One of the things I look for in a good thriller is the "engagement" factor. What is this you might ask? It is my way of determining whether a book is good or not - and the rules are quite simple.

If I feel as though a chapter feels like an entire book, then the engagement factor is simply not there.

THE NINTH DAY made me feel as though reading a chapter was the same as reading one page - a very, very good sign.

This book is incredibly engaging - once the author introduces us to the main characters. Fortunately, this is done quickly and well, leaving us with a story that manages to hit every trigger of fear that I have! It was wonderful.

One of our main characters, Emma Caldrige finds herself in Mexico, dealing with human cargo, drug lords who are threatening to kill her, and a deadly infection that made me cringe and check my skin, every time mention was made of it in the story.

Nothing, in my opinion, is better than a plot where pandemics and racing against the clock are the central characters - and this book has it in droves.

Will Emma be able to find the cure before it is too late? This is the undercurrent of the book and pretty much carries the story through. I have to say that the author does sprinkle a few hints throughout, but I also found myself guessing the entire time - will she or won't she? What will happen with the drug lords even if she does?

There is something for everyone here - drugs, murder, and a deadly infection. This book goes at warp speed and does not stop until the very last sentence and I loved every moment of it.