First published 2001
Dr. Jim Dutton agrees to an unusual experiment. The anthropology professor will raise Umber, a bonobo chimpanzee, in his own home. Scientists want to study how learning differs between humans and chimps. But as weeks pass, Dutton notices something strange about his primate houseguest. Umber displays abilities that seem beyond normal bonobo intelligence. Dutton begins to suspect the research team has genetically modified the animal. He teams up with Canadian journalist Valerie Radin to investigate the true nature of the experiment. Together they dig deeper into the project's origins and methods. What they discover forces them to question the ethics of the research and confront the consequences of tampering with evolution itself.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller, anthropology, academic
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, investigation, moral-dilemma
Setting: Canada
519 pages · Hardcover · Grand Central Pub