Book Review: Plague

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Plague     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Gary Birken, M.D.
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Medical   Terrorists   Thriller
Berkley, Dec 2002, $6.99, 3752 pp.

Dr. Annick Clement is a third year resident in pediatrics and the first resident to participate in a French-American exchange program. One day while she is working in the Emergency Room, she is treating a very sick little boy and she isn’t sure what is wrong with him. Tests discover that he has botulism but they don’t know how he got it or why. Soon after, Annick treats a little girl, who after extensive testing, is found out to have the pneumonic plague.

She begins to believe that somebody in the hospital is deliberately making these children sick. The administration of Franklin Children’s Hospital doesn’t want to believe there is a bio- terrorist on the loose and tries to muzzle Annick who refuses to give up seeking possible links. When three children come down with cholera, Annick’s theory proves deadly correct and she is even able to point the FBI in the direction of the perpetrator. What she doesn’t know is her suspect is only a puppet and somebody very close to her is pulling the strings.

Fans of Robin Cook, Patricia Cromwell and Kathy Reichs are going to want to put PLAGUE on his or her must read list. The heroine is spunky, intelligent and intuitive, a combination that makes her an excellent medical detective. This hopefully is the first installment in a medical thrilling series because the heroine would make a great recurring character.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner