A Heartbeat Away

by Michael Palmer

The New York Times bestselling author and master of suspense delivers another novel at the crossroads of politics and medicine in this shocker of a thriller

On the night of the State of the Union address, President James Allaire expects to give the speech of his career. But no one anticipates the terrifying turn of events that forces him to quarantine everyone in the Capitol building. A terrorist group calling itself "Genesis" has unleashed WRX3883, a deadly, highly contagious virus, into the building. No one fully knows the deadly effect of the germ except for the team responsible for its development—a team headed by Allaire, himself. The only one who might be able to help is virologist Griffin Rhodes, currently in solitary confinement in a maximum security federal prison for alleged terrorist acts, including the attempted theft of WRX3883 from the lab where he worked. Rhodes has no idea why he has been arrested, but when Allaire offers to free him in exchange for his help combating the virus, he reluctantly agrees to do what he can to support the government that has imprisoned him without apparent cause.

Meanwhile, every single person in line for presidential succession is trapped inside the Capitol—every person except the Director of Homeland Security, who is safely at home in Minnesota, having been selected as the "Designated Survivor" for this event. With enemies both named and unnamed closing in, and the security of the nation at stake, Griff must unravel the mysteries of WRX3883 without violating his pledge as a scientist to use no animal testing in his experiments…and time is running out.

Tense, thrilling, and entirely plausible, A Heartbeat Away will make you reflect, wonder, and be truly afraid.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Medical, Suspense, Political Thriller, Audiobook

415 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 2011

About the author

Michael Stephen Palmer, M.D., was an American physician and author. His novels are often referred to as medical thrillers. Some of his novels have made The New York Times Best Seller list and have been translated into 35 languages. One, Extreme Measures (1991), was adopted into a 1996 film of the same name starring Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Gene Hackman.

Reviews

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the night of the State of the Union, a terrorist group releases a deadly ebola-like virus in the Capitol chamber, exposing everyone in the upper levels of government. The only person who can save them has been jailed for supposedly stealing the virus and giving it to the terrorists. This was a fast-paced medical thriller. Lots of action scenes and short chapters. Will definitely check out more of the author’s work.

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the old Michael Palmer, like back in the day Palmer. Unfortunately, in A Heartbeat Away , Palmer has lost his groove.

Recently, I went and watched I am Number Four . I had not seen a trailer; all I knew was the premise, which sounded fascinating. Going in expecting great things, I was so disappointed to essentially be watching Twilight 8. Teenyboppers and aliens as far as the eye can see.

A Heartbeat Away was like that. The premise is amazing. A virus is released by terrorists during the State of the Union. Imagine that. Over 700 people held hostage, the core of our government. There is one designated survivor. What will happen?!?

Not enough, unfortunately. The plot is weak, the characters unbelievable. The pacing was tough to follow and at several points I had to backtrack because the scene jumped so abruptly.

In the old days, Palmer's novels were quick-paced medical thrillers, themed around one person against some devious medical system. After reading A Heartbeat Away , I wish he would go back there.

[Meg ✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

if anyone knows any political thriller writers who can actually write pls lmk

[Mal Warwick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll start with a confession: I literally had trouble putting this book down once I started reading it. If I’d had any experience with drugs other than a brief, youthful affair with marijuana, I might say that reading A Heartbeat Away was like a drug rush. However, I’m chagrined to note that, other than in the intoxicating suspense that builds throughout the novel, it’s really not all that good. A competent piece of work by an author of nearly two dozen similar books, but just not great.

So, here I am, reading a book that’s written without any special flair for language, about characters who are at best two-dimensional, in circumstances that are about as true to life as a James Bond adventure, and I’m loving the experience! Why is that?

First, I suppose, is the subject matter. A Heartbeat Away is about Presidential politics and biotechnology, both of which are topics I find irresistible.

Second, I’m sure, is the book’s plotting. What’s at stake in this story has nationwide, even global consequences, and the novel is full of surprises from beginning to end. It’s like following a zig-zag course through a minefield (or, at any rate, what I imagine that would feel like!).

Third is technique. Chapters end with cliff-hanging suspense, sometimes in the middle of conversations, and elsewhere leaving you hanging while the scene shifts abruptly to the events unfolding in another tensely drawn subplot.

If there’s more at work in A Heartbeat Away, I can’t detect it. Maybe I should feel ashamed of myself for actually reading this book from cover to cover?

