4 out of 4 stars
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Following the miraculous discovery of a drug to treat Alzheimer’s disease, The Prize tells a story of betrayal, fraud and murder. For over ten years, since her mother first showed signs of memory loss, Pam Weller had dreamt of finding an Alzheimer’s cure. She runs a laboratory of her own at Langmere and works with her postdocs, Holly and George, to make that dream possible. While Pam struggles to secure tenure to continue her research, the leading scientist for Alzheimer’s, Eric Prescott, races to find the cure first. Holding multiple prizes that showcase his prestige, Prescott covets the biggest of them all, the Nobel Prize.
When rumours of the cure’s discovery at Langmere reach Prescott, his supremacy is threatened. With fame and fortune on the line, he turns to Holly with a plot that will launch her career to new heights and put him in line for the Nobel Prize. Their web of lies sweep Pam’s achievements from under her and send her spiralling down a path that threatens her career and her life.
I laughed and cried with these characters. That is how you know a book was worth reading. The author, Geoffrey Cooper, immerses his readers into the world of medical research with an ease that brings soul to every character. Even the arrogant Eric Prescott has a charm that breathes life into the story. I easily found myself feeling sympathy and outrage for what Pam was going through. I teared up for her more than a few times.
It was surprising how the story had little action but still managed to keep me at the edge of my seat, or rather, keep my nose glued to my Kindle’s screen. The suspense of this book is not aimed towards ‘whodunit’, but rather if justice will win out. Will Prescott and Holly get away with stealing everything from Pam, and at what cost?
The author easily explains the science. I understood every word when the plot delved into the intricacies of drug testing and chemistry. I was afraid his writing would be filled with confusing jargon, but Geoffrey Cooper brings a perfect balance between science and thriller.
I give The Prize 4 out of 4 stars. Masterfully written and edited, The Prize is a must-read for anyone who enjoys medical crime thrillers. My only complaint is a few minor formatting issues where characters’ thoughts were not properly indicated with italics; while distracting, this didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. In fact, during my search for any grammar mistakes, this book taught me a few new words and phrases, such as “Peking” which means “from Beijing.” I enjoy it when a book expands my knowledge.
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The Prize
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