"A single molecule from a sea of information"

Morgan O'Brien investigates research fraud for the "National Council for Science and Technology" in Ottawa. This adventure (or misadventure?) finds her heading to Vancouver's beautiful "University of Southern British Columbia" which sounds just like UBC, right down to the description of "C-Lot" parking...hmmm....The characters in this novel are fairly colourful, yet not always believable and unfortunately the "who-dun-it" plot drags out a bit at the end. I somehow doubt that the science is at all credible, though the idea of crooked professors siphoning funds into research that may cripple the fishing industry is novel and provides a unique backdrop for this mystery.

One other fascinating aspect of the Morgan O'Brien mysteries is the emergence of many characters of varying sexuality and the undertones of questioning in regards to her own sexuality. It never dominates or drives the novel, but adds a unique element. My favorite character is Sylvia, formerly David, who is now dying of cancer and providing research assistance to Morgan utilizing her skills as...you guessed it... a librarian! (Although it appears her route to the career is somewhat unrealistic as you may notice...!)

"After finishing her PhD in physics, Sylvia left the labs to get a second doctorate in Library Science, where the level of tolerance was higher than in the sciences. She quickly became an EXPERT in LARGE scientific databases and is known for her ability to PLUCK a single molecule from a sea of information. While officially there is no such thing as a forensic librarian there should be, because Sylvia's online searches could expose scientific fraud like an x-ray reveals a bone."