Best Books of Spring

Catherine has a little cough. And in the near future Taylor Antrim imagines in his propulsive, savvy thriller, Immunity, a little cough is a big problem: A devastating flu nicknamed TX has killed 300 million people globally, provoking high anxiety among the surveillance checkpoints throughout Manhattan. So, Catherine doesn't ask too many questions when, as a prerequisite for her new job, an experimental device promising TX immunity is implanted in her lower back. Her employer is Pursuit, a concierge service for one-percenters, and early on she's seduced by her new pals in the hyper-wealthy demimonde. But the scene soon gets way too cutthroat for Catherine's comfort: One of Pursuit's offerings is a trip to the HideAway, a Catskills retreat where a good time means firing cash-wrapped beanbags at the rabble in the foothills. It's not hard to see that the author means to point out that money is the real malevolent virus here. (Access to the HideAway is "about satisfaction, power—staying healthy," Catherine's boss tells her.) But Antrim skillfully snaps off taut, surprising chapters that avoid pat lectures while still making his points. A rapid-fire page-turner that'll prompt you to think about how much we'll sacrifice for a sense of security.