The Flu Is Coming by J. L. Greger.
Science Traveler Series Book 1.
In The Flu Is Coming, a new type of flu — the Philippine flu –kills nearly half of the residents in an upscale, gated community near Albuquerque in less than a week. Those who survive become virtual prisoners in their homes when a quarantine is imposed.
The Centers of Disease Control recruits Sara Almquist, a resident of the community and a scientist, to apply her skills as an epidemiologist to find ways to limit the spread of the epidemic. As she pries into her neighbors’ lives, she finds promising scientific clues. Unfortunately, she also learns too much about several of them and violence ensues when several try to escape the quarantine.
Review by M. Schmidt: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Educational read. Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2019. Verified Purchase. There are some editing issues with this book, and the ending is very realistic (as in they don’t all live happily ever after), but this is a good story which also provides a lot of good information on how diseases like the flu spreads and why vaccines and herd immunity are important.
Review by Charlene Bell Dietz: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. A pandemic, a mystery, and New Mexico. Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2021. Greger wrote this tale prior to the 2020 pandemic. Here you’ll get a behind the scene look at what happens when the fear of a possible pandemic is realized and how the front-line people rush to prevent its spread. At the end of this story, Greger gives factual points about viruses and flu.
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Product Details:
Paperback: 224 Pages
Publisher: Janet Greger (December 4, 2018)
Language: English
Medical/Science Thrillers
Mystery/Suspense Thrillers
International Mystery Crime (Fiction)
Mystery/Espionage Thrillers
Women’s Psychological Thriller (Fiction)
Women Sleuths
Women’s Action Adventure (Fiction)
Women’s Crime (Fiction)
Amazon Print:
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Murder…A Way to Lose Weight: A Medical Mystery by J. L. Greger.
Science Traveler Series Book 2.
Dieting is hard. So is fitting into a new job where you aren’t wanted. In Murder. A Way to Lose Weight, Dr. Linda Almquist attempts to do both as she investigates two diet doctors who are endangering the lives of their obese patients. When she finds one diet doctor dead, she and the police suspect the other diet doctor but soon learn the dead diet doctor had annoyed many. While Linda fears for her job, the police fear for her life. This insider’s view of a medical school will also help you to understand the value of clinical trials and to learn about new research linking obesity and gut bacteria. This mystery won first place in the 2016 Public Safety Writers’ Association contest and was a finalist for the 2016 New Mexico/Arizona book awards.
Review by Dac Crossley, Professor & Writer: Linda Almquist has the worst job on campus. She’s an Associate Dean, a temporary appointment. If good things happen, the Dean gets the credit. If something bad happens, it’s her fault. And something bad has happened in the Basic Sciences Medical Building. Izzy Roth lies dead on the floor. J. L. Greger has created a page-turner of a novel with well-formed characters in a believable setting. You’ll find the Medical School faculty to be the group you might encounter in any office, anyplace, and especially on a college campus.
Review by Beryl: A thoroughly enjoyable, murder mystery without the clichés of car chases and gun toting, swaggering detectives. (This) book is a welcome relief. This multi-layered mystery has all the twists and turns of a conventional murder mystery. Along the way, the reader is treated to a crisp, flowing writing style, peppered with ironic, humorous asides by the main character, Acting Dean Linda Almquist. We are also introduced to the world of cutting-edge, medical research and in particular weight loss, one of the hot topics of the day.
Review by Marlene Hawkes: I especially loved the quirky characters. The murder and mayhem kept my heart bumping and my interest increasing with each chapter.
Review by Holli Costillo, Lawyer & Author: Being a constant dieter and someone who tries every new diet fad on the market, the topic of overlooking ill effects of a diet product during scientific testing struck a chilling chord in me. The plot is unique and compelling, and although I am not a “science” person, the science part of the mystery was so well portrayed I had no problem understanding it.
Review by C. L. Swinney, Homicide Detective & Author: I’ve been around law enforcement and crime scenes for almost fifteen years. I’d say Greger nailed the scenes.
Review by G Sajcich: Greger combines science and complex characters in a politically charged environment of medical research. Her characters come across as real and her who-done-it keeps one guessing.
From The Author: Murder: A Way to Lose Weight won the 2016 Public Safety Writers Association (PSWA) Contest for best published novel and was a finalist in the New Mexico/Arizona book awards.
