Inhuman Acts

Letty Duquesne Thriller #1

by Brooke L. French

A deadly, incurable disease creeps silent through Chattanooga. And its victims aren't random.

When inexplicable human rabies cases appear in Tennessee, disease ecologist Letty Duquesne jumps at the chance to trace the virus back to its source. But the closer Letty gets to finding the outbreak's origin, the further someone will go to stop her.

With an unwanted promotion threatening to take Letty far from the fieldwork she loves, this outbreak feels like her last chance to make a difference. It's not something she can ignore, especially now. The spillover of zoonotic diseases to the human population is on the rise and violent animal attacks—like the one that killed her sister—are becoming all too common.

Something in nature has gone very wrong.

Local authorities would rather she go home, but Letty can track a source animal like no one else. With the help of disgraced detective Andrew Marsh, Letty follows the virus's epidemiological trail. But her every move is watched. And the source animal is closer than she thinks.

Inhuman Acts is a pulse-pounding thriller. Gripping and intricately paced, Brooke L. French's debut novel will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Contemporary, Suspense, Medical, Mystery Thriller, Fiction

315 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2022

About the author

Brooke L. French is a recovering lawyer turned writer. She is the author of Inhuman Acts, The Carolina Variant, and Unnatural Intent (coming October 24, 2024).

Brooke lives with her husband and sons between Atlanta and Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. She spends most of her days gleefully researching and writing about fatal viruses, terrorism, and murder.

Brooke is likely on numerous watch lists.

Reviews

[Luvtoread (Trying to catch up) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Letty Duquesne is a disease ecologist who is on summer leave until a teaching position opens in the fall when she hears of a human rabies case in Tennessee. She decides to go down there offering her assistance even while knowing they probably won't want an outsider coming in without their asking for help. Letty loves working in the field so she thinks maybe she can find the trace animal before others get infected because that's what her job is all about. (Tracing possible disease sources). Letty is definitely unwelcome in Tennessee but that doesn't stop her especially when another rabies case arises and she knows that the source must be found immediately before the disease contaminates other animals which will result in many more human cases. Letty knows that something has been happening in the the zoological environment for awhile since her sister was killed a year ago in an unprecedented event that was unnatural in the animal environment and she is still trying to understand and make sense of her sister's death.

This was an unexpected, enjoyable and entertaining book from an author that I had never read before. The writing, storyline and and editing were so well done, that it was a pleasure to read and I finished the book in a day or more because I just couldn't stop reading. The story was contemporary and realistic and not too dark for most of the book and the parts that weren't quite real just didn't matter since the story was so good and just had an easy flow to the writing. There were some terrific twists along the way especially at the end of the story. Brooke L. French is an author that I would definitely be on the outlook for and I highly recommend this book to any readers who enjoy medical as well as environmental mysteries.

I want to thank the publisher "Black Rose Writing" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone! I have given a rating of 4 RABID AND BITING 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad but not super memorable. While the idea behind this novel was interesting I thought it dragged and repeated itself quite a bit, especially when it came to the characters' inner lives which all felt rather one tone.

[pawsreadrepeat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Brooke French and Travelling Pages. I'm excited to be a part of this tour.

I am a huge fan of medical thrillers and this one did not disappoint! Inhuman Acts is an incredibly intriguing debut that will have your pulse racing and wanting more. In this book, inexplicable human rabies cases appear in Tennessee, disease ecologist Letty Duquesne jumps at the chance to trace the virus back to its origin.

I was intrigued by this book based on its description. I can’t say I’ve read another book about humans getting rabies and love how unique this story is. The author does an excellent job of describing the locations and surroundings, so you feel like you are there too. The characters are brilliantly written and have a level of depth that provides insight into who they are. The story is fast paced, and I was engaged from start to finish. I kept reading because I had to know how it would end. I like that the story wrapped up nicely.

I recommend this book to all medical thriller lovers!

