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God Particle: A Chloe Johansson Thriller
"God Particle is a fast-paced, fun ride!" Roy Huff, #1 Amazon bestselling author of EVERVILLE: The First Pillar
Just sixteen years old and a student at MIT, Chloe Johannson seems to have everything going for her. Then the phone calls come...her best friend is pregnant, and Chloe's father, Simon, is missing from his lab at the CERN particle accelerator.
Chloe and her mother soon learn that Simon has discovered something that could shatter the very foundations of science, and now someone else wants that power for themselves, and they are not of this world...
Chloe must reach inside herself and face her deepest fears and darkest demons to help her best friend and save her father, because not only does their fate hang in the balance, but the fate of humanity itself.
Just sixteen years old and a student at MIT, Chloe Johannson seems to have everything going for her. Then the phone calls come...her best friend is pregnant, and Chloe's father, Simon, is missing from his lab at the CERN particle accelerator.
Chloe and her mother soon learn that Simon has discovered something that could shatter the very foundations of science, and now someone else wants that power for themselves, and they are not of this world...
Chloe must reach inside herself and face her deepest fears and darkest demons to help her best friend and save her father, because not only does their fate hang in the balance, but the fate of humanity itself.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 3, 2013
262 people want to read
About the author
Toby Tate
12 books68 followersToby's stories have been praised by Midwest Book Review, Library Journal and Cemetery Dance as well as by New York Times bestselling authors Steve Berry, Douglas Preston, Jonathan Maberry and Steve Alten. He has been featured in The Big Thrill magazine and on Internet radio, blogs and newspapers.
Inexplicably drawn to all things dark and macabre, at about the age of twelve he began penning short stories and publishing his own movie monster magazine.
An Air Force brat who never lived in one place more than two years, after high school Toby did an eight-year stint in the U.S. Navy and ended up on the east coast. He has since worked as a cab driver, a pizza delivery man, a phone solicitor, a shipyard technician, a government contractor, a retail music salesman, a bookseller, a cell phone salesman and a recording studio engineer.
Toby later earned a B.A. in English and became a full-time graphic designer and newspaper reporter, publishing hundreds of stories with the Associated Press and his local paper. He has since been published in The Pedestal Magazine, Voluted Tales magazine, Famous Monsters of Filmland, Scary Monsters Magazine, and websites like eHow.com.
Owing to the inspiration of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King, Toby became an author of what he likes to call "high-octane sci-fi, fantasy and horror" and has published several books. He is currently producing his first movie, SKINWALKERS, for which he wrote the screenplay.
Toby is also a songwriter and musician and lives with his family near the Great Dismal Swamp in northeastern North Carolina.
Inexplicably drawn to all things dark and macabre, at about the age of twelve he began penning short stories and publishing his own movie monster magazine.
An Air Force brat who never lived in one place more than two years, after high school Toby did an eight-year stint in the U.S. Navy and ended up on the east coast. He has since worked as a cab driver, a pizza delivery man, a phone solicitor, a shipyard technician, a government contractor, a retail music salesman, a bookseller, a cell phone salesman and a recording studio engineer.
Toby later earned a B.A. in English and became a full-time graphic designer and newspaper reporter, publishing hundreds of stories with the Associated Press and his local paper. He has since been published in The Pedestal Magazine, Voluted Tales magazine, Famous Monsters of Filmland, Scary Monsters Magazine, and websites like eHow.com.
Owing to the inspiration of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ray Bradbury and Stephen King, Toby became an author of what he likes to call "high-octane sci-fi, fantasy and horror" and has published several books. He is currently producing his first movie, SKINWALKERS, for which he wrote the screenplay.
Toby is also a songwriter and musician and lives with his family near the Great Dismal Swamp in northeastern North Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 5, 2013
This story was a bit of a departure from the last two that I read from Toby Tate. While those were more 'supernatural" in origin, THE GOD PARTICLE is more of a thriller/science-fiction blend, Although the main character, Chloe, is only 16 years old, she does not fall into the stereotypical teenage role at all! She is as smart and resourceful as her adopted parents (ironically, a scientist and a brain surgeon). It was a pleasure to read parts of the story from Chloe's point-of-view.
