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Jenifer Ruff
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Only Wrong Once (FBI and CDC Medical Thriller Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Jenifer Ruff (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 2,841 ratings
Two mysterious deaths: one in LA, one in Boston, each with the same horrific symptoms.

Only Wrong Once is the first book in the phenomenal FBI and CDC Thriller series from USA Today bestselling author Jenifer Ruff and a remarkable look at the efforts and sacrifices of those who protect us.

"STUNNING, TERRIFYING, AND UNFORGETTABLE."- D. Carrigan, Author
”RIVETING AND ALL TOO REAL!” - J. White, Author
”A BRILLIANT BOOK!” - U.K. Review
“ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY FABULOUS!”- Amazon Review

In Los Angeles, FBI counterterrorism agent Quinn Traynor receives an urgent call from CDC agent, Madeline Hamilton. She's discovered the first victim of a lethal, unfamiliar virus. Their joint investigation uncovers an imminent bio-terror attack, and their only hope is to identify the terrorists carrying the disease. With just two days remaining before it's too late, the FBI and the CDC race to prevent a pandemic. The ensuing nightmare will hit closer to home than they ever anticipated and one of them will pay an unimaginable price for protecting the country.

“And let’s remember that those charged with protecting us from attack have to be right 100 percent of the time. To inflict devastation on a massive scale, the terrorists only have to succeed once. And we know that they are trying every day.”—National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice - Statement to the 9/11 Commission, April 8th, 2004.

"Jenifer Ruff does an outstanding job of weaving personal stories in the lives of the characters amidst the action. This book will keep you glued to the pages from beginning to end, wondering what will happen next."- S.Wilson

"The story is riveting, the characters are well-drawn, and the plot moves at break-neck speed. Be prepared to be mesmerized. You won't put the book down until you get to the end." - R. Pendry

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  1. Book 1 of 3
    FBI and CDC Medical Thriller
  2. Print length
    418 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    September 25, 2017
  5. File size
    2.2 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 3 books in this series.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"ABSOLUTELY. POSITIVELY. FABULOUS." - Amazon Customer
"From the moment I read the first page I was captivated . .. I recommend this story if you enjoy Tom Clancy like suspense." - International Bestselling Author Kelly Abell
"Stunning, terrifying, and unforgettable." - Dennis Carrigan, Author of Memphis 1873

"Only Wrong Once seizes the reader's attention from page one and holds on until the very end . . .This thrilling and horrifying tale is a must read." - Karen D. Scioscia, Journalist and Author of Kidnapped by the Cartel

"Jenifer Ruff has done a magnificent job of intertwining heart-pounding international intrigue with the personal triumphs and tragedies faced by the men and women of Homeland Security." - James Charles Boatner, Author of Red Pawn

"The story is riveting, the characters are well-drawn, and the plot moves at break-neck speed. Be prepared to be mesmerized." - Reita Pendry, Author of Discovering Grace.

"Jenifer Ruff does an outstanding job of weaving personal stories in the lives of the characters amidst the action. This book will keep you glued to the pages from the beginning to end, wondering what will happen next." - Susan Mills Wilson, Author of Hunt for Redemption

From the Author

Two ideas sparked the concept for Only Wrong Once. The first inspiration hails from years ago, when I was a graduate student in Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale Medical School. One of the top floors of the building held a secure and restricted room for advanced research. The lab inside was rumored to hold the most dangerous of diseases, including Bubonic Plague, Polio, and hemorrhagic fevers. Studying those samples required the utmost precautions and I remember people actually whispering out of reverence when talking about it. My work never took me inside that room, but just knowing those samples existed, so close to our day to day classrooms,always struck me as wildly disturbing and fascinating.

The second flicker of a concept evolved because of my brother, a DHS agent. Like Quinn, he has a year's supply of food and water at his house. Though he doesn't share the details of his career, I do know he's privy to some frightening intelligence regarding terrorist activities. Just the thought of it makes me nervous, but it also makes me appreciate the agencies committed to stopping terrorists before they cause harm.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B075XN3QHD
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Greyt Companion Press; 1st edition (September 25, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 25, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.2 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 418 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 2,841 ratings

About the author

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Jenifer Ruff

Jenifer Ruff

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USA Today bestselling author Jenifer Ruff has crafted over fifteen gripping mystery-thriller and suspense novels that have captivated readers worldwide. Known for her intricate, twisty plots and compelling character development, Jenifer's work includes the award-winning Agent Victoria Heslin Series.

Visit Jenruff .com for more information and a world of page-turning intrigue and suspense.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
2,841 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this thriller riveting and fast-paced, with well-developed characters and detailed writing that keeps them up at night. The book tackles bioterrorism and current world events in a thought-provoking way, making it a great choice for book clubs.

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169 customers mention "Suspenseful"153 positive16 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful and riveting, with a fantastic plot that keeps them engaged from the first chapter, and one customer describes it as a fast-paced masterpiece of realistic fiction.

"...to Lauren’s Secret to the Victoria Heslin series, they are all interesting and compelling" Read more

"...which I refuse to divulge, not only plays on American society’s most intense fears, in terms of Islamic revolution and its proliferation within US..." Read more

"...of everything, medical thriller, police procedural, action, suspense, romance, all rolled into one. And well written. I would definitely recommend." Read more

"...be believable and engaging (even if I don't like them), the story needs to move along and keep me engaged and in the best books I learn something...." Read more

91 customers mention "Readability"91 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a fascinating and fun read that works well for book club discussions.

"I thought this was an excellent book. It kept me interested all the way through...." Read more

"...the story needs to move along and keep me engaged and in the best books I learn something. Only Wrong Once hits all of these marks...." Read more

"Loved this book! Once you step into Jenifer Ruff’s conceptualized world centered on an international bioterrorism plot you will be captivated. ‘..." Read more

"...Did enjoy. Definitely a good writer." Read more

80 customers mention "Writing quality"80 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as riveting and detailed, with one customer noting it's an in-the-moment read.

"...tempos and levels of intensity with ease, and is becoming very talented at weaving nuance and subtlety into her plots, settings and characters...." Read more

"...And well written. I would definitely recommend." Read more

"...I gave this one a 9. For me, a book needs to be readable -- i.e., I don't want to have to trudge through it but rather want to be excited about..." Read more

"...we can see the age old struggle of good and evil and the tenacity of the human spirit in the face of challenge and unimaginable terror." Read more

54 customers mention "Character development"54 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them well developed and engaging, with one customer noting the believable portrayal of the antagonists.

"...Her intense style, coupled with her talent at crafting believable female leads, like Brooke Walton and Victoria Heslin, fuels that hope." Read more

"...picking it up and continuing to the next chapter, the characters have to be believable and engaging (even if I don't like them), the story needs to..." Read more

"...The introduction of the series is well developed with complex characters and deep storylines of the case and relationships...." Read more

"Really enjoyed all aspects of this book. Excellent character development and story just flowed...." Read more

38 customers mention "Information quality"38 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and thought-provoking, particularly noting how it tackles the heavy subject matter of bioterrorism and provides insight into current world events.

"...Through Ruff’s characters, we can see the age old struggle of good and evil and the tenacity of the human spirit in the face of challenge and..." Read more

"...The meetings and level of secrecy was intriguing and makes you wonder...." Read more

"...Of course the plot hits home with engineered virus attacks. I enjoyed it." Read more

"Only Wrong Once seemed well-researched and thought out. The author takes a sensitive-in-today's-environment topic and handles it deftly...." Read more

34 customers mention "Pace"26 positive8 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pace, describing it as fast-paced and timely.

