All contact is lost with the first privately funded colony on Mars during a long and destructive sandstorm。 Satellite imagery of the aftermath shows extensive damage to the facility and the fifty-four colonists who called it home are presumed dead。 Three years later， a new mission sets down on the planet surface to investigate what remains of the derelict site。 It’s not long before， mission biologist， Dr。 Jann Malbec， discovers the truth about how the colony was funded — by conducting illegal genetic experiments using the unsuspecting colonists as guinea pigs。 She also realizes that while extraordinary breakthroughs were made， they came with a terrible human price。 Nevertheless， once news of these experiments makes it back to Earth， powerful corporations begin to fight for control of this research， and start to send new missions to acquire it — by force if necessary。 But Malbec fears that allowing this research to return to Earth has the potential to doom humanity to a pandemic of apocalyptic proportions。 So she vows to do everything she can to prevent this from happening — even if it means destroying what remains of the colony and any chance she has of returning home。 ★★★★★ 'Would Make a Great Film - Really enjoyed this book as well as the preceding two in the series。 Hollywood， are you listening （reading）？ ★★★★★ 'Surpassed Expectations - This was an outstanding read！’ ★★★★★ 'It's been a long time since a book made me stay up all night just to find out the ending。 This book is superb！’ ★★★★★ 'Fast paced， intriguing science fiction thriller that just rolls off the pages。 Can't wait for the next installment。。。' ★★★★★ 'A wonderful adventure。。。 Like a blend of Heinlein and Weir。。。' ★★★★★ 'This is a superior work of Sci-Fi authorship。 The novel is totally engaging and highly believable The author is technically well versed which adds greatly to the authenticity of the narrative。 A must read。' ★★★★★ 'I really enjoyed this book。。。 A real roller-coaster。 Great characters。 believable plot-line and nail-biting suspense。' ★★★★★ 'Love it。 Could not put it down。 Action drama， death and mayhem。 What's not to like？' ★★★★★ 'I don't normally read SF but my husband got it and I started looking at it。。。 and couldn't put it down。 I really enjoyed it。' ★★★★★ 'Terrific novel！ 。。。my only comment is that I lost a lot of sleep reading。。。 Think I will wait till morning to start Colony Two。 On second thoughts， what the heck - it's only 3:30 AM！’