The Pinocchio Syndrome — David Zeman

A mysterious disease -- a government cover-up -- a handsome young senator determined to stem the rising panic. . . . In this explosive debut, author David Zeman weaves political intrigue and stunningly drawn characters into a riveting thriller.

An ocean liner called the Crescent Queen, carrying a group of gifted American students, is suddenly vaporized in the Mediterranean by a nuclear weapon of unknown origin. Soon after, a deadly disease appears in the United States and around the world. With no known cure or treatment, the plague-like affliction paralyzes its victims and creates a terrifying physical deformity that causes it to be called "the Pinocchio Syndrome."

Already under fire for the Crescent Queen attack, the president of the United States is heatedly denounced by an ultra-right-wing self-made millionaire, Colin Goss, who has ridden a wave of public anxiety into the national spotlight. When word spreads that the well-liked vice president has been incapacitated by the Pinocchio Syndrome, one strong voice surfaces -- it belongs to Senator Michael Campbell, a former Olympic gold medalist whose youthful charisma and keen intelligence represent the administration's last hope. Campbell comes from a deeply connected political family and has long been groomed for the presidency himself. He now stands as the only man between Colin Goss and the White House. Meanwhile, as scientists struggle to rein in the epidemic, a brilliant young journalist, Karen Embry, uncovers a shocking mystery behind the Pinocchio Syndrome -- a mystery leading into the forgotten past and hinting at a terrifying future.