Title: INFECTED
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Author: Scott Sigler
Edition released: 2008
ISBN: 978-0-340-96352-4
340 pages
Reviewed by: Adam Donnison

There is a strange disease going around that has terrifying implications. Seeds falling from the sky have infiltrated a number of people, causing itchy triangular lesions that eventually drive the victim to insanity, homicide and even suicide. A CDC (Center for Disease Control) underling, Margaret Montoya, first identifies the disease and contacts the CIA. Dew Philips, a hardened CIA veteran, has already lost a partner thanks to a deranged victim of the disease and he is torn between his need for revenge and his duty.

Perry Dawsey, an ex-footballer with an attitude problem, is infected and tries to take on the infection himself, becoming more and more paranoid as the effects of the infection take hold.

Time is running short, as when the host dies, the infection releases catalysts that cause the body to quickly self destruct - removing all traces of the foreign bodies. But who created the infection agent? What is it's purpose? And why do the victims go insane.

INFECTED is also known as Infection in its original US release. INFECTED is a traditional alien invasion horror story. It is competently written, with a sense of urgency coming through, and plenty of gore and testosterone to delight the fan, but for me the shortcomings overshadowed what would otherwise be a reasonably entertaining read.

In the opening chapters the "seeds" are consumed by the Demodex mite, and apparently need to have their protective coat destroyed as they pass through the digestive tract of the mite to start their next phase. With less than a minutes research it would be clear that the Demodex mite doesn't have any way of eliminating waste. It doesn't need it. And the thing that really bugged me about this is that it was so unnecessary to the story. What would have been wrong with requiring body warmth and the moisture from sweat? Or the oils from the skin? Or heck, why not the human digestive system?

I also really hated the cliche of the ex Vietnam vet turned CIA operative, running as a lone wolf, bent on revenge for his buddy's demise. Also, why was the CIA involved at all? Apparently this underling from the CDC calls up the local CIA office and is put through the the director and then the President is authorising black ops on US soil? Gimme a break! I'm sure the huge number of fans of Sigler will descend on me for my heresy but there is just too much that is unbelievable in this to make it even a half-way decent story.