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The Seneca Scourge: A Medical Thriller
Before there was Covid, there was the Seneca strain…
“Fun, fast, original, and won't strain your emotions.”—Science Thrillers
Dr. Sydney McKnight, a young physician battling the deadliest influenza pandemic of all time, joins forces with Dr. Casper Jones, an odd new research virologist whose arrival coincides with the virus’s advent and whose presence raises more questions than answers.
As scientists around the world search for an explanation for the virus’s high mortality rate, Sydney’s distrust of Casper grows, especially after she discovers him injecting an unidentified substance into her patient. Despite a heavy patient load, rebuttals from her boss, and an increasingly strained relationship with her boyfriend, Sydney is determined to learn the truth.
But what she finds will plunge her into danger and change her life forever…
(This novel was initially published by Whiskey Creek Press in 2012. This is a 2nd edition.)
“Fun, fast, original, and won't strain your emotions.”—Science Thrillers
Dr. Sydney McKnight, a young physician battling the deadliest influenza pandemic of all time, joins forces with Dr. Casper Jones, an odd new research virologist whose arrival coincides with the virus’s advent and whose presence raises more questions than answers.
As scientists around the world search for an explanation for the virus’s high mortality rate, Sydney’s distrust of Casper grows, especially after she discovers him injecting an unidentified substance into her patient. Despite a heavy patient load, rebuttals from her boss, and an increasingly strained relationship with her boyfriend, Sydney is determined to learn the truth.
But what she finds will plunge her into danger and change her life forever…
(This novel was initially published by Whiskey Creek Press in 2012. This is a 2nd edition.)
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2012
10 people are currently reading
2088 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Rubin
9 books295 followersCarrie Rubin is a physician-turned-novelist who writes thrillers. She enjoys exploring other genres as well, and has a cozy mystery published under the pen name Morgan Mayer and a novel of magical realism under the pen name Dannie Boyd.
To learn about new releases or promotions, follow Carrie on BookBub. Or, to receive a free ebook copy of The Seneca Scourge: A Medical Thriller, you're invited to sign up for the author's new-release alerts.
To learn about new releases or promotions, follow Carrie on BookBub. Or, to receive a free ebook copy of The Seneca Scourge: A Medical Thriller, you're invited to sign up for the author's new-release alerts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
August 3, 2014
Usually I stay away from medical thrillers because they get too technical and lose my interest, or the premise completely freaks me out and I can't sleep for a week.
I was quite taken with Carrie Rubin's debut novel, The Seneca Scourge, as the author creates a fictitious environment that is both believable and entertaining. Rubin uses her professional background to her advantage, and her medical prowess shines throughout the story.
A seemingly innocent sneeze on an international flight is all it takes to plunge the world into turmoil. The reader is right there with the main character, Dr. Sydney McKnight, as the outbreak barrels forward at a soul-stopping rate with no remorse. A powerful disease, nobody is safe, not even the key characters of the story.
The mysterious nature of Dr. Casper Jones baffles Sydney and the reader, adding another head-scratching element in this roller coaster of a story.
We feel for Sydney as she fights to save and fails. There is a heroic beauty about her that we admire and we know, even with her disclosed flaws, that Dr. McKnight's a stand-up human being.
What I found most interesting was the intimate portrayal of the hospital itself, the genuine hearts of the people underneath the scrubs and masks and how they often surrender their lives to their professions.
Exciting, unique, and intelligent, The Seneca Scourge will have you flipping pages maniacally and sprinting away from the next person that sneezes.
Britt Skrabanek
http://brittskrabanek.com
I was quite taken with Carrie Rubin's debut novel, The Seneca Scourge, as the author creates a fictitious environment that is both believable and entertaining. Rubin uses her professional background to her advantage, and her medical prowess shines throughout the story.
A seemingly innocent sneeze on an international flight is all it takes to plunge the world into turmoil. The reader is right there with the main character, Dr. Sydney McKnight, as the outbreak barrels forward at a soul-stopping rate with no remorse. A powerful disease, nobody is safe, not even the key characters of the story.
The mysterious nature of Dr. Casper Jones baffles Sydney and the reader, adding another head-scratching element in this roller coaster of a story.
We feel for Sydney as she fights to save and fails. There is a heroic beauty about her that we admire and we know, even with her disclosed flaws, that Dr. McKnight's a stand-up human being.
What I found most interesting was the intimate portrayal of the hospital itself, the genuine hearts of the people underneath the scrubs and masks and how they often surrender their lives to their professions.
Exciting, unique, and intelligent, The Seneca Scourge will have you flipping pages maniacally and sprinting away from the next person that sneezes.
Britt Skrabanek
http://brittskrabanek.com
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January 11, 2013ScienceThrillers REVIEW: (No star rating given for indies.) The Seneca Scourge is a debut indie thriller by real-life physician Carrie Rubin. I became aware of Rubin’s work first through her blog The Write Transition at CarrieRubin.com where she consistently posts brilliant, funny, and sometimes scatalogical tidbits about life, the universe, and everything. I knew I had to read her book.
The Seneca Scourge is a genre-blending novel. The first 50% is solid medical thriller with strong scientific elements. It’s set in a hospital, features a female infectious disease physician as the protagonist, and introduces a deadly new influenza in a typical way (index case coughing throughout an international flight). But the book doesn’t stay in the worn “plague thriller” path. Halfway through is a twist which launches the book into science fiction. Without specifically giving a spoiler I’ll tell you that the plot twist introduces a whole bunch of plot issues that I expect will divide readers into two camps: those who rolled with it, and those who couldn’t suspend their disbelief enough (and quit reading). If you ignore some of the questions nagging you as you read (why did she…if he did x then why not y..etc.), I think you’ll be satisfied. Rubin’s focus is on the main character, the medical setting, and the virus. Readers who keep their attention on these parts of the plot–which are well done–will enjoy a good story. That said, hard-core SF fans should stay away.
