What happens when biotechnology
goes from baaaad to worse? In this
book, you do not get Daisy, the cloned sheep, rather you get the Knockout Mouse by James Calder. When
biotechnology runs amok in the wrong hands, can murder be far behind?

James Calder’s Knockout Mouse takes place in and around Silicon Valley. Bill Damen
has traded in his hopes at being a big time documentary filmmaker and has
settled, for obvious financial reasons, into making industrial videos in
Silicon Valley. His latest venture is for Kumar Biotechnics. In the parking
lot, Damen encounters Gregory and Ron from BioVerge, Kumar’s competitors, with
an offer they insist he “can not refuse.” The question of course is not “can”
he, but should he. Later that evening at his girlfriend’s, Jenny Ingersoll,
dinner party a guest, Sheila Harros, dies from an allergic reaction to
shellfish. Aware of Sheila’s allergies, Jenny made sure that shellfish was
definitely not on the menu. Jenny, however, now finds herself under suspicion
of murder. Bill is in no better shape since BioVerge has upped their ante and
is now playing a deadly game of hardball. All that is sure is that to quote
Sherlock Holmes, “the games is afoot!”

The story revolves around very
complex biotechnical theories. The murder is also highly technical. (I was
quite surprise to discover that my idea of a “knockout mouse” was very
different from that of the author’s). While everything that the reader needs to
know to solve the case is clearly and simply explained, there is still much
more explaining about the biotech industry that is done. Some readers may find
all the explanations fascinating, while others may simply glaze over falling
into techno overload. As to the main characters, I found them to be rather
self-centered and often quite shallow. The most interesting person, in my
honest opinion, was the murder victim who unfortunately left the story way too
early.

There is little if anything
available in print or online about the author, James Calder. The following is
from the book jacket, “James Calder is a San Francisco Bay Area-based writer.
This is his first mystery.”

In conclusion, if you are looking
for a complex mystery filled with hitech shenanigans, scientific machinations,
and the proverbial mad scientist or two, look no further. The book was a bit
too scientific and “tech-y” for my taste, but then science was never my favorite
subject in school. The solution to the mystery, however, is as crystal clear as
distilled water. It has a definite “G” rating with no sex and no gore. I would
recommend this book to any “techie”.

© 2002 Su Terry

Su Terry: Education:
B.A. in History from Sacred Heart University, M.L.S. in Library Science from
Southern Connecticut State College, M.R.S. in Religious Studies/Pastoral
Counseling from Fairfield University, a M.Div. in Professional Ministry from
New Brunswick Theological Seminary, a Certificate in Spirituality/Spiritual
Direction from Sacred Heart University. She is a Licensed Minister of the
United Church of Christ and an Assistant Professor in Library Science at
Dowling College, Long Island, NY. Interests in Mental Health: She is interested
in the interplay between psychology, biology, and mysticism. Her current area
of research is in the impact of hormonal fluctuation in female Christian
mystics.

Categories: Fiction