This is my first read by this author & it definitely won't be my last! The story kept me entertained the whole way through, I couldn't put it down!!!

Michelle gets to escape from a divorce and empty house to go to the wonderful country of Iceland and has a plum job that she is perfect for. What could go wrong? As this is a thriller, of course there is going to be something rotten waiting for her to uncover and it won't take too long. Alternating between her view point and Lars (the scientist trying to blow the whistle on a drug that could kill millions if released), plus little sections of the assassin's point of view to amp up the tenseness Michelle ends up with the sample and goes on the run, trying to stay alive long enough to get the story out (Lars too). It definitely is a fast read, and hard to put down. I don't think I even noticed chapters, I was very deep in and could picture the icy storm of a world that Michelle was in as she tried to figure out her next steps, staying ahead of Kimia. Thank goodness for Richard!

So, a fun and thrilling and pretty quick read about an ordinary woman making the right choice over a corporation looking to make big bucks at the cost of millions of lives, friends and allies she makes on the way. Amazing what you can end up doing when looking for an adventure after a miserable divorce!

Having previously read some.of.her previous novels I knew what to expect and i really enjoyed this book. Perfect for a November evening

Thank you for the opportunity to review

This story launches straight into the action, immersing readers in a fast-paced narrative that never lets up. The dynamic between Michelle and Richard is both compelling and complex as they navigate a web of deceit while striving to publish their story. The tension builds with every twist, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.

The plot is tightly woven, featuring sharp dialogue and well-drawn characters that add depth to the unfolding drama. The stakes are high, and the relentless pace ensures that there's never a dull moment. This book has all the ingredients for a thrilling series, with enough intrigue to captivate fans of suspenseful fiction.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and can easily envision it evolving into a twisted and engaging series. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves a blend of action and psychological tension. Highly recommended!

The Wonder Drug has a great premise and setting — a mysterious 'wonder drug' soon to be released from a secretive pharmaceutical lab based in Iceland. When Michelle gets the offer of a PR job at the lab, she jumps at the chance. At 45, divorced, her son Toby now in university, this is her opportunity for an exciting change. Soon after she begins work, however, her life is kicked into high-octane action when a scientist working on the drug confides in her that it is extremely dangerous and she must warn the world before it's released. So begins Michelle's race against time, with help from an investigative journalist, to find enough evidence to denounce Kimia Pharmaceuticals and protect the world from the wonder drug, while pursued across Europe by hired killers.

The Wonder Drug is an absolute page turner. I started and finished it in less than 12 hours, finally closing it at 4 a.m.... Is it perfect? No. Are there plot holes and clichés? Yes. Do they matter? Not in the least: my suspension of disbelief was total while I was engrossed in this story.

Thanks to the author, publisher @joffebooks and Netgalley for the ARC. All my reviews are 100% honest and unbiased, regardless of how I acquire the book.

#NetGalley #bookreview #SusannaBeard #TheWonderDrug #books.beledit #JoffeBooks

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for this eCopy to review

The Wonder Drug by Susanna Beard is a gripping tale that mixes psychological suspense with thought-provoking themes about the ethics of scientific discovery.

Michelle is looking for adventure after a series of under whelming dates following her divorce. She takes a maternity cover post for a pharmaceutical company in Iceland. Why are they so secretive? Why will no-one talk about their work? Why do the executives look surprisingly young for their ages? One day she is given a sample of a drug and told to make the media know that it is flawed and will kill countless people because Kimia is determined to take it to market anyway. What follows is a race against time to publish the story with the help of investigative journalist Richard. Can they out run the hit men and publish the story?

What stood out to me was how Beard intertwined the personal and the professional, blurring the lines between right and wrong in a world driven by scientific advancements. The pacing was tight, the tension palpable, and the stakes felt incredibly real.

I read a medical research thriller after long. This is a fast-paced story. The premise is good, though lot of the characterisation and action is predictable & simplistic.

Michelle is 45, divorced after her husband had an affair with a younger woman and left her. Her son Toby is in college. Michelle initially struggled to come to terms with her situation and harboured a lot of self-doubt. She decides to move along and takes up a job in Iceland. She joins Kimia, a research lab in Reykjavik in Corporate Relations/PR. This is a 6-month position to start with. Her boss is Ashley, an American and she shares accommodation with Helga, a senior manager. The apartment sharing practice is encouraged for assimilation & learning. She finds areas which are a no-go in the building for confidentiality reasons. After all, Kimia is working on potentially path-breaking new drugs, and it is a very competitive industry.

She gets to appreciate the city – its sights, places and culture. It initially felt strange that in winter the city is up before dawn with darkness creeping in by afternoon. There is a period of strange still twilight, like a daily eclipse. One day in the elevator a man – Lars Andersson, who she has not met before, in panic hands her a file and sample. He tells her there are some things wrong and she should go to the police or media. He meets her the next day in the bus and provides more details, divulging that he must leave the country the same night. He suggests she speak to Richard Bamford, a journalist in London. She does that and he promptly offers to help – deciding that it is best he fly into Iceland.

