THE MARS STRAIN

Morgan Hallett's confident narration keeps the action moving in this sci-fi debut, an inside look at an unparalleled pandemic and the biologist who may be Earth's last hope. Dr. Juliet Fulton is charged with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study the Mars Cube, an alien artifact discovered by Mars colony astronauts. When a deadly plague is accidentally unleashed from the cube, Juliet risks everything as she frantically searches for a cure. Hallett's narration is straightforward and no-nonsense, perfectly capturing Juliet's task-based, logical mindset. Sadly, her depiction of other characters is less nuanced, failing to fully communicate the depth of their grief and humanity. Even so, listeners will be intrigued by the premise of this timely story and energized by Juliet's tenacity and courage. S.A.H. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2021]