Meet Suzanne and Charlie Jones, siblings and friends. They share an apartment; they share a love of spicy curries; and they are about to share some very scary experiences.
Fake medicine kills. No-one is safe.
Regulator Suzanne Jones’ mission to stop counterfeiting in Africa becomes personal when a colleague buys a bottle of fake cough syrup with tragic consequences. But her investigations bring danger ever closer. In Uganda a factory burns; Suzanne’s friend goes missing; and in Swaziland and Zambia, children die.
Who is supplying the fake drugs? What is the Eastern European connection? Can Suzanne stop the counterfeiters before more people die?
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Yasdnil –
Gripping story, believable.
Set in the world of international diplomacy and aid organisations, this intriguing story keeps moving, has believable though slightly larger-than-life characters and also addresses a problem of our times – counterfeit drugs. The story line was trying to cover too much ground in too little time, but I’m hooked enough to look forward to the next in the series. A realistic view of Africa – eyes open to the poverty and corruption – but plowing a humanitarian rather than political furrow.
Carol A –
Hooked From the Start.
A gripping, well-written page-turner. I enjoyed the journey from the beginning. The characters were believable. The author’s depictions of conditions in Africa were vivid and eye-opening. The intriguing plot left enough to leave me wanting to read the next book.
dctbehls –
Intriguing story. keeps you wanting more.
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into but didn’t want to put this book down. A very relevant subject now days and something I hadn’t thought much about until now. I’d read more because I’m convinced it’s not all fiction- there’s more to it.
MRS DIANE WILSON –
I loved reading this book. I thought it was well written, though occasionally needed slightly more proof reading! It kept me wanting to find out what happened from the beginning to the end. I enjoy thrillers and this was one with a different slant. I was horrified that this sort of subterfuge and trickery could go on in the pharmacy world. I was not surprised that false prices or less effective contents could be in these medicines sold to countries in Africa, but I was totally shocked that the contents of so-called medicines could actually kill people. It is really important that people the world over are made aware of these problems.
I felt that the conclusion did not have a totally satisfactory ending, but I suppose in the real world this can sometimes happen. Huge companies or organisations or the main men in charge can get away with a lot, murder even.
I enjoyed being taken across Africa to several different countries, as I’ve never visited the continent at all, but could appreciate the lives and situations of the local people from the book.
Hal –
Waiting for the next one!
A cracking good yarn! Keeps you guessing until the end – or maybe beyond!
F Hill –
Counterfeit not Authentic definitely!
From the very first page to the last I could not put this book down. I love the fact that it was female driven, it made a refreshing change but did not lose any authenticity. The characters were so real and easily identifiable with. There was no doubt that despite it being a story the subject and detail were very well researched and real.
Fast paced and action packed in a realistic and believable. The African Hut scenes I was so in there with the character.
Will definitely get her other book Georgito’s Ice Rink and hope it is half as good and it will be a fantastic read.
Eleanor –
A great read.
I love a novel that not only keeps me turning the pages because of a gripping plot and great characters, but also makes me feel I’ve learnt something along the way. I have never been to Uganda, Swaziland or Zambia and neither had I any idea of the problems of counterfeit prescription drugs.
It wasn’t only the fascinating story line, its excellent setting but also I could empathise with the characters. I thoroughly recommend it.
Sheila Pearson –
A real page turner! The story had had me hooked from the start. It takes you to unfamiliar places, but they are so well described that you feel you are there . I couldn’t put the book down and can’t wait to see what happens in the sequel!
colhammer –
A well paced thriller dealing with a little known subject, the international trade in counterfeit medicine. It has both interesting characters & unexpected plot twists to keep you reading. I look forward to book 2.
Amazon Customer –
The author has put her background in the pharmaceutical industry to good use in this gripping book. The portrayal of both the characters, and the atmosphere of Africa is excellent and the various twists to the plot maintain your interest throughout. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
Mrs Penny J Martin –
Right MUST win out over wrong!
A fast-paced thriller set mostly in Africa and dealing with a terrifying topic for us all – dangerous counterfeit medicinal drugs. The characters are well defined and easy to believe in. None of us wants to live in a world where greedy, unscrupulous and power-hungry people gain the upper hand at the expense of some of the most vulnerable in our societies, so the reader finds him/herself willing the right side to prevail against difficult odds. The author know exactly what she is writing about, which gives the book its realism and indisputable truth.
Angelina K –
A great read – highly recommended!
I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this novel, the first for me by this author. I LOVED it! The characters are wonderful, the story is a page-turner and the writing is superb. The fact that it’s set primarily in Africa is a bonus for me as though I haven’t lived there for many years, it was a pleasure to return to familiar scenes through this excellent mystery. Highly recommended.
London Lass –
Suzanne Jones is no ordinary civil servant. Her London-based job takes her around the world tracking down drug counterfeiters. When her flat is ransacked in a search for incriminating documents, she realises the villains are getting closer to home…
With engaging characters, a twisting plot and exotic settings, this story is an entertaining read.
ljw –
Great story and characters.
Really diffrent story within a familiar feeling genre. Reslly enjoyed the characters, particularly the sibling relationship. Well paced and a joy to read.
Lance Mitchell –
Danger at every turn.
This is a well-crafted and very believable tale of deceipt and intrigue. The pace is good and is maintained throughout. I love the characters, who continue to reveal hidden secrets from first to last. As Suzanne seeks the truth, she, and the reader, wonder whom she can trust and whom she cannot. There are plenty of surprises.
I enjoyed the whole story and the conclusion, which leaves itself open to many possible paths for the next instalment.
Anuradha –
If you are looking for great summer read.
I bought this book because I was drawn to the African setting but it was so much more. A fast paced thriller that made me think of a real global problem. I could hardly put it down. Elizabeth clearly knows and loves Africa and it shows. If you are looking for great summer read, get this.
Ms. Jade A. Fitton –
Brilliant evocative thriller.
I loved Counterfeit. It’s brilliantly and often beautifully written. Ducie clearly has a wealth of knowledge about her subject matter which comes across effortlessly in the prose and is used to create a gripping and highly believable plot. I can’t wait to see what the Jones’ sisters get up to next!
Amazon Customer –
An interesting book by a talented writer.
Well researched and well written. Ends tied up neatly by the last page.
A reader –
Perfect holiday read!
A great story that takes you on an adventure across Africa. It was the perfect holiday read!
TAW –
A great page turner.
Lovely characterisation and description of the African background. A fascinating story drawing on real events in the real world. I read the whole book in one sitting. Thoroughly recommend.
Susan Robinson –
Great read, kept me guessing on who to trust …
Great read , kept me guessing on who to trust and who not to. Opened up a new world to me on drug sales. Can’t wait until the next one
S K Marshall –
Brilliant, fast paced page turner. Well worth the read. The ending was slightly weak but still very good. I wait with interest for the seond Suzanne Jones book.
LizzyD –
Can’t wait for book 2.
Excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The pace kept me gripped from the start and I didn’t go into “skimming” mode once. Come on Elizabeth, where do the “girls” take us next?
Patricia Craig –
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
I enjoyed this book very much. Good story and characterisation. I’ve started on the sequel which I’m enjoying just as much.
Geoff Powell –
A thoroughly good read.
This is a good read- a thrillerand detective story in one. The author knows her subject well and creates a sympathetic picture of the struggle against corruption in Sothern Africa as well as in the UK
Dee Healey –
Well worth reading.
I’ve read some of Elizabeth’s’ short stories but this is the first novel I’ve bought. It has a good pace and is on a topic that does not reach main stream news very often. Elizabeth paints a fascinating picture of a murky, dangerous world and recreates the sights, sounds and smells of Africa very well.
Chris Over –
A best seller in the making.
Never before have I bought and read a book in one day. A fast paced plot with believable characters and a serious storyline – what more could you want from a novel? The description of Africa was spot on – I could sense the heat and dust! If this doesn’t make a bestseller list it will be a great surprise. Chris Over
Eldatom –
This book is a real page turner, I didn’t want to put it down. Elizabeth Ducie is a talented writer and takes us through twists and turns adding tension and suspension. When I finished the last page I couldn’t wait to read more of the author’s work so downloaded the next in the series, ‘Deception.’
