First book in the R&P Labs Mysteries series, featuring a quintet of scientific sleuths
Rob Mangan has problems. His small independent research laboratory is on the verge of bankruptcy and his wife's gone off with the fish tank cleaner. So when Rob and his brother Phil are offered a small fortune to develop surgical dressings using sphagnum moss, they jump at the opportunity. But things that seem too good to be true usually are. In Mossfire, the first novel in the R&P Labs series, the five scientists-turned-detectives match wits with a mysterious, mint-sucking millionaire as their supposedly innocent project leads to an unexplained death, a fire and a search for a weapon of moss destruction.
Excerpt
Rob checked the e-mails on a regular basis, waiting for Palm to contact him. When by the end of the week he hadn’t heard anything, he decided to throw out a small piece of bait.
“Our latest moss is nearly ready for harvesting,” he typed. “We will be making a few dressings for trial use.”
Palm’s reply zinged back almost immediately. “Excellent. Please keep me updated as to your progress.”
He reported the exchange to Ellis, who said, “But are we actually going to make them?”
“No.”
“So why am I growing the moss?”
“So we can say we have.”
“I’m afraid I’m not following this,” Ellis said. “We’re growing the moss so we can say we’ve grown it, but we’re not going to do anything with it?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Ellis pulled at his floppy hair, a sure sign of exasperation. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on, Rob? Or shall I just keep groping in the dark?”
Professional Reviews
Mossfire
Very good, easy to read mystery. Just enough humour and not too many Americanisms for us Brits. Would make a great mini-series.
Excellent suspense!
Initially I downloaded just a sample, to see if I liked the book. I bought the first and bought the 2nd before even finishing the first! Great characters, solid plot, and overall a great mystery /thriller.
You will enjoy this book!
Mossfire is a highly engaging story skillfully written. The author has fully fleshed the characters and masterfully paced the plot. You will enjoy this book!
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