White Plague, The by Frank Herbert

A brilliant study of the disturbed mind, set in a blazing action scenario with plot twists and surprises at every turn. A very compassionate and insightful look inside the mind of an insane man, and a doomsday story par excellence!
The principal character stays in the background for much of the story, although his actions and thoughts drive the story. His final fate is not at all what I expected.
His family is killed through the actions of the IRA, and, being a bio-geneticist, he concots a plague which targets only women. He intends for this plague to infest only Ireland, but it gets out of hand and infects the entire world. He becomes progressively more insane as the story advances, while eluding every attempt to capture him.
The main plot deals with not only attempts to find and capture him, but several stories about how various men attempt to save their women.
It's a can't-put-down read...a thrill ride from start to finish.