[Nicole Dunton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Inhuman Acts
Author: Brooke L. French
Release Date: September 29th, 2022
Page Count: 315
Start Date: October 7th, 2022
Finish Date: October 25th, 2022

Review:
Story: I was really thrilled about this book as it was. I’m new to medical thrillers, but I was very curious. It got even better for me when my hometown (Marietta, Georgia) was referenced in the book. This is the first book I’ve ever read where it was referenced. It totally made me happy! But I digress. This was an intense ride through the whole book. I still wasn’t prepared for the ending. I was over in one corner with my theory. I was sure of myself. Convinced it would be the thing. So the actual thing slammed me in the face. I had to set the book down and read it again!
Characters: I can’t remember any of the names, but I was so on Letty’s team. She was trying so hard to get the answers that she was seeking. She knew she was in the right. Even when everything was falling apart around her, she kept going. It was hard not to root for her. I felt the same way about the cop/detective that they suspended for not letting something go.
Critiques: None
Narration: Hearing the narration made the story so much more intense for me. It made things so much more intense!
Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. My enjoyment completely increased when I couldn’t even predict the ending. Not that the ones I have predicted are less enjoyable. I can’t explain it. There was even the nod to my hometown! I will probably read this book again in the future. I’ll defintiely be willing to give other books by this author a chance. It’s well worth the read.

[Jeanie ~ MyFairytaleLibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inhuman Acts is an entertaining medical thriller to put on your TBR list. The timeline starts in 2017 with strange animal behavior and a tragic death. The rest of the story unfolds one year later.

At a research lab, animals are released into the woods before the building is set on fire. Soon after, two human cases of rabies are identified in Tennessee. Letty Disquesne is a disease ecologist and the sister of the victim who died tragically in 2017. After learning about the rabies cases on the news, she decides to take a break before her fall teaching position starts in order to offer her help. With assistance from recently suspended police detective Andrew Marsh and local veterinarian Pete Hendrick, Letty is searching for the source of the outbreak. Unfortunately someone does not want Letty investigating the rabies cases and they are desperate to stop her.

The main character is likable as are her friends and most of the side characters. The plot is believable, the mystery compelling and the twists were very well done. What an impressive debut!

Thank you @travelling.pages.tours and @brookelewisfrench for an early copy of this action packed story. This is my unbiased review.
Pub Date: September 29, 2022
Pages: 298

[Taylor Hathcock · Rating 3 out of 5]

An inexplicable number of rabies cases appear in Chattanooga causing disease ecologist Letty to jump at the opportunity to trace it back to its source. Letty's task is helped by the assistance of disgraced detective Andrew. However, the closer she gets to finding clues the further someone will go to stop her. Will she solve the case in time to stop the outbreak? Inhuman Acts is Brooke French's debut novel.

My thoughts on the book are a little confused to be honest. Letty is given this traumatic backstory because of the way her sister died. Really the only connection I could see to this being part of the narrative was that it allowed for other references with animals acting differently than expected. It really didn't seem to fit to me, the obsession with animals seemed like a separate story honestly. However, we quickly shift to the current story: Letty is on the brink of giving up fieldwork to become a professor and she isn't too thrilled about it.

The news begins reporting on the rabies cases in Chattanooga and she sees it as her chance to have one last hurrah. Letty unfortunately may have bitten off more than she can chew with this journey however. She soon finds most of the town resistant to admitting there is still a problem. Letty's efforts are ignored and solving the issue begins to become more difficult than she could have anticipated.

Inhuman Acts didn't really feel like a thriller to me it read more like a slight mystery; but mostly just a contagion novel. I have to admit that a lot of stuff went over my head because it seemed very science-y and I am not a science person. The novel is good and well written don't get me wrong, but I didn't really feel a thriller element, until like the last 60 pages. It also became pretty evident where the outbreak came from towards the end. I wish that had been more vague so that it felt like an aha moment.

Inhuman Acts is a little bit slower paced than most things I've read recently but French does a good job with character development. You are easily drawn into the characters and their world. I just wish it had been marketed as something other than a thriller and I would have been able to give it a higher rating. If you are about contagion and virus outbreaks, without the zombies, then you should check this one out for sure.