About The Author: J. L. Greger is a past biology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison turned novelist. She likes to include tidbits of science and foreign locations in her thrillers and mysteries: Riddled with Clues (Finalist for 2017 NM/Arizona book awards, Murder: A New Way to Lose (winner of 2016 Public Safety Writers Association [PSWA] contest and finalist for 2016 NM/ Arizona book award), I Saw You in Beirut, Malignancy (winner of 2015 PSWA contest), Ignore the Pain, and Coming Flu. However, in her short stories, she prefers to focus on families; The Good Old Days? and Other People’s Mothers (finalist for NM/Arizona Book Awards).
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Product Details:
Paperback: 284 Pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 2nd Edition (October 27, 2017)
Language: English
Medical/Science Thrillers
Mystery/Suspense Thrillers
International Mystery Crime (Fiction)
Mystery/Espionage Thrillers
Women’s Psychological Thriller (Fiction)
Women Sleuths
Women’s Action Adventure (Fiction)
Women’s Crime (Fiction)
Amazon Print:
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Ignore The Pain by J. L. Greger.
Science Traveler Series Book 3.
Sara Almquist couldn’t say no when invited to be the epidemiologist on a public health mission to assess children’s health in Bolivia. Soon someone from her past in New Mexico is chasing her through the Witches’ Market of La Paz and on to the silver mines of Potosí. Unfortunately, she can’t trust her colleagues on the fact-finding mission, especially the sexy Xave Zack, because any one of them might be under the control of the coca industry in Bolivia. Worse still, she’s not only put herself in danger, but also her sister Linda back in New Mexico.
Review by John R. Lindermuth. 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Dual Danger. Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2013. Sisters Linda and Sara Almquist find themselves in danger from villains who have united in a common cause—silencing the two women for good.
Linda, associate dean of a pain management facility, is scheduled to testify in court against her former boss, Dr. Abel Raines and Sara, an epidemiologist, is the person who fingered drug czar James Mazzone, in an earlier police investigation.
With Mazzone a suspect in the murder of one of the chief investigators from that case, authorities persuade Sara to join a USAID team in Bolivia as a safety measure. It isn’t long before both sisters realize they are in jeopardy.
In a plot that switches back and forth between the urbanity of Albuquerque and the primitive extremes of Bolivia, Gregor hitches up the tension with gun battles, academic jealousy, deceit and cryptic crossword messages. Neither sister is certain who to trust and Sara even has doubts about the attractive man assigned to protect her.
It helps to have read the previous books in this series, though it isn’t necessary in order to follow the action.
Fans of suspense, unique locations, science and even romance will find something to like in this novel.
Review by Walter Luce: Ignore the Pain contains enough twists, turns, and betrayals to keep the reader thoroughly engaged. JL Greger creates the most intriguing characters and infuses them with purpose and quick minds. She entertains you; she educates you and she takes you to places you’ve never been. You’ll also feel a pinprick of pain and injustice as you read this novel. A must read!
Review by S.L. Smith: Ignore the Pain is a well-crafted suspense story J.L. Greger’s knowledge of the science behind the story is apparent, and adds another dimension. I love it when a story captivates me and teaches me something. This story does both!
Review by Lorna Collins: I always enjoy Greger’s books because I learn so much. Having worked in the medical field as well as academia, the author speaks with an authentic voice. She also writes about foreign locales in such a way that the reader feels as though they have visited the places. Her characters are engaging, and her plots are well-thought-out.
Review by F. M. Meredith: Bold writing, wonderful descriptions of people and places, and heart-pounding adventure.
Review by Marilyn Olsen: Ignore the Pain is a thought-provoking examination of what causes emotional and physical pain. Through vivid descriptions, but without gory details, she explores the issues around how drugs that are literally a life-saver for some, can turn others into monsters. A must-read.
About The Author: J.L. Greger is a biology professor and research administrator from the University of Wisconsin-Madison turned novelist. She has consulted on scientific issues worldwide and loves to travel. Thus, she likes to include both science and her travel experiences in her thriller/mystery novels: Ignore the Pain, The Flu Is Coming, Murder: A Way to Lose (1st prize in 2016 Public Safety Writers’ [PSWA] book contest), Malignancy (1st prize in 2015 PSWA book contest), Riddled with Clues (finalist for a 2017 NM/Arizona book award), She Didn’t Know Her Place, and others.
