The Eleventh Plague: A Novel of Medical Terror

by John S. Marr, John Baldwin

What if the ten plagues from the Book of Exodus were coming true in America today? What if they were not acts of God but the brilliantly fiendish creations of an evil genius? In this galvanizing novel of medical terror, death stalks the land, and the only hope of preventing a cataclysm beyond biblical proportions lies with one maverick virologist who is himself in danger of becoming either a suspect or a victim. In present-day Southern California, two children die of a disease thought to be nonexistent in the United States. Within hours, Thoroughbreds at the legendary Churchill Downs are dying of a virus that cannot be identified, even by the most expert veterinarians. Called in to help shed light on these gruesome enigmas, noted virologist Jack Bryne discovers that the two events are not only connected, they are deliberate acts of bioterrorism.

When it occurs to him that the deaths bear uncanny similarities to the Fifth and Sixth Plagues described in Exodus, Bryne is convinced he's uncovered a growing progression of horrors. He's right, and every month another monstrosity claims its victims. Every month sees the reenactment of another even more catastrophic plague.

Soon Bryne's worldwide medical computer network, ProMED, is invaded by the power behind the horrors, teasing him, challenging him--a morbidly brilliant serial killer with a dangerously sophisticated knowledge of toxins and an obsession with biblical retribution. Bryne, himself now considered a suspect by the FBI, must convince the Bureau of his innocence and joins forces with his brilliant lab assistant, a TV newswoman, and a young Orthodox Jewish religious scholar--to track down the maniac and stop him in time.

But even Bryne cannot predict how close the killer is until he meets this modern medical Moriarty in a midnight confrontation that will determine the future of New York City.

Written by one of this country's most respected public health figures, and a novelist with a genius for the macabre, The Eleventh Plague is scientifically prescient and utterly compelling. It's a premier thriller for the millennium--bound to leave you with the disturbing realization that the real terror begins once the last page has been turned.

The biblical plagues were acts of God, this time they are man-made




Waters of Blood
Frogs
Lice
Swarms
Death of the Animals
Boils
Hailstorms
Locusts
Darkness
Destruction of the Firstborns
And the worst is yet to come...The Eleventh Plague--you will never feel safe again.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Horror, Suspense, Medical

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please note: I read and reviewed this book in 2006 from a copy of the book I probably picked up at my favorite tobacco shop, or Borders or something. I'm just adding in some formatting.

My Reaction: I read this book just this year - several years after it was initially written. Absolutely chilling, especially when I can see that "progress" is moving faster than thought, and something like what is outlined in this book could indeed happen.

My Synopsis: A brilliant toxicologist, after being denied funding and having his life basically destroyed (and apparently going just an eensy bit crazy) has decided to reenact the Biblical plagues. He has discovered the biological causes of all of them and sets out to unleash them upon an unsuspecting public - starting with those whom he feels have destroyed him. An equally brilliant virologist is brought on board after a child becomes mysteriously ill with strange symptoms that cannot be tied to anything specific. Thus begins a deadly game of cat and mouse that leaves the bodies stacking up behind and the clock running out ahead. This story is highly suspenseful and kept me turning pages well beyond when I should have called it quits each day.

A Few Issues: However, I did find a couple teensy factual errors - because I'm a nitpicker. ONE: the author ties the tarantella in to ergotism, as people dancing madly due to the "Devil's spiders," a symptom of ergotism where one feels like one has spiders running up and down one's body. Although there is little evidence to point out the origin of the tarantella, most historians agree that is actually has something to do with an attempt to cure spider bites - the dance was an attempt to work out the venom. TWO: In one scene, the toxicologist is described as caring for his rats, some even becoming pets and having names. Then he picks one up by the scruff of its neck! Now, anyone who knows anything about rats knows that they cannot be lifted by the scruff of their necks - they do not have the right sort of build and being lifted and/or held like that can lead to damage to their throats, choking and/or death. If a scientist cared at all about his rats and had worked with them (and they were as calm and tame as described in that scene), he would only need to reach in and scoop them up by putting his hand under their torso and lifting them out by supporting their belly. That is the proper way to lift a rat.

