Everywhere I've looked, this book has been classified as non-fiction -- that is, based on real-life experiences. But in the ebook version that I have, it states in two sections that the book is a work of fiction, anything similar to real-life stuff is coincidental and unintended, etc. Which I thought was very strange. However, the author has stated that it's non-fiction in the text. So confusing, but I'm thinking it is truly non-fiction, despite the odd statements in the ebook. Maybe the statement is from a template and the publisher forgot to remove it with the transfer to ebook form. It's a mystery.

Anyway, aside from wondering if I'm reading science fiction or fact, it was a good book. It was thorough, and in some places, perhaps, a bit dry. There were lots of names to try to remember, but it seemed like a thorough history of Plum Island's biological labs from before World War II until when it was published. The disturbing part of Lab 257 is how unsecure the place is. I was horrified to learn of how lax security and safety measures were/are. I thought that the alleged potential link to Lyme disease was interesting.

But what I really think is that some folks need to figure out where their priorities are. I think safety and security should rank right at the top.

There is some discussion of animal experimentation and euthanasia due to disease outbreaks, but it's not overly graphic. The author discussed tick experiments, PR events for the island to try to drum up support from the local communities, political and bureaucratic games and power-plays, and how the island has transferred hands from the USDA to the Department of Homeland Security. It discussed its ties to the military, and how the labs became corporate-run.

What I found most compelling and interesting were the events that happened during the hurricane that damaged the labs and the personal testimonies from individuals who once worked on the island. The whole book is pretty disturbing (as it says in the subtitle) because of how easy an accidental outbreak could be.

This book does not include discussion about secret alien experiments or the Montauk monster. (At least, I don't recall reading about the Montauk monster, that some people claim is linked to Plum Island.) This book focuses entirely on the history and short-comings/shattered dreams of two labs that revolved around research into human and animal diseases. It also raises questions about the future of Plum Island based on its past mistakes -- should the place be shut down or improved and brought up to standards? I'm glad I got to read it. Just, uh...you know, I'm hoping it's actually non-fiction as I had been led to believe.

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Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Germ Laboratory