Ken Morris, The Deadly Trade

The Deadly Trade

Ken Morris

Bancroft, March 2004, $25.00, 366 pp.

ISBN 1890862355

A year ago Tim Mack lost his wife and child because of a drunk driver and went on a bender that lasted for a long time. After regaining his sobriety, he left New York where the memories were too strong and moved to San Diego where he joined the investment banking company of Atterberry-Stanton as a research analyst. All Tim wants is peace but he becomes involved in a situation where his life and many others are on the line.

One of the company's clients Isotopic Research blows up and two of the men who escaped injury died from an exotic disease that have the doctors stymied. Three homeless men are found in a deserted area with the same symptoms that are on the Isotopic survivors. A policeman links the homeless men to the two deaths and tries to start an investigation but is taken off the case by his superiors. Tim, who has access to knowledge, is targeted by the perpetrators to be killed. With the help of some friends, Tim baits a trap that could stop the perpetrator before the deadly weapon gets in the wrong hands.

If even one quarter of what Ken Morris says about biological weapons is true, THE DEADLY TRADE is scarier than any horror novel. The protagonist is still grief stricken over the deaths of his wife and child but he proves himself a hero when he puts his pain aside and works towards solving a dangerous situation that has international repercussions. Mr. Morris is a superb writer who knows how to entertain his audience.

Harriet Klausner