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Plague
In only a matter of days, 9/11 and the destruction of the Twin Towers will be rivaled by a lone-wolf terrorist attack on America. Atlanta is targeted as Ground Zero for the most horrifying plague in modern times. Deep in the secret recesses of a Cold War lab, the Russians created tons of deadly bio-weapons. Now, decades later, a protégé of that Russian research is about to release weaponized Ebola into the heart of the South’s most iconic city: Atlanta, where the symbols of American “decadence” range from a happily diverse population to the Coca-Cola museum and CNN building.
A preliminary test of the horrifying virus demonstrates the unspeakable suffering of its victims — and alerts the Centers for Disease Control that a terrible pandemic is in the making. CDC Virologist Dr. Dwight Butler begins a frantic effort to track down the source before it’s too late. For new BioDawn CEO Richard Wainwright, it quickly becomes clear that the “accidental” plane crash that killed the pharmaceutical company’s entire executive hierarchy may have some connection to the evolving threat. Suddenly Richard is being stalked by a hit woman. He and Butler join forces to find the lone terrorist at the center of a plan that could unleash a modern Black Plague on the western world.
A preliminary test of the horrifying virus demonstrates the unspeakable suffering of its victims — and alerts the Centers for Disease Control that a terrible pandemic is in the making. CDC Virologist Dr. Dwight Butler begins a frantic effort to track down the source before it’s too late. For new BioDawn CEO Richard Wainwright, it quickly becomes clear that the “accidental” plane crash that killed the pharmaceutical company’s entire executive hierarchy may have some connection to the evolving threat. Suddenly Richard is being stalked by a hit woman. He and Butler join forces to find the lone terrorist at the center of a plan that could unleash a modern Black Plague on the western world.
236 pages, Paperback
First published September 17, 2012
About the author
H.W. "Buzz" Bernard
9 books60 followersH. W. “Buzz” Bernard is a best-selling, award-winning novelist.
His debut novel, EYEWALL, which one reviewer called a “perfect summer beach read,” was published in May 2011 and went on to become a number-one bestseller in Amazon’s Kindle Store.
Three of his next four novels won EPIC eBook awards in the suspense/thriller category.
In 2020, with the publication of WHEN HEROES FLEW, Buzz switched from writing suspense/thriller novels to WWII historical fiction. WHEN HEROES FLEW was awarded a Gold Medal by the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA).
His next two books, WHEN HEROES FLEW: THE SHANGRI-LA RAIDERS (2021) and WHEN HEROES FLEW: THE ROOF OF THE WORLD (2022) completed the WHEN HEROES FLEW trilogy. THE SHANGRI-LA RAIDERS also garnered a Gold Medal from the MWSA.
Buzz is currently at work on his fourth WWII historical fiction novel, DOWN A DARK ROAD. It’s scheduled to be released in May 2023.
Before becoming a novelist, Buzz worked at The Weather Channel as a senior meteorologist for thirteen years. Prior to that, he served as a weather officer in the U.S. Air Force for over three decades. He attained the rank of colonel and received, among other awards, the Legion of Merit.
Buzz is a past president of the Southeastern Writers Association as well as a member of the Atlanta Writers Club, Willamette Writers, the Military Writers Society of America, and International Thriller Writers.
Although a native Oregonian, Buzz lived for 35 years in Atlanta, and now resides in Kennewick, Washington, with his wife Barbara and their fuzzy Shih Tzu, Stormy . . . who doesn’t live up to his name.
Buzz's Website can be found at www.buzzbernard.com.
His debut novel, EYEWALL, which one reviewer called a “perfect summer beach read,” was published in May 2011 and went on to become a number-one bestseller in Amazon’s Kindle Store.
Three of his next four novels won EPIC eBook awards in the suspense/thriller category.
In 2020, with the publication of WHEN HEROES FLEW, Buzz switched from writing suspense/thriller novels to WWII historical fiction. WHEN HEROES FLEW was awarded a Gold Medal by the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA).
His next two books, WHEN HEROES FLEW: THE SHANGRI-LA RAIDERS (2021) and WHEN HEROES FLEW: THE ROOF OF THE WORLD (2022) completed the WHEN HEROES FLEW trilogy. THE SHANGRI-LA RAIDERS also garnered a Gold Medal from the MWSA.
Buzz is currently at work on his fourth WWII historical fiction novel, DOWN A DARK ROAD. It’s scheduled to be released in May 2023.
Before becoming a novelist, Buzz worked at The Weather Channel as a senior meteorologist for thirteen years. Prior to that, he served as a weather officer in the U.S. Air Force for over three decades. He attained the rank of colonel and received, among other awards, the Legion of Merit.
Buzz is a past president of the Southeastern Writers Association as well as a member of the Atlanta Writers Club, Willamette Writers, the Military Writers Society of America, and International Thriller Writers.
Although a native Oregonian, Buzz lived for 35 years in Atlanta, and now resides in Kennewick, Washington, with his wife Barbara and their fuzzy Shih Tzu, Stormy . . . who doesn’t live up to his name.
Buzz's Website can be found at www.buzzbernard.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 16, 2013
"In 2008, a congressional commission warned, 'given a high-level of know-how needed to use disease as a weapon to cause mass casualties, the United States should be less concerned that terrorists will become biologists and far more concerned that biologists will become terrorists.'"
If you're looking for an edge of your seat suspense thriller that has the potential to become a reality dealing with creating genetically enhanced biological viruses that could be used as the ultimate in terrorist weapons, then check out the latest novel, Plague from H.W. "Buzz" Bernard. It really makes you as a reader consider the effects of someone with the knowledge to combine some of the world's deadliest virus' into the ultimate weapons without being able to fight back with a known cure. This one really had me pulling up websites and honestly checking out how much is fiction versus fact and it is chilling when you thoroughly do some research on your own.
In this novel, a lone terrorists with a strong background in molecular biology from studying and working in Russia and even the United States. Now armed with that knowledge of working with various strains of Ebola, of which there is no known cure, he has managed to create a mutated version that can be spread as easily through the air as the common cold or flu. After a successful test in Atlanta, he prepares to launch a full-scale attack that would make 9/11 look like child's play.
Richard Wainwright has been offered a job that brings him out of retirement to become the new temporary CEO of BioDawn, a pharmaceutical company that has various branches around the world. When he begins to investigate the financials and the background of the company, he finds himself at the wrong end of an assassin's lethal weapon. He's advised to simply stop looking into the company background any further and simply put his time in and collect a paycheck, but that is out of character for Richard who has a background as a former Marine and doesn't take to kindly to be asked to back off.
Dr. Dwight Butler is the leading expert for the Centers of Disease Control or CDC on what is considered Level 4 viruses and when a local hospital contacts him with what they believe to be a case of Ebola in the United States, his job is about to get very interesting and very dangerous. Soon he learns that this one case of Ebola has taken on characteristics that are unusual and he can't figure out how the virus is spreading so rapidly between the hospital staff, doctors and the family members of the victim. It's not supposed to spread like it is and if he can't figure it out, the Black Plague is about to be unleashed like never before in the United States and the effects will be devastating.
