I just finished my review of Pandemic (the 3rd book of this trilogy) and decided to go ahead and write one for the second book.
Admittedly, I read this just before the Pandemic, and Sigler pulls some of the same scenery switching tactics that really spoiled Pandemic for me. But for some reason, the same technique was not the same for Contagious. Maybe because he actually writes book chapters instead of movie scenery switches. Maybe there's more of a sense of "What is the Enemy Doing" kind of suspense that's not very present in the other book. Maybe his writing style changed enough in the 6-year gap that reading all three books in one week highlighted the stylistic change.
Anyway. Contagious is a classic horror and suspense story that nicely builds up the tension and anxiety to a very explosive ending. I rooted for Dew and Dawsey as their relationship changed from frustrated babysitter of "rampaging" murderer to tough veteran mentor who's guiding a vengeful victim back under self-control. I cheered for the response team (which Dew leads), the frantic science team (Dr. Montoya, Dr. Dan, and Dr. Amos) who's trying to figure out how this alien plague is randomly infecting the region's population. I booed the bad guy(?) and the egomaniacal infected leader that figures out how to hide from our heroes. I groaned at the politico's in DC who refuse to believe this is really happening.
In other words, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it for anyone who's a fan of alien invasions, out-of-control infectious epidemics, and an overworked group of first-responders fighting against time and human nature.
It's not literature, but Contagious can be a well spent weekend afternoon read.
--
Kuzu
Admittedly, I read this just before the Pandemic, and Sigler pulls some of the same scenery switching tactics that really spoiled Pandemic for me. But for some reason, the same technique was not the same for Contagious. Maybe because he actually writes book chapters instead of movie scenery switches. Maybe there's more of a sense of "What is the Enemy Doing" kind of suspense that's not very present in the other book. Maybe his writing style changed enough in the 6-year gap that reading all three books in one week highlighted the stylistic change.
Anyway. Contagious is a classic horror and suspense story that nicely builds up the tension and anxiety to a very explosive ending. I rooted for Dew and Dawsey as their relationship changed from frustrated babysitter of "rampaging" murderer to tough veteran mentor who's guiding a vengeful victim back under self-control. I cheered for the response team (which Dew leads), the frantic science team (Dr. Montoya, Dr. Dan, and Dr. Amos) who's trying to figure out how this alien plague is randomly infecting the region's population. I booed the bad guy(?) and the egomaniacal infected leader that figures out how to hide from our heroes. I groaned at the politico's in DC who refuse to believe this is really happening.
In other words, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it for anyone who's a fan of alien invasions, out-of-control infectious epidemics, and an overworked group of first-responders fighting against time and human nature.
It's not literature, but Contagious can be a well spent weekend afternoon read.
--
Kuzu