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Product Details:
Paperback: 196 Pages
Publisher: Bug Press; 2nd Edition (February 28, 2019)
Language: English
Medical/Science Thrillers
Mystery/Suspense Thrillers
International Mystery Crime (Fiction)
Mystery/Espionage Thrillers
Women’s Psychological Thriller (Fiction)
Women Sleuths
Women’s Action Adventure (Fiction)
Women’s Crime (Fiction)
Malignancy by J. L. Greger.
Science Traveler Series Book 4-2nd Edition.
This thriller won the 2015 Public Safety Writers Association Contest for best published novel.
Sara Almquist is shot at twice in one day. Albuquerque police fear her work for them as a science consultant on previous cases has put her in danger, but the accumulating evidence doesn’t make sense. Thus, when colleagues in the State Department invite Sara to arrange exchanges between scientists in the U.S. and Cuba, she jumps at the chance to get out of New Mexico and to work again with the mysterious Xave Zack. Maybe it’s not a wise decision.
Review by John M. Wills, Former FBI Agent & Author: I had to remind myself it was a work of fiction. Greger’s professional background adds just the right touch of realism. An intriguing read.
Review by Ilene Schneider, Author: A taut, well-written, fascinating look behind the scenes of scientific research combined with international intrigue.
Review by Sharon Arthur Moore, Author: You get a real flavor of the locations.
Review by Former Peter Klismet, FBI: Makes the reader want to move quickly from page to page.
Review by Anthony Riggio: Entertaining and informative as to the interplay of the local police agency, the FBI and the local prosecutor.
Review by Marilyn Meredith, Author: A believable medical thriller.
Review by Virgil Alexander, Author: A well-crafted story with realistic, engaging characters.
From The Author: When I went to Cuba, my guide bragged that Cuban scientists had found a cure to cancer. I didn’t believe her, but I tracked down the patent filed by Cuban and Argentine scientists for a cancer immunotherapy drug for a fairly rare type of lung cancer. Then I tracked down the background of the Cuban researchers who did the work. This research provided the background for this novel Malignancy.
The title of the novel is a bit of a play on words. Malignancy is medically defined as the uncontrolled growth of tumor cells with metastasis (spread) to other parts of the body. It can also be applied to any deteriorating hurtful situation that spreads uncontrollably. I think the illegal drug trade qualifies as a malignancy of society.
From The Back Cover: This thriller won the 2015 Public Safety Writers Association Contest for best published novel.
About The Author: JL Greger is no longer a biology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, instead she’s putting tidbits of science into her medical mystery and suspense novels: The Flu Is Coming, Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight, Ignore the Pain, Malignancy, I Saw You in Beirut, Riddled with Clues, and A Pound of Flesh, Sorta. Besides writing, her favorite activities are spending time with Bug, her Japanese Chin dog, and traveling to exotic locations. She incorporates both activities into her novels. Bug is the only non-fictional character in her books.
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Product Details:
Paperback: 218 Pages
Publisher: Bug Press; 2nd Edition (May 20, 2019)
Language: English
Medical/Science Thrillers
Mystery/Suspense Thrillers
International Mystery Crime (Fiction)
Mystery/Espionage Thrillers
Women’s Psychological Thriller (Fiction)
Women Sleuths
Women’s Action Adventure (Fiction)
Women’s Crime (Fiction)
Kindle:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RZ3QMNP/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i7
I Saw You In Beirut by J. L. Greger.
Science Traveler Series Book 5.
A mysterious source of data on the Iranian nuclear industry sends an email from Tabriz. “Help. Contact Almquist.” As Sara Almquist is drawn into the plan to identify and rescue the agent, known only as F, she is forced to remember and re-evaluate characters from her student days at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and from her career as a globe-trotting scientist.
1 map of the Middle East with important locations in I Saw You in Beirut.
A section on “Science and History Behind the Story” after the novel includes relevant scientific references.
Review by Anonymous but posted on Amazon: This novel is as current as the headlines, as exciting as a Bond adventure and as realistic as a documentary. One thing it never is boring! The characters are three-dimensional and Sara is someone you care about from the beginning. You even come to care about a person only identified as “F”, the subject of a rescue from Iran – who may be carrying plans for their nuclear production sites. The plotting is tight, the scientific references accurate and the editing very well done. I will be looking for more books by J L Greger.