Rubin does a particularly good job with the medical / clinical aspects of this novel. Her depictions of hospital activity, hierarchy, and procedures are both accurate and engaging. Her insider status is made clear by details such as adding a personal code to a pager number to indicate who is calling. She uses but does not overuse medical terminology and tosses in some hospital slang (“death motel” = morgue; “vampire juice”=blood sample) to good effect. As the new epidemic unfolds, her characters display solid clinical logic backed up by test results.
Writing a “plague thriller” is tough. Rubin scores very well in her science by introducing an intriguing element involving prions. She does okay in her depiction of the impact of the plague (excellent for ‘in the hospital’ effects, not as good for community effects which would be much bigger), and uses an original trick to solve the biggest plague thriller problem of all: how to end the story. Her main technical error in the plague story she acknowledges in her Author Note: that the way contaminated research specimens are handled in the story is probably not realistic. But who knows what people would really do under such circumstances?
Summary: The Seneca Scourge is a prototypical “beach read” medical / plague thriller with science and science fiction elements, written by a medical insider who has an easy-to-read writing style. It’s fun, fast, original, and won’t strain your emotions.
Unusual words: SARS, ARDS, influenza C, prion, CDC, ICU, epidemiologist, negative pressure, rhonchi, epidemic
Parent alert: rare, appropriate profanity
FCC disclaimer: A free e-copy of this book was given to me for review. As always, I made no guarantee that I would read the book or post a positive review.
The Seneca Scourge is a genre-blending novel. The first 50% is solid medical thriller with strong scientific elements. It’s set in a hospital, features a female infectious disease physician as the protagonist, and introduces a deadly new influenza in a typical way (index case coughing throughout an international flight). But the book doesn’t stay in the worn “plague thriller” path. Halfway through is a twist which launches the book into science fiction. Without specifically giving a spoiler I’ll tell you that the plot twist introduces a whole bunch of plot issues that I expect will divide readers into two camps: those who rolled with it, and those who couldn’t suspend their disbelief enough (and quit reading). If you ignore some of the questions nagging you as you read (why did she…if he did x then why not y..etc.), I think you’ll be satisfied. Rubin’s focus is on the main character, the medical setting, and the virus. Readers who keep their attention on these parts of the plot–which are well done–will enjoy a good story. That said, hard-core SF fans should stay away.
Rubin does a particularly good job with the medical / clinical aspects of this novel. Her depictions of hospital activity, hierarchy, and procedures are both accurate and engaging. Her insider status is made clear by details such as adding a personal code to a pager number to indicate who is calling. She uses but does not overuse medical terminology and tosses in some hospital slang (“death motel” = morgue; “vampire juice”=blood sample) to good effect. As the new epidemic unfolds, her characters display solid clinical logic backed up by test results.
Writing a “plague thriller” is tough. Rubin scores very well in her science by introducing an intriguing element involving prions. She does okay in her depiction of the impact of the plague (excellent for ‘in the hospital’ effects, not as good for community effects which would be much bigger), and uses an original trick to solve the biggest plague thriller problem of all: how to end the story. Her main technical error in the plague story she acknowledges in her Author Note: that the way contaminated research specimens are handled in the story is probably not realistic. But who knows what people would really do under such circumstances?
Summary: The Seneca Scourge is a prototypical “beach read” medical / plague thriller with science and science fiction elements, written by a medical insider who has an easy-to-read writing style. It’s fun, fast, original, and won’t strain your emotions.
Unusual words: SARS, ARDS, influenza C, prion, CDC, ICU, epidemiologist, negative pressure, rhonchi, epidemic
Parent alert: rare, appropriate profanity
FCC disclaimer: A free e-copy of this book was given to me for review. As always, I made no guarantee that I would read the book or post a positive review.
April 1, 2013
A medical thriller, this is a very good début novel which stopped me from getting on with my life because I simply had to know what happened next.
The title tells it to us straight. We know exactly what the storyline is likely to be with such an introduction. In itself, the title is a very good hook, as far as I’m concerned.
I’ve always been a sucker for a nice pandemic with apocalyptic potential, and for the first half of the book, that is exactly what we get. Then, about half-way through, the storyline explodes. If you haven’t taken a break so far, forget it! You’ve missed your chance.
I liked the originality of the conclusion – in fact, I loved it. I would have happily joined the main characters, if that were possible. The descriptions were easy to follow, including the medical terms which are sufficiently well explained for us, non-medical folk. I read this book in bed, at night, with a sore throat, and that made it all the more real for me. You’ll be surprised how quickly I left my measly cold behind, how eagerly I went back to work as soon as I finished reading! The psychology certainly worked on me!
The characters are very well-developed. I loved Sydney and her strength in dealing with one disaster after another. I loved the way she dealt with mysterious doctor Casper Jones, too. And I loved Casper for the choices he made… eventually.
All in all, this was an excellent book which I read in less than 24 hours, with a break for a bit of uneasy sleep. I can’t see how it could have been improved upon. It was all I had expected, and then more. Well done, Carrie Rubin. Five stars for a thoroughly enjoyable read.
The title tells it to us straight. We know exactly what the storyline is likely to be with such an introduction. In itself, the title is a very good hook, as far as I’m concerned.
I’ve always been a sucker for a nice pandemic with apocalyptic potential, and for the first half of the book, that is exactly what we get. Then, about half-way through, the storyline explodes. If you haven’t taken a break so far, forget it! You’ve missed your chance.
I liked the originality of the conclusion – in fact, I loved it. I would have happily joined the main characters, if that were possible. The descriptions were easy to follow, including the medical terms which are sufficiently well explained for us, non-medical folk. I read this book in bed, at night, with a sore throat, and that made it all the more real for me. You’ll be surprised how quickly I left my measly cold behind, how eagerly I went back to work as soon as I finished reading! The psychology certainly worked on me!
The characters are very well-developed. I loved Sydney and her strength in dealing with one disaster after another. I loved the way she dealt with mysterious doctor Casper Jones, too. And I loved Casper for the choices he made… eventually.
All in all, this was an excellent book which I read in less than 24 hours, with a break for a bit of uneasy sleep. I can’t see how it could have been improved upon. It was all I had expected, and then more. Well done, Carrie Rubin. Five stars for a thoroughly enjoyable read.
June 17, 2017
Good grief--Carrie Rubin's The Seneca Scourge (Whiskey Creek Press 2012) was a wonderful book. From page 3--well maybe page 4--I was trapped. No more breaks for work, walking the dog, or research on my upcoming novel. I had to read. Dr. Sydney McKnight is a specialist in infectious diseases brought in to consult on a patient who has what appears to be influenza but it's doing something the common flu never does: It's killing the patient. When many more cases just like this show up around the world, McNight knows they are in trouble. What comes to be called the Seneca Strain is highly transferable, fatal 75% of the time, and has no known cure or treatment. Arriving out of nowhere to assist is a well know doctor with a brilliant reputation in the field of infectious diseases, but something's off about him. McKnight does a Google search and finds nothing matches with the man she sees in her hospital. The more she digs into him, the odder it gets, but that is forgotten when McKnight is faced with a story twist I never saw coming.
Thanks to Rubin's in-depth knowledge of medicine, the plot is authentic and organic, with the interwoven complexities that make readers feel like they are part of an overworked hospital during a never-ending crisis. I was looking for a medical thriller and found the perfect one. This is highly recommended if you like the cleverness and insider knowledge of medical thrillers.
Thanks to Rubin's in-depth knowledge of medicine, the plot is authentic and organic, with the interwoven complexities that make readers feel like they are part of an overworked hospital during a never-ending crisis. I was looking for a medical thriller and found the perfect one. This is highly recommended if you like the cleverness and insider knowledge of medical thrillers.
January 21, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed Carrie Rubin's medical thriller, The Seneca Scourge. Although I knew the very limited information that the novel was about an epidemic, I didn't read any reviews ahead of time, and I was glad I got to experience the story unfolding on its own without anticipating the plot twists.
When Dr. Sydney McKnight finds herself at the epicenter of a new viral outbreak, she struggles to treat patients who keep dying despite her team's best efforts. The new rock star virologist, Dr. Casper Jones, has an impressive resume but a shady bedside manner. When Sydney sees Dr. Jones injecting one of her patients with an unknown substance, she begins to investigate. And she finds herself in the middle of a medical mystery spiraling out of control complete with a shocking sci-fi twist. Will Sydney be able to protect and save her patients while uncovering Dr. Jones's secrets? I was flipping through the pages to find out.
As I read recently, this book is a cross-genre gem. I would recommend The Seneca Scourge to anyone who enjoys a page-turning medical mystery with sci-fi elements. Rubin is a strong writer with a good sense of pacing. I had a hard time putting it down when I knew I should be turning off the light!
When Dr. Sydney McKnight finds herself at the epicenter of a new viral outbreak, she struggles to treat patients who keep dying despite her team's best efforts. The new rock star virologist, Dr. Casper Jones, has an impressive resume but a shady bedside manner. When Sydney sees Dr. Jones injecting one of her patients with an unknown substance, she begins to investigate. And she finds herself in the middle of a medical mystery spiraling out of control complete with a shocking sci-fi twist. Will Sydney be able to protect and save her patients while uncovering Dr. Jones's secrets? I was flipping through the pages to find out.
As I read recently, this book is a cross-genre gem. I would recommend The Seneca Scourge to anyone who enjoys a page-turning medical mystery with sci-fi elements. Rubin is a strong writer with a good sense of pacing. I had a hard time putting it down when I knew I should be turning off the light!
September 26, 2012
The Seneca Scourge
The Seneca Scourge by Carrie Rubin is a gripping page-turner. I don't normally read medical thrillers, but Rubin had me by the prologue. I think that is because, the 'scourge', is something that could happen, something that we've seen happen, although only mildly (think SARS)compared to the terror in this book, and in that sense the fear is something we can all relate to. Not wanting to give anything away, lets just say that there are a few surprises and unexpected plot turns. I love books that raise issues I can take away with me, and this book does that. Rubin left me considering bigger issues - medical ethics, moral choices, self-interest (along with a desire to go buy a bottle of hand saniter).
If you are looking for a book to keep you reading well into the wee hours of the morning, this is it!
