Germ-Warfare Books

Being helpless in this day and age should not be a choice for anyone. And whether we go to war or not, since my voice and hundreds of thousands of others' voices cannot be heard above the rumbling of the war machine, I at least now have knowledge that there are options and methods of protecting myself and my family. I urge every American and English speaking individual to reach for the knowledge and wisdom this book presents. I am now in control. Others can be, too!
Thank you,
Mike

If you read any of my past reviews on Gary's books, you'd see that I have been very critical of his approach. He always backs off when he writes a book, and never gives the kind of in depth information he always does on his radio show. I've always wondered why..

However, with this new book, Gary delivers in a huge way. He tells it like it is, and has finally written a book that is as hard hitting and cutting edge as his radio show is.

This book covers everything from the history of biological warfare, vaccines, conventional BW treatments, alternative treatments, how to detoxify, de-acidify, how to manage stress, and much more. Very dynamic delivery, and very well written. Excellent job, Gary.

Gary Null has done it again in his timely new book, "Germs, Biological Warfare, Vaccinations." As the looming war with Iraq approaches, Americans more than ever have to be prepared to deal with potential biohazards and terrorist threats. In this terrific, informative book, Mr. Null, with the assistance of James Feast, provides a detailed, yet gripping review of the history of biological warfare and what societies have done to defend themselves. To fully understand the nature of biological threats - both natural and manmade - Gary takes the reader on a tour of the most important biological hazards and how, without protection, they can wreak incredible havoc on society. All of the important hazards are described, from Small Pox and Anthrax to Botulism, the Plague, and Yellow Fever. Their histories are discussed in detail, as well as ways, if any, to protect against them. All of the CDC Class A biohazards, as well as others, are fully described, such as Lassa Fever, Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, Tularemia, and Bunyaviridae. The history of these viruses and their destruction of human societies is discussed. The book also documents the history, particularly in the twentieth century, of the development of germ warfare, the accidents with it, and the attempts and failures to control it.

The book deals in great detail with various controversial and competing theories about the use and abuse of vaccinations against such biohazards as smallpox. The author makes a good case for examining much more closely the risks and overuse of vaccinations in certain cases. The book provides compelling evidence as to the dangers of overvaccination--for instance harmful side effects and the distortion of the body's natural immune system--and calls for a more reasoned and scientific approach to studying the effectiveness of vaccinations in general. It seems as though in some cases, such as polio (where the illness has been wiped out) and Hepatitis B, it is time to really re-think our national policy of coerced vaccinations, especially where the risks of harmful side effects may outweigh questionable benefits. Gary shows the checkered history of the development and growth of massive compulsory vaccinations in America and how it is supported and maintained by powerful business interests in the pharmaceutical industry.

Through a series of interwoven subthemes, involving the life of French scientist and theologian Blaise Pascal and American Revolutionary Benjamin Rush, Gary explores how new paradigms are created and phase shifts occur through history. Gary's thesis is that the medical establishment is on the cusp of such a paradigm shift, as it moves from the established modalities of merely treating disease to promoting proven holistic ways of living healthy and building our immune systems so that disease is never allowed to establish a foothold in the first place. Gary likens this change in American health to the type of fundamental change described by Thomas Kuhn in his seminal philosophical treatise, "The Structure of Scientific Revolutions". As one of the leading advocates of public health in America, Gary is uniquely poised to assist in ushering in this revolutionary approach to leading more healthy, vital and robust lives.

