The solution lies in her genes
Fox
by Kelly Oliver
JKS Communications
Mystery & Thrillers
Pub Date 01 May 2017
Review
Kelly Oliver’s new novel, Fox, is a promising debut. She tackles important subjects including the victimization of women, mail order brides, women’s health issues, IVF (in vitro fertilization) and the controversy inherent in genetic manipulation (designer babies).
Jessica James is a PhD student in philosophy. When she wakes up naked behind a dumpster after a drink with a hot medical intern, she believes she has been raped. After leaving the hospital, she returns to the scene with her friend Lolita and the two discover a body. Someone is preying on young, intelligent women. Someone who is willing to resort to murder to hide their tracks.
A couple of things didn’t sit well. 1) Jessica is too ready to believe in the innocence of the intern she had drinks with before 2) Jessica has “super” genes, “golden blood” 3) She only quotes Nietzche. Making Jessica so special genetically takes away from the impact of the story. I did like how well developed the supporting characters were, and how well the subplots were integrated. I applaud Oliver for her choice of subject. The novel is not without flaws, but on the whole it is admirable.
(3.5 rounded up) 4 / 5
I received a copy of Fox from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Description
Killer genes are no accident.
When Jessica James wakes up half naked behind a dumpster in downtown Chicago, she thinks the hot intern feeding her Fiery Mule Slammers slipped her a Mickey. But after a pattern of similar incidents around Northwestern Research Hospital, Jessica realizes she wasn’t raped, she was robbed. Robbed of something as valuable as life itself. Hunting for the predator drugging and dumping Ivy League co-eds, Jessica discovers secrets about her own identity that force her to rethink her past. The solution to the mystery lies in the cowgirl philosopher’s boot-cut genes.
Kelly Oliver’s stunning page-turner blends a smartly-funny and delightfully complex murder mystery with a touch of medical thriller.
