialising in Performing Arts. The school arranged regular theatre visits, and it was here, watching a performance at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, that he discovered an interest in acting: “I remember having that moment of finally understanding what was going on. They were having such a good time and the audience was having such a good time and I just thought that was where I wanted to be. I remember thinking they were doing something they loved and they were getting paid for it”. [2]
Pattison’s introduced him to the demands and obligations of an acting career: "It... instilled me with a discipline that has stood me in good stead - never to be late, to know your lines and to be professional." It gave its pupils opportunities to appear in local amateur and professional productions, and by the time Richard left school at 17, he had already appeared in Showboat, Half a Sixpence, as Bacchus in Orpheus and the Underworld and in The Hobbit at the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham. [3]
After leaving school, Richard joined The Second Generation, a physical theatre group, working for eight weeks in a show called Allow London at the Nachtcircus in Budapest. Here he “threw hoola hoops to a skateboarding Russian and held ladders for [a] juggling act…did guide roping for the trapeze, and…a weird kind of UV glow-in-the-dark mime illusion thing”. [4] Though he later described “sleeping next to the elephants” as “a low point in show business”, it was sufficient to gain him his Equity card, a pre-requisite at the time for entry to the profession. [1]
Returning to the UK, he embarked on a career in musical theatre, working as assistant choreographer to Kenn Oldfield and appearing in the West End and on tour in a series of musicals including 42nd Street, My One and Only, Nine, Mr Wonderful, Annie Get your Gun and Cats.
By 1995, inspired in part by seeing Adrian Noble’s classic 1994 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Stratford, he was laying the foundations of an acting career, appearing at the Actors’ Centre’s Tristram Bates Theatre as Macliesh in Willis Hall’s The Long and the Short and the Tall, and at the Old School Manchester as Henry in Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing, Flan in John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation and Biff in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman. He was also studying for a Society of British Fight Directors qualification.
This was the year that Richard enrolled on a three-year Acting course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Here he appeared in student productions including Pericles as Antiochus the Great, David Copperfield as Uriah Heep, Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart as Felix, and as Buscher in Manfred Karge’s metaphorical drama of unemployment The Conquest of the South Pole.
In his final year at LAMDA, an advert on the college notice board for film extras led to his first experience of acting in a feature film: a one-line role in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. It was a humble, though interesting, entry into film: “I felt very nervous saying my line - I had practised it for three weeks… I actually ended up as a computer graphic in the film, I think”. [4] Despite being unidentifiable on screen, he found himself besieged by Star Wars fans when touring Japan with the RSC two years later.
Graduating in the summer of 1998, he immediately joined the cast of Hamlet at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, having already appeared at the Edinburgh Festival
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 913 reviews
April 15, 2023
3.5 stars ─ I am going to preface this review by stating that it will be a biased one. I have more or less seen everything Richard Armitage is in ever since I first saw him in BBC Robin Hood series in which he constantly walked around in an all-black, all-leather outfit (iykyk and if you don’t, all 3 seasons are available on BBC iPlayer, so light some candles, close those blinds, and enjoy).
Now, after seemingly removing himself from the Hollywood spotlight after the Hobbit trilogy came to an end (Thorin Oakenshield, you have my heart), and after having brilliantly narrated multiple audiobooks and Audible originals over the last years, here comes Geneva, Richard Armitage’s authorial debut in the form of an audiobook.
Aptly named, the novel takes place in one of Switzerland’s most famous cities which is about to host a prestigious biotech conference, headed by the Schiller Institute, that seeks to introduce the créme de la créme of neuroscientists and biochem investors to a breakthrough invention that could change the world of medicine. Sarah Collier, Nobel Prize-winning scientist, has been invited to the conference in the hopes of lending her face to the endeavour. What no one except her and her husband Daniel knows: Sarah is showing the tell-tale signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s. As someone who is notoriously private and who seems to be in declining health, Sarah really doesn’t want to go until Daniel convinces her to, and she witnesses what the jaw-dropping new technology invented at the Schiller institute could do to help others – and herself. But everything is not as it seems. Not at the conference, not at the Schiller institute, and not in Sarah’s and Daniel’s marriage…
This was a more than solid debut novel. After his continuous collaboration with Harlan Coben and his adaptations, I’m not surprised RA decided to place his first book firmly in the genre of crime thriller. And he does it well. Might he be missing a distinct voice that would distinguish him from other authors of the genre? Yes, but he still has more than enough time to develop such a voice, and I’m confident it will happen eventually, especially since “Geneva” was only his debut, after all.
The book provides its readers with a set-up I found immediately intriguing. A world-class professor suffering from Alzheimer’s? Slowly losing confidence in her abilities, herself? Not knowing what is real anymore and what isn’t and having to constantly keep it all together in front of rooms filled with experts on the disease she suffers from? Yeah, sign me up!
RA spends a lot of time developing Sarah’s inner working and feelings and even though the book is split into a mostly dual POV (Daniel’s chapters being read by Richard Armitage, Sarah’s chapters by the fabulous Nicola Walker), occasionally threefold POV, it is clear Sarah is the main character. The readers feel with her, and when she begins doubting her own perception, we do, too.
The novel’s whole setting is a ✨vibe✨, too. I wanted to read this one as soon as it came out, and I did, but because the plot takes place in Winter (December or January, I think), and there is snow and ice everywhere, some part of me wishes I had listened to this over several cold winter nights, tucked up in bed or on the couch with a warm blanket, hot chocolate, and Christmas cookies. There is icy atmosphere aplenty and even though I have never been to Geneva (or Genf, as it is actually called 💁🏼♀️), I could just picture the frozen lake in the park, the snow-crusted trees and road signs, and the epic mountains surrounding the city.
