In 2041, antibiotic-resistant bacteria have wiped out millions across the globe. Microbiology student Rory and her meteorologist father, Byron, are among the lucky ones who've survived and are searching for a cure. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has its own team of scientists looking for a way to halt the progression of these deadly germs. There's reason to believe, though, that General Kessler, the man in charge of this elite group, is less interested in finding an antidote than in the money he can make if a cure is discovered. He believes an answer lies with Rory and the experiments her mother, another scientist, performed on her, which may have changed her DNA. When Rory and her father come under attack, she flees their farm with a mysterious stranger named Navy who appears suddenly, vowing to protect her and lead her to safety.
Debut novelist Rachael Sparks has taken a very plausible concept of a mass human die-off due to super-bacteria, thrown in some romance and espionage and written a fast-paced sci-fi thriller. Although the characters are a bit predictable, they are likable and creative in their endeavors. The concept of a high government official interested solely in monetary gain is credible, and the settings and romantic scenes are well-written, with rapidly shifting points of view. Resistant brings us into a world that may be approaching sooner than you might realize. --Lee E. Cart, freelance writer and book reviewer