‘The Hero Virus’ tells the thrilling story of Chris Taylor, who is hanging on to life by a thread.
Recently widowed, his only reason to carry on is his faithful Labrador, but even that doesn’t stop his willingness to gamble with death every day. When his companion suffers a violent demise, Taylor thinks he has nothing left to live for, until he discovers he has chanced upon a precious gift… he has become very ill.
The illness gives him special powers and, fairly soon, the authorities are swooping on to the ever-increasing list of cases. The Hero Virus might be different to other illnesses, but it’s no less dangerous. The effect it has on the world, though, is wildly different to any other virus that has come before. The unique reaction of the human body to infection means that everyone wants it. And some will do anything to get it.
How do you stop a pandemic when there are people who will kill for the virus? How do you stop people getting infected when they’re willing to die for it? How do you stop the infected when they have abilities nobody has ever seen before?
What did I think?
I was drawn to The Hero Virus as I do like my superhero films and this is like X-Men on steroids with mutations resulting from a viral infection. It's a really interesting premise and you can't help but draw comparisons with the coronavirus pandemic with one huge difference: the hero virus is something that everyone wants to be infected with.
Widower Chris Taylor has suicidal thoughts every day as he puts a gun loaded with a single bullet to his mouth and presses the trigger. The resulting click means he's not dying today and must get on with his empty life with just his dog for company. When his dog dies from a mystery infection, Chris also becomes ill but rather than wake up weaker, he wakes up a LOT stronger.
As the virus spreads, the authorities try to contain the infection but the population want to get superpowers too and they will do anything to get infected. It's gorey at times and the writing is very vivid so I did find my stomach clenching at some of the scenes. It would be a fantastic film and it was almost like a film was playing in my head whilst I was reading the book.
Vividly written with an imaginative and original plot, The Hero Virus is a high-octane thriller that is packed with action. It's a real page-turner with a jaw-dropping ending that made me actually gasp out loud. I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this book, even if you think it's not your usual genre - give it a go! Very highly recommended.
Many thanks to Russell Dumper for sending me a gifted paperback to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
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