Fatal Harvest (Fatal Harvest Series #1) [Paperback]

Catherine Palmer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 25, 2003

Teenager Matt Strong discovers a secret that could expose the indiscretions of the conglomerate who controls the world's food supply. Now he's been framed for murder and is on the run. Matt's father, Cole Strong, enlists the help of Matt's teacher Jill Pruitt to find the boy and save his life. Before long, the two are caught up in a dangerous quest with stakes much higher than either is prepared to face.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This contrived thriller, by a popular and award-winning CBA author of more than 30 books (The Happy Room, etc.), begins with a promising story line, but heavy dialogue, padded scenes and a far-fetched plot keep it from achieving its potential. Matthew Strong is a 16-year-old computer geek out to find a solution to world hunger, but he can't manage to get his widowed father's attention. When Matt probes the workings of Agrimax, one of the world's top three suppliers of food, company executives murder his friend-and come after Matt. With the key to Agrimax's unwholesome activities in his hands, the teen improbably flees to Mexico and then France in search of someone from the organization I-FEED (International Federation for Environmental and Economic Development) who can help him expose the nefarious company. In hot pursuit are Matt's beloved computer teacher, Jill Pruitt ("a bundle of bouncy, blonde energy"), and his "handsome, weather-beaten" rancher-father, Cole. The cliched initial antagonism between Jill and Cole signals that romance is inevitable. In a ridiculous series of improbable events, Matt meets a classy chain-smoking Frenchwoman who flies him from France to the Sudan in a specially chartered airplane to find the chairman of I-FEED. As Matt reflects, "It was like some kind of a movie where... everything was warped and strange and unbelievable." Raising awareness of world hunger and unmasking the greed of large agricultural companies are admirable goals for the talented Palmer to shoot for; this novel, however, misses the mark.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Catherine Palmer lives in Missouri with her husband, Tim, and sons Geoffrey and Andrei. She is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and has a master’s degree in English from Baylor University. Her first book was published in 1988. Since then she has published more than twenty novels. Catherine has won numerous awards for her writing, including Most Exotic Historical Romance Novel from Romantic Times magazine. Most recently she has been nominated for the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Total sales of her novels number more than one million copies. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (June 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842375481
• ISBN-13: 978-0842375481
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,340,593 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Catherine Palmer lives in Atlanta with her husband, Tim, where they serve as missionaries in a refugee community. They have two grown sons. Cathy is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and holds a master's degree in English from Baylor University. Her first book was published in 1988. Since then she has published over 50 novels, many of them national best sellers. Catherine has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Christy Award, the highest honor in Christian fiction. In 2004, she was given the Career Achievement Award for Inspirational Romance by "Romantic Times BOOKreviews" magazine. More than 2 million copies of Catherine's novels are currently in print.

With her compelling characters and strong message of Christian faith, Catherine is known for writing fiction that "touches the hearts and souls of readers." Her many collections include A Town Called Hope, Treasures of the Heart, Finders Keepers, English Ivy, and the Miss Pickworth series. Catherine also recently coauthored the Four Seasons fiction series with Gary Chapman, the "New York Times" best-selling author of "The Five Love Languages."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fatal Harvest, August 26, 2003

By 

"vtavidreader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fatal Harvest (Fatal Harvest Series #1) (Paperback)

Sixteen-year-old Matthew Strong has the perfect topic for his term paper, unfortunately his research leads him into more trouble than he can handle. Matt's paper focuses on one company, Agrimax, who are hiding a secret they do not want revealed. A secret they will do anything to keep under wraps, including murder.

When Matt disappears, his father, Cole, is beside himself with worry and turns to Matt's computer teacher, Jill Pruitt. Soon Matt's source of information is murdered and the police believe Matt killed him. Jill and Cole set off on an international trek with Matt's best friend, Billy, hoping to find Matt and prove his innocence before the bad guys get hold of him.

In a fast-paced adventure that keeps you on your toes, follow Matt as he travels to Mexico, France and finally Sudan, where the action comes to an exhilarating conclusion. Greed, money and power set the stage for FATAL HARVEST, and in reality it becomes a game of good versus evil. Matt is merely a teenager going up against a powerful conglomerate. While there is a touch of romance, Catherine Palmer focuses mainly on suspense and proves she is at the top of her game.

To me, the only downfall I can find with this book is that the conclusion seemed abrupt. However as FATAL HARVEST is the first in Ms. Palmer's new adventure series, readers may see Matt, Cole, Jill and Billy in the future. This reader certainly hopes so!

Tracy Farnsworth - former TRRC reviewer

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars will remind readers of Rachel Carsons SILENT SPRING, September 3, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fatal Harvest (Fatal Harvest Series #1) (Paperback)

Though the Ivy League schools want Artesia High School, Texas student Matthew Strong to enroll, the computer guru is obsessed with finding a way to end world hunger. In his quest to turn Malthus on his head, Matt scrutinizes the files of Agrimax, one of the major international food suppliers where he finds abominable goings on at the expense of starving people. When a friend is killed, Matt flees to France desperately hoping to find an ally in the International Federation for Environmental and Economic Development (I-FEED).

Matt's widower father rancher Cole had been distant from his son, but loves him deeply. He panics when Matt vanishes and turns to the only person he believes might have an inkling of where the lad is and what trouble he is in, his computer teacher Jill Pruitt. They hope to save Matt's life from those who want him silenced. Meanwhile, the teen meets Madam Losieau. Will she be the ticket for him to provide his data to the Chair of I-FEED located in the Sudan or is she a double agent ready to feed him to his enemies?

FATAL HARVEST will remind readers (at least older ones) of Rachel Carson's environmental wake up call SILENT SPRING. The novel emphasizes making aware the plight of the world's hungry and exposing the avariciousnese of the mega agricultural conglomerates. The story line is extremely exciting in a David vs. Goliath manner with the sling shot and stones being a computer. Though the Madam Losieau link seems stretched, fans will appreciate this global bringing to light the international problem of world hunger packaged inside an action-packed thriller.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Please someone shoot me and put me out of my misery, February 28, 2006

By 

J. Bettis (Omaha, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fatal Harvest (Fatal Harvest Series #1) (Audio CD)

This may have been the single worst audio book I have ever listened to. I could not relate to the shallow characters, and the plot was not realistic enough to be believed.

The whole premise is rather weak anyway, if some kid had a deep secret about "Big evil food coporations" just email it to all the major newspapers. I mean really...