Because Trigger is one of my all-time favorite thrillers, this sequel was an easy choice, a drop-everything-you're-doing-and-grab-it read for me.
Lead character Kate Morrison is a hardworking but unassuming ER doctor working in a busy Vancouver hospital. The harrowing events in Trigger has added a few more physical and psychological scars to the ones she's carried from before--a life-long guilt over a death she was helpless to prevent. Meanwhile, RCMP sergeant Andy Wyles, her erstwhile protector and savior from Book 1, has become her lover. Their few moments of solitude together in the mountains have been some of the happiest times for Kate. But coming back to work and the real world, she has to learn to navigate the changed politics in the ER, accept her newly discovered sexual identity, and manage a relationship with a woman who is very comfortable in her own. But scarcely has she warmed her seat again before she and Andy are called back into action, to handle a mysterious outbreak of flu that sounds suspiciously like it's deliberate.
Sequels often have a hard time living up to the original, especially if the latter is a solid 5-star thriller with a really unique premise. Can the author come up with something more spine-chllling than a human bomb? Turns out she didn't need to.
In Pathogen, the boogeyman is one of mankind's oldest nemesis: viruses. Kate goes into full investigative mode as she tries to figure out the how's of transmission and treatment, while Andy carries on a parallel investigation into the who and the why. This focus on medical investigation is what sets this book apart from the first. And makes for a fresh, in-depth look at the real Dr. Kate Morrison in action and in her element. Being together throughout the book also allows a deeper exploration of Kate and Andy's relationship. This is less straightforward than I assumed as even these two mature, perfectly understanding protagonists still have some issues to work out, chief of which is Andy's tendency to be overprotective and Kate's struggle with her sexual identity. Add to that the presence of a creepy and prickly character from Andy's past, pesky patronage politics, and the breathless (and sleepless) race to find a cure and we've got one doozy of a thriller with a dash of lesfic drama.
What makes Pathogen such an effective thriller rests in its ability to sustain tension throughout the book. Even in the quieter moments not involving the medical cases, there was always an undercurrent of dramatic tension going on between the characters. This is due to the variety of nuanced supporting characters that populate Pathogen.
My favorite parts of the book have to be Kate and Andy's interactions. Loving, familiar yet still tinged with some uncertainty and tension--a perfect example of a new couple adjusting to each other, working through their issues together under the most unusual and trying of circumstances--sort of like a baptism of fire--and succeeding or failing at it. I love how the author has continued to develop Kate as a very complex character -- her psyche damaged and rendered fragile by circumstances but still amazingly resilient. Andy's still the same strong, silent and fiercely protective type. We get to know quite a bit more about her in this book because we see her (and everything else) from Kate's POV, and Kate knows her much better now. They are so attuned to each other, and yet, because of the newness of the relationship, and unresolved issues, things have a tendency to flare up at any moment, especially with the added pressure of the case. I loved reading how they resolved their issues, or didn't. Their relationship is so lovingly and sensitively delineated that it feels so special, even if it's just a small part of the book.
The rich plot takes quite a few interesting turns, but the meat of the book is the hunt for the virus' origins and the most effective treatment protocol. And this necessarily involves looking into the virus' epidemiology, it's origins, possible mutations, virulence, modes of transmission etc. The book feels very authentic in this aspect, and almost makes the job of a virologist sexy. Almost. :) I don't pretend to understand everything about how pathogens mutate and invade, but the book manages to make the chase quite riveting.
Plot wise, it does seem unorthodox that the powers that be would call in a hospital ER doc in to manage and track down a flu outbreak, instead of say, an infectious disease specialist, virologist or pathologist...but the author managed to make it work for me. Kate's insistence on relying on patient background and history instead of just the usual clinical charts for diagnosis, her results-oriented approach, her non-confrontational style, her natural empathy for others and her ability to work with the most prickly personalities makes her ultimately perfect for that role.
Bottom line, I highly recommend this book for people looking for a smart, tightly written, riveting, medical investigative thriller that also works as an excellent character study of a woman who's been through hell and back, though a little worse for wear each time. (ugh, I'm dreading what the 3rd book will do to her...she may never admit it, but she needs to get some serious therapy now! before she dives into anymore (mis)adventures. :) ) Her unassuming nature, survival instincts (or lack of it, as Andy vehemently proclaims, lol) and a keen eye for people-reading makes her a genuine heroine we can all get into.
Reviewed by Allison Never
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