Lethal Genes: A Crime Novel with Catherine Sayler

Like Linda Grant's previous books, this one is fast-paced and sharp with a nice touch of humor. No one seems more surprised than Catherine Saylor, childless career-woman that she is, when her gut reactions to her niece's wild behavior result in far more effective parenting than the girl gets from her own mother.The characters, even while most are involved in the same line of work, are carefully delineated. There's enough information about genetic research to indicate Grant's really done her homework, enough to help readers understand the issues behind the crimes without drifting off. The tense atmosphere of academic competition is convincing, and the murderer's not easy to spot.