Infected

Scott Sigler's "Infected" plunges readers into a nightmarish world where a mysterious and terrifying disease is rapidly transforming ordinary individuals into raving, paranoid murderers. This isn't just a physical ailment; it's a bioengineered horror that drives its victims to inflict brutal atrocities on themselves and others. As chaos spreads across America, CIA operative Dew Phillips embarks on a desperate cross-country hunt for a live specimen, only to find a trail of gruesome, decomposing corpses. Simultaneously, CDC epidemiologist Margaret Montoya races against time to unravel the science behind this deadly contagion, discovering that a sophisticated, extraterrestrial parasite is at the heart of the outbreak. Caught in the terrifying crosshairs is Perry Dawsey, a former football star now living a mundane existence. He awakens to find ominous welts forming on his body, soon experiencing disturbing voices and thoughts. Perry quickly realizes he is infected, thrust into a desperate battle for control over his own mind and body. The parasites, however, have a grander, more sinister agenda than mere murder, forcing Perry to wage a bloody war against an enemy within himself. This visceral thriller masterfully blends science fiction, horror, and suspense, exploring themes of bodily autonomy, societal breakdown, and the thin line between humanity and monstrous instinct, as humanity's survival hinges on one man's gruesome internal struggle.