The Plague Walker

Plague Walker #0.5

by Michael Angel

Leigh Austen's got to stop an outbreak of Black Nile hemorrhagic fever.
The virus spreads like wildfire, leaving its victims to crash and bleed out.
And it's already wiped out her entire medical staff.

Epidemiologist Leigh Austen's been called in to stop an outbreak in the Central African nation of Malindi. Black Nile hemorrhagic fever virus rampages through the countryside like a feral beast. But when her medical mission runs into armed rebels and catastrophe strikes the doctor's field hospital, Austen's forced to do the one thing she feared the most.

She's going to have to find a cure - and a way home - all on her own!

Please note: This is a 7,000 word short story that takes place within the world of the Plague Walker novels, focusing on epidemiologist Leigh Austen.

This is a self-contained work that does not end on a cliffhanger. It contains a limited amount of gore and violence. Ratings-wise, it would either be a hard PG-13 or soft R. Please decide to purchase accordingly.


Included with this story are links to purchase the full-length medical thrillers The Devil's Noose and The Reaper's Scythe.


Reviews of The Plague Walker Pandemic Medical Thrillers:

"Angel manages the nearly impossible...creating memorable characters in the midst of an intriguing mystery, action, humor and heart."
-- JC Andrijeski, USA Today Bestselling Author of the Quentin Black mystery series

"Fast-paced action and sly wit make Angel's writing irresistible fun."
-- Rebecca Moesta, NYT Bestselling co-author of Young Jedi Knights


Interview with the Author:

Q - What makes a Plague Walker Pandemic Medical Thriller special?
A - I've enjoyed thought-provoking medical or science-based fiction ever since I was old enough to read Michael Crichton's Andromeda Strain and Robin Cook's Coma. I'm also a big fan of the modern-day thriller writers like Craig Martelle, Michael Anderle, and Tess Gerritsen.

So I've been writing these new medical thrillers as a unique mix of the two kinds of books. Epidemiologist Leigh Austen encounters similarly apocalyptic threats...and she does in a world rife with international skullduggery and conspiracy!

Q - Why should readers give these books a try?
A - Because you'll get to meet a bunch of memorable characters - scientists, soldiers, doctors, even a shadowy Nostradamus-like figure - in the midst of intriguing medical thrillers filled with action, humor and heart. (Yes, I paraphrased one of my reviewers, but I can't put it any better.)

Q - Tell us more about epidemiologist Leigh Austen - what makes her tick?
A - Leigh's the kind of person who'll move mountains to help someone. She also carries hidden scars from the time her medical team was wiped out by a killer virus in The Plague Walker. For that reason alone she'll go to any length to stop a local outbreak from turning into a global pandemic.

Genres: Medical

34 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2019

About the author

Michael Angel's fictional worlds range from the former Soviet province of Ozrabek to the magic-filled realm of Andeluvia.

His eBooks, audio books, and paperbacks populate shelves in 12 different languages. However, despite keeping a keen eye out for globe-trotting epidemiologists, unicorns, or galactic marshals, none have yet put in an appearance on Hollywood Boulevard.

THE PLAGUE WALKER PANDEMIC MEDICAL THRILLERS~
The Devil's Noose
The Reaper's Scythe
The Blood Zone
The Wildfire Pathogen
The Plague Walker (A Leigh Austen Short Thriller)

FANTASY & FORENSICS ~
Centaur of the Crime
The Deer Prince's Murder
Grand Theft Griffin
A Perjury of Owls
Forgery of the Phoenix
Assault in the Wizard Degree
Trafficking in Demons
A Warrant of Wyverns
The Conspiracy of Unicorns
Dragon with a Deadly Weapon
Forensics and Dragon Fire (Fantasy & Forensics Novella)

APOCALYPSE WITH A SIDE OF GRILLED SPAM ~
Episode One
Episode Two
Episode Three
Episode Four
Season One Compilation

STANDALONE SF/F NOVELS~
The Detective & The Unicorn
The Wizard, The Warlord, and The Hidden Woman
I Married the Third Horseman

THE AMANDA LOVE UNIVERSE ~
A Shovelful of Stars
Pay To Pray
Dogfight
A Planet Torn
Fringe Space Tales (Amanda Love Compilation)

COLLECTIONS & SHORTS~
Never Mind the Princess, Save the *Dragon*
Treasure of the Silver Star
Sylph
Gatekeeper and Goddess
So a Dragon, a Muse, and an Alien Walk Into a Bar...
Predators and Prey
Deepest Fears
Three Acts of Courage
Strange Powers, Stranger Places
Crisis Points
Love's Origins
Cyber Son
Cantaloupes and Wild Shoshone
Vala Staffwielder
Little Girl Lost
Love's Labors and Lies
The Haute Couture Time Traveler
Blood, Sweat, and Fears (an 18-story compendium)

Michael Angel's welcome mat is out at MichaelAngelWriter.weebly.com. Or, feel free to stop by and say 'hello' to the kind folks who publish his material at BantyHenPublishing.com.

Reviews

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Plague Walker is a prequel novella medical thriller introducing epidemiologist Leigh Austen. I bought both this and the first book of the series on a whim when they were on special recently, which was naughty as I’m really not supposed to be buying any more books, but I’m a sucker for world-ending pandemic type stories (this was before Coronavirus took over the media). This was a quick 30 minute read but packed a punch and was certainly enough to whet my appetite for the first full book.

