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KRISPR
A revolutionary new discovery.
Daunting decisions. Secrets.
Love. Loss. Poetic justice.
Growing up in the mundane Midwest, Aliya McKenna is a misfit. Her towering height is a curse. But her self-worth is renewed when she participates in a modeling competition in NYC. Falling in love with the Big City, she decides to go to college there, where she befriends her lively roommate and falls head over heels in love. Science intrigues her and she ends up studying with an elderly researcher. Many think he's past his prime, but his work is actually at the foundation of a revolutionary new technology that has extraordinary promise for treating human disease. When she attends a lecture by a world renowned scientist, she is captivated by his charm and intelligence. She's elated when he asks her to collaborate, until she learns it means she must move to a remote part of the Northeast, away from the love of her life. It's not long before she realizes that her technology has the potential for abuse—unrestrainable, diabolical abuse. She knows she must prevent it from being used for all the wrong reasons. But at what cost? When people dear to her go missing, she realizes her how powerful her adversaries truly are. They will stop at nothing to get what they want. She and her loved ones are in real danger. They've got to run.
Faced with precarious choices, Aliya's gambles become perilous as she attempts to elude her enemies, eliminate her nemesis, and reunite with her loved ones. This is when we see another side of Aliya. She's not only naturally resourceful, she's downright cunning. And she believes in poetic justice. Still, she's faced with an agonizing decision. Should she destroy her discovery to ensure that it can never get into the wrong hands? It's the right thing to do. But doing what's right isn't always easy, especially when it comes to the ones you love. Witnessing her dad lose himself to Alzheimer's is heartbreaking. If there's a way she can help him, she should take the risk. Although it's never been done before, she's confident she can use her technology to restore some of his memory, giving him back his sense of self.
The trouble is, not all of his memories are pleasant ones.
KRISPR is set against the backdrop of the unintended consequences of one of humanity's greatest innovations, CRISPR- Cas9 gene editing. It is as suspenseful as it is heart-warming and features the coming of age of an intelligent, relatable young woman who out-smarts her opponents, with the added bonus of introducing cutting edge science in an understandable manner. Importantly, it reminds us that just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
Daunting decisions. Secrets.
Love. Loss. Poetic justice.
Growing up in the mundane Midwest, Aliya McKenna is a misfit. Her towering height is a curse. But her self-worth is renewed when she participates in a modeling competition in NYC. Falling in love with the Big City, she decides to go to college there, where she befriends her lively roommate and falls head over heels in love. Science intrigues her and she ends up studying with an elderly researcher. Many think he's past his prime, but his work is actually at the foundation of a revolutionary new technology that has extraordinary promise for treating human disease. When she attends a lecture by a world renowned scientist, she is captivated by his charm and intelligence. She's elated when he asks her to collaborate, until she learns it means she must move to a remote part of the Northeast, away from the love of her life. It's not long before she realizes that her technology has the potential for abuse—unrestrainable, diabolical abuse. She knows she must prevent it from being used for all the wrong reasons. But at what cost? When people dear to her go missing, she realizes her how powerful her adversaries truly are. They will stop at nothing to get what they want. She and her loved ones are in real danger. They've got to run.
Faced with precarious choices, Aliya's gambles become perilous as she attempts to elude her enemies, eliminate her nemesis, and reunite with her loved ones. This is when we see another side of Aliya. She's not only naturally resourceful, she's downright cunning. And she believes in poetic justice. Still, she's faced with an agonizing decision. Should she destroy her discovery to ensure that it can never get into the wrong hands? It's the right thing to do. But doing what's right isn't always easy, especially when it comes to the ones you love. Witnessing her dad lose himself to Alzheimer's is heartbreaking. If there's a way she can help him, she should take the risk. Although it's never been done before, she's confident she can use her technology to restore some of his memory, giving him back his sense of self.
The trouble is, not all of his memories are pleasant ones.
KRISPR is set against the backdrop of the unintended consequences of one of humanity's greatest innovations, CRISPR- Cas9 gene editing. It is as suspenseful as it is heart-warming and features the coming of age of an intelligent, relatable young woman who out-smarts her opponents, with the added bonus of introducing cutting edge science in an understandable manner. Importantly, it reminds us that just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 15, 2024
4 people are currently reading
6567 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Handler
1 book31 followersJennifer Handler is currently a faculty member in The Department of Biology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio where she teaches courses in Physiology and Neuroscience.
After earning her BS in Molecular Genetics, Jennifer pursued her graduate training at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine and at Case Western Reserve University, where she received her PhD in Genetics.
She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in The Department of Neurosciences at The Cleveland Clinic and was a research associate in The Alzheimer’s Research Laboratory at The CWRU School of Medicine.
Her professional writing includes publications in the Journal of Neuroscience, Genetics, Behavioral and Brain Research, and The Annual Review of Neuroscience. She has published in scientific journals, as well as written a customized text for a course she teaches, but this is her first foray into writing fiction.
