Written over fifteen years ago, this prescient, suspenseful thriller is set against a backdrop of a capital city in quarantine, and explores human experience in the grip of a killer virus.

'They said that twenty-five percent of the population would catch the flu. Between seventy and eighty percent of them would die. He had been directly exposed to it, and the odds weren't good.'

A CITY IN QUARANTINE

London, the epicenter of a global pandemic, is a city in lockdown. Violence and civil disorder simmer. Martial law has been imposed. No-one is safe from the deadly virus that has already claimed thousands of victims. Health and emergency services are overwhelmed.

A MURDERED CHILD

At a building site for a temporary hospital, construction workers find a bag containing the rendered bones of a murdered child. A remorseless killer has been unleashed on the city; his mission is to take all measures necessary to prevent the bones from being identified.

A POWERFUL CONSPIRACY

D.I. Jack MacNeil, counting down the hours on his final day with the Met, is sent to investigate. His career is in ruins, his marriage over and his own family touched by the virus. Sinister forces are tracking his every move, prepared to kill again to conceal the truth. Which will stop him first - the virus or the killers?

A quick read. The action takes place within 24 hours in a locked down London and takes us through many of its sights and suburbs, which was the main interest for me. The claim is that this novel was dismissed by the publishers back in 2005 because it was "too far-fetched" but maybe it was also due to the fact that it's a rather average crime novel. Unfortunately it was my first Peter May and I suspect not one of his best as I've heard so many good things about him. It won't deter me to try other of his books. This one is ready to travel

To be released at the monthly meetup.

Caught today at Riddik.

The story is very well written, there are some scary scenes throughout the drama and a very exciting conclusion with London providing an atmospheric backdrop. Complete with well developed characters and a tight plot. There is some powerful imagery especially towards the end and the section that features the London Eye is especially good.

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