Read this around '96 or '97; it was a new book at the time.
Tanker collides with the Golden Gate bridge (disgruntled crewman at the wheel, or something along that line) and spills oil into Frisco Bay. Someone decides that this is the perfect test for his unapproved, unlicenced, &c, &c, newly created oil-eating bacteria and releases some into the bay. Bacteria become airbourne (I think), get out into the surrounding cities, mutate to begin eating petroleum fractions, not just crude, and spread. (One vector is gas pumps - contaminated car stops for gas, bacteria get onto pump nozzle, and then begin to “infect” other cars that use that gas pump.) Bacteria mutate even further and begin eating any petrolium product, including all plasctics (phones, computers, &c, &c). TEOTWAWKI…
I read that book! And oddly enough, was just recently trying to remember the name, too. I’m pretty sure it is Ill Wind. I really enjoyed that book a lot!
Don’t remember that part, DrFidelius, but I’ve ILL’d the book and am waiting for its arrival.
Another thing in its favour is that I recall that the book I’m looking for was the second book I’d read that year with the same title, and there’s an Anna Pigeon mystery called Ill Wind…
