by Kyle Mills
First published 2011
In northern Uganda, peaceful farmers slaughter an American special forces team with inhuman speed and strength. The attackers show no fear of pain or death, consumed by an unexplainable rage that turns women and children into killing machines. Army microbiologist Colonel Jon Smith arrives to investigate for Covert-One, the President's secret organization reserved for global threats. Smith discovers evidence of an ancient parasitic infection that has triggered violent madness for centuries before going dormant. This outbreak is different. Someone has deliberately kept the parasite alive and weaponized it for terrorist attacks. The director of Iranian Intelligence has come to Uganda seeking this biological weapon to deploy against the West. When Smith and his team face an ambush that cuts them off from support, they realize more dangerous forces are involved. The conspiracy reaches back to Washington itself, where powerful players manipulate events from the shadows.
Genres: military-fiction, adventure, action, political-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Iran, Uganda, United States, Washington DC
Period: 21st Century
404 pages · Hardcover · Grand Central Publishing
Content warnings: violence