Although The Smallest Thing is not a science fiction novel, I did want to be sure to get the scientific facts correct. If someone were to ask, “Could this story happen?” I wanted the answer to be “Yes.”

One of the books I read during my research was Richard Preston’s The Hot Zone. I wanted to understand more about how viruses are transmitted and what the reaction would be if a virus like Ebola made it onto Western soil. This book did not disappoint.  

The Hot Zone is the true account of what happened when, in 1989, a deadly infectious virus from the central African rainforest suddenly appeared in the suburbs of Washington, DC. The story begins at the origin of the virus and follows members of a team of scientists in the U.S. as they work to understand and contain the virus on their home soil. Even though the book is a work of non-fiction, it reads like a fast-paced thriller and I found myself staying up late to find out what happens next. 

This book is not for the faint of heart. It is horrific in its detail and terrifying in its accuracy. It’s all the more disturbing, not because it could happen, but because it did happen, and will undoubtedly happen again at some point. 

Still, if you have the stomach for it, I highly recommend this book. Just best not to read it before bed.  

Why I Loved this Book 

Aside from being a riveting read, what makes this book truly outstanding is that it follows the lives of a handful of key characters. A particular favorite is Lieutenant Colonel Nancy Jaax, chief of Pathology at the Institute for Infectious Diseases and one of the few people qualified to work with the virus. She is also a wife and mother of teenagers, and the insights into her regular home life serve to drive home the very real stakes of the work she does.

What I Learned as a Writer 

A compelling premise can take you so far, but a well-told story is what makes a book un-put-downable. This book could have easily been a dull recounting of facts, but Preston focuses on the personal stories of his real-life characters, people the reader comes to care about. Add to that the “this could actually happen” factor, and this is a book that keeps readers thinking long after the last page.

Read This Book If… 

You love non-fiction that reads like a brilliant thriller. If you’re even the slightest bit of a science nerd, you’ll love all the details in this book.

P.S. The Hot Zone is now a National Geographic series starring Julianna Margulies.

Rating:

You can hear the research from this book put to good use when the audiobook of The Smallest Thing comes out in August.