Cause For Concern [Paperback]

Linda Kistler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 21, 2003

Cause for Concern is a fast-paced novel dealing witha grave contemporary problem . . . the impact of toxic waste on our lives. Set on thecampus of an elite eastern university, the book introduces readers to JacobBorovski, world-class scientist and professor, whose untimely death prompts aninvestigation into the possible presence of a cancer hot spot at CabotUniversity. The rich cast of characters includes Ruth Borovski, Jacob'swife and renowned researcher in her own right; Kevin Parks, a brilliant butunstable doctoral student who secretly searches for connections among a risingtide of deaths at the university; Nancy Atherton, Ruth's friend and universitycolleague; and Larry Northrop, Cabot University's distinguished President. Devastated by the loss of his beloved mentor, Kevin embarkson an obsessive search for the toxic waste he believes has caused the deaths ofJacob and an unusual number of other faculty members. Ruth Borovski andNancy Atherton are drawn into the search that is initially supported by PresidentNorthrop. Despite hospital treatment for clinical depression, Kevinrefuses to abandon his search. Dismissed from the university for failing tocomplete his dissertation, he hacks the university computer system, discoveringclues that lead to a long-forgotten cache of toxic waste stored decades earlierin a renovated campus building. In the dramatic climax Kevin attempts to remove awaste sample for testing and accidentally sets off an horrific chain of eventsthat vividly brings to life the explosive consequences of the careless storageof toxic materials. Cause for Concern will engage book lovers fromcollege students to mature readers. Itscompelling plot, complex and vibrant characters and campus setting cometogether to produce a thoughtful and entertaining novel.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Linda Kistler grew up in Pennsylvania and graduated with BS and MS degrees from Colorado State University. An accounting and management educator, she is the author of two academic books and has published more than 75 articles in academic and professional journals. A Massachusetts Certified Public Accountant, she was named Outstanding Accounting Educator in Massachusetts in 1989, has served as an Officer and Director of the Massachusetts Society of CPAs and as a member of the National Council of the American Institute of CPAs. She was Vice-Chairman of the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission from 1978 to 1981. She is Professor Emerita and lives with her husband, Jim, in Carlisle, Massachusetts. This is her first novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (August 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410775690
• ISBN-13: 978-1410775696
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,967,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating, November 11, 2003

By 

SGS (New England, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cause For Concern (Paperback)

I could not put the book down until I had read it all. It is a thriller with subplots involving human interactions and relevant environmental topics. From the very beginning the reader is drawn into a tense situation not knowing exactly what is transpiring and trying to put the pieces together. The characters in the novel are well developed and the relationships are realistic.

I thought it an excellent book of fiction.

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting discovery, January 29, 2004

By 

diana lopez (polson, montana United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cause For Concern (Paperback)

I discovered this book quite by accident (it was sent to me by a friend), and I've never been more pleasantly surprised. Once I began the prologue, I found it difficult to put the book down until I'd completed it. During that process, I found myself totally absorbed by the story (about a search for a secret toxic waste dump on a small college campus), the colorful characters who live inside the book (and continue to live inside my head), and the mystery that surrounds them. Ms. Kistler's fluid writing style is among the best I've ever read. I look forward to her second book.

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a hard one to put down!, December 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Cause For Concern (Paperback)

Linda Kistler's first novel is a great read. Set on a college campus, the book is a fascinating tale of how long-buried hazardous waste comes to affect the lives of various faculty members, students, and administrators. The plot develops somewhat like a mystery, as hints of problems begin emerging, until things literally explode in the book's extraordinary climax. I usually spend weeks reading one book...I finished this one in only two days!