Finally, Gary provides valuable information about what we can actually do to prepare for a potential bioterrorist attack. Initially, Gary says that we should strengthen our immune systems by detoxifying our bodies, eliminating risk items such as sugar and caffeine, eating healthy, nutritious foods such as organic fruits and vegetables, drinking plenty of pure water, getting adequate exercise every day, and forming other important healthy habits. This is based on Gary's proven philosophy, that a strengthened, hardy immune system is one of the best ways to ward off even the most potentially deadly virus. Other protective measures include certain practices of cleanliness, avoiding contact between your hands and mouth, and certain special formulations of vitamins, herbs, and supplements that can be helpful in building the body's natural immunity in the event of an attack. Specific formulas of natural herbal and supplemental remedies to respond to and repel attacks of viruses, such as anthrax, are also provided. Gary also discusses traditional "Western Medicine" responses to viral attacks and their various efficacies. Armed with the tremendous knowledge provided by Gary in this very important book, one feels well equipped to respond in the best possible way to a bioterrorist attack. This is an excellent book, and it is must reading for anyone living in America at these potentially perilous times.

David
New York, New York

Germs, Biological Warfare, Vaccinations: What You Need To Know by health and fitness expert Gary Null (with the assistance of James Feast, editor of the "Journal of the History of Philosophy") offers the basic and readily accessible information about drug-resistant germs, biological warfare, natural ways to boost one's own immune system, and much, much more. A very practical and informative health guide, as well as a useful primer for protecting oneself against biological pathogens, Germs, Biological Warfare, Vaccinations is a timely, authoritative, and invaluable informational resource for non-specialist general readers in these troubled and troubling times.

I'm not sure if I agree with the author's spin on vaccines and the link with autism, but most of the information contained in this slim volume is true & accurate information.
On page 62, he discusses Brucellosis; the illness that plaqued Florence Nightingale upon her return from the Crimean War, which quite possibly was responsible for keeping her bedridden for the rest of her life. E-yup, Brucellosis is an oldie, and so are smallpox, TB, plaque and Anthrax, which he discusses in a somewhat boring fashion.
He goes on to explain such entities as Ribavirin, Antivirals and more yet about vaccines. (Which are our only hope - if ya want to know the truth about prevention of catastrophic diseases. Vaccines are GOOD -- not bad!)
Towards the back of the book, Null & Fest delve into natural methods on how YOU can prevent contracting these loathsome illnesses through...
proper diet
detoxification
destressing your life
Hebs and so on and so on......He even tells you how to take a proper bath! (see pages 208-10.)
The treat of all treats is on page 206 -- this is worth the price of the book...
The Liver and Gallbladder FLUSH!
You mix up the list of organic acids and bolt the concoction down first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
Talk about explosive!!!! Oooh-la-la! My bowels will never be the same, and be sure nobody's in the house when you do this!
Finally, this book reminds all readers to take massages whenever possible, and to take life one day at a time.
I wish those brilliant authors would have emphasized to NOT WORRY, BE HAPPY, because one should not obsess over this icky subject matter. When your number's up, it's up, and then you move onto another relm where somebody slaps a new job on ya. It's a tough world our there, growing harder every day, but it is still a beautiful world -- there is still much joy awaiting all of us. In order to recieve the goodness of this Earth, we must first be willing to be giving...and we should do all we can to preserve our beautiful universe. PEACE out!

This book should be required reading for all folks at DHS, FBI and DOD involved in counter-terrorism activities. It's full of new material and research on an 80 year old case, which speaks volumes about Mr. Koenig's excellent research, analytical and writing talents, especially in light of the repetitive and often erroneous pablum cranked out by government history offices... Koenig's research and analysis into Dr. Anton Dilger's past on both sides of the Atlantic reveals the man's predisposition for intelligence work for Germany, in spite of his US citizenship. Solid, ground-breaking research, more readable than a fiction thriller, fantastic book...

I've read the book a couple of times and have gotten more out with each reading. Bob Koenig has done a tremendous job in terms of the accuracy of his research. His writing style draws the reader into the story. Excellent and highly recommended.

Robert Koenig's portrayal of Anton Dilger's mission to bring germ warfare to America during WWI is far more than just a gripping story of biological warfare and sabotage in one of its first modern instances. Koenig's work resonates to our own contemporary struggle against terrorism in a number of different ways. First, Koenig delves into the psyche and family history of Anton and with painstaking research presents to the reader the fascinating story of how an American born medical student becomes an agent for Imperial Germany. Second, we are reminded of the response of the US government in dealing with the supposed "enemy within", in both its indiscriminate nature and ineffective results. Finally, Koenig also reminds us of the societal response towards the supposed German-American "threat", one that had its own "liberty stakes" (taste great when combined with "freedom fries", one would assume).

