Microbial Mysteries : A Story Collection

Bats and bearded dragons, raccoons and baby goats—animals are our fellow Earth creatures. But they pose a threat. Each species harbors invisible microbes, ready to leap into human bodies. In the ten short medical thrillers and one graphic poem of “Microbial Mysteries,” public health disease detectives are challenged by mysterious outbreaks from zoonotic viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

The story collection includes MayaVerse prequels over four decades of disease investigations with veterinary epidemiologists like Maya Maguire and other public health specialists.

“El Chinche” (1993) introduces Maya’s mentors, Nancy Bingham and Fred Grinwold, at the start of their public health careers along the Mexican border. The story received an award from the Arizona Mystery Writers.
“SARS” (2003). Nancy Bingham takes the lead in investigating Arizona’s first coronavirus infection while struggling to maintain her long-distance relationship with Fred Grinwold.
“Firenze” (2019). A hard-driving immigrant from El Salvador juggles his acclaimed Tucson restaurant, a new relationship with a county epidemiologist, and his pet bearded dragon.
“What’s Within” (1983-1984). At the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic in New York City, the public health career is launched for Faye Simpson, future veterinary mentor for series protagonist, Dr. Maya Maguire.
“MERS” (2013). Faye Simpson hops the pond to London and Saudi Arabia for the emergence of coronavirus in camels and spillover to humans.
“Pérdida” (2014-2019). In this reverse narrative story, a young mother in New York City struggles with the mysterious hospitalization of her five-year-old daughter; Faye Simpson finds the answer.
“Cruel, Cruel, Cruel” (1992-1993) is a prequel for Chinese characters in the MayaVerse.
“Ringer” (2023). This graphic poem provides a snapshot of the COVID pandemic.
“Bandit” (2018-2019). Class differences in Washington, DC influence the outcome of infection with a dangerous neurologic parasite.
“Eruption” (2019). A teenager visiting Santa Fe joins a young man on an ill-fated trip to a New Mexico hot spring.
“Road Not Taken” (2020). In this alternative history story, a mother attempts to find Christmas Eve joy during an ice storm and the COVID pandemic. But her world has been altered from ours because Pope John Paul II did not survive the May 13, 1981 assassination attempt.

Interview with the Author

Q: How do the shorter works in this volume relate to the alphabetical novels?
A: “Microbial Mysteries” is Book Zero in the microbial mystery series. Through prequels and side stories, it introduces readers to many compelling characters in the alphabetical novels. It also expands the universe of microbial challenges and how disease detectives tackle them.

Q: What kinds of readers will enjoy MayaVerse stories?
A: Those looking for upmarket stories with complex themes and passionate, engaging characters dealing with difficult life issues. Most MayaVerse mysteries are thrillers and many are romantic suspense. With a female veterinary medical detective (Maya Maguire), most are also women’s fiction.

Q: Why do you write your MayaVerse series of microbial mysteries?
A: Disease from animals—zoonoses—make up most emerging disease threats. In recent years, we've experienced one scary disease after another—bird flu, Ebola, Zika, SARS, COVID, and monkeypox.

Q: What authors do you read or admire?
A: Having grown up in the Southwest, I worship Tony Hillerman and his daughter Anne Hillerman who’s carrying on his legacy. For medical thrillers, Tess Gerritsen, Robin Cook, and Michael Crichton are my author heroes. Some authors' stories have more of a sci/fi leaning than the MayaVerse, which is strongly anchored in reality. I love the romantic suspense of Nora Roberts, the intense relationships of Nicholas Sparks, and the vivid settings of Edward Abbey.

Millicent Eidson is the author of the alphabetical Maya Maguire microbial mystery series (https://drmayamaguire.com). The novels and short stories are medical thrillers with a twist-the criminals are bacteria, viruses, and parasites from animals (sometimes with a human helping hand), and the medical detective is a veterinarian. Dr. Eidson's work as a public health veterinarian and epidemiologist began with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and continued at the New Mexico and New York state health departments. She is a public health faculty member at the University at Albany and the University of Vermont, and the author of over a hundred scientific papers, articles, and book chapters. Author awards include Best Play in Synkroniciti and Honorable Mention from the Arizona Mystery Writers.