Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends discussion

This topic is for discussion of chapters 30-37 to the end of The Red Lotus including spoilers.
If the first to post please briefly summarize this segment to drive the discussion.
what did you think of the book?

Spoiler summaries for chapters 30-37
_Alexis meets Oscar Bolton for brunch. She is wary and determined to not reveal anything as they talk about Austin. Accidentally she tells him she reached out to Sara Edens for a lab tour, otherwise convincing him she was letting it all go.
_ Oscar texted Douglas immediately. Douglas tells him to call Dr. Sinclair to meet at the lab, and have him call Alexis for a tour at the lab today.
_ Ken tells Alexis he found the Vietnamese food chemist Austin probably bought the dress. On Facebook Sally Gleason is visible in a photo of the chemist. Alexis is mapping out all the players. Sinclair calls to give a tour. Alexis calls Ken. He will go with her. He is saddened when Alexis tells him about spotting Sally. Alexis opens and ingests a chocolate energy gel right as she leaves to meet Ken.
_ Douglas and Sinclair wait for Alexis outside the lab, outside camera range. They will arrange her death. When Ken also exits the elevator Douglas shoots him in the arm. Alexis is sick and getting sicker. She manages to distract Douglas and fatally stab him in the neck with a scalpel. Ken is badly wounded but heads off after Sinclair who is escaping with some of the rats. Alexis calls 911, and her mother.
Ken shoots Sinclair, stopping him. Ken is also getting sick. Ken calls his wife to say goodbye.
_ Alexis's mother, Dina Remnick is in a hospital waiting room, approached by Ken's wife Taleen. Alexis may recover, the pathogen weakened from time and lack of oxygen in the gel pack. Ken, being older and wounded died. Taleen gives Dina a pair of her daughter's earrings for Alexis.
The story was interspersed with a series of interview conversations. This last one reveals it to be Sally Gleason, who was working with Austin.
_Epilogue the gel packs Austin had in his suitcase continue to kill, back in Vietnam and American tourists bring a pandemic home to Washington DC.

I did like the book, despite the chilling details of plague, pathogens and parallels illuminating the real life dangers.
The inclusion of detail and back story of Alexis's past and relationship with her Mother, adds a human side that nicely counter balances the investigative detail.
Ken's skilled detective work was impressive and really added to the story, nicely complementing the Vietnamese police investigation. Ken's storyline with his wife added depth and illuminated the betrayal aspects even further than just Austin's initial acts.

The rat details interspersed through the book were rather disturbing. ( but informative in a creepy way)
I thought this was my first by Chris Bohjalian but I realized I also read The Guest Room back in 2016.

Wow, I had a feeling from the start that Sally was in on the whole thing. It seemed too coincidental that she had an intimate relationship with Douglas. The scientist, Dr. Sinclair added a new wrinkle. Who would have thought he was double-crossing Douglas? Dr. Sinclair teamed up with Austin to smuggle samples of the pathogen into the hands of the Vietnamese food chemist for reproduction and sale to foreign adversaries. Look at me connecting the dots. I know this is wrong, but I am so glad Douglas bites the dust. I’m thrilled that Alexis lives, but I’m moved by Ken’s life and his loss. I enjoyed this story.

Janice, There was a lot of double-crossing going on, wasn't there. I wouldn't have thought so many could be involved. I thought Sally was a tad suspicious, but had no idea how deeply she played a role in (I thought) double-crossing Douglas.
* To think Sally caused the collapse by introducing Alexis to Ken. I hated that Ken didn't survive. It was sad, especially since it seemed the FBI was moving in that very afternoon.
* I was also screaming for the Vietnamese investigator to directly contact Alexis about the gel pack danger...

Ann wrote: "Janice, There was a lot of double-crossing going on, wasn't there. I wouldn't have thought so many could be involved. I thought Sally was a tad suspicious, but had no idea how deeply she played a r..."

Ann, yes, I was on the edge of my seat thinking the cavalry was on its way. I'm glad Alexis did call Ken to go with her to meet Dr. Sinclair, but I wished all of the good guys would have made it.

What an ending. I too was sad about Ken's demise but was glad Alexis survived.

I am not sure why Alexis was not contacted directly about the gel pack but was surprised when the one she used actually was compromised. I thought it would just be a bit of throwaway suspense.

I really enjoyed the audio and will look into some of the author's other books.

Sandi: I kept thinking she wouldn't eat a chocolate one, apparently that was Austin's seriously faulty safety protocol. The idea of those being out there was nail biting suspense.
I also find myself wondering at his initial motivation and reasoning for the (apparent) scheme for selling such a vile product. Ok, money, but seriously evil.
His parents may have had some idea he was capable of misdeeds (based on his college indiscretion) though probably of a more minor nature. I suppose his history of breaking rules made him a target for recruitment. Scary to contemplate.

Sandi wrote: I'm not sure why Alexis was not contacted directly about the gel pack but was surprised when the one she used actually was compromised. I thought it would just be a bit of throwaway suspense."

Sandi wrote: "I am not sure why Alexis was not contacted directly about the gel pack but was surprised when the one she used actually was compromised. I thought it would just be a bit of throwaway suspense...."

Me too, Sandi. Not once did i think the gel packs Austin left behind were contaminated, I would have thought he'd take them all with him to whomever he was selling them too. When Alexis ate one I thought "no..... couldn't be.."

This didn't occur to me while reading but in reading Ann's summary I thought "wait, she just had a big brunch. why does she need to eat an energy pack?"

I'm not sure how I feel about the author leaving the virus running amok in the world. And i was glad that Alexis appears to survive, and very sad about Ken's demise, He was one of the good guys.

Ann wrote: "I thought this was my first by Chris Bohjalian but I realized I also read The Guest Room back in 2016. .."

That was my first of his also, Ann. i was intrigued enough by that and the plot description of The Flight Attendant that I read that as well. I would like to read more of his -- the plots are so wildly different I'm curious about them, and I think they are generally well regarded. But I need space in between because there is a thread of melancholy through them that I have to be in the mood for.

Carol and Sandi: exactly, Alexis had no need to eat a gel pack, we all knew that. I hoped it was just a teaser for tension too. I also didn't connect the proximity of her brunch with Oscar until you pointed it out Carol, how could she need one, and especially not the chocolate one she didn't like previously. Was she trying to feel closer to Austin perhaps. The previous time she almost ate one seemed much more likely since she was actually hungry then.
It seemed like the proverbial hammer waiting to fall the entire time we knew she had some.
... and fall it did, adding immense pressure on the situation with Douglas and Dr. Sinclair. That Ken was more susceptible due to his age is chilling along with the virus still being out in the world.

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "this didn't occur to me while reading but in reading Ann's summary I thought "wait, she just had a big brunch. why does she need to eat an energy pack?"

I'm not sure how I feel about the author leaving the virus running amok in the world.

Sandi wrote: "I am not sure why Alexis was not contacted directly about the gel pack but was surprised when the one she used actually was compromised. I thought it would just be a bit of throwaway ..."

Carol: we just started watching The Flight Attendant series on tv. It's full of menace and tension so far too.