The Goldilocks Genome - by Elizabeth Reed Aden (Paperback)

About the Book

The suicide of a woman being treated for depression initiates a cascade of events leading to a rash of unexplained deaths. When FDA epidemiologist Carrie Hediger inadvertently uncovers these deaths, she's left with pressing questions: Are these deaths connected? What do they have in common? Are more deaths to come? Carrie and her team buck the system to find the answer.

Book Synopsis

The suicide of a woman being treated for depression initiates a cascade of events leading to a rash of unexplained deaths. When FDA epidemiologist Carrie Hediger inadvertently uncovers these deaths, she's left with pressing questions: Are these deaths connected? What do they have in common? Are more deaths to come? Carrie and her team buck the system to find the answer.

Review Quotes

"Who would have thought that the world of personalized medicine and pharmacoepidemiology-the study of patterns of drug utilization and effects--could combine to make such an interesting tale of revenge and serial murder? This is a taut and thoroughly researched first effort from Aden--she intersperses her remarkable knowledge of pharmacology, epidemiology, and biochemistry with an even more detailed knowledge of wine and a veritable culinary tour of Bay Area restaurants. The result is a fascinating scientific whodunit that you'll think of at every hotel banquet you attend for the rest of your life."
--George W. Rutherford, MD, AM, Professor of Epidemiology, Preventive Medicine, Pediatrics and History, University of California, San Francisco

"This is a complex, fast-moving, and scary novel with really new and important insights into recent key advances in personalized medicine or pharmacogenomics. It is scientifically plausible and is a great introduction to the detective work that is essential in modern epidemiology and pharmacology. Definitely the first medical thriller of its kind."
--Dr. Jonathan Knowles, Former Head of Group Research, The Roche Group

"Goldilocks is an absolute page-turner, weaving current topics such as personalized medicine, mental health, and greed into a story of sophisticated pharmacological mass murder and revenge. The plot is exquisitely tuned with credible science and lavishly sprinkled with references to Bay Area culture with some European accents. Jess Walter with a hint of Crichton. You'll feel at home in this book. I couldn't let go of it and read it in one go."
--Wouter Latour, MD, vaccine industry executive

"The Goldilocks Genome is the most exceptional medical thriller I've ever read. . . . I'm so happy that I had the chance to read such a compelling and cleverly plotted mystery. . . . This memorable mystery features a unique mix of real science, pharmacology, real data analyzing techniques, and actual current psychiatric practices. It's packed with gripping suspense and painful truths about the limitations of standard psychiatric treatment practices. The author powerfully illustrates the need for personalized medicine and its benefits. I highly recommend this informative medical thriller . . . "
--Readers' Favorite

"The Goldilocks Genome is an enjoyable and well-paced pharma-thriller with a Crichtonesque and frankly terrifying level of scientific realism. Reed Aden's unnerving critique of the medical establishment's lax attitudes toward embracing personalized medicine will leave you reaching for a bottle of Prozac . . . then thinking better of it."
--Dan Romik, PhD, Professor of Mathematics, University of California, Davis

"In an era when science is despised and disparaged, along comes Elizabeth Aden to make the complex coherent. In The Goldilocks Genome, she takes complicated scientific concepts and spins them into a gripping thriller. Only Betsy Aden can make isocarboxazid and nialamide sexy."
--John DeDakis, novelist, writing coach, and former Senior Copy Editor for CNN's The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer

"Join Dr. Carrie Hediger in her search for a killer intent on revenge. Can Carrie convince the FBI to join the hunt? Few, if any besides author Elizabeth Aden, a biomedical anthropologist and former pharmaceutical executive, have the knowledge and skill to write an engaging mystery at the intersection of genetic research, pharmacology, depression, and murder."
--Barry Fulton, author of the Thomas Sebastian Scott espionage/mystery series