(from www.malwarwickonbooks.com)

[Jerry B · Rating 1 out of 5]

We're big Palmer fans, having read his every novel. We usually totally enjoy his medical thrillers, but find a disturbing trend in his two recent books. It seems the author, almost shades of Robin Cook, has run out of stories with a plausible medical plot and somehow feels compelled to branch out into the political arena ala David Baldacci. Our biggest gripe with "Heartbeat", the title itself almost a spoiler, is that it is entirely implausible -- not merely the initial shocking development at the State of the Union address, but virtually every plot turn thereafter. With people escaping secured compounds, stumbling across the one person they are searching for in a city of 10 million, etc. etc, there is almost nothing we found anything but farfetched. We don't remember short chapters (ala Patterson) to be Palmer's style, and to us it did nothing to sustain or create suspense; rather, it just gave us so many scene changes we found ourselves reading two or three pages, then setting the book aside for another time. When it takes us three weeks to read one of our favorite writer's efforts, that time frame tells the whole story. As much as we hate to say it, and we may well be in the minority, we find this to be his worst book to date; and one we found thoroughly unenjoyable. We gave up Robin Cook when he went over and stayed over the top -- we surely hope Palmer's next gets back to what made him great.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story with well thought plots. 8 of 10 stars

[Tanya · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Heartbeat Away was one of Palmer's weaker contributions to the genre; I couldn't help but wonder if he threw the last third together to meet a looming deadline. While the premise of the story was fascinating, the execution left much to be desired. I found wicked-witch-of-the-west Ursula Ellis unbelievably cardboard, and both her actions and rationale completely implausible. Griff's computer simulations of virus mutation were absolute science fiction, and his soapbox opposition to animal testing was annoying. Genesis' plan (I won't go into it here, in case anyone reading my review still wants to read the book) was so twisted and fraught with things that could go wrong that no intelligent terrorist group (is that an oxymoron? ) would ever think it would work in the first place. Granted, the book was exciting and moved quickly, but I am very critical of (non-fantasy) books that expect me to suspend reality and believe anything the author throws my way. All in all, I started out liking A Heartbeat Away, but as its weaknesses avalanched into a rushed and jumbled ending, I just couldn't give it even 3 stars.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love medical thrillers and political thrillers, this is the book for you. When a terrorist group called Genesis unleashes a rapid virus known as WRX3883 in the White House, it causes panic and pandemonium. Everyone panics where there's law and disorder. It's up to the President, James Allaire, to do what he had to do to prevent exposure from spreading outside the White House. He calls Griffin Rhodes, a scientist who's been wrongfully convicted of a crime he didn't commit, for his help on making a cure, while his nemesis, Speaker of the House, Ursula Ellis plots to use it to her advantage to become the president. What a rush!

[Ericka Clou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun at the beginning but drags in the middle so so much. In the end it's kind of fun again. At the very end, it was so stressful because some days it feels like "the conservatives" might do something like throw out a cure if the cure somehow limited capitalism the least little bit, or cost some huge company a few dollars. I am jaded.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This suspense novel posits a domestic terror group calling itself Genesis that has been wreaking havoc on the country in small increments. Now it ups the ante by an attack in the U.S. Capitol building during President Jim Allaire’s second State of the Union Address. A lethal virus spray is released in The Chamber of the House of Representatives which, for this event, is host to 700 of most of the power brokers in the country.

This book is definitely a “thriller” and I enjoyed the author’s writing when he wasn’t jumping the shark. Based on the “good” aspects of this book, I would definitely try another when in the mood for this genre.

[Henri Moreaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel manages to cover my four favourite topics - medical, viral/disease, terrorism and mystery. It's all about a terrorist group that attempts to subvert American democracy by releasing a bioterror agent during the president's state of the union address. Naturally there's also a subplot involving a power hungry political animal who is willing to put there own desires above everyone else's whilst trying to dress it up under the guise of them doing 'the right thing' to 'save' people. There's a discredited scientist who has spent months in solitary confinement after being accused of stealing said biological weapon, who now of course is the last hope they have.

Whilst the above may seem a bit cliched and absurd, I can assure you it does actually come together nicely in the book, I particularly liked how everything was not as straight forward as one would often expect with such books, but also that there wasn't an absurdist twist at the end, but rather a slow unraveling of circumstances where prior circumstances became clearer in their meaning.

