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The Caline Conspiracy
Calines are the perfect pets. Smarter than border collies, playful as otters, elegant as cats, calines have been genetically engineered to be everything a pet owner could want.
Except that they might kill you one day.
The world is shocked when geneticist Ivan Frithke is murdered, and his own pet caline, Madeline, is the prime suspect. Is this an isolated case, a flaw in the calines’ design, or something more? The widow doesn’t believe her darling could kill, and hires PI Aidra Scott to prove Madeline’s innocence.
Aidra wants nothing to do with animals—genetically engineered perfection or not. Losing her beloved Doberman was so painful that she’s sworn off pet ownership forever. But the more she investigates, the more Aidra becomes convinced an innocent animal is being framed, and murder is only the beginning of the conspiracy.
The Caline Conspiracy is a novel of the near future by the author of the critically-acclaimed Good Fences and Fate's Mirror.
Except that they might kill you one day.
The world is shocked when geneticist Ivan Frithke is murdered, and his own pet caline, Madeline, is the prime suspect. Is this an isolated case, a flaw in the calines’ design, or something more? The widow doesn’t believe her darling could kill, and hires PI Aidra Scott to prove Madeline’s innocence.
Aidra wants nothing to do with animals—genetically engineered perfection or not. Losing her beloved Doberman was so painful that she’s sworn off pet ownership forever. But the more she investigates, the more Aidra becomes convinced an innocent animal is being framed, and murder is only the beginning of the conspiracy.
The Caline Conspiracy is a novel of the near future by the author of the critically-acclaimed Good Fences and Fate's Mirror.
210 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2012
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July 2, 2017
The Caline Conspiracy by M.H. Mead is a science fiction novel, set in the not so distant future of Detroit. Mead spins an intriguing tale of suspense and mystery as her protagonist, PI Aidra Scott, sets out to prove a genetically created pet is innocent of a vicious crime. She captured my attention from the first few pages and I consumed this in one evening.
The tale begins when geneticist Ivan Frithke is found murdered. His pet Madeline, a caline, is the prime suspect. The police believe this to be an open and shut case. The widow however, doesn’t believe sweet Madeline is capable of such a deed. She begs Aidra Scott to take on the case. While desperate for the income, single mom and PI extraordinaire Aidra, wants nothing to do with any case involving animals. After losing her Doberman, Nutmeg, she cannot stand to be around them. The widow dangles more money. The current creator of the caline raises her suspicions, when he doesn’t want her investigating. Curiosity takes hold and she finds herself in the middle of things. The tale that unfolds is fast paced and filled with twists. The more Aidra investigates the more she is convinced something sinister is afoot.
Mead presents some interesting characters. Aidra tries to be a hip mom to her teenage son, and is very inquisitive. She has made a career for herself as a somewhat successful private investigator. She has issues but isn’t afraid to face things head on. I adored Morris, her computer hacker and would love to read more about him. He was hilarious and his use of technology was smashing. Other characters were; Jon, Aidra’s son, her sister Quinn, Tawny a teenage girl and members of the Caline Company. We also meet Edo a scientist and developer from a rival company. They make Pericats a genetically engineered pet. Aidra and Edo share an awkward scene when she is exposed to one of the pericats.
The tale and world that Mead creates had elements that reminded me of old dime store detective novels and steampunk. In this futuristic world there are holographs,everything is wired and science is on the cusp of new inventions. Genetics is a huge industry and a controversial one. Caline and its competitor Pericats are creating the perfect pets and are involved in some ground breaking advancements in cell manipulation. Meanwhile, picket lines are forming and sides are being drawn. The US has banned most procedures, causing citizens to travel to Canada for treatments. While delivering a mystery, Mead raises questions about the advancement of science. This would make a great club read as it begs for discussions. This novel wasn’t without flaws. I questioned some of the story-line and teeter between wanting more information or thinking scenes should have been cut. The writing style was good, and the tale was well paced.
I want to thank the author for providing this finished copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
The tale begins when geneticist Ivan Frithke is found murdered. His pet Madeline, a caline, is the prime suspect. The police believe this to be an open and shut case. The widow however, doesn’t believe sweet Madeline is capable of such a deed. She begs Aidra Scott to take on the case. While desperate for the income, single mom and PI extraordinaire Aidra, wants nothing to do with any case involving animals. After losing her Doberman, Nutmeg, she cannot stand to be around them. The widow dangles more money. The current creator of the caline raises her suspicions, when he doesn’t want her investigating. Curiosity takes hold and she finds herself in the middle of things. The tale that unfolds is fast paced and filled with twists. The more Aidra investigates the more she is convinced something sinister is afoot.
Mead presents some interesting characters. Aidra tries to be a hip mom to her teenage son, and is very inquisitive. She has made a career for herself as a somewhat successful private investigator. She has issues but isn’t afraid to face things head on. I adored Morris, her computer hacker and would love to read more about him. He was hilarious and his use of technology was smashing. Other characters were; Jon, Aidra’s son, her sister Quinn, Tawny a teenage girl and members of the Caline Company. We also meet Edo a scientist and developer from a rival company. They make Pericats a genetically engineered pet. Aidra and Edo share an awkward scene when she is exposed to one of the pericats.
