Capitol Reflections

From Publishers Weekly

Fans of The X-Files may enjoy this science-fiction thriller, the debut novel by Dr. Javitt, whose impressive government credentials aren't quite matched by the sophistication of his plot. Chair of President Bush's Health Subcommittee of the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee and an epidemiologist, Javitt imagines a recent past-2005-in which the threat of genetically modified food has become a reality. When Marci Newman, a workaholic New York City attorney, dies after a mysterious seizure, Newman's best friend, Gwen Maulder, who's a division chief with the Food and Drug Administration, investigates. Aided by her ex-Secret Service husband, Jack, and her former flame and current Washington Post columnist Mark Stern, Maulder finds that Newman's seizure may be part of an epidemic that may be connected with coffee-seller Pequod's, the new mega-company that has overtaken Starbuck's. The bad guys are led by Hawaiian senator Henry Broome, whose past includes several murders and the theft of some genetics research from his Princeton roommate. The writing and pacing are adequate, and Javitt throws in a nice twist at the end, but the action sequences tend to overwhelm the science.
Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

Authentic and sharply writtenJonathan Javitt has given us a timely and compelling read! &#8212 Richard North Patterson, *New York Times* bestselling author

Almost impossible to put down. &#8212 New York Post

On a topic which may someday involve the lives of millions this is a novel that is both compelling and informative. &#8212 Newt Gingrich, *New York Times* bestselling author