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[Following is a volunteer review of "The Prize" by Geoffrey M Cooper.]

The Prize concerns the Nobel Prize for science and two competing labs looking to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. Pam Weller is looking for a discovery that will give her tenure as a professor. Her postdocs are Holly and George and they perform the trial and error experiments to locate the correct compound. Any successful discovery will enhance their careers, through their authorship on the published discovery paper.

Eric Prescott is the rival professor, a leader in the field, also looking to find a cure. When Holly has an argument with Pam over the authorship of a science paper, Eric is there to take advantage of the situation. Manipulating Holly with the promise of a new job, he gains access to Pam’s unpublished research. Not content with this he wants to discredit Pam by claiming she fabricated the results and later making his own claim. Jake is Pam’s boyfriend, a former member of the FBI, who is determined to help her clear her name.

This novel not only emphasizes the cutthroat nature of academic life, but its adherence to Integrity, plagiarism, and fraud. Pam acts with the noblest of intentions, making authorship clear from the start of employment and using double-blind experiments to combat bias. Eric Prescott is defined by arrogance, based on previous achievements and awards. The academic faculty close ranks in order to protect the reputation of the institution. In this sense, the ending is very fitting.

I love this book because you really get a strong impression that the author knows his subject. He writes from a position of authority and insight. Through the characters, the author not only tells you the sorts of things that can go wrong but shows you. The reader sees not only their joy and motivation but the spite that comes from immaturity and its consequences. This is office politics on a grand scale and makes for an enjoyable and compelling read.

Not really a crime or a thriller, it does have some of the elements and tension of these genres, but not as intense. In common with historical novels, there is a great amount of subject knowledge and attention to detail. In this sense, it is subject, rather than character driven. Anyone who likes a challenging and intellectual read will love this novel and will appreciate the way the story is developed and well written.

I would give this 4 out of 4 stars.

There is great subject knowledge in this book and every effort is made to show what happens, rather than simply tell a story. If I had to criticize, I would say there could have been more depth to the characters, in terms of family background, interests, idiosyncrasies, but overall, it was the work I found fascinating.

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The Prize
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Like Tracey Madeley's review? Post a comment saying so!

Wow, I really enjoyed reading your review. I have also read and reviewed this book and agree with you in more than one aspects-for example, the systematic nature of the problem as designed like a scientific experiment by the author and of course the villain who is an epitome of corruption. However, I also believe that the book could do with a little more depth and complexity to the characters. Thanks for the very insightful review!

I like your review - I enjoyed reading this book too and you've summed up the book really well in your description of it as "office politics" on a grand scale.