The tale and world that Mead creates had elements that reminded me of old dime store detective novels and steampunk. In this futuristic world there are holographs,everything is wired and science is on the cusp of new inventions. Genetics is a huge industry and a controversial one. Caline and its competitor Pericats are creating the perfect pets and are involved in some ground breaking advancements in cell manipulation. Meanwhile, picket lines are forming and sides are being drawn. The US has banned most procedures, causing citizens to travel to Canada for treatments. While delivering a mystery, Mead raises questions about the advancement of science. This would make a great club read as it begs for discussions. This novel wasn’t without flaws. I questioned some of the story-line and teeter between wanting more information or thinking scenes should have been cut. The writing style was good, and the tale was well paced.
I want to thank the author for providing this finished copy in exchange for my unbiased review.
April 21, 2012
This is another tale set in the same universe and featuring the same characters as Mead's previous work FATE'S MIRROR, which I've also read. In comparison to that work, THE CALINE CONSPIRACY is a much better book in my opinion. The character of Aidra, who is only a secondary character in Fate's Mirror, is a more appealing lead than Morris the hacker, and I found myself identifying with her right away. The story moves along at a brisk pace, peppered with cinematic action sequences. The book as a whole reads like a 90-minute detective/action movie. There's a definite twist that I didn't see coming, and it tied the plot up very nicely. My only complaint is that it was a fast read in the sense that most of the characters besides Aidra are undeveloped beyond talking scenery, and a few of the subplots which are begun are left virtually unexplored. Genetic manipulation makes for some fascinating and scary science fiction, and I felt there were some more opportunities to expand upon the horrors that man might create with it. The book would have benefited by adding some depth to the setting and minor characters. That being said, it was an enjoyable beer-and-pretzels read, and an admirable sophomoric effort. I'm looking forward to further adventures in M.H. Mead's near-future Detroit.
May 13, 2012
I have to admit that this book was not quite what I expected from the blurb and continuing along the line of honesty - I was also supposed to be reviewing another book, when in a brief moment of weakness I took a peak and got sucked in. Before I knew what had happened I'd eaten my way through the 200+ pages and suddenly had to find something else to do... or perhaps to start communicating with the outside world again...
This is a world and a set of characters that I can see being spun into an interesting series and, from the quality of the kindle version I would assume it had also been professionally edited. Although I had a suspicion of the culprit from early on, there was enough mystery and breadcrumbs (the quarters in the envelope…) to keep me on my toes.
More at http://indieebooks.wordpress.com/2012...
This is a world and a set of characters that I can see being spun into an interesting series and, from the quality of the kindle version I would assume it had also been professionally edited. Although I had a suspicion of the culprit from early on, there was enough mystery and breadcrumbs (the quarters in the envelope…) to keep me on my toes.
More at http://indieebooks.wordpress.com/2012...
October 12, 2018
Quick, fun read. P.I. mystery with some cyberpunk.
April 15, 2012
Synopsis
Calines are genetically engineered “dogs” designed to purr, calm the senses, and feel baby smooth. They are genetically engineered and custom made to accommodate their master’s allergies and be the perfect companion. Smarter and better trained than dogs, they are incapable of hurting a human being… or is that just what they advertise? Madeline, the Caline companion of a top genetic scientist is accused of murdering her master and the evidence against her is open and shut. Everyone but the widow seems convinced she did it, even the detective hired to prove her innocent, but there’s alot of money and motherly instinct tied up in this case.
Review
I don’t usually read sci-fi, that tends to be more Ermisenda’s department, but when it’s not weighed down with all of the futuristic hub-ub I really enjoy it. The Caline Conspiracy is set in the not too distant US. I had a brief moment where I wondered if the authors were from abroad because they used the metric system, but I guess they think that’s where the US is going. Other than that, and the gene manipulation mentioned in the synopsis, the setting is very close to reality. Some of the wording was a little odd (probably because I don’t usually read sci-fi). for example, the detective’s assistant would spit her files and she would grab them before they hit her inbox or something off like that. I felt it took away a little, but I may have sci-fi fans argue I’m being critical of the genre for that one rather than the book itself.
As for the mystery, I figured out the who, but not the why. I love mystery, but I get more wrapped up in the story than trying to predict the next leads in the case, so for any hard-core I want there to be some major smoke and mirrors misdirection, you might be disappointed. That is not to say there wasn’t a major twist I didn’t see coming. As I said, I didn’t figure out the “why” and I felt the authors spent a great deal more time focusing the plot on the why than the who. For me, that worked out fine; I really enjoyed the novel and I would be a lost cause on an author trying to misdirect me because I wasn’t trying to begin with.
Overall, enjoyed almost everything. It never dragged, but the end was much faster than the beginning. The characters were well written and their actions driven by motive as opposed to the authors’ whim. I’m still on the fence about whether I would want a Caline or their feline counterparts. If I had one already, it wouldn’t change my feelings, but knowing everything up front… you’ll have to read the book to find out why.
I really think The Caline Conspiracy would make a good book club book. All it would need is a discussion guide at the back because it’s got some great political themes and discussion prompts embedded throughout. What makes it okay* for scientist to alter animal genes but not human genes? Do the ends ever justify the means? Where is the line between pet and family member? What are the rights of a mother vs. the rights of society?
