Evans, a meteorologist for New York's WABC-TV, and novelist Jameson (Big Trouble
) pit a posse of diverse weatherfolk against Simone, a storm of unheard-of magnitude that's headed straight for Manhattan in this slow-building thriller. As it turns out, Simone isn't a natural phenomenon but the product of semimad scientist Carter Thompson, who's learned over the years to create hurricanes and move them in whatever direction he chooses. There are so many characters that it's hard to keep track of their diverse agendas, and there's a frustrating wait as the authors meticulously lay their fictional and scientific groundwork. Meteorologist Kate Sherman and CIA weatherman Jake Baxter have a secret, navy-built device to battle Simone—but it must be deployed from inside the storm. Some readers may feel Simone doesn't live up to her billing, but weather nerds should have a good time from beginning to end. (July)
