Well me mateys, while this be an enjoyable read, it certainly wasn’t what I was expectin’. If ye read the blurb, ye get an idea that this is going to be a post-apocalyptic tale about a virus killin’ off both cats and humanity with a scientist racin’ to find a cure as quickly as possible. This is not the case. I kept waiting for the human death count to spiral out of control. The first confirmed human death didn’t even arrive until around the 60% mark and there was never another. And the solution to the problem was certainly not a real rush. So if ye be expectin’ that kind of tale then this is not fer ye.

This book was is what the author calls “lab-lit.” Her amazon page says that it “is a small but growing genre of mainstream fiction about scientists and science as a profession.” Her website explains more about the ramifications of the term. Amazon also says that Jennifer Rohn “leads a research lab at University College London in the United Kingdom, studying how bacteria subvert human cells during infection.” Cool!

So while this book did not end up being what I thought, I still very much enjoyed it for both the science and characters. I have no scientific background except fer some chemistry classes back in the day and a best mate who is a vet. This story takes us through a mini-crash course of virology specifically concerning VSN RNA and feline leukemia (FeLV). I could follow along fairly well. The science part of the plot involves trying to figure out what the virus is and how it is evolving. Ye spend the majority of the time in the lab hearing about the day-to-day life, experiments, and politics. Oh and there is some stuff about epidemiologists and mathematical modeling. The math stuff did go over me head.

The characterizations were where much of the tension in the book came from. All of the main characters suffering from mental illness of some kind – autism, phobias, etc. The scientists were a quirky bunch. Artemis, the main protagonist, finds herself in complication relationships with the three other male scientists that are working on the problem with her. There are so many secrets and complicated issues that she is not sure who to trust. And of course one of those men happens to be both her post-doc and odd love interest. So add sexual tension in there. Oh and Aremis is trying to go through a divorce too. More sexual tension and angst.

I would normally find all these science and relationship elements to be overwhelming but instead I found meself pondering how it would all resolve. This kept me readin’. The answers for both the epidemic and relationships where a little underwhelming but nicely wrapped up. It ended up being a pleasant read. So if ye like lots of science in detail and crazy people doing crazy things then this read might be for ye.

So lastly . . .

Thank you Biting Duck Press!

Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/