The K2 Virus

by Scott Rhine

A new variant of the human coronavirus, K2, sweeps through North Korea. An unsuspecting biochemist delivers a routine batch of flu vaccines to Seoul. When he agrees to play translator for an attractive reporter, he stumbles into a perfect storm of political and biological forces. If he’s going to survive, he’ll need all the principles of Taekwondo he’s been taught since childhood: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, a fast kick, and even faster footwork.

Genres: Suspense, Thriller

259 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published September 22, 2016

About the author

Scott Rhine wanted to find a job that combined his love of reading with math problem solving, so he studied both short stories and computer languages. As a techno-gypsy, he worked on optimizing some of the fastest and largest supercomputers in the world. A couple of degrees, patents, and children later, at forty-eight, he still didn't know what he wanted to be when he grew up. When his third publication "Doors to Eternity" unexpectedly hit #16 on the Amazon epic fantasy list, he decided to retire from engineering in order to become a full-time author. Humor is a part of every story he writes because people are funny, even when they don't think so. In the real world, something always goes wrong and people have flaws. If you can't laugh at yourself, someone is probably doing it for you. Strong female characters also play a major role in his stories because he's married to a beautiful PhD who can edit, break boards, and use a chainsaw.

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Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read anything from this author before and so did not know what to expect. It has been a while since I read a political or medical thriller and this could pull me back into reading more of both if they are this good. I enjoyed the fact that there was a slow build on how things progressed as opposed to a break neck speed in getting to the heart of things. This did not catch me with the first page but by chapter two I was all in. The characters were very well laid out and seem genuine for the most part though some were just sketched since they did not appear very often. The story was believable as far as the science behind the evolution of the virus and its spread, which made it perfect.

Daniel Mann is a 27 year old man who has deferred his life in order to care for his mother after an accident left her a partial invalid. He is working a job he hates and is overqualified for just for the benefits. Daniel brought down a company and wants to make it up to the other employees by getting them jobs but he ends up in a bad situation because he cannot seem to read women.

In North Korea a virus has been unleashed in the population by men trying to make money inside a repressive country. Jero is a smuggler who gets tainted beef which he takes to his brother-in-law to butcher for sale. He along with several others are infected by the mucus and blood of the cows. Because of the close confines they live in the virus finds a lot of hosts in a short period of time as they go about their normal business.

There is political posturing, medical issues, military intrigue, not to mention lots of spies from all sides. South Korea is caught unaware because they just want things to calm down on both sides. This definitely makes you think.

[David Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a fan of biothrillers. You know, the kinds of stories that move along quickly but slow down just enough for a solid dose of science--in this case, molecular biology.

In that regard, The K2 Virus doesn't disappoint. From beginning to end, Rhine delivers well researched possibilities as the story embarks on the near-future likelihood of the next big contagion. The book is aptly titled. This is a contagion story, and the virus is front and center. The main characters are pitted against the virus as they either fight to survive or overcome it. This tension and momentum drives the story forward at a good pace.

Rhine does a nice job with the character development as well. Daniel, the main protagonist is a very believable research scientist and programmer whose family emigrated from South Korea before his birth. He mixes the appropriate amount of Western and Eastern cultures while succeeding at being quirky and sometimes naive without becoming a stereotype.

One of my pet peeves is smart characters who inexplicably do stupid things in order to move along a blundering plot. But Rhine balances this well by creating believable character flaws around things such as personal/sexual relationships. Yes, smart people do stupid things. Rhine is able to explain them in a way that infuriates the reader (in a good way) without insulting him/her.
The K2 Virus also incorporates clear knowledge of Korea and current events.

As much as I enjoyed the story, there were a couple of reasons I can't give The K2 Virus 5 stars. I found myself being tripped up by the narrative in dozen different places. Nothing major, but it required me to slow down and come out of the story before finding my way. I'm a slow reader, reluctant to miss anything. So when something doesn't click, I have a hard time moving on without going back over the sticky spot a few times. Lastly, I found the omniscient third-person POV frustrating in its inconsistency. At times, the POV was very intimate with a particular character and less omniscient. For instance, the narrator wouldn't mention how or if the virus was spreading if the character didn't know. Then at other times, the POV was completely omniscient, passing along contagion information to the reader in a detached manner (ie. "What such and such didn't know was that the virus had already spread to twelve other prisoners.") I found this jumping back and forth to be distracting.

Other than those two things, this story is a clear 4 star. I enjoyed reading it and would easily recommend it to others. The adult themes remained well clear of anything raunchy or offensive (in my opinion). Overall, an enjoyable read that had enough allure to pull me away from other things I could have been reading and keep me coming back through to the end.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Scott Rhine and the first medical thriller that I've read in forever. I used to read a lot of books by Michael Palmer but it's been a good while since I've picked one up. Anyway, this one is along the same lines as that.

The first thing that I noticed was that the author wrote this book almost as if the virus was a character. It was VERY interesting to experience the book this way. I'm not entirely sure why I feel like this ... it's probably just the way it was written. Anyway, I liked it. It gave the book a different spin. Now, I have absolutely no clue if this is what Rhine intended ... it could be completely in my own head but either way, it was a good thing. Even if I just imagined it.

I enjoyed how intricately this book was written. I completely believed that everything was absolutely how things in the pharmaceutical industry works. Again, no idea if this is true but the author made it so believable that it brought a scary realness to the plot. Little side note: I really got a kick out of seeing an electron microscope within the story ... my dad is a retired forensic criminalist and I remember when his office got their first electron microscope and our weekends were filled with collecting "samples" of everything known to man so he could scan it. Anyway ... it was just neat seeing that in there for some reason.

Like I said, the story is very intricate. It's a smart read, very detailed and not one that you can just blow through in an afternoon. And you're not intended to. The K2 Virus is very thought provoking because of the details that the author has put onto the pages. But because of this, I found that it reads very dry and detached. That's not necessarily a bad thing for all readers ... I personally didn't enjoy it because I had a hard time really getting to know the characters. I didn't feel any connection to them. Just too far removed from the characters for my taste. You know how you love some books where the plot is lacking but the characters are great? Well, on the other side of the spectrum, there are books that put the plot first and the characters take a back seat. Nothing wrong with that, just a different writing style.

I like my books to have the characters be the star of the show. That's the only reason this book received only three stars from me. Otherwise, it's beautifully written and something I know a lot of people are going to really enjoy read this.

* I received this novel in exchange for an honest review *

Check out more of my reviews at Little Miss Bookmark!

[Chessy The Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daniel Mann should have his Ph.D. by now, but an accident left his mom paralyzed at age 48. So, he is working at a job he really doesn’t enjoy to pay for her care. He feels guilty about the way he left his last job and proposes a way to merge the two companies. As part of the goodwill team, Daniel, a biochemist, goes to Seoul to help deliver a flu vaccine to the American troops.

Dr. Tonia Benedict is once again Daniel’s boss and she holds on to grudges. She blames him for the failure of her former company. While in South Korea together, they engage in a push-me/pull-me friendship. Should the vaccine work as planned the new consolidated company stock should jump significantly.

Veronica (Varsity) Kohl is a news reporter covering the increased tensions between the North and South. Daniel met her on the plane and developed a deep crush on her. She has asked him to be her guide, yet everywhere they go they end up in trouble. Is she really interested in him or to the places his Korean family can get her access?

In the meantime, a coronavirus has leaped from sick cows in North Korea to humans. It is a rather hardy virus and has a considerably longer incubation period than SARS or MERS. During a visit to refugees that were allowed to leave the North to the South, many of who carry the virus, Daniel becomes the face of South Korea welcoming these folks into the country. Then things get complicated.

Rhine’s novel, The K2 Virus, is a medical thriller that explains the science involved while intermingling with a good mystery. We follow the virus from the first moment it leaps into a human or patient Zero. Every time there is a possibility of exposing the existence of the virus someone tries to redirect the investigation by killing or trying to kill a key player. Tensions between North and South Korea go to an all-time high.

All the time Daniel is caught between his infatuation of the mysterious Varsity and the hot/cold friendship with his boss, Tonia. Add to the mix his traditional Korean family and Daniel is like a lost puppy, not sure where to turn or what to do. When he accidentally stumbles upon the K2 virus everything in his world changes and not all of it for the good.

This was an enjoyable read. I had a hard time putting it down. The mystery behind the virus mixed in with Daniel’s social ineptness around women made for a good combination. The ending was slightly surprising.

5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book for free from the author for review consideration. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[David King · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The K2 Virus” is the latest Science-Fiction novel to be written by Scott Rhine. The story revolves around a young researcher, Daniel Mann who is working with a company who are assisting the US Army in inoculating their troops in South Korea against future illness. Whilst Daniel is out in Korea helping to administer the inoculation and monitor for side effects, a new virus named “K2” appears in North Korea and soon spreads into the South. Before long, Daniel finds himself slap bang in the middle of a major outbreak that threatens to spill out across the world.

The novel was sold to me under the Hard Science-Fiction sub-genre and I feel that this label does fit adequately. It offers quite a detailed explanation of how a potent disease can spread from patient zero to the rest of the population and covers some of the attempts by Scientists to combat it. This doesn’t mean the plot is overly dry or bogged down in jargon however as there are still twists, thrills and some elements of action included in the story. If I had one major complaint with the plot, then it is probably in regards to the ending which I found rather rushed and unsatisfying. The tension which Rhine has tried to build up just doesn’t seem to go anywhere and this was rather disappointing. My disappointment with the ending was probably compounded by the fact that whilst the novel was entertaining and interesting enough, it just wasn’t that exciting compared to some of Rhine’s other novels.

In regards to the characters, they were all well-defined and had a level of complexity that impressed me. I enjoyed finding myself being surprised by some of their actions and the various hidden motivations that were ultimately driving them. I also found the various reactions on show to be quite believable with each character showing various levels of panic, fear and denial as events unfolded.

Overall, “The K2 Virus” was an enjoyable enough story with some interesting science based around the inoculation programme and the spread of the virus itself. I also appreciated the way in which the various characters were portrayed. However, there was just something lacking on the excitement front which was further driven home by the rather rushed ending.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading, The K2 Virus, I think I'm ready for my Doctorate in Medicine! This is a pretty detailed explanation of how a potent disease spreads from patient zero to the rest of the population. There is a lot of medical and scientific material in this book. I'm not sure where the science fiction comes in, but at least I hope it's all fiction.

The story kind of revolves around a young man who's something of a nerd medical school dropout. He's certainly smart, but lacks a lot of self confidence. He's honest to the point of causing a company he was working for to fail since he wouldn't go along with some of their questionable procedures in producing commercial drugs. Now he's working for a new company and has an opportunity to get a number of his former colleagues hired to support a military effort. The US Army wants to inoculate all their troops in Korea with a new drug.

Daniel Mann and his boss, a Dr. Benedict, have to travel to South Korea to administer the injections and make sure they are working with no side effects. Not a problem for Daniel since he is originally from South Korea. Why he's where he's at now is explained in the book. Any way, K2, the disease breaks out in North Korea and soon finds it's way into South Korea. So Daniel finds himself now in the middle of a major outbreak of a new disease. It's kind of interesting to read about what happens, but it's not real exciting. Oh, yeah, the author does throw in some sex since there's quite a lot about his failure to have gotten laid this far into his twenties! There’s also some interesting information about Dr. Benedict which I don’t understand why it was part of the book. And, Dr. Benedict doesn’t seem to have a first name.

I really couldn't get into the book very quickly and was looking for to to start getting exciting. It never happened. You just kind of drift through the book, in third person, and then it ends! Would have been better if North Korea had invaded!

[Mike Whitfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. The protagonist is very different from your typical protagonist, which gives the book a unique flare. There are twists in both the characters and the plot, which kept me reading late into the night. Tension builds continuously as the danger ramps up. This novel is entirely plausible both in its science and in its geopolitics, but at the same time is one of the more reasonable depictions of North Korea I have seen. No caricatures here, and no whitewashing either. The science depicts the actual danger of such an outbreak of a new disease variant, not exaggerated to something unreasonable. Accordingly, it doesn't require any suspension of disbelief to enjoy.

For a novel of this type, the characters are surprisingly complex, so that motivations are not always immediately obvious and today's villain might well be tomorrow's hero. However, they are ultimately internally consistent and satisfying. The pacing is good - no lurches or unexpected pauses or skips. As mentioned, the plot is on the plausible side of speculative fiction. The settings are varied and interesting. Combined, it makes a refreshing but tense read, quite different from what I've previously read from Rhine but just as well crafted. Highly recommended.

[Tabitha Ormiston-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is really little not to like in Scott Rhine's latest offering. It's fast-paced, exciting, and the characters are engaging and well developed. The subject is topical, and an extra spice of fear is added by the knowledge that these events could all too easily play out in the real world. The book leaps straight into the action, and it got me in without my even noticing; by the end of the first chapter I was well hooked.

Rhine has a nice, no-nonsense style, with solidly rounded characters. I did feel that a little more dialogue could have added zest; many of the passages that Rhine handled with straight narrative are ones that I'd have shown in a conversation, but this is a stylistic choice that reflects the author's individual writing persona. The fact I'd have done some things differently need not take away from the essential success of the work.

Of particular note to me was the sensitive treatment of cross-cultural relationships; these were handled well and realistically, and the book moves swiftly to a satisfying conclusion, although I did find the ending a little rushed.

