The Gabon Virus

Jack Bauer, you have competition!

As a physician I very much enjoy medical-oriented mysteries and am an avid reader of Robin Cooks novels. The Gabon virus ranks right up there and I cannot wait for a sequel. Open the book, start reading and try putting it down - very hard to do. If this were a TV series it would hold attention like Jack Bauer's 24 as things happen very fast! One is constantly wanting to turn the page to see what is next. The entire plot is incredibly believable which makes it even more scary. The medical sophistication of virology is their but Walt Larimore is a master at making anyone understand complex medical issues. I highly recommend this book for all. Last but not least, if you are a medical professional and do not know what argyria is, and I sure must have missed that day in med school - buy this book!

Thomas Dayspring MD, FACP, FNLA

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Story

The first in the TSI (Time Scene Investigators) series, this book is a nice balance between gripping suspense and scientific reality. The story switches back and forth between 1666 and the present time as the TSI team scrambles desperately to seek a solution to a global pandemic that had it beginnings in the country of Gabon in Africa. The writing is excellent and the plot is believable....all too believable...and I liked the development of the characters involved. If you enjoy international espionage and medical type mysteries, you will enjoy this new series by a couple of great writers.

Timely, real threats, yet hopeful

I recently finished "TSI: The Gabon Virus" and was intrigued with the combination of history lessons, understandable scientific analyses, intrigue-- and also just enough romance sprinkled in to hold the attention of female readers in the midst of more male-oriented topics.

The concept of giving one's life for another was paramount, as were other Christian themes like the fruit of the Spirit and the salvation message, but in a non-preachy way. And, of course, there were those dark themes of evil to be counteracted.

In a time when we see a virus declared an emergency in the real world, this book is particularly telling!

The Gabon Virus

I really enjoyed reading this book. Dr. Larimore has written a number of good books, both educational and narrative, but this is his first time at fiction and I think his transition, along with a talented co-author, was excellent. This book kept me going back as often as I could to keep reading, and I ended up finishing it during the night.

The overall premise and evolution of the story is a very real 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. As the scientists in the book were able to create a suitable antidote, one can only hope that science will be able to keep up with these dangerous illnesses to keep them in check.

Along with a refreshing paucity of gratuitous language and sexual content, was a spiritual message that blended well in the narrative without the reader feeling that the Bible or some doctrine was "thumped" over their head.

Bravo on your first venture into the world of fiction writing.

Possible World Pandemic?

TSI: The Gabon Virus is well written and easy to read. The book captured my attention on page one and each chapter drew me further into the plotline. Larimore & McCusker hooked me and left me wanting the next TSI novel, before I completed the first book. The Gabon Virus opened my eyes to the possibility of a pandemic virus that could effect the entire world. I am a fan of Larimore's autobiographical and medical works; I hope this is the first of many novels from Larimore.

Adventure and anxiety

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.

Dreaded Disease

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.

A 15th Century Blue Monk and a 21st Century Virus

Interesting premise: take a historical fact ~ the plague in a small town in 1600 England ~ mesh it with a unleashed virus today and see what happens. How do the two relate and what can the remains of an old Blue Monk tell a scientist of today. The story moves at a fairly good pace. The switches between the past and present, and England and Africa move smoothly without any jarring or hesitation. The detail in the scientific, medical, and military sides of the story seem to be plausible. I didn't feel like the authors didn't know what they were talking about. The religious threads were also believable which is difficult in this kind of a story with historical myths and scientific doubt combining to question any research. I read through the story in a day. Although I wouldn't say that it was gripping, it was definitely well written and mostly believable.

The action never stops in this fast-paced thriller

Under the ice and snow of Greenland lies a top secret research laboratory filled with all the deadly diseases known to man. Something happens in one of the labs allowing the genetically engineered super strain of the Ebola virus escaping into the entire facility forcing the government to blow it up. In the African country Gabon, a cult led by David Mosley is infected with this lethal strain; all of them commit suicide to end the horror except the leader's son Aaron.

Aaron is a carrier spreading the disease wherever he goes and leaving behind horrific agonizing deaths. A task force mobilizes seeking the carrier while in England they seek a vaccine, but need someone with the disease. Their efforts lead them to the village of Eyam where the Black Death decimated the place in the seventeenth century that isolated itself while the legendary Blue Monk administered to the ill and dying. The scientists feel there are some similarities with today's outbreak and the cases in 1666 so they seek the grave of the Blue Monk who's DNA may provide a cure for the modern day epidemic. Time is running out as the pandemic virus threatens to make humanity virtually extinct.

The action never stops in this fast-paced thriller that sends a cautionary message without preaching. Mindful of Hoffman's Outbreak, the plot cleverly uses the real tragic history of the Ebola virus that killed several people in Gabon in 2001 and the seventeenth century Black Plague assault on the villagers of Eyam. , Although the lead characters are not fully developed, they bring heart and soul to their desperate search to find the Blue Monk's remains. The TSI team makes the science of disease epidemics especially viruses easy to understand but never dumbed down; that is the core of a super thriller that is timely with the Swine Flu outbreak.

Harriet Klausner

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