I received Plague by H.W. Buzz Bernard compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Bell Bridge Books for my honest review. This is a chilling reminder of just how close we stand on how biological weapons could be used against us by terrorists in the very near and real future. It also teaches us how certain virus' such as Ebola can wreck havoc on an entire country and there still is currently no known cure for it. The potential for it to be used as a biological weapon is cause for concern and something I can only hope our country is potentially planning for. It seems like the greatest tragedies to befall us will come from the air. For those of you that love books with a twist on the ordinary but guaranteed to keep you thinking about things long after you've read them, you'll want to pick this one up. I rate this a 5 out of 5 stars and once again think that Buzz Bernard has hit a home run with this one. I hope there is a sequel to this one!
If you're looking for an edge of your seat suspense thriller that has the potential to become a reality dealing with creating genetically enhanced biological viruses that could be used as the ultimate in terrorist weapons, then check out the latest novel, Plague from H.W. "Buzz" Bernard. It really makes you as a reader consider the effects of someone with the knowledge to combine some of the world's deadliest virus' into the ultimate weapons without being able to fight back with a known cure. This one really had me pulling up websites and honestly checking out how much is fiction versus fact and it is chilling when you thoroughly do some research on your own.
In this novel, a lone terrorists with a strong background in molecular biology from studying and working in Russia and even the United States. Now armed with that knowledge of working with various strains of Ebola, of which there is no known cure, he has managed to create a mutated version that can be spread as easily through the air as the common cold or flu. After a successful test in Atlanta, he prepares to launch a full-scale attack that would make 9/11 look like child's play.
Richard Wainwright has been offered a job that brings him out of retirement to become the new temporary CEO of BioDawn, a pharmaceutical company that has various branches around the world. When he begins to investigate the financials and the background of the company, he finds himself at the wrong end of an assassin's lethal weapon. He's advised to simply stop looking into the company background any further and simply put his time in and collect a paycheck, but that is out of character for Richard who has a background as a former Marine and doesn't take to kindly to be asked to back off.
Dr. Dwight Butler is the leading expert for the Centers of Disease Control or CDC on what is considered Level 4 viruses and when a local hospital contacts him with what they believe to be a case of Ebola in the United States, his job is about to get very interesting and very dangerous. Soon he learns that this one case of Ebola has taken on characteristics that are unusual and he can't figure out how the virus is spreading so rapidly between the hospital staff, doctors and the family members of the victim. It's not supposed to spread like it is and if he can't figure it out, the Black Plague is about to be unleashed like never before in the United States and the effects will be devastating.
I received Plague by H.W. Buzz Bernard compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours and Bell Bridge Books for my honest review. This is a chilling reminder of just how close we stand on how biological weapons could be used against us by terrorists in the very near and real future. It also teaches us how certain virus' such as Ebola can wreck havoc on an entire country and there still is currently no known cure for it. The potential for it to be used as a biological weapon is cause for concern and something I can only hope our country is potentially planning for. It seems like the greatest tragedies to befall us will come from the air. For those of you that love books with a twist on the ordinary but guaranteed to keep you thinking about things long after you've read them, you'll want to pick this one up. I rate this a 5 out of 5 stars and once again think that Buzz Bernard has hit a home run with this one. I hope there is a sequel to this one!
November 9, 2012
Buzz Bernard's second novel, Plague, is quite possibly the fastest-paced and most intriguing thriller of the twenty-first century. The characters are unforgettable . . . first: physically: from a hippie-type protagonist who happens to be a retired business genius recruited to keep a company afloat temporarily after its masterminds have all been killed in a plane crash, to a doctor so memorable the reader can almost hear his sandals repeatedly clip-clop whenever he appears . . . then: in the depth of their humanness as Bernard explores the gray areas of his characters' souls: from the priority a man values his physical manhood vs. his ideals, to the perplexing dilemma of a minister contemplating pulling the trigger as the possible last stand against a horrific evil. As a mystery lover, there's just enough conjecture for the reader to wonder exactly which characters are the good guys, a mix delivered with a delicious twist. And then there's the plot which seems like an impossible mission, so much so we almost expect the tape to self-destruct once we've learned it. Yet in this day and age of terrorism and technology, its credibility makes it downright scary. The story frequently moves with almost heart-racing speed, so much so that calling it a "page-turner" doesn't do it justice. Sometimes a book is so good the reader wishes it would never end. Plague is one of those books.
December 29, 2012
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book.
It is different from the author's first book, Eyewall, but is just as intense...if not even more so on a different level.
If you're up for a great page-turner that involves a pretty scary POSSIBLE killer-virus scenario mixed with a thriller/intrigue slant, this is the one that will have you going without normal sleep until you finish it!
It is different from the author's first book, Eyewall, but is just as intense...if not even more so on a different level.
If you're up for a great page-turner that involves a pretty scary POSSIBLE killer-virus scenario mixed with a thriller/intrigue slant, this is the one that will have you going without normal sleep until you finish it!
October 20, 2013
“We produce bout 100 metric tons per year of weaponized variola virus. Smallpox.” Uri Sherbokov – designated escort, minder, keeper – Plague
"I studied at Emory University in America." – Alnour Barashi – Terrorist – Plague
"We had begun working on the biological warfare issue in 1993, after the World Trade Center bombing made it clear that terrorism could strike at home, and a defector from Russia had told us that his country had huge stocks of anthrax, smallpox, Ebola, and other pathogens, and had continued to produce them even after the demise of the Soviet Union."– Bill Clinton
Plague
[pleyg] noun
1. an epidemic disease that causes high mortality; pestilence.
2. an infectious, epidemic disease caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis, characterized by fever, chills, and prostration, transmitted to humans from rats by means of the bites of fleas. Compare bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, septicemic plague.
3. any widespread affliction, calamity, or evil, especially one regarded as a direct punishment by God: a plague of war and desolation. -Websters Merriam Dictionary 2013
I am very much of two minds about this book, and for two very different reasons. I put a great deal of thought into my review after reading, and still am torn.
To get this out of the way, I am not fond of the writing style. The exposition is thin, the characters are more ‘caricatures’ and it could stand a good editor who can help the writer more fully realize his plotting and characterizations.
With that out of the way, let’s talk terrorism, level-4 containment, and the ease of foreign terrorists gaining use of facilities. We know other countries are creating biological weapons, as are we. “An offensive biological program was begun in 1942 under the direction of a civilian agency, the War Reserve Service (WRS). The Army Chemical Warfare Service was given responsibility and oversight for the effort. The mounting threat of the German buzz bombs that were raining on England from launching sites on the Continent during 1943 spurred the urgency of BW (biological warfare) defense because it was thought that these high-explosive rockets might easily be converted into efficient weapons for massive BW attacks.”(Weapons of Mass Destruction: http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/sys...)
Things haven’t slowed down since 1942, and in some countries, especially Middle Eastern and the former Soviet states, it has increase dramatically. Given the state of world terrorism, it is not if, but when we will have to face yet another bioterror attack, such as the anthrax attacks of 2001. How it happens, and what the outcome is up in the air, but it will happen, and it will be horrific.
Bernard’s "Plague" addresses this issue, given a situation where the terrorist is an employee of a level-4 laboratory. The scenario is plausible, though some don’t seem to agree with me. Employees have the run of their labs, and can come and go at need, making it simple for them to hide what they are doing. As another reviewer said (paraphrased) “just like at Wendy’s.” There are thousands of foreigners working at highly secure facilities all around the United States, making it easy for a foreign terrorist to gain access if their cover is deep enough. Besides, we have own own, “home grown” terrorists as well who are just as dangerous, though usually on a par with high school educations rather than high-level virologists. I had no problem believing that part of the story. I could even see a foreign government being involved in the ownership of one of these facilities. Apparently, American corporations are more about the money than they are the safety of the people. But be that neither here nor there.
The writing simply wasn’t believable. Like many, I am a huge fan of the nonfiction work “The Hot Zone” and others in the vein. I adore heavily scientific works based around this theme, whether they be fiction or non-fiction. However, this one didn’t reach the level of excellence I had hoped for. If Bernard had spent more time on exposition, I might possibly have found the work more interesting. However, the characters just didn’t feel realistic. They were stilted and in at least one case, cartoonish.
While the overall idea was good, in the end, the book was simply a disappointment for me.
"I studied at Emory University in America." – Alnour Barashi – Terrorist – Plague
"We had begun working on the biological warfare issue in 1993, after the World Trade Center bombing made it clear that terrorism could strike at home, and a defector from Russia had told us that his country had huge stocks of anthrax, smallpox, Ebola, and other pathogens, and had continued to produce them even after the demise of the Soviet Union."– Bill Clinton
Plague
[pleyg] noun
1. an epidemic disease that causes high mortality; pestilence.
2. an infectious, epidemic disease caused by a bacterium, Yersinia pestis, characterized by fever, chills, and prostration, transmitted to humans from rats by means of the bites of fleas. Compare bubonic plague, pneumonic plague, septicemic plague.
3. any widespread affliction, calamity, or evil, especially one regarded as a direct punishment by God: a plague of war and desolation. -Websters Merriam Dictionary 2013
I am very much of two minds about this book, and for two very different reasons. I put a great deal of thought into my review after reading, and still am torn.
To get this out of the way, I am not fond of the writing style. The exposition is thin, the characters are more ‘caricatures’ and it could stand a good editor who can help the writer more fully realize his plotting and characterizations.
With that out of the way, let’s talk terrorism, level-4 containment, and the ease of foreign terrorists gaining use of facilities. We know other countries are creating biological weapons, as are we. “An offensive biological program was begun in 1942 under the direction of a civilian agency, the War Reserve Service (WRS). The Army Chemical Warfare Service was given responsibility and oversight for the effort. The mounting threat of the German buzz bombs that were raining on England from launching sites on the Continent during 1943 spurred the urgency of BW (biological warfare) defense because it was thought that these high-explosive rockets might easily be converted into efficient weapons for massive BW attacks.”(Weapons of Mass Destruction: http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/sys...)
Things haven’t slowed down since 1942, and in some countries, especially Middle Eastern and the former Soviet states, it has increase dramatically. Given the state of world terrorism, it is not if, but when we will have to face yet another bioterror attack, such as the anthrax attacks of 2001. How it happens, and what the outcome is up in the air, but it will happen, and it will be horrific.
Bernard’s "Plague" addresses this issue, given a situation where the terrorist is an employee of a level-4 laboratory. The scenario is plausible, though some don’t seem to agree with me. Employees have the run of their labs, and can come and go at need, making it simple for them to hide what they are doing. As another reviewer said (paraphrased) “just like at Wendy’s.” There are thousands of foreigners working at highly secure facilities all around the United States, making it easy for a foreign terrorist to gain access if their cover is deep enough. Besides, we have own own, “home grown” terrorists as well who are just as dangerous, though usually on a par with high school educations rather than high-level virologists. I had no problem believing that part of the story. I could even see a foreign government being involved in the ownership of one of these facilities. Apparently, American corporations are more about the money than they are the safety of the people. But be that neither here nor there.
The writing simply wasn’t believable. Like many, I am a huge fan of the nonfiction work “The Hot Zone” and others in the vein. I adore heavily scientific works based around this theme, whether they be fiction or non-fiction. However, this one didn’t reach the level of excellence I had hoped for. If Bernard had spent more time on exposition, I might possibly have found the work more interesting. However, the characters just didn’t feel realistic. They were stilted and in at least one case, cartoonish.
While the overall idea was good, in the end, the book was simply a disappointment for me.
January 22, 2013
Plague, written by H. W. "Buzz" Bernard, is a sophisticated thriller. This book is the ultimate reality check bringing up an all-important point that we are only an airplane ride away from a pandemic that in a matter of days may leave a large portion of population dead. Using scientific information from Richard Preston's Hot Zone, Bernard has created a biological horror story that reminds us that we are not dominant on this planet. We are actually held hostage by things that we cannot see nor defeat. The scientific language in this book is explained in a fashion that the reader will have no trouble understanding and does not take away or interrupt the flow of the story.
Protagagonist, Richard Wainwright, is brought out of retirement to stabilize BioDawn, a biotech firm in Atlanta, GA, while they were searching for a new CEO. He was informed that the executives had been on a plane that crashed over the Atlantic Ocean.
Alnour Barashi, the terrorist, educated at Emory University in Atlanta, had been working at the Koltsovo Institute of Molecular Biology in Siberia with various strains of the Ebola viruses. Barashi believes that he has created a mutated version that can easily be spread through the air so he has returned to Atlanta to unleash the plague of the 21st century. After a successful test in Atlanta, prepares to launch a full-scale attack on the population.
Bernard relates in chilling detail how the internal organs turn to liquid and blood pours out of every opening in the body and ultimately culminating in death. The Center of Disease Control (CDC) and the U. S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) are brought into the story to help diagnose the cause.
Plague presents a fictional horror story of a potentially massive attack of genetically engineered deadly viruses with no cure. Worrisome is the fact that the necessary equipment to spread the virus is relatively cheap and easy to obtain for the amount of damage that it causes. The fact that something like this can invade your body without your knowledge is frightening about how vulnerable we really are, and how fear and illness can challenge us to our ethical boundaries.
I really liked this book. The pacing is outstanding, the characters are developed, and it builds anticipation. The story was not as terrifying as much as it was informative. I highly recommend this book, especially now in this time of bioterrorism and worldwide travel.
