PLAGUEMAKER

Top-drawer thriller about mortal grudges—and fatal fleas.

Oriental rat fleas are known carriers of bubonic plague. This is the chilling tidbit tossed at FBI Special Agent Nathan Donovan by a forensic entomologist, hovering over an infestation of them. Fortunately, the fleas are all dead, as is the body they swirled around. Donovan, who heads the Joint Terrorism Task force, has been called to the scene not because of the homicide but because of its scary subtext: What if someone could get close enough to a major U.S. city to unleash on it a volatile swarm of killer fleas? Enter Sato Matsushita, a brilliant Japanese scientist whose grudge against the U.S. has smoldered for 60 years. Now enter Shee Dong Li, a brilliant Chinese scientist, who for 60 years has nursed a grudge against Sato. Both octogenarians have their reasons, both are more intent on vengeance than they are on living. Li contacts Donovan, convinces him that Sato is fully capable of mass murder and puts himself forward as the FBI’s best chance in a Sato-hunt. Donovan has misgivings, but Li is, as always, persuasive. Suddenly, time becomes the critical factor: A huge Fourth of July celebration has been planned for New York Harbor, and the threat of a plague looms large. In its way stands only a minuscule blockade composed of Li, Donovan and Macy Monroe, Donovan’s ex-wife, nurturer of her own long-standing grudge.

Downs (Chop Shop, 2004, etc.) knows his bugs and his techno stuff, but what makes this work so well is the appeal of the characters, particularly that witty old Chinese scientist.