ARC Review - Gini Koch – Alien Research

The eighth book in the Katherine 'Kitty' Katt series, to be published December 3, 2013.
Genre: sci fi romance
Cover: I like it.



When rumors of a new super-drug surface, the FBI comes to Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini for help. It becomes quickly apparent that the drug is merely the tip of a deadly iceberg and a much more insidious plan is underway involving Titan Security, Gaultier Enterprises, and YatesCorp.
As newly discovered A-Cs and hybrids begin to surface, each with expanded and deadly talents, more and more signs point to a new evil genius who's using the A-Cs and their enemies both as guinea pigs. Then Area 51 and the Dulce Science Center go silent while Alpha Team, Airborne, and most of the worldwide A-C Security team are there for training. And if that's not bad enough, Centaurion Division is hit with more bad, and deadly, news: Chernobog the Ultimate, isn't a hacker myth, he's a real person -- and he's on the bad guys' side.
Now Kitty and company must find the real Dr. Feelgood and stop him or her before the latest version of Surcenthumain hits the streets and more people they love are harmed, or worse. But when the inconceivable happens, Kitty's focused on two things only: reviving the ACE entity before their enemies realize Earth's best protection isn't actually active…and revenge.


Kitty is ready for a quiet day spent with her daughter Jamie and her friends, while her husband Jeff is going to work at Congress. She is still not really used to the fact that Jeff is a member of Congress. But as soon as the limo taking them to their favourite restaurant for breakfast leaves the Embassy, that peace is destroyed. Members of Club 51 and other hate groups are protesting their existence, and bombarding the limo with dirt and garbage.
And later, when they want to leave the restaurant, they get a visit from the Cabal of Evil, wanting to make deal with Kitty. Of course Kitty is not interested in it at all, her best friend Amy is still trying to get control over her father’s company, and the Board is preventing that from happening.

Back home at the Embassy, there is more bad news waiting for Kitty. The FBI has finally come up with their own version of an Alien Division, just like Chucky is heading for the CIA. And the new director is testing them, wanting to start a congressional inquiry into the happenings at Gaultier Enterprises and Titan Security. Of course the A-C’s don’t want that to happen, too many secrets might come to light, like them killing some of the really evil bad guys. Then Kitty gets a phone call from Walter, who usually runs security at the Embassy, that he and all the other security personnel who went for training to Dulce, are in big trouble. Before Kitty can react to that, the unthinkable happens, and they are hacked. Their complete database is stolen, and all their data is wiped out. Their own resident hackers are powerless to counter that. There is only one hacker in the world who could have done that, and that is Chernobog the Ultimate. Most think he is only a rumor, but one of them knows it for a fact. And Olga acknowledges it, she even knows the woman personally. Now they will have to find their lost data again, and get some revenge on whoever did this.
But first, they will have to safe their missing friends and personnel, with Kitty in charge of it all.


I have to admit I was a bit hesitant to start this new book, as I did not really like all the politics in the previous one. But well, it is a Gini Koch book, and I am unable to let it just lie on my desk. So, I started reading it on Saturday, and kept on reading until I had to give up at 4 a.m. The next morning when I woke up I immediately continued reading until I was finished. And my verdict: I loved this book. It is completely action packed again, with Kitty and the gang having to run all over the place to safe everyone else. The complots were mind boggling until Kitty explained it al, and I just had so much fun reading this book. There are also some very sad scenes in the book though, so have some tissues ready.

I am a big fan of Kitty and how she always manages to unravel a complot against them. The Poofs and Peregrines play a big part in this book, and I do love that. And finally Kitty discovers the truth about the AC-elves. I loved those parts. Okay, I notice I am using the word “love” way too much in this review, but I can’t help myself.

Gini Koch has a truly unique writing style, and it fits what I like perfectly. I love most of the characters. I have to make an exception for Christopher, as I just can’t like him. The book is action packed, and filled with surprising twists and new characters. I can never predict what will happen next and I dare you to try. But don’t worry, there is a bit of time left for Kitty and Jeff to enjoy their sex life, and to have some family time with Jamie. There is also violence and death, and I do wonder why evil guys never really die.

If you haven’t read the previous books, please don’t dive into this one as you will have no idea whatsoever about who is who or what has happened before.

10 stars.

© 2013 Reviews by Aurian