After reading Plague, I read Hot Zone by Richard Preston, which is a non-fiction book about the filoviruses Ebola Zaire, Ebola Sudan, Ebola Reston, and Marburg. The information I learned in this book is educational and enlightening especially during these times of bioterrorism fears.
Protagagonist, Richard Wainwright, is brought out of retirement to stabilize BioDawn, a biotech firm in Atlanta, GA, while they were searching for a new CEO. He was informed that the executives had been on a plane that crashed over the Atlantic Ocean.
Alnour Barashi, the terrorist, educated at Emory University in Atlanta, had been working at the Koltsovo Institute of Molecular Biology in Siberia with various strains of the Ebola viruses. Barashi believes that he has created a mutated version that can easily be spread through the air so he has returned to Atlanta to unleash the plague of the 21st century. After a successful test in Atlanta, prepares to launch a full-scale attack on the population.
Bernard relates in chilling detail how the internal organs turn to liquid and blood pours out of every opening in the body and ultimately culminating in death. The Center of Disease Control (CDC) and the U. S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) are brought into the story to help diagnose the cause.
Plague presents a fictional horror story of a potentially massive attack of genetically engineered deadly viruses with no cure. Worrisome is the fact that the necessary equipment to spread the virus is relatively cheap and easy to obtain for the amount of damage that it causes. The fact that something like this can invade your body without your knowledge is frightening about how vulnerable we really are, and how fear and illness can challenge us to our ethical boundaries.
I really liked this book. The pacing is outstanding, the characters are developed, and it builds anticipation. The story was not as terrifying as much as it was informative. I highly recommend this book, especially now in this time of bioterrorism and worldwide travel.
After reading Plague, I read Hot Zone by Richard Preston, which is a non-fiction book about the filoviruses Ebola Zaire, Ebola Sudan, Ebola Reston, and Marburg. The information I learned in this book is educational and enlightening especially during these times of bioterrorism fears.
October 26, 2012
In Plague by H.W. "Buzz" Bernard many people's worst fears may become a reality: a terrorist with weaponized Ebola virus is planning an attack on the USA. Before he instigates his attack, he has to test his developed strain of Ebola to see if it will work, meaning if it will kill. While Dr. Dwight Butler at the CDC is investigating a mysterious Ebola outbreak that began with two golfing buddies, Richard Wainwright, a pro tempore CEO at BioDawn, begins inspecting the books of his new company and finds no information on a suspicious research unit. As Richard's inquiry into the mysterious unit begins, he is threatened by an assassin to just let it go and simply collect his large paycheck. That is not something Richard can do and soon he is running from the police while trying to uncover the truth.
Long time readers of She Treads Softly know how much I love a good plague book, fiction or nonfiction. In fact I noticed that I had read most of the same books for pleasure that "Buzz" Bernard read while researching this novel. The idea of an Ebola out break is seriously terrible and weaponized Ebola would be everyone's worst nightmare. Some people might be repulsed by the descriptions of what Ebola actually does to a person. It is gruesome, which is what makes the idea of a terrorist attack using Ebola so frightening. Ebola is lethal and if released in the USA today it would certainly spread across the globe becoming a global pandemic of apocalyptic proportions.
Plague isn't a complicated novel with many plot lines. There is essentially one story but many details that need to be discovered if there is a hope of stopping the terrorist attack. I found Plague to be a well written novel as well as extremely readable and entertaining. For me the main characters were well developed, especially for a action novel of this length.
In the end, for me, Plague is a great action/adventure thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. I now need to get a copy of "Buzz" Bernard's first novel, Eyewall, because I love novels based on meteorological events too.
Very Highly Recommended for sheer escapism.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Bell Bridge Books and Netgalley for review purposes.
http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/
Long time readers of She Treads Softly know how much I love a good plague book, fiction or nonfiction. In fact I noticed that I had read most of the same books for pleasure that "Buzz" Bernard read while researching this novel. The idea of an Ebola out break is seriously terrible and weaponized Ebola would be everyone's worst nightmare. Some people might be repulsed by the descriptions of what Ebola actually does to a person. It is gruesome, which is what makes the idea of a terrorist attack using Ebola so frightening. Ebola is lethal and if released in the USA today it would certainly spread across the globe becoming a global pandemic of apocalyptic proportions.
Plague isn't a complicated novel with many plot lines. There is essentially one story but many details that need to be discovered if there is a hope of stopping the terrorist attack. I found Plague to be a well written novel as well as extremely readable and entertaining. For me the main characters were well developed, especially for a action novel of this length.
In the end, for me, Plague is a great action/adventure thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. I now need to get a copy of "Buzz" Bernard's first novel, Eyewall, because I love novels based on meteorological events too.
Very Highly Recommended for sheer escapism.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Bell Bridge Books and Netgalley for review purposes.
http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/
March 7, 2013
http://www.amazon.com/Plague-H-W-Buzz...
FANTASTIC!!
"Fans of the late Michael Crichton should check out Buzz Bernard's Plague. This bioterrorism thriller is a real page-turner."-Cheryl Norman, author of Rebuild My World
In only a matter of days, 9/11 and the destruction of the Twin Towers will be rivaled by a lone-wolf terrorist attack on America. Atlanta is targeted as Ground Zero for the most horrifying plague in modern times.
Deep in the secret recesses of a Cold War lab, the Russians created tons of deadly bio-weapons. Now, decades later, a protégé of that Russian research is about to release weaponized Ebola into the heart of the South's most iconic city: Atlanta, where the symbols of American "decadence" range from a happily diverse population to the Coca-Cola museum and CNN building.
A preliminary test of the horrifying virus demonstrates the unspeakable suffering of its victims-and alerts the Centers for Disease Control that a terrible pandemic is in the making. CDC Virologist Dr. Dwight Butler begins a frantic effort to track down the source before it's too late.
For new BioDawn CEO Richard Wainwright, it quickly becomes clear that the "accidental" plane crash that killed the pharmaceutical company's entire executive hierarchy may have some connection to the evolving threat. Suddenly Richard is being stalked by a hit woman. He and Butler join forces to find the lone terrorist at the center of a plan that could unleash a modern Black Plague on the western world.
H.W. "Buzz" Bernard is an Air Force veteran and retired Weather Channel meteorologist. His 2010 hurricane thriller, Eyewall, became a number one bestseller in ebook. Visit him at www.buzzbernard.com.
FANTASTIC!!
"Fans of the late Michael Crichton should check out Buzz Bernard's Plague. This bioterrorism thriller is a real page-turner."-Cheryl Norman, author of Rebuild My World
In only a matter of days, 9/11 and the destruction of the Twin Towers will be rivaled by a lone-wolf terrorist attack on America. Atlanta is targeted as Ground Zero for the most horrifying plague in modern times.