Toby Tate makes things even more interesting by occasionally switching the POV, so that we get a deeper understanding about the "other half" of this story's equation. I don't want to give away any spoilers here, so I'll just add that this was an incredibly fast-paced book, filled with enough scientific data to give the story credibility, and a "villain" unlike any you've encountered before!
Another enjoyable read, from an author that is at the top of my "must-read" lists! Don't miss out on this one!
Toby Tate makes things even more interesting by occasionally switching the POV, so that we get a deeper understanding about the "other half" of this story's equation. I don't want to give away any spoilers here, so I'll just add that this was an incredibly fast-paced book, filled with enough scientific data to give the story credibility, and a "villain" unlike any you've encountered before!
Another enjoyable read, from an author that is at the top of my "must-read" lists! Don't miss out on this one!
July 15, 2013
Title: God Particle: A Chloe Johansson Thriller by: Toby Tate
Format: PDF provided by author for review
Review: Adopted by scientific genius parents, Chloe herself is a prodigy and already enrolled in MIT by age 16. Though 16, Chloe is mature and a likeable character. While she lives in the States attending college, her parents live in Switzerland doing their various research projects. Her dad discovers a particle and invention that thrusts the family into a sci-fi drama and run for their lives. Her dad disappears and her best friend ends up pregnant.
The side plot of her best friend being pregnant sits stagnant until the end. Due to all the events between the start and finish of the novel, Chloe has matured and is able to offer more support to her best friend. Still, I felt this side plot was a little confusing in its role in the main story, though it does not take away from the fun of the story.
Chloe rushes back and forth between the U.S. and Switzerland. To find her dad, she connects herself to her dad’s invention and to direct contact with the particle. There, she meets an entity named "Ben" who educates her about “Mal” who has entered our world to basically take it over. Ben hops a ride into Chloe’s head while Mal travels the world causing havoc as he hops from one body to the next. The entities are able to transfer bodies merely by touch, and after one fumbled attempt at trying to catch Mal, the story rolls into a nonstop, time travelling adventure as everyone tries to stop Mals’ nutty plan.
Fast paced with likeable characters, I finished this story in a few hours. The scientific sci-fi elements left me scratching my head, but the author ties them in enough to make sense to the reader.
Format: PDF provided by author for review
Review: Adopted by scientific genius parents, Chloe herself is a prodigy and already enrolled in MIT by age 16. Though 16, Chloe is mature and a likeable character. While she lives in the States attending college, her parents live in Switzerland doing their various research projects. Her dad discovers a particle and invention that thrusts the family into a sci-fi drama and run for their lives. Her dad disappears and her best friend ends up pregnant.
The side plot of her best friend being pregnant sits stagnant until the end. Due to all the events between the start and finish of the novel, Chloe has matured and is able to offer more support to her best friend. Still, I felt this side plot was a little confusing in its role in the main story, though it does not take away from the fun of the story.
Chloe rushes back and forth between the U.S. and Switzerland. To find her dad, she connects herself to her dad’s invention and to direct contact with the particle. There, she meets an entity named "Ben" who educates her about “Mal” who has entered our world to basically take it over. Ben hops a ride into Chloe’s head while Mal travels the world causing havoc as he hops from one body to the next. The entities are able to transfer bodies merely by touch, and after one fumbled attempt at trying to catch Mal, the story rolls into a nonstop, time travelling adventure as everyone tries to stop Mals’ nutty plan.
Fast paced with likeable characters, I finished this story in a few hours. The scientific sci-fi elements left me scratching my head, but the author ties them in enough to make sense to the reader.
June 5, 2013
I really liked this book. It had a great pace, interesting characters, and a plot with lots of twists.