Jennifer inherited a passion for reading from her mother, who often had an Agatha Christie detective novel on her nightstand. Living alone in Maine while in graduate school, Jen spent her nights engrossed in any and every thriller she could get her hands on. Currently one of her favorite pastimes is to meet with her neighborhood book club, where she is constantly being introduced to new worlds.
Much of the story of KRISPR is her story. Handler was born and raised in Cleveland but spent time as a young researcher at the prestigious Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, living apart from her new husband. Raising her family in the Midwest, she accompanied her teen-aged daughter to New York City where she participated in an international modeling competition, and later moved her into her dorm at a university in Midtown Manhattan. As a professor, Handler has a real sense of what it’s like to be a college student in the 21st century. She also has the training and expertise to understand and make relatable technologies in genetics and neuroscience. And she has personally experienced the heart-wrenching and devastating effects of Alzheimer’s Disease as she witnessed her dad suffer from it for several years prior to his passing.
Jennifer Handler is the author’s pen name, as her real name isn’t so easy to pronounce and remember:)
After earning her BS in Molecular Genetics, Jennifer pursued her graduate training at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine and at Case Western Reserve University, where she received her PhD in Genetics.
She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in The Department of Neurosciences at The Cleveland Clinic and was a research associate in The Alzheimer’s Research Laboratory at The CWRU School of Medicine.
Her professional writing includes publications in the Journal of Neuroscience, Genetics, Behavioral and Brain Research, and The Annual Review of Neuroscience. She has published in scientific journals, as well as written a customized text for a course she teaches, but this is her first foray into writing fiction.
Jennifer inherited a passion for reading from her mother, who often had an Agatha Christie detective novel on her nightstand. Living alone in Maine while in graduate school, Jen spent her nights engrossed in any and every thriller she could get her hands on. Currently one of her favorite pastimes is to meet with her neighborhood book club, where she is constantly being introduced to new worlds.
Much of the story of KRISPR is her story. Handler was born and raised in Cleveland but spent time as a young researcher at the prestigious Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, living apart from her new husband. Raising her family in the Midwest, she accompanied her teen-aged daughter to New York City where she participated in an international modeling competition, and later moved her into her dorm at a university in Midtown Manhattan. As a professor, Handler has a real sense of what it’s like to be a college student in the 21st century. She also has the training and expertise to understand and make relatable technologies in genetics and neuroscience. And she has personally experienced the heart-wrenching and devastating effects of Alzheimer’s Disease as she witnessed her dad suffer from it for several years prior to his passing.
Jennifer Handler is the author’s pen name, as her real name isn’t so easy to pronounce and remember:)
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 19, 2026
This book surprised me in the best possible way.
KRISPR is more than a science driven thriller. It is a deeply human story about love, identity, ethics, and the impossible weight of choosing between what is right and what feels necessary.
Aliya McKenna is a refreshing and relatable protagonist. Watching her grow from an insecure outsider into a brave and strategic young woman felt real and inspiring. Her journey through ambition, romance, discovery, and danger keeps the pages turning, but it is her emotional depth that truly makes the story unforgettable.
What stood out most was how effortlessly the author makes complex science feel understandable and meaningful. The tension surrounding the power and potential abuse of gene editing is gripping, and the moral dilemma at the heart of the story hits hard. The storyline involving her father adds a heartbreaking layer that makes every decision feel personal and urgent.
This novel balances suspense, romance, and ethical reflection beautifully. It makes you think, feel, and question what you would do if you held the power to change life itself.
Compelling, thoughtful, and emotionally rich, KRISPR is a story that stays with you long after the final page.
Highly recommended.
KRISPR is more than a science driven thriller. It is a deeply human story about love, identity, ethics, and the impossible weight of choosing between what is right and what feels necessary.
Aliya McKenna is a refreshing and relatable protagonist. Watching her grow from an insecure outsider into a brave and strategic young woman felt real and inspiring. Her journey through ambition, romance, discovery, and danger keeps the pages turning, but it is her emotional depth that truly makes the story unforgettable.
What stood out most was how effortlessly the author makes complex science feel understandable and meaningful. The tension surrounding the power and potential abuse of gene editing is gripping, and the moral dilemma at the heart of the story hits hard. The storyline involving her father adds a heartbreaking layer that makes every decision feel personal and urgent.
This novel balances suspense, romance, and ethical reflection beautifully. It makes you think, feel, and question what you would do if you held the power to change life itself.
Compelling, thoughtful, and emotionally rich, KRISPR is a story that stays with you long after the final page.
Highly recommended.
June 9, 2025
I could not put this book down! I do have a background in science and was worried this could feel like a lesson, but instead Handler expertly ties together complex scientific concepts with heartwarming storytelling. The characters are well-developed and the story is vibrant and exciting. Highly recommend.
October 17, 2024
A fun, informative, entertaining read! I learned a lot even though I do not have a scientific background. The various locations throughout the book kept it fast-paced and intriguing.
August 1, 2024
Good easy read even though I know nothing about the scientific genetic world.
For a first time author she did a great job. I would definitely read more of her work.
For a first time author she did a great job. I would definitely read more of her work.
October 14, 2024
Such a fun page turner with writing that really makes you feel you are there with the characters!!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews