Lethal Harvest: Bioethics Book 1 By William Richard Cutrer MD and Sandra Glahn

I received this book from Kregel Publications for no charge in exchange for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Book Description:

"A Machiavellian plot . . . [and] a satisfying medical thriller." —Library JournalIn order to save the president's life, a brilliant embryologist— the president's nephew & MD has made a "devil's bargain" with a secret group of federal agents. But Tim Sullivan's illegal genetic manipulations of human embryos place everyone he knows at risk. Before he can finish his work, a freakish accident kills him and leaves only troubling questions behind.
Now his partner, Ben McKay, and Tim's widow, Marnie, must uncover the hidden truth about Tim’s research before more lives are swept away. In the process, they’re forced to face their feelings for each other and the dark secrets in their own pasts. This story of love, loss, and danger crosses international borders from Mexico to the former Soviet Union in order to answer one searing question: if Tim's research is completed, what form will the strange and dangerous harvest take?
Ambition, jealousy, and the ultimate meaning of love move this riveting story through the dark labyrinth that may lie buried under breakthroughs in genetic research and cloning.

My Thoughts:

Lethal Harvest is the first book in William Richard Cutrer, MD and Sandra Glahn series, Bioethics and it is fantastic. This book was previously published in 2000 and this is an updated version. Lethal Harvest is the first book from these authors I have had the pleasure of reading.  Cutrer and Glahn write with authority on genetics, OB-GYN practices, bio engineered life, Akenosis, missionary work, Chaplin duties, human embryos, and lab practices. From the first page, the action starts and continues until the end. This book keeps you guessing until the last pages. Lethal Harvest is a book that looks at controversial procedures of genetic manipulations of human embryos and stem cells, under the idea that a human being can be made with just one set of DNA. I found myself unable to put this book down. Cutrer and Glahn's writing style is very interesting, using terms that someone not of the medical field could understand what was happening medically. I can say I really learned a lot from their writing. The characters in this book are normal people dealing with extraordinary circumstances that they are thrown into. I really enjoyed Marnie's character. She was married to Tim who died and finds herself in question of everything. Her journey from non believer to believer is inspiring and real. Her strength throughout this book is inspirational, her ability to survive everything she went through and how she held on and leaned on her faith and God really gave me something to think about. I really found this book bring up many emotions in me. I found myself crying in parts and holding my breath in others. The medical research into Akenosis revealed that not only could this cure it but could cure Alzheimer's disease really hit home for me. I lost my dad 4 months ago to Alzheimer's and it really made me question how I feel about genetic research, cloning, and genetic manipulation when looking at it from a personal standpoint. Cutrer and Glahn present all sides of these issues including medically and spiritually. They definitely show where faith comes into this issue and how it does affect how this issue is looked at.   It is easy for these ideas to be black and white until you are looking at these diseases and the hope for a cure.  This story definitely looked at the dangerous side of ambition and the question of how far is too far in genetic research and cloning. I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Medical Suspense, you will not be disappointed. I cannot say enough good about this book and these authors. I look forward to reading the other two books in this series, to see where all of this goes. I give this book 5 STARS.