“In the frozen waters of the Arctic, Marine bioterror expert Joe Rush races to save a submarine crew from a lethal threat…”

NO MAJOR SPOILERS

For decades, hapless movie goers have chanted to cinematic characters flickering on the screen, “don’t go in the basement, don’t go in the basement; don’t go in the basement.”

Bob Ross, under his pseudonym James Abel, delivers a fast paced; action packed science thriller so vivid it will play before your eyes like any cinema film. And just as you cautioned those cellar explorers, you’ll want to cry out to the deftly created characters in White Plague.

Film plays an important part of the mystery protagonist Joe Rush (marine doctor and bio-terror expert) is charged to solve. Deployed to the arctic region with sketchy orders, Rush finds himself trying to rescue the ailing crew of a disabled, advanced U.S. submarine, stranded on the ice. Like the constantly moving ice obscuring the cold ocean depths, little is what it seems to be, and a mistake could plunge our heroes into unknown disasters. For Rush and his crew are not the only ones racing to the rescue. An enemy sub is circling, trying to snatch secret technology from the U.S.

As if that is not enough, the U.S. crew is not alone on the ice. Something else is out there, something they unleashed that could impact the fate of the world.

White Plague is a great beach read; a thrilling page turner in an unusual setting, filled with twists and turns. I found the final pages somewhat lacking, but not bad enough to keep me from recommending this engaging read.