Can love be conditional? ”I only love you until I know you’re not my biological child.” ”I only love you until I find out you’re homosexual.” ”I only love you while I fulfill my failures dreams through your success.” Does it negate the love you felt for someone or something when you didn’t know the full picture? Can you love something without knowing the full story in the first place?
There’s more, but you’ll have to read the book or they won’t make sense.
4 out of 5 stars
This book is for you if
You prefer “near future” sci-fi settings.
You enjoy the story surrounding a mystery as much or more than the actual mystery
This book is not for you if
You want lasers, teleportation pads, and other futuristic gadgets in your sci-fi novels.
You want to be given alot of misdirection
-Eliabeth Hawthorne
*I realize not everyone thinks it’s okay to manipulate genetics at all, but since it’s not illegal, that’s the definition of “okay” in this context.
Disclosure: This review at the request of the author; I received a free copy of the book, but it did not sway my review in any way.
Calines are genetically engineered “dogs” designed to purr, calm the senses, and feel baby smooth. They are genetically engineered and custom made to accommodate their master’s allergies and be the perfect companion. Smarter and better trained than dogs, they are incapable of hurting a human being… or is that just what they advertise? Madeline, the Caline companion of a top genetic scientist is accused of murdering her master and the evidence against her is open and shut. Everyone but the widow seems convinced she did it, even the detective hired to prove her innocent, but there’s alot of money and motherly instinct tied up in this case.
Review
I don’t usually read sci-fi, that tends to be more Ermisenda’s department, but when it’s not weighed down with all of the futuristic hub-ub I really enjoy it. The Caline Conspiracy is set in the not too distant US. I had a brief moment where I wondered if the authors were from abroad because they used the metric system, but I guess they think that’s where the US is going. Other than that, and the gene manipulation mentioned in the synopsis, the setting is very close to reality. Some of the wording was a little odd (probably because I don’t usually read sci-fi). for example, the detective’s assistant would spit her files and she would grab them before they hit her inbox or something off like that. I felt it took away a little, but I may have sci-fi fans argue I’m being critical of the genre for that one rather than the book itself.
As for the mystery, I figured out the who, but not the why. I love mystery, but I get more wrapped up in the story than trying to predict the next leads in the case, so for any hard-core I want there to be some major smoke and mirrors misdirection, you might be disappointed. That is not to say there wasn’t a major twist I didn’t see coming. As I said, I didn’t figure out the “why” and I felt the authors spent a great deal more time focusing the plot on the why than the who. For me, that worked out fine; I really enjoyed the novel and I would be a lost cause on an author trying to misdirect me because I wasn’t trying to begin with.
Overall, enjoyed almost everything. It never dragged, but the end was much faster than the beginning. The characters were well written and their actions driven by motive as opposed to the authors’ whim. I’m still on the fence about whether I would want a Caline or their feline counterparts. If I had one already, it wouldn’t change my feelings, but knowing everything up front… you’ll have to read the book to find out why.
I really think The Caline Conspiracy would make a good book club book. All it would need is a discussion guide at the back because it’s got some great political themes and discussion prompts embedded throughout. What makes it okay* for scientist to alter animal genes but not human genes? Do the ends ever justify the means? Where is the line between pet and family member? What are the rights of a mother vs. the rights of society?
Can love be conditional? ”I only love you until I know you’re not my biological child.” ”I only love you until I find out you’re homosexual.” ”I only love you while I fulfill my failures dreams through your success.” Does it negate the love you felt for someone or something when you didn’t know the full picture? Can you love something without knowing the full story in the first place?
There’s more, but you’ll have to read the book or they won’t make sense.
4 out of 5 stars
This book is for you if
You prefer “near future” sci-fi settings.
You enjoy the story surrounding a mystery as much or more than the actual mystery
This book is not for you if
You want lasers, teleportation pads, and other futuristic gadgets in your sci-fi novels.
You want to be given alot of misdirection
-Eliabeth Hawthorne
*I realize not everyone thinks it’s okay to manipulate genetics at all, but since it’s not illegal, that’s the definition of “okay” in this context.
Disclosure: This review at the request of the author; I received a free copy of the book, but it did not sway my review in any way.
November 21, 2012
Read more: http://www.sarcasmandlemons.com/2012/...
I don't read thrillers a lot, even though I watch crime shows like it's my job. So this was a nice treat. It grabbed me from the very beginning. The near-futuristic world is carefully crafted, filled with little details don't necessarily have huge plot significance, but make the world feel absolutely real. It's a world I hope to visit again. Aidra is a snappy, confident heroine with some issues of her own. I thought the thing with her old dog was a little sappy until the true story came out about why she was so broken up over it--then it all made sense. The plot is nonstop. Every time you think you're hitting a breakthrough, Mead throws in another wrench. It was exciting and beautifully well-written. I look forward to their next work.
plot . 5/5
Breakneck. You're thrown into the world of private investigation and right away, the action picks up. There were certain characters that didn't really come full circle, like the spinner (like a tabloid writer) who gets his butt handed to him by Aidra, but it was a fun little scene that shows you a lot about her character. After that, everything was fluid. We follow Aidra as she follows leads with the delightfully snarky Morris, gets into trouble with the religious fundamentalists, has a sexy (and surprising) rendezvous with the smooth-talking geneticist Edo. And then it's a race to the finish. Some of the plot had the potential to feel deus ex machina, but Mead did a good job of keeping the consequences realistic. My only snag is at the end, because I feel like the widow's actions would have been different. But judge for yourself.
