Review: A Heartbeat Away by Michael Palmer

James Allaire, President of the United States, is just about to start the State of the Union Address when a viral agent is released from several canisters. The virus, referred to as WRX3883,  is much worse than the dreaded Ebola virus.   The entire audience, approximately 700 people including nearly all of the President’s cabinet members, are infected.  Allarire orders a lock down of the Capitol building. 

Every person on the list of presidential succession is now trapped in the Capitol, every one but the “Doomsday Successor”for this particular event, the Director of Homeland Security.  Tucked safely away in his Minnesota home, he’s now next in line for President should all others on the succession list die.  

A group of domestic terrorists, Genesis, take responsibility for this horrible event. They demand that the government abolishes the Patriot Act and cease all electronic montitoring of U.S. Citizens.

The only individual who can possibly help is Griffin Rhodes, a viralogist who has been in prison for the past nine months for allegedly stealing this exact virus from a research lab.   Allaire orders Griff’s release from prison & promises his release in exchange for his cooporation.  Griff, full of rage at his false imprisonment, reluctantly agrees, as long as a reporter is given full-access to this mission.  An thus Angela Fletcher, a reporter fro the Washington Post (and Griff’s former lover) is given full access to the macabre scene inside the White House.

A subplot is the power struggle within the President’s Cabinet.  The Speaker of the House, Ursula Ellis, lost to Allaire in the presidential election.  She’s willing to literally do whatever it takes to gain the seat of Presidency.

Be prepared to stop everything, put your entire life on hold, once you start reading this book.  I started reading it yesterday morning and I read through my lunch hour (forgetting to eat) and finished last night.  The action starts quite literally within the first few pages.  While there are a few lulls, overall the pacing continues throughout the book.  The setting of D.C., a mere 20 minutes from me, really made this book real for me.  The plot is totally plausible.  Despite even the tightest of security, acts like this aren’t impossible.

Palmer is known for his medical thrillers, but the added political aspect of this one really impressed me. I think this touch increases the potential readership of this book tremendously.  While reading, I couldn’t stop talking about it with my husband (who reads for information, but not entertaiment). The entire concept interested him so much that he plans on reading it next. I think that’s one of the highest compliments that can be paid to a book!

So, if you enjoy political and/or medical thrillers (and can spare a good chunk of time from your schedule!) this one is for you.  Now that I’ve had a sample of his writing, I plan on going back to read more of Palmer’s work! Highly recommended!