Combined with Richard’s and Nicola’s expert narration (honestly, listening to Richard Armitage narrate ANYTHING is the equivalent of having warm, liquid chocolate poured in your ears), an intriguing set-up and the novel’s overall atmosphere, this one made for an entertaining and very fast-paced listen. I didn’t even mind (and I usually do) that I rightfully predicted 50-75% of all plot twists and sudden revelations. Something I can easily forgive and forget, given that the characters were purposefully written with such cruelty and bad intentions in their hearts, that my worst idea of where this story could go had to be the correct one.
Richard Armitage’s debut novel is an engaging thriller not afraid of taking digs at the, at times, horribly exploitative pharmaceutical industry, Putin and the Kremlin, the toxicity of the male ego and whether those closest to us really always have our best interests at heart. It might miss a unique voice and is, at times, a touch too predictable, coming across as forcefully novel-y in some passages, but only a bad-tempered reader will gripe about those things when the novel’s pros far outweigh its cons.
Now, after seemingly removing himself from the Hollywood spotlight after the Hobbit trilogy came to an end (Thorin Oakenshield, you have my heart), and after having brilliantly narrated multiple audiobooks and Audible originals over the last years, here comes Geneva, Richard Armitage’s authorial debut in the form of an audiobook.
Aptly named, the novel takes place in one of Switzerland’s most famous cities which is about to host a prestigious biotech conference, headed by the Schiller Institute, that seeks to introduce the créme de la créme of neuroscientists and biochem investors to a breakthrough invention that could change the world of medicine. Sarah Collier, Nobel Prize-winning scientist, has been invited to the conference in the hopes of lending her face to the endeavour. What no one except her and her husband Daniel knows: Sarah is showing the tell-tale signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s. As someone who is notoriously private and who seems to be in declining health, Sarah really doesn’t want to go until Daniel convinces her to, and she witnesses what the jaw-dropping new technology invented at the Schiller institute could do to help others – and herself. But everything is not as it seems. Not at the conference, not at the Schiller institute, and not in Sarah’s and Daniel’s marriage…
This was a more than solid debut novel. After his continuous collaboration with Harlan Coben and his adaptations, I’m not surprised RA decided to place his first book firmly in the genre of crime thriller. And he does it well. Might he be missing a distinct voice that would distinguish him from other authors of the genre? Yes, but he still has more than enough time to develop such a voice, and I’m confident it will happen eventually, especially since “Geneva” was only his debut, after all.
The book provides its readers with a set-up I found immediately intriguing. A world-class professor suffering from Alzheimer’s? Slowly losing confidence in her abilities, herself? Not knowing what is real anymore and what isn’t and having to constantly keep it all together in front of rooms filled with experts on the disease she suffers from? Yeah, sign me up!
RA spends a lot of time developing Sarah’s inner working and feelings and even though the book is split into a mostly dual POV (Daniel’s chapters being read by Richard Armitage, Sarah’s chapters by the fabulous Nicola Walker), occasionally threefold POV, it is clear Sarah is the main character. The readers feel with her, and when she begins doubting her own perception, we do, too.
The novel’s whole setting is a ✨vibe✨, too. I wanted to read this one as soon as it came out, and I did, but because the plot takes place in Winter (December or January, I think), and there is snow and ice everywhere, some part of me wishes I had listened to this over several cold winter nights, tucked up in bed or on the couch with a warm blanket, hot chocolate, and Christmas cookies. There is icy atmosphere aplenty and even though I have never been to Geneva (or Genf, as it is actually called 💁🏼♀️), I could just picture the frozen lake in the park, the snow-crusted trees and road signs, and the epic mountains surrounding the city.
Combined with Richard’s and Nicola’s expert narration (honestly, listening to Richard Armitage narrate ANYTHING is the equivalent of having warm, liquid chocolate poured in your ears), an intriguing set-up and the novel’s overall atmosphere, this one made for an entertaining and very fast-paced listen. I didn’t even mind (and I usually do) that I rightfully predicted 50-75% of all plot twists and sudden revelations. Something I can easily forgive and forget, given that the characters were purposefully written with such cruelty and bad intentions in their hearts, that my worst idea of where this story could go had to be the correct one.
Richard Armitage’s debut novel is an engaging thriller not afraid of taking digs at the, at times, horribly exploitative pharmaceutical industry, Putin and the Kremlin, the toxicity of the male ego and whether those closest to us really always have our best interests at heart. It might miss a unique voice and is, at times, a touch too predictable, coming across as forcefully novel-y in some passages, but only a bad-tempered reader will gripe about those things when the novel’s pros far outweigh its cons.
July 19, 2023
3.5
Neuroscientist Professor Sarah Collier is a
Nobel prize winner for her groundbreaking research into Ebola, her husband Daniel is also a neuroscientist. Sarah is showing signs of early onset Alzheimer’s which her father is also suffering and she is currently having tests to determine a prognosis. Daniel wants Sarah to attend the Schiller medical conference in Geneva, partly so he can network off the back of her success. However, the focus of the conference has the potential to revolutionise medicine and perhaps it could be of benefit to Sarah. Circling the conference, vulture like,
is controversial blogger, Terri Landau, who has multiple followers as she delivers the “truth about healthcare“ and Big Pharma. As Sarah‘s symptoms worsen, things begin to spin out of control and she is struggling to discover who she can trust. What is Professor Mauritz Schiller launching and why does he want Sarah in Geneva so badly? The story is principally told by Daniel and Sarah with inserts from “The Landau report“ and by Professor Schiller.