[Simonne Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inhuman Acts is an intriguing page turner that kept my attention from start to finish. This is a medical mystery dealing with a rabies outbreak in Chattanooga. Letty is a disease ecologist who jumps at the chance to go help the people with tracing the source of the outbreak. This book was cleverly done. Letty and her scientist friends are working hard to find the source but the Mayor’s office is not helpful and there are other forces afoot.
I found the pace of the book was good as was the character development. The medical information on rabies wasn’t too much, in fact I found it quite interesting. I’d never heard of the possibility of rabies being airborne.
Recommended
Many thanks to NetGalley for this ARC

[Fiona Forsyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve seen arguments over what the word “competent” means in a book review and let me make it clear that in my world it is a compliment. In this book, the plotting, pace and sense of disaster are all more than competent, they work together to result in a read-in-one-go thriller with a hugely attractive hero and an intriguing thread of environmental questioning running through it. The signs are that it is the first in a series and I am very glad of it!
Lettuce Duquesne has friends, and a job she loves, but she also has the tragedy of her sister’s death hanging over her. She is an intelligent and likeable main character, and cleverly, the author lets you see her through other people’s eyes as you are making up your mind about her. And other people like her.
When a case of rabies transmission arises in Chattanooga, Letty sees the potential for a disaster and though she is unable to persuade everyone of the seriousness of the situation, she handles their skepticism as a scientist should, by collecting and testing the data. She teams up with Andrew, a cop on enforced leave, and Pete a local vet, to track down what could be the worst outbreak of rabies in the USA for decades.
French handles the science extremely well, managing that crucial balance between scientific jargon and readability. She doesn’t hype the fear of the disease any more than the plot demands, so we don’t get overblown panic and doom, but we do feel the tension as Letty discovers more about what is happening in Chattanooga. I found this approach made the book credible and a page-turner. Oh and I didn’t see the end coming until way past I should! French treats her readers fairly in the “working out of the puzzle” part of the book.
Characters are human, realistic and fallible, and I particularly liked the Andrew/Mary dynamic where every serious cop conversation took place against the background of shuttling the kids around or making banana pudding.
A book for anyone who likes a good mystery, intelligently told.

[ASHLEY EDWARDS · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This is an honest review based on the ARC I received from Brooke French and Travelling Pages. When reading about the book and finding that it was based in Chattanooga, I knew I just had to read it. Letty and her lab team are known around the campus of UGA for their findings. When a variant of rabies shows up in Chattanooga Tennessee, Letty is intrigued to find the source and what the cause is. Inhuman Acts is the medical mystery that you don’t want to put down until you find the cause of the outbreak. While Letty is in Chattanooga, we find a vet that is oddly fascinated with Letty but also has a vengeance against his soon-to-be ex-wife. The vet gives some people an uneasy feeling. As we continue to read, we find that not everyone gives that warm “Tennessee welcome” most are known for. The twists and turns all through the book make you want to read more. The ending I think was more of a cliffhanger than we expect throughout the whole book. I still want to know what happened to Pete, Letty, Priya, Andrew, Chris and the rest of the crew. How did Chattanooga take to the news of how the rabies started? Did the help others that were possibly exposed? I really hope there is a sequel to this!

[Karina · Rating 1 out of 5]

A “twist ending” is not a twist when it comes out of left field like a brick to my windshield while driving on i-30. When I read a thriller I want to be able to pick up clues as to what the outcome might be - when it was floated in dialogue that rabies could have become airborne, I was excited since this is genuinely a really interesting premise for a novel. Imagine my surprise when near the book’s end, l was told that this interesting premise actually wasn’t the case, the whole local outbreak was single-handedly orchestrated by some Ned Flanders type who now suddenly has a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde type of situation going on? Without the clues a competent reader should piece together throughout the story, this is not a twist ending but simply bad characterization.

In addition, the book makes constant references to the “small town” of Chattanooga, a city with a population of over 180k. I live in a rural southern state and our literal biggest city is just above this so-called small town in population. On top of these comments pulling me out of the story constantly, the reasons as to why a police officer was being prosecuted by the DA for a justified use of a service weapon arguing that it was the fault of a twitter mob are ill-explained at best. Even in the most liberal states it’s rare when the police police themselves - nevermind in this “small town” located in the American South.