This is a very well researched book that combines intrigue of the mysterious world of spies during WWI with a personal story of a man who chose to betray his country, one that his father served proudly during the Civil War. In a way, Koenig offers a reminder that our current predicament is not so unique.

To someone from outside the US, this book brought many revelations, foremost of which was the insight into the thriving German community that existed there prior to 1914, but now is no more. We are familiar with Italian, Greek and Polish influences, but the Germans, as the enemy after a bitter war, had to subsume their culture.

The anti-hero of this gripping book, Anton Dilger, belonged to a family which was more American than German already, but he felt the pull back to earlier roots. The personal letters and insights that Rob Koenig has painstakingly researched show how horrific incidents like the Corpus Christi Massacre in Karlsruhe can have far-reaching effects through people struggling with their identity.

Koenig tells this story in such a way that you do not know what is coming, and thus every chapter has an impact. Throughout, he reveals his mastery of scientific writing for the public. I've read some of his other work on contemporary science, and was delighted to see this historical work. I hope he does another book. This one, meanwhile, is highly recommended to those who like biography, travel, history, science and warfare, all rolled up in one.

My name is Tim O'Neil (husband of Christine). For a decade, Robert Koenig and I worked together as reporters at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. I offer this as personal disclosure and testimony to my knowledge of Mr. Koenig's fine work. He is thorough in research and careful to confirm information. His writing is clear and absorbing. He applied those skills in writing The Fourth Horseman. He read family files and forgotten government archives. He searched hard for single documents to explain or confirm information on Anton Dilger, and then wrote a full narrative of the motivations and acts of a man who worked hard to cover his tracks. He took time to explain Dilger's era, especially its reliance upon horses, to provide the setting for one man's trail. The result is a fine book.

The author has an agenda to bash America in this work, all the more incredible since one would think the nation of Japan, which has never officially apologized for the atrocities described in this bood, would more than suffice as a punching bag for him, the author. His determination to get that bashing in, in the second half of the work, distracted him from delivering the proper scope and balance in telling the story the author is probably capable of. Worth the price though (especially if you can get it at a discount).

This is why my mother won't visit China. Although she would like to learn more about Chinese culture, she discouraged my visiting China because she was afraid something would bite me or I would bring vermin back not because the Chinese are inherently dirty but because she accurately remembers the strength of vermin warfare inflicted upon China and is convinced that the poisoning of China's water system and soil makes Chinese products suspect even before the industrial accidents in recent news. It takes a widespread intense campaign to deal with this problem. I didn't read this book before visiting China but I believed that she was being practical in her advise and not political. This problem needs to be researched. One must satisfy the most critical person in order to solve the problem correctly.

I came from the city where the Japanse secret germ army operated during the second world war. What the author stated in the book is true. The truth can not be denied by the Japanese Government. Don`t judge anything as lie or truth, unless you find out with yoru own eyes.

I recently attended a lecture by Daniel Barenblatt in NYC. The subject was of course Barenblatt's new book A PLAGUE UPON HUMANITY. Whereas the use of human medical experimentation is now a well known aspect of the Nazi extermination program, the fact that
Japan innovated these same techniques, as well as implementing a lethal biological warfare unit, directed by Dr. Ishii Shiro & imposed upon the Chinese population in Manchuria & Occupied China, prior & parallel to the Nazi regime, is less known in the Western World.
Whereas some books on this topic have been published, Mr. Barenblatt, with integrity & the detachment necessary to cover the terrain, has written a contemporary & updated version of the material That he does so fills an important gap in our historical understanding but moreover, underlies the situation in which we now live.
The 25 photographs speak without words. The 10 chapters & for this reader, in particular the last chapter `What The Deal Brought' wherein the implication of this program for our current policy is clear become apparent.. In an era of lethal indifference , poisoned ambients, both intellectual & environmental, a voice such as Barenblatt's must be heeded.

The author Dan Barenblatt has his special background in chemistry and the most precious common human values to complete such a wonderful book. I can image how much efforts he put to overcome the difficullties since the auther does not read and write Chinese.
The most impressive from in this book is the auther try to understand the facts of the history and the cause of it. Unless we understand the cause of the historic tragedy, it will repeat again.
For example he spent a good amount of efforts to analyze what cause the head of Unit 731 - Dr. Shiro Ishii to commit such a huge crime on germ warfare from his family, social background and political environment at that time and how America knew about it, how the secret deal was made later. The auther wanted to present the whole true history base on the individual has right to know, without knowing the fact, the justice and human values are easily betrayed by interest or other purpose.
You will be touched by this most forgotten or unkown history presented in the book; but as a Chinese auther I was touched and amazed by his efforts and unbiased humaneness

Rivers' book is a page turner. The fast paced action keeps the story moving but is also that which makes it the least realistic. The reader is very aware that what he is reading bears as much resemblance to how a full scale bio-terrorism attack would be handled as an Indiana Jones movie bears to actual archeology. Which is not to say that Rivers' primary thesis and the events/responses which are depicted are out of the question. They are not. It is just that the attack, if it was actually mounted, would have been far more devastating because the government response could never rise to the efficiency River's recounts.

The best aspect of the book is the detailed account of how the attack was formulated and executed. The degree of detail given was indeed scary and, since I am not qualified to speak to the technical details of the biological/genetic possibilities, I assume it is feasible. Rivers' descriptions and identification of the various organizations which would be involved in combating such an attempt was also helpful

Where Rivers' needs to grow as an author is in making his characters less stiff and robotic. When Dr. Ron Raines loses his live in girl friend, for whom he presumably had great affection, he accepts it with what seems to be no more than a passing thought - "I should have been with her when she died." That's about it. All of the other characters are sketched at about the same level. All it takes for the bad guy terrorist scientist to suddenly change his mind about the Great Satan Americans is for Dr. Raines to show him a little love. That's a bit of a stretch.

So... five stars for technical background and plot outline, three stars for character development averages out to four.

Good summer beach read. It'll take you 3-4 hours straight through.

Obviously the result of a combination of detailed medical knowledge, personal experience, comprehensive research, & a vivid imagination.

I an not starting this with a synopsis as this has been done by others brighter
and more articulate than I. This novel will keep you up at night thinking
about just how all of this is possible, how port security is spotty at its very
best not to mention our porous borders. This book is a wakeup call for what
can easily happen. You will not sleep well after reading this one.

In the riveting techno-thriller "The Jihad Germ", author T. N. Rivers draws upon his years of his experience as a military flight surgeon and a civilian emergency physician to add realism and plausibility to background details in a fictional story exploring the horrific possibilities of an advanced bioterror weapon developing in the hands of Islamic terrorists and its use against an American city. Bacterial gene replacement in a laboratory hidden by a Middle-Eastern government, combined with the porous nature of American port security result in a devastating attack on American soil. It's up to Dr. Ron Raines and nurse Christie Fellows to save the lives of citizens while FEMA, the CDC, and the U.S. Marine Chemical and Biological Incident Response Force struggle to contain the threat, while national intelligence agencies and the White House try to restore the balance of world power. A chilling, all-too-real account that could well be taken from tomorrow's newspaper headlines, "The Jihad Germ" is a superbly crafted novel and highly recommended reading from beginning to end.

A 'terrorist-induced' epidemic using biological weapons - most likely smallpox - is almost certainly about to happen.

The Illuminati need to destroy & ressurect the nation in order to bring about the New World Order in accordance with Masonic 'Ark Mariner' traditions of Enoch & Noah.

This may be the most important book you ever read.

I reccomend reading "The New World Order", also available bere.

Must have for those taking the Officers Advanced Course Phase I. I found that the CD on the Effects of Nuclear Weapons distributed by the AMEDD & S to be incomplete and lacking. However, I was pleasantly surprised that the "21st Century Complete Guide..." supplemented and enhanced AMEDD's CD. The "21st Century Complete Guide..." has a listing of websites for those who would like more information on the topic which I found very helpful and invaluable. (I was able to answer questions in the OAC exam that I would not have been able to do without the help of the "21st Century Complete Guide..." !)

Full of calories, void of nutrition. I stopped reading at chapter 68. I still don't know what the germ is.

_Germ_ by Robert Liparulo is a good, solid thriller, one that was a true page-turner, a gripping novel that I read in just a few days. Essentially, the book is one long chase, one in which the protagonists are both trying to solve a mystery while staying ahead of an assassin on their heels (and avoiding the authorities at the same time, as to take time to deal with officials would mean they wouldn't solve the mystery in time, give the assassin time to find them and kill them, and complicated by a further problem in that they don't know whom they can trust).

The book began with what should have been something fairly routine for Special Agents Goodwin Donnelley and his partner Julia Matheson. A man by the name of Despesorio Vero had been demanding to speak to the director of the Center for Disease Control's National Center for Infectious Diseases in Atlanta. He came off as semi-coherent, rambling, possibly deranged, but it seemed he was warning them of some potent new bioweapon. Donnelley and Matheson were agents of the newly created Law Enforcement Division of the CDC and were charged with meeting the man, talking to him, and possibly bringing him in for questioning.

Almost right away things go badly for these three people. Gunmen try to kill Vero in the restaurant the two agents agreed to meet him in. Donnelley hustled Vero out of the establishment and what followed was a high speed chase (and gun battle) as Donnelley and Vero fled the hitmen and Matheson in her own car tried desperately to keep up with her partner. Though the gunmen are foiled, both Donnelley and Vero are wounded. Wanting to avoid any further assassins, not knowing who he can trust, and hoping to link up again with Matheson, Donnelley went to Chattanooga and sought to treat his wounds himself.

Things continued to go worse as a new, far more dangerous, nearly mythic assassin by the name of Atropos showed up (his name is learned later on in the book). I don't want to reveal too much more about the book, but things go very, very badly for Donnelley and Vero. Matheson and interestingly enough the doctor who eventually treated a severely wounded Donnelley, one Dr. Allen Parker, along with his brother, Stephen, a country pastor, become involved in the struggle to stay ahead of Atropos and figure out what it was that Vero was so desperate to get to the CDC and once they discover what it is, decide how to use it to save lives.

I don't think I am giving away too much at this point by hinting at the big mystery, as it is mentioned in part on the back cover; someone has found a way to create a deadly virus that will only target victims who contain certain DNA, DNA that the viruses are altered to recognize and attack. Everyone else is immune (or suffers at worst a minor cold from the virus), while the victim dies a horrid death, similar to that which Ebola and other filoviruses create.

A pretty good book, the speculation on the nature of some diseases, such as Ebola, was interesting and chilling. There was some good suspense, Liparulo was skilled at writing clear and engaging descriptions of hand-to-hand combat, and the book had a great pace. I didn't always completely follow the motivations of two men behind in the scenes for most of the book, the creator of the virus and the former mentor of that man, a man pledged to stop him, nor the importance of the origin story of one of them, why that was significant. I had a few quibbles with the last climatic scene but they are minor and I won't reveal them here. Though I might place the book in the science fiction category for the author's speculations on the origins and use of such diseases as Ebola the book was really more action-thriller, which is not by the way a bad thing.

This book is very entertaining. I highly recommend it. Really short chapters, which is what I prefer.

What a wonderful writer Robert Liparulo is. His stories are about as tense and gripping as you would ever want. I finished Germ and his subsequent book Deadfall in about a day each. I just could not stop
reading. I heartily recommend each of these books.

Within the first chapter all I could think of was "This is going to make a GREAT MOVIE!" The bad guys are truly slimly sinister and the protagonist heroes are just heart-breaking with authenticity. I picked it up because I enjoy a good Ebola tale and there haven't been that many of them recently. WOW!!! This yanked me in so quickly, and before I knew it I realized I was reading an action thriller with real characters, assassins and bad guys with true evil in their hearts. The good guys are real, not superhero "I am indestructible and can be shot a million times..." type of attitudes. The bad guys are like the Terminator, they keep coming and coming, and you actually FEEL the pressure of the run the good guys end up on. You feel bad for a guy who dies in the first ¼ of the book... all the way to the end.

I loaned this to a friend who LOVES the REAL Ebola stories, not the fictionalized stuff of movies... but she's LOVING this one too... I recommend it for anyone wanting to take a great read on a vacation trip, this isn't one you want to put down, and can't wait to get back too.

This is a chilling book - I couldn't put it down. It's great to read such knowledgeable fiction, after hearing about all of the reality stuff we are bombarded with. This puts human faces on the subject.

Wonderful locations and interesting new types of people. The author knows so much about biochemical horrors, he made my blood chill. I highly recommend this book.

Germ Warfare is a chilling account of another deadly threat to world-wide stability. A very plausible story of an American microbiologist who is enlisted in the fight against bioterrorism. The author has an excellent knowledge of microbiology which he has used well in spinning a most believable tale of terrorism in Europe. If fascinated by Hal in "Space Odyssey" then Daisy's soft voice will appeal to the reader of this story.

Well written, quick paced, packed with the daily reminders of our governments new found role in "Homeland Security" and the new "Cyber Terrorism Office." I suspect we will be seeing and reading more books of ths genre in the near future. Proper planning and preparation coupled with a willfull response is our only real defense. I would also suggest reading "Transfer: the end of the beginning," by Jerry Furland. Good work John.

On one level I appreciated this book as a concise guided tour through the history of immunology, at another level I was filled with pride by the contributions Australian scientists have made to our understanding of immunology (the author is Australian, and has an insiders knowledge of some of the groundbreaking research conducted in this country). However the book does not dwell too much on Australian scientists, instead giving a background on the people and research behind many of the discoveries that are key to our current understanding of immunology. One minor complaint about the book is that some of the descriptions of the experiments, while in general good and detailed, were on occasion unclear and may take some effort to understand by readers not familiar with the terminology. Overall, however, I strongly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the history of immunology.

This is an amazing book. It tells the stories of how we learned how the body fights infections like Ebola. The strange thing is that often the most important scientific discoveries were inspired by the most trivial of motivations. Wrapped up in the sometimes highly improbably tales of the scientists' lives is the science presented in a clear and interesting way. You get some understanding, not only of what they did, but why and how they did it, and you come to realise that they are really just someone like you. Strongly recommended.

I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this book. At a time when germ warfare on a global scale threatens to terrify us all, it was comforting and inspiring to read about germ warfare of an entirely different kind. This fascinating book tells of the biological battle our bodies fight day to day against microscopic invaders. Not so much a novel as a composite of short, surprising, remarkable, funny and awe-inspiring tales this book gives accounts of scientific discoveries and personalities in an engaging style and enigmatic manner unparalleled in any published work of this kind. Baxter is careful to keep everything in layman's terms yet he manages to convey an understanding of the science and its significance with great skill and passion. Whether you're an immunologist or you've never studied science in your life, as long as you're interested in your health and your body's defense system I guarantee you will not be disappointed in this innovative and captivating book.

Shock and Awe. This book keeps it interesting, the slang, dirt, suspense and all around good concept this book is a sure read for people who boht love to read and those who don't, you just have to read the first 2 pages to be hooked.

Nelson DeMille is one of the best writers in the business, and "Plum Island" is a first rate cop novel. It has lots of action, plenty of plot twists and a lead character (John Corey) who keeps the reader well entertained. Despite its considerable length, the story is well told and reads quickly.

