The Colony

Starred review from September 17, 2012
Two years after a geneticist releases a huge queen ant in Manhattan’s Riverside Park, New York City comes under attack from a vicious new species of ant in Colucci’s exciting thriller debut. As the death toll rises, the ambitious mayor calls on Paul O’Keefe, a leading ant expert, for solutions. When Paul is stymied, the federal government snatches his ex-wife, entomologist Kendra Hart, from her research project in New Mexico. Kendra, who has just developed a method of destroying ant colonies by using pheromones to get its members to turn on each other, joins Paul in a race against the clock to find an answer for the catastrophic devastation the insects cause. While Colucci resorts to some old chestnuts of the subgenre, she makes what could have been a silly premise plausible, and balances scares and science nicely. Michael Crichton fans will hope that this is but the first of many such outings from the author’s pen. Agent: Adrienne Rosado, Nancy Yost Literary.

October 1, 2012
Mutant ants--millions of 'em--have taken over New York City, killing tens of thousands of humans, and only one thing can stop them: a special formula synthesized from a queen's pheromones that makes the ants turn on each other. But will entomologist Kendra Hart be able to dose the invading army with her special brew before the military goes ahead with a plan to nuke Manhattan? In her grimly entertaining debut, Colucci savors her descriptions of the ants, which are 8 inches long, can move at eight miles an hour, have pincers, mandibles and armor--and, in the case of the queens, brains 100 times bigger than normal ants. These ants travel in frightening black waves, weigh down people until the humans can't stand up, and with each bite spread toxins that cause swelling, shock and death. The upside of the scenario for Kendra is that the ants attack only during the day. At night, they hibernate. Leaving the safety of a secret underground bunker, Kendra is lucky to find a queen inside an elevator shaft--but not before being poisoned by ants and spared death via an injection of epinephrine. She receives it from her ex-husband, Pulitzer-winning ant authority Paul O'Keefe, who summoned her from New Mexico. They're joined by computer whiz Jeremy Rudeau, Paul's longtime rival and the man who came between them. Love reblooms to the creepy sound of ants moving en masse. Until its somewhat pat ending, the book transcends its horror-movie basis with descriptions of the ants in action and of the science behind the Siafu Moto, which is part fire ant and part African strain. One only wishes the political types here weren't so cartoonish. Not a book for picnic-goers, this tale may have you rethinking those warnings about fire ants heading north.

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November 1, 2012
When ant attacks lead to a number of gruesome deaths in Manhattan, Mayor John Russo turns to ant specialist Paul O'Keefe to solve the crisis. The ants are unlike any Paul has ever seen, and even with the help of his ex-wife and fellow specialist Kendra Hart, he's not sure he will be able to understand the vicious creatures before they embark on a full-scale attack on the city. The ants seem indestructible, and with death tolls rising, there is even mention of nuclear intervention. With the government and the military breathing down their necks, Paul and Kendra have just hours to discover what will kill the murderous pests and save the city from destruction. Colucci's suspense-novel debut is a frightening combination of well-researched science and scenes of pure horror. Downright gory in places, the tale is rounded out by the usual corrupt officials, warring industries, and failed romances. Full of suspense and intrigue, The Colony will especially appeal to fans of Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park and the like.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)