The Satan Bug

By: Alistair MacLean

Narrated by: Mark Meadows

Gripping and tense story of secret agents, even more secret government facilities, and a deadly virus, from the acclaimed master of action and suspense.

Mordon Chemical Research Centre: an ultra top secret facility hidden in the English countryside and one of the most secure places in the world. But now it has been broken into and the Satan Bug, the deadliest toxin in the world, has been stolen.

Private detective Pierre Cavell is recruited by the British Secret Service to investigate, and it soon becomes clear that not everyone is who they seem.

And then a letter is sent giving the authorities just 72 hours to meet the thief’s outrageous demands. There is no way they can pay the ransom, but if they refuse he will release the virus…

©2009 Alistair MacLean (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

'Utterly compelling' Punch

'Spine-chilling, throat-clutching' Books and Bookmen

False advertising - this is not unabridged as advertised

I got no further than chapter 2 before noticing missing paragraphs. The scene at the entry to the research facility is missing the part where the guards point their guns at the general and Cavell explains why it's standard procedure. Later the dialogue is cut where Cavell explains why the guards don't have a set schedule. There are more examples of missing scenes and dialogue all through the book. The story is there but some of the humor and insight is lost. It's disappointing that Audible advertises the book as unabridged when it's not.