Book Review & Synopsis: Cold Storage by David Koepp
1885
post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-1885,single-format-standard,theme-bridge,bridge-core-1.0.6,woocommerce-no-js,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,qode-title-hidden,qode_grid_1300,footer_responsive_adv,qode-content-sidebar-responsive,columns-4,qode-child-theme-ver-1.0.0,qode-theme-ver-18.2,qode-theme-bridge,qode_header_in_grid,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-6.0.5,vc_responsive

Book Review: Cold Storage by David Koepp

Sometimes, a book just gets you at the right time, you know? I was in the mood for something fast-paced and thrilling—something I could inhale like a bag of popcorn on movie night. I mean, with David Koepp’s name attached (yep, the guy who wrote the Jurassic Park screenplay), I figured this book might have a cinematic flair. Plus, the idea of a runaway fungus sounded delightfully gross and tense. I dove in, expecting chills, action, and maybe a few laughs along the way—and guess what? It delivered.

What’s it about?

Let’s set the scene: It’s the 1980s, and humanity is blissfully unaware that a deadly fungus from space has hitched a ride to Earth on a falling satellite. (I know, right? You’d think we’d have space quarantine rules or something.) This isn’t your typical mushroom—it’s Cordyceps novus, a mutation of the real-life fungus that takes over insect brains, except this one has its sights set on humans. If it spreads, it won’t just kill you; it’ll turn your body into a walking, gooey biohazard.

Enter Roberto Diaz, a bioterror expert who gets called in when the first outbreak occurs at a remote military base. Along with a couple of scientist colleagues, he discovers just how dangerous this thing is—it grows fast, adapts even faster, and thrives on radiation. (Because of course it does.) With flamethrowers, duct tape, and sheer nerve, Roberto manages to contain the outbreak and lock the fungus away in a super-secure underground storage facility. He assumes it’s a problem for the history books.

Fast forward to the present day. Roberto is retired, living a quiet life, and the storage facility? It’s been downgraded into a mundane warehouse for boring stuff like old records and junk nobody wants. That’s where we meet Naomi Williams, a single mom working the night shift to make ends meet, and Teacake (yes, that’s his real name), her charmingly lazy coworker. They’re just two ordinary people trying to survive a dull job when the facility’s alarm systems suddenly go haywire.

Turns out, the fungus is awake—and hungry. A mix-up in the building’s cooling system has allowed Cordyceps novus to thaw out and start spreading again. What starts as a mild inconvenience for Naomi and Teacake quickly spirals into a full-blown crisis as they realize the fungal infection is capable of infecting anything living—and it’s alarmingly good at improvising when it comes to survival.

Enter Roberto again, pulled out of his quiet retirement to save the day. Teaming up with Naomi and Teacake, he heads back into the depths of the storage facility for a desperate race against time. The stakes? Stop the fungus before it breaks containment and starts spreading across the globe, effectively ending life as we know it.

The story isn’t just about the science (though the fungus and its terrifying biology are a big part of the appeal). It’s also about how this unlikely trio rises to the occasion. Naomi, the practical and determined single mom, surprises herself with just how brave and resourceful she can be under pressure. Teacake, who spends most of his life skating by on charm and laziness, proves he’s capable of far more when push comes to shove. And Roberto? Well, he’s still got it—if by “it” you mean a talent for improvising with a flamethrower and refusing to go down without a fight.

Along the way, the book is peppered with moments of dark humor and absurdity. Koepp has a knack for blending tension with levity. One minute, you’re white-knuckling through a scene where Naomi is trapped in a room with a rapidly mutating fungus; the next, you’re laughing at Teacake’s gallows humor or Roberto grumbling about being too old for this.

There’s also a ticking clock element that keeps the story moving. As the fungus spreads and starts evolving (yes, evolving!), the team has to figure out how to contain it, all while battling infected animals, the occasional human victim, and the fungus itself, which seems scarily intelligent at times. It’s a race against time, with the survival of the human race hanging in the balance.

In true thriller fashion, there are plenty of close calls, unexpected twists, and moments where you’re not sure how they’re going to pull it off. It’s cinematic, high-stakes, and weirdly fun—a biological horror story with enough personality and heart to keep you rooting for the characters.

What This Chick Thinks

So, here’s the thing: Cold Storage is not exactly deep, but it doesn’t need to be. This book is pure entertainment, and I loved every second of it. Koepp’s writing is sharp and snappy, with just the right balance of suspense and absurdity. The characters are quirky and relatable—especially Naomi, who’s as scrappy as they come. Even Teacake, with his slacker vibe, gets some great moments of heroism. And Roberto? Let’s just say he’s exactly the guy you’d want on your side in a biohazard situation.

The plot moves fast—sometimes too fast. There were a couple of moments where I wished the book would slow down and lean into the tension a bit more. But honestly? That’s a minor gripe. The pacing kept me hooked, and Koepp’s cinematic background shines through in the action-packed scenes. I could practically see the movie version playing out in my head. (Seriously, why isn’t this already a Netflix hit?)

Now, the fungus itself? Equal parts creepy and fascinating. Koepp clearly did his homework on microbiology, but he keeps the science accessible, which I appreciated. It’s just believable enough to make you squirm, but not so technical that you feel like you’re reading a textbook.

Why not a perfect 10? Well, the characters, while fun, don’t have tons of depth. They’re more like archetypes than fully fleshed-out people, and the book leans pretty heavily on action over emotion. But hey, not every book needs to rip your heart out like The Kite Runner. Sometimes, you just want a thrill ride.

Final thoughts

This book was a blast. If you’re looking for a smart, funny, slightly gross thriller with just the right dose of sci-fi, Cold Storage is it. It’s not here to change your life—it’s here to entertain the heck out of you, and it does that in spades. For me, it’s a solid 8/10. Perfect for a lazy weekend or whenever you need a break from heavier reads.

Try it if you like:

  • The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton – If you’re into the whole “science gone wrong” vibe, this is the OG. It’s got the same mix of tension and science geekery.
  • The Hatching by Ezekiel Boone – Spiders instead of fungi, but the same sense of “nature is out to get us” and high-octane thrills.
  • Devolution by Max Brooks – A fun, creepy survival story that blends dark humor with edge-of-your-seat action. Perfect if you love fast-paced reads with a touch of the bizarre.

No Comments

Post A Comment