Customer Reviews

Biotechnology Is Murder: A Ben Candidi Mystery (Ben Candidi Mysteries)

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The story begins in a spirit of academic adventure and winds up like a hard boiled detective novel. I was rooting for Ben Candidi all the way. The novel was hard to put down.

How excited I was to find Dirk Wyle's second book is now available. This one is even better than the first elegant science mystery! Now Ben investigates a get rich quick cure for cancer surrounded by girls, boats, South Florida, mystery and greed. Dirk Wyle has hit his stride in this novel. In the closing chapters, hero Ben develops the daring of 007.

Dirk Wyle follows up his 1998 Best First Mystery Pharmacology is Murder with Biotechnology Is Murder. With his more than 30 year experience in Biomedical Science and his considerable knowledge in the areas of psychology, business, science, and writing, he is a sure winner. His character Ben Candidi is just finishing his Ph.D., but Ben packs more punch per square inch than most veteran detectives.

A pharmacology student and Mensa activist, Ben Candidi is tapped for a 4-day consulting job, guaranteed to generate $24,000 to check scientific claims by a company called BIOTECH. Ben quickly learns that: there is a legitimate product that can shrink tumors in rats, but it has not been tested in humans. The group that Ben is supposed to work with function on a "need to know" basis only, and communicate little. Ben's predecessor disappeared, and no one is talking. When Ben tries to communicate with the inventor of the product, Dr. Moon, he is met with an uncooperative, paranoid little man who refuses to give out information:

"What was I to make of this posturing? It was straight out of a B-grade karate flick. He was treating me like an intruder who had pissed on the floor of his "dojo." Is this the way he had treated my predecessor, Dr. Yang? Had he killed him with a sucker chop to the neck? Was he fermenting Yang's flesh in the back room? The thought must have made me smile again, since Dr. Moon's eyes were now flashing angry."

Mr. Wyle knows his stuff in the biotechnology area, and he has Ben take the reader though an incredibly intricate maze of information in a straightforward manner. Ben is a delightful character, being all too human for his amazing intellectual capacity. We see graphic images spilling out of Ben's narration, and can't wait to turn the page to see what else this scientific deathtrap has in store.

Dirk Wyle has written a timely plot with larger than life characters with which the reader has an immediate affinity. Ben Candidi is the young Jack Ryan of the biotechnological world. He is drawn into the clutches of industrial pirates from every direction and still manages to entertain.

Shelley Glodowski, Reviewer

There's simply something special about Ben Candidi. I found this out while reading the first book and now I must report that book number 2 doesn't disappoint. Ben is not only good--he's great--unassuming but completely capable. He always knows how to handle a situation.

The science here is interesting, but not daunting, while the business of science is etched clearly and fascinatingly.

Oh yes, the mystery! Wyle breaks a lot of the rules, which makes this one fresh! Thank heavens. The setting, situation, and characters all work. Best of all is the way the author can describe anything and everything right down to a "t." Highly enjoyable.

Dirk Wyle seems to know more about science and bio-tech thrillers than Robin Cook or Michael Palmer. This is a novel for intelligent readers with a science background. The novel provides a 7-course dinner in Miami corruption,cancer cures, and an engaging hero who bikes his way through appointments and thinks a $1,000 suit is expensive. A winner.

How excited I was to find Dirk Wyle's second book is now available. This one is even better than the first elegant science mystery! Now Ben investigates a get rich quick cure for cancer surrounded by girls, boats, South Florida, mystery and greed. In the closing chapters, Ben develops the daring of 007. Dirk Wyle has hit his stride in this novel. Don't take my word for it, check out the excerpts on the author's web site.

"What an exciting adventure in the investigation and solving of an unusual > murder. The suspense is palpitating. Look out, Jonathan Kellerman! Wyle's > hero, Ben Candidi, is every bit the equal of Alex Delaware!"

You don't need to know beans about biotechnology to enjoy this fast-paced romp through the shady side of science in Miami's backyard. The author did all the hard work and then made it easy for readers like me, who care more about the story than the scientific details, but still want a sense of authenticity in those details.

Best of all is the hero in the story, Ben Candidi. He's fresh and convincing and altogether the kind of guy who you KNOW knows a lot more than you do, but would still make terrific company around the dinner table.

Bottom line? It's comforting to know that not every Florida mystery needs to have an edge of hysteria in it to give readers bang for their buck. How refreshing!

Once again, Dirk Wyle has accomplished the feat of incorporating his specialized technological expertise into a mystery novel that is interesting, well-paced, and entertaining. We follow protagonist Ben Candide as he unravels the puzzle, piece by piece, until the perpetrators of the murder and their motivation are finally revealed. My interest in the story was piqued at the beginning and continued throughout. I therefore highly recommend this novel.

Dirk Wyle carefully mixes his reservoir of scientific knowledge with the intrigue and suspense of great stories. Ben Candidi has become an old friend. We look forward to joining him in future, exciting forensic adventures.