"Plum Island" is the first of four (so far) DeMille novels that feature Corey--a quick witted, acid tongued, male chauvinist, go for broke NYPD cop who finds himself on Long Island recuperating from gunshot wounds when he gets involved in the murder case of two Plum Island biologists. Bio-terrorism is suspected.

This book has several really strong features. John Corey is one of them. His steady stream of smart alec thoughts and dialogue keep the reader engaged and amused. The mystery is nicely developed and presented to the reader "Colombo" style. Finally, the book has educational value both in its presentation of Plum Island, a real life government biological research center, and in the discussion of the culture, history and legend of the eastern part of Long Island. I always like it when I can walk away from a book feeling that I have really learned something.

The book is not without flaws, however. John Corey's attitude and attitudes will offend some readers, and there are points where his non-stop sarcasm becomes tiresome. Also, the action near the finale goes a bit over the top, and the dialogue during one particularly tense action sequence is simply not realistic. I won't say more lest I give away some of the ending.

I have now read all four John Corey novels out of order with no harm done to my enjoyment of any of them. My favorite DeMille books are still "The Lion's Game," "Up Country" and "The Gold Coast," but I recommend this one highly.

Plum Island is a book you will not be able to put down. The introduction of the character John Corey is a breath of fresh air in this saturated world of "thriller" books. I instantly liked this guy and knew that if anything bad happened to him, I was going to write a letter of complaint to Mr. DeMille.

Set in New York's Nassau County North Fork, Plum Island follows NYC Det. John Corey who is recovering from being shot by a couple of New York City thugs. While getting fat and drinking beer at his Uncle's summer home, Corey is talked into helping the local law enforcement investigate a double homicide involving scientist from the infamous Plum Island facility, an animal biological disease study center. What follows is both a surprise and absolute brilliance!

Plum Island has just the right touch of wit, suspense, romance, and conspiracy to keep readers turning the pages. I finished the book in record time (2 days) and immediately went out to find the next John Corey book. DeMille will have a hard time topping Plum Island, but I look forward to seeing him try.

The Margin
Plum Island is my first DeMille novel. The story is good, but much too much detail. Educational, yes, but tedius at times. I even went to sleep reading through the description of the facility. On the other hand, Conley is my kind of character--sarcastic and rude (when appropriate). I enjoyed his quips.
I do prefer a faster pace, but otherwise would recommend this novel.

Marvin Wiebener, author of The Margin. A sophisticated mystery with unpredictable twists.

Detective John Corey, recovering from serious gunshot wounds, is staying at his uncle's home on Long Island's North Fork when he is asked by the local police chief to help out on a double murder investigation. The murdered couple, Tom and Judy Gordon, had been working at Plum Island, a super-secret government research facility, just off the coast, which had been investigating viruses that might be used in germ warfare. The theory that the couple might have stolen a particularly powerful virus to sell to a terrorist nation quickly leads to a competing theory that the couple might have been involved in selling drugs, and the local murder investigation soon crosses jurisdictional boundaries and draws county, state, and federal investigators.

Demille creates a rip-roaring narrative that fully involves the recovering detective in the investigation, even after he is officially fired. The Gordons had been members of the local historical society, which promotes legends about Captain Kidd, along with the theory that Kidd had hidden his treasure on Plum Island, perhaps near the island's unexplored archaeological ruins. It is only a short leap to yet another theory about the Gordons--that their deaths may be related to the Captain Kidd legend.

With two love stories, trips to a top secret laboratory, several more murders, a hidden cave, stories of pirate treasure, and even a hurricane, there are plot twists galore, and though the characters are not fully developed, they are interesting enough to keep the reader involved. Corey is not "Mr. Clean," but while his reliance on violence and his (somewhat dated) male chauvinism make him a somewhat cynical lead character, he is determined to find the Gordons' killers, and the reader roots for his success. Great escape reading. n Mary Whipple

The Lion's Game
Up Country
Night Fall
Wild Fire
The Gold Coast
The Gate House