It is always an exhilarating experience coming across a new writing talent, an author new to you whose work is fresh, exciting, and brings something new to the reading experience. Such is certainly the case with Joe McKinney and his paperback novel for Lachesis Publishing, titled Quarantined. The novel is as contemporary and relevant as the Swine Flu (H1N1) virus. Fear Zone has recently provided both an Interview with the novel's author, Joe McKinney, and also provided an excerpt from Quarantined. It is my pleasure to follow these up now with a review of the novel.

Quarantined is set in the San Antonio Texas of tomorrow, or next week, where a recurrence of an old virus that had previously originated there and hit hard some generations ago and was thought to have been completely wiped out, reappears in a mutated and far more deadly new strain. As tens of thousands die horrible deaths, the U.S. government responds by quickly building a wall around the city and sending in national armed forces to enforce a total quarantine of the area. Both the American Government and the United Nations, through the World Health Organization (WHO) also send in teams of scientists to conduct research into this virulent flu strain and to try and create some sort of vaccine to cure the deadly disease. The novel accurately and frighteningly portrays what such a disaster means for all levels of government and society. Better yet, the novel does so, without being preachy or overdrawn by examining the crisis through the eyes of protagonist, Detective Lily Harris, a young, married homicide detective with a young son and loving husband, who resides within San Antonio and is trying to cope with the crisis, keep her family together, and also do her job.

Detective Harris and her partner, detective Reggie "Chunk' Dempsey, are working routine burial statistics duty at the bio-hazard mass-grave site established within San Antonio's new sealed borders when they come across the murdered body of a female research doctor who had been working on the ramifications of the new deadly flu epidemic. Their investigation leads to shocking conclusions with potentially devastating consequences for all humanity.

Quarantined reads in part much like an especially exciting combination of a Michael Crichton novel and a cliffhanger episode of CSI. The author manages to get all the details "right" and to convey a very realistic and honest portrayal of police and governmental procedures as well as to the detailed characters of his protagonists. Author McKinney's prowess in these regards is no doubt helped by the fact that he is, himself, a working homicide detective for the San Antonio Police Department who has also served upon that police department's Critical Incident Management Team that coordinates responses to large-scale disasters such as flooding, hurricanes and hazardous materials spills, among other threats. The multi-talented McKinney also holds a Master's Degree in Literature from the University of Texas. These varied skill sets translate to an author who not only is able to plot a compelling police procedural/murder mystery and a riveting thriller, but who is also capable of presenting readers with strong, credible and multi-layered characters who keep readers engrossed within the story as well. Some authors are expert at writing intricate plotlines, others with fast-paced action, and still others with compelling characters. However, it is unusual and truly refreshing to find an author who is sufficiently talented to combine all three such skill sets, and happily, Joe McKinney is one such author.

Quarantined is a perfect "summer novel," a captivating, easy and entertaining read and one that is as germane as today's headlines. In this time of exotic viruses and growing government intrusion into our private lives, Quarantined will give readers much to consider and ponder, while still providing a very potent thriller and absorbing murder mystery. Author Joe McKinney is an extremely talented author who seems quite capable of working well within and across any genre boundaries - a rising talent to look out for. I will certainly be purchasing his next book based upon his performance in Quarantined, and highly recommend that you all obtain and read this exceptionally intriguing, suspenseful, and diverting novel.