Though the main character is only 16-years old, this isn't your typical YA novel. Chloe isn't side-tracked by boys, fashion and friends. Instead, she's got a plan, which includes passing her exams at MIT. That is until she learns her Dad is missing because he discovered something that could shatter the very foundations of science. Oh, and her best friend is pregnant, too. What's a girl to do in that situation? I'd have fallen to pieces, but Chloe's tough. Her mission: ace her exams and try to save the world.
Tate offers the perfect balance between older teen and new adult with this character. She's smart beyond belief, but she still has that naivety of inexperience that makes her believable.
The one thing I loved about this book was that I couldn't predict what would happen next. The storyline was compelling and unique. I enjoyed the science aspect just as much as I did the suspense of all the events taking place. There were just enough plot twists to keep me intrigued but not confused.
Tate's writing style was a bit different in this book than from his others. He used both a first person and a third person perspective. I admit, at first the shift caught me off guard but as I continued to read, the story flowed smooth and was well paced, especially in the second half.
I did receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but I'd gladly accept another from Mr. Tate as he continues to surprise me with his stories. He's definitely an author to keep your eye on.
Though the main character is only 16-years old, this isn't your typical YA novel. Chloe isn't side-tracked by boys, fashion and friends. Instead, she's got a plan, which includes passing her exams at MIT. That is until she learns her Dad is missing because he discovered something that could shatter the very foundations of science. Oh, and her best friend is pregnant, too. What's a girl to do in that situation? I'd have fallen to pieces, but Chloe's tough. Her mission: ace her exams and try to save the world.
Tate offers the perfect balance between older teen and new adult with this character. She's smart beyond belief, but she still has that naivety of inexperience that makes her believable.
The one thing I loved about this book was that I couldn't predict what would happen next. The storyline was compelling and unique. I enjoyed the science aspect just as much as I did the suspense of all the events taking place. There were just enough plot twists to keep me intrigued but not confused.
Tate's writing style was a bit different in this book than from his others. He used both a first person and a third person perspective. I admit, at first the shift caught me off guard but as I continued to read, the story flowed smooth and was well paced, especially in the second half.
I did receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but I'd gladly accept another from Mr. Tate as he continues to surprise me with his stories. He's definitely an author to keep your eye on.
July 15, 2013
This was my first Toby Tate novel, and it will definitely not be my last. Wow, what a terrific, smartly written sci fi book for YA lovers. I would categorize it as YA because the 16 year old amazingly brilliant and brave Chloe, is obviously the star of this series. It was also YA to me because it broke down a really complicated (and pure genius) concept of particle physics, inter dimensional beings, and time travel into easily digestible pieces. I never felt lost, even though the Higgs boson is way over my pay grade on the understanding scale. I absolutely loved the "beings" in this story. You never get a full description of what they look like, and we know very little about where they have traveled from, but they were every bit of 'living and breathing' for me, as the rest of the characters. There was fantastic detail and facts woven throughout the traveling from country to country, and I really enjoy that in my reading experience. I want to be able to feel like the author put time into researching, and I was not disappointed here.
Again, what a fantastic read, I will be going through and adding more of this authors work to my tbr pile ~ I have clearly been missing out. I was fortunate to have been given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, and that is exactly what I have expressed.
Again, what a fantastic read, I will be going through and adding more of this authors work to my tbr pile ~ I have clearly been missing out. I was fortunate to have been given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, and that is exactly what I have expressed.
June 10, 2013
Toby Tate, a master of frighteningly scary, plausible adult novels has shown us yet another side of himself with the first of his Chloe Johansson Young Adult series, “The God Particle”.
Teenage angst is hard enough on its own, but throw a 16 year old bright enough to be attending MIT while her parents are living in Switzerland, Mom a doctor, Dad a particle physicist for CERN (whose logo is a stylized 666) and he’s now missing, final exams, and then toss in a best friend that’s now pregnant, and you’d expect the teen to go into overload. Not Chloe.
