Title: Ripped Genes
Author: Lawrence E. Rothstein
Genre: mystery, private detective procedural
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Book Blurb:
Marko Korb is a fat, egotistical, and brilliant detective, Bosnian Jew, and a veteran of the war with Serbia. His associate, Kelan Su, is a Chinese-American woman who does most of the investigative legwork. She is a former Chicago police officer, licensed attorney, and martial arts expert. Desmond St. Clair, chef, tech expert, and former British SAS commando, joins the duo.
Alan Scanlon, a medical scientist, head of the Shabel Institute, fraudulently patented and restricted research on the gene for the rare genetic disease, feraxia. Golda Merino, the mother of a child with feraxia and head of a group that supported Scanlon’s research, is charged with Scanlon’s murder.
The Tri-Star Investigations trio work with Attorney Cheryl Dain defending Golda. The detectives must discover the killer while negotiating Chicago’s underworld and politics.
Excerpt:
Kelan Su
When I arrived home after lunch with Cheryl, Korb was in the office sitting in his favorite overstuffed wing chair reading a book. He still wore his scuffed leather slippers and bright yellow pajamas. It was 3:00pm! He pushed the reading glasses to the end of his nose and glanced over the top of the lenses as I entered but immediately pushed the specs back and returned to Hamid Ismailov’s, The Railway.
Closing the door behind me with a little extra force, I stood still watching my boss. After about five seconds, I cleared my throat. Finally, Korb looked up with a tight smile, placed the book open over his knee and took off his glasses. “Is there something you want?” he asked, cocking his head to the right.
“Well, you know there’ve been no new paying clients for over two weeks,” I began after a slight hesitation.
“Yes. I consider it a welcome respite.”
Korb was lazy between cases, although a bulldog once he got his teeth into an investigation. Money was important to him, but not always as important as his time for reading, reflection, gourmandizing or playing bridge.
“Our operating accounts are guttering. There may not be enough next month to pay Des’s and my salaries and Mickey D’s retainer.”
“If necessary, I can replenish the accounts with personal funds. All will be paid.”
Korb was loaded as a result of his renown as an investigator and some very prudent investing. “Oh, I’m not really worried about my salary. I know you’re good for it. But …”
Korb looked down and shook his head slightly as he interrupted me. “Kelan, stop beating around the bush. You want us to work for your friend, Cheryl Dain, who is representing the woman accused of murdering the scientist that patented the gene and test for feraxia, do you not?”
My mouth opened soundlessly for a moment. I finally managed to sputter, “How did you know that?”
A loud “harrumph” came from deep down in Korb’s chest. “The conclusion was obvious. I read the papers. The development of the case has been front page news and fodder for several letters to the editor. You told me yourself that you were to meet with Dain today and mentioned that you hadn’t seen her for quite a while. Your little diversion about our accounts didn’t put me off the scent. Can she pay or is this another one of your pro bono projects?”
I closed my eyes, contemplating how to put it. “She can pay but an installment arrangement will have to be set up. Dain will cover expenses as they occur.”
“If we do this, and I’m not committing to it, I will need to talk first to Dain, Merino, and Merino’s husband and daughter. Our contractual agreement will have to be with Dain so we are covered by attorney-client privilege and Dain will be liable for our fee.
Korb continued, “As much as I hate to travel to the suburbs, the initial meeting should be at Dain’s office to bolster any privilege or work product claim. See if you can arrange this for Monday afternoon. Make sure the car is ready for a trip to Marshfield.” Korb replaced on his nose the glasses he had been holding in his right hand and picked up the open volume. “Well, does that conclude the business for which you interrupted my immersion in this excellent novel?”
Buy links:
Amazon - https://a.co/d/5Oebfv0;
Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ripped-genes-lawrence-e-rothstein/1146455159?ean=9781509259403;
and on my website – www.Rothsteinsmysteries.com
Author Biography:
I am a retired lawyer and university professor who has published in constitutional law, privacy law, political theory and labor law. Born and raised in Chicago, I am now residing with my wife and family in beautiful southern Rhode Island. I have lived and traveled widely in Europe. As an avid reader of crime fiction, I have always wanted to write detective novels. I consider this my third career. Venetian Bind published in May 2024 was my first Tri-Star Investigations novel. Ripped Genes is my second and I am well into my third, The Tell-Tale Art. As a lover of food and cooking, I include many scrumptious meals and some recipes in my novels and on my website.
Social Media Links:
Webpage – www.Rothsteinsmysteries.com
Facebook - /Rothsteinsmysteries
Instagram - /rothsteinsmysteries
Bluesky - @tristarmysteries.bsky.social