I last read a Michael Palmer book ten years ago, and I'm now thinking I should find another before yet another ten years passes as this was very good, and quite the pleasurable read.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a scary read, this medical/political thriller is it. A lethal, airborn, ebola-like virus is unleashed on Inauguration Day at the White House by a terrorist group. Since all the government officials were there, they’ve all been exposed. There’s a lot of potential government corruption, general panic and other issues that are all too recognizable as the pandemic continues and a new President is inaugurated in our real lives. It’s particularly interesting to me how accurate this is compared to today’s issues considering it was written ten years ago (2011). It’s easy to see that this could really happen, which makes for a story that will keep you awake at night. I always enjoy Michael Palmer’s medical thrillers and this one was excellent. 4.75/5 stars.

[book_luv_r · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always interesting reading about a Global Pandemic before Covid happened is weird. Very good political thriller. Terrifying to think about during an election year. Seems we've already been through this and I'm afraid we are about to have a 2020 2.0.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good characters and a plot with enough twists and turns to keep things interesting.

[Moe Town · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy his books, but this one had may too much medical jargon for me. Loved some of his others.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Simplistic plot, but a fun, quick read.

[Sarah Glenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Michael Palmer’s books rise in popularity, he raises the stakes higher and higher. His earlier books focused on doctors running afoul of conspiracies in their local hospital; now, his writing eye is fixed on terrorism and government conspiracies - with a medical twist, of course.

In A Heartbeat Away, the first physician we meet is the President of the United States. James Allaire is preparing to give the first State of the Union address of his second term. Among the issues he plans to focus on - in front of his assembled allies and enemies - is terrorism, most notably that of Genesis, which appears to be a home-grown left-wing cadre. As he makes his opening remarks, small explosions occur throughout the crowd. Genesis has planted a Level Four virus, WRX3883, around the congressional chamber, and everyone there has just been exposed to it.

The back cover of Heartbeat lists the presidential order of succession. This becomes relevant quite quickly. Everyone listed in that order was at the address except, ironically, the Secretary of Homeland Security. Palmer lets the reader know that at least one person in the line of succession must be away during such events because of revolting developments like this.

Allaire knows the virus is highly lethal; he discontinued the government's development of it after it was stolen. It acts like SARS with a side helping of Ebola is also contagious. He must control the panic in the Chamber - and seal the building. No one gets in, no one gets out. The scientist who headed the WRX3883 project is missing. Her subordinate, Griffin Rhodes, is in prison for stealing the virus.

Rhodes is the only chance they have. Allaire promises him a presidential pardon if he comes up with a cure. The secret lab has been reopened and his old lab assistant will be waiting for him. Rhodes demands a witness. He was framed for the theft and railroaded into prison. He doesn’t trust the president. Angela Fletcher, a reporter for the Washington Post, will follow Rhodes and make sure that no one changes ‘fact into fiction’. That, and every drama needs a love interest.

The newly freed Rhodes goes to work on finding a cure. Angela tries to locate the missing WRX3883 project head. Genesis, which has eyes and ears everywhere, targets the would-be saviors. Meanwhile, they’ve contacted the Speaker of the House and offered her the cure – and the Presidency – if she cooperates with their demands. It makes for a barrel of fun.

I like stories with a medical angle, and Palmer gives us a taste of the science involved, doing a good job of explaining the research and aspects of human biology without going into pages of jargon. Are there some five-dollar words in there? Yes, but you can speed-bump over the worst parts or fire up Google. Don’t worry, he gets back to the story quickly.

I also enjoyed the political backstabbing that began almost immediately. Palmer does not identify his office holders by party affiliation and does his best to avoid making them resemble their real-life counterparts. I couldn’t suppress a snicker, though, when the senior senator from my state ran afoul of the Secret Service. It was only fiction, after all…

I initially had problems ‘buying’ a group like Genesis: left-wing terrorists of this magnitude? I’m sure there are violent loons on the left; it’s their level of organization that bothers me. Genesis is not what it seems, though. I’ll leave it at that.

What I would have liked: a little more medicine. There are seven hundred infected patients, but we don’t see much of how WRX3883 affects them or what’s being done to help them. A scene where Doctor Allaire was treating a sick congressman would have been nice. He should have been berating himself the entire time, too. Presidents sometimes have to do vile things for the best interests of all, but he should have regrets.

Another problem: Allaire’s political enemies are too one-sided. They hate him – no surprise – but most villains see themselves as the heroes. They also have personal principles and agendas. Perhaps Palmer didn’t want to get into those because then we could ‘peg’ them politically, but at the very least they should have families and people they worry about. The Speaker’s actions at the end were too over-the-top for me. Perhaps, if Palmer had shown her being more affected by the illness, it would have helped.

