A nasty plague that's sweeping across the planet. Alien creatures that spring up in its wake? A bumbling and heavy-handed military that's inserting itself at the worst possible moments? Scientists that meddle in things they shouldn't and all hell breaks loose? Delicious villains? Trickery and backstabbing? All these elements make for a fun adventure that is suspenseful and a page-turner right to the end, in a race against time to save humanity.

Brilliant physician, Hope Allerd is back. And this time she encounters her most lethal opponents yet. When she’s asked to consult on a critically ill patient, she encounters a series of near supernatural creatures that arise from an incurable viral disease. As she is pursued by these otherworldly beings, Hope begins to piece together their origin and the type of virus they spread. As whole cities succumb to the viral outbreak, Hope must hunt down and destroy the key to ending the scourge—Patient Zero—before the entire planet is engulfed in an extinction level plague. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read the other books, too, to get the most out of this book and it’s amazingly well formed lead character. Thornton has created a character who, while not always likeable, always seems real in how she engages, thinks and responds. The story itself is quite terrifying, really - and Thornton breathers life into it all too convincingly!

The action starts with a young doctor Hope Allerd, who is hinted and attacked by an assailant with apparently superhuman powers. She also did overs a new pandemic is about to break out. But, being young,black and female, it seems that her hide-bound superiors are having none of it when she tries to tell them that some of the ague victims are turning in more sinister ways, nor that these creatures ate out to get her - and others.

Despite the title, science fiction plays only a small role in this novel, the plague link to a distant star is miniscule. This is in part a medical thriller, where the hunt is on to find a cure for a new scourge before humanity is either wiped out, nuked out, or becomes zombified.

There is a love interest too, as she is forced to collaborate with her ex to end the pandemic. There is also plenty of adventure and off-the-seat suspense as Hope joins forces with the Army to save the day.

Possibly for some the problem is that there is a little too much of everything in this novel, though maybe got some it is a long enough read to support this multi-facedness. For those fatigued by Covid and Omicrom traumas are reworked through the retelling of protocols known and loved - of masking, social distancing, sealing off cities, etc. Only now there is that much more schlock and horror through the minority of humans mutating into something together more alien if they are not just part of a biting, undead mob. Again - try explaining that to institutions of a more traditional bent....

The reader will have to find out for themselves if Hope does save the day. No doubt, great entertainment for those whose tastes already lie in that direction

Was this part of a series? I did have a hard time at the start of the book because I felt I was dropped in mid story but I was curious enough to keep going. Once I got through the first bit of the story I started to enjoy it more. I saw in another review that this was fourth in a series and that explains the rough start, I wish it had been clearer in the description as I probably would of not requested an ARC to read before reading the prior books in the series. I will still want to read the other books though :)

Terrifyingly familiar… the uncanny at its best - Inkish Kingdoms

In the best style of a zombie apocalypse, The Proxima Plague by Robert Thornton constructed a story worth reading multiple times as it hits close to home with their human-made virus. Overall, The Proxima Plague, the fourth book under Robert Thornton’s bell, defends itself against giants who have written about the end of the world as World War Z and The Atlantis Gene. Well written with an impressive mastery over medicine and science, Thornton adds funny punches to his novel making it a must-read for everybody who is into thrillers, paranormal, and the end of the world. The plot does not feel forced. The characters’ dynamics are healthy, and their speech has a natural feeling that not everybody has managed to master.