Deep in the secret recesses of a Cold War lab, the Russians created tons of deadly bio-weapons. Now, decades later, a protégé of that Russian research is about to release weaponized Ebola into the heart of the South's most iconic city: Atlanta, where the symbols of American "decadence" range from a happily diverse population to the Coca-Cola museum and CNN building.
A preliminary test of the horrifying virus demonstrates the unspeakable suffering of its victims-and alerts the Centers for Disease Control that a terrible pandemic is in the making. CDC Virologist Dr. Dwight Butler begins a frantic effort to track down the source before it's too late.
For new BioDawn CEO Richard Wainwright, it quickly becomes clear that the "accidental" plane crash that killed the pharmaceutical company's entire executive hierarchy may have some connection to the evolving threat. Suddenly Richard is being stalked by a hit woman. He and Butler join forces to find the lone terrorist at the center of a plan that could unleash a modern Black Plague on the western world.
H.W. "Buzz" Bernard is an Air Force veteran and retired Weather Channel meteorologist. His 2010 hurricane thriller, Eyewall, became a number one bestseller in ebook. Visit him at www.buzzbernard.com.
February 9, 2013
This book captured my full attention very early on. The tension and suspense never let up and there are several plot twists that surprised and entertained me. The premise is horrifying and all too believable. Richard Wainwright steps into a temporary position at a pharmaceutical company for what should be an easy opportunity for a change of scenery and fresh start. Richard has a head for business and an eye for detail. He barely hangs his coat up in his new corporate digs when he discovers a mysterious locked building and learns there is a reclusive, eccentric scientist in charge of a top secret program there. Being the tenacious bull dog that he is, he picks at the puzzle. When he is threatened, he becomes even more convinced that something is severely amiss. Instead of retreating, he ramps up his inquiries.
Flawlessly flowing prose and electrifying discourse kept the entertainment level high for me. There are plenty of suspicious characters with unsavory motives and even a few unexpected allies. Once I started reading this book I could not put it down because I became so involved in wanting to know what would happen next. This story is well worth the read as pure entertainment, but it also reminds the reader to be vigilant against those forces in the world that wish only to bring death and destruction. These zealots exist, and it is their desire to find and exploit weakness given any opportunity.
This book was given to me by the author through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
Flawlessly flowing prose and electrifying discourse kept the entertainment level high for me. There are plenty of suspicious characters with unsavory motives and even a few unexpected allies. Once I started reading this book I could not put it down because I became so involved in wanting to know what would happen next. This story is well worth the read as pure entertainment, but it also reminds the reader to be vigilant against those forces in the world that wish only to bring death and destruction. These zealots exist, and it is their desire to find and exploit weakness given any opportunity.
This book was given to me by the author through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
October 3, 2012
WOW!!! Plague is quite a wild ride! What an amazingly, well-written, expertly-crafted book! I am originally from Atlanta and have relatives in the Roswell and Alpharetta area who I visit as often as I can. For that reason Plague hit close to home. The descriptions are all-too real and the story too believable. Well done, Mr. Bernard, well done. Plague is a book not to be missed.
December 26, 2019
This a story told day by day what would be like if a Muslim or any type terrorist was in the US and created a strain of Ebola that could be transmitted in the air and was letting it loose in Atlanta GA. This really takes you day by day of the events of the terrorist, the cops, CDC and innocent people who was used as test subjects just to see if the virus would work as he had plan. In the story is death, love, and radical, racial and bigotry on both the terrorist , the cops and big companies.
I will say you if you like nail biting and edge of the seat listening get this audiobook.
I will say you if you like nail biting and edge of the seat listening get this audiobook.
May 15, 2018
Another nailbiter by Buzz!
While I read this book with fear and horror, I prayed that the premise remains a nightmare never to be realized. The hate that radicalized Muslims hold for the U.S. Is terrifying and so sad. The few have hurt so many good devout people. But the fear that this tale could be real is what made this - another Buzz Bernard catastrophic scenario - so gripping. This author knows how to bring home the story!
While I read this book with fear and horror, I prayed that the premise remains a nightmare never to be realized. The hate that radicalized Muslims hold for the U.S. Is terrifying and so sad. The few have hurt so many good devout people. But the fear that this tale could be real is what made this - another Buzz Bernard catastrophic scenario - so gripping. This author knows how to bring home the story!
June 21, 2020
This is the first book I have read/listened too by this author. I can say I was not disappointed.
The book kept me on the edge of my seat.The characters just dragged you into the action. Some you will love, others you really should hate, but you cannot. I will definitely get more books by this author.
The narrator was great!
The book kept me on the edge of my seat.The characters just dragged you into the action. Some you will love, others you really should hate, but you cannot. I will definitely get more books by this author.
The narrator was great!
July 29, 2013
In only a matter of days, 9/11 and the destruction of the Twin Towers will be rivaled by a lone-wolf terrorist attack on America. Atlanta is targeted as Ground Zero for the most horrifying plague in modern times. Deep in the secret recesses of a Cold War lab, the Russians created tons of deadly bio-weapons. Now, decades later, a protégé of that Russian research is about to release weaponized Ebola into the heart of Atlanta. CDC Virologist Dr. Dwight Butler begins a frantic effort to track down the source before it’s too late. For new BioDawn CEO Richard Wainwright, it quickly becomes clear that the “accidental” plane crash that killed the pharmaceutical company’s entire executive hierarchy may have some connection to the evolving threat. Suddenly Richard is being stalked by a hit woman. He and Butler join forces to find the lone terrorist at the center of a plan that could unleash a modern Black Plague on the western world.
Let’s first start with the good… Plague has a nice cover.
With that taken care of, this was seriously painful to read. I didn’t expect Silence of the Lambs or anything, but the plot was a straight-to-DVD silly action thriller story – just without any thrills. Filled with ridiculous dialog, one-dimensional…check that, no-dimensional characters whose actions served no purpose other than to drive towards the preconceived finale that was obvious from the start. And the writing…ugggg. How many clichés and unnecessary metaphors can be packed into each paragraph of writing? Read Plague and you will have the answer. I challenged myself and found 15 on one page. Bernard must live with a thesaurus open on his desk because he managed at one point to use effluent, burbling, flatulence, vile, malodorous, oozed, harbinger, repulsive and emulsion within four sentences. That might be some sort of record.
“A chipmunk, its tail on Viagra,…”
Seriously? That was important to the story. And did I mention the RIDICULOUS dialog? Nobody talks like the characters in Plague…nobody! Honestly, with a bit of refinement, Plague could have made a great spoof on the thriller genre. Unfortunately, Bernard’s wasn’t trying for a spoof.
I get that books like Plague are supposed to be mindless kinds of fun, but please don’t tell me that this was a chilling story about what could happen in real life with a bioweapon attack. Only if everyone on the planet suddenly spoke and acted like 10-year-old boys – including all of the women. Every single character sounded exactly alike and all of them were terribly annoying. And the villains weren’t scary – they were silly.
