RAETHER'S ENZYME

A young woman whose body contains a cancer-curing enzyme becomes the target of a ruthless conspiracy in this debut thriller.

Last year, Megan Bishop’s mother died of cancer and her distraught father killed himself. Megan left Seattle for her parents’ isolated cabin in Stillanomish Valley, where she tries to work on her master’s degree coding project—but her peace is interrupted by an avalanche of strangers begging for help. Doxxers have invaded confidential medical records to publicly identify those belonging to a rare group of people whose livers contain a biomaterial that prevents and cures cancer called Carcinoma Immune Factor 117—or Raether’s enzyme, after a study subject. Megan is one, and the gold rush for her biomaterial soon goes beyond cancer patients. Some R-positives like Megan have disappeared, perhaps kidnapped by cartels, and now violent criminals are after her at the behest of a wealthy, power-seeking, and malignantly bitter man. Their first attempt fails, and Megan goes into hiding with the help of her Seattle friends, but the bounty hunters are well funded and determined to get their payoff. Megan soon faces an ordeal that will test her intelligence, problem-solving skills, and courage to the utmost. In his book, Flynn goes to some very dark places with his intriguing scenario. Innocents die; authority figures offer dubious protection; and Megan gets caught in a hideous nightmare. Some R-positives are turned into lobotomized organ donors. The author nicely captures the atmosphere in Megan’s circle of brainy, nerdy, sweet friends, making good use of the hero’s admirably analytical mind in the final showdown. The pace lags in the middle section as the specifics of Megan’s flight and identity change are worked out in careful detail, but the ending is taut and rivetingly suspenseful.

A plausibly chilling what-if tale with a smart, sensitive hero.