My Recommendation: But, outside of that - everyone should read this book, think carefully about it - and be afraid. Be VERY AFRAID.

[Kasey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish this book had been written by somebody else. I'm going to list my complaints.
1. The writing is /awful/. The plot is interesting, but having to read it was painful.
2. On a similar note, every single thing that had to be explained in this book was explained in the most condescending manner EVER.
3. The women in this book only existed as love interests. They had almost NO other roles, and were so, so poorly written.
4. There was an unnecessary obsession with erections and ejaculations. The mention of these was NOT needed to characterize the villain as a sick human--that was already evident. We already dislike him. Stop talking about his weird penis.
5. Though many things were over-explained (especially bc some of the key points in this book that would've been shocking when it was published are much more common knowledge now), characters made logical jumps that were never explained to the reader. They figured things out and we never learned how.
6. Spoiler alert, but the eleventh plague isn't mentioned until the second-to-last sentence. There's no closure, and I feel lied to.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's actually years since I read this book, and I had to read the reviews to be sure I had the right one - I've forgotten pretty well all the details in the blurb - but the fact that the actual plot sticks with me, and comes to the front of my memory at the strangest of times is testimony to the strength of its effect.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a scary book, viruses are a serious thing . Sneaky scary things

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love medical thrillers, and this one was no letdown on that front. The author makes the bad guy known early on, so the book is a progression of the villain's attempts to cause a modern day version of each of the Bible's plagues while the government works hard to track him down before he strikes again.
I felt the beginning of the book was better and more interesting than the later chapters. The book opens with Dr. Byrne, the protagonist in this book, being called to Los Angeles after a young boy contracts what is later found to be anthrax. As an ex-CDC employee, Byrne has a reputation for solving epedemiologic puzzles such as this one, but as he works on the boy's case, he is quickly called away to Churchill Downs to figure out why prize racehorses are dying just before the prestigious Kentucky Derby. Eventually, Byrne uses ProMed, a web database he developed, to connect these two incidents with others in recent months that correlate to each of the Bible's plagues, realizing that the lunatic causing these 'plagues' is likely to continue until he has caused all of them. The later chapters involve the luntic's diary entries regarding why he's doing it and the steps he takes to develop his plans, as well as a lot of meetings between Byrne and others, including his contact at the FBI.
The book also seems wrongly titled, as no 11th plague is ever mentioned except in the closing paragraphs of the book.

[Alec · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh yes, Bible Christians are terrible people, brutal to their wives, hypocritical, only interested in money and power or on the other extreme are emotional basket cases. Of course moderate Baptists are a different story. They are more "reasonable" in their faith. They're also freely able to swear. I guess that makes them "okay folks".

It's a shame the authors couldn't focus on the storyline.

[SoulSurvivor · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is probably the most poorly written book I've read in a decade . All the medical nonsense pales by the failure to even keep the plot and characters conistent . I especially liked when the lovely brunette turns into a ravishing raven-haired vixen in the space of three sentences ( Revlon induced ? ) . This would be a good volume for prison libraries , but it might fall into the realm of 'cruel and unusual' punishment .

[Crystal O'Roarke · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting story, but way to long and slow.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of medical thrillers of all kinds, particularly when they are so relatable that you can envision yourself in the place of one or more of the characters.

I come from a family with extensive medical training and unfortunately have experienced way too much time with drs , hospitals and surgeries due to chronic illness so I do look for realism when it co.es to ledical terminology in the book if I am going to enjoy it, while simultaneously looking for that something extra to give the book that wow factor. Something that hasn't been done medically yet (at least not publicized but possibly being worked on) but that as I am reading it, I can forsee the "something" becoming reality in the future as we see so much advancement in technology that medicine changes on an almost daily basis, opening up the door for many questions of ethical or not???