Review by Susan Fox, PhD. Nurse: Nonstop suspense flavored with cultural and scientific facts. I read it in record time and am looking forward to the next installment.
Review by David Cropp, Writer of Stories: A masterfully written tale of suspense. It is intriguing and believable. Greger displays her depth of medical and scientific knowledge with polished writing skills.
Review by Virgil Alexander, Award-Winning Author: Compelling story, filled with Middle East insights that can only come from first-hand experience. Epidemiologist Sara Almquist finds herself caught up in a dangerous international mystery that weaves elements of thriller, romance, and history in a fast-paced, twist-filled race to save an anonymous Irani operative. Writing against a backdrop of today’s headlines, J.L. Greger has produced another great tale.
Review by John Addegio, Author: Greger writes about international agencies and scientific exigencies with authority, and I SAW YOU IN BEIRUT is a thrilling spy tale with compelling female actors asserting their intelligence in both exotic and domestic, male-dominated, high-stakes political environments.
Review by Lorna Collins, Author: I admit, I enjoy this author’s work. Every time I read one of her books, I learn something new. IMHO, this is her best. From the beginning, it moves quickly. The characters are engaging, and the plot has many twists and turns. Like the protagonist, the reader spends much of the book trying to figure out who are the real bad guys (or gals). At the same time, Sara is in very real danger, and the FBI and Military Intelligence are using her as a pawn. I could hardly put this down!
From The Author: I Saw You in Beirut is fiction, but my memories of students at UW-Madison in the late seventies and early eighties color the scenes in the first few chapters of this thriller. I also incorporated several of my experiences and observations while consulting on scientific and education issues in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates in the nineties into this novel, but I can’t explain more without divulging too much of the plot. I Saw You in Beirut is Book 5 in the Science Traveler Series of mysteries and thrillers, but the books do not need to read in order.
About The Author: J. L. Greger is a biology professor and research administrator from the University of Wisconsin-Madison turned novelist. She has consulted on scientific issues worldwide and loves to travel. Thus, she likes to include both science and her travel experiences in her thriller/mystery novels: The Flu Is Coming, Murder: A Way to Lose Weight (1st prize in 2016 Public Safety Writers’ [PSWA] book contest), Malignancy (1st prize in 2015 PSWA book contest), Riddled with Clues (finalist for a 2017 NM/Arizona book award), A Pound of Flesh, Sorta, She Didn’t Know Her Place, and others.
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Product Details:
Paperback: 204 Pages
Publisher: Bug Press; 2nd Edition (July 15, 2019)
Language: English
Medical/Science Thrillers
Mystery/Suspense Thrillers
International Mystery Crime (Fiction)
Mystery/Espionage Thrillers
Women’s Psychological Thriller (Fiction)
Women Sleuths
Women’s Action Adventure (Fiction)
Women’s Crime (Fiction)
Amazon Print:
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Riddled With Clues by J. L. Greger.
Science Traveler Book 6.
A hospitalized friend gives a puzzling note to Sara Almquist. He received the note signed “Red from Udon Thani” while investigating the movement of drugs from Cuba into the U.S. However, he doesn’t know anyone called Red, and the last time he was in Udon Thani was during the Vietnam War. After Sara listens to his rambling tales of all the possibilities, both are attacked. He is left comatose. As she struggles to survive, she questions who to trust: the local cops, her absent boyfriend, the FBI, or a homeless veteran, who leaves puzzling riddles as clues.
Review by John Wills, Former FBI Agent & Author: Riddled with clues, has all the ingredients one needs to settle in comfortably and read through the night. Drugs, murder, the FBI … even a romantic relationship, all combine to make this latest offering a must read. Settle in and see if you can solve the riddles.
Review by Ilene Schneider, Author: A thriller for thinkers. Sara Almquist is an independent, feisty woman who is not afraid to show her vulnerable side, a role model for our times.
About The Author: J. L. Greger, is a biologist and research administrator turned novelist. She puts tidbits on science and exotic locations into her thrillers: I Saw You in Beirut, Malignancy (winner of 2015 Public Safety Writers contest), Coming Flu, and Ignore the Pain. Her medical mystery, Murder…A Way to Lose Weight (winner of 2016 Public Safety Writers contest) is based in New Mexico, where she lives with Bug, the prototype for Bug, the pet therapy dog, in her novels.