Honestly the real inhuman act of this novel was how little research seemingly went into its development - it’s as if someone went on wikipedia and looked up “rabies,” “Tennessee,” and “M. Night Shamylan” and thought they could make a book out of it.

[Misty Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an exciting read. Kept me guessing all the way through. I also love the added relationship that developes between the main characters. This is a must read thriller.

[Marissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting concept let down by lazy plotting

Interesting concept that could have done with more fleshing out. Definitely feels like it could have done with some more expansion and nuance.
The writing was ok, nothing to write home about, but it didn't make up for the lack of substance. I think much more could have been done with the idea. I'll give the sequel a go but I'm not sure if it'll just turn into a nothing burger too

[Fhiona Galloway · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was such a yawn for me I'm afraid. Way too slow, storyline was boring and it just did not have any pace or interest. I spent way too long finishing it cos I wasn't interested but I hate leaving a book unfinished.
Cannot understand the 5 star reviews?!

[Olga Rudnitska · Rating 4 out of 5]

English/Ukrainian review

Thanks to Brooke L. French and Black Rose Writing for providing me with ARC for my honest review. 

Before the reading I thought this book will be sci-fi vibe. And I was "not my first choice". Actually, I haven't read anything like this before. "A deadly, incurable disease" seen this before. Not a fan. But let's try something new.

Letty Duquesne, who is a disease ecologist (hard to explain), decided to help in the investigation in Chattanooga in their recent cases of rabies. If you were wondering, why this is huge, you need to know that rabies disease is not common in the USA. 1-2 cases in a year. And now 2 cases in a few weeks. Letty wants to help, so she went to Chattanooga.

I did not know before how rabies effect on people. So while reading this, I thought about zombie virus. Thant's why the scenes with infected were so scary to me.  I was ready to read in epilogue kind of 28 days after vibe (I just like such movies).

But don't be silly as me. "Inhuman acts" is a thriller, a little bit of detective. Andrew Marsh will help Letty to find the truths. In first half of the book I have my prediction about main plot. But other half, damn, it was good. The last chapters were tense, dark, hopeless. I loved it. I recommended it. The rabies cases were human created, no epidemic case. Planet is safe.  
I'm happy to read this book. For not afraid to try something new. I was pleasantly surprised with the ending. 

Brooke L. French's debut is great. 

Ukrainian review.

Перед початком читанням я думала, що ця книга буде в жанрі наукової фантастики. І я така, це точно не те, що я завжди читаю. Насправді я раніше нічого подібного і не читала. «Смертельна, невиліковна хвороба», бачили-знаєм. Не сподобалось. Але я вирішила дати книзі шанс та спробувати щось нове.

Летті Дюкен, яка займається екологією хвороб (важко пояснити), вирішила допомогти в розслідуванні у Чаттанузі у їхніх останніх випадків сказу. Якщо вам цікаво, чому це важлива новина, то ви повинні знати, що сказ не є поширеним явищем у США. 1-2 випадки на рік. А зараз 2 випадки за кілька тижнів. Летті хоче допомогти, тому поїхала до Чаттануги.

Я раніше не знала, як сказ діє на людей. Тому, читаючи це, я тримала в голові зомбі-вірус. Ось чому сцени із зараженими були для мене такими страшними. Я був готова прочитати епілог у дусі "28 днів потому" (я просто люблю такі фільми, що поробиш).

Але не будь дурним, як я. «Inhuman acts» — це трилер, трохи детектив. Ендрю Марш допоможе Летті знайти істину. У першій половині книги я мала свій прогноз щодо основного сюжету. Але друга половина, блін, була хороша. Останні розділи були напруженими, темними, безнадійними. Мені сподобалось. Я б її рекомендувала. Випадки сказу були створені людиною, епідемії не буде. Планета в безпеці.

Я із задоволенням прочитала цю книгу. Не бійтись пробувати щось нове. Мене приємно вразила кінцівка.
Дебют Брук Л. Френч вийшов чудовим.

[Alyssia Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

When an outbreak of rabies arises in Chattanooga, Tennessee, disease ecologist Letty knows that this is an opportunity that she cannot pass up. She hopes to put her skills and training to use and locate the source animals behind the outbreak. Only it's not going to be that simple. Political pressure to keep the outbreak on the downlow, plus what appears to be a stalker following her around town is enough to slow or even derail Letty's progress.

The medical thriller elements of this are well done. Brooke French has a sound knowledge of rabies backing up her novel, to the point that it surprised me that she was previously a lawyer and not in the medical field. I do like me a good medical thriller, particularly when the science is sound and it is here. Yet it isn't too heavy handed with the science, meaning that a layperson can easily pick it up and follow what's going on. There are a number of possible reservoir animals; with Letty being convinced the local bats are to blame, the police force have been investigating a fire in an animal testing centre where many of the animals were let loose. It's therefore not predictable and will keep you guessing all the way to the finale.

That said, I wasn't too keen on the actual finale. It certainly is a possibility, but annoyed me as it changed the premise of the book from the fascinating thriller based on disease ecology and into something more like a murder mystery novel. I'd have preferred the solution to be less twisty and more in keeping with the usual spread and transmission of the disease. It starts as one thing and finishes as another and that is somewhat off-putting. In a similar vein, there is a lot of back-story about the tragic death of Letty's sister and how the animal world is behaving in unpredictable and deadly ways causing human casualties and fatalities. It didn't quite fit with the main story and felt jarring and pulled me out of the story.

Even with that though, I'd recommend this to anyone interested in a well written, well researched and intelligent medical thriller. The characters were largely well depicted, the light romance angle on the side didn't detract from the main plot and I appreciated how realistically rabies and the hunt for the reservoir animal were depicted. I'll be keeping an eye out for this author in the future, particularly if her future novels are in the same brand of medical thriller.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books that have a mysterious twist to them and this book had the perfect plot with a twisted ending. Letty is a disease ecologist. She studies the behavior of animal pathogens and how they transmit. She is outdoorsy and knows animal behavior.

With the recent death of her sister, she finds herself struggling to move forward. Not in her career or her personal life. When a rabies outbreak happens in Chattanooga she jumps at the chance to lend her expertise. But when the host animal is not easily found and no help from the proper channels she finds herself doubting everything.

Something isn’t right and the pieces are not adding up. Can she find out what is going on or will she get sick next?

Letty is a strong female character. She is highly intelligent and struggles with emotional balance in her life. But she’s very good at her job and she plays the leading lady perfectly. Andrew the cop, is a strong character as well. But he struggles with loneliness. He has a good sense of perception. He’s also intelligent and a strong individual.

Overall this book was laid out perfectly. It had a bit of mystery, danger, love interest and a twisted plot. The author took her time laying out the timeline and building up the story background. You definitely have a hard time figuring out how the story is going to end.

This book touches on the subject of human and animal coexistence and how we are destroying the ecosystems. You can tell that the author did a lot of research which made the book real and easily relatable.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It is the first from this author I have read and I can’t wait to read more from her. I like how she takes her time and researches her plots to develop a realistic story. I’m interested to see what other mysteries she has out there.

[Tawny Molina · Rating 5 out of 5]

So when you spend most of your time reading and reviewing books you find that there are very few truly original feeling stories these days. Most authors take an idea that’s been done and put their spin on it. This is simply how it goes these days. As they say, its all been done before. Except perhaps it hasn’t. With Inhuman Acts by Brooke L. French you will not experience this issue. Was all that set up necessary for me to tell you that Inhuman Acts is an original story worth picking up? Damn right it was, allow me to explain.
So when you read the back cover of this delightful book the first thing you may think is, with zoonotic diseases creeping in to humans are we dealing with some kind of zombie novel? Or perhaps, is this concept hitting a bit too close to home with the virus scares of the last few years? Well to answer the first question, no we’re not dealing with zombies here, we’re dealing with living people affected by rabies! Which is highly unlikely to happen in real life. And if you are worried about this book bringing up reminders of COVID, I wouldn’t worry much, the infected animals and people in this book are not experiencing any similar. You can still get that delightful reading escapism from this fantastic novel.
Now that I have covered that lets cover a couple other things. So characters, how do they feel? They feel real. Their personalities, jobs, internal conflicts, its all real. While we may not all be cops or ecological scientists, but the characters are written in a way that we can certainly understand the issues they are going through in this story. The story itself? Fantastic, and a must read. A curious thriller with just enough description to make you cringe and shiver but not be able to put the book down!
Pick up Inhuman Acts by Brooke L. French, and tell your friends to do the same!

