Review by Amanda Deck -- The Prize by Geoffrey M Cooper
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Amanda Deck
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Review by Amanda Deck -- The Prize by Geoffrey M Cooper
[Following is a volunteer review of "The Prize" by Geoffrey M Cooper.]
4 out of 4 stars
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In Geoffrey Cooper's novel, The Prize, we meet Pam Weller, a scientist whose lab has discovered a drug that reverses Alzheimer’s in the early stages of the disease. The discovery is announced, papers are published in all the important, reputable journals, and Pam is in great demand. She’s headed for a Nobel Prize…until rumors that the results cannot be duplicated start spreading. Her success has infuriated Eric Prescott, a researcher who covets that Nobel Prize for himself. He’s the current leader in the field and is not happy with being upstaged. He’ll do anything to make sure the only one who gets all the praise, fame, and money is himself. Anything.
This is a well-written excursion into the world of scientific research and academia; the ego trips that are sometimes involved are definitely not forgotten. The suspense built and had me worried, frustrated, and angry on Pam’s behalf as her reputation was shredded, her career destroyed, and she was even, terrifyingly, facing the threat of prison for crimes she didn’t commit.
An easily understood explanation of the process of selecting and testing possible chemicals for drug cures draws the reader into Pam’s daily work life. The students who work in the lab with her are introduced in a way that explains the setup and hierarchy of research labs and universities. We get to experience the frustration and the inter- and intra-office ‘politicking’ in a way that allows us to also experience the thrill of success with the characters. Of course, being invested in the characters also means getting upset along with them when we discover the conspiracy that causes so much suffering. And who hasn’t felt the disbelief, at least once, of having those you count on refusing to consider that you’re innocent in a situation? It was awful that Pam’s situation was so extreme, and steadily getting worse. I love that she had her boyfriend on her side.
This book was both fascinating and nerve-wracking at the same time. I did have a problem with some of Jake’s (Pam’s boyfriend) actions. It’s not that I consider them unrealistic, more that they left Pam looking as if she could be less innocent than she was. Of course, blindly trusting that truth will win in the end has wrongly landed many people in jail. The fact that Jake was willing to go so far to support and exonerate her was beautiful. His conveniently being a private investigator may have been a bit much, but PI’s do have significant others in real life too.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I found only one error in the whole book! The story should appeal to anyone who is interested in medicine, academia, human nature, conspiracies, and supportive relationships. I can’t think of anyone specifically that it would not appeal to since there’s nothing objectionable in the story. This is a very good book, I enjoyed it thoroughly.
******
The Prize
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Like Amanda Deck's review? Post a comment saying so!
4 out of 4 stars
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In Geoffrey Cooper's novel, The Prize, we meet Pam Weller, a scientist whose lab has discovered a drug that reverses Alzheimer’s in the early stages of the disease. The discovery is announced, papers are published in all the important, reputable journals, and Pam is in great demand. She’s headed for a Nobel Prize…until rumors that the results cannot be duplicated start spreading. Her success has infuriated Eric Prescott, a researcher who covets that Nobel Prize for himself. He’s the current leader in the field and is not happy with being upstaged. He’ll do anything to make sure the only one who gets all the praise, fame, and money is himself. Anything.
This is a well-written excursion into the world of scientific research and academia; the ego trips that are sometimes involved are definitely not forgotten. The suspense built and had me worried, frustrated, and angry on Pam’s behalf as her reputation was shredded, her career destroyed, and she was even, terrifyingly, facing the threat of prison for crimes she didn’t commit.
An easily understood explanation of the process of selecting and testing possible chemicals for drug cures draws the reader into Pam’s daily work life. The students who work in the lab with her are introduced in a way that explains the setup and hierarchy of research labs and universities. We get to experience the frustration and the inter- and intra-office ‘politicking’ in a way that allows us to also experience the thrill of success with the characters. Of course, being invested in the characters also means getting upset along with them when we discover the conspiracy that causes so much suffering. And who hasn’t felt the disbelief, at least once, of having those you count on refusing to consider that you’re innocent in a situation? It was awful that Pam’s situation was so extreme, and steadily getting worse. I love that she had her boyfriend on her side.
This book was both fascinating and nerve-wracking at the same time. I did have a problem with some of Jake’s (Pam’s boyfriend) actions. It’s not that I consider them unrealistic, more that they left Pam looking as if she could be less innocent than she was. Of course, blindly trusting that truth will win in the end has wrongly landed many people in jail. The fact that Jake was willing to go so far to support and exonerate her was beautiful. His conveniently being a private investigator may have been a bit much, but PI’s do have significant others in real life too.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I found only one error in the whole book! The story should appeal to anyone who is interested in medicine, academia, human nature, conspiracies, and supportive relationships. I can’t think of anyone specifically that it would not appeal to since there’s nothing objectionable in the story. This is a very good book, I enjoyed it thoroughly.
******
The Prize
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Like Amanda Deck's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: Winds of Fall by Alberto Mercado