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Product Details:
Paperback: 214 Pages
Publisher: Aakenbaaken & Kent (March 24, 2017)
Language: English
Medical/Science Thrillers
Mystery/Suspense Thrillers
International Mystery Crime (Fiction)
Mystery/Espionage Thrillers
Women’s Psychological Thriller (Fiction)
Women Sleuths
Women’s Action Adventure (Fiction)
Women’s Crime (Fiction)
Amazon Print:
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A Pound Of Flesh, Sorta by J. L. Greger.
Science Traveler Series Book 7.
Finalist for a 2020 New Mexico/Arizona Book Award.
Leaders of drug gangs in New Mexico don’t want scientist Sara Almquist to testify at their upcoming trials for murder and racketeering. After Sara gets a package of sheep guts contaminated with the bacteria that causes the plague, FBI agents rush to protect her. But is the package a threat from the gangs to stop her from testifying or a public health alert by a whistleblower?
This mystery/ thriller is an example of science in fiction.
Review by Nancy LiPetri, Author: Finalist for a 2020 New Mexico/Arizona Book Award. As you try to solve the mystery, you will encounter some gruesome surprises, heart-pounding police drama, colorful characters and many intriguing facts. I was also entertained by therapy dog, Bug, the Southwest setting/culture and Sara’s on-and-off love interest, Sanders. Fans who already know Sara the feisty medical epidemiologist from Greger’s earlier books will devour this action-packed novel, and new readers will want to collect them all.
Review by F. M. Meredith, Author: Leave it to J.L. Greger to come up with another unique plot, this one involving animal guts and the plague, with a healthy dose of intrigue, action, and a touch of romance.
Review by Virgil Alexander, Author: A complex of plots and deception, missteps and twists builds to an exciting, surprising, and satisfying end. Set in Albuquerque and rural New Mexico, the story includes the Native, Mexican, and contemporary western culture set in the vast Southwestern scenery.
Review by Ilene Schneider, Author: J. L. Greger has again written an enthralling scientific mystery combining the best elements of a whodunnit, why dunnit, and thriller.
Review by D.R. Ransdell, Author: Intrepid as ever, when a package of mystery meat lands on her doorstep, Sara Almquist dives into trouble instead of searching for safer ground. But who would really be concerned about dead desert animals? With an ever-surprising cast of characters, including a smelly undercover agent, a repentant lover, and a troubled daughter, not to mention Sara’s faithful Japanese Chin, Greger examines timely local issues. By exploring the complexities of the environment and cultural histories of the area, she draws attention to important matters that lie just far enough below the surface that we might not notice them on our own. For that, we need Sara!
From The Author: The title A Pound of Flesh, Sorta refers not only to the curious package Sara receives at the start of the novel, but also is a homage to Shylock’s futile attempt for revenge in The Merchant of Venice. Revenge is an underlying theme in A Pound of Flesh, Sorta. The heroine Sara Almquist fears drug gang leaders and crooked cops may seek revenge and try to prevent her testimony at upcoming trials and several characters are driven by bitter memories. I went with my father to meat packing plants when he sold cattle to them. The situations in the novel reflect modern meat packing plants but the scenes are “colored” by memories. A Pound of Flesh, Sorta is Book 7 in the Science Traveler Series, but the books don’t need to be read in order to be understood or enjoyed.
About The Author: J. L. Greger is a scientist turned novelist. She lives in New Mexico with Bug, the prototype for the pet therapy dog who appears in her mystery/thriller novels. She demonstrates her interest in science, international travel, and her home state in the novels of her Science Traveler Series: The Flu Is Coming, Murder: A Way to Lose Weight, Ignore the Pain, Malignancy, I Saw You in Beirut, Riddled with Clues, A Pound of Flesh, Sorta, and others.
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Product Details:
Paperback: 230 Pages
Publisher: Bug Press (March 16, 2020)
Language: English
Medical/Science Thrillers
Mystery/Suspense Thrillers
International Mystery Crime (Fiction)
Mystery/Espionage Thrillers
Women’s Psychological Thriller (Fiction)
Women Sleuths
Women’s Action Adventure (Fiction)
Women’s Crime (Fiction)
Amazon Print:
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Dirty Holy Water by J. L. Greger.
Science Traveler Series Book 8.