[John Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inhuman Acts by Brooke French is a good mystery revolving around a rabies outbreak and several murders in Tennessee. The story is similar to a number of books by Robin Cook and Michael Crichton.

In this case, Letty Duquesne is an ecological investigator looking at how the environment changes impact diseases within animal population. She works at the University of Georgia and is in line for a professorship.

A human case of rabies is fairly uncommon in the US. After two cases occur in one city in Tennessee, she decides to go investigate on her own what is going on. She is interested in finding the source animal and determine what might have led to the cases of rabies in humans. The city administration and health department are not interested in her help and feel it is just a random event.

At the same time the local police are investigating a local break in and arson of an animal testing facility. The police office investigating the arson is involved in a police shooting where he kills a local pastor who is attacking his partner. The pastor was one of the rabies cases that was diagnosed after his death. While he is on leave over the shooting, he meets Letty and gets involved with Letty and her investigation. She tells him that someone appears to be stalking her. Her description of the stalker matches that of the person running the testing lab which was attacked and some animals escaped. In her investigation she meets a veterinarian and becomes involved with him. While visiting his office, an employee walking a dog, finds a body.

In order to not spoil the ending, which was somewhat unexpected, I will end the plot description here. This was a good novel with several good plot twists that makes it a very good story. If you like novels similar to those by Robin Cook or Michael Crichton, you should check this book out.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows Letty, a field scientist soon-to-be exiled to a tenured professorship. Desperate for a last taste of hands-on science, she gets caught up in the investigation of a freak rabies outbreak. So many rabies cases in so small a time frame is unthinkable, and Letty stumbles on some dangerous animals in her search for the cause.

This book is a great example of how rich detailing and verisimilitude can help tell a story. There's lots of little details here that help the world feel real. Normally, I find the mention of a specific car model or drink to be cumbersome. But the author does it in a very succinct, elegant way.

There's also a grounding in real-life science. Rabies is presented realistically, but the fictional elements come in how much of it there is. It's a welcome change from fictional diseases and overblown pseudoscience of many medical thrillers.

The story is paced well: without spoilers, the gradual reveal of information, and the use of a few red herrings, had me guessing right until the end about the nature of the mystery. The final chapters of the book are very intense.

If i have anything negative to say, it's that some scenes in this book are hard to read. Not because they are badly written: because they are so well-written that it made me physically squeamish, genuinely fearful for the characters.

The only criticism I have of a *medical thriller*, is that I was worried for the characters, and had a visceral reaction to the gross scenes. Only a well-written story can elicit such a response, from a reader as jaded as I!

(Disclaimer: I received a free PDF copy of this book from the author.)

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Travelling Page Tours and Brooke L French for sending me a FREE ARC COPY to review for them as part of The Blog Tour this weekend!!

This was my first time reading a book by Brooke so i wasnt sure what to expect especially when i'd never read a Thriller about Human Rabies before but surprisingly i enjoyed it very much and ended up loving it by the end.

The Characters were so interesting to read about. Letty is by far my favorite character cause i could really relate to how she was feeling after losing a loved one since i lost my dad 11 months ago and since this book got into my feelings with that part of Letty's story, is mainly why i rated it 5 Stars!!

The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in Chattanooga, Tennessee especially when the scenery was described.

Im glad this book didnt get very graphic cause that would of been a big turn off for me since i hate when books gets too graphic so for me this book offered a good amount of Graphic description for my taste.

I do wish this was part of a series cause i'd love to see where Letty and the rest of the characters are now and what their next case would be.

