We fear pandemics but what if the elixir of eternal life turns out to be a virus that grants you immortality?Book one of this collection tells how three genetic engineers came to develop a cure for death - the Immortality Gene. Of course there's more to immortality than a simple medical mystery. In the story you'll find romance, the mystery of a secret organisation ruling the world, high technology, greed, power struggles, hidden places and murder. It follows the fortunes of a genetic engineer who flees a dying maniac trying to kill her.Dr Donna Rigden is fed up with her job. She resigns - big mistake. Donna is now on a ruthless killer's hit list.Ambushed at a cemetery, she's shot and wakes up on her way to the UK. Richard Triplet had rescued Donna, but he wants more from her than she's willing to give. Feeling trapped and desperate, she turns to a new friend for comfort.Sir Richard, Donna's new employer showers her with luxury and makes her an offer she can't refuse. Once she's signed the contract, he asks her to use her medical expertise to commit murder. Donna must make a life changing choice. Once made, there's no going back. Was it the right choice?Death strikes! Sam, the infirmary's doctor, is ordered to give his patient an untested drug. He knows the drug is either a cure or a curse and goes against his patient's wishes. Will he stand by his Hippocratic Oath or cave and follow orders?How does Sir Richard fit into this equation? He's a member of a secret society operating at the edge of the law. He knows that in the year 7141, the Earth will be destroyed by an apocalyptic collision with a rogue planetoid. The scale of the cataclysm will destroy all life on earth - not even leaving a dystopian civilization. Should Sir Richard be concerned? He'll be dead and gone by then. Maybe - maybe not. He has a plan. One of the key elements in his plan is to greatly extend the human lifespan. Does Sir Richard's quest to live forever offer our happy ever after? Let's re-evaluate this situation. If you were to become immortal would you feel more inclined to worry about an event taking place thousands of years into the future? I would be, but what about the ethical and social implications of immortality? What about overpopulation, living space and the diminishing food supply? What about the wars waged to control this miracle.'Immortality Gene' is based on advanced technology, currently under development. It deals with corporate jealousy, greed, spite, vengeance, nanotechnology, medicine, murder, mystery, love and betrayal, and, of course, the very essence of life itself.Book two, included in this edition, is 'Dark Secrets'. For a thousand years a secret cabal has ruled the earth keeping their place in the pyramid of order by utilizing a dark secret.Dr. Donna Rigden is clinically dead. Two letters and two secrets steered her future, now one is missing. Who took it and why? Who blackmailed her into marrying Richard Triplet when she was still in love with Jared Thundercloud, and more attracted to Dr. Sam Kaliea? The killer strikes again. Using a more advanced form of the nanobug, he injects Donna and her unborn child with nanonytes. To make matters worse, he also attacks her best friend, her best friend's mother and even the infamous Lady Triplet. As the Triplets struggle to overcome this new threat, they uncover the dark secret that has remained hidden for nearly a thousand years, and Donna is ripped from Richard's arms by an enemy he cannot fight.Immortality Gene and Dark Secrets are a unique blend of thriller, romance and science fiction. If you like books by Michael Crichton, Danielle Steel and Dan Brown, stories combining complex plots, compelling characters, and scientific explanation, then you'll love This collection. Be warned - this Smashwords only e-book is long - 1150+ pages. We started the 'A Vested Interest' series in 2007 and it took over a year before I came up with an ending we were happy with. At 170,000 words A Vested In