Spoiler alert for my biggest complaint: the virus WRX3883 was being developed in the first place because it had a side effect that worked better than truth serum and also dissolved self-control. It would have made it damned hard for the Speaker to conceal what she’d done with the Vice President. The arguments that would have ensued when everyone began telling the truth could have also been damned interesting.

Overall, though, I found A Heartbeat Away to be a good read. It’s not my favorite of his works, but it has plenty of action and keeps you turning the page.

[Connie Donnelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast paced thriller. It has all the necessary ingredients, a terrorist group, a deadly virus, ambitious politicians with their own agenda and a wrongly, accused scientist who is their last hope to save them all.

[Dale · Rating 1 out of 5]

A political thriller for people that don't know much about politics

Read by Robert Petkoff
11 hours, 42 minutes.

The premise behind A Heartbeat Away is simple and brilliant: What if terrorists released a biological weapon into the House chamber during the President's State of the Union Address - the one time when just about everybody who is anybody in the Federal government is all in one room together?

The follow through, however, is not so hot.

Palmer's characterization of how a President would deal with this sort of problem shows that Palmer does not understand the one thing that all presidents are - they are politicians. They know how to collaborate, get things done, work with people they cannot stand to get their programs enacted. Even the most difficult President can schmooze and get people to work with them. The president in A Heartbeat Away, James Allaire is the most politically tone deaf character I have ever seen. He manages to make the whole thing look like an attempted coup (although most of the Congressmen and women are placid, like a herd of sheep - I had to wonder if Palmer had ever watched Meet the Press even one time. Those people live to argue. They all think they are the expert of almost everything and just about everything is some sort of scheme)

Anyway, the entire government of the United States is present except for the Designated Survivor - the cabinet member who stays away just in case there is a terrorist act and becomes president. You may remember the many references to Dick Cheney being in an "undisclosed location" during the Bush 43 administration and you then know that Cheney was the Designated Survivor.

They are all exposed to WRX3883, a bio-weapon created by the order of the president (who is a "man of the people" despite his dictatorial ways - we see no evidence of this in the book but the author tell us that he is so I guess he is. Oh, he is also a medical doctor - I guess he did not take that Hippocratic Oath thing too seriously, huh? Do no harm...unless it's a bio-weapon!) and the President does not cede power to the Designated Survivor. Instead, because he is an expert on everything, he goes about working on a secret plan to try to get a cure made, while he lies to everyone and says it is just the flu and everyone is on lockdown on the penalty of death. And - they need to sit down in their assigned seats. Now! Then, a beat down by the Secret Service starts, including a pistol whipping of someone in the upstairs gallery...

Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed again..., April 19, 2011

This review is from: A Heartbeat Away (Audio CD)
I have read all of Michael Palmer's books -- some better than others. This was an "other" and a disappointment to me. This was not so much a medical thriller as it was a chance for the author to get on his soap box about ethical and political issues such as the use of animals for drug and disease testing, the efficacy of homeland security, and the government's approach to terrorism -- to name a few.

As other reviewers have pointed out, the plot premise was sound. Someone (we are led to believe it is a terrorist group known as Genesis) releases a deadly virus into the hall of the Capitol as the President is giving his State of the Union address. All who are present are subsequently quarantined and President James Allaire locates someone he previously imprisoned to try to make a serum that will cure everyone. From that interesting start, the story spirals out and tries to deal with too many subplots and those ethical issues I mentioned.

Although the narrative moves along at a rapid pace, the writing really irritated me and detracted from my enjoyment of the story. The author writes using one string of metaphors or similes after another. Everything is "like" something. The escapes that the main characters make from professional hit men are ludicrous and totally unbelievable. I didn't like a single character in this book -- not even the savior Griffin Rhodes or his girlfriend and sidekick, investigative reporter Angela Fletcher. The characters in the book are typical black and white caricatures and stereotypes of good guys and bad guys (or gals). Nothing was surprising and the entire resolution was completely predictable.

So, I suggest you pass on this one if you are looking to read a good medical thriller. I hope that Palmer returns to his original style and sticks to books that focus on the medical aspects rather than the political.

An aside -- I listened to this book on audio CD and I must give kudos to the reader. He did an excellent job of voicing the characters - both male and female. It was easy to tell them apart and he did a very nice reading. If you really want to get this book, buy this audio version!