concept . 5/5
I was a little iffy at first. Some huge conspiracy about dogs? Seemed a little over-the-top. Yeah, this is the part where I admit that I was being super silly. This was no campy puppy escapade. Yes, that's a thing. The calines, genetically engineered perfect pets, fit perfectly into this futuristic world where technology is paramount. Humans have used it to shape the world to their every need, from all-in-one data phones to techno-masks that give you a new face and surrounding over video chat to gene therapy that can cure the worst ailments. It's near-future enough that I could imagine this being our world, and it brings up a lot of issues about how much we should be altering nature, and what the consequences are.
characters . 5/5
Love. Aidra is a spitfire, but not in your typical brainless foolhardy way. She may be a little unorthodox, but she's got a good head on her shoulders. I was able to relate to her instantly. The supporting cast is fantastic. Morris, the tech-nerd, is hysterically suave. Edo is instantly dreamy. Quinn is clever and adds a lot to the genetics questions. Baxter has a sleek charm to him that screams businessman. You don't get to know everything about everyone (for instance, we still know very little about Morris) but you feel like they're real people out there somewhere.
style . 5/5
The style is extremely high quality. I could see this being something run out of the Big Six. Mead writes in a concise, snappy way that provides enough detail without harping on it. There's a sarcastic edge that makes it extremely funny at points, poignant at others. The snappiness of the tone is perfect for a book populated with techno-terms. Also, I'll say, I'm not big on sexy scenes but the one in this book was very tasteful.
mechanics . 5/5
Beautifully polished. Mead clearly went the extra mile to make a professional product.
take home message
A breakneck thriller that mixes technology, murder, and man's best friend to make for a unique and compelling story.
Note: I received this copy free from the authors in exchange for a review. The price of the book and its origin in no way affected my stated opinions.
I don't read thrillers a lot, even though I watch crime shows like it's my job. So this was a nice treat. It grabbed me from the very beginning. The near-futuristic world is carefully crafted, filled with little details don't necessarily have huge plot significance, but make the world feel absolutely real. It's a world I hope to visit again. Aidra is a snappy, confident heroine with some issues of her own. I thought the thing with her old dog was a little sappy until the true story came out about why she was so broken up over it--then it all made sense. The plot is nonstop. Every time you think you're hitting a breakthrough, Mead throws in another wrench. It was exciting and beautifully well-written. I look forward to their next work.
plot . 5/5
Breakneck. You're thrown into the world of private investigation and right away, the action picks up. There were certain characters that didn't really come full circle, like the spinner (like a tabloid writer) who gets his butt handed to him by Aidra, but it was a fun little scene that shows you a lot about her character. After that, everything was fluid. We follow Aidra as she follows leads with the delightfully snarky Morris, gets into trouble with the religious fundamentalists, has a sexy (and surprising) rendezvous with the smooth-talking geneticist Edo. And then it's a race to the finish. Some of the plot had the potential to feel deus ex machina, but Mead did a good job of keeping the consequences realistic. My only snag is at the end, because I feel like the widow's actions would have been different. But judge for yourself.
concept . 5/5
I was a little iffy at first. Some huge conspiracy about dogs? Seemed a little over-the-top. Yeah, this is the part where I admit that I was being super silly. This was no campy puppy escapade. Yes, that's a thing. The calines, genetically engineered perfect pets, fit perfectly into this futuristic world where technology is paramount. Humans have used it to shape the world to their every need, from all-in-one data phones to techno-masks that give you a new face and surrounding over video chat to gene therapy that can cure the worst ailments. It's near-future enough that I could imagine this being our world, and it brings up a lot of issues about how much we should be altering nature, and what the consequences are.
characters . 5/5
Love. Aidra is a spitfire, but not in your typical brainless foolhardy way. She may be a little unorthodox, but she's got a good head on her shoulders. I was able to relate to her instantly. The supporting cast is fantastic. Morris, the tech-nerd, is hysterically suave. Edo is instantly dreamy. Quinn is clever and adds a lot to the genetics questions. Baxter has a sleek charm to him that screams businessman. You don't get to know everything about everyone (for instance, we still know very little about Morris) but you feel like they're real people out there somewhere.
style . 5/5
The style is extremely high quality. I could see this being something run out of the Big Six. Mead writes in a concise, snappy way that provides enough detail without harping on it. There's a sarcastic edge that makes it extremely funny at points, poignant at others. The snappiness of the tone is perfect for a book populated with techno-terms. Also, I'll say, I'm not big on sexy scenes but the one in this book was very tasteful.
mechanics . 5/5
Beautifully polished. Mead clearly went the extra mile to make a professional product.
take home message
A breakneck thriller that mixes technology, murder, and man's best friend to make for a unique and compelling story.
Note: I received this copy free from the authors in exchange for a review. The price of the book and its origin in no way affected my stated opinions.
February 1, 2015
Cross-posted from Papyrus Independent Author Reviews: http://papyrus.calebblake.net/2012/07/24/the-caline-conspiracy-by-m-h-mead/
After a genetically manufactured cyber pet is found standing over its dead owner and creator, it is sentenced to be destroyed. Has the invention killed the inventor or is there a deeper conspiracy at work?
Previously, I’ve read and reviewed Fate's Mirror and gave it a high rating as a highly enjoyable cyberpunk romp. The Caline Conspiracy, although seemingly a prequel to that story is quite a different book. The characters are shared and the timeline is earlier. However, this novel has more of a techno crime mystery feel to it.
Aidra Scott, a woman whose earlier dreams of joining the police force were frustrated, struggles to make a living as a private investigator and takes on what seems to be a pointless case of proving a cyber canine innocent of the murder of its owner and inventor. And so we are invited into the futuristic world of the caline; cyber pets of the wealthy, genetically engineered in the labs of GeCreations.
A caline appears in Fate’s Mirror and it was interesting to see a diversion into this creature as a big business of the future. Equally interesting was the novel’s small interlude with the perficats, a competing genetically created pet. They only feature in one scene, but it was a rather entertaining one. I believe a detailed description won’t quite do it justice.
Aidra Scott is the same pragmatic and straightforward character from Fate’s Mirror. She has a spine and she gets things done. While the last novel featured Morris Payne, in this story he’s a background character – the hacker resource Aidra hires for cyber-geekery from time to time. He’s present frequently, but feels more like a purpose-built artificial intelligence than a character. I think the shift to Aidra as the main focus is part of what seems to pull this novel across the genre boundaries into new territory. While in the previous book we witnessed the cyber-freestyling of Payne, in this one we’re almost approaching hard-boiled territory.
Although novel length, this story felt more like a novella. It might have been that not alot of time was spent developing side characters. Enough of them were introduced, but they felt like well-placed props leaving the reader with an exposé on Aidra Scott investigating a case that has a few false trails but never felt particularly burdensome or complex. The reader even experiences a bit of Aidra’s personal journey: her history with her ex-husband, her relationship to her son Jon and her thoughts about artificial pets when compared to her love of real dogs.
As in all mysteries, there is a reveal or two and in the way of all whodunnits, the reader can line up suspicion with fact. I wouldn’t be surpised if the bad guy was intuited by crime mystery readers quite early in the piece. I’m no afficionado and I had the culprit pegged in the first part of the book. However, it’s the why and how that provides the interest. Additionally some of the scenes toward the end have an action thriller feel as the final pieces fall into place.
I enjoyed The Caline Conspiracy. The perficats scene alone is worth the small price of admission and the sinister revelation manages to lend sufficient weight to the final chapters to give satisfaction.
After a genetically manufactured cyber pet is found standing over its dead owner and creator, it is sentenced to be destroyed. Has the invention killed the inventor or is there a deeper conspiracy at work?
Previously, I’ve read and reviewed Fate's Mirror and gave it a high rating as a highly enjoyable cyberpunk romp. The Caline Conspiracy, although seemingly a prequel to that story is quite a different book. The characters are shared and the timeline is earlier. However, this novel has more of a techno crime mystery feel to it.
Aidra Scott, a woman whose earlier dreams of joining the police force were frustrated, struggles to make a living as a private investigator and takes on what seems to be a pointless case of proving a cyber canine innocent of the murder of its owner and inventor. And so we are invited into the futuristic world of the caline; cyber pets of the wealthy, genetically engineered in the labs of GeCreations.
A caline appears in Fate’s Mirror and it was interesting to see a diversion into this creature as a big business of the future. Equally interesting was the novel’s small interlude with the perficats, a competing genetically created pet. They only feature in one scene, but it was a rather entertaining one. I believe a detailed description won’t quite do it justice.
Aidra Scott is the same pragmatic and straightforward character from Fate’s Mirror. She has a spine and she gets things done. While the last novel featured Morris Payne, in this story he’s a background character – the hacker resource Aidra hires for cyber-geekery from time to time. He’s present frequently, but feels more like a purpose-built artificial intelligence than a character. I think the shift to Aidra as the main focus is part of what seems to pull this novel across the genre boundaries into new territory. While in the previous book we witnessed the cyber-freestyling of Payne, in this one we’re almost approaching hard-boiled territory.
Although novel length, this story felt more like a novella. It might have been that not alot of time was spent developing side characters. Enough of them were introduced, but they felt like well-placed props leaving the reader with an exposé on Aidra Scott investigating a case that has a few false trails but never felt particularly burdensome or complex. The reader even experiences a bit of Aidra’s personal journey: her history with her ex-husband, her relationship to her son Jon and her thoughts about artificial pets when compared to her love of real dogs.
As in all mysteries, there is a reveal or two and in the way of all whodunnits, the reader can line up suspicion with fact. I wouldn’t be surpised if the bad guy was intuited by crime mystery readers quite early in the piece. I’m no afficionado and I had the culprit pegged in the first part of the book. However, it’s the why and how that provides the interest. Additionally some of the scenes toward the end have an action thriller feel as the final pieces fall into place.
I enjoyed The Caline Conspiracy. The perficats scene alone is worth the small price of admission and the sinister revelation manages to lend sufficient weight to the final chapters to give satisfaction.
August 5, 2016
Caline Conspiracy is great for light entertainment, and the potpourri of genres will make it appeal to many.