Overall a Phenomenal Thriller about Human Rabies taking over a Southern Town Set in 2018!! Can't wait to read more by Brooke in the future!!

[Phyllis A. Still · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scary Realistic Medical Thriller
*I received an ARC from the author, but this is my honest review.

Well-developed characters with relatable personal issues converge in Chattanooga TN in a life-or-death quest to discover and stop the cause of a rare human to human outbreak of rabies.

Letty Duquesne, a highly respected epidemiology researcher, receives a coveted promotion to teacher at the University of Georgia. But she prefers lab work, and the offer comes on the one-year anniversary of her sister’s tragic death. When Letty sees the news report of a rare rabies case in Chattanooga, she flees Georgia for the chance to use her knowledge to help discover the source.

As an outsider, Letty must win the trust of Chattanooga officials, medical professionals, and Detective Andrew Marsh, currently on administrative leave while under investigation for his actions on the job.
Someone doesn’t like Letty snooping around and her life is in danger.

Author Brooke French keeps readers in suspense all the way to the end.
Inhuman Acts, is a well-researched medical thriller. French weaved a great fictional plot with the creepy possibility of reality in our day. The question remains: Are man-made environmental causes “contributing to the world-wide increase in zoonotic spillover and abnormal animal activity?”

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When two rabies cases are discovered in Chattanooga, Letty Duquesne volunteers her help. Although she is still grieving the death of her sister, she knows that two cases of rabies in the same area are more than a coincidence. She’s a researcher specializing in disease ecology, understands how rabies is transmitted and knows which animals are usually responsible.

After Chattanooga policeman Andrew Marsh kills a rabies infected popular local pastor as the man attacks Marsh’s partner, he’s put on leave and uses his spare time to help Letty with her investigations. There are animal suspects. Bats and raccoons are the usual culprits but recently arson at a research lab led to the release of several animal species. Charismatic local veterinarian Pete Hendrick helps Letty track down the source. Can they find that source before more people are infected?

Author Brooke L. French quit her day job (attorney) to write. This is her first novel and it shows she made the right decision. If you are a fan of James Patterson’s Zoo or anything by Michael Crichton, Brooke L. French is the author to watch! 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Black Rose Writing and Brooke L. French for this ARC.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a really great slow-burn medical thriller that centers around a few cases of rabies in a small town in Tennessee. Main character Letty Duquesne investigates the community to hopefully get to the bottom of the situation before it becomes more dire. But as the plot unfolds, the cause of the mysterious disease is actually more frightening than predicted.

I must admit, going in without knowing much about the book, I kept thinking..."and this is when they will become zombies...no, this is when..." I kept waiting and it just wasn't happening. I guess my head immediately took foaming at the mouth and acting wild to mean something more supernatural. But, in reality, rabies is actually a more frightening topic to tackle. And the delicate yet realistic way the author handles this mystery is all the more thrilling.

I really enjoyed this read...even though I initially expected zombies (not the author's fault - that's totally on me!). I definitely would recommend this to anyone who is a hypochondriac (like me) who loves to read about diseases gone awry...truly the most horrifying topic of all!

[Shangread-La · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disease ecologist Letty Duquesne is at a crossroads in her career when she learns of some unexplained human rabies cases in Tennessee. With her growing concern about zoonotic illnesses transferring to the human population, Letty leaves Georgia to help investigate these aberrations. Her efforts to track the source of the outbreak are met with resistance from local officials, but Letty's conviction that she can prevent the further spread of the deadly disease catches her in a web of deception that turns deadly.

The unusual plot of this novel had me hooked from the get-go. I find this subject to be both fascinating and terrifying, and French uses that dynamic to craft an intellectual thriller that delivers.

Letty's conviction and tenacity are admirable even when she makes some missteps in her zeal to solve the crisis. She's a strong character who lets her unresolved guilt spur her to some unfortunate choices.

Pick this one up if you're looking for a tension-filled science-based suspense read. The writing is on point and the search for the source animal will have you on high alert the next time you decide to take a solitary nature walk!

[Lynda Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

When rabies breaks out in a provincial community, Letty Dequesne, within a whisper of attaining a PHD in disease ecology, feels the need to intervene.