[Two Bibliomaniacs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Make sure to block out a good portion of your day before starting this one, otherwise you’ll feel guilty about locking yourself in the bathroom to finish. A Heartbeat Away was our first glimpse into the world of Michael Palmer and we’ll admit – we were pleasantly surprised.

Historically, State of the Union addresses are filled with declarations of progress and frustrations at having to battle misguided policies endorsed by the other party. Few involved would ever expect the release of a lethal virus. Well, for President Jim Allaire, said event is just the beginning of his nightmare and his only hope lies in a rogue virologist currently spending his leisure time in a maximum security federal prison. All the while, death is creeping nearer and nearer to Washington’s top officials.

The tone for A Heartbeat Away is set before chapter 1 even begins with a single page containing the official order of Presidential Succession (doesn’t exactly provide the reader with high hopes of the top brass making it all the way through to the end). The novel also wrestles with the delicate balance between personal liberties and government protection while constantly blurring the lines of good and evil. Then again, what would you expect when a bunch of politicians are expected to solve complex problems. Oh, that reminds us of a joke – stop us if you’ve heard this one... A politician, a lobbyist and a journalist walk into the Washington Memorial... sorry, we’ve digressed.

Overall, A Heartbeat Away was an exciting read. There were times when the dialogue became a bit predictable, but otherwise the characters felt very real. We loved the fact that the plot is veiled in grayness and nothing’s as clear as it appears on the surface. Literally, the final twist isn’t revealed until the last ten pages. In summary, A Heartbeat Away provides the perfect fix for any long suffering suspense junkie.

[Suspense Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always exhilarating, Palmer ratchets the tension to a breathtaking level with the release of “A Heartbeat Away”. Stunning in its realism and truly terrifying, Palmer keeps a frantic, anxiety-driven pace, giving his fans a ringside seat as the nightmare unfolds.

As President James Allaire begins his second State of the Union address, he’s prepared to captivate the public with his charm, but doesn’t get the opportunity. Within moments of launching his message, puffs of vapor begin pouring out of strategically placed locations on the floor of the House Chamber. As the haze subsides, he receives a horrifying message. Genesis—a domestic terrorist group—has released a deadly, contagious and incredibly aggressive virus into the Capitol building and all hell is about to break loose.

Allaire is all too familiar with WRX3883 and the lethal consequences of its release. He is, in part, responsible for its origination and is very aware that the outcome has become dire for the hundreds of beautifully coifed attendees of this evening. Trapped with all but one successor for the office of the presidency, Allaire must reach out to the one man who has absolutely no reason to help him.

One time virologist, Griffin Rhodes is now a permanent resident in solitary confinement at a maximum-security prison in Colorado. Being held for alleged terrorist acts and unaware of his crimes, Rhodes faces a personal challenge when granted freedom in exchange for his assistance. With a grim outlook, amplified as he walks into the nightmarish scene of the crime, Rhodes understands that the hope of the nation lies heavily on his shoulders.

Palmer’s genius lies in his ability to never underestimate the intelligence of his readers as he takes us into thought-provoking territories meant to keep us up at night.

Reviewed by Shannon Raab for Suspense Magazine

[Paul Pessolano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Palmer is the author of 15 previous books but "A Heartbeat Away" may very well be the best yet.

United States President James Aillaire, serving his second term, is scheduled to give a State of the Union address. Congress is assembled with the usual invitees, Supreme Court Justices, Joint Chiefs of Staff, etc...

In this group is all but one of those that are in line for the Presidential Order of Succession. One member is always not present in case of a catastrophe. The member not present is the Director of Homeland Security, who is considered the "Designated Survivor".

Minutes into his speech, a terrorist group called "Genesis" has set off vials of a highly contagious virus. There is no antidote for the virus.

The President, aware of this, completely isolates the Congress so that no one can leave or enter. The President is the one who authorized the manufacture of the virus and it has found itself in the hands of the terrorist.

There is only one man, Griffin Rhodes, who can possibly find an antidote before the seven hundred people in Congress will die. Griff is presently in the supermaximum federal pentitentiary in Florence, Colorado. Griff was put there by the President for suspected terrorist actions.

The Presidents problems mount as the Speaker of the House, Ursula Ellis, becomes a willing pawn for "Gensis" when they promise her the Presidency and an antidote for the virus.