While Mom tries to downplay her missing Dad at the beginning, Chloe knows something’s terribly wrong when Interpol, FIS, AND the CIA are looking for her Dad, as well as knowing that Cern’s own security staff must be searching, Chloe volunteers to look for her Dad in a most unlikely place: inside a Higgs Boson, known by the term “the God particle”.
The question is what is this Higgs boson, what does it do, how do you find it, how do you get into it (it’s smaller than an atom), and who are “Ben” and Mal” and why is everyone so scared.
YA books rarely deal with real world problems, yet Tate ventures in undeterred. Even as an adult reader this book is captivating, informative, and full of well researched facts. Here’s hoping Tate continues this YA series as well as his adult thrillers. He’s proving to be a master of both.
Teenage angst is hard enough on its own, but throw a 16 year old bright enough to be attending MIT while her parents are living in Switzerland, Mom a doctor, Dad a particle physicist for CERN (whose logo is a stylized 666) and he’s now missing, final exams, and then toss in a best friend that’s now pregnant, and you’d expect the teen to go into overload. Not Chloe.
While Mom tries to downplay her missing Dad at the beginning, Chloe knows something’s terribly wrong when Interpol, FIS, AND the CIA are looking for her Dad, as well as knowing that Cern’s own security staff must be searching, Chloe volunteers to look for her Dad in a most unlikely place: inside a Higgs Boson, known by the term “the God particle”.
The question is what is this Higgs boson, what does it do, how do you find it, how do you get into it (it’s smaller than an atom), and who are “Ben” and Mal” and why is everyone so scared.
YA books rarely deal with real world problems, yet Tate ventures in undeterred. Even as an adult reader this book is captivating, informative, and full of well researched facts. Here’s hoping Tate continues this YA series as well as his adult thrillers. He’s proving to be a master of both.
June 11, 2013
This is the story of 16 year old Chloe. Whilst studying for her exams at MIT, she gets two phone calls that mean life will never be the same again. The first is from her best friend in Geneva telling her she is pregnant. The second, far more serious is her mother telling her her father has gone missing. Her father is an eminent physicist and has discovered something both dangerous and wonderful. Something many people would kill to get their hands on. Suddenly Chloe is launched into an adventure to find her father that will change her life forever....
At first glance I really thought this book would go straight over my head, despite being a YA novella. All the talk of Higgs bosons and Hadron Colliders had me wondering if I had made the right decision. Boy how wrong was I! This was a high octane race across the four corners of the Globe to stop the wrong people getting their hands on this amazing discovery. It was a thrilling ride and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Chloe is not your normal 16 year old heroine. She is smart, and funny and has her head screwed on right. Having read a previous books of Toby's, this was not what I was expecting! It made for a pleasant change and I totally recommend this as a rip roaring YA sci fi thriller!
At first glance I really thought this book would go straight over my head, despite being a YA novella. All the talk of Higgs bosons and Hadron Colliders had me wondering if I had made the right decision. Boy how wrong was I! This was a high octane race across the four corners of the Globe to stop the wrong people getting their hands on this amazing discovery. It was a thrilling ride and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Chloe is not your normal 16 year old heroine. She is smart, and funny and has her head screwed on right. Having read a previous books of Toby's, this was not what I was expecting! It made for a pleasant change and I totally recommend this as a rip roaring YA sci fi thriller!
December 19, 2024
DNF - I found this on Libby and thought I’d try it out, but after 25 pages of nonsense, I’m done.
First, save the sanctimonious anti-abortion stance. The teen pregnancy sideline was clearly only included to impart a misinformation-laden guilt trip, and it was a deeply distasteful thing to do.
Secondly, it’s clear the author has never spoken to a teenage girl- or if he has, he wasn’t actually listening. “He was totally hot and totally ripped” SAYS THE GENIUS GIRL ATTENDING MIT. Atrocious.