This is a promising debut from actor Richard Armitage and I definitely think he has a future as an author. It starts in rather a ploddy way but once it gets going in the city of Geneva the pace quickens and it remains that way. The author creates a really good atmosphere with a wintry setting and the location is used to full effect in the ensuing drama. It’s good on Sarah‘s feelings and reactions and she is dead centre of what transpires and that becomes crucial to what unravels. The storytelling is very visual, you can tell he’s an actor as it has an action movie thriller feel to it which I really like and I can see it making a very good miniseries.
Sarah‘s and Daniel’s characterisation is good though some of the other characters are less well fleshed out with one feeling a bit of a stereotype. It’s got plenty of twists though some are pretty obvious, one I never buy into anyway but decide to set my scepticism and knowledge to one side so as to fully enjoy the storytelling. It’s definitely a go with the flow, suspend your disbelief, read in at least two key aspects, but it’s fiction after all and entertainment is the key factor! The ending is maybe overly dramatic and also a tad predictable but overall, it is a good read. I can imagine this working extremely well as an audible, maybe more so than as an e-book.
This is a fun read, maybe the type to take on holiday whilst chilling by the pool.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Neuroscientist Professor Sarah Collier is a
Nobel prize winner for her groundbreaking research into Ebola, her husband Daniel is also a neuroscientist. Sarah is showing signs of early onset Alzheimer’s which her father is also suffering and she is currently having tests to determine a prognosis. Daniel wants Sarah to attend the Schiller medical conference in Geneva, partly so he can network off the back of her success. However, the focus of the conference has the potential to revolutionise medicine and perhaps it could be of benefit to Sarah. Circling the conference, vulture like,
is controversial blogger, Terri Landau, who has multiple followers as she delivers the “truth about healthcare“ and Big Pharma. As Sarah‘s symptoms worsen, things begin to spin out of control and she is struggling to discover who she can trust. What is Professor Mauritz Schiller launching and why does he want Sarah in Geneva so badly? The story is principally told by Daniel and Sarah with inserts from “The Landau report“ and by Professor Schiller.
This is a promising debut from actor Richard Armitage and I definitely think he has a future as an author. It starts in rather a ploddy way but once it gets going in the city of Geneva the pace quickens and it remains that way. The author creates a really good atmosphere with a wintry setting and the location is used to full effect in the ensuing drama. It’s good on Sarah‘s feelings and reactions and she is dead centre of what transpires and that becomes crucial to what unravels. The storytelling is very visual, you can tell he’s an actor as it has an action movie thriller feel to it which I really like and I can see it making a very good miniseries.
Sarah‘s and Daniel’s characterisation is good though some of the other characters are less well fleshed out with one feeling a bit of a stereotype. It’s got plenty of twists though some are pretty obvious, one I never buy into anyway but decide to set my scepticism and knowledge to one side so as to fully enjoy the storytelling. It’s definitely a go with the flow, suspend your disbelief, read in at least two key aspects, but it’s fiction after all and entertainment is the key factor! The ending is maybe overly dramatic and also a tad predictable but overall, it is a good read. I can imagine this working extremely well as an audible, maybe more so than as an e-book.
This is a fun read, maybe the type to take on holiday whilst chilling by the pool.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Faber and Faber for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
October 22, 2022
3.5 stars. I mean, let's be honest; I read this because Richard Armitage. He's a fantastic narrator (joined here by another favorite, Nicola Walker), but I didn't expect much from his writing. I was surprised! The gent knows how to turn a lovely phrase. Where this fell short for me a bit was in plot and character development. We never found out why the villain acted the way they did. Some of the plot points didn't really add up for me; here's this Nobel-winning scientist diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and she isn't going to do her own research into how the disease progresses? That said, this is a thriller, and as such, it satisfies. It feels a bit Nordic noir, a bit John le Carre.
October 22, 2022
Really enjoyed this debut thriller by Richard Armitage, available as an Audible original.
Most of it was five star for me, but I found the ending a little too OTT and a little too neat, which just took the shine off a little.
The audiobook presents us with the alternating perspectives of Daniel (read by Armitage) and his wife Sarah (read by Nicola Walker). Both neuroscientists, he’s had a good academic career while Sarah has reached the very top - winning a Nobel prize.
When we meet them, Sarah has retired early to focus on her family - her Dad is in a care home with dementia and she herself has just received a diagnosis and so wants to spend as much time as possible with her Dad, Daniel and their daughter Maddison.
Then Daniel hears about a new product being launched in Geneva and persuades Sarah to go over with him, endorse it, and even try it as a treatment herself. And things take a terrifying turn for the worse. Sarah finds herself in the centre of a plot that could end up with her being killed.
I can’t really say any more without giving away spoilers. What I will say is that the first 80% of the novel is chillingly believable. Then we find out who is behind the threat to Sarah and suddenly the plot gets more and more dramatic - too dramatic for me.
However, at least by the time it all became OTT I was so heavily invested in what would happen that I managed to suspend my disbelief. It was no more ridiculous than some of the James Bond movies, and so I still really enjoyed this listen and would definitely recommend it.
Three word review: Trust no-one, Sarah!
Most of it was five star for me, but I found the ending a little too OTT and a little too neat, which just took the shine off a little.
The audiobook presents us with the alternating perspectives of Daniel (read by Armitage) and his wife Sarah (read by Nicola Walker). Both neuroscientists, he’s had a good academic career while Sarah has reached the very top - winning a Nobel prize.
When we meet them, Sarah has retired early to focus on her family - her Dad is in a care home with dementia and she herself has just received a diagnosis and so wants to spend as much time as possible with her Dad, Daniel and their daughter Maddison.
Then Daniel hears about a new product being launched in Geneva and persuades Sarah to go over with him, endorse it, and even try it as a treatment herself. And things take a terrifying turn for the worse. Sarah finds herself in the centre of a plot that could end up with her being killed.
