WHAT is this book about?

A mysterious disease is turning ordinary Americans into murdering psychotics. As the government tries to keep a lid on what is happening, a CDC doctor struggles to find out what is causing the strange triangular growths that seem to be the source of the violent behavior. The only problem is that the triangles trigger a complete meltdown of the body once the host dies―resulting in limited time to figure out what is happening. As we follow the efforts to figure out the cause and source of the infection, we also follow the growth of the triangles on one person, Perry Dawsey. Perry decides not to take the arrival of these mysterious growths on his body lying down; he decides to fight back―resulting in descriptions of self-mutilation that will turn your stomach.

WHO do we meet?

* Perry Dawsey is a former college football star whose NFL career was ruined by a knee injury. Raised in an abusive household, Perry has struggled for years to control his temper and violent tendencies. With the help of his best friend Bill, he’s managed to build a life for himself and hold down a job. But when mysterious growths begin showing up on different parts of his body, Perry decides to take matters into his own hand, with horrific consequences.

* Margaret Montoya is a low-level researcher with the CDC, who stumbles onto the “triangles” case and is recruited by the CIA to figure out the source and cause of the mysterious growths that seemingly cause ordinary Americans to commit acts of unspeakable violence.

* Dew Phillips is a Vietnam vet whose seen lots of horrible things. But the acts of violence committed by the people infected with the triangles goes beyond anything he’s ever seen before. Asked to take the lead in keeping a lid on the increasing number of cases that are cropping up, Dew struggles to get a handle on something that is quickly spiraling out of control.

WHEN and WHERE does the book take place?

The book takes during modern day, primarily in Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin.

WHY should you read this book?

Well, I’m not really sure you should―unless fast-paced, sci-fi thrillers filled with increasingly disgusting acts of violence and carnage are your thing. The book isn’t particularly well-written, and the characterization is almost non-existent. This book, which was originally published as a podcast, is really stomach-turning and an almost literal definition of pulp fiction. It is kind of like Invasion of the Body Snatchers mixed with a really disgusting horror film. How Perry Dawsey fights the triangles is just repulsive and stomach-turning. I really didn’t care for this book … but then gory stuff like this isn’t my cup of tea. I could see that this book might appeal to a certain type of reader … but I wasn’t that reader. That being said, if you want to freak yourself out and give yourself the heebie jeebies, then maybe this book would be a good read.

Note: There is a sequel to this book called Contagious that continues the story if you like the first book. I don’t think I’ll be reading it though.