Plaguemaker

Author: Tim Downs
Hardback
Publisher: WestBow Press
Released: January 2006
ISBN: 1595540229

Four lives tragically intersect to stop a plot to exterminate 100 million people. The plot is the result of one man’s consuming passion; the other three are on an equally passionate mission to stop him.

All four lives have been marred by personal tragedies—tragedies made more profound by the fact that they were beyond anyone’s power to prevent. The suffering and tremendous loss drives each of them to passionate action, to a life’s mission. All but one has not been able to come to terms with his own powerlessness; he realizes that God is the only one who can redeem the heartbreak. The eventual meeting of the four results in a locus of personal and mass destruction, reconciliation, and human triumph.

Tim Downs’ newest book, Plaguemaker, is a first-rate thriller—another bug thriller by the consummate bug guy. The story centers around biological warfare (inexpensive and highly deliverable weapons of mass destruction), and is made all the more scary by the realization of its conceivability. The story takes place in New York City, where our nemesis is a badly deluded, mourning, Japanese chemical genius left over from the WWII chemi-thon, Sato Matsushito. Even though Japan lost the war, Sato and his cronies had the good fortune to be picked up by the Russians after Hiroshima. The Russians were appalled by the use of chemical testing on the Chinese. But they needed chemical weapons and Japan knew a lot about what they didn’t. So they gave most of the scientists a free pass to Moscow. (Historically, but for the “A� Bomb, and the subsequent end of the war, San Diego was targeted for the plague by the Japanese.)

[Side Note: The Geneva Convention prohibits the use of chemical and biological weapons; nothing prohibits their development. So in the spirit of good sportsmanship, major superpowers have developed these weapons. The really scary part in my view? The Geneva Convention is arguably one of the weakest of all human contracts. Prohibiting the use while allowing the development of these weapons gives us a glimpse into the duality of human nature, and the tenuousness of the Geneva Convention. In order to develop the effectiveness of bio-weapons on humans, they must be tested on humans… And that testing is why I’m nervous. Testing implies use. If a nation will test them on humans, where is the morality that stops them from “using� them on humans? Hence my perceived weakness of the prohibitions.]

Back to the story: Our G-man is Nathan Donovan, who happens to be a good man with a bad attitude that just so happens to serve the CIA very well. Our G-woman turns out to be college professor Dr. Macy Monroe, of uncommon beauty (thanks for that, Mr. Downs), who is trained in terrorist negotiations and a million other things. Our hero is a Chinese-born Christian, Mr. Li, who ends up spending the bulk of his life in England. He, too, was a victim of some WWII chemical testers and has spent his life tracking those scientists down. No, I’m not going to tell you any other details!

As a Christian, Mr. Li has an exemplary witness. His character is not cheap and schmaltzy. His conversations about eternal things are handled well. I particularly enjoyed the ancient Chinese wisdom mingled in with the Biblical truth that he espouses. This fine, easy-to-read-but-hard-to-put-down book teaches some strong lessons, and their strength comes from the story’s realness. It is hard to put down, though, because it’s a great story, full stop! (Marine term, slight spoiler there). Honestly, it is a great story, told with humor, practicality, and good research.

And it’s a great thriller. As a novelist, Tim Downs has found a new fan. I’d not read any of his books before I was given this one to review, and I must say I’m impressed. It probably helps that I know a bit about the operations of shipping lines and waterfront business. I enjoyed that aspect of the story. There is one very tense section where an explosion causes shipping containers to rain down on Nathan and Dr. Monroe. I’ve had a stack of containers fall on my container lift before, with me in it. The picture wasn’t pretty and I remember well the feeling. Thanks for that too, Mr. Downs.

Look for the creative and intelligent ways Li shares his faith. He sincerely wants to do the Lord’s work. The life of a CIA agent has its stresses, but it was nice to realize that there are probably people in that profession that can bring the truth of Christ to them. As people they are no different from the average guy. We all need to be “ready to die daily.� For a CIA agent, there is pragmatism in that scripture.

One lesson I took away from Plaguemaker is this: Success depends on how you deal with your losses. You can either have your life consumed by fear, loss, and revengeful pursuits, or you can spend your life in forgiveness with God’s mission in your heart. Plaguemaker made me think about this—yet in a smart and well-intoned way. Excellent read.

Note to author: too short. I didn’t want the story to end.