Mate in Two Moves by Winston K. Marks

In a world overtaken by an epidemic of love, reserved pathologist Dr. Sylvester Murt tries to meet the crisis with sarcasm, science, and emotional distance. But as marriages surge, desire spreads, and the nation slips into obsession, his careful bachelorhood begins to look less like a choice than a fragile defense against a force no one can explain. With sharp, self-possessed Dr. Phyllis Sutton at his side, Murt helps investigate baffling patient symptoms, mysterious blood samples, and a possible "Love Bug" virus hiding in plain sight. When electron microscope images reveal shadowy six-sided particles, headlines explode and "Murt's Virus" becomes a sensation, bringing government backing, public attention, and unwanted fame. Yet the real danger is closer to home: Murt's attraction to Phyllis grows into nervousness, jealousy, and a fear that he himself has been infected. As the epidemic turns ordinary romance into possessiveness and emotional chaos, the two doctors race to understand the contagion before it destroys both society and their own restraint. Then a promising sulfa derivative emerges, offering hope—and demanding that Murt decide how far he will go to save himself. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.