This is a fast-paced and twisted story. The Carolina Variant is honestly very life-like, where the virus is released and takes the lives of minorities. I don't feel romance is a good fit for this book. It felt out of place. The end was also very rushed, unlike the rest of the book.


Thank you, Netgalley, and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my

This is a fantastic, overwhelming, twisted, can't turn the pages quick enough read! The horrifying virus that seems to come out of nowhere and the way our main characters are just pummeled, nearly destroyed, and still keep going is phenomenal. Unlike many apocalyptic virus stories, this one has an added umph in the reason it's happening that just makes you want to scream. The author knows how to make you feel like you are right there along with the characters and there's nothing you can do to help. The scariest part of this book is that things like this could actually happen and what's more is that you never really know who someone is, until it's too late of course!

What might happen if a virulent variant of the Marburg virus or Ebola, somehow gets to be set loose in a large city? What if it were to spread across the whole of the States?

And what if it weren't an accident,but a means to fulfil certain Malthusian remedies for over-population with an agenda?

These are the issues that Tess Oliver, a lawyer just setting out on her career, ends up having to face. In the beginning, Oliver's concerns are purely personal: getting enough business to pay the rent before the bailiffs come knocking, and gaining credibility. However, when she comes across a mysterious document and recognises that some of the mysterious marking on it are phone numbers, she becomes a marked woman. Especially when one of these numbers just happens to be that of a small-plane pilot who has mysteriously crashed in a forest.

The pilot ends up in hospital, then around him people start to die horribly.. The pandemic protocols that soany of us have learnt about first hand not so long ago, spring into action. Like Covid, it appears that the virus seems to strike down minorities who are poor, although some minds are beginning to suspect the common denominator is not to do with poverty, but rather with something a lot more sinister.

Tess's lack of confidence has to do with a gift, or a photographic memory. However, this gift brings not only physical dangers to herself, but from those who have powerful sectrszs they wish to hide. But will Tess and the pilot who becomes her ally and lover be able to get to the truth before they are neutralised? And will there be an antidote to the virus?

This is a good nail-biting thriller, with a touch of romance added to the mix too. The nail biting will continue until virtually the ending too. There is a touch of science_fiction to some of the ideas behind how the Carolina variant was created - as will all horror too, in reading this, recent traumas can be relived safely.

I really wanted to enjoy this more than I did…a mutated virus loose on the world, a heroine with some kind of gift that can save the world, a race against time - and psychopaths - to unlock the code and save humanity…it sounded right up my street. Unfortunately for me this fell short of amazing, hovering more around the ‘meh, it was a decent enough read’ mark.
I don’t think enough was included about Tess’ ‘gift’, beyond her reluctance to use it for - what I considered to be - a flimsy reason.
The ending felt quite rushed to me, there was a lot of build up and then a chapter where a whole bunch happened all at once and then it was just over.
I definitely wouldn’t say I disliked the book, it just didn’t live up to my expectations. A pleasant enough way to spend a few hours though. Blood-leaking eyes aside obvs 😉

A fascinating concept that isn't really all the farfetched, given the progress made in medicine lately. After the first chapter, I was hooked, couldn't put it down. I'm hoping to read more by Ms. French as this was as an original concept for a medical thriller as I have ever read. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review. I would definitely recommend this book.

This was a very intriguing story, and also very frightening, as it could be so close to being true. There are a lot of twist and turns and it keeps you on the edge of your seat, and turning pages as fast as you can. I can’t wait to see what the author brings us next.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

An action packed race against time thriller. Meet Tess who has a photographic memory and Luke a pilot who are drawn together as someone is trying to kill them. Conspiracy, hot virus and assassin's all going on in this novel. Good characterization and plotting in this read in one sitting novel.
I received this book free from Black Rose writing and Netgalley for a review.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an e-ARC of this novel. It was an absolute thrill ride.

Be prepared to cancel all of your plans and read this in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. There's enough of a chance that something like this could happen in real life, making it frightening at times, but the romantic sub-plot makes it not quite as intense as it could be, something good for readers that need that relief.

This novel has a fair amount of gore and other potential triggers, so it's not for the faint of heart, but if you love thrillers, especially medical thrillers, this is a fantastic read for you. It reminded me of episodes of NCIS, Person of Interest, and The Last Ship.

Review will be posted on Instagram before EOD of publication date @ellie.reads.a.lot.

This was such a unique concept in a mystery novel, I enjoyed Tess as a character and thought her gift was a unique take. I was invested in the story and getting to figure out what was going on through this world. I’m glad I read this and can’t wait for more.