The Burning Water — Neil Plakcy

A deadly virus is ravaging the world's population, killing millions of men. But some are mysteriously immune - gay men and women seem unaffected. As society crumbles, one young journalist races to uncover the truth behind the virus's origins and spread. Jasper Green was just looking for his next big story in China when he stumbled upon patient zero - an African boy who had escaped from a secret research facility in North Korea. Now Jasper finds himself at the epicenter of a global pandemic that threatens to wipe out most of humanity. As he struggles to stay alive and report on the unfolding catastrophe, Jasper makes a shocking discovery about who is vulnerable to the virus and why. The implications could reshape human society forever - if civilization can survive. This gripping medical thriller explores themes of sexuality, gender roles, and how society might change in the aftermath of a devastating plague. With pulse-pounding suspense and thought-provoking ideas, The Burning Water imagines a world forever altered by a virus that discriminates based on sexual orientation. An electrifying read that feels all too plausible in our post-COVID world. From a reader review:Neil Plakcy's The Burning Water is ripped from todays headlines - even though he began writing it five years ago. As with everything Plakcy writes, included with the mystery, suspense and death, there is a welcome dose of history. The historical details are is so cleverly inserted that, until you finish reading his books, you don't realize what an expert history lesson you've just received.