One pill. Countless side effects. It’s 2021 and Paul Freeman just landed a job with Asteria Pharmaceuticals, a world leader in revolutionary drug development. Paul knows the company’s future is riding on the success of their latest product—a sleeping pill designed to interact with the human genome to deliver the perfect eight-hour sleep cycle. Just a few blocks from Asteria’s Atlanta headquarters, troubled self-help guru Donny Ford is selling a different kind of drug, empowering followers to take control of their lives using a sacred meditation technique skeptics believe may have already taken his mind to a dangerous place. 3,000 miles away, war-hardened journalist Claire Connor sits captive in a top-secret facility hidden deep in the Costa Rican jungle, guilty of two offenses: seeking help for a sleep disorder, and asking too many questions. When these worlds collide, the three will discover just how far some companies are willing to go to protect the bottom line. --------------------------- Clinical trials for the world's first gene-altering sleeping pill lead to extraordinary side effects in this sci-fi tale of pharmaceutical skullduggery. This pulse-pounding techno-thriller will appeal to fans of Michael Crichton, Philip K. Dick, Lincoln Child, Douglas Preston, Blake Crouch, Douglas E. Richards, A.G. Riddle, Michael C. Grumley, Matthew Mather, and Dean Koontz. Want to download the first few pages of this book for FREE so you can try before you buy? Click the 'Send a free sample' button and start reading now! --------------------------- WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ON GOODREADS: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The perfect balance of sci-fi, techno-horror and dramatic thriller! A gripping, addictive and suspenseful story line that artfully unveils a sinister plot, layer by layer, and cleverly reveals new and exciting twists with nearly every page. The fast pace of the wildly-captivating plot kept me swiping the pages feverishly long past my bedtime. SO ready to dive right into book two! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One brilliant science-fiction thriller. The writing style blew me away. J.M Lanham has created characters that make this a fascinating read. Each one adds to the plot, making it build up into one explosive book. For those interested in pharmaceuticals, technology and action: this is definitely a recommended read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A well-written, well-researched sci-fi book that draws back the curtain on pharmaceutical skulduggery. Chasing a profit has deadly consequences. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Author J.M. Lanham hit it out of the park with his new novel The R.E.M. Effect. It is an action-packed science fiction thriller with all the necessary elements to make for a great read. The plot is fascinating, the character development is spot on and the story is captivating. I found it hard to put down and finished it in three days. The author combines science fiction, meditation, corporate greed and suspense to keep the reader fully immersed in the story while making it a fun read. I always enjoy reading new author's works and I was very pleased to discover the talent of J.M. Lanham. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Combines cutting-edge genetic research with fast-paced action , resulting in a science-fiction thriller that kept me turning the pages. Other books by science fiction author J.M. Lanham THE R.E.M. PROJECT (The REM Series, Book 2) THE R.E.M. PRECEPT (The REM Series, Book 3) AI: ARTIFICIAL INCOMPETENCE " One brilliant science-fiction thriller. " - Urban Book Reviews " Combines cutting-edge genetic research with fast-paced action , resulting in a science-fiction thriller that kept me turning the pages." - Marian Thorpe Reviews " A cautionary tale that will open your eyes about pharmaceuticals , your trust in them and the awesome power of your mind, dreams and meditation." - Mary Green, Amazon Review "A well-written, well-researched sci-fi book that draws back the curtain on pharmaceutical skulduggery. Chasing a profit has deadly consequences." - Temple Emmet Williams, a former editor of the Readers Digest " Has all the elements of a top-notch medical thriller. " - Steve Silver, Silver Screen Videos " A compelling, frightening story. " - Roxie Prince, Roxie Reviews " Nicely balanced between scientific exposition and action. The dialogue never feels artificial. The characters are well developed and interesting. If I had to compare Mr. Lanham's writing to another author whose work I enjoy, I would recommend The R.E.M. Effect to anyone who enjoys the novels of Douglas Richards." - Jack C., Goodreads Review " This one you don't want to miss." - Steven M. Moore, author of More Than Human: The Mensa Contagion My name is John, and if you're anything like me, you love to read. Better yet, you love a good technothriller. I can still remember how excited I was when I got my hands on the first full-length paperback I ever read, Jurassic Park . I must've been in second or third grade at the time, and there were plenty of words I couldn