Ark Storm    by Linda Davies Order:  USA  Can Forge, 2014 (2014) Hardcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Jessica Maguire Batten down the hatches; the Ark Storm is coming! Poised to hit California's picturesque Monterey Bay and Big Sur, the monstrous storm is sure to wreak damage so extensive that The Big One (a large earthquake expected to hit the Golden State sooner or later) will seem to be nothing more than a mere hiccup. Enter Dr. Gwen Boudain, a brilliant meteorologist on the cutting edge of Ark Storm research. In need of funding for her research, Gwen approaches billionaire Gabriel Messenger. Gwen gets more than she bargained for when she receives her funding and goes to work for Messenger. It turns out that Messenger is working on a top secret project involving the creation of rain on demand by ionizing water molecules. Add short-term bets on Wall Street of a natural disaster of epic proportions and the stage is set for mystery, murder, conspiracy, terrorism, and perhaps even 'a kind of modern-day colonization by capitalism.' Award winning author Linda Davies conceived the idea for this intriguing novel while living in Dubai. She discovered that rain was being created in the desert of El Ain by mounting ionizers on tall masts that, in turn, attract water molecules in the surrounding air, thus creating rain. Davies' imagination then took over, resulting in a novel that you won't want to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping, mostly plausible near future thriller and was hooked from the first chapter. It was very easy for me to visualize the setting because the story is set in my home town! I was thrilled ... and terrified to see the drama unfold in an area that I love and know so well. Hmmm, it has been raining, a decent amount, too, for more than ten days where I now live. I hope this isn't an Ark Storm! Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more SF books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews