The Gabon Virus

An excellent book. Dr. Larimore has done a great job in his transition to include fiction writing in his stable. This book kept me going back as often as I could to keep reading, and I ended up finishing it during the night. The plot is a stark reminder of the dangerous world we live in, from the real perils of deadly viruses, as well as out of control and untreatable bacteria to the radical groups populating our planet that have no moral conscience about taking other lives to achieve their evil schemes. One can only hope that science will be able to keep up with these dangerous illnesses to keep them in check. Gently mixed in the book was the spiritual conflict that one of the main characters was experiencing and the help that he received to appreciate the influence of God in our lives.

An ancient disease, a modern pandemic, and the one person who offers hope for a cure has been dead for 350 years. If that blurb on the back of TSI: The Gabon Virus doesn't grab your attention then this book is not for you. For the rest of us, however, this first in a series of novels written by Paul McClusker and Dr. Walt Larimore offers an exciting new genre of Christian fiction. Thirty years ago, Michael Crichton warned of the potential for a deadly man-made pandemic devastating the planet in The Andromeda Strain. The Gabon Virus builds on that premise but raises the stakes in its introduction of eco-terrorists intent on not just taking the earth back to the stone age but in eliminating the human race altogether. Though this is a big story taking place on three continents with a large cast of characters the authors do a good job of focusing on a couple of story-lines that are intensely personal and compelling. Dr. Mark Carlson has just joined the Time Scene Investigators after losing his own child to a deadly disease and his inner turmoil threatens to hamper his ability to contribute an answer to a raging epidemic of Ebola in Gabon, Africa. In Gabon, a lone teenage boy runs for his life from the horrors he witnessed in his family's religious compound not realizing he is a carrier of the disease. And, an American general has issued a kill on site order to stop the boy not realizing the target is his own grandson. Throw into the mix, a village in England with a graveyard full of black-death victims from the 1600's and a local legend named the Blue Monk, and you have the makings of a great story. While one boy in Africa may unwittingly threaten death to millions, the body of a long dead monk in England may hold the key to the cure. The authors have revealed another in this series will appear in the near future following the exploits of the Time Scene Investigators to Siberia as they seek to thwart the madness of the Return to Earth eco-terrorists. That is good news. At least we can all sleep soundly until then.

The Gabon Virus is a book about a virus that is deliberatly relased to a control group of people in a remote village. The people think it is a harmless study they have signed up for as they were assured it was. Once the subjects die within a short period of time, they kill the rest of the village to keep the virus from spreading. They found out a little too late that one person from the village has survived and is spreading the fast moving virus. This story is exciting, fast moving and very scary due to it's implications. I've read Paul McCuskers books before and they never let you down.

Honestly, I cannot wait for more books of the TSI (Time Scene Investigators) group, this novel was just too neat. Placed in modern day with a few chapters in the 1660's this book was a complete page turner filled with anxiety and adventure. The characters come to life and the technology is real. Never was there a dull moment in the reading of this story. A vast array of personalities were brought together in this cast of characters. Real fears and dilemmas were carried to light and worked through. Who would ever picture a present day doctor having anything in common with a 17th century monk? In a way parts of the big cooperation are reminiscent to me of the Resident Evil video game, yet there are no zombies in this story. At times I was curious if I were to be overcome by the sorrow in the story, but then there are so many hidden facets of hope through out that as a reader I was carried through. In the end, transformations that needed to take place have occurred and another dawn brightens reminding the reader of all the reasons that God gives us another day.

I enjoyed reading this timely Christian fiction suspense novel about the race to stop an oncoming pandemic. Based on real events past and present, the authors invent a story that comes close to today's truth about yet another outbreak of the H1N1 form of swine flu. Although science has never been a favorite subject of mine, the authors wrote so that I was able to follow the scientific theories. The characters were quite believable. I found myself anxious for Aaron, the teenage boy who inadvertently carries a dreaded disease, infecting all unfortunates who come in contact with him as he tries to escape those pursuing him. An order to stop Aaron's flight by any means--even murder--caused me to resent any interruptions while I read. I call this one a page-turner. The Blue Monk will have you questioning whether or not you believe in ghosts. Included are extras such as interviews with the authors and a Reading Group Guide.