Sinister Secrets

Raff Rafferty Mystery #4

by Robert Joseph

As the official chaplain of a major Seattle medical complex, Raff — now Father Rafferty — attends to the spiritual needs of victims of a lethal and previously unknown viral disease believed to be caused by a mysterious organism known as HH-256. Fired research physician Dr. Amir Hallaby confides to Raff that he suspects that rival researcher Dr. Henry Hammel is behind the spread of the virus via deliberately contaminated vaccines manufactured by a pharmaceutical company owned by Hammel’s close friend, Anja Kramer, with whom he appears to have an uncertain relationship. Despite his vow of celibacy, Raff finds himself attracted to the seductive and attractive Anja, whom he suspects may be part of an international conspiracy to wipe out targeted Third World population groups who oppose the ambitious, but dangerous plans of Swedish magnate Sven Olafsson to exploit their respective countries. Olafsson is a close associate and major donor to the research work of both Hammel and Kramer. When Dr. Hallaby is murdered in a bizarre and gruesome fashion after having informed Raff that he is close to finding a drug to effectively combat HH-256, Raff is determined to get to the bottom of the crime as well as helping to control the devastating epidemic. Learning that an ambitious immunization program, sponsored by Olafsson, is underway in the jungles of Brazil, Raff secretly travels to that burgeoning South American nation with Hallaby’s experimental anti-viral medication only to find on arrival that evil forces are out to destroy both him and the possible cure.

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 6, 2015

Reviews

[Tina Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinister Secrets by Robert Joseph is very much like the novel, Outbreak by Robin Cook. Yes, Outbreak was about Ebola and Sinister Secrets is dealing with a whole new type of virus. However, there are elements of similarity such as a short incubation period, short period of time between diagnosis and death (a pretty nasty one, too) and the introduction of the virus via primates.

But, the cure isn’t about creating a vaccine for this virus but developing a tonic made from a plant. This makes Robert Joseph’s novel entirely different to other novels in the same ilk. I find it hard not to keep thinking the virus in Sinister Secrets, as Ebola. Then, of course, I start comparing the facts in the novel with what we know already about the disease. So, I had to make sure I remembered that Robert Joseph’s virus is fictional (I hope!). I liked the novel; it’s not just about an outbreak of an unknown virus but the corruption and stupidity surrounding its release.

I did find one little discrepancy in the facts but it could easily be passed over without affecting the story. It read, to me, like the virus was already ‘recognised’ before it was officially studied, categorised and subsequently named. At that moment in the book, very little was known about what caused the few deaths that had occurred. So, I was a little unsure as to whether the error was really one or not.

Don’t let this little thing, though, spoil the book for you. It’s a terrific read with plenty of action taking place on the sidelines.