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A Quiet Contagion

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( 544 ratings, 128 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Quiet Contagion by Jane Jesmond is a gripping crime thriller that delves into a mysterious epidemic sweeping through a close-knit community. The story weaves together tension, unexpected twists, and complex characters as it explores the dark secrets hidden beneath the surface. Readers will be captivated by its intricate plot and thought-provoking themes, making it a compelling read for fans of the genre.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy crime and thriller novels that delve into intricate mysteries and suspenseful investigations. Featuring gripping storytelling and dynamic characters, this book will keep you engaged from the first page to the last with its twists and turns. If you appreciate a compelling narrative that builds tension and unveils secrets with a thrilling intensity, this book could be an excellent choice.

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Six decades. Seven people. One unspeakable secret. 1957. A catastrophe occurs at the pharmaceutical lab in Coventry where sixteen-year-old Wilf is working for the summer. A catastrophe that needs to be covered up at all costs......

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Six decades. Seven people. One unspeakable secret.

1957. A catastrophe occurs at the pharmaceutical lab in Coventry where sixteen-year-old Wilf is working for the summer. A catastrophe that needs to be covered up at all costs.

2017. Phiney is shocked by the death of her grandfather, Wilf, who has jumped from a railway bridge at a Coventry station. Journalist Mat Torrington is the only witness.

Left with a swarm of unanswered questions, Phiney, Mat and Wilf's wife, Dora, begin their own enquiries into Wilf's death. It is soon clear that these two events, sixty years apart, are connected - and that Wilf is not the only casualty.

But what is the link? And can they find out before any more lives are lost?

A Quiet Contagion is a powerfully disquieting mystery for modern times, inspired by the 1957 Coventry polio epidemic and the 1955 Cutter Incident (one of the worst pharmaceutical disasters in US history – which saw thousands of American children mistakenly infected with a live polio vaccine) as well as the more recent global coronavirus pandemic.

PRAISE FOR JANE JESMOND

'An original voice in crime fiction' - Sunday Times on Cut Adrift (A Best Crime Novel of 2023)

'Jesmond's delineation of her characters as people with plausible flaws and hot tempers adds depth and complexity to a story that might wear its sentiments on its sleeves, yet which is trimly steered and freighted with contemporary resonance' - Times on Cut Adrift (Thriller Book of the Month)

'In an over-saturated market, finding a new voice with something compelling to say in the crime writing field can be difficult. Thankfully there are people out there trying to deliver a twist on the genre, and Jane Jesmond is one of them' - On Yorkshire Magazine on Cut Adrift

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

A Quiet Contagion by Jane Jesmond has been praised for its likeable protagonist and twisty plot, which incorporates a moral dilemma that provokes thought. The blend of history and a contemporary setting results in an engrossing narrative, with red herrings keeping readers guessing throughout. The book successfully intertwines fact and fiction, creating a poignant and satisfying thriller experience.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780857308498

Publisher: Verve Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 November 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Verve Books

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Jane Jesmond writes crime, thriller and mystery fiction. Her debut novel,On The Edge - the first in a series featuring dynamic, daredevil protagonist Jen Shaw - was a Sunday Times Best Crime Fiction of the Month pick. The second in the series,Cut Adrift, was theTimesThriller of the Month and a Sunday Times Best Book of 2023 upon its publication.A Quiet Contagion is a brand-new standalone mystery and her third book with VERVE Books.

Although she loves writing (and reading) thrillers and mysteries, her real life is very quiet and unexciting. Dead bodies and dangerous exploits are not a feature! She lives by the sea in the northwest tip of France with a husband and a cat and enjoys coastal walks and village life. Unlike Jen Shaw, she is terrified of heights.

Also by Jane Jesmond

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  • Cut Adrift
    Risk everything, trust no one. Jen Shaw is climbing in the mountains near Alajar, Spain. It's nothing to do with the fact that an old acquaintance suggested she meet him there. But when things don't go as planned and her brother calls to voice concerns over the whereabouts of their mother, Morwenna, Jen finds herself travelling to a refugee camp...
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  • Gone to Earth
    Still reeling from a life-threatening experience on the coast of Calais, daredevil climber Jen Shaw finds herself in Glasgow for a funeral, devastated with grief and in search of answers. As her dogged determination propels her closer to the criminal underworld than ever before, Jen and her family become the target of some dangerous and powerful people with links to...
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  • On The Edge
    On The Edge by Jane Jesmond tells the story of Jen Shaw, a woman who has climbed all her lifeβ€”daring ascents of sheer rock faces, crumbling buildings, cranesβ€”the riskier, the better. Both her work and personal life revolved around climbing, and the adrenaline high it gave her, until she went too far and hurt the people she cares about. Now,...
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