I almost couldn't finish this book. For the ignorant, maybe the repeated mention of the marijuana leaves being packed for shipping from a major cartel, wouldn't send any red flags, but the marijuana leaves are a waste product of the marijuana smoking element of the plant. They would NEVER be packaged to be sold by anyone with a shred of knowledge about smoking pot. The leaves are not even smoked at all.

In addition, a revolver does not have a magazine. During the story an automatic pistol with a magazine of 13 rounds suddenly becomes a revolver... *sigh*

These two problems make the book almost unreadable. Another significant downfall is the Oz character... why was he even in the book? A decent editor should have caught the pistol and marijuana problems and either enhanced or removed Oz altogether.

I don't plan on reading any more of these books. ( )

Where I got the book: freebie at a networking event.

I should start out by announcing that I do NOT read thrillers, so my rating reflects my ignorance of the genre. Jamie Freveletti is a) a hugely popular bestseller, and b) I've met her and like her. My 3 stars will not make a dent in her popularity, and I'm glad of it.

Plot: Emma Caldridge stumbles across a drug gang whose marijuana crop is afflicted with a disease that transmits itself to humans. Trying to get clear of the situation, she is caught between the drug overlord, the law enforcement authorities gunning for him, an attractive but somewhat hapless accessory and the mysterious disease.

OK I can see why people like these books; the pace is set at a steady 100 miles per hour and never lets up till ALL OF A SUDDEN, right at the end, it's all over bar a few significant glances between male and female characters and that's it, really. For 95% of the novel Emma is on the move, being chased, shot at, hunted, whatever. Grenades, drugs, bad guys, headcases, it's all go go go. I'm worn out just writing about it. I was totally in the mood for this kind of reading for much of this book, being thoroughly cheesed off with Things in General, and in those circumstances found the easy page-turning effect of constant forward motion soothing.

Emma, of course, is perfect: she can run 100 miles without barely breaking a sweat and generally knows what to do in every situation. Especially since the situations (I'm partway into another of Freveletti's books) often involve putting her into a chemical lab, where she is an expert genius whizzkid marvel. All the men desire her, other women fade into the background, yada yada yada. OK, that's pretty much it.

You see what I mean when I said I don't get this genre? Give me credit for trying. ( )

Biochemist Emma Coldridge is on the Mexican border in Arizona while looking for plants for the cosmetic firm she works for. She comes across a stash of marijuana and before she can make her escape, she's caught and brought before the head of the cartel.

Raoul La Valle the leader of the cartel learns that she's a chemist and tells her that his crop of marijuana is infected. People who come in contact with the plants are infected and die within nine days.

He informs her that his mistress has been infected and Emma will have to find a cure or be killed. He thinks the U.S. is responsible because they sprayed his crops to kill them and this gave them the fungus. If Emma doesn't find a cure, he'll ship the next contaminated batch to the U.S. to spread disease in revenge.

Emma meets Oz Kroger, a college drop out who wanted some quick money so volunteered to drive the drugs into the U.S. but when he learns they are infected, he tries to help Emma.

The plight of the poor migrant workers who are forced to work the crops and the idea of infection are unique things that draw the reader's interest.

The plotting could have been stronger as Emma escapes and a cat and mouse chaes is begun. However, the reader gets caught up in the action and the novel is entertaining. ( )