Book: Whiteout
Author: Ken Follet
Publisher: Macmillan
Year: 2004
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Most works of Ken Follet are page-turner,
but in Whiteout the action picks up only in the second-half. Once you are in, you may be forced to take it
all the way till the end. There is no shortage of characters in this book, and
it is surprising to find them all neatly tied up to present an interesting
read. Whiteout is a concoction of interesting characters, mystery, love,
betrayal and secrets.
Stanley Oxenford, the director of
Oxenford Medical, a pharmaceutical research company is a successful man, and on
the verge of a major discovery: an antiviral drug. The antiviral, if tested positive can save
millions of lives. His world, however, comes crashing when vials of Madoba – 2 virus
is stolen surpassing the high security at Oxenford. Madoba-2 is a deadly virus
with absolutely zero survival rate, and it lands into the hands of a group of ignorant
thugs prone to violent behavior. The fatal virus that is handled by highly
trained scientists in space suits with maximum protection is suddenly dumped
into a perfume spray to be delivered to a client, whose sole desire is to use
it for bio-terrorism. Antonia Gallo, the director of security at Oxenford is
determined to stop the criminals from getting way, as the stakes for her are too
high ,and it includes not just losing her job, but her love in the form of her
boss, Stanley Oxenford.
From the surface, this book may
seem only as a medical thriller. There are, however, a lot of references to
human nature. It is this different human nature portrayed by the various characters
that drives the plot forward, and determines the course. Another recurrent
theme in Ken Follet’s books, justice, is replayed in Whiteout. Justice is delivered
in the most unexpected manner, and some are ripe with blood -curdling violence.
The message that ‘he who sins shall pay’ is conveyed in a subtle manner. The
snow storm that whips through the entire book is a perfect weather element that
matches the sudden mayhem in the lives of the different characters. Mr. Ken
Follet paints a vivid imagination with his tactful artistry to the extent that a
person, who has never experienced snow, can feel it chill the bones. Whiteout is
definitely not one among the best books of Ken Follet. The beginning though conceivable,
isn’t exactly brilliant, but the second-half makes up for it with its startling
twists. Whiteout is a good entertainment and ideal as a winter read.
-Indu Mathi S
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