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It is his first day at the Elrice Prison infirmary, but already Dr. Jack Harris knows that there is something wrong. The prisoners he sees are more than sick; they are dying. As Jack searches for the truth, he is plunged into a vast conspiracy dealing with a secret medical experiment. W. H. Watford is clearly being seen as a possible rival to Michael Palmer and Robin Cook, two of the biggest current medical conspiracy writers. In MORTAL STRAIN, he has created a fast-paced, tense book where the action kicks off from the very beginning and does not end until the last page, where Watford throws in his last surprises. The character of Jack Harris is a very human one and Watford tries to show that he is indeed fallible, like everyone else. We do not get to see much of the motivation behind the bad characters in the novel; instead, they remain in the background as shadowy forces conspiring against Harris. He also goes to great lengths to demonstrate his medical background, describing the symptoms and medical procedures in the novel in detail. However, they remain intelligible for those who have no medical knowledge, adding authenticity to the novel. It could be argued that the ultimate conspiracy in the novel is unbelievable and impossible, but it still makes for good reading. Overall, MORTAL STRAIN; is another good medical thriller and will be swiftly devoured by fans of Palmer and Cook. The alt.books.dean-koontz FAQ can be found at: http://www.hildbede.freeserve.co.uk/faq.htm
Reviewed by Luke Croll, November 2002
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