Medical Thrillers: Combining Fact with Fiction

Medical Thrillers — Dengue: A Microbial Mystery by Millicent Eidson

Author Guest Post + Book & Author Info + Author Pet Corner!Read more guest posts and author interviews! Click the link here.Medical Thrillers: Dengue: A Microbial Mystery

Is dengue the next pandemic? Two veterinary medical detectives, decades apart in age and experience, battle the tropical disease on the mainland, then in Hawai‘i.

Even in paradise, people can’t escape blood-thirsty mosquitoes spurred on by a warming climate. Join these resilient women as they push through personal challenges to discover the scientific truth and stop the relentless death toll.

Praise for Dengue: A Microbial Mystery

 “The mystery, the characters, the setting, and the uncanny timing of this book make it a compelling read. I would recommend it to anyone who loves medical thrillers, mysteries set in Hawaii, mysteries with diverse characters, books with a strong female protagonist, and fictional tales related to climate change.” —M. Reade, USA Today Bestselling Author

To purchase Dengue: A Microbial Mystery, click on any of the following links: Books2Read, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo & AppleGuest post on Medical Thrillers by Millicent EidsonScience Meets Storytelling: Discovering an Invisible World Through Fictional Adventures

Scientific writing appeals to our intellect, while fiction tugs at our emotions. Scientific writing sticks to facts, ignoring character; fiction thrives on imagination and conflicted characters. Scientific writing demands succinct sentences, whereas fiction unleashes creativity. Polar opposites, right?

Fiction writers vary in their reliance on facts. Historical mysteries anchor in past events although dialogue may need some modernizing. Many sci-fi and fantasy authors create worlds far from reality.

As a veterinarian working for state and federal agencies, I research zoonoses—diseases transmitted through animals and insects to humans. Solving outbreaks means writing scientific papers for prevention and control. Teaching graduate students about zoonotic diseases has been my side gig, aiming to enhance public health communication.

When I yearned to reach a broader audience, I birthed the MayaVerse, centered on a fictional veterinary disease detective. The stories are medical thrillers with a dash of romantic suspense and women’s fiction. The real criminals are viruses, bacteria, and parasites, sometimes aided by humans in bioterrorism plots. Animals and insects that spread diseases are never villains, but part of a vivid One Health universe.

Medical thrillers have a rich tradition. Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli & Isles novels feature a police detective and a medical examiner. Robin Cook and Michael Crichton explore science and health risks in their ‘what if’ scenarios. The MayaVerse carves a unique path, with nature as a primary setting and veterinarians in public practice as central players. The goal is to entertain, educate, and enlighten about zoonotic threats, with every plot rooted firmly in scientific facts.

I believe the reality of zoonotic diseases is thrilling enough without inventing threats. Maya Maguire and other characters bring to life a hidden world of microbial terrors. Dive into the MayaVerse to experience this blend of scientific fact and creative fiction!

Author Pet Corner!Bosco!

She’s my grandcat (she belongs to my daughter) and she’s my MayaVerse spokesmodel.

Many tortoiseshell color kitties like Bosco have soft fur, and most are female.

Bosco also has catcher’s mitts with her extra toes (polydactyl).

 

Millicent Eidson — Author of Medical Thrillers

Dr. Millicent Eidson, a master of intrigue and suspense, weaves her literary magic through the pages of the Maya Maguire microbial mystery series. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for scientific puzzles, she invites readers into a world where microbes hold secrets more treacherous than any criminal.

Millicent’s career as a public health veterinarian and epidemiologist began at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After days filled with pathogens and outbreaks, the nights belonged to whispered tales of microbes dancing in her imagination. Upon retirement, her passion for storytelling blossomed into the MayaVerse.

To learn more about Millie, click any of the following links: Website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram & X

Header image from Pixabay

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