I am pleased to be featuring Christine Poulson's suspense novel, An Air that Kills, on the blog today and to be taking part in the final day of the blog tour to celebrate the novel. It was published in paperback on 22nd November by Lion Hudson.
How long can you hold your breath?
Katie
Flanagan goes undercover at a lab: the scientists prove as dangerous as
the diseases. The atmosphere in the lab is toxic. It is only a matter
of time before there is a flu pandemic with the potential
to kill billions. Or so wealthy entrepreneur Lyle Lynstrum believes.
That is why he is funding research into transgenics – the mechanism by
which viruses can jump the species barrier – at a high security lab on a
tidal island off the North Devon coast.
A
suspiciously rapid turnover of staff has him worried. He sends in
scientist Katie Flanagan as an undercover lab technician. Something is
clearly very wrong, but before Katie can get to the bottom of
what is going on, a colleague is struck down by a mysterious illness.
Has the safety of the facility been compromised, allowing a deadly virus
to escape? Katie begins to suspect that the scientists are as deadly as
the diseases – and that her cover has been
blown. Then the island is cut off by high seas and a terrifying game of
cat-and-mouse begins…
My Thoughts
This crime thriller really is a 'hold your breath and see what happens' sort of a read. It is difficult to second guess and there are plenty of twists and turns along the way. The setting on an isolated island off the North Devon coast is wonderfully evoked which adds to the feeling of impending danger. I found the premise of possible scientific wrongdoing to be quite convincing and could readily believe in the culture of the science lab itself.
In Katie Flanagan you have a cool headed but relatable central character who is well used to living and working in isolated surroundings. There is quite a web of secrecy to untangle and plenty of suspects to consider. You find that you trust no one and can see the situation through Katie's eyes. There are just enough red herrings and false clues to keep you on your toes. A very enjoyable crime thriller which repays you for the reading.
In short: Suspicion settles in the air.
About the Author
Dr Christine Poulson has lectured in art history and is
familiar
with academic life. A member of the Society of Friends, she is author
of several novels and works of non-fiction including the Cassandra James
series. During her career as an art historian, she worked as a curator of
ceramics at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and as curator for the William
Morris Society at Kelmscott House in Hammersmith, London. She taught for the
Open University and was a lecturer in Art History at a college in Cambridge.
She is a member of the Crime Writers' Association. Chrissie is currently based
in Hope Valley, Derbyshire.
Thanks to Christine Poulson, Lion Hudson and Amber Choudhury of Midas PR for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.
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