AJ (Andy) Hill is a former Customs and Police Officer, his debut novel (DEAD DRIFT) in the Jack Lunn crime mystery series set in Hampshire’s New Forest, where he lived for thirty years. BLOODY BUTCHER is the follow up. An avid reader across the crime genre, reviewer for Shotsmag and regular at crime writing festivals, he now lives in West Sussex and works in property.
A cabal of the most powerful (the great, the greedy and the not so good) have determined that a cull of the human race is what is needed and unleash a virus in China to undertake said task. However, they reckon without Dr Haruto Ikeda, a Japanese scientist working in China, who wants to save the world.
For the powerful - parts of the media and governments want a world in conflict, a world of envy, distrust and hatred of ‘otherness’.
Now the infection is heading for Great Britain. A Great Britain led by Prime Minister Harris Jackson, so woefully out of his depth that a nuclear submarine couldn’t get deep enough to reach him. He’s also a man known for his ability to commit verbal faux pas and an inability to control his libido (any resemblance between Jackson and a tousle-haired former PM is pure coincidence, of course).
As the contagion will kill you, Harris Jackson sees no other alternative than to provide the population of Britain with a ‘dignity pill’. One last night with family, friends and those you love, rather than the horrifying death that the news footage has shown.
However, Dr Ikeda has found a way to manipulate the virus and mutate it. Instead of sickness and death, it will make them…nice! Rather than attacking the respiratory system, it will work its way into the brain, dialling up the ability to feel, be empathetic and show compassion.
Can humanity be saved, or could kindness be the biggest killer of all?
Will Carver has created an utterly believable world where the venality of those in power is exposed in a way that is completely relatable to what is already occurring in our current world. A world where greed and selfishness are perceived to be good. It is close enough to our own reality to be genuinely frightening and well-written enough to be engaging, entertaining and thoughtful.
A terrific read.
