The Cobra Event (Hardcover)

Clearly, whatever Kate had was a head cold with a scientific vengeance. Preston's heroine, Alice Austen, a doctor with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, realizes--in the first of several gripping autopsy scenes--that the girl's nervous system had been virtually destroyed. So far, only one other person is known to have died in the same way, but he was a homeless man. Austen must connect the two cases, seemingly linked only by the subway, before the media gets hold of them and drums up a paranoia-fest--and before the virus's creator can kill again.

***** The Cobra Event is itself a paranoia-fest, a provocative thriller that makes you wonder exactly how much bioterrorism is taking place in the real world. Preston, best known for his terrifying chronicle of the Ebola virus, The Hot Zone, and other impeccably researched nonfictions, is not content to create fast-paced nightmarish scenes. His novel is instead a complex morality tale anchored in uncomfortable fact. Preston is keen to convey the "invisible history" of bioweapons engineering and, equally, to show the unsung heroism of his scientific detectives (along with that of the nurses and technicians who literally sacrifice their lives for medicine). Like their creator, these characters are not without a sense of humor. One calls the manmade virus "the ultimate head cold." Readers will never forget literally dozens of scenes and will never again see the subway, rodents, autopsy knives, and--above all--runny noses in the same light.

This book is frightening because of its realistic possibility today. It centers around Dr. Alice Austen and her dispatch from the CDC to investigate the event in the early stages. The story line follows her through the tracking and identification process of the virus. The description of the effects of the virus are also frightening.

Bottom line, this book is engrossing and reads easy. The author does a great job and communicating both the impact of the subject he is writing about and the depth of the characters that he is creating. A very good book.

This is a plot driven book that has been extremely well researched by Preston. His previous non-fiction work "The Hot Zone" fired his interest in the threat of viruses and in this book he develops the idea of genetically modified viruses being used as an offensive weapon. In my opinion he has switched from writing non-fiction to writing fiction, fluidly. This is definitely a page-turner in the image of another great storyteller Michael Crichton.

However I disagree with the previous reviewers is their assertion that there are deeply drawn characters. In my opinion Preston does not match Crichton is this area. For most of the book I did not feel I really knew Austen at all. I didn't empathise with her much because there was little reference to her feelings and emotions as the Cobra Event unfolded. Crichton manages character development and compelling story telling at the same time. I think Preston is still developing this skill. Having said that this is Preston's first stab at fiction and in my opinion he's done a great job. I liked "The Hot Zone" for the scary reality. I loved "The Cobra Event" for the even more frightening potential reality.