Leigh arrives in the fictional war-torn Central African country of Malindi with a medical team trying to fight an outbreak of a nastier-than-Ebola new virus, Black Nile fever (fortunately also fictional!) A local doctor tells her about the goddesses who haunt the villages, representing various forces, the scariest of which is the Plague Walker.
When their journey is blocked by gun-toting rebels who are then taken out by government forces, Leigh finds herself alone at the field hospital, where all the staff have succumbed to the disease. How will she extricate herself and a much needed blood sample when rescue is impossible...?

I get weekly infectious disease updates as part of my work in travel medicine and the premise of this felt very real - attacks on medical teams by superstitious local people or paramilitary groups are all too common, as are dreadful diseases that the world’s media ignore unless there’s a chance of them spreading out of Africa. This was a well written short story that still managed to set the scene and make us care about our heroine. I liked Leigh’s bravery and resourcefulness and now look forward to reading more of her adventures.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short prequel to the Leigh Austen series

This short story is a prequel introducing Leigh Austen, epidemiologist, who is in Africa on the trail of Black Nile fever, a hemorrhagic fever with similarities to Ebola.

Rebel troops are about, though, and she has to discover a way to help find a cure for the fever plus get herself to safety.

I'm now off to read THE DEVIL'S NOOSE, the actual first full-length book in the series.

[Kathryn Laing · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great short medical thriller with epidemiologist Leigh Austen in the Central African nation of Malindi where the Black Nile hemorrhagic fever virus is burning through the natives. She arrives to find all the medical staff dead from the disease and she must find a cure and a way out with terrorist guerrillas making their way into the area. A great intro to the series.

[Janis · Rating 5 out of 5]

No wonder the good Doctor has nightmares! She certainly could have used her future protection team. Great short story, keeps developing the characters background.

[Candy Robosky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this though not what I thought. Nice change of pace. Really liked this medical thriller prelude to a series. Interested in complete series. I received a free copy and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be a short story, but man is it suspenseful and scary. Loved it!

[Cynthia L. Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leigh Austen

This is a short medical thriller that introduces the reader to Dr. Leigh Austen. The story is brief and to the point.

[Mrs LIR Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted this short Adventure Novella by the author after I had read The Devil's noose. It is a prequel.

Absolutely enjoyed the story and I am captivated by Leigh Austin the specialist pandemic doctor.

One gripe, the character (French Scientist) Hélène LeLache... is the surname not a hint as to her role in the Devil's Noose......?

I will look out for further Leigh Austin stories as I want to know who is behind her uncle's gift: the dark Web messages...

[Leigh F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got a copy of this through story origins and I must say I wasn’t disappointed. The story was fast paced (even for a novella/short story) and the main character was richly developed. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next installment of the series and find out what happens to our heroine next. Awesome story and would highly recommend.

[Petra Sando · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good story and well-written introduction to a medical thriller series I'd like to check out in the future. I wouldn't have guessed the ending, a fact I can definitely appreciate, although it took a slight suspension of belief for someone who may not buy into superstition enough to mistake a disguise for the real thing.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

In rushing to a remote CDC medical facility, Leigh Austen gets involved in a civil war. The scene at the facility horrifies her, but she must get information to the CDC. To do that she must deal with locals who do not like foreigners but hold the key to a pandemic. This is a quick read with an interesting story line.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared for a very short but powerful introduction to a series. It gives you a good sense of how good the author is and how well the characters are developed. Even though this was way too short for me, the story has enough twists and suspense that I am hooked and given what I’ve seen of the author’s skill I am sure I will enjoy the series.

[Monica M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid writing, i kind of anxious of Leigh's fate and i thought the ending would be much different that the actual ending. But if the ending is like what i think it would be, there would be no next book with her in it haha.

Side note: i prefer the other cover, the one with auburn half face girl better.

[David Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good teaser to the Leigh Austin Medical thriller series. The Plague Walker gives the reader a good introduction into how resourceful Dr Austin is and the lengths she will go to in achieving her goal.

[Donna Heard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great short story packed with action and adventure. I'm not a big fan for short stories because I feel like they are often rushed at the end, that is not the case in this one. I love the doctor's resilience and injunuity in trying to save lives.

[Anuradha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is as short as they come. The writer establishes the context of the story and gets right down to business. The genius of the plot comes in the last chapter, one I didn't have time to work out on my own simply because the writing kept me in its firm grip. Definitely deserves a read.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fast-paced short story to introduce Dr. Leigh Austen. I would read others in this medical thriller series.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great background

Useful in filling in gaps for Devil's Noose. Impartial and fast paced. Looking forward to more plague walking with Navarro.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice wee prequel to the main books. Introduction to the main character. Interesting subject and flowed well.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a prequel to the series of the same name and it gets intense! I’m excited to read the rest of the series.

Read via Kindle Unlimited

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a short story but still engages. A hemorrhagic fever is inflicting deaths. Add to that... the land is in a state of civil unrest.

Difficult to stay alive.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great well written short story which is a good introduction to this series by Michael Angel. I really enjoyed it!

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Plague Walker (Plague Walker #0.5), my second read from author Michael Angel. After having read The Devil’s Noose (Plague Walker #1) I went out & got this book to continue the adventures with the 34-page prequel. Well-written and enjoyable, edge-of-your-seat fiction. I was given a Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. I look forward to the next book in the series. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).