Contagious

Okay. Sigler is in the pantheon of my favorite authors now! Sigler does what Stephen king does in that he'll role the characters or them from one series into a book that you'll have no idea has nothing to do with what you just read. It's like a really pleasant surprise when you read some of his other work (EarthCore and Mt. Fitzroy) and find out there are characters that you know. I highly recommend the EarthCore series and you don't have to read these to enjoy those but like I said, it's quite the happy surprise when you do and find characters that you are familiar with and came to care about. Do yourself a favor a pick up Sigler and you will not be disappointed.

This book was order As a gift

Being the second book in a series, I highly recommend that you read 'Infected' before taking on 'Contagious'. This book is a continuation of an existing story and doesn't work as well as a 'stand alone' book. You need the background of 'Infected' for a lot of this book to make sense.Read 'Infected' first.6 weeks later ....John Gutierez is the newly elected president of the United States. He hasn't even been inaugurated yet, but is being briefed by Deputy Director of CIA Murray Longworth regarding some strange incidents Longworth has recently been involved with. At first John thinks it's a joke, but soon discovers the situation is all too real.There's a killer on the loose in the US of A, a deadly killer with a deadly purpose. People have become infected with a "virus" that causes their skin to erupt in lesions, shaped like blue triangles on the skin. Except these triangles are sentient, and after driving the human host insane they erupt from the host body into pyramid creatures with a single goal in mind - to build an arched gateway that leads to an unknown but deadly place. The only human to survive the triangle infection is ex-football star "Scary" Perry Dawsey. Dawsey performed radical surgery on himself to save his life, but is left with the ability to "track" carriers of the triangle infection. He senses them and goes after them, killing every infection person he encounters.Followed by, and working with him, is CIA agent Dew Phillips. Doctor Margaret Montoya from the CCID has demanded that Dew bring her a live host, but Dew can't stop Perry from killing them first. Yet Perry is allowed to live and work with the CIA, because only through Perry can the government discover where a new "construct", or portal, is being built by the pyramids. Also returning from 'Infected' is Colonel Charlie Ogden, experienced in taking out the constructs and patiently waiting for orders to strike again.But Perry senses something new this time. There's something else out there now, besides the triangles. Something new is floating in the air, something to protect the triangles and pyramids at all costs; a new hatchling - something that is intelligent ... and contagious.VIOLENCE WARNING: Violence is a part of all horror books, but this particular book contains violence against children, and I feel it's appropriate to add this warning.Both 'Infected' and 'Contagious' are very rapid paced books. Sigler doesn't warm you up for anything, he dives directly into the heat of battle and keep the incredible pace going right to the end of the book. You're always on the edge of your seat. Sigler doesn't spend much time building characters other than the new ones (such as President Gutierez) because most of the characters were already fleshed out in 'Infected'. It's like seeing old friends again. Sigler again tracks the "seedlings" though to a lesser extent, and introduces 'The Orbitor', the source of the seedlings.The climactic build up was so intense that I read this book in just over 24 hours, including a very late night session. The ending is simply unbelievable, but get ready for what I see as a third book in the series (my fingers are crossed). Scott Sigler is a new author who deserves much more credit than he's received so far. We can all thank our lucky stars that the publishing companies have seen, and published, this amazing author's talented works. I'm looking forward to many long years of reading more Sigler, and waiting with bated breath for a movie deal for 'Infected', 'Earthcore', or 'Ancestor'; all three of which you should rush to purchase. I can't recommend 'Infected' and 'Contagious' enough. Enjoy!

