Monday, August 27, 2012

Crime Fiction Alphabet: O is for Out at Night by Susan Arnout Smith



"They've been using the money to fund eco-terrorism. Paying for safe houses. Guns. Bombs."

~Page 210

Title: Out At Night
Author: Susan Arnout Smith
ISBN: 978-0007275519
Publisher: Minotaur Books/2009
Pages: 283

When Professor Thaddeus Bartholomew is being chased by a killer, he has no time other other than type a text message with the name of Grace Descanso, before he is killed. He is found in a soy field, with a crossbow shot in his chest. 

Grace, is a crime-scene tech and is on a vacation with her daughter. FBI has no compunctions about getting in touch with her. Grace has only a vague recollection of the Prof and does not understand his last text before his death. Her Uncle Pete, who is in the FBI does not want her to walk away. 

When she starts the investigations in her own way, she finds her family involved in it. And the genetically modified soy is only a scratch in the surface.  And the Prof. murder is not a random act! there are politicians, and agriculturists involved. It is always  question of money. 

Out At Night is very real. In the sense that by modifying our plant life, we are playing God, creating havoc for the nature, for humanity. The initial want of better yields, has given way to destruction, power and money. We need to tackle those questions.

6 comments:

Peggy Ann said...

Sounds very intriguing and thought provoking!

Bev Hankins said...

It is always a question of money, isn't it? You've got me interested...a professor as the victim. I do like a mystery with an academic twist to it in some way.

Here's my Letter O.

Anonymous said...

Oh, this sounds very interesting, Gautami! And I love the idea of science - in this case agriculture - playing an important role in the story. Very intriguing!

Anonymous said...

Since Gage has been on soy since he was 4 months old I've had to educate myself about soy and it's scary what they're doing. I'll have to look for this one.

Scott said...

Sounds interesting.

Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer said...

I love books that make us ponder the big questions. This sounds like an intriguing read.