The Seneca Scourge by Carrie Rubin is a gripping page-turner. I don't normally read medical thrillers, but Rubin had me by the prologue. I think that is because, the 'scourge', is something that could happen, something that we've seen happen, although only mildly (think SARS)compared to the terror in this book, and in that sense the fear is something we can all relate to. Not wanting to give anything away, lets just say that there are a few surprises and unexpected plot turns. I love books that raise issues I can take away with me, and this book does that. Rubin left me considering bigger issues - medical ethics, moral choices, self-interest (along with a desire to go buy a bottle of hand saniter).
If you are looking for a book to keep you reading well into the wee hours of the morning, this is it!
August 26, 2015
The Seneca Scourge, by Carrie Rubin, is a fast-paced medical thriller that keeps readers guessing. The characters are well-developed and unpredictable. Dr. Sydney McKnight, the protagonist, is sympathetic yet fierce – a great heroine to root for. The plot is a twisty one that surprised me at various turns, but it never steered off-course. I always felt like I was right in the middle of the action.
Rubin, a doctor, knows just where to leave off a scene to make readers want to keep turning the page. Even through the gruesome detail, I still wanted to know what was going to happen next. Rubin’s medical background and expertise is evident throughout the novel, and she writes with authority without being self-indulgent.
The Seneca Scourge is a well-written and terrifying book that left me thinking I will never breathe freely on a plane again.
Rubin, a doctor, knows just where to leave off a scene to make readers want to keep turning the page. Even through the gruesome detail, I still wanted to know what was going to happen next. Rubin’s medical background and expertise is evident throughout the novel, and she writes with authority without being self-indulgent.
The Seneca Scourge is a well-written and terrifying book that left me thinking I will never breathe freely on a plane again.
June 23, 2013
Not a fan. It started out fine, and I was all about this medical/psychological thriller. Then it jumped into fantasyland without my permission. Don't want to give too much away, but I was not a fan
April 23, 2014
A riveting read from a wonderfully talented author. Hoping for a sequel.
November 5, 2012
Good job I saved this one for my hols ... such a gripping read, I couldn't put it down!
Now I'm not a big fan of hospital stories but had I known the ride I was in for I'd have been keener right from the start. The story, based in a hospital, covers a virulent strain of killer flu written about convincingly and authoritatively by author, medic Carrie Rubin. It is totally congruent, utterly believable. Indeed, in the first part it's barely necessary to suspend belief so compelling is the horror, so intense the need for a cure, so true the denial, urgency and fear. Many people die as their lungs are rendered useless.
Main character Sydney engages us as she explores the doubts she has about the strange yet attractive Casper Jones and his sidekick, a mysterious hospital orderly. As new patients arrive, including Sydney's friends and colleagues, we are involved in their swiftly penned lives and wish them better ... soon we fear for new characters on introduction.
Just as you feel you're into the essence of the story it takes an unexpected turn, yet you soon realise that author Carrie Rubin has been setting you up for this twist right from the start. I won't spoil it for others but highly recommend that you buy and enjoy this amazing debut novel.
Can't wait for the next one ~ I just know when it'll begin!
Now I'm not a big fan of hospital stories but had I known the ride I was in for I'd have been keener right from the start. The story, based in a hospital, covers a virulent strain of killer flu written about convincingly and authoritatively by author, medic Carrie Rubin. It is totally congruent, utterly believable. Indeed, in the first part it's barely necessary to suspend belief so compelling is the horror, so intense the need for a cure, so true the denial, urgency and fear. Many people die as their lungs are rendered useless.
Main character Sydney engages us as she explores the doubts she has about the strange yet attractive Casper Jones and his sidekick, a mysterious hospital orderly. As new patients arrive, including Sydney's friends and colleagues, we are involved in their swiftly penned lives and wish them better ... soon we fear for new characters on introduction.
Just as you feel you're into the essence of the story it takes an unexpected turn, yet you soon realise that author Carrie Rubin has been setting you up for this twist right from the start. I won't spoil it for others but highly recommend that you buy and enjoy this amazing debut novel.
Can't wait for the next one ~ I just know when it'll begin!
September 4, 2013
I'd wanted to read The Seneca Scourge for a long time, but hadn't got around to buying a copy, so I was delighted when I won a copy from the publisher, and was even more delighted when it lived up to my high expectations for it. I took the book with me on a trip in August, and it was the perfect book to read by the pool. It's easy to read in that you don't have to concentrate too hard to follow the plot, or to keep up with who the different characters are, but that doesn't mean that it's lightweight. Far from it. The plot is exciting, a real page-turner, the characters are very real and believable, and the story gives you plenty to think about. I had deliberately avoided reading any reviews because I didn't want any spoilers, and I'm pleased of that, it meant I could enjoy the surprises. I wasn't able to guess what would happen at any stage. The author is a doctor and the medical information in the book is just enough to give you confidence that she knows what she is talking about, and to support the story, but without being too much, which could have become boring and taken away from the plot. This book would make a great film, and I would also love to read a sequel to it!
May 24, 2017
When a rapid-death influenza virus hitches a plane from Nairobi into America, the catastrophic results begin mounting within the first week. A call for "All agencies on deck!" quickly spreads, but not as fast as the epidemic. Highly contagious and even more deadly, the toll becomes historically tantamount! In the hospital of discovery, there is a small team working to find first, the strain, then a hopeful vaccine against it. An out of town virologist happens to be at the hospital just as the virus begins its war on humanity. How convenient is that? Dr Sydney McKnight, the heroine, questions the oddity of Dr Casper Jones, the researcher who just doesn't quite jive with her expectations. Soon, a cloak and dagger scenario unfolds and, along with those stricken with the virus, casualties add up. Secrets come undone, trust tested, loyalties stretched and endurance pushed. With the revelation of Dr Jones origin comes the hope for future. A climatic ending that, thankfully was not seen coming, finishes off a tightly written novel, educationally adept with straight dialogue. I'm quite impressed and look forward to more from Mz Rubin.
October 6, 2012
I really enjoyed how Rubin masterfully blends medical thriller, mystery, and sci-fi.
"The Seneca Scourge" begins with a somewhat standard description of an "patient zero" unwittingly spreading a virus. Almost immediately, however, the plot takes a chilling turn. Rubin keeps us guessing: Who is Casper Jones, and why does he act so strangely? Why does he hang out with the mysterious hospital orderly? How serious is the virus? The mysteries deepen as the story continues. All is definitely not as it seems, and you have to keep reading to find out why.
At the same time, Rubin gives us a sympathetic main character in Dr. Sydney McKnight, with enough back story to make her human but not so much as to put a brake on the story's momentum. I rooted for her throughout the book and was left wondering what happens to her after the last page.
"The Seneca Scourge" begins with a somewhat standard description of an "patient zero" unwittingly spreading a virus. Almost immediately, however, the plot takes a chilling turn. Rubin keeps us guessing: Who is Casper Jones, and why does he act so strangely? Why does he hang out with the mysterious hospital orderly? How serious is the virus? The mysteries deepen as the story continues. All is definitely not as it seems, and you have to keep reading to find out why.
At the same time, Rubin gives us a sympathetic main character in Dr. Sydney McKnight, with enough back story to make her human but not so much as to put a brake on the story's momentum. I rooted for her throughout the book and was left wondering what happens to her after the last page.
October 11, 2012
Within the first few pages, the frighteningly plausible beginnings of a pandemic had me breathing shallowly through my mouth, wishing for a mask and gloves. The author's medical background shows in her realistic and sympathetic depiction of dedicated medical staff pitted against a ticking clock and a deadly, highly contagious disease.
The pain of losing patients and colleagues to the pandemic, the terror of knowing its potential to decimate the world's population, and the fight against despair and bone-deep fatigue come through all too vividly. And if you happen to like genre-benders, The Seneca Scourge includes a side-dish of sci-fi, too.
This definitely isn't for hypochondriacs. 'Scuse me while I go and wash my hands. Again. And please don't cough in my direction...
The pain of losing patients and colleagues to the pandemic, the terror of knowing its potential to decimate the world's population, and the fight against despair and bone-deep fatigue come through all too vividly. And if you happen to like genre-benders, The Seneca Scourge includes a side-dish of sci-fi, too.
This definitely isn't for hypochondriacs. 'Scuse me while I go and wash my hands. Again. And please don't cough in my direction...
September 25, 2012
What would you do?
The book, Seneca Scourge, is not just another medical thriller. It offers a new dimension you will not expect, but will love. Author Carrie Rubin does a masterful job of creating characters that are intelligent and heroic, yet so much like you and I. Although the book will keep you on the edge of your seat with fast paced suspense, you'll also find yourself, in the end, seeing it's more than just a story. It's a potential concept you will not be able to help, but contemplate. This story is still running through my mind, and trust me, it was so believable that every time I cough, I worry…then have to remind myself none of it is real…yet.
The book, Seneca Scourge, is not just another medical thriller. It offers a new dimension you will not expect, but will love. Author Carrie Rubin does a masterful job of creating characters that are intelligent and heroic, yet so much like you and I. Although the book will keep you on the edge of your seat with fast paced suspense, you'll also find yourself, in the end, seeing it's more than just a story. It's a potential concept you will not be able to help, but contemplate. This story is still running through my mind, and trust me, it was so believable that every time I cough, I worry…then have to remind myself none of it is real…yet.
September 24, 2012
Life turns upside down for Sydney McKnight, a young physician in a Boston Hospital, when she has a patient come in with flu-like symptoms that go from bad to worse. Within weeks, thousands of people have died worldwide, and a crisis that rivals the 1918 flu epidemic has the world in panic. Sydney is anxious to stop this outbreak, but gets caught up in even more danger when she becomes suspicious of her attending--Casper Jones, a research virologist who has shown up just as this outbreak started--and tries to determine his true identity and motives. Awesome medical thriller, with a bit of sci-fi thrown in as well. Very well written; I was riveted to the story.
November 26, 2013
This is a medical thriller, with a time-travel twist to the plot.
It's an enjoyable read, with a writing style that is straight-forward and quick-paced. The author is a doctor, which makes her hospital scenes and background information so real it's a bit scary.
The characters are well done, particularly the main protagonist, Dr. Sydney McNight.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, but the contagion theme had me washing my hands more than usual.
It's an enjoyable read, with a writing style that is straight-forward and quick-paced. The author is a doctor, which makes her hospital scenes and background information so real it's a bit scary.
The characters are well done, particularly the main protagonist, Dr. Sydney McNight.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, but the contagion theme had me washing my hands more than usual.
August 26, 2015
Well written, suspenseful medical thriller, that will interest and surprise you. Highly recommend~
January 22, 2026
Life turns upside down for Sydney McKnight, a young physician in a Boston Hospital, when she has a patient come in with flu-like symptoms that go from bad to worse. Within weeks, thousands of people have died worldwide, and a crisis that rivals the 1918 flu epidemic has the world in panic. Sydney is anxious to stop this outbreak, but gets caught up in even more danger when she becomes suspicious of her attending--Casper Jones, a research virologist who has shown up just as this outbreak started--and tries to determine his true identity and motives. Awesome medical thriller, with a bit of sci-fi thrown in as well. Very well written; I was riveted to the story.
January 23, 2026
Fast Paced, Exciting Read!!
One of my new favorite authors that I found by accident in KU. Her content is a mix of medical knowledge, hospital setting, and psychological thriller. Writing is super engaging, moves fast, can't put it down. If you like Freida McFadden, you'll like this author.
One of my new favorite authors that I found by accident in KU. Her content is a mix of medical knowledge, hospital setting, and psychological thriller. Writing is super engaging, moves fast, can't put it down. If you like Freida McFadden, you'll like this author.
February 3, 2026
The first half of the book was very different from the second half. I wasn’t expecting the sci-fi twist.
I would have rated it higher if we learned what happens after they landed. I wanted to know if they changed the future.
This is a Goodreads giveaway.
I would have rated it higher if we learned what happens after they landed. I wanted to know if they changed the future.
This is a Goodreads giveaway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2017
It started with a cough and a sneeze on an airplane, but it became much more. One sick man brought more than luggage home from a long trip that began in Nairobi and ended in the coastal town of Seneca, Massachusetts.
“Did you ever think you’d be caught up in something so big?” That’s what Dr. Sydney McKnight overhears in the hallway of Boston General Hospital. They don’t know the half of it, she thinks. Sydney is an infectious disease fellow when a baffling flu pandemic strikes and threatens catastrophic losses, with no cure in sight. Doomed patients fill hospital beds while doctors and nurses scramble to treat a puzzling strain of Influenza C.
Leading the research team is the renowned Dr. Casper Jones, a new infectious disease attending physician. He may be there to help, but there’s something strange about Casper. His perfect features, impeccable attire and unusual way of speaking raise flags and the more Sydney gets to know him, the more questions she has. For one, she wants to know about the new orderly, Jackson Bryant. She has spotted Jackson talking secretively with Casper more than once. What is their relationship and why has she never seen Jackson on her shifts?
Sydney’s part-time boyfriend, Dr. Mitch Price doesn’t trust Casper either, but for different reasons. Mitch is certain that their cooling romance is because of Casper. Maybe it is or maybe there’s just not enough spark to keep it going. They hardly have time to ponder the reason, as more and more people fall sick. But Sydney knows she can’t put Mitch off forever.
As doctors, nurses and staff rush from room to room, and more patients die, they wonder if this is just the beginning. Strange as he is, could Casper save the day?
The Seneca Scourge is a dramatic medical thriller with a quick-moving plot and an exciting science fiction twist. Author Carrie Rubin hooks the reader with the story of a deadly virus and takes it to new dimensions as she examines the ethics behind developing a cure. Sydney hits many roadblocks as she tries to understand hidden motives, strange dynamics and big secrets. And when she finally discovers the villain, it may be too late. Can the story’s sleeper heroes beat the bad guys?
Rubin tells a very good story. Her style is casual and fluid, filled with subtle humor, interesting characters and a nice dose of young professional angst. Just enough medical jargon and descriptions show how hospitals run and the politics within, an added reader interest. The story’s finish leaves some unknowns, giving the reader a bit to think about. It’s a well-crafted debut novel.
I recommend The Seneca Scourge to thriller and science fiction readers who like to jump into exciting plots. And click here to check out Rubin’s second medical thriller, Eating Bull.
“Did you ever think you’d be caught up in something so big?” That’s what Dr. Sydney McKnight overhears in the hallway of Boston General Hospital. They don’t know the half of it, she thinks. Sydney is an infectious disease fellow when a baffling flu pandemic strikes and threatens catastrophic losses, with no cure in sight. Doomed patients fill hospital beds while doctors and nurses scramble to treat a puzzling strain of Influenza C.
Leading the research team is the renowned Dr. Casper Jones, a new infectious disease attending physician. He may be there to help, but there’s something strange about Casper. His perfect features, impeccable attire and unusual way of speaking raise flags and the more Sydney gets to know him, the more questions she has. For one, she wants to know about the new orderly, Jackson Bryant. She has spotted Jackson talking secretively with Casper more than once. What is their relationship and why has she never seen Jackson on her shifts?
Sydney’s part-time boyfriend, Dr. Mitch Price doesn’t trust Casper either, but for different reasons. Mitch is certain that their cooling romance is because of Casper. Maybe it is or maybe there’s just not enough spark to keep it going. They hardly have time to ponder the reason, as more and more people fall sick. But Sydney knows she can’t put Mitch off forever.
As doctors, nurses and staff rush from room to room, and more patients die, they wonder if this is just the beginning. Strange as he is, could Casper save the day?
The Seneca Scourge is a dramatic medical thriller with a quick-moving plot and an exciting science fiction twist. Author Carrie Rubin hooks the reader with the story of a deadly virus and takes it to new dimensions as she examines the ethics behind developing a cure. Sydney hits many roadblocks as she tries to understand hidden motives, strange dynamics and big secrets. And when she finally discovers the villain, it may be too late. Can the story’s sleeper heroes beat the bad guys?
Rubin tells a very good story. Her style is casual and fluid, filled with subtle humor, interesting characters and a nice dose of young professional angst. Just enough medical jargon and descriptions show how hospitals run and the politics within, an added reader interest. The story’s finish leaves some unknowns, giving the reader a bit to think about. It’s a well-crafted debut novel.
I recommend The Seneca Scourge to thriller and science fiction readers who like to jump into exciting plots. And click here to check out Rubin’s second medical thriller, Eating Bull.
July 30, 2014
Seneca Scourge is a medical thriller/sci-fi. It starts off like many other medical thrillers with a terrible disease we must find a cure for. Rubin did not choose some complex disease that no one could relate to. She chose a familiar one. It is an influenza strain that devolves from an ordinary common occurrence into a nightmare with the potential to infect billions around the globe. Dr. Sydney McKnight gets assigned to do research with Dr. Casper Jones, a rather odd fellow who whose behavior sends up some red flags.
People are dying. The numbers are more than alarming. Racing to beat the clock on this dreadful disease that starts out innocently enough, Sydney is appalled when she discovers Casper Jones injecting her patient with something he passes off as steroids. Here is where the medical thriller that has kept you on the edge of your seat takes an unusual twist with a sci-fi flavor that is remarkably creative and fascinating to read. Suspending disbelief is part of the fun!
Rubin does a fantastic job creating characters and situations that touch your soul. Being a health care provider myself, I was enthralled by the realism of the hospital situation in crisis. It reminded me of the ten days we suffered in 2004 with four hurricanes back to back and overflowing hallways, only worse. There is no end in sight. When the light appears at the end of the tunnel, the book takes yet another unexpected twist. The ending was interesting and made me think deeply on the future of medicine.
If you want a fast paced, well-written read that is full of unexpected twists and turns, you will enjoy this book.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
People are dying. The numbers are more than alarming. Racing to beat the clock on this dreadful disease that starts out innocently enough, Sydney is appalled when she discovers Casper Jones injecting her patient with something he passes off as steroids. Here is where the medical thriller that has kept you on the edge of your seat takes an unusual twist with a sci-fi flavor that is remarkably creative and fascinating to read. Suspending disbelief is part of the fun!
Rubin does a fantastic job creating characters and situations that touch your soul. Being a health care provider myself, I was enthralled by the realism of the hospital situation in crisis. It reminded me of the ten days we suffered in 2004 with four hurricanes back to back and overflowing hallways, only worse. There is no end in sight. When the light appears at the end of the tunnel, the book takes yet another unexpected twist. The ending was interesting and made me think deeply on the future of medicine.
If you want a fast paced, well-written read that is full of unexpected twists and turns, you will enjoy this book.
I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
July 19, 2018
I really enjoyed Seneca Scourge. Carrie Rubin goes deep into her characters, giving her readers time and information to get to know them. Yet, the novel went at a steady pace. Of course, it had to since McKnight and others were dealing with an epidemic, one that could rival the Spanish flu of 1918. It's something we all dread: a mutation of a virus that cannot be stopped and that is indiscriminate in who it kills. We have a heroine--Sydney--who will stop at nothing to save her friends, but she's not perfect. She has her issues, her personal failings, which serves to make her sympathetic. In fact, all of the characters are sympathetic ... well, except for Jackson, but you'll have to read the novel to know why.
Like some others, I was surprised by the sci-fi twist, but after I got over the initial shock, I just settled back into the novel and enjoyed how Rubin pulled it off. Yes, it would seem far-fetched if you're not willing to suspend your disbelief. Since this is fiction, I didn't have a problem suspending my disbelief. Actually, I read fiction for that very purpose.
And I understand some readers might not have liked the ethical decision made by Sydney and Casper. Well, who's to say they were wrong? I can think of other endings that would have made more sense, but sometimes sense is not what I want when I read fiction. I want to be entertained, and I was truly entertained by Seneca Scourge.
Except now I dread ever travelling by plane.
Like some others, I was surprised by the sci-fi twist, but after I got over the initial shock, I just settled back into the novel and enjoyed how Rubin pulled it off. Yes, it would seem far-fetched if you're not willing to suspend your disbelief. Since this is fiction, I didn't have a problem suspending my disbelief. Actually, I read fiction for that very purpose.
And I understand some readers might not have liked the ethical decision made by Sydney and Casper. Well, who's to say they were wrong? I can think of other endings that would have made more sense, but sometimes sense is not what I want when I read fiction. I want to be entertained, and I was truly entertained by Seneca Scourge.
Except now I dread ever travelling by plane.
March 19, 2015
First off, I have to admit that I'm not really a medical thriller type. In fact, while I thought it was interesting how the illness actually occurs (mechanisms and such), those tidbits of information seemed dry. I also had a hard time really liking the main character, Sydney, because she gets thrown into the heat of things, and I really wanted her background first. She also is kind of callous to her sort-of boyfriend in the beginning.
So where things really took off for me was in the middle of the book. (I suppose I should actually read the back blurbs before I order things.) The entire twist with the science fiction elements came out of the blue, but I really liked the oddness of it all. That's when the plot started revving up, and I was feeling for the characters (they all seemed to garner my empathy then, particularly Casper). Although Rubin doesn't really go into technical details, I liked how she painted the future of technology and the different devices involved. I also enjoyed the ending even though it wasn't totally conclusive.
In the end, I really liked being taken on this roller coaster of a ride. For me, the major fun was in all the SF elements instead of the medical premise.
So where things really took off for me was in the middle of the book. (I suppose I should actually read the back blurbs before I order things.) The entire twist with the science fiction elements came out of the blue, but I really liked the oddness of it all. That's when the plot started revving up, and I was feeling for the characters (they all seemed to garner my empathy then, particularly Casper). Although Rubin doesn't really go into technical details, I liked how she painted the future of technology and the different devices involved. I also enjoyed the ending even though it wasn't totally conclusive.
In the end, I really liked being taken on this roller coaster of a ride. For me, the major fun was in all the SF elements instead of the medical premise.
