Fatal by Michael Palmer
Michael Palmer’s Fatal is a brick of a book and a rollercoaster of a read, taking us through sinister intrigue, political conspiracy, 2 love stories, extreme violence and plot twists that keep on on coming! It took me a few nights to read this excellent book, and I was hooked from the first few pages as the very believable and complex central character Matt Rutledge drew me into the narrative from the outset, as I cared about what happened to him, which is quite unusual sometimes with modern fiction. The novel begins with an explosive prologue, as a cafeteria worker with flu-like symptoms suddenly begins haemorrhaging from every part of her body, and then in Boston a brilliant musician of sound mind develops acute paranoia which proves fatal. In Matt Rutledge’s West Virginia town of Belinda, a mine worker suddenly goes berserk in the mine causing death and injury. What can the connection be between the mine, its owners, and the deaths from strange causes across the country, which appear to have no connection? And how does the new super vaccine, Omnivax, fit into the picture? Matt Rutledge is determined to find out, enlisting help from some unexpected quarters – but will his quest for the truth prove fatal?
All these question ran through my mind, and finding the answers was an enjoyable journey through the eyes of the central characters as they put the pieces of the puzzle together at great risk to themselves. This was the first Michael Palmer book I’d read – but just now I’ve been to Amazon and ordered 5 more, that’s how good a read this was, it was a book I could totally escape into and enjoy the story, looking forward to my next instalment each night, and in a way I was sad to finish it. Michael Palmer’s Fatal comes highly recommended by this book reviews blog!