The novel follows Aidra as she hunts down the murderer of Ivan Frithke, one of the world’s leading geneticists. She finds a blood-stained muzzle at the scene of the crime. No, not the muzzle of a gun. The muzzle of the cute and cuddly caline, a genetically modified perfect pet. Aidra sniffs out clues with the help of a fiendishly clever computer hacker, a sexy scientist, her pregnant (thanks to modern genetics) sister, and her teenage with a capital T son. The problem is, the secret of the murder is wrapped up in the secret of the calines themselves, and unraveling both means putting Aidra’s life on the line.
So let’s see, how many genres do we have? Mystery. Thriller. Science Fiction. Animal lover?
Caline Conspiracy is a good, light read. The action is suspenseful without being gruesome. The mystery was tantalizing but not frustratingly hard or stupidly easy. The science stays high level but is logical; it definitely adds something new to the detective story. Overall, I found it an engaging novel.
One thing Mead crafts particularly well is the interactions among the characters. The dialogue and relationships are realistic, and the characters are reasonably fleshed out. What remains most is their potential. I felt the characters were just bursting for a sequel… and then I found out Caline Conspiracy is the sequel. The previous books, Good Fences and Fate's Mirror, focus on the witty and secretive computer hacker. He’s one of the more intriguing characters, and I’ve added Fate's Mirror to my “to read” list.
There are a few problems with the novel. I couldn’t quite get into Aidra’s obsession with dogs, like they were fuzzy incarnations of divine love. Some scenes had odd and seemingly unnecessary details. Aidra’s tour of the police station and her lurid encounter with another genetically modified animal could have gone to the editor’s desk once more time. Still, they only pulled me out of the story for a little, and I slipped back into the plot without much difficulty.
Personally I’m not a big mystery, thriller, sci-fi, or animal lover reader, although I can find examples of each. (James Herriot, anyone?) Still, I enjoyed the book, so I’ll gladly recommend it to people who live and breathe these genres. And come on: you’d never see Jack Reacher cuddle a ferret, now, would you?
[Full disclosure: I helped proofread Caline Conspiracy before it was published, looking for type-o’s and spelling errors. Payment was a free copy of the book. I was not asked for a review.]
The novel follows Aidra as she hunts down the murderer of Ivan Frithke, one of the world’s leading geneticists. She finds a blood-stained muzzle at the scene of the crime. No, not the muzzle of a gun. The muzzle of the cute and cuddly caline, a genetically modified perfect pet. Aidra sniffs out clues with the help of a fiendishly clever computer hacker, a sexy scientist, her pregnant (thanks to modern genetics) sister, and her teenage with a capital T son. The problem is, the secret of the murder is wrapped up in the secret of the calines themselves, and unraveling both means putting Aidra’s life on the line.
So let’s see, how many genres do we have? Mystery. Thriller. Science Fiction. Animal lover?
Caline Conspiracy is a good, light read. The action is suspenseful without being gruesome. The mystery was tantalizing but not frustratingly hard or stupidly easy. The science stays high level but is logical; it definitely adds something new to the detective story. Overall, I found it an engaging novel.
One thing Mead crafts particularly well is the interactions among the characters. The dialogue and relationships are realistic, and the characters are reasonably fleshed out. What remains most is their potential. I felt the characters were just bursting for a sequel… and then I found out Caline Conspiracy is the sequel. The previous books, Good Fences and Fate's Mirror, focus on the witty and secretive computer hacker. He’s one of the more intriguing characters, and I’ve added Fate's Mirror to my “to read” list.
There are a few problems with the novel. I couldn’t quite get into Aidra’s obsession with dogs, like they were fuzzy incarnations of divine love. Some scenes had odd and seemingly unnecessary details. Aidra’s tour of the police station and her lurid encounter with another genetically modified animal could have gone to the editor’s desk once more time. Still, they only pulled me out of the story for a little, and I slipped back into the plot without much difficulty.
Personally I’m not a big mystery, thriller, sci-fi, or animal lover reader, although I can find examples of each. (James Herriot, anyone?) Still, I enjoyed the book, so I’ll gladly recommend it to people who live and breathe these genres. And come on: you’d never see Jack Reacher cuddle a ferret, now, would you?
[Full disclosure: I helped proofread Caline Conspiracy before it was published, looking for type-o’s and spelling errors. Payment was a free copy of the book. I was not asked for a review.]
May 24, 2012
(Originally posted on Misprinted Pages.)
By the sounds of it, The Caline Conspiracy wasn’t something I’d normally pick up, and the cover screamed the nineties, but I agreed to give the book a shot. Sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zones.
As silly as the plot felt at times—it’s a murder mystery in which a genetically enhanced pet (a “caline”) is the only suspect—the writing was, well, good. Nothing ground-breaking, but better than a lot of the books I’m handed to read on assignment. I didn’t have to parse the prose to discover the kernel of worth within it. The Caline Conspiracy is written by two clearly talented people.
Of course, M. H. Mead might be writing about the perfect pets (and the not-so-perfect pets), but that doesn’t mean their book is flawless. The writers brush on a futuristic gloss at will, rather than building a believable sci-fi world from the ground up. You can’t have your character make tea or order pizza and then have her use some sort of holo-vid system without making readers wonder if maybe the science fiction part wasn’t a high priority after all. If you’re going to set your story in the future, you have to simulate the future down to the very last detail. Or at least have a robot ringing the doorbell with a steaming pie.