"...The story is intelligently written and moves at a fast pace...." Read more

"This story started somewhat slowly but then the speed picked up considerably...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the back and forth of location and subplots. The book was fast paced and kept me guessing...." Read more

"Great story, I loved the pace, excitement, suspense, chills, the thrill, everything about this book...." Read more

19 customers mention "Page turner"19 positive0 negative

Customers describe this book as a page-turner, with one customer noting it maintains interest throughout, while another mentions the action keeps readers engaged.

"...The characters are believable and diverse and keep you turning pages as the story goes back and forth between the characters points of view...." Read more

"The story is well written and has enough action to keep wanting to continue reading. Did enjoy. Definitely a good writer." Read more

"Outstanding read, non-stop action and a real page-turner- Reinforces that we should be grateful everyday we are blessed with and there are people..." Read more

"This book was very well done. The imagery was amazing and her use of sub-stories worked well. I will read her other books!" Read more

12 customers mention "Entertainment value"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, keeping them involved throughout and up at night, with one customer particularly appreciating the team dynamic.

"...to the next chapter, the characters have to be believable and engaging (even if I don't like them), the story needs to move along and keep me..." Read more

"...The team dynamic is fun and I look forward to seeing how Rick works out and how Rashid does going forward!..." Read more

"...involves the CDC, the alphabet agencies, and the White House, it’s entertaining. I will warn, however...." Read more

"...twisted and pulled them all together in a very entertaining and fun way , if I can call a mystery about a virulent virus fun. Thank you Jenifer." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • P.A.Carlson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Book by Jenifer Ruff
    Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I’ve read several books by Ms Ruff and hope she keeps on writing. From the medical thrillers to Lauren’s Secret to the Victoria Heslin series, they are all interesting and compelling
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book! Ruff rocks!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I am giving ‘Only Wrong Once’ by Jenifer Ruff my highest possible recommendation as a reader…and I’ll tell you why. For the first time since reading ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’ by Stieg Larsson, I was in that cool, dorky place as a book nerd where I was chomping at the bit to learn what was going to happen and how Ruff would flesh it all out, yet I didn’t want to finish too quickly.
    ‘Only Wrong Once’ is a tense and gripping thriller. Ruff’s plot-line, which I refuse to divulge, not only plays on American society’s most intense fears, in terms of Islamic revolution and its proliferation within US borders, Ruff also sets her book in multiple locations across the US to illustrate how quickly and how widespread ‘terror’ can accelerate in a religiously charged dynamic. Her choice of Charlotte as one of the settings is particularly effective. Ruff is obviously familiar with the city and its nooks and crannies, and her detailed knowledge allows her to more definitively connect her characters to her setting as ‘Only Wrong Once’ builds to its conclusion.
    Ruff’s narrative voice is also very strong in ‘Only Wrong Once’. She switches tempos and levels of intensity with ease, and is becoming very talented at weaving nuance and subtlety into her plots, settings and characters. Ruff’s background in medicine and science also adds to the depth of her narrative voice as she attempts to balance her flow of information and data with the emotions that frame the behaviors of her characters.
    I am hoping for more from Ruff about a few of the characters she’s created in ‘Only Wrong Once’. I’ve read the bulk of her catalog, and Ruff is becoming a deft storyteller. Her intense style, coupled with her talent at crafting believable female leads, like Brooke Walton and Victoria Heslin, fuels that hope.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • B. B.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
    Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I thought this was an excellent book. It kept me interested all the way through. It's a little bit of everything, medical thriller, police procedural, action, suspense, romance, all rolled into one. And well written. I would definitely recommend.
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  • Ann West
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hits all the Marks for a Great Book
    Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I really liked this book. My Book Club rates books on a scale from 1 to 10 and I almost never give a book a rating above an 8. I gave this one a 9. For me, a book needs to be readable -- i.e., I don't want to have to trudge through it but rather want to be excited about picking it up and continuing to the next chapter, the characters have to be believable and engaging (even if I don't like them), the story needs to move along and keep me engaged and in the best books I learn something. Only Wrong Once hits all of these marks. Don't let the subject matter (bio-terrorism) turn you off from this book. That may be the underlying subject matter, which I ultimately found really interesting despite my initial doubt about reading a book on this subject, but the book is more about the characters and how and why they act and react the way they do. I feel like after reading the book I better understand why some groups really hate Americans. Read this book; you won't be sorry.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Alese M. Brockmann
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent read that tackles the heavy subject matter of bioterrorism
    Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    A heart stopping read from beginning to end! The novel tackles the heavy subject matter of bioterrorism. Ruff is brilliant in her execution of a believable and terrifying plot that begins in war torn Syria and ends in the United States, the intended terror target.

    At the heart of the story are Kareem and Amin, two Muslim Americans who are cousins. Kareem is a bright young scientist with a promising career ahead of him. However, instead, he uses his skills for evil. Kareem tries to radicalize his unsuspecting and innocent cousin, Amin, a naive banker who lives in Charlotte. Ruff juxtaposes the cousins throughout the novel. Although both men read the Quran, Kareem chooses evil and violence while Amin is steadfast in his pursuit of a life of peace and love.

    Ruff's book is a fictional story about a topic that we all fear. The story is intelligently written and moves at a fast pace. Through Ruff’s characters, we can see the age old struggle of good and evil and the tenacity of the human spirit in the face of challenge and unimaginable terror.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • meghan varner
    4.0 out of 5 stars scary good
    Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Likable characters and equally dislikable characters are all throughout the story. The introduction of the series is well developed with complex characters and deep storylines of the case and relationships. The team dynamic is fun and I look forward to seeing how Rick works out and how Rashid does going forward! The title is perfect and the case is creepy with realism. Holly is a horrid character and while horrible and vivid I was happy that they weren’t married at the end. The meetings and level of secrecy was intriguing and makes you wonder. Flew through the story and can’t wait to see what happens next for a new favorite couple as they work to save lives through the FBI and CDC.
    One person found this helpful
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  • J
    3.0 out of 5 stars Very dry
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I usually love this style of book but found this one to be very dry and almost boring. I ended up skimming quite a bit and even skipping chunks of it from time to time. It's almost fully half of the book before we ever see Madeline, and Traynor's bratty wife is an unnecessary plot device that doesn't even make sense. Not sold on it so I don't know if I'll pick up book 2, maybe when I have nothing else I feel like reading....
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  • Marci Ramirez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2024
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    As usual, the author builds up throughout the book. This was exciting and nail biting. I couldn't put it down. On to the next one.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Dawn Samms
    5.0 out of 5 stars eerily relevant
    Reviewed in Australia on April 20, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    We are in the midst of the COVID19 disaster at the moment. While this story is fiction, nonetheless there is a lot of food for thought in its pages.
    A compelling read
    Report
  • bookworm
    5.0 out of 5 stars What a page turner and highly relevant today!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 21, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I read this book over two days with only a short sleep & meal times interrupting me! The characters were believable and the plot well planned with a couple of twists I didn't see coming. Considering the peculiar times we are living through at the moment, maybe reading a book about a highly deadly transmittable virus might not be for everyone but I cannot recommend it highly enough. I am ready for the next one by Jenifer Ruff.
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  • Andrea
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good read.
    Reviewed in Germany on May 2, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    The author had good knowledge of the subject matter and created a plausible scenario. The main characters were well defined.
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  • Bill
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fast action terror ist story
    Reviewed in Canada on February 3, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    A clash between faiths is part of the tale. American clashes with Moslem forces creates the hate filed groups being developed. The terrorist group are based in Syria with connections through the web and life to Europe and the USA. The creation of a cold based virus was done in Syria with plans to unleash it in stadiums a busy location to infect as many as poßible. Busy teams of investigßers eventually trace down those Infected and stop the virus war plan.
    Report
  • Amazon Customer ed
    3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on December 8, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    took a long time into the book to start to tie the story line together
    Report

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