Pox

by Richard Reinking

Four Middle Eastern terrorists led by Ahmed Musa Mohammed infect themselves with the smallpox virus from a dying child they find with the natural disease in rural Somalia and travel to the United States to deliberately spread the infection among the crowds of Christmas shoppers in four American cities. Dr. Harry Bennett, a physician practicing near Chicago, sees the first two cases of smallpox, a mother and daughter, and he watches helplessly as they become seriously ill and die. A few days later, Dr. Vicky Anderson, an emergency room physician in New York City, diagnoses the third case. The outbreak is recognized as a terrorist attack, but even with a massive public health response, smallpox explodes across America, engulfing the country in fear and panic. Many Americans believe that the threat of a biological terrorist attack is genuine, and Pox describes a disturbingly real possibility. In Pox, the reader witnesses the destructiveness of self-righteous, intolerant fanatics who devise a grim plan to wreak pain and havoc on America. Pox offers an intense look at how contradictory ideologies and philosophies realistically play out, and causes us to realize our vulnerabilities.

Genres: Fiction

308 pages, Paperback

First published August 16, 2011

Reviews

[Gerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

This is a very well written book and it held my attention all of the way through. It is so realistic that it seemed like it could be happening today. The characters were very developed and real and I invested emotionally in them, even the terrorists. I would like to read more by this author.

[Stacy Zaghloul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scientifically accurate and very readable

I feel the author did an excellent job of writing a thriller that accurately portrays a nightmare scenario from both the medical and criminal investigation points of view.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked

Great read for those that love a good medical thriller. Wow, so reflective of current state of affairs. Brought me back to the start of the pandemic, 1st 2 patients in Illinois, just like your book. Great job Dr. Reinking!!

[Jo Ann Vinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read.

I think this book should be read by all doctors, nurses, all hospital workers. It should be read by all people in public office. This could happen very easily. We must keep our guard up.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great premise, execution fell short.

I wanted more action and grit, and instead I received lots of sentence ending with ! for no apparent reason.

[Amy Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am sucker for medical thrillers and I LOVED it! Presents a very realistic portrait of what it would be like if something like this really did happen! Plus the author is local, a neat coincidence!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best indie-published books I have EVER read. It's truly phenomenal. I can't believe it's not a bestseller. It's truly terrifying and plausible.

I remember reading the first chapter probably about 10 years ago and being scared out of my mind. I was finally ready to read the whole thing and boy was it a wild ride. Made me emotional at a few points too. It's slow at times but it picks up around the halfway point.

It definitely hurts a little to read this after living through a pandemic myself and realizing people are not so cooperative and helpful as we would like them to be when it comes to quarantining themselves and protecting others. But I think Pox did a good job showing that side of things as well.

I also appreciate that the book showed that the vast majority of Middle Eastern people are not terrorists and that prejudice against them is not okay. The villains in this book are Middle Eastern and I was worried it would lean into that too much.

Just a fantastic, horrifying, gripping book that I read in 24 hours with my cat on my back the entire time.

[Sharon Porter-Moxley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only is Pox an exciting medical thriller it outlines the US defense against bioterrorism. Four Middle Eastern men infect themselves with small pox and then fly to America. When their disease is most contagous they visit crowded places such as malls and train stations infecting people with small pox. Of course many people come down with small pox and spread it to others. The government vacinates as many of the population as possible but for various reasons thousands die.

[Hermann Schachtschneider · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read. Well-written story and good pace kept me going on the treadmill. Story completely plausible.

However, I found the one marital sex scene at the 39% mark completely unnecessary to the story, and it prevents me from recommending this book for younger readers or school libraries.

[Kristie Shychuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great read, but it left me wanting.

Great read, but it left me wanting.

I really wish the author would have continued on with the female doctor's storyline as well. I really liked her character. and the author built her up a lot, only to go nowhere with her in the end.

[Elise Katims · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of fiction that can become a horrific truth.

The frightening story of fiction that can really happen -- and it isn't really "if" as much as "when". And that is what is most terrifying of all. An intriguing story of just how easy it would be to start a pandemic, "Pox"will keep you on the edge of your seat.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book about 4 Middle Eastern men who infect themselves with small pox and then fly to America. They wait until they are at their most contagous and then plan to visit crowded places such as malls and train stations in order to infect people with small pox. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.

[jacqueline brum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riveting

Couldn't put this book down. It was so well written that I felt it was a little too realistic, almost like a how to plan.This was a very scary look into what could happen in our future.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrorists bring smallpox into 4 U.S. cities, by the time the disease is discovered it is too late. Delves into the terror faced by the U.S. I hope this never happens. I learned a lot about smallpox.

[Rebecca Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written

I read this novel in 5 hours while on a long road trip. I could not put this down!! A must purchase!