Frankly, by the time I finished reading this book, I wanted to be infected with Ebola just to make the pain stop.
Let’s first start with the good… Plague has a nice cover.
With that taken care of, this was seriously painful to read. I didn’t expect Silence of the Lambs or anything, but the plot was a straight-to-DVD silly action thriller story – just without any thrills. Filled with ridiculous dialog, one-dimensional…check that, no-dimensional characters whose actions served no purpose other than to drive towards the preconceived finale that was obvious from the start. And the writing…ugggg. How many clichés and unnecessary metaphors can be packed into each paragraph of writing? Read Plague and you will have the answer. I challenged myself and found 15 on one page. Bernard must live with a thesaurus open on his desk because he managed at one point to use effluent, burbling, flatulence, vile, malodorous, oozed, harbinger, repulsive and emulsion within four sentences. That might be some sort of record.
“A chipmunk, its tail on Viagra,…”
Seriously? That was important to the story. And did I mention the RIDICULOUS dialog? Nobody talks like the characters in Plague…nobody! Honestly, with a bit of refinement, Plague could have made a great spoof on the thriller genre. Unfortunately, Bernard’s wasn’t trying for a spoof.
I get that books like Plague are supposed to be mindless kinds of fun, but please don’t tell me that this was a chilling story about what could happen in real life with a bioweapon attack. Only if everyone on the planet suddenly spoke and acted like 10-year-old boys – including all of the women. Every single character sounded exactly alike and all of them were terribly annoying. And the villains weren’t scary – they were silly.
Frankly, by the time I finished reading this book, I wanted to be infected with Ebola just to make the pain stop.
October 3, 2012
What would you do if you were infected by a disease that had no cure, no vaccine, no preventative at all? And what would happen if that disease was used in bio-terrorism and released in a crowded city?
I have never read anything by H. W. "Buzz" Bernard before, and in fact hadn't heard of him until I got a copy of Plague to review. It's a story that grabs you from the first page and never lets go until the last page is turned. I know it's a cliché to say it is a page-turner, but it really is. I could hardly put it down wondering what was going to happen next.
I think it helped that our main character, Richard Wainwrigtht, interim CEO at BioDawn, was a sympathetic character, who'd just recently lost his wife and as he's dealing with his grief, he's also wondering what the heck is going on at his new company. Why is one building forbidden to him? And why is he being threatened by a German hit woman to stop asking questions and leave well alone?
Of course, it wouldn't be much of a story if Richard had given in so easily, he's determined to find out the truth, despite being framed for murder and on the run from the police and FBI. I've never been to Atlanta, but the author sets the tone well that you can almost feel the heat and humidity as you read. The author has a good turn of phrase and it was a fast, tightly-plotted book.
The book was well-written, with well-drawn characters. My one gripe would be that we as readers know quite early on what is planned with the terrorist attack and who is planning it. I would have preferred that to remain more of a mystery throughout the book so you wonder what is going on along with the FBI and CDC investigators rather than knowing things before them. The book is terrifying in a sense, because while this thriller is fiction, what transpires in it could easily happen in real life.
The parts on the symptoms of people suffering from the Ebola virus were a bit gruesome for me, so this is not a book for the faint of heart, but the author seems to have done his medical research as far as I could tell. And as just after I was reading about the Zaire strain of Ebola, it came up on a quiz programme as to what country it was named after. My husband wanted to know how I knew that. "It was in a book I'm reviewing." So, it's not only entertaining, but informative too.
An interesting read and I'll certainly be looking out for more of this author's work in future.
I have never read anything by H. W. "Buzz" Bernard before, and in fact hadn't heard of him until I got a copy of Plague to review. It's a story that grabs you from the first page and never lets go until the last page is turned. I know it's a cliché to say it is a page-turner, but it really is. I could hardly put it down wondering what was going to happen next.
I think it helped that our main character, Richard Wainwrigtht, interim CEO at BioDawn, was a sympathetic character, who'd just recently lost his wife and as he's dealing with his grief, he's also wondering what the heck is going on at his new company. Why is one building forbidden to him? And why is he being threatened by a German hit woman to stop asking questions and leave well alone?
Of course, it wouldn't be much of a story if Richard had given in so easily, he's determined to find out the truth, despite being framed for murder and on the run from the police and FBI. I've never been to Atlanta, but the author sets the tone well that you can almost feel the heat and humidity as you read. The author has a good turn of phrase and it was a fast, tightly-plotted book.
The book was well-written, with well-drawn characters. My one gripe would be that we as readers know quite early on what is planned with the terrorist attack and who is planning it. I would have preferred that to remain more of a mystery throughout the book so you wonder what is going on along with the FBI and CDC investigators rather than knowing things before them. The book is terrifying in a sense, because while this thriller is fiction, what transpires in it could easily happen in real life.
The parts on the symptoms of people suffering from the Ebola virus were a bit gruesome for me, so this is not a book for the faint of heart, but the author seems to have done his medical research as far as I could tell. And as just after I was reading about the Zaire strain of Ebola, it came up on a quiz programme as to what country it was named after. My husband wanted to know how I knew that. "It was in a book I'm reviewing." So, it's not only entertaining, but informative too.
An interesting read and I'll certainly be looking out for more of this author's work in future.
May 31, 2016
A threat unlike any ever seen on American soil…
A threat unlike any ever seen on American soil is just days away from being released. An altered version of Ebola which allows for airborne transmission is about to be released in Atlanta and could have the world on its knees in a few short days. This story is about the CEO of a biotech company who realizes that there is a lot more going on within his new company than he first realized. He must find out the truth and stop the terrorist before it’s too late.
Drew Commins does the narration for Plague and does a perfect job. This is the second book that I’ve listened to that Commins narrated for Bernard and I can see why he’s done more than one book for him. Commins gives each character their own voice and continues them throughout the story, making following different characters easy. Commins takes this heavy and sometimes dark book and narrates it in a way that keeps the listener coming back for more.
I love that Bernard did research for this book. I could probably write an entire review on the accuracy and the amount of work he put into the scientific descriptions and the background of the diseases and their spread. There were parts that I was “geeking” out about because Bernard was explaining things like the non-fiction books I’ve read on this disease (Thanks, Richard Preston).
Plague takes place in urban/suburban Atlanta and has a lot of local things that a non-local wouldn’t understand, but I’m sure if you were from Atlanta this book would be even scarier.
Bernard allows the reader to feel perilous throughout most of the story. Wanting to jump in and help prevent this atrocity from being committed. This, to me, is a sign of excellent writing. Allowing the reader to feel like they are invested in the story without making them feel overwhelmed.
Overall, Plague is a phenomenal bio-thriller up there with the likes of Richard Preston’s fiction and non-fiction work. Well-researched and incredibly well told, Plague had me up late listening and worrying about the things that were within its pages.
Did you enjoy this review? Find more like it at Brian's Book Blog
A threat unlike any ever seen on American soil is just days away from being released. An altered version of Ebola which allows for airborne transmission is about to be released in Atlanta and could have the world on its knees in a few short days. This story is about the CEO of a biotech company who realizes that there is a lot more going on within his new company than he first realized. He must find out the truth and stop the terrorist before it’s too late.
Drew Commins does the narration for Plague and does a perfect job. This is the second book that I’ve listened to that Commins narrated for Bernard and I can see why he’s done more than one book for him. Commins gives each character their own voice and continues them throughout the story, making following different characters easy. Commins takes this heavy and sometimes dark book and narrates it in a way that keeps the listener coming back for more.
I love that Bernard did research for this book. I could probably write an entire review on the accuracy and the amount of work he put into the scientific descriptions and the background of the diseases and their spread. There were parts that I was “geeking” out about because Bernard was explaining things like the non-fiction books I’ve read on this disease (Thanks, Richard Preston).
Plague takes place in urban/suburban Atlanta and has a lot of local things that a non-local wouldn’t understand, but I’m sure if you were from Atlanta this book would be even scarier.
Bernard allows the reader to feel perilous throughout most of the story. Wanting to jump in and help prevent this atrocity from being committed. This, to me, is a sign of excellent writing. Allowing the reader to feel like they are invested in the story without making them feel overwhelmed.
Overall, Plague is a phenomenal bio-thriller up there with the likes of Richard Preston’s fiction and non-fiction work. Well-researched and incredibly well told, Plague had me up late listening and worrying about the things that were within its pages.
Did you enjoy this review? Find more like it at Brian's Book Blog
January 19, 2013
3.0 out of 5 stars - When I requested this book, I thought it would be more about the effects of a deliberate plague release instead of James Bond like adventure of basically one lone man trying to prevent the terrorist from doing so. In a series of completely implausible and unbelievable situations, our intrepid hero, ex Marine and corporate "Mr. Fix-it" Richard Wainwright is on his own to save the world! Although a couple of people actually get the genetically engineered Ebola-Reston virus and die, the story is actually about Richard Wainwright's role in almost single-handedly figuring out, tracking down, and doing all of these amazing feats! Without giving spoilers, I can't present the totality of your need to suspend disbelief while reading this book. The characters are one-dimensional and stereotypical - and even the protagonist's supposed soul searching and ruminations weren't able to provide the necessary depth in order to make this reader care about anyone in the book! Ultimately, I was disappointed as the adventures of Richard stretched on and on with minor players dropping one by one. Amazing talent for CEO Wainwright to be able to extricate himself from several certain death scenarios.
My recommendation: if you are looking for a medical thriller, this is not it. The author presents a lot of information and the clinical picture of an Ebola victim quite clearly (VERY descriptive passages), but I was looking more for an apocalyptic type novel. Certainly the topic is timely and we should all fear that some lunatic might get loose with a bio-engineered weapon that would cause mass disease. I just wanted less about the hunt for the terrorist and more about how, in fact, that any city or nation would deal with wide spread plague from a virus that is almost 100% lethal. The logistics, the panic, the response. I'm sure his research his thorough and the facts were quite interesting, but the story line was just old old old. The author also could benefit from a little less use of simile, metaphor and the like.
(Paperback, ARC publisher and LibraryThing)
My recommendation: if you are looking for a medical thriller, this is not it. The author presents a lot of information and the clinical picture of an Ebola victim quite clearly (VERY descriptive passages), but I was looking more for an apocalyptic type novel. Certainly the topic is timely and we should all fear that some lunatic might get loose with a bio-engineered weapon that would cause mass disease. I just wanted less about the hunt for the terrorist and more about how, in fact, that any city or nation would deal with wide spread plague from a virus that is almost 100% lethal. The logistics, the panic, the response. I'm sure his research his thorough and the facts were quite interesting, but the story line was just old old old. The author also could benefit from a little less use of simile, metaphor and the like.
(Paperback, ARC publisher and LibraryThing)
December 10, 2012
I received a galley of Plague from Netgalley and Belle Bridge Books in exchange for an honest review.
A terrorist is targeting the United States (specifically Atlanta). His weapon isn't a bomb, a gun or an airplane. It's Ebola. Specifically a variety of Ebola that is airborne. CDC doctors, the FBI, a corporate CEO and even Mossad are working to stop him before it's too late.
This is a tough book for me to rate. The high level story is very interesting and scary. If terrorists really do get the ability to use germ warfare, we will be in a world of hurt. But, there were certain things about the writing style that didn't allow it to flow. There were several sections with sentences that were too long and the result was too many commas in a section. It wasn't consistent throughout the book but when I hit one of these paragraphs, it was frustrating.
There were some plot issues that bothered me as well. I won't spoil them here but character motivations are important to me. It is hard to believe certain actions are attributable to bright, successful people without more backstory. I also dislike it when things happen to help the protagonist and they are too convenient and not realistic.
The author is a former meteorologist. So, he used several cloud names including cumulonimbi which, again, just seemed like overkill. The word "cauliflowering" was used as a verb. He also used the phrases "mushroom treatment" and "rock and a hard spot" which felt out-of-place and somewhat outdated. None of these word usages were awful but they did keep me from enjoying it more.
I did enjoy the references to native trees and flowers in Atlanta - living in the south, I see most of these every day. Plus, I lived in Oregon for several years and was excited to see Cannon Beach (one of my favorite places) referenced.
Overall, it was a good book but not great. 3/5 stars.
A terrorist is targeting the United States (specifically Atlanta). His weapon isn't a bomb, a gun or an airplane. It's Ebola. Specifically a variety of Ebola that is airborne. CDC doctors, the FBI, a corporate CEO and even Mossad are working to stop him before it's too late.
This is a tough book for me to rate. The high level story is very interesting and scary. If terrorists really do get the ability to use germ warfare, we will be in a world of hurt. But, there were certain things about the writing style that didn't allow it to flow. There were several sections with sentences that were too long and the result was too many commas in a section. It wasn't consistent throughout the book but when I hit one of these paragraphs, it was frustrating.
There were some plot issues that bothered me as well. I won't spoil them here but character motivations are important to me. It is hard to believe certain actions are attributable to bright, successful people without more backstory. I also dislike it when things happen to help the protagonist and they are too convenient and not realistic.
The author is a former meteorologist. So, he used several cloud names including cumulonimbi which, again, just seemed like overkill. The word "cauliflowering" was used as a verb. He also used the phrases "mushroom treatment" and "rock and a hard spot" which felt out-of-place and somewhat outdated. None of these word usages were awful but they did keep me from enjoying it more.
I did enjoy the references to native trees and flowers in Atlanta - living in the south, I see most of these every day. Plus, I lived in Oregon for several years and was excited to see Cannon Beach (one of my favorite places) referenced.
Overall, it was a good book but not great. 3/5 stars.
