Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
![[4 stars]](../images/spots/1_splat_40.gif)
The Hades Factor
Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Robert Ludlum
, Gayle Lynds
Class/Genre: Fiction Mystery Thriller Espionage
Series: Covert-One # 1
St. Martin’s, Jul 2000, $15.95, 432 pp.
In Boston, homeless person Mario Dublin dies just outside a pharmacy. In Atlanta, teenager Billie Jo Pickett dies following a performance in a high school play. Finally, in Fort Irwin, Major Keith Anderson also dies. Each one of the victims die from the same unknown but sudden disease.
The US Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick heads the investigation into this unknown but deadly virus. Specifically, Dr. Sophia Russell sees a similarity with a mysterious disease that she encountered in Peru. In spite of her precautions, Sophia becomes number four. Sophia’s fiancé Lt. Col. Jonathan “Jon” Smith of (USAMRIID) returns from London to barely survive an attack on his life. Jon, a former Army spook, begins searching for the truth behind a virus that has struck in four different regions of the country before it becomes pandemic.
Robert Ludlum and Gayle Lynds collaborate on an exciting medical-military thriller that moves at a rapid pace to its climax. The story line is crisp but having the hero and heroine (Sophia’s CIA sister) both being professional James (and Jane) Bond types hurts the believability factor. Though no Bond or even Powers, still fans of the sub-genre will gain pleasure from the first installment of what could turn out to be an exciting new series.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
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