In Dirty Holy Water, scientist Sara Almquist loses control of her life when she becomes the chief suspect in a bizarre murder case. She’s frustrated by the slow progress of the investigations, which almost causes her to miss a romantic rendezvous at the Taj Mahal in India. More importantly, she has to reassess her friendships and recognize there’s a thin line between being a victim and being a villain.
Review by Kirkus Review: A thought-provoking, disturbing, and engaging mystery with a likable, strong-willed female lead.
Review by Lee and Betty Higbie: Neither of us could put Dirty Holy Water down. A great read.
Review by Sharon Moore, Author: A tightly plotted mystery. You will be hooked on the skill, brains, integrity, and acumen of Sara Almquist (the protagonist).
Review by Pat Smith Wood, Author: The story moves at a brisk pace and lets you “see” the drama unfolding like you are watching a film.
From The Author: Water is considered holy in several major religions, but it is often disgustingly dirty. For example, the Ganges River and the River Jordan are two of the most polluted rivers in the world. Similarly, many seemingly pious people have a dark side. In this novel, I try to explore the confusing intermingling of good and evil in a family as Sara Alqmquist tries to distinguish victims from villains.
From The Back Cover: In Dirty Holy Water, scientist Sara Almquist loses control of her life when she becomes the chief suspect in a bizarre murder case. She not only almost misses a romantic rendezvous at the Taj Mahal in India but also must grapple with her preconceived notions of victims and villains.
About The Author: J.L. Greger is a biology professor and research administrator from the University of Wisconsin-Madison turned novelist. She lives in New Mexico with Bug, the prototype for the dog of the same name in her mystery/thriller novels. Greger has Included tidbits on science, the American Southwest, and her international travel experiences in the eight novels of her Science Traveler series.
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Product Details:
Paperback: 212 Pages
Publisher: Bug Press (September 23, 2020)
Language: English
Medical/Science Thrillers
Mystery/Suspense Thrillers
International Mystery Crime (Fiction)
Mystery/Espionage Thrillers
Women’s Psychological Thriller (Fiction)
Women Sleuths
Women’s Action Adventure (Fiction)
Women’s Crime (Fiction)
Amazon Print:
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Games For Couples by J. L. Greger.
Science Traveler Series Book 9.
Scientist Sara Almquist is asked to investigate a death of a participant in a clinical trial conducted by a biotechnology company making cultured meat-meat made in a test tube. She learns although the product may sometimes contain toxic components, the competition among biotechnology companies and bickering within the company may be lethal.
This is an example of science in fiction with a realistic description of the biotechnology necessary to make cultured meat.
5 Stars: The science is real and the mystery is compelling.
Games For Couples by J.L. Greger is book nine is her ‘Science Traveler Series’. The Science Traveler Series of mysteries and thrillers can be read in any order, as each one stands-alone.
I think it is important to note Author J. L. Greger is a scientist (biology professor) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison turned novelist.
Games for Couples is masterfully written. Did lethal compounds in a cultured meat product—meat made in a test tube—kill a man in a clinical trial? Or did the toxic competition between biotechnology companies and spite of battling couples cause his death?
Games For Couples opens as Dr. Sara Almquist (the protagonist) is taking a meeting near Albuquerque, New Mexico with Mendel Lopez, the CEO of Miracle Foods and his associate Jim Jackson. The purpose of the meeting is to share Miracle Food prospectus with Dr. Almquist. The primes: “Cultured meat will meet the world’s need for high quality protein in an ecologically sound manner. And Miracle Foods has the best cultured meat products.”
Let me bring you into the story in CHAPTER 19: Sara in Colorado Springs:
…There wasn’t much good to say about my drive from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. No snow was falling when I began driving a little before noon. By the time I reached the motel in Colorado Springs at three, the windshield wipers could barely keep up with the snow. The drive should have taken a little over little two hours. It took more than three even though I never stopped.
…The last thing I wanted to do when I arrived at the motel was sit, but Bug changed my mind. He quickly tired of plowing through snow that was over his shoulders. Then I decided that plodding through a foot of snow while carrying a squirming dog wasn’t fun either.
…I scanned my emails. I read the email Scofield had sent before I left the Fort Collins Police Department:
…Can you decipher anything from these student reports? We expect Pitkin won’t cooperate unless you give us something to scare him.
