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Patent to Kill
Christofferson's gripping novels of medical suspense have drawn favorable comparisons to the work of Michael Crichton and Robin Cook. Now she returns with a page-turning thriller that explores the cutting edge of medicine--and murder.
It is a new crime for a new century. the theft of the healing secrets of isolated, indigenous peoples. Rapacious pharmaceutical companies swoop down on remote Third World tribes, steal their folk medicine, native cures, and even human blood, then reap tremendous profits from the patents.
Dr. Jake Scully doesn't want to think that his employer, Genchrom, is exploiting anyone, let alone killing natives for the unique properties of their DNA, but when he tries to blow the whistle on the company's criminal activities, he places his own life--and his family--in danger.
It is a new crime for a new century. the theft of the healing secrets of isolated, indigenous peoples. Rapacious pharmaceutical companies swoop down on remote Third World tribes, steal their folk medicine, native cures, and even human blood, then reap tremendous profits from the patents.
Dr. Jake Scully doesn't want to think that his employer, Genchrom, is exploiting anyone, let alone killing natives for the unique properties of their DNA, but when he tries to blow the whistle on the company's criminal activities, he places his own life--and his family--in danger.
- GenresFiction
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 26, 2018
A good read. The beginning is weak and I had some difficulties to get hooked up, but as it progresses and especially when the section through the Brazilian jungle begins, it improves a lot.
Main characters are forgettable, but a couple of secondary ones are memorable: Zurito and Caina. The former is the guide in the Amazonian part of the trip, a skillful, immutable, reliable man; I like this type of character since the very first book I read (not assigned by school), Journey to the Center of the Earth, by fav author Jules Verne, where I discovered Hans. The latter is a native from one of the tribes of Brazil, who fled to the US without any knowledge of how the world works. When I start thinking about making a trip to whatever the place in the world, I imagine doing all kind of previous research, such as transportation types, culture, language, currency, etc. But she did not do any of that! And although the trip itself is not narrated, it does not take away the extraordinary. Admirable. Of course, the creative license is pushed to its limits, but for once, who cares? :)
Main characters are forgettable, but a couple of secondary ones are memorable: Zurito and Caina. The former is the guide in the Amazonian part of the trip, a skillful, immutable, reliable man; I like this type of character since the very first book I read (not assigned by school), Journey to the Center of the Earth, by fav author Jules Verne, where I discovered Hans. The latter is a native from one of the tribes of Brazil, who fled to the US without any knowledge of how the world works. When I start thinking about making a trip to whatever the place in the world, I imagine doing all kind of previous research, such as transportation types, culture, language, currency, etc. But she did not do any of that! And although the trip itself is not narrated, it does not take away the extraordinary. Admirable. Of course, the creative license is pushed to its limits, but for once, who cares? :)
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July 17, 2017Loved this book!! Suspenseful all the way through!! Not too technical for non-medical practictioners.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews