First published 2003
Attorney Herman Strockmire lives with a failing heart and a passion for taking on corporate giants. His rumpled appearance hides a fierce dedication to lost causes and environmental justice. When one of his employees dies violently, torn apart by something that shouldn't exist, Herman discovers a government program creating weaponized animals. These creatures possess superhuman abilities and enough intelligence to follow orders without question. The military plans to use them as expendable front-line soldiers. Herman teams up with his daughter Susan, who works as his law partner, and Jack Wirta, a former LAPD detective. Together they investigate the secret desert facility where scientists conduct these experiments. The trio faces mounting threats as they dig deeper into the program. They must risk everything to expose a nightmare that pushes the boundaries of medical science and military ethics. The technology exists in the real world, making their fight against this weaponized future all the more urgent.
Genres: fiction, adventure, crime, contemporary, action, legal-thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, investigative-journalism, unlikely-allies
Setting: Desert Facility, LAPD
Period: Contemporary
400 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Content warnings: animal-death, graphic-violence, medical-trauma