Scientists have recently discovered the existence of "megaviruses"-- viruses that are a thousand times larger than the ordinary viruses. What if one of these huge viruses turned out to be a human pathogen? Christy Esmahan's fourth novel, THE LAPTEV VIRUS, begins with the accidental discovery of just such a virus in the Arctic by an unsuspecting company drilling for oil. Lead researcher Sarah Spallanzani and her team must race against the ticking clock of the short Arctic summer to discover a way to protect workers from the virus before competitors drain the basin of its rich resources...and before anyone else dies from the hemorrhagic fever. Esmahan weaves great characters, excellent timing and an incredibly intriguing plot in this medical thriller.