I can’t really say any more without giving away spoilers. What I will say is that the first 80% of the novel is chillingly believable. Then we find out who is behind the threat to Sarah and suddenly the plot gets more and more dramatic - too dramatic for me.
However, at least by the time it all became OTT I was so heavily invested in what would happen that I managed to suspend my disbelief. It was no more ridiculous than some of the James Bond movies, and so I still really enjoyed this listen and would definitely recommend it.
Three word review: Trust no-one, Sarah!
September 22, 2023
I chose this book as love Geneva
I wish I hadn’t
I love this kind of read, high stakes thriller and ‘world on the edge’ kind of thing but I have read many many that are better in writing style, diction and vocabulary and also in ‘believability’, I always accept there has to be fiction as its fiction 🤗 but this went beyond all those realms
There was one great unexpected to me shock near the end and that was played really well
Sadly though I did find myself drifting off elsewhere and then skim reading a lot to get to that part
Disappointing but looking at other reviews many have loved it so will be interesting to see what others think, but for me was a disaster am afraid, hasnt put me off Geneva though……
I wish I hadn’t
I love this kind of read, high stakes thriller and ‘world on the edge’ kind of thing but I have read many many that are better in writing style, diction and vocabulary and also in ‘believability’, I always accept there has to be fiction as its fiction 🤗 but this went beyond all those realms
There was one great unexpected to me shock near the end and that was played really well
Sadly though I did find myself drifting off elsewhere and then skim reading a lot to get to that part
Disappointing but looking at other reviews many have loved it so will be interesting to see what others think, but for me was a disaster am afraid, hasnt put me off Geneva though……
November 5, 2023
The debut novel from actor Richard Armitage is a fast paced thriller that feels like the screenplay for a "popcorn" film or TV series.
The first half of the novel is very tense & seeing the story from the viewpoints of different characters works in its favour. There are plenty of plot twists in the second half, but here it never rises above being an adequate thriller that would pass your time on as long haul flight.
The first half of the novel is very tense & seeing the story from the viewpoints of different characters works in its favour. There are plenty of plot twists in the second half, but here it never rises above being an adequate thriller that would pass your time on as long haul flight.
September 15, 2023
I hated the writing, I hated the acting and, if every single character had died, I wouldn't have been particularly disappointed. So, not great.
December 26, 2023
Despite the mixed reviews I was keen to give this a try, if only for the two stellar narrators - Nicola Walker and Richard Armitage (who also wrote the book) - and I was not disappointed. I couldn't help but think Armitage has written this with a view to future screen adaptation, potentially starring the two well-known actors! If that happens, I'll be at the front of the queue. A twisty thriller with a hint of sci-fi (in the most literal sense) and emotional weight added by the Alzheimer's focus, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Free on Audible.
Free on Audible.
May 2, 2023
This started quite strong, lost me a little in the middle, but then caught me off guard and drew me back in.
This is an enjoyable debut by Richard Armitage, who is also reliably good as narrator - I was also very impressed with Nicola Walker, who has a lovely voice.
This is an enjoyable debut by Richard Armitage, who is also reliably good as narrator - I was also very impressed with Nicola Walker, who has a lovely voice.
March 15, 2023
RTC I LOVED the narration and the story.
There’s some major plot holes and I’m finding myself forgiving them because I was still wrapped up in the intrigue and fighting for Sarah all along.
There’s some major plot holes and I’m finding myself forgiving them because I was still wrapped up in the intrigue and fighting for Sarah all along.
March 31, 2024
*Riveting Read*
I have always loved the versatility of Richard Armitage as an actor. He can do serious Shakespeare type roles, spies, comedy and more. Anything I have read and if he is the narrator I often add it. This time Nicola Walker is sharing the narration with him, I just love her as an actress so here goes.
Now here we see Richard’s debut as an author.
Well this to me is a great start as he dips his toes into writing.
This book has so much packed into it, we have lies, deception and it also shows how far people will go to get what they want by any means.
Sarah Collier is a remarkable scientist and she is very humble and is also a Nobel Prize winner. She prefers to be in the background as she is an introvert but can make a speech with ease on a grand scale when necessary.
Her husband Daniel is a neuroscientist who has an idea. There is a new technology launch coming up Geneva and a conference is coming. In order to give the launch the best platform who better than Sarah and all the prestige that comes with her name to endorse it. He just needs to get her to agree.
Sarah is not keen because her father has Alzheimer’s disease and she has sadly started to develop some symptoms, this has meant that she had to give up her job and step out of the limelight but, she finally gives in to Daniel’s persuasions.
Well, all is not as it seems when they arrive in Geneva. We discover a whole web of deceit, and we see how far someone will go when a plan is in place and they want it fulfilled as they are playing the long game. We witness the ultimate betrayal and we see where Sarah fits in, in all her vulnerability. As the story unfolds we see more than one person gets confronted with the truth as the scales fall away from their eyes.
This is a book that has some heart stopping moments but it kept my attention throughout. My favourite character was Sarah but two people in particular were despicable. I was drawn to the story as I read and listened to see how far they would be prepared to go….
I have always loved the versatility of Richard Armitage as an actor. He can do serious Shakespeare type roles, spies, comedy and more. Anything I have read and if he is the narrator I often add it. This time Nicola Walker is sharing the narration with him, I just love her as an actress so here goes.
Now here we see Richard’s debut as an author.
Well this to me is a great start as he dips his toes into writing.
This book has so much packed into it, we have lies, deception and it also shows how far people will go to get what they want by any means.