…I expected the attachments to the email to be the internship reports by the two students who had worked at Miracle Foods last summer and Pitkin’s report of his work during the fall semester. I was surprised that Scofield had also attached the reports by four other student interns who worked at Miracle Foods during the previous year.
…The answer to her question was no—well, not easily. I’d decided during my drive to extricate myself from my basically unsuccessful consultation with Miracle Foods. That meant ignoring Scofield’s email, finishing my report for Mendel Lopez, notifying FDA I had quit as a consultant, and calculating the total bill for my consultation. To be honest, I thought it better to quit the project than to have Mendel fire me, which I guessed was imminent.
…I was surprised when my computer pinged and an email from Mendel Lopez appeared. I braced myself and opened it:
…I want to know who in my employ worked with my competitors to devalue Miracle Foods by ruining the clinical trial. The local police aren’t up to the task. I will pay your hourly rate for your work with the police.
…He didn’t add a thank you or further explanation.
This novel accurately depicts the production of cultured meat cells in large, closed, sterile vats and the formation of meat-like structures by applying the cultured cells to a biological scaffold. Researchers and scientists hope this method is the future of animal free meat. Unfortunately, many technical problems impacting the production of a meat-like texture at a reasonable cost remain. These products would have the same nutritional and allergenic properties as regular meat, although the fat content would depend on the additives used. For the purpose of this novel, the author uses histamine intolerance as a problem that emerges with this fiction food production source, called Miracle Foods.
I found this novel a fascinating read. I learned a lot about the food industry and the expanding development of animal free protein to reduce carbon footprint. Whether you like a hearty steak or a vegetarian meat patty this novel has something for everyone. There can be corruption in any industry and the mystery behind the science can quickly turn into a criminal investigation.
Interesting fact: Dr. Sara Almquist Japanese Chin dog character is based on the authors pet therapy dog ‘Bud’.
I invite you to read ‘Games For Couples’ and see how Author J.L. Greger uses science and her travel experiences to educate and engage her readers. Her Award-Winning Science Traveler Series include ‘The Flu Is Coming’, ‘Murder…A Way To Lose Weight (A Medical Mystery)’, ‘Ignore The Pain’, ‘Malignancy’, ‘I Saw You In Beirut’, ‘Riddled With Clues’, ‘A Pound Of Flesh, Sorta’, ‘Dirty Holy Water’, and ‘Games For Couples’. She has two other books titled ‘Other People’s Mothers (A Collection of Stories)’ and ‘She Didn’t Know Her Place’.
Editorial Review (Book Marketing Global Network).
Review by Sheryl: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Science plays a part in this murder mystery. Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2022. I found this murder mystery to be filled with twists and turns. J. L. Greger writes this novel from the viewpoints of several of the characters. The protagonist — Dr. Almquist — a female scientist and professor — speaks to the reader from the first person. She “talks” like a professor, which gives the reader the feeling that she’s a real person, not a cardboard entity. I like how she explains the science involved in her investigation and also how she analyzes the people of interest while she helps police in pursuit of a killer. The characters are a varied bunch, and each is interesting. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to enjoy a different kind of mystery. Also, the science is well-explained. I was kept guessing throughout the story. Well worth the read!
Review by Thonie Hevron: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. I enjoyed it immensely. Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2021. In Games for Couples, J.L. Greger has written a smart, sassy sequel to Dirty Holy Water of the Science Traveler series. Dr. Sara Almquist contracts with Miracle Foods, a cultured meat company, to investigate a suspicious food reaction during tests. Her contract doesn’t include murder, fraud, and burglary. Following Almquist’s journey to unravel this complex mystery is a delight. The ending is a satisfying conclusion to her adventure. This is a terrific read!
Review by Marilyn Meredith-VINE VOICE: 5.0 out of 5 Stars. Another Winner. Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2021. Once again J. L. Gregor has used her great imagination and knowledge of science to write a most intriguing and unusual mystery about manufacture meat products. As always, the characters are one-of-a-kind and add dimension to the plot. A most satisfying read–I highly recommend it.
