Extinction Edge

This blood-drenched sequel to Extinction Horizon shows the perils of good intentions. Billions of humans became carnivorous when a U.S. military attempt to develop unstoppable supersoldiers went haywire. Dr. Kate Lovato developed a virus intended to wipe out the creatures; it killed most of them, but millions of “variants” survived. Now they’re mutating, becoming more threatening physically and mentally. They’ve even become smart enough to ambush the overconfident soldiers sent to retake America’s cities. Special Forces Master Sgt. Reed Beckham, Kate’s lover, is part of that mission, and the novel ends with him trapped in the ruins of New York. The only thing that may save him is that the Extinction series has at least five more books to go. Smith is ingenious in evolving the threat and escalating the action, but after a while the reader becomes numb to the ultraviolence. Agent: David Fugate, Launch Books. (June)