Save your time and choose something else.
First, save the sanctimonious anti-abortion stance. The teen pregnancy sideline was clearly only included to impart a misinformation-laden guilt trip, and it was a deeply distasteful thing to do.
Secondly, it’s clear the author has never spoken to a teenage girl- or if he has, he wasn’t actually listening. “He was totally hot and totally ripped” SAYS THE GENIUS GIRL ATTENDING MIT. Atrocious.
Save your time and choose something else.
April 22, 2014
Chloe Johansson is a brave, smart 16-year-old. She’s already attends MIT, and when her dad goes missing, she doesn’t bat an eye in going to Switzerland, where he works at the CERN, in trying to help find him.
The science fiction thriller pits Chloe as the central character from a first-person point of view, but we get into the mind of other characters as author Toby Tate uses a third-person point of view for the other characters. This jumping between POV felt a bit disjointed, but luckily it didn’t last long as the chapters were short and direct.
Admittedly, I don’t know enough about the Higgs Boson to know if the science going on in the book is even plausible. It was one of those moments where I decided to let go and jump into the story, and I think readers will have to do that.
The story puts the family on the run across the globe, chasing a being that could wreak havoc on the world if it takes control of the right person. Tate does a great of describing the settings of all the different places the family visits, but I wasn’t sure the globetrotting was necessary as we did find the characters on a plane often.
I would have liked to learn more about some of the other characters as Tate put a diverse group together to fight the menace, but Chloe Johansson was a likable 16-year-old, who seems young enough to not understand the dangers she faced. Even while trying to save her father, and the world, she still finds time to think about the cute boy who just saved her family.
There was a subplot that started at the beginning of the book where Chloe’s friend calls to tell her she is pregnant, but this thread isn’t picked up again until the very end of the book. If there are other stories about Johansson, perhaps it will be mentioned again, but I wasn’t sure what the point was other than put out a political opinion regarding options for teenage pregnancy. This subplot wasn’t involved enough to sway my feelings of the book.
For those who like fast-paced, sci-fi thrillers, this is the type of book you would enjoy.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
The science fiction thriller pits Chloe as the central character from a first-person point of view, but we get into the mind of other characters as author Toby Tate uses a third-person point of view for the other characters. This jumping between POV felt a bit disjointed, but luckily it didn’t last long as the chapters were short and direct.
Admittedly, I don’t know enough about the Higgs Boson to know if the science going on in the book is even plausible. It was one of those moments where I decided to let go and jump into the story, and I think readers will have to do that.
The story puts the family on the run across the globe, chasing a being that could wreak havoc on the world if it takes control of the right person. Tate does a great of describing the settings of all the different places the family visits, but I wasn’t sure the globetrotting was necessary as we did find the characters on a plane often.
I would have liked to learn more about some of the other characters as Tate put a diverse group together to fight the menace, but Chloe Johansson was a likable 16-year-old, who seems young enough to not understand the dangers she faced. Even while trying to save her father, and the world, she still finds time to think about the cute boy who just saved her family.
There was a subplot that started at the beginning of the book where Chloe’s friend calls to tell her she is pregnant, but this thread isn’t picked up again until the very end of the book. If there are other stories about Johansson, perhaps it will be mentioned again, but I wasn’t sure what the point was other than put out a political opinion regarding options for teenage pregnancy. This subplot wasn’t involved enough to sway my feelings of the book.
For those who like fast-paced, sci-fi thrillers, this is the type of book you would enjoy.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
November 16, 2013
Chloe Johansson is not your average teen. She's 16 and in college. She also has to help find her dad after he goes missing. Her dad also happens to have created a machine that will turn the world upside down. While the book is based on a scientific experiment gone wrong it wasn't so heavily worded that you couldn't understand what they were talking about. One thing I liked about this book was how short the chapters were. Each chapter was only a few pages long. The book is very fast paced as is but the short chapters made the book fly. I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews