I have never read anything from this author before and so did not know what to expect. It has been a while since I read a political or medical thriller and this could pull me back into reading more of both if they are this good. I enjoyed the fact that there was a slow build on how things progressed as opposed to a break neck speed in getting to the heart of things. This did not catch me with the first page but by chapter two I was all in. The characters were very well laid out and seem genuine for the most part though some were just sketched since they did not appear very often. The story was believable as far as the science behind the evolution of the virus and its spread, which made it perfect.

Daniel Mann is a 27 year old man who has deferred his life in order to care for his mother after an accident left her a partial invalid. He is working a job he hates and is overqualified for just for the benefits. Daniel brought down a company and wants to make it up to the other employees by getting them jobs but he ends up in a bad situation because he cannot seem to read women.

In North Korea a virus has been unleashed in the population by men trying to make money inside a repressive country. Jero is a smuggler who gets tainted beef which he takes to his brother-in-law to butcher for sale. He along with several others are infected by the mucus and blood of the cows. Because of the close confines they live in the virus finds a lot of hosts in a short period of time as they go about their normal business.

There is political posturing, medical issues, military intrigue, not to mention lots of spies from all sides. South Korea is caught unaware because they just want things to calm down on both sides. This definitely makes you think.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars