Waterborne

By: J. Luke Bennecke
Publisher: Jaytech Publishing
Publication Date: April 8, 2024
ISBN: 978-0965771597
Reviewed by: Tripti Kandari
Review Date: August 18, 2024

J. Luke Bennecke’s Waterborne charts the knotty existence of a civil engineer who must navigate a multifaceted conspiracy of bioterrorism and radical ideology shrouded in the guise of social welfare and a utopian vision.
The story unfolds in Stockholm, California, where the FBI's most-wanted sniper, Gunther, is reveling in his next target, Jake Bendel. A civil engineer and widower scarred by the sorrows of past years, Jake is in a whirlwind only to take a worse course with time. Not only does he wake up in his room with memory loss of recent events and a welt on his neck but also, he discovers that there has been tampering with the security system, which assures his paranoia about his safety. Lo and behold, the tension is only beginning to mount relentlessly: a letter from the IRS reveals that Jake owes a substantial amount of money in back taxes, an event troublesome enough to worsen financial burdens.
Yet, the worst is on the brink. Not only does his friend Dave disappear under cryptic circumstances, but a dangerous virus able to alter human DNA is set loose: a waterborne virus associated with water treatment plants that Jake helped design. Each orchestrated event as a way to destabilize Jake and hurt his ally points to one thing: a force is out to exploit Jake, unleash chaos, and instigate complete pandemonium. The complications for Jake in the future are clear-cut in the light of a menacing message that says, "You are Next."
In the grip of such fate-altering events, there is set loose a high-stake thriller that weaves in conspiracy and the threat of a viral outbreak. It is through the intertwining of journeys of the various subjects that the thriller propels: Cavanaugh, a diligent FBI agent who would conform to the rules of the workforce no matter what, adding to the frustration of Jake amid a gridlock case; and Linda Bennet, a perpetrator and victim, blackmailed into creating and spreading a virus that can modify human DNA. Linda's revelation validates an anticipated scenario: a spark of public fear and paranoia is soon to ignite, with civil unrest looming near. With multifaceted agendas, personal grudges and greed at play, Jake is to navigate a web of deception, marked by masterminds on the road to manipulation, ideological extremism, and personal motives.
Waterborne is an accumulation of thriller, mystery, crime, and psychological drama, which takes a terrain to a social commentary of the vile aspect of human self-superiority and zeal for dominance over others. Referencing Hitler and Himmler, it explores how the intention for a utopian society, at the cost of ethical boundaries and human rights, can lead a society to dystopian outcomes.
The antagonist’s endeavor to take on the "burden" to save humanity, albeit stuffed with his selfish motives, parallels the imperialist ideology. In asserting the superiority of their vision, the masterminds throughout the story present a modern form of imperialism, not in territorial conquest but in the dominance of human minds and even the future of humanity. It is the tug of war between ethics versus ambition and humanism versus authoritarian control that pushes the narrative forward, affirming that the intentions don't always justify the ends.
Bennecke has shaped the narrative to cater to a readership across different genre lines. As the discourse on futuristic technologies and their implication for society serve lovers of techno-thrillers, fans of psychological dramas can appreciate the deep and complex psychological profiles of antagonists and protagonists alike.
Quill says: Waterborne reflects on ambition and ethics, calling for readers to muse on the trade-offs between achieving grand self-righteous goals and the ethical compromises involved in attaining them.
For more information on Waterborne, please visit the author’s website at: www.jlukebennecke.com