The Swarm

In this sprawling apocalyptic epic from Marino (The Seven Visitations of Sydney Burgess), an unholy swarm of cicadas threatens the end of life on Earth while a group of survivors attempt to stay alive and piece together the insectoid contagion’s origins—and how to stop it. Detective Vicky Paterson is interrupted during a murder investigation in a sleepy town when the cicadas brutally attack her daughter, sending her on a harrowing mission for answers. Meanwhile, Will and Alicia, two mercenaries tasked with rescuing a kidnapped girl named Violet Carmichael, are taken by shadowy intelligence forces who believe they might be connected to an insect-worshipping cult at the root of the terrible swarms. A third story line follows Dr. Rebecca Perez, who realizes that her family’s past is connected to the same mysterious cult, with disastrous consequences she must address in the present. Marino excels at bringing the cicada swarm to horrifying life while still giving the human drama at the center of the story plenty of room to breathe. Unfortunately, the X-Files–style premise can’t quite justify the hefty page count, and the downtime between the visceral, gore-filled action sequences sometimes robs the narrative of forward momentum. Still, fans of The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone will find a lot to love in this squirmy tale. (Nov.)