Sarah Collier is a remarkable scientist and she is very humble and is also a Nobel Prize winner. She prefers to be in the background as she is an introvert but can make a speech with ease on a grand scale when necessary.
Her husband Daniel is a neuroscientist who has an idea. There is a new technology launch coming up Geneva and a conference is coming. In order to give the launch the best platform who better than Sarah and all the prestige that comes with her name to endorse it. He just needs to get her to agree.
Sarah is not keen because her father has Alzheimer’s disease and she has sadly started to develop some symptoms, this has meant that she had to give up her job and step out of the limelight but, she finally gives in to Daniel’s persuasions.
Well, all is not as it seems when they arrive in Geneva. We discover a whole web of deceit, and we see how far someone will go when a plan is in place and they want it fulfilled as they are playing the long game. We witness the ultimate betrayal and we see where Sarah fits in, in all her vulnerability. As the story unfolds we see more than one person gets confronted with the truth as the scales fall away from their eyes.
This is a book that has some heart stopping moments but it kept my attention throughout. My favourite character was Sarah but two people in particular were despicable. I was drawn to the story as I read and listened to see how far they would be prepared to go….
October 24, 2022
If you'd told me it was a Harlan Coban, I would have believed you.
Very good effort first time out of the gate by actor and novice novelist Richard Armitage.
Obviously, you'll want to listen to the audiobook read by the man himself and fellow 'Spooks'-alum Nicola Walker.
While it's a roaring good thriller, you also get the impression that Armitage must be at least partially writing from experience. There's certainly emotional weight to story, as well as the deft plotting you'd expect from a man who is obviously as voracious a reader as many of us on here.
If you enjoy a good thriller, you should certainly give this a try.
P.S. In my experience, any audiobook narrated by Mr Armitage is worth a try; like I said, the man's a reader and I like his taste in stories.
Very good effort first time out of the gate by actor and novice novelist Richard Armitage.
Obviously, you'll want to listen to the audiobook read by the man himself and fellow 'Spooks'-alum Nicola Walker.
While it's a roaring good thriller, you also get the impression that Armitage must be at least partially writing from experience. There's certainly emotional weight to story, as well as the deft plotting you'd expect from a man who is obviously as voracious a reader as many of us on here.
If you enjoy a good thriller, you should certainly give this a try.
P.S. In my experience, any audiobook narrated by Mr Armitage is worth a try; like I said, the man's a reader and I like his taste in stories.
November 5, 2023
Prize winning scientist Sarah Collier’s neurological tests are through: she has Alzheimer’s disease. Her elderly father is deteriorating rapidly from this illness so she knows just how bad things will get. However she reluctantly agrees to accept her invitation to the Schiller Institute Conference, based in Geneva, upon her husband Daniel’s encouragement. Ironically the technology being lauded at the conference could end up saving Sarah’s life.
They arrive in Geneva and are treated like royalty; every request catered to. But as Sarah’s symptoms worsen events begin to spiral out of control and it quickly becomes evident that nothing is as it seems..
This was a dynamic read, fast paced and deeply atmospheric. The juxtaposition of the frozen mountains alongside the high tech conference world left me fascinated and filled with anticipation. The location feels dangerous, remote and powerful. Bad things could happen here - and they do!
Told mostly from the viewpoints of Sarah and Daniel, this is a real character led story. It’s interesting to hear the story from two different perspectives and this definitely gives the plot more depth. Talking of the plot, it hurtles along at breakneck speed to a satisfying conclusion. As I was reading this i could quite easily picture it on the screen, so if a tv adaptation doesn’t become imminent, then someone’s missed a trick.
They arrive in Geneva and are treated like royalty; every request catered to. But as Sarah’s symptoms worsen events begin to spiral out of control and it quickly becomes evident that nothing is as it seems..
This was a dynamic read, fast paced and deeply atmospheric. The juxtaposition of the frozen mountains alongside the high tech conference world left me fascinated and filled with anticipation. The location feels dangerous, remote and powerful. Bad things could happen here - and they do!
Told mostly from the viewpoints of Sarah and Daniel, this is a real character led story. It’s interesting to hear the story from two different perspectives and this definitely gives the plot more depth. Talking of the plot, it hurtles along at breakneck speed to a satisfying conclusion. As I was reading this i could quite easily picture it on the screen, so if a tv adaptation doesn’t become imminent, then someone’s missed a trick.
August 27, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up.
Full of flaws/gaps and for a novel that’s trying to be realistic, I couldn’t get past some of the illogical actions and decisions.
The premise and central idea for the book have merit and I enjoyed the espionage, science and mystery. Ultimately, the underlying motive for all the underhandedness was weak and lacking logic - really that’s why you’d do all this?
Full of flaws/gaps and for a novel that’s trying to be realistic, I couldn’t get past some of the illogical actions and decisions.
The premise and central idea for the book have merit and I enjoyed the espionage, science and mystery. Ultimately, the underlying motive for all the underhandedness was weak and lacking logic - really that’s why you’d do all this?
March 16, 2023
So twisty! Love Richard Armitage and Nicola Walker ❤
July 4, 2023
This plot, which may have had promise, was so poorly executed, that it would have been better if it WERE actually written by a 15 year old, instead of just sounding like it was. How? How did they manage to make a Nobel prize winning scientist, sound so juvenile? How did they make a paralysed reclusive uber rich philanthropic genius have no full time staff except new additions of questionable character. How is it that every antagonist's motives are contrived, poorly constructed, and paper thin?
Although a free book on audible, my life wants a refund.
Although a free book on audible, my life wants a refund.
September 4, 2023
I really enjoyed this one, there’s just something about a good thriller that’s believable that really makes reading enjoyable. This was fast paced with a plot that was beautifully executed, and the dual POVs really helped give me the full story with this one. I found myself on the edge of my seat for the majority of this book and just couldn’t put it down until it was finished.
