Not many thrillers end with a bibliography of several dozen actual nonfiction books, but Perdue's prodigious and intriguing new novel (after 2004's Slatewiper
) has one—plus appendixes that are probably fiction because they include quotes from the novel's star players. Dr. Bradford Stone, "legendary Marine recon operative turned healer and scientist," makes it his business to find out who's behind a massive secret plan to turn the drug Xantaeus loose on a reduced but much more effective army in places like Iraq—especially after the love of his life, a black activist in the Mississippi Delta country, is killed by a female sniper involved in the conspiracy. Stone and the murdered activist's daughter are credible characters; the plot's premise stands up to scrutiny; and Perdue brings the Delta geography to vivid life. Even though the writing occasionally slips into some awkward phrasing ("Gabriel had paid scant attention and given no real thought to those critics, preferring to believe the day of the nondepleting neurotrop would never come"), this is an exciting novel. Agent, Natasha Kern. (Sept.)
