First published 2019
A low-level scientist at the National Institutes of Health finds himself thrust into the center of a national emergency when America runs out of Dormigen, the crucial drug needed to combat a mysterious pathogen. As the only expert on lurking viruses in government circles, he watches the White House struggle to manage both the crisis and public perception. The president juggles multiple priorities while the Speaker of the House sees political opportunity in the chaos. A majority leader who cannot tell viruses from bacteria complicates matters, alongside a strategist whose brilliant mind comes with terrible interpersonal skills. The government has just three weeks to rebuild Dormigen supplies, but not every American will receive the life-saving medication. Foreign nations circle like vultures, offering help at steep costs. China demands control over the South China Sea and even additional UN parking spaces, while India promises salvation for America. The scientist must navigate this political minefield as the nation's health hangs in the balance.
Genres: fiction, science-fiction, thriller, 21st-century, political-thriller, academic
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: high-stakes, race-against-time
Setting: National Institutes of Health, South China Sea, United States, White House
Period: 21st-century
464 pages · ebook · W. W. Norton Company
Content warnings: medical-trauma