Immediately after I finished reading the first book in this series, Infected, I had to continue with Contagious. Although not your classic cliffhanger ending, I wanted to get to the next part of the story, and because I have read Contagious before, I knew that it was more action-packed, intense and gory apocalyptic horror just waiting for me.Where Infected focuses on three main perspectives in Margaret, Perry and Dew, Contagious broadens to include a host of other unforgettable characters, some of whom are definitely not your normal baddies, and a disease that grows more and more brutal as the story continues.What I particularly enjoyed about the characters in Contagious is the development - Perry is still dealing with the events of Infected and the impact is intense. As the book progresses however, he definitely develops into an even more admirable character and I really enjoyed seeing his relationships with the other characters grow. For much of Infected he was flying solo, and it was the final piece of his character that fell into place.I also felt that I got to know Margaret as a character more intimately than I did after Infected, and it definitely warmed me to her, particularly as she struggled with some difficult decisions. Knowing that she is the main focus of the next book in the series, this was a huge plus for me - if I hadn't found her to be more likeable than in Infected, it probably would have muted my anticipation for Pandemic.Dew also continues to become more of a well-rounded character as he begins to let down the walls that he had in the previous book and connects with the other characters on a more personal level. It felt like all three characters were completely invested in the storyline and in each other, and seeing that growth was incredibly satisfying.One thing that really stood out to me in Contagious is the increased military presence. Understandably, its not that prevalent in Infected which focuses far more on the initial outbreak, but it's also something that I don't find particularly interesting, although by my standards it was very well written and explained. This is particularly where Contagious was a weaker book for me than Infected and I found the POV of the character most heavily involved in the military aspect to be the least interesting and I started to develop that nasty habit of rushing through a POV just to get through that part of the story. This is all a personal preference of course.The pacing of the story is fast yet detailed and once again the shorter chapters (and the chapter headings are pure genius by the way) made it difficult to put the book down. The POVs switch quite often, which I know is a turn off for some people, but I like the fast-moving feeling that it gives the story as it fits with the pacing. Contagious ends not with a cliffhanger but openly, leaving a way for the story to be continued, but enough to round off the book perfectly.

A new President gets a doozy of a joke played on him; maybe.Scary Perry has survived his trial with the Magnificent Seven but is minus a few body parts, but he does have some enhancements. He can now sniff out the Triangles which is great advantage in this Alien war, however the anger management issues are still there with some horrific killing scenes, SS does not shy away from the horror. Scary Perry maybe on the good side now but he continues to be a sonofabitch!Col. Ogden is back on a full time mission, with his elite team of exterminators, again with SS you always get a great back history to fill out these characters so that when they die, get maimed, make choices, you are right there with them, usually wincing.The sexual frisson between Clarence and Margaret has finally fruited and the banter love/hate relationship between Clarence and Amos provides the humour element in this second installment of horror via the blue Triangles.Margaret really grows as a character in this book and you don’t get the feeling that she is the token genius female anymore!We learn more about the source of the infection and discover The Orbital and its intentions, this only serves to ramp up the potential terror of the situation. Poor Perry must brave his demons as a new infection takes hold and The Orbital has changed its strategy. This new infection has a bigger agenda as the little angel that is Chelsea Jewel finds out.The insights in to the higher functioning of Government was no real surprise but it did resonate that they are human too, but for how long?The tension in this 2nd part of the trilogy comes in waves as each team race to discover the transmission vectors, the Gate sights, infected victims and all the while discovering what new talents that the Triangles are developing.Chelsea Jewel is the central character of the newly infected family and she brings a whole new element to the Triangles attempts at invasion; a childs greed.SS has really let his imagination go wild in this book and all the better for us readers. I loved the fantastical route he has taken, some really genuine scares and horrors.There are also some horrific deaths and touching moments in this book, made my arm hair stand up!The detailed military element is also there for all the gun nuts!Really looking forward to the concluding part in this fantastic trilogy.

Really enjoyed this trilogy great story line and characters better if your into Science fiction but not necessary

It's great to be back with the characters from the first book and this one seems to be a much bigger affair with many more characters.Again I found it difficult to put down and I was constantly finding excuses to disappear and read more.

What can I say if you like to open a book & just fall in read this book 1 was compulsive reading followed by book 2 which was nothing short of one of my most enjoyable reads literally can't wait for book 3 so I'm signing off to start it many thanks Scott Sigler 👍

Kept me hanging until the last page - the next one is even better - please tell me you are writing book 4!