October 12, 2017
When a rapid-death influenza virus hitches a plane from Nairobi into America, the catastrophic results begin mounting within the first week. A call for "All agencies on deck!" quickly spreads, but not as fast as the epidemic. Highly contagious and even more deadly, the toll becomes historically tantamount! In the hospital of discovery, there is a small team working to find first, the strain, then a hopeful vaccine against it. An out of town virologist happens to be at the hospital just as the virus begins its war on humanity. How convenient is that? Dr Sydney McKnight, the heroine, questions the oddity of Dr Casper Jones, the researcher who just doesn't quite jive with her expectations. Soon, a cloak and dagger scenario unfolds and, along with those stricken with the virus, casualties add up. Secrets come undone, trust tested, loyalties stretched and endurance pushed. With the revelation of Dr Jones origin comes the hope for future. A climatic ending that, thankfully was not seen coming, finishes off a tightly written novel, educationally adept with straight dialogue. I'm quite impressed and look forward to more from Mz Rubin.
March 2, 2013
This fast-paced, beautifully written medical thriller glues you between its covers and will not set you free until the final page!
Author Carrie Rubin invites you to follow Dr. Sydney McKnight on shift in a Boston hospital as she is swept up onto the wave of an epidemic on the grand scale - an epidemic that is almost unerringly fatal, and one for which no remedy is known.
The words skip off the page as Ms. Rubin guides you through the technical language of epidemiology with authoritative ease, taking you deep inside her heroine’s mind without breaking the rhythm of the story. Her obvious experience as a hospital doctor brings the frantic atmosphere alive - takes you along each corridor, through each door - stands beside you at each bed. And all the time sharing Sydney’s suspicions: something is not quite right....
I don’t think I’ve ever read a medical thriller before. I’ve read few books that were better written. The Seneca Scourge was new to me in many ways: I gulped it down more eagerly than any book I’ve read in years.
Author Carrie Rubin invites you to follow Dr. Sydney McKnight on shift in a Boston hospital as she is swept up onto the wave of an epidemic on the grand scale - an epidemic that is almost unerringly fatal, and one for which no remedy is known.
The words skip off the page as Ms. Rubin guides you through the technical language of epidemiology with authoritative ease, taking you deep inside her heroine’s mind without breaking the rhythm of the story. Her obvious experience as a hospital doctor brings the frantic atmosphere alive - takes you along each corridor, through each door - stands beside you at each bed. And all the time sharing Sydney’s suspicions: something is not quite right....
I don’t think I’ve ever read a medical thriller before. I’ve read few books that were better written. The Seneca Scourge was new to me in many ways: I gulped it down more eagerly than any book I’ve read in years.
October 16, 2013
I have two words to describe this book: page turner. I usually don't read medical thrillers, not because I don't like them, but rather because I don't know which ones I should read. The last one was Coma by Robin Cook, and even though it had its faults, it kept me on the edge. And that's what The Seneca Scourge did too. I got sucked right in from the beginning and had a hard time putting the book down. I actually read the last 100 pages last night because I wanted to know how it all ended before I went to sleep! I enjoyed the medical content, which was explained quite clearly, and the story twist was a great addition, giving the book a touch of sci-fi. Rubin describes the disease and its effects on people very well, and I command her for not including any gruesome details about dying children to try to make her book more sensational. I should add this book contains plenty of suspense, which definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat. I could totally picture this story turned into a movie, by the way. If you're looking for a good medical thriller to add to your list, this is one.
August 26, 2016
This book was so thrilling I couldn't stop reading it. I just needed to know how it would end, what was going on, what would happen etc etc. I think the story is a unique one being a thriller novel situated in and around a hospital. I also found it relieving that it didn't contain any police officers etc although it's a thriller novel, due to me being a cop wife finding all such police-books, -TV series, -movies etc too unreal due to the writers' lack of knowledge and experience of the police world. Something C. Rubin, on the other hand, avoided. C. Rubin merely wrote about such things I as a reader found she had the knowledge of which made the book even better. Nothing is more tiresome than if an author is dealing with matters he/she doesn't master. But C. Rubin truly masters the things she has written and the story she has created. I also appreciated the philosophical and sci-fi elements in the book which made it even more interesting and unique. I truly recommend this well written novel to both men and women who are brave enough to let the paranoia enter their reading world.
August 10, 2015
This one is a book that will totally take you by surprise. First, I wasn't that enticed to read it because of the cover (not really one to attract my eye, besides the fact that I've read enough of those "plague" books) but then, as Carrie Rubin is one of a fellow blogger's favorite, I truly wanted to give it a shot: and I don't regret a single page!
It starts as an interesting dive into the medical life of Dr. Sydney McNight in the midst of a sudden and deadly plague all over the world. Sydney is one of those characters who doesn't want to get too close to anyone but with whom you get close immediately.
As the story develops into a heart-beating, breath-taking suspense, here comes the surprise that you can't see coming (and which I won't tell anything about!), the surprise that takes you even deeper into the heart of things and sheds a completely different light on the events.
A very surprising first book.
It starts as an interesting dive into the medical life of Dr. Sydney McNight in the midst of a sudden and deadly plague all over the world. Sydney is one of those characters who doesn't want to get too close to anyone but with whom you get close immediately.
As the story develops into a heart-beating, breath-taking suspense, here comes the surprise that you can't see coming (and which I won't tell anything about!), the surprise that takes you even deeper into the heart of things and sheds a completely different light on the events.
A very surprising first book.
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