M.J. Griffith
I was born in Kalamazoo, MI in 1948. My father was a Marine who served in the South Pacific during WWII and trained recruits at Camp Pendleton during the Korean War. My mother was an elementary school teacher for over 35 years. I married Carol Roberts, the daughter of a Benton Harbor, MI mail carrier, in 1969. We have four daughters. I served at the First U.S. Army Medical Laboratory at Fort Meade, MD during the Viet Nam War. I entered a graduate program in virology in 1973 and earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry (UT Health Science Center, San Antonio) in 1977. I accepted a Pathology postdoctoral position at UNC, Chapel Hill in 1977 and joined the faculty in 1980. In 1985 I was hired by Baxter to develop biopharmaceuticals and was promoted to VP Scientific Affairs in 1990 where I had the opportunity to interact directly with FDA. I began an entrepreneurial career in 2000 and found success in 2005 as the CEO of Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals. I began story writing after I retired in 2020 and decided to take a shot at a novel in 2021.
The Pangolin Conspiracy is a political conspiracy thriller. It contains elements of suspense and intrigue, with a plot revolving around political maneuvering, espionage, and the outbreak of a pandemic. The narrative includes a mix of real-world events and fictional elements, creating a tense atmosphere where characters are involved in high-stakes situations that could have global repercussions. The inclusion of covert operations, scientific research, and international politics aim to keep readers on the edge of their seats with its complex plot and the looming threat of a global crisis.
Readers who have interests in political intrigue, conspiracy theories, scientific elements, espionage, and global politics will enjoy the complex narratives that weave together elements of real-world events with suspenseful and speculative fiction. The Pangolin Conspiracy is a fast-paced story with twists and turns for those who enjoy piecing together clues to uncover a larger picture. Additionally, readers who are fans of thrillers that challenge perceptions of reality and delve into the realm of ‘what if’ scenarios will find the story engaging.
Part 1 “Staging Armageddon” captures the tangled web of lies that lead to the creation of a lethal pathogen from a sick pangolin, and the development of mRNA vaccines that the former secretary of state, Elizabeth Slater, intends to profit from. The global spread of the ensuing pandemic brings Russian Federation President Vladislav Nedvedev to the brink of realizing his geopolitical dreams to reunite the Soviet States, and America’s enemies ready themselves to reign terror on the world when President Decker is ousted.
Part 2: “Uncovering Evil” revolves around Jade Huang, a Hong Kong grad student, who is incensed that Beijing has mandated the extermination of the pangolins she is studying after a deadly pandemic emerges in Wuhan. With help from Deep Throat, a Chinese intelligence operative, Jade pieces together Nedvedev’s conspiracy. Suspicions arise that Operation Stargate, Decker’s initiative to develop life-saving vaccines, has proceeded too rapidly, threatening to expose Slater’s kickback scheme. Hanging in the balance is Decker's reelection and the hope that Nedvedev's ambitions will once again be thwarted if Jade can uncover Slater's link to the conspiracy and the deaths of millions she has caused.