Amazon Customer –
Fantastic storytelling. I read the book from start to finish in one sitting . The characters in the book were so credible that I understood their need for take away curries after a hard day’s work! The plot leading to the top echelons of British Society provided a surprise twist at the end! Excellent read, thoroughly recommended.
Sarah Chaffe –
I really got into this story very promptly, found it exciting and a good read, Chibeasa was my favourite character in the book, the other characters didn’t stand out to me.
CG –
This is a great read! Well plotted with lots of twists and turns. The author clearly knows her stuff when it comes to the pharmaceutical industry and all the problems and tragedies that come from the illegal trade in drugs. The chapters in Africa were really vivid. I particularly liked that the female characters drove the plot, and I thought them all engaging in their different ways. I’m so glad this is book 1 of a series as looking forward to reading more about them.
MLM –
A page turner set in southern Africa.
A real treat to read. Elizabeth manages to capture the real dilemmas that face many people in Africa. tI came as no surprise to me that she had worked there. Her characters are well drawn and believable. Her main character, Suzanne, in dealing with fake drugs comes across some desperate and violent people and finds herself in danger. Finding out how she would deal with this kept me reading on. This book is part of a trilogy and I look forward to seeing how the story develops. I hope that we see more of Suzanne and her allies and opponents.
Graham Knight –
A nice easy going thriller with lots of intrigue. It kept me engaged without being too taxing. I liked the African themes.
Julie C –
A gripping read.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, not just for the plot’s twists and turns that kept me guessing (almost) to the end, or the well written characters I could empathise with, but for allowing me to visit new countries in my imagination. I know it is a cliche, but this was a genuine page turner, and I am glad I wasn’t reading it on public transport, or I would have been in danger of missing my stop!
The author has teased her readers slightly as although the story comes to a satisfactory conclusion, there are some loose ends and queries about the characters, leaving me counting the days until the next book is published.
Elizabeth –
I could not put this down and read the whole book on a very rainy day in the summer. I loved the plot which was refreshingly different when compared to the crime fiction that I normally read. It is set in the world of pharmaceuticals and captured the issues that arise in ensuring that safe medicines are available in Africa. I have spent time in Africa and thought that Elizabeth had captured the essence of the countries and make me feel that I was back there while reading. I particularly enjoyed the characters especially Suzanne and Charlie and how their relationship as sisters was woven into the plot. Really looking forward to reading Deception
Georgia Rose –
Highly recommended well written mystery.
I have been wanting to get to read a book by Elizabeth Ducie for a long time. I knew she had a new book coming out and knowing I couldn’t start mid-series (for only chaos can come out of that) I had to get cracking on Counterfeit first, and I was so glad I did.
Suzanne Jones is on a mission to stop the counterfeiting of medicines in Africa. Through the story we meet the people she works for in the UK and the team that helps her in Africa as well as her sister, Charlie. Suzanne puts herself in danger as she tries to get to the source of the fake drugs and people die around her as the net tightens in this well written thriller. Ducie keeps the reader guessing throughout and I was as surprised as the characters with one particular twist in the tale.
Ducie is an accomplished story teller and gains your confidence in her writing very quickly. I liked her characters and their relationships. Her knowledge of Africa, and the pharmaceuticals industry, is clear as the settings and technical detail all feels very real. This novel is well paced throughout and there is a terrific ending which finishes this book perfectly while setting it up for the next in the series. Highly recommended.
Peter Pi –
What a wonderful surprise!
I was recommended this book by a friend so decided to order it from Amazon. I was in the middle of reading my latest David Baldacci novel when it arrived on my door mat so I thought I would put one of my favourite authors to one side and have a quick look. Wow is all I can say. I am spoilt in my reading by my favourite authors of this type of book – Lee Child, Harlen Coben, Karin Slaughter, James Patterson, Jeffrey Archer to name but a few so I am used to reading top quality authors. I have read a number of books recommended to me by friends and have almost always been disappointed as the quality of the read has not matched what I am used to but I am delighted to say this book took me completely by surprise! The story, the main characters, the storyline and final twist kept my earlier Baldacci book on the shelf until I had finished it! I was so in the zone with the book that I ordered the sequel which I am now half way through and Mr Baldacci is still on the shelf – huge congratulations Elizabeth, you are well on the way to joining my list of top authors!!!!