Duquesne is already traumatised by the accidental death of her sister, and is already viewed by her colleagues as damaged goods. She is to find that her concerns about a possible large-scale rabies outbreak are not given much credence by the locals either. However, she is not one to give in easily, and finds allies in a local vet and policeman Andrew Marsh.

This novel does seem to suffer somewhat from an identity crisis of sorts. It appears to start out as a scientific thriller on disease ecology, but actually morphs into a whodunnit, where virus is being spread about deliberately.

Actually, as a whodunnit, this story worked much better - the characters and local politics are developed on a way that made the reveal really satisfying: that 'I could have kicked myself'' for not pegging a perpetrator that was hiding in plain sight.

That maybe is the direction to pursue in future novels.

[Scott Ravede · Rating 3 out of 5]

People are dying of rabies at an unusually high rate and not in the usual way. Letty Duquesne is determined to get to the bottom of it, but meets resistance from her superiors. Why the resistance? I don’t think that was made clear. The rabies premise is interesting and a fairly unusual as a plot device (“Cujo” is an entirely different story). The way the story pans out, though, is rather disappointing. While it’s possible the second book in this series will fix this problem, I feel like each book should stand on its own. Otherwise, why divide the story into two books?
There are hints sprinkled throughout of an undercurrent of malevolence developing in the wild animals of the community, but the book ends with nothing ever coming of it. Does it have something to do with rabies? We never find out. Since I haven’t read the second book, I can’t say whether these hints were a neglected plot device or that something ultimately came to fruition.
If I ultimately do read the second book and all these issues are resolved, I may change my opinion of this one. For now though, 3 stars.

[L.M. Poplin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I really enjoyed reading Brooke French’s “The Carolina Variant,” (do yourself a favor and check it out if you haven’t already!!!) I was super excited to learn that she had written another thriller—Inhuman Acts—which I loved every bit as much! Letty is an extremely likable heroine, who, despite the best of intentions, makes mistakes that humanize her, making her seem relatable and real. Plus, she doesn’t let her failures (or her grief!) stop her from doing what she knows is right. The other characters (especially Andrew, but also his partner, Mary, and Letty’s colleagues from the university) feel equally rounded and real, and I found myself wanting to read more about all of them. (Sequel, please???) French’s writing is crisp and fast-paced, yet she’s still somehow able to construct a believable, three-dimensional world. The plot is suspenseful and engaging—it keeps readers guessing—and the lush, southern setting is full of detail and texture. A thoroughly entertaining book!

[Jennifer Landry (on Storygraph Exclusively Now!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut novel was a great fast-paced read that mostly kept me guessing until the end. When two people in Chattanooga, TN are found to have rabies, a young scientist, Letty, comes into town uninvited to try to help figure out what is going on. The Mayor seems to want to pretend it's not an issue, the state health department just thinks she's crazy, but she is convinced more people are going to die. The tension was well paced and the primary characters developed well enough to get you invested in them. There were a couple of side storylines that I didn't feel added much value at all to the story, but they didn't overpower the read. Overall, really recommend it if you are looking for a fast and exciting read.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great first book for an author! I loved the concept of a rabies outbreak and the time sensitive search for the host animal.

Letty, a disease ecologist, is suspicious of human rabies outbreaks and is on a mission to find the animal responsible for the spread of the disease. Letty makes some unlikely friends along the way, and makes some unsettling discoveries. There were many twists and turns, and I have to applaud the author for so masterfully leading up to the reveal of who is responsible for the rabies outbreak. The characters were developed well and I found the overall plot and story very satisfying.

Thank you to Travelling Page Tours and Brooke L. French for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling page-turner with an intriguing premise and engaging characters. The writing is very strong, and unlike many other thrillers I’ve read, the characters are well developed and come across as real, relatable people. The plot moves at a great pace, with just enough twists and turns to keep you wondering what will happen next and unable to put the book down. Highly recommend this to any thriller or mystery readers, or anyone that enjoys a well-written book with a nice blend of both plot and character development. Looking forward to reading Brooke French’s next release.