Bad Seed: An Alex Bernier Mystery

Alex Bernier #4

by Beth Saulnier

An eccentric upstate New York college town, Gabriel is traditionally a hotbed of debate, activism, and academic infighting. But not even Alex and her jaded coworkers on the Gabriel Monitor have ever seen anything like the intense controversy over so-called "Frankenfoods" - genetically engineered crops that some believe will wipe out world hunger and others decry as science gone mad. Suddenly Benson University and Gabriel are a battleground, with both sides willing to stop at nothing for their cause. And when Alex discovers charismatic, driven, plant science professor Kate Barnett beaten to death in her lab, the journalist finds suspects sprouting from every corner of the campus.
With the Monitor's ace science writer Jake Madison out of commission after a perplexing overdose and Alex's policeman boyfriend Brian Cody incommunicado thanks to FBI orders, Alex must solve the deadly mystery on her own. Soon crossing her path is a host of shady characters, including several of Kate's jealous colleagues; a manipulative protest leader; an elusive grad student accusing the professor of an unthinkable academic crime; and Kate's own troubled son, a refugee adopted from Ethiopia.
Alex's search for the truth will lead her along the ever-shifting line between dedication and ambition, altruism and greed, painful truth and deadly lies ... and to a dangerous endgame against a ruthless killer who will weed out anything that stands in the way - including an inconveniently tenacious reporter.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

aka Elizabeth Bloom

Reviews

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly love this series, and am sad there is only 1 book left to go. This plot felt a bit dated (very 90s, IMO). I just really like the protagonist and even her BF.

[RoseMary author · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been on my shelf for nearly 20 years and I've read it twice. In an effort to lessen my book load (okay, more likely to make room for new books on the shelves), I just read it again. That should tell you everything, right? It's a fun mystery, lots of twists & turns. There is far more cursing than I remembered--like a ton of it--so avoid if that bugs you.

In an effort to see what Beth Saulnier (ie Elizabeth Bloom) is up to since I first read the book, I've been searching for her--no website, etc. Who knows? Which should remind all us authors: have a social media presence.

[Galen Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay—a bit naïve, but fun and fast-paced, written with a good sense of both humor and thrill. Recommended for a quick read.