[Charles van Buren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Danger! Virus!, May 10, 2016

This review is from: The K2 Virus: A Novel (Kindle Edition)

This novel is a very different read from Mr. Rhine's science fiction books. In fact, The K2 Virus is not science fiction at all. It is a techno/medical/political thriller with most of the action occurring in North and South Korea. The main character is an able, intelligent man with a moral code which helps him through difficult situations. For most of the book he is also almost completely hapless regarding women. But he perseveres.

The plot is realistic & easy to believe that similar things could actually occur. The description of life in North Korea is bleak with brutal tyrants completely controlling the country and living off of the sweat and tears of the general populous.

As with Mr. Rhine's other books, this one is well written, well edited and very interesting. I was given a free copy of this novel and asked to write a review.

[D.S. Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book that takes real world politics, events and science and spins them into a great ride. Scott's writing as usual is crisp, descriptive, detailed and thought provoking. The pace builds and becomes swift with smooth character and story transitions. Reading this reminded me of the book 'Escape from Camp 14' that I read about a year ago and brought the deprivation and human struggles of North Korea into the spotlight. Overall this was great book that made me want to bathe in hand sanitizer when I was done.

Great job Scott and I am still looking for the next Gigaparsec addition.

[Steven Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. This thriller combined two horrors, the oppression in North Korea and the deadly threat posed by a new virus.

Scott provides well defined characters and a fast pace with plenty of twists. I enjoyed the glimpse into Korean culture. Plus he does a very good job of explaining in clear terms the medical and political factors that drive a virus through a population. It caused me to pay more attention to the news about the Zika virus.

Readers who favor realistic stories will enjoy this book. The science is on target and the people’s reactions are quite believable. Let’s hope we never have to experience this in real life.

Scott, thanks for a great read!

[Melody Oakerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid science makes for great stories

I gave this a solid 4 stars because it really is a good read as far as story line but it incorporates many plot lines and back stories that seem to blend smoothly into a whole. I loved learning more about the Korean culture and the political gesturing that goes on in every country. All the back stories of the hero blend into one man who should collapse under the weight of family expectations and professional duty and yet he seems to be able to continue on. Good read all and all. I look forward to what this author has in store for us in the future.

[Bill Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently won a copy of The K2 Virus by Scott Rhine in a Goodreads giveaway. The premise of the story is interesting and it moves at a fast pace. It is a scientific thriller dealing with an outbreak of a disease in North Korea and one man's attempt to help. The characters are believable and the story is possible. The tensions rose as the North used the outbreak to weaken the South. There are hero's and villains, good guys and bad guys. This is a good read and I look forward to more stories from Scott Rhine.

[Jack Servello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott does a fantastic job of getting the details just right. But it doesn't make the story boring! This is nowhere near boring! Fantastic story and characters are likable to the point where you feel for them right from the beginning. There's lots going on in this story, kept me on the edge of my seat at times! I recommend this book and if you haven't read any of Scott's other books, and you like Sci Fi and Fantasy, you're missing out! Read this one today! Great job MR. Rhine!

[Marilyn Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author lets the reader know how the virus started and how it is spreading. The main characters have to figure that out and find a way to stop it. A very good book. Thank you to Goodreads for the opportunity to win and review this book.

[Abdul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant Author!

Brilliant Author

Scott Alan predicted another coronavirus pandemic back in 2016!
The story focus on the tension between North and South Korea.

[Conny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a First Read Winner of this book, and my first read by Scott Rhine. I was really looking forward to this book, since I do like the genre, but I found the beginning a bit slow, and I never really connected with the characters which was disappointing, but eventually it did pick up and got more interesting with some action and a budding romance. Overall a good read, it might even make my list of books that I like to re-read to see if I like it more the second time around. The possibility could be there.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good science is embedded in Scott Rhine’s latest science fiction triumph. Scarily plausible and realistic this book takes you into an alternative world where K2 is wreaking havoc. Chiming with the latest Zika emergence, this book demonstrates the potential devastation of a new epidemic. The good science does not however steal the show as you get caught up in the romantic journey of the lead character Daniel and his journey back to his homeland.

[Elizabeth Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biotech!

I was provided this book, for an honest review.

This story gives you a great inside look at the Korean mind-set, values and day-to-day interactions. I love the addition of biotech, into the science of the progression of the virus. Daniel’s journey of self-discovery is great to watch unfold. He’s a bit naive, but he finally catches on in the end.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting storyline and read