Fast paced, scary, and believable. Maybe the United States Government, after reading this book, will change the attendees of the State of the Union speeches.

Top notch mystery/thriller that should be a must for the mystery fan.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this age of jet travel, cultural cross-pollination and terror about the prospect of a worldwide pandemic, there are a many novels out there about mankind meeting its demise thanks to a tiny viral predator. This one ties that fear in with a group that many feel deserve to cope with a problem that requires resolution, rather than the continuing ennui for which it has become so well known. During a State of the Union address a terrorist group manages to release an experimental virus developed by the government as a potential germ-warfare agent but then abandoned as too dangerous and unpredictable. Of course, this is not your average, everyday terrorist group but more of a terrorist group on steroids and well connected. As the president is aware of the potential of this government created virus he makes a quick decision to seal off the Capitol Building and make a last ditch effort to attempt to find an antidote and here is where the fun begins. Now new alliances must be created and past mistakes confronted and rectified before the virus can no longer be confined and is spread to the outside world. Palmer's novel pits the good guys against the bad guys, both in and out of Congress as the countdown begins but the realistic aura of the novel hinges more on the specifics of the virus rather than the predictable characterizations of congressional politics. As Palmer was an M.D. and seemingly knowledgeable about his portrayal of a potential pandemic and the hazards of infection, this seems to give the novel a certain level of excitement, not the plot. Although not a great read, it moves along quickly and maintains the piquancy of a lot of spy, suspense novels.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was very exciting. i truly loved the very idea of a deadly virus running rapid through the white house.

this was my first and certainly not my last Palmer novel. This one was a pretty fast ready and that Fast was equated not only by length but by pacing!

this one started and truly did not stop. i listened to this omw to work and at home sometimes. typically with audiobooks i do other things but there were tense moments of complete inactivity and absorption.

i'm negating one star in my opinion for only two reasons: the sheer hokey-pokeyness of the final conclusion (there's an attempt at establishing a love story that seems to have been written by a child or by someone who idea of romance is defined by Disney films) and the lack of a Big Reveal that I was expecting. That is probably my own fault, not the authors. Still was a winner regardless.

I do recommend. Wouldnt be surprised to see this on and ruined by a film.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well developed, fast paced, enough turns to get you dizzy, and thought provoking enough to have you Google the Line of Succession to the Presidency. If you send the Director of Agriculture off to be safe that night (night of Inauguration or State of the Union) then you will end up with a leader with more concerns towards agriculture or environment. You send the director of Homeland Security and you will end up with a very different presidency. Something to think about. Maybe the Vice President should always be in the bunker somewhere safe. At least we elected him. I really did enjoy this book, it was nice to get back to "adult literature" since I have been on a Young Adult streak lately keeping up with movie premiers and my kids reading habits.

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a sucker for medical suspense novels and I have historically enjoyed Michael Palmer's stories. Likewise for this book - I enjoyed it and was hooked from the getgo. Although unrealistic - it is fiction afterall - it was a good story. If I could have changed one thing - it would have been the relationship between the reporter and scientist-hero. That relationship was a bit contrived and felt like it had been dropped in the middle of the story so there would be a good "chick" factor. It wasn't needed. Still, a good suspense-oriented read for a brief escape from reality or jury trial prep :)

[Steve Auerweck · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was way too hard to suspend disbelief and accept the implausible events and characters in this political/medical thriller. The premise -- most of the country's leaders quarantined in the Capitol after a disease exposure -- is a great one. But over and over again, the responses to the situation are illogical and the bad guys display a cartoonlike, Snidely Whiplash kind of evil. After about a third of the book I started speed-reading just to see where it would end up. My first Palmer, and maybe my last.

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This seemed like a good plot premise, but it was so poorly written that I put it down halfway. The characters are unbelievably flat and undeveloped, so you don't care a fig about what happens to them; the overly detailed description of the secret lab is tearfully boring; the plot barely moves forward at a snail's pace. I'm not sure how anyone can see this as a page-turner. I didn't even care enough to finish it to find out if an antidote to the virus was found.

This book is going in the Goodwill bag.

[Gilbert G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, this book was right down my alley. I loved so much. The intrigue, mystery,politics and deceit made it an incredibly fast, fun read for me. Michael Palmer has always been one of my favourite authors and he didn’t let me down with great book. Think about this all of us that lived through the pandemic of COVID, and the similarities in this book that was written in 2011, it’s pretty prophetic. Spooky right?