The premise of this novel intrigued me from the get go. Someone or group of people that were trying to recreate in current times the 10 plagues faced in Egypt , using science to do so and leaving multiple clues along the way so that one scientist in particular would pick up on the clues and eventually make the connection to Moses and the 10 plagues, despite the fact the tracing the seemingly unrelated deaths by unknown causes would seem almost impossible. But thanks to modern technology the Dr is able to use his medical Web forum to ask enough questions about the various cases he is called to investigate along with CDC.

Unknowingly, many of the the responses he receives on his medical forum are coming from the instigator of the "plagues with some false leafs to keep him preoccupied so he can't catch up with him and stop the plagues from happening but because of his narcissistic personality, along with his extreme knowledge of toxins and how to use them in both favorable ways to help find cures for illnesses and also how they can be used in their most deadly ways, he feels inclined to also leave obvious symbols or notes on Web forum to give the Dr enough accurate information to catch him. Why would he do it....because he truly believes he is the smartest person when it comes to use of toxins and therefore without giving clues, he doesn't feel like anyone could make the connection.

A big part of the book reflects on the personality of the creator of the plagues and how he ended up going from studying medicine and how to cure people to becoming obsessed at learning every toxin that existed and how they could be used to cause havoc and death. Not only in the original lethal forms but by experimenting on them he tried creating even more lethal combinations so that each of his "new plagues" would be deadly but also mimic the symptoms in a way similar to the original 10 plagues.

I don't want to get into telling the story and ruining the read for everyone but I will say that when I first began reading it, I was literally captivated by the characters, the plot and how the interaction between the two main characters kept intertwining and how the author was able to cause me as the reader to not just focus on them but to also get to know the people closest to the "good dr" and fall in love with each of them and feel emotionally on edge each time one got caught in the web of the relationship between the 2 and used as pawns in a chess games, meant to be sacrificed for the sake of the king (in this instance the mad scientist out to ruin the world...or in his eyes recreate it to make it better). I cringed each time one of them became infected with a strain of one of the plagues, sitting on the edge of my seat as I read "just a few more pages" to find out whether they would live or die. You have to read it to find out who does or doesn't...no spoiler alerts sorry.

From my review so far you are probably wondering why I only gave it 3 stars. It fit the majority of my criteria for a great medical thriller. In fact, I found dead myself learning to quote a bit about toxins that was extremely interesting as I had never intentionally thought about the process and years of research and failure after failure before finding something that works to help cure an illness. It's amazing that just one slight mutation in the virus can make years of research and finding cure or treatment become instantly mute. It's elevated the scientific researchers way up in my mind as I think of how many different medicines I take for my Rheumatoid Arthritis and the years of testing in attempt to fund something that works and because of slight difference in each individual and how any disease may effect them, the same cure/treatment may not work for all.

Based on that newfound thinking I can't fathom how the characters in this story were able to be working on multitude of brand new illnesses that were so different from each other simultaneously and under such stress to find cure instantly rather than years or decades. The pressure only became worse once the connection to the 10 plagues was made as they all knew that before they were able to find cures for one , then the next plague would appear. They were trying to do all this while anticipating how the next plague would present itself. Not a job I would envy having.

Still to this point, loving it and ready for 4 or 5 stars review but as the plagues drew closer to the 10th, the writing got a little slower and less intensive. I found that I could actually put the book down after reading some without that urge to "just squeeze in a few more pages". It felt like the author was running out of steam and the ending just ended without the big bang I was expecting. What bothered me the most though is that although the author left a few hints that their could be the possibility of another book coming out to bring about the 11th Plague (as the title indicates), nothing was addressed to this effect. It just lingered as a possibility so rather than leaving the reader with a great last line that would have you saying "No, it can't end there....when is the next book coming out...I can't wait to see what the Big Plague is", we are left with a final chapter that talks quite a bit about the boy who assisted in the interpretation of the plagues of Moses time and how he was granted permission to write it up for publication. All wel and good and happy ending for him and for the world as the 11th Plague did not occur, but it feels like all the anticipation for what would the author create for the 11th Plague (as everyone at one time or another has thought about how world would end, haven't you?) was forgotten about so it was a huge letdown for me after becoming so invested in the characters for the majority of the book.

I do hope that another book is in the making to go into detail about this 11th Plague and that author has enough material planned for an entire book on just the one Plague and not that he is going to leave us dangling with the idea that since 10th Plague stopped, so to does the need for an additional writing of "what next". But if he doesn't have any creative ideas in mind that haven't even used before for end of world type scenarios, I think I'd rather it just stop here then throw together something loosely constructed as many 2nd books are if not initially written to be a series.

Despite the lack of enthusiasm I felt for the ending, I still enjoyed the reading of this novel and loved the depth he went into in developing the characters to such an extent that you felt like you've known them intimately for years.

[Cindy De Vetter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dit boek start met een reeks gebeurtenissen die op het eerste gezicht niks met elkaar te maken hebben. In San Antonio worden toeristen aangevallen door een bijenzwerm waarbij diverse slachtoffers vallen. De zoon van een rijke projectontwikkelaar wordt ernstig ziek in San Diego, California. Zijn ouders halen Dr. Jack Bryne, een vermaard viroloog, erbij aangezien de symptomen niet overeenkomen met de meest voorkomende ziektes. Een jonge vrouw wordt in hetzelfde ziekenhuis binnengebracht met dezelfde symptomen en binnen de 24 uur sterven beiden aan één van de meest dodelijke virussen ter wereld: anthrax.
Enkele uren later sterven volbloedpaarden in Kentucky aan een ongeïdentificeerd virus.
Dr. Bryne komt oog in oog te staan met het grote schilderij van William Turner waarop de ‘De vijfde plaag’ staat afgebeeld. Een verschrikkelijke dood voor de heersers en hun vee. Met dit in zijn achterhoofd gaat hij op onderzoek en vindt hij overeenkomsten met de Bijbelse plagen. Hierdoor wordt Dr. Bryne al snel een verdachte bij de FBI, alsook een slachtoffer van de psychopaat.

Het uitgangspunt van dit boek sprak mij onmiddellijk aan: ”een psychopaat laat de 10 bijbelse plagen herleven door middel van bioterrorisme”.
Het verhaal wordt vooral gedragen door het contrast tussen de 2 hoofdpersonages. Beiden hebben een zwaar verleden achter zich; de één kiest ervoor om goed te doen, terwijl de andere op zoek is naar persoonlijke wraak.

Het plot neemt diverse wendingen naarmate de inzet en het aantal slachtoffers stijgen, maar
het verhaal loopt soms vast door te veel wetenschappelijke uitleg en terminologie. Naar het einde toe wordt het verhaal wat gerekt, maar uiteindelijk is het een degelijke thriller.
Een ander minpuntje is dat de auteur(s) regelmatig wisselen in het gebruik van de voor- en achternaam van de personages.

Dit boek (her)lezen in een periode van een epidemie (het jaar is 2020 in volle Covid-19 uitbraak) is griezelig. Zet je toch aan het denken.

[Denis Bruins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wat een verademing dat ik De Elfde Plaag uit heb. In eerste instantie vond ik het best lekker weglezen, wat als het verder goed was geweest vier sterren van mij zou hebben gekregen. Er wordt veelvuldig gebruik gemaakt van moeilijke woorden, terwijl dit zinloos is. Hierbij doel ik niet op wetenschappelijke benamingen. Irritaties werden bij mij opgewekt door processen die niet overeenkomen met de werkelijkheid. Verder was de geloofwaardigheid van bepaalde delen ook ver te zoeken. Als klap op de vuurpijl was het plot uitermate zwak, waardoor ik niet verder kom dan twee sterren. Deze twee sterren zijn uitsluitend te danken, omdat het boek op zich wel lekker leest. Heb je het op je tbr-list staan? Haal het er maar weer vanaf.

[Kirsten · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wie der Täter das Problem gelöst hat, fand ich gut gelungen. Aber insgesamt hat mich das Buch nicht überzeugt. Die Idee, die biblischen Plagen als Strafe einzusetzen, hat mich überzeugt. Der Täter und seine Vorgeschichte fand ich zu weit hergeholt, genauso wie die Wissenschaftler, die auf seine Spur gekommen sind und ihn gejagt haben. Jack Byrnes Charakter ist nicht stimmig. Mal ist er von der Vergangenheit gezeichnet, mal hat er das gesamte System bekämpft und jetzt will er die Menschheit retten. Sein Gegenspieler beim FBI ist ähnlich inkonsequent und wird vom erbitterten Gegner Byrnes zu seinem besten Freund. Das war mir alles zu chaotisch.

Meine Fazit: gute Idee, schlechte Ausführung aber zum Glück leicht zu lesen.

[B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book gets two stars for one simple reason - For the first fifty pages, I was entranced. I sat reading them on the bookstore floor and didn't want to leave. That being said... by page 160 I was bored. Once the authors introduced the "old flame" love interest, the book just rolled over and died. The main character became an idiot who needed his old girl's input to be able to do the most basic tasks. The FBI agent didn't operate like an FBI agent, and the villain was dull, flat, and just plain boring. I yawned my way through the rest. The simple introduction of that one character just tanked the book. It was wholly disappointing.

[Jaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the premise of this book. A bioterrorist is recreating the 10 plagues used in Egypt to set the Israelites free. The bad guy is well developed and intense. However, the plot drags and gets bogged down by too much scientific explanation at times. Also, the author switches between calling his characters by their first and last names. This created confusion for me. Still, I liked the idea that the plagues could be recreated by science. It proves that they are not just wild stories.

[Gilbert G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of Medical Thriller that will make you thank “What If”
I must admit that I almost put the book away because of a slow beginning, however, when it started to remind me of some pretty scary roller coasters I couldn’t stop reading it.
It is well worth your time because it describes the 10 Plagues which are in the Bible and explains scientifically what might be the cause of them.
Unfortunately, sometime goes a bit crazy which will occur in The Eleventh Plague. LMPG. Hmmmm????

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pacing was a little weird — started off super fast paced and exciting, reading like a Criminal Minds episode or a movie. Around halfway it definitely got a bit bogged down by having to explain away all the medical / virology logistics. Also as the plagues slowed in occurrence, we no longer got cut scenes to new and affected people — just Bryne and Cameron and sometimes Hubbard.

Definitely well written, extremely immersive, and with a few horror elements. But started strong and lost steam

[Regina Hörmayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eigentlich ist das Thema des Thrillers sehr interessant, es ist auch absolut fundiert geschrieben. Und da liegt der Haken - es ist teilweise viel zu ausführlich und so mit medizinischem Wissen bespickt, dass es zu Lasten der Spannung geht. Der Schluss hat mich auch etwas enttäuscht, sonst wären es vier Punkte gewesen.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was trying to find books by John Marrs, this book popped up. I thought, “What the heck, I’ll read it.” Oh boy.
Let me just say I was tempted to purchase a black light and use it. Then I decided it’s not worth it. I’d probably end up never sleeping again. Despite being published in 1998, this could happen today. Shudder.

[Shanna_redwind · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and exciting, but I didn't like the female characters. Even though his wife had a powerful position of her own, that could call her away at any time, she had a remarkable lack of understanding when he was called away. Her character just didn't sit well with me.

[Eileen Engel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow makes you think!

[Rogue Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

All too scary, all too real with way too much detail.

[John (JC) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is so poorly written I gave up 50 pages in.

[Tomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. Sneaky ending!
2. Don't read this while you're eating.
3. I don't know who the bad Guy's "Voice" was but it's not God. God doesn't work like that.
4. Too much technical stuff.

[Nicole Brendal]

Could have been soooo good. =(

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my gosh. This was the hardest book to finish. And I only finished it because my OCD will not allow me to stop a book when I start one. Absolutely terrible.

[Nita Wilkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little too much information in spots, but a well-written horror/thriller based on the plagues of Egypt.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are into plague, medical mysteries, this is a book for you! I found it fascinating.

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spannende Geschichte, allerdings zieht sie sich ab und zu, was sie dann - auch wegen der medizinischen Fachbegriffe - oft eher zäh macht.