The story held my interest regardless of its slips, but I have to wonder about the scene with Aidra, Edo, and the perficats. The grand realization that occurs then doesn’t seem to have much purpose overall, other than to maybe foreshadow how crazy meddlesome scientists are with things that shouldn’t be meddled in.
I’m not sure I entirely believe a few other plot threads, either: Aidra’s totally lax, “cool mom” treatment of her son had me cringing; and the explanation for their new family member at the end was surprising but not entirely convincing.The backstory about their old dog Nutmeg gave the characters and story some valuable context, but it was never explored as much as I would have liked. A few minor characters could have used more attention after their biggest scenes—like Quinn’s unexpected trip to the hospital and Freddy and his wife. These characters deserve more than a passing role.
These failings in plot aren’t as extreme as they might sound—the only parts I was rolling my eyes at were the one near sex scene that didn’t belong and the aforementioned introduction of Aidra’s son Jon. I can’t recommend The Caline Conspiracy to everyone, but if you like the suspense of mysteries or you’re just a huge animal enthusiast, then you’ll likely find enjoyment in its story.
By the sounds of it, The Caline Conspiracy wasn’t something I’d normally pick up, and the cover screamed the nineties, but I agreed to give the book a shot. Sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zones.
As silly as the plot felt at times—it’s a murder mystery in which a genetically enhanced pet (a “caline”) is the only suspect—the writing was, well, good. Nothing ground-breaking, but better than a lot of the books I’m handed to read on assignment. I didn’t have to parse the prose to discover the kernel of worth within it. The Caline Conspiracy is written by two clearly talented people.
Of course, M. H. Mead might be writing about the perfect pets (and the not-so-perfect pets), but that doesn’t mean their book is flawless. The writers brush on a futuristic gloss at will, rather than building a believable sci-fi world from the ground up. You can’t have your character make tea or order pizza and then have her use some sort of holo-vid system without making readers wonder if maybe the science fiction part wasn’t a high priority after all. If you’re going to set your story in the future, you have to simulate the future down to the very last detail. Or at least have a robot ringing the doorbell with a steaming pie.
The story held my interest regardless of its slips, but I have to wonder about the scene with Aidra, Edo, and the perficats. The grand realization that occurs then doesn’t seem to have much purpose overall, other than to maybe foreshadow how crazy meddlesome scientists are with things that shouldn’t be meddled in.
I’m not sure I entirely believe a few other plot threads, either: Aidra’s totally lax, “cool mom” treatment of her son had me cringing; and the explanation for their new family member at the end was surprising but not entirely convincing.The backstory about their old dog Nutmeg gave the characters and story some valuable context, but it was never explored as much as I would have liked. A few minor characters could have used more attention after their biggest scenes—like Quinn’s unexpected trip to the hospital and Freddy and his wife. These characters deserve more than a passing role.
These failings in plot aren’t as extreme as they might sound—the only parts I was rolling my eyes at were the one near sex scene that didn’t belong and the aforementioned introduction of Aidra’s son Jon. I can’t recommend The Caline Conspiracy to everyone, but if you like the suspense of mysteries or you’re just a huge animal enthusiast, then you’ll likely find enjoyment in its story.
July 13, 2012
This was an enjoyable read.
Aidra, the lead character, gets a case she doesn’t really want and that seems like it’s pretty straight forward. Still she gives it her best effort and soon discovers this case is more than she bargained for.
Aidra is a likeable character, tough, but with a vulnerable side. She is resourceful and observant and knows when to handle things herself and when to ask for help.
The case she’s working on is interesting and had me invested from the start. The calines are intriguing and give this detective story a slight SciFi feel. The investigation is set up very nicely and gives you just enough information to try and make some guesses while dragging you further into the mystery and intrigue.
I liked how Aidra’s investigation leads to her not only having to find the truth about Frithke‘s death, but also to question herself.
Next to this being a suspenseful detective story this story also makes you think and touches on some rather sensitive subjects. I really liked this deeper layer and it had me thinking even after I finished the book.
The one negative thing I could say about this story is that some of the other characters stay a bit one dimensional, but this being a novella and not a full length novel, it’s only to be expected that not everything can be worked out in full detail, so it’s only a minor flaw in my opinion.
All in all this is a cool read that challenges you to think.
Aidra, the lead character, gets a case she doesn’t really want and that seems like it’s pretty straight forward. Still she gives it her best effort and soon discovers this case is more than she bargained for.
Aidra is a likeable character, tough, but with a vulnerable side. She is resourceful and observant and knows when to handle things herself and when to ask for help.
The case she’s working on is interesting and had me invested from the start. The calines are intriguing and give this detective story a slight SciFi feel. The investigation is set up very nicely and gives you just enough information to try and make some guesses while dragging you further into the mystery and intrigue.
I liked how Aidra’s investigation leads to her not only having to find the truth about Frithke‘s death, but also to question herself.
Next to this being a suspenseful detective story this story also makes you think and touches on some rather sensitive subjects. I really liked this deeper layer and it had me thinking even after I finished the book.
The one negative thing I could say about this story is that some of the other characters stay a bit one dimensional, but this being a novella and not a full length novel, it’s only to be expected that not everything can be worked out in full detail, so it’s only a minor flaw in my opinion.
All in all this is a cool read that challenges you to think.
April 21, 2012
This is another tale set in the same universe and featuring the same characters as Mead's previous work FATE'S MIRROR, which I've also read. In comparison to that work, THE CALINE CONSPIRACY is a much better book in my opinion. The character of Aidra, who is only a secondary character in Fate's Mirror, is a more appealing lead than Morris the hacker, and I found myself identifying with her right away. The story moves along at a brisk pace, peppered with cinematic action sequences. The book as a whole reads like a 90-minute detective/action movie. There's a definite twist that I didn't see coming, and it tied the plot up very nicely. My only complaint is that it was a fast read in the sense that most of the characters besides Aidra are undeveloped beyond talking scenery, and a few of the subplots which are begun are left virtually unexplored. Genetic manipulation makes for some fascinating and scary science fiction, and I felt there were some more opportunities to expand upon the horrors that man might create with it. The book would have benefited by adding some depth to the setting and minor characters. That being said, it was an enjoyable beer-and-pretzels read, and an admirable sophomoric effort. I'm looking forward to further adventures in M.H. Mead's near-future Detroit.
July 7, 2013
Calines are genetically engineered to be the perfect pet---until Madeline, caline creator Dr. Ivan Frithke’s own perfect pet, apparently viciously attacks and murders him. To the police the case is an obvious one, but Frithke’s widow refuses to believe that the family’s beloved companion has committed the murder and hires single-mom PI Aidra Scott to find the real murderer and save Madeline from euthanasia.
The set-up is intriguing; the clues are fair; the suspense is well-done; and, VERY important to a good mystery, the denouement is very believable. Unlike all too many bargain-priced books, I had no urge to get out my blue pencil to correct the grammar and punctuation. There is even a set of Reader’s Discussion questions that makes you think about some of the ethical issues raised in the book, in case you were too busy enjoying the story while you were reading! This was a very nice find for mystery lovers and SF fans.
My understanding is that this book is set in the same future as other books by this author but has a new protagonist. It sounds like it could be the first in a series featuring PI Aidra Scott. I hope so!
April 2, 2012
Emotionally captivating and with engaging characters (including the caline, which most resembles a dog), fast-paced and well written, this science fiction-cum-murder mystery works.
Behind the cutest, most coveted bio-engineered pet in the world lies a secret.
Is it the brutal murder that opens this story? Or is it something entirely different and equally distasteful. This novel is about a pet facing the death sentence after being suspected of killing her owner. Private investigator Aidra Scott is hired to prove the caline's innocence.
THE CALINE CONSPIRACY is a prequel to FATE'S MIRROR. If you liked the first you will like the second. If you've never heard of the first, you'll like THE CALINE CONSPIRACY.
Behind the cutest, most coveted bio-engineered pet in the world lies a secret.
Is it the brutal murder that opens this story? Or is it something entirely different and equally distasteful. This novel is about a pet facing the death sentence after being suspected of killing her owner. Private investigator Aidra Scott is hired to prove the caline's innocence.
THE CALINE CONSPIRACY is a prequel to FATE'S MIRROR. If you liked the first you will like the second. If you've never heard of the first, you'll like THE CALINE CONSPIRACY.
August 31, 2012
CONTEST: http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
This was a great mystery story and raised some great ethical questions. It was a well paced story with plenty of twists and turns. In a world where genetic engineering is OK for dogs but not so OK for people it painted some interesting picture of what the future may look like, and how far people will go to get what they want. Some parts of the book I found myself asking 'would I do that', particularly the scenes regarding Quinn's baby. The ending was explosive and was right for the book. I do recommend this one, a great read.
This was a great mystery story and raised some great ethical questions. It was a well paced story with plenty of twists and turns. In a world where genetic engineering is OK for dogs but not so OK for people it painted some interesting picture of what the future may look like, and how far people will go to get what they want. Some parts of the book I found myself asking 'would I do that', particularly the scenes regarding Quinn's baby. The ending was explosive and was right for the book. I do recommend this one, a great read.
June 8, 2012
This was a goodreads giveaway. Thankyou.
Calines were created to be perfect pets so when one apparently kills its owner the questions begin.
An easy, light read with good world building that doesn't bury the story. Taking the genetic experiment line as the basis of the story the authors manage to avoid falling into too many worn out tropes.
It lost one star because the ending felt a little telegraphed. As if a good five thousand words were missing from the tale.
Would read more in this setting and by this author pairing.
Calines were created to be perfect pets so when one apparently kills its owner the questions begin.
An easy, light read with good world building that doesn't bury the story. Taking the genetic experiment line as the basis of the story the authors manage to avoid falling into too many worn out tropes.
It lost one star because the ending felt a little telegraphed. As if a good five thousand words were missing from the tale.
Would read more in this setting and by this author pairing.
May 22, 2014
M.H. Mead does and excellent job in contemplating the possibilities of genetic engineering, from endearing to terrifying. I admit, as a dog lover, I may be more in favor of a tale that wags (he he), but I have to say that I found the heroine and her son very believable and the new member of their family worth saving.
August 2, 2012
For a complete review visit the SciYourFi blog at:
http://sciyourfi.blogspot.com/2012_05...
http://sciyourfi.blogspot.com/2012_05...
June 3, 2012
A fun read with some interesting ideas.
August 31, 2012
For my review please visit http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
June 1, 2013
Wonderful story! Had a VERY hard time putting this down. Looking forward to the next book by these wonderful authors:)
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