Ends Of The Earth

Smuggled insects are at the root of the Bug Man’s troubles in this latest suspense novel from award-winning author Tim Downs. Dr. Nick Polchak is called to a farm community in eastern NorthCarolina to investigate a murder. The victim is the owner of a failingorganic farm who had developed a drug problem, and the police suspecthis murder was drug-related. Nick finds the remains of a bale of marijuana scattered in thetomato fields–but the marijuana seems to be strangely infested with acommon North Carolina insect: the tobacco hornworm. To further confoundthe mystery, the South American marijuana was infected with bugs fromNorth Carolina that were infected with a fungus from Asia. The manwasn’t killed because of the marijuana, but because of the insects itcontained. Nick discovers that a vicious agricultural scheme is underway tocripple the U.S.’s corn and ethanol production. But just how far willthese terrorists go in their quest?