Roberts’s journal tips them off that a clandestine plot for using the virus is about to be unleashed by a secret society, the Keepers Collegium. The Collegium, an international group of rogue intelligence agents, ex-military, and government officials, has a demonic plan to use the pathogen to destroy anyone who threatens their twisted ideology.
Sam and Rainee soon realize that public exposure of the evil plot would be as dangerous to the world’s security as the bio-weapon itself—the fallout could lead to World War III. Therefore, they must not only shut down the plans of the Collegium, but also keep the top- secret information away from the media.
But as they work to stop the plot, Sam and Rainee are kidnapped by the drug cartel. The kingpin, who financed much of the Collegium’s plot, wants them to hand over Roberts’s journal because it lists the names of the major players in the Collegium who had double-crossed him. He plans to carry out his own revenge. In order to survive, Sam and Rainee have no choice—they must play with one of two devils or be burned by both.
Factor-7 by J.D. May is a spine-chilling page turner with an all-too-true ring of truth. The ‘what ifs’ take hold right from the start when Dr. Sam Hawkins rushes headlong into the Trauma unit of a Houston hospital to save his friend Dr. Bill Roberts from an unknown virus that is tearing the man’s body apart minute by minute. The ensuing chapters outline a horrific tale wrapped in a heavy blanket of greed; narcissism; and a modified, deadly version of an ancient brotherhood intent on biological warfare to weed out their version of an undesirable ethnicity. While a work of thrilling, edge-of-your-seat fiction, Factor-7 will hit hard because it reaches out and pokes at that exposed real-life virus pandemic nerve that continues to shock our world.
Sam wants answers to what killed his friend, but evidence goes missing, and bad characters start closing in to make sure the deadly, man-made Factor-7 will still reach its intended target. Sam reluctantly teams up with Dr. Rainee Arienzo to find Dr. Roberts’s papers and maybe find a way to stop the deadly attack. Despite all the danger, romance and heated attraction sneak up on these two, so be prepared for a few super-sexy, spicy, and explicit scenes amidst all the murderous commotion.
J.D. May has developed several interesting characters, but the two main ones, Sam and Rainee, sometimes come across as a bit whiny or even over-the-top hysterical. Of course, their lives do devolve into a life-and-death situation rather quickly, but they both are either crying or screeching, or both. Either way, their reactions are probably realistic because who wouldn’t fall apart when bad people keep trying to kill you?
The pacing is mostly fast, but about half way, the movement of the story slows to a crawl when Sam and Rainee pore over Dr. Roberts’s papers outlining pretty much everything about Factor-7 and his involvement. While interesting, this descriptive interlude definitely puts the brakes on the action, albeit temporarily. Not to fear, however, because everything kicks back into high gear soon after, and these two doctors find themselves trapped in the unfortunate situation of having to choose between the lesser of two evil scenarios. But which one will have the least fallout and collateral damage? Only one way to find out! Pay close attention because there is a lot to absorb in this suspenseful story.
Factor-7 is an international thriller that will certainly entertain but will also scare the molecules out of you because this scenario can no longer be viewed as purely science fiction but as a potential reality. Bioweapons are not new, of course, but this story poses a haunting, racially motivated reason for inventing a virus to eliminate scores of innocents. Sam and Rainee find themselves in a no-win situation, but can they find a way to stop a hate- and greed-induced genocide in its tracks, or are their hands so tied that all they can do is follow the orders of a bad actor with his own self-proclaimed altruistic agenda? Get your hands on a copy of Factor-7 and discover for yourself how this frightening narrative plays out. You’ll be completely surprised and totally intrigued when you reach that last page.
Enter the giveaway below on or before February 12, 2021, for a chance to win some fabulous prizes.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
J.D. May is a third generation Texan from the Lower Rio Grande Valley. She loves her band of house cats as well as the large tribe of fat, happy TNR’d feral cats that came with her rural property in a small citrus-growing community. Palm tree-lined roads, natural waterways, and roaming wild animals including alligators, deer, wild hogs, and birds of every color make Bayview a perfect place for a writer and painter. She also loves the beach, rock and roll, Tex-Mex food, cooking, Shiner Bock beer, and she believes wine is a legitimate food group. She shows her paintings at The Laguna Madre Art Gallery in Port Isabel, Texas.
J.D. May attended Sam Houston State University, San Miguel de Allende Instituto, and Rice University where she studied drama, art, creative writing and Spanish. J.D. May worked in advertising for most of her career. She is married to a former award-winning surfer and has a daughter and soon to have a brand-new granddaughter.
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“Scare the molecules out of you.” LOVE that! Great review, as always. Thanks for sharing this book with readers.
Terrific review. I missed getting the book for review, but will check it out on Amazon.