Customer Reviews

Phantom Virus: A Bomber Hanson Mystery

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PHANTOM VIRUS is the fourth installment of David Champion's series of legal mysteries. The first is "Mountain Massacres," the second "Nobody Roots For Goliath," and "Celebrity Trouble" is the third.

Angelo Scioria has lost his daughter, Merilee, to a virus called "Wanns" (an aids like virus) that was supposedly passed to her by her dentist. He has already been sued, and the Sciorias won a 2-million dollar lawsuit from the estate of the dentist. Now Angelo and his wife, Regina, have heard from a Dr. Walter Daimler, from Berkley College, that the drug JCD that was used for Wann's patients is toxic and killing patients rather than helping them. Angelo and Regina go to ostentatious lawyer Bomber Hanson to see if he will take the case to sue Dr. Carl Valentine, the maker of the JCD drug. At first, Bomber does not want to help them, but soon changes his mind. Bomber sends in his son Todd as he always does to investigate. Todd, with his very engaging personality, gets the witnesses to open up and testify in court; that's where Bomber comes in with his flashy courtroom style. But is that enough to win this case?

PHANTOM VIRUS is a free-flowing story line with lots of surprises mixed in. Bomber Hanson woos the courtroom with the flamboyant theatrics he is known for. It's a book that you will not be able to put down until you have finished; it really grabs you right from the very beginning.

On par with his previous big case (which was called NOBODY ROOTS FOR GOLIATH) The Bomber Hansen character is entertaining and keeps things moving. His son as always, is the pavement pounder. The Wanns disease is a allusion to aids with a different twist. I read it in a few nights and enjoyed it.

David Champion's Phantom Virus is a compelling story, especially if you are someone who tends to question the norm. In this case, the norm is the belief that "medicine is the best cure", when sometimes it can make the problem worse, or cause the problem in the first place. The main character is tenacious in his quest to find out what killed Merilee Scioria, and the readers' hearts will go out to her parents, even if her father does seem a bit overbearing at first. As I've said in other reviews, Bomber Hanson's direct and blunt approach to his questioning in the courtroom might turn off some readers, but to me it makes him all the more entertaining. I'd recommend this book for students college-aged and older, and anyone who likes courtroom dramas.