More Ratings Here :
https://www.amazon.com/Games-Couples-Science-Traveler-Greger/dp/1735421405/#customerReviews
Product Details:
Paperback: 210 Pages
Publisher: Bug Press (July 14, 2021)
Language: English
Medical/Science Thrillers
Mystery/Suspense Thrillers
International Mystery Crime (Fiction)
Mystery/Espionage Thrillers
Women’s Psychological Thriller (Fiction)
Women Sleuths
Women’s Action Adventure (Fiction)
Women’s Crime (Fiction)
Amazon Print:
https://www.amazon.com/Games-Couples-Science-Traveler-Greger/dp/1735421405/
About J.L. Greger: J. L. Greger is a scientist turned novelist. She includes science and her travel experiences in her award-winning novels: The Flu is Coming, Murder: A Way to Lose Weight, Malignancy, and others. jlgreger.com
J.L. Greger is a biology professor and research administrator from the University of Wisconsin-Madison turned novelist. She lives in New Mexico with Bug, the prototype for the dog of the same name in her mystery/thriller novels. Greger has Included tidbits on science, the American Southwest, and her international travel experiences in the eight novels of her Science Traveler series.
Is science a mystery to you? Does the COVID-19 pandemic make you want to learn a bit more about science, but you’re NOT a masochist and don’t want to read a dry text?
In my Science Traveler Series, you’ll see Sara Almquist apply her skills as a scientist to solve medical and criminal mysteries in New Mexico and worldwide. Why is a woman scientist my protagonist? I taught biology classes as the University of Wisconsin-Madison for over twenty years.
You’ll also meet the perfect gentleman in my books, Sara’s Japanese Chin dog – Bug. The character Bug is based on my own dog. As you read the books, you may think Sara has better taste in dogs than in men.
Here are key questions in my thrillers/mysteries:
A POUND OF FLESH, SORTA A pound of sheep guts contaminated with plague bacteria which causes plague is delivered to Sara’s home. Is it a threat by gang leaders to prevent Sara testifying at their racketeering trials or as a plea for help from an employee in a meat packing plant? (This thriller was a finalist for a 2020 book award. Book 7 in the series)
DIRTY HOLY WATER Sara learns what if feels like to be a suspect when a friend is murdered. Of course, she didn’t kill the woman, but can she prove it before she’s scheduled to take a romantic trip to India? (Book 8 in the series)
THE FLU IS COMING: Which is deadlier: a new form of flu which killed half or Sara’s neighbors in a walled community or a drug kingpin determined to break out of the quarantined enclave? (This medical mystery within a thriller was a finalist for a 2017 New Mexico/Arizona book award. Book 1 in the series)
MURDER…A WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT: Can Sara and her sister determine how a diet doctor in a medical center was poisoned before the killer strikes again? (This mystery was a finalist for a 2016 New Mexico/Arizona Book Award and won the 2016 Public Safety Writers Association [PSWA] contest. Book 2 in the series)
IGNORE THE PAIN: Did Sara learn too much about the coca trade and too little about a sexy new colleague while on a public health assignment in Bolivia? (Book 3 in series)
MALIGNANCY: After being shot at twice in one day by gang members disguised as police, Sara accepts a risky assignment in Cuba. Was that a wise decision? (This thriller won the 2015 PSWA contest. Book 4 in the series)
I SAW YOU IN BEIRUT: Will Sara’s past provides clues to aid the extraction of a nuclear scientist from Iran? (Book 5 in the series)
RIDDLED WITH CLUES: Will tales about the Vietnam War from an undercover drug agent and messages from a homeless veteran save a woman? (This thriller was a finalist for a 2017 New Mexico/Arizona Book Award. Book 6 in the series.)
If you’d like less well-adjusted heroines, meet Dana Richardson in SHE DIDN’T KNOW HER PLACE. She battles inner demons as she learns the hard way what academics will do to protect their “kingdoms” at a state university in New England.
If you’re not in the mood for thriller or a mystery, why not read about families in THE GOOD OLD DAYS? or OTHER PEOPLE’S MOTHERS. (The second collection was a finalist for a 2017 NM/Arizona book award.) These stories aren’t memoirs but are based on real memories.
Amazon Author’s Page:
https://www.amazon.com/J-L-Greger/e/B008IFZSC4/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
Professional Website:
http://jlgreger.com
Professional Blog:
http://jlgregerblog.blogspot.com/2020/11/whats-on-your-bucket-list.html
Author’s Page At Book Marketing Global Network:
https://bookmarketingglobalnetwork.com/book-marketing-global-network/j-l-gregers-books/