This is an incredible debut and I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Thank you to Faber for sending me a proof of this awesome read that’s out in October.
This is an incredible debut and I can’t wait to read more by this author.
Thank you to Faber for sending me a proof of this awesome read that’s out in October.
May 15, 2023
Meh. I mean, it was a free book on audible so I can’t complain. But I just found this overly dramatic and predictable.
March 2, 2024
Tense and suspensful, Geneva was a fast paced, intense read. The continuous feeling of dread adds to overall feel of broodiness and creates an atmosphere of threat and danger. I really enjoyed it.
February 9, 2024
Mmm… This is a freebie on Audible. To be honest, I wouldn’t have wanted to pay for it.
Sarah Collier is a Nobel prize winning scientist who’s given up her career to raise her daughter and tend her father following his Alzheimer's diagnosis. Things go from bad to worse when she begins to show signs of Alzheimer's herself, leading her to allow her husband to talk her into a trip to Geneva to be the guest of a huge pharmaceutical company at the launch of their new groundbreaking research.
If you’ve read any books from the 80s by Sidney Sheldon, or even watched a James Bond movie, Geneva will be instantly familiar. There’s the femme fatale, the Russian agent, the crazy billionaire in the wheelchair. There’s the high security glass walled institute set into the side of a snowy mountain, there’s the near death experiences while skiing, there’s the multi-screen elaborate launch of the revolutionary but controversial medical breakthrough, It was all so cliched, I’m sure my eyes rolled back in my head a few times.
The multiple points of view were unnecessary and annoying. We really only should have had Sarah’s but I guess then there would have been no need for Richard Armitage to narrate. As much as I like him as an actor and love his accent, surprisingly I don’t think he’s a great narrator (I think this is the second or third of his I’ve listened to). Nicola Walker though, can do no wrong and she was excellent. As I said, she had the advantage of the better characterisation with Sarah, as opposed to the inner thoughts of Sarah’s husband, Daniel, who Armitage mostly interpreted.
If you’re into James Patterson or Dan Brown, maybe you’ll like this but I really struggled. Maybe 2 out of 5
Sarah Collier is a Nobel prize winning scientist who’s given up her career to raise her daughter and tend her father following his Alzheimer's diagnosis. Things go from bad to worse when she begins to show signs of Alzheimer's herself, leading her to allow her husband to talk her into a trip to Geneva to be the guest of a huge pharmaceutical company at the launch of their new groundbreaking research.
If you’ve read any books from the 80s by Sidney Sheldon, or even watched a James Bond movie, Geneva will be instantly familiar. There’s the femme fatale, the Russian agent, the crazy billionaire in the wheelchair. There’s the high security glass walled institute set into the side of a snowy mountain, there’s the near death experiences while skiing, there’s the multi-screen elaborate launch of the revolutionary but controversial medical breakthrough, It was all so cliched, I’m sure my eyes rolled back in my head a few times.
The multiple points of view were unnecessary and annoying. We really only should have had Sarah’s but I guess then there would have been no need for Richard Armitage to narrate. As much as I like him as an actor and love his accent, surprisingly I don’t think he’s a great narrator (I think this is the second or third of his I’ve listened to). Nicola Walker though, can do no wrong and she was excellent. As I said, she had the advantage of the better characterisation with Sarah, as opposed to the inner thoughts of Sarah’s husband, Daniel, who Armitage mostly interpreted.
If you’re into James Patterson or Dan Brown, maybe you’ll like this but I really struggled. Maybe 2 out of 5
January 6, 2023
Not a great book, I can’t say I enjoyed it. Pretty unbelievable plot, as in there we’re lots of times you were just like this could/would never happen. Predictable outcomes, I never guess any plot twists normally but nothing here took me by surprise. Sorry it’s just a two stars from me
June 28, 2023
Geneva is a gripping medical/psychological/techno-thriller about a brilliant scientist facing a devastating diagnosis, who has been picked to be the face of a game-changing new therapy. We listened to it as an Audible Original audiobook, narrated in part by the author, actor Richard Armitage. While it relies on tropes that have been done to death in recent years, so the twists were not as surprising as they should’ve been, and was totally implausible medically, it was still an exciting story with an intriguing premise.
Sarah Collier is a Nobel prize-winning researcher, happily married to a neurologist, whose life has been upended by the discovery that she is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Her husband Daniel persuades her to travel to Switzerland to attend the glitzy launch of Neurocell, a brain implant with the potential to reverse her condition, but under pressure from those who want to use her for their own ends, Sarah must decide who, if anyone, she can trust.
This is mostly told from both perspectives - Sarah’s, increasingly confused and suspicious, regretting having agreed to the trip but grasping at the possibility of something that might help her, and Daniel’s, the resentful spouse who loves him wife but whose life and career haven’t quite worked out as he planned. There are also chapters in third person about a few other important characters, including crusading conspiracy blogger Terri, who has her own views on Biocell, and glamorous marketing executive Helen who is determined to make the launch a success, no matter what…
I’m limited by what I can comment on here without spoilers, but let’s just say the medical aspects were preposterous and the plot holes problematic - this is set in the present but the technology as described just isn’t possible. Sarah is lauded as this amazing researcher who helped stop Ebola, but it’s never mentioned what she actually did - and why would a neuroscientist be working on that anyway? Certain characters’ actions just don’t make sense and for a supposedly brilliant doctor, Sarah does some very silly things. The final quarter turns into quite the action thriller, but I liked how it was all resolved and enjoyed the narration.
Sarah Collier is a Nobel prize-winning researcher, happily married to a neurologist, whose life has been upended by the discovery that she is suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Her husband Daniel persuades her to travel to Switzerland to attend the glitzy launch of Neurocell, a brain implant with the potential to reverse her condition, but under pressure from those who want to use her for their own ends, Sarah must decide who, if anyone, she can trust.
This is mostly told from both perspectives - Sarah’s, increasingly confused and suspicious, regretting having agreed to the trip but grasping at the possibility of something that might help her, and Daniel’s, the resentful spouse who loves him wife but whose life and career haven’t quite worked out as he planned. There are also chapters in third person about a few other important characters, including crusading conspiracy blogger Terri, who has her own views on Biocell, and glamorous marketing executive Helen who is determined to make the launch a success, no matter what…
I’m limited by what I can comment on here without spoilers, but let’s just say the medical aspects were preposterous and the plot holes problematic - this is set in the present but the technology as described just isn’t possible. Sarah is lauded as this amazing researcher who helped stop Ebola, but it’s never mentioned what she actually did - and why would a neuroscientist be working on that anyway? Certain characters’ actions just don’t make sense and for a supposedly brilliant doctor, Sarah does some very silly things. The final quarter turns into quite the action thriller, but I liked how it was all resolved and enjoyed the narration.
November 20, 2023
At least I'm not entirely alone in finding this novel a huge disappointment - although we are definitely in the minority.
But ...oh dear! I adore Richard Armitage, actor and narrator. Just not Richard Armitage, author.
I almost chose not to leave a review, because the use of the present tense in novels, along with several points of view spread across chapters (and sometimes within the same one) are approaches I prefer to avoid. There's something about writing in the present tense that annoys the heck out of me. But that's not Mr. Armitage's fault.
My biggest problems with this book are still manifold and, I believe, have been picked up by other reviewers who were similarly less than impressed: The character of Daniel is so weak, pathetic, and jealous of his wife's success that it seems unrealistic that he would a) hold such a prestigious medical position himself and b) that his wife Sarah wouldn't have noticed his pathology before now.
I only stuck with the story because I wanted to get to the bottom of who Terri Landau was and why, given that she was a muck-spreading blogging hack, she was granted the first (and indeed, only) interview with Nobel Prize winning Professor Sarah Collier - when the rest of the journalists represented serious scientific publications like the Lancet and Scientific American were not. Why would Mauritz Schiller have allowed that to happen, irrespective of the "brilliance" of his PR person?
The relationship between Daniel and the psychopath Helen is one I could not get my head around. Yes, the man is pathetic but Helen is such a one-dimensional evil character that he would have to be a seriously deranged masochist to find her appealing. But, then, Mr. Armitage goes on at length (a little too much, sadly) about how Daniel can't help himself, how he has fallen under her spell, is putty in her hands, etc. etc. etc.
I'm still not quite sure the purpose of the Russian. And maybe if we'd learned earlier about Helen's past trauma concerning her ex-husband and child the reader might have had the chance to develop some sympathy for her. As it was I found myself gritting my teeth at the stupidity of Sarah at the end. Note to self: When dealing with a psychopath, never try to do the right thing and save them from falling to their death. Because, chances are that they'll want to take me with them!
Lastly, and sorry to say this because I'm a big fan of the acting of Mr. Armitage and Ms. Walker - and of the author's narration skills - the writing was far too melodramatic for me. Which made for mostly overwrought narration. It was hard to take the Landau Report seriously, given the way it was written and narrated.
Anyway, plenty of other people enjoyed this. Although one has to wonder if the "halo effect" doesn't play into some of these 5* reviews: Mr. Armitage exceeds in so many other areas, like acting and narration, that maybe he's been given a "pass" when it comes to some pretty hackneyed writing. Sorry!
But ...oh dear! I adore Richard Armitage, actor and narrator. Just not Richard Armitage, author.
I almost chose not to leave a review, because the use of the present tense in novels, along with several points of view spread across chapters (and sometimes within the same one) are approaches I prefer to avoid. There's something about writing in the present tense that annoys the heck out of me. But that's not Mr. Armitage's fault.
My biggest problems with this book are still manifold and, I believe, have been picked up by other reviewers who were similarly less than impressed: The character of Daniel is so weak, pathetic, and jealous of his wife's success that it seems unrealistic that he would a) hold such a prestigious medical position himself and b) that his wife Sarah wouldn't have noticed his pathology before now.
I only stuck with the story because I wanted to get to the bottom of who Terri Landau was and why, given that she was a muck-spreading blogging hack, she was granted the first (and indeed, only) interview with Nobel Prize winning Professor Sarah Collier - when the rest of the journalists represented serious scientific publications like the Lancet and Scientific American were not. Why would Mauritz Schiller have allowed that to happen, irrespective of the "brilliance" of his PR person?
The relationship between Daniel and the psychopath Helen is one I could not get my head around. Yes, the man is pathetic but Helen is such a one-dimensional evil character that he would have to be a seriously deranged masochist to find her appealing. But, then, Mr. Armitage goes on at length (a little too much, sadly) about how Daniel can't help himself, how he has fallen under her spell, is putty in her hands, etc. etc. etc.
I'm still not quite sure the purpose of the Russian. And maybe if we'd learned earlier about Helen's past trauma concerning her ex-husband and child the reader might have had the chance to develop some sympathy for her. As it was I found myself gritting my teeth at the stupidity of Sarah at the end. Note to self: When dealing with a psychopath, never try to do the right thing and save them from falling to their death. Because, chances are that they'll want to take me with them!
Lastly, and sorry to say this because I'm a big fan of the acting of Mr. Armitage and Ms. Walker - and of the author's narration skills - the writing was far too melodramatic for me. Which made for mostly overwrought narration. It was hard to take the Landau Report seriously, given the way it was written and narrated.
Anyway, plenty of other people enjoyed this. Although one has to wonder if the "halo effect" doesn't play into some of these 5* reviews: Mr. Armitage exceeds in so many other areas, like acting and narration, that maybe he's been given a "pass" when it comes to some pretty hackneyed writing. Sorry!
September 21, 2023
“Geneva" by Richard Armitage is an intense psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, blending science, suspense, and human emotions. The story revolves around Nobel Prize-winning scientist Sarah Collier, who is grappling with the early signs of Alzheimer's disease. Faced with a critical decision of embracing life-saving technology or succumbing to her failing health, Sarah's journey is both harrowing and engrossing.
The snowy backdrop of Geneva is vividly described, adding an extra layer of danger to the narrative. Sarah's struggle with memory loss and her husband Daniel's aspirations for success in the scientific community create a complex dynamic that adds depth to the storyline. Armitage maintains a palpable tension throughout the book, propelling readers forward at a brisk pace.
While the story may require some suspension of disbelief, the relentless suspense and intricate character relationships keep readers hooked. As Sarah battles her deteriorating reality and the dangers that lurk, the blurred lines of trust and deception come to the forefront. Armitage's debut work demonstrates his ability to weave a thrilling tale and sets the stage for an exciting exploration of the thriller genre. For those who enjoy psychological suspense, "Geneva" offers an engaging and promising start to an enthralling literary journey.
The snowy backdrop of Geneva is vividly described, adding an extra layer of danger to the narrative. Sarah's struggle with memory loss and her husband Daniel's aspirations for success in the scientific community create a complex dynamic that adds depth to the storyline. Armitage maintains a palpable tension throughout the book, propelling readers forward at a brisk pace.
While the story may require some suspension of disbelief, the relentless suspense and intricate character relationships keep readers hooked. As Sarah battles her deteriorating reality and the dangers that lurk, the blurred lines of trust and deception come to the forefront. Armitage's debut work demonstrates his ability to weave a thrilling tale and sets the stage for an exciting exploration of the thriller genre. For those who enjoy psychological suspense, "Geneva" offers an engaging and promising start to an enthralling literary journey.
January 14, 2024
Wow, not sure to start with this review.
I picked this up because I loved the cover and the premise sounded good.
This book was incredibly predictable, the characters I just didn’t connect with & by the end of the book I just didn’t care.
This book just fell flat for me
I picked this up because I loved the cover and the premise sounded good.
This book was incredibly predictable, the characters I just didn’t connect with & by the end of the book I just didn’t care.
This book just fell flat for me
October 13, 2024
3.75
Seeing Richard Armitage in so many crime thrillers recently, I feel like the genre choice for his debut is very fitting.
And honestly, it is a very good debut. The story gets very wild but also keeps you at the edge of your seat and is believable enough to keep the immersion going. The cast of characters is quite small but they are all fleshed out very well, to the point you really, REALLY want to punch some of them. Well, mostly one of them in my case…
Anyway! If you’re into crime thriller fiction, this is a juicy ride.
Seeing Richard Armitage in so many crime thrillers recently, I feel like the genre choice for his debut is very fitting.
And honestly, it is a very good debut. The story gets very wild but also keeps you at the edge of your seat and is believable enough to keep the immersion going. The cast of characters is quite small but they are all fleshed out very well, to the point you really, REALLY want to punch some of them. Well, mostly one of them in my case…
Anyway! If you’re into crime thriller fiction, this is a juicy ride.
September 19, 2024
Once a Spook always a Spook the first place I come to know of Richard Armitage. As for his debut novel I loved everything about it. From how weak Daniel was to how deranged Helen or Terri was. Her obsession with Sarah. Sarah who I loved as a main character. Pavel really did get Sarah back to her daughter. Nice touch of having the Russians around taking me back once again to the Spooks days. I loved it
October 23, 2024
Richard Armitage if you read this, you will always be famous to me but this...wasn't it. I wasn't the target audience to begin with but there was barely anything in this book that objectively worked (the pacing was fine and there was one nice twist). I hated the characters, didn't care for the plot, and found the writing too simplistic and sometimes very cliché. We all have to start somewhere as writers though so I finished reading it but man at what cost.
August 2, 2024
Richard Armitage is one of my favorite actors. So when I found out that he's now branching out as an author, I just had to read his debut novel.
I went into "Geneva" with zero expectations. The premise sounded interesting enough, so in I jumped-
First I want to talk about the things I liked about this book:
Richard's writing style — even though this is his first novel, you can't really tell.
Well, that's the one thing that I liked.
So, onto what I didn't like:
The plot — it was boring, and a tad predictable.
The characters — well, not all of them. But yeah, they were bland and I didn't really care about what happened to them.
So there you have it. Geneva was a light read, fast paced but it definitely didn't make my heart pace. Nevertheless, if Richard writes another book, I'm definitely reading it.
And unlike celebrity autobiographies, I don't think this was ghostwritten.
I went into "Geneva" with zero expectations. The premise sounded interesting enough, so in I jumped-
First I want to talk about the things I liked about this book:
Richard's writing style — even though this is his first novel, you can't really tell.
Well, that's the one thing that I liked.
So, onto what I didn't like:
The plot — it was boring, and a tad predictable.
The characters — well, not all of them. But yeah, they were bland and I didn't really care about what happened to them.
So there you have it. Geneva was a light read, fast paced but it definitely didn't make my heart pace. Nevertheless, if Richard writes another book, I'm definitely reading it.
And unlike celebrity autobiographies, I don't think this was ghostwritten.
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