First published 1991
Private investigator Jake Cardigan gets called to examine the murder of a top drug-control agent, killed by a reprogrammed human zombie assassin. The case leads him into darker territory when he uncovers ties to an artificial plague virus now spreading through San Francisco. The synthetic disease has already claimed his ex-wife among its victims. Cardigan realizes the plague connects directly to the Tek cartel, the same criminal organization that peddles the computerized drug devastating their futuristic society. Working alongside his wisecracking partner Gomez and girlfriend Beth, Jake tracks the virus to its source. The teklords have engineered the plague as part of an elaborate blackmail scheme. Cardigan must stop the cartel before their electronic drug empire expands through biological warfare, turning personal loss into a fight for the city's survival.
Genres: science-fiction, mystery, crime, thriller, detective, action
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: San Francisco
Period: Futuristic
Hardcover · Bantam Press
Content warnings: drug-use, violence