I read this book while on vacation. I can say that this book is a great beach read, it's very fast paced and it makes you think at some points - just don't think too hard. The idea of a common flu germ being used as a weapon by a rogue country was great and scary, but that's where the credibility stops. The terrorism by a fanatical cult was a bit much and a real stretch. I think having north korean terrorists active in the US would have been more realistic and therefore more frightening to the average reader. It was good and I was glad I 'read' it.