4 out of 4 stars
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When a deadly virus is unleashed onto Earth, it is suspected to be an act of bioterrorism. The contaminant is believed to have been brought in from the International Space Station—a clumsy mistake by an astronaut. As the virus begins wreaking havoc on citizens, the hospitals are overrun, and crime skyrockets; not only does the virus attack the lungs, but it can adversely affect the brain, making people increasingly irate. Medical experts are scrambling to develop a vaccine. Still, nefarious players are determined to exterminate the possibility of a treatment or a preventative cure for the virus.
A group of special agents, doctors, and politicians form RR7 (Rapid Response Seven). They must use their expertise to develop a vaccine, pinpoint where the virus started, and find the perpetrators. To make matters worse, President Spendorf has been kidnapped. This epidemic has the potential to wipe out millions, will the team be able to rise to the challenge?
Rapid Response by Jill S. Flateland is a fast-paced medical thriller that kept me actively engaged from beginning to end. The novel is fairly long at 379 pages and is told from the third-person perspective, often switching between a handful of characters. From special agents to traitors, the novel offers a glimpse from various perspectives. The chapters mostly follow Agent Cordelia (Cordy), who is the head of the United States President's Cyberspace Crisis Team, but alternate between other characters, such as President Spendorf, General Rutoon, and Joint Special Operations Command Agent, Braun Hastings.
My favorite thing about the book was the author's ability to craft an entertaining storyline sprinkled with mystery and close calls. Between Agent Cordy's superb hacking skills, high-chase pursuits, and President Spendorf's alarming disappearance, there was no shortage of thrilling twists and turns. The whole epidemic aspect was intriguing and had timely references to our current crisis with COVID-19.
The cast was full of colorful characters who made a lasting impression on me. Cordy was the tough-as-nails agent whose specialties included breaking into advanced computer systems, hacking into cell phones, and not being afraid to use a gun when necessary to ward off violent assailants. General Rutoon was the incorrigibly evil character who would go to great lengths to accomplish his sinister plan, and I thought the author did a fantastic job of portraying his villainous ways. He had no qualms about exterminating those who got in his way.
Another thing that I found delightful about the book was that the author chose to include the whole cast of characters in summary at the beginning of the book. This helped me immensely because I could refer back to the list whenever I felt overwhelmed by the volume of characters. Usually, the high number of characters would be a deterrent for me, but with the addition of this helpful glossary, I didn't feel lost.
The book was professionally edited and had no issues with spelling or grammatical errors. I have chosen to give Rapid Response a rating of four out of four stars; it's well-written, and while it has many characters, it did not affect the book's readability.
The novel has numerous violent incidences described in great detail, and there is some colorful language to I would not recommend the book to younger readers. For readers who are fans of medical thrillers, don't miss out on this masterpiece. Rapid Response is sure to get your heart pounding as the characters race against the clock. Will they gain access to the vaccine in time? Read and find out!
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Rapid Response
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