The story is very well fast paced. The idea of a blockbuster drug and sinister characters provides a good story premise. There are very good descriptions of Iceland, especially how it feels in the winter. There are aspects of the plot which feel far-fetched especially since the motives are poorly explained.

My rating: 3.5 / 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my copy of The Wonder Drug by Susanna Beard.
Michelle has taken a chance and landed a temporary job in Iceland at a pharmaceutical company.
The work is similar to what she’s used to but it’s Iceland and all so new, so cold and exciting.
Until the day she meets Lars, little did she know her life would change forever.
A fabulous read that takes you on a road trip and shows just how easy it is for someone to follow you.

This book was a thrilling cat and mouse chase that hooked me from the beginning and certainly had me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed the quick chapters and I think they added to the pace of the book in a positive way.

The ending of this book is set up in a way that there could be a sequel-although I’m not sure that is the authors intent. She may just want to leave us in a state of thinking and reflection.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Wonder Drug by Susanna Beard. Interesting premise and vivid landscape descriptions. Sadly could not connect with Michelle or her actions and found it difficult to finish the book. Others will mostly likely enjoy the story.
Thank you to the author, Joffee Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I was hooked right away, it had the perfect amount of suspense and I read it quickly as I didn't want to put it down.

The Wonder Drug by Susanna Beard was a book that was an excellent, intense and interesting read. I was gripped to my kindle from the beginning till the very end, once I started to read it I could not turn the pages quick enough to find out what happens next, WoW this book was so good, especially as it was full of twists and turns and had a great storyline.

I highly recommend this book.......

Big thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my ARC.

This uses the thriller element perfectly to tell the story that it needed to and was invested in the characters. It had that plot that I wanted from what I was expecting. The characters had that realism that I was looking for and thought they worked with the story. Susanna Beard has that psychological element and was enjoying the overall concept.

Michelle starts a new job in Iceland, which seems to be going well until she is handed something in the elevator that she didn't want to receive..

She needs to act quickly, her life is in danger and so are the lives of many others. The Wonder Drug was a fast paced, exciting and tense journey across different countries. Michelle, with the help of journalist tries to keep herself alive and release the information that will save lives, while being chased by a pharmaceutical company who have the money and the resources to destroy her.

I loved the characters, the setting, the cat and mouse style storyline and the couple of twists thrown in for good measure. I also enjoyed the different POV's, which added interesting perspectives, and that Michelle was just an ordinary woman thrown into a very dangerous situation.

Another great read from Susanna Beard.

This is a hard one to call. While I loved the idea of fighting against Big Pharma, Michelle wasn’t written well enough to believe she could handle the challenges.

It is a little long and doesn’t really satisfy at the end.

Susanna Beard is one of those writers who is often underestimated. I loved her book The Perfect Neighbour and she has delivered another cracker with this one!

Creepy and atmospheric, this is the story of how Michelle moves from the UK to a new job in Iceland in order to put her past well and truly behind her, only to encounter a most unexpected situation in Reykjavik.

Working for a pharmaceuticals company, she suddenly find herself in possession of confidential information that she has no desire to engage with. But it's likely that Michelle will have no choice. Because Lars, who gives her the unwanted files, does so at great personal risk.

And now, whether she wants to be involved or not, Michelle has to make some decisions fast...

A fast-paced and engaging read, this one gets 3. 5 stars.

This was a good, intense and interesting read. This delves into the pharmaceutical world and the wonder drug that can extend life but all is not as it seems.
When I was reading it I kept thinking I could imagine this as a TV series. Having visited Iceland I enjoyed the descriptions of the country and would've liked them to stay there a bit longer but it's not possible with the story.
I'll definitely be looking into this author more, I enjoyed her style of writing and found it easy to read and I got into the book very fast.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
This was a thriller! I can’t wait for her next book!
Michelle leaves her old life with her cheating ex and takes. Job with a drug company, - everyone is beautiful. She feels like she has found the dream job until—- Lars meets her in the elevator and hands her a folder and tells her to hide it. That they are after him. Now she finds herself running for her life!

Interesting concept. Slightly predictable but still fun. I loved the descriptions of Iceland. Would recommend to others who enjoy thrillers with a hint of sci fi.

This is the third book I have read by this author and I really enjoy her books. I loved that this book was set in Iceland and was hooked from the beginning. The suspense built throughout the book with a great ending. Great characters and an in depth look at big Pharma fit into the story perfectly. I was on the edge of my seat while reading this! Fast paced and a really good storyline make this book a real winner! Thank you to NetGalley, Susanna Beard and Joffe Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️