This was our book for book club this month - what a pleasant surprise! We don't normally have thrillers on our list, but one of the ladies had heard of this new release and hosted the book. The story follows Will Foster, who unknowingly possesses a DNA mutation that is highly attractive to pharmaceutical companies. He enlists the help of a past girlfriend and the two race to outrun Vyrogen Pharmaceuticals and a Think Tank hired to find him before Vyrogen does. The medical research was detailed and interesting but understandable. To me it was reminiscent of The Bourne Identity and in my head, Will Foster looked a lot like a young Matt Damon ☺. ( )

I am not the biggest fan of thrillers. While they are almost always very exciting, and while I frequently find myself blazing through the pages at an alarming pace I inevitably find them unsatisfying upon completing them. A common exclamation after reading the final page is something along the lines of "That's it? It's over? That is how it ended?" Like riding a nauseating roller coaster at an amusement park, it's thrilling for a bit but it ends before you know it and it will probably leave you with an urge to vomit that lasts longer than the duration of the ride itself.

A few things will make me take the plunge however. Ones set during a epidemic, dealing with bioterrorism, or with a strong foundation built with biology or science in general will pique my interest. Okay fine, I'll also admit that I'll read pretty much anything with a biohazard symbol slapped on it. Seriously. So, as far as thrillers go The Calypso Directive was right up my alley, and as it turns out it was a thoroughly enjoyable read!

I'm always hesitant to summarize books of this sort. Thrillers are to be experienced, and having foresight into the story lessens the experience for the reader of the summary. So, basically, the book is about a man named Will Foster who is being quarantined against his will by a shady medical research institute. He escapes with a vial of yersinia pestis and another of some unknown substance and so begins the obligatory high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse.

I naturally found myself with a dubious raised eyebrow a few times while reading the novel as there are numerous unlikely improbables, but I associate this trope with the thriller genre itself. The science in this novel is both solid and intriguing, which is what I cared about most. I liked the characters, the story had me hooked, and the ending is fairly well done for a first book in a series. The reader will make you desperate for a new installment as the plot is left wide open, but it's not a cliffhanger and is conclusive enough to feel satisfying.

Overall The Calypso Directive was a very enjoyable read for me. Exciting, science-y, what's not to like? 4 stars. ( )