The villain in Beyond Recall is Dr. Rachel Lesage, a world-renowned geneticist whose son was killed in Africa during a period of genocide, and who had the trauma of witnessing his death. She believes that acts of genocide take place because there are too many people fighting for too few resources. And, she thinks that if women had fewer children, genocide would stop.

Rachel concludes there are two ways for fewer children to be born. One is to educate women, since studies show that educating females for even a few years results in those women deciding to have fewer children. To finance the education of women worldwide, she decides she will force the United States to create a fund, to which the U.S. will contribute one percent of its GNP. If the United States does not create this fund, she will unleash a lethal virus that will kill only women.

Using the name of Artemis, she releases the virus in a remote Brazilian jungle village to demonstrate its power. As luck would have it, Dr. Jack Hunt arrives in the remote jungle village with his new bride. Jack is a world-renowned virus hunter and a member of a group similar to Doctors Without Borders that fights viruses in remote areas. Hmmm. See his new wife’s death coming? What do we suppose Jack’s reaction will be, especially when we learn that his only remaining family member is his college age granddaughter?

The President of the United States quietly forms a task force to find ways to stop the virus. Since Rachel is the top geneticist in the U.S., she is asked to head the group. Also on the task force is Carson Colwell who, in addition to being the new FBI chief of counter-terrorism, is married to Rachel’s daughter, Tory. Jack returns to the U.S. and joins the task force, too; and we learn that he and Rachel had a relationship several years ago. All of this takes place in the first 60 pages of a 440 page book.

Now, I found myself asking questions. For example: At what point does someone begin to suspect Rachel? Why doesn’t Rachel realize that the United States won’t negotiate with terrorists? Can’t Rachel think of another way to control world population? My biggest question, though, was “When is this book going to end?” The answer -- not soon enough.

None of the characters in this book seemed real to me. The setup was overly coincidental. (Jack arrives in the remote virus infested village with his new bride? Rachel’s son-in-law is the new head of counter-terrorism at the FBI? Rachel is asked to head the search for a cure?) There were so many of these coincidences that I could continually see them coming. In addition, the dialogue never sounded real. And I learned nothing new about the FBI, counter-terrorism, gender specific viruses, or anything else.

While Beyond Recall has an interesting premise, the potential of that premise is never realized. The bottom line: I cannot recommend this book.

--Sharon Medley