October 28, 2012
Author Buzz Bernard is at his best when writing action scenes and describing gore. "Plague" starts out well, and delivers on initial expectations that we are in for a good read, but when female characters enter the story, the style of writing abruptly changes. It's almost as if a different author is writing these scenes. The first clue that something was amiss was the cleaning lady down on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor of a church hallway with a brush using circular motions. Nah-nah-nah,Buzz, not in this day and age. Then the female minister, love interest, comes in, and the novel begins to sound like pulp fiction with women who talk and behave like men. Back into the action scenes again with no females present, the novel takes off with better story and better writing.
Author Buzz Bernard shows much promise as an action/thriller writer, but he might want to keep romance at a minimum and stick to what he does best, action, suspense, and edge-of-your-seat stories.
Author Buzz Bernard shows much promise as an action/thriller writer, but he might want to keep romance at a minimum and stick to what he does best, action, suspense, and edge-of-your-seat stories.
November 3, 2013
Maybe I took the brief synopsis of what the book was about the wrong way. This book disappointed me based on what I expected to get from it versus what I actually got from it. There were too many instances of eye-rolling with me saying to myself, "Man this guy just got lucky... again." One of the many examples is fooling a professional scientist (that works with Ebola so must know what blood looks like) being fooled by red nail polish. Really? Have you ever been around nail polish? Do you know how strong it smells? How blood isn't glossy? UGH.
Oddly enough the part I didn't mind was the fact that it is a very masculine book. Most interactions happen with men. Women play a much lesser, cliched role. This is ok for me though because in the real world it's still more of a "good ole boy network" of men in positions of power than equality for women diversity. That much was realistic for me. The rest of the story? Not so much.
Oddly enough the part I didn't mind was the fact that it is a very masculine book. Most interactions happen with men. Women play a much lesser, cliched role. This is ok for me though because in the real world it's still more of a "good ole boy network" of men in positions of power than equality for women diversity. That much was realistic for me. The rest of the story? Not so much.
November 7, 2012
A fast-paced, sometimes heart-stopping read with a lot of detail. I couldn't really feel any connection with the characters though. Storylines like this though always frighten me. These are a little too realistic for my liking maybe. A future that I hope to never see in my lifetime.
Perhaps this was a little too much on the gory side at times for me. I read through it quickly, and while it wasn't a bad read, I wouldn't say it would be a favorite. I couldn't always find myself pulled into the story or action, or finding myself wanting to connect with any characters like I wanted. But it was well written and researched and a story that will grab you from the first page. I found myself constantly wondering what was to happen next.
I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading in this genre or is interested after reading the blurb.
<3
Pixie
Perhaps this was a little too much on the gory side at times for me. I read through it quickly, and while it wasn't a bad read, I wouldn't say it would be a favorite. I couldn't always find myself pulled into the story or action, or finding myself wanting to connect with any characters like I wanted. But it was well written and researched and a story that will grab you from the first page. I found myself constantly wondering what was to happen next.
I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading in this genre or is interested after reading the blurb.
<3
Pixie
May 30, 2014
Plague wasn't entirely what I wanted it to be. I guess that I am pretty pathetic, but I wanted to have the story about stopping the Plague not stopping the fellow who was attempting to spread the plague. (I guess that was a pretty big spoiler, but it's what made me disappointed with the CEO that came in was Superman and Super Lucky. I suspended my disbelief so that I could continue to read the book and enjoy it, but I don't think that there is anyone who could do all the things that he did.
I did enjoy that the book was in Atlanta and I recognized some of the areas that the author mentioned.
I did enjoy that the book was in Atlanta and I recognized some of the areas that the author mentioned.
November 4, 2016
An enthralling read with the action of a James Bond movie. The descriptions of death by Ebola are truly horrifying and the thought of that virus ever being made into a weapon of mass destruction is terrifying. I'll have to say I enjoyed the first half the most though as the narrative switched from the doctors dealing with Ebola patients to the hero CEO to the terrorist villain. Once everything came together and the plot became a chase between the hero and terrorist it did lag at some points but overall, I really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading another of Bernard's books which I have on my Kindle.
October 21, 2013
This was a Kindle cheapie on Amazon, and it caught my attention because enjoy Plague and other Armageddon books. I read reviews before downloading it, and most reviewers stated that the first half moved along at a rapid pace, then the 2nd half bogged down with too many subplots. So I skimmed through the stupid subplots (eg, the romantic relationship and too much psycho-analysis. And thus, I enjoyed the book. It was a very fast read -- I read it in two days, most of it during some not-so-interesting conference sessions :)
August 31, 2014
This was a decent story about a terrorist trying to take out Atlanta with the ebola virus. It has action from the beginning until the end. It was a very interesting story, but it was not the type of book that I just didn't want to put down. It did hold my interest throughout the entire book though. The narrator did a good job. There was not a lot of emotion in his voice, but he did have different voices for each character and did not make the book boring at all. Overall, it's a great read and worth checking out.
October 28, 2012
Plague will scare you to death. You will keep turning the pages. Well put together. This book like his previous book Eyewall, has it all, terror, suspense, and a little romance and humor. Love his style of writing. The words just flow together and he has you right in there with the characters. Can't wait for his next book.
April 13, 2013
This book started out very promising and it was quite good. But there was a shift somewhere that changed the focus slightly and I found that a little disappointing. This was a good read and could easily be classified as a thriller. However it was a simple thriller so if you like something a bit meaty this book could disappoint. An easy read and worth picking up.
June 27, 2013
YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN
Strap in for this one because it never slows down. Buzz Bernard’s PLAGUE is a spell binding race against time to prevent a biological Armageddon with Atlanta as ground zero for a lone, homegrown terrorist bent upon destroying America. The characters are believable and the story all too possible. PLAGUE will make you question the safety of your way of life.
Strap in for this one because it never slows down. Buzz Bernard’s PLAGUE is a spell binding race against time to prevent a biological Armageddon with Atlanta as ground zero for a lone, homegrown terrorist bent upon destroying America. The characters are believable and the story all too possible. PLAGUE will make you question the safety of your way of life.
June 28, 2014
Thriller.
A CEO, a female minister, and a terrorist, walk into a titty bar..., you have to read the book to find out how that went.
Not as good as other books by the same author, (EYEWALL, and SUPERCELL, both 5 stars), still a fun escape.
3.5 stars.
A CEO, a female minister, and a terrorist, walk into a titty bar..., you have to read the book to find out how that went.
Not as good as other books by the same author, (EYEWALL, and SUPERCELL, both 5 stars), still a fun escape.
3.5 stars.
January 1, 2013
Just like Eyewall, his first book, this is a fast paced read. Twists you do not expect, scenes you vividly picture thanks to his writing. I loved this book and cannot wait to see what he writes next.
March 23, 2014
While this started out well, it quickly got a ridiculous and over the top plot that became boring to me. I wish the corporate parts of the books had been annexed and that he just stuck with the other, more interesting (and believable) parts.
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