Knockout Mouse: A Bill Damen Mystery (Silicon Valley Mysteries) [Paperback]

James Calder (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2002 | Series: Silicon Valley Mysteries

Knockout Mouse is the gripping debut of a mystery series, set in the high-stakes world of biotechnology. When a dinner guest dies suddenly of an allergic reaction to a food she hasn't eaten, dot-com casualty Bill Damen goes from suspect to sleuth, embroiled in a murder with far-reaching consequences. He follows a trail that leads from cancer research to genetic engineering to secret rogue experiments, as he uncovers motives, means, and characters that could only exist in state-of-the-art Silicon Valley.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Silicon Valley filmmaker Bill Damen learns that a guest at his girlfriend's dinner party has died, allegedly of food poisoning, the natural-born PI goes into investigative "stealth mode"; a quick visit to the dead woman's biotech company, LifeScience Molecules, has him convinced he's looking at a coverup, if not downright murder. James Calder follows the determined Bill through state of the art genetics labs and agricultural research departments led by brilliant, ambitious scientists willing to do anything to get to the top in his well-researched and timely debut, Knockout Mouse.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This effervescent series debut features Bill Damen, a San Franciscan cameraman who makes his living creating promotional films and documentaries - many in "nearby" Silicon Valley. When an attractive new acquaintance employed there dies of an allergic reaction shortly after eating at Bill's girlfriend's place, Bill feels compelled to investigate. It soon transpires that the victim had crucial information her biotechnology employers will do most anything, including murder, to retrieve. With some telling California backdrops, a few sinister heavies, and solid prose with a memorable kick, this is recommended for both regional and larger public libraries.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; uncorrected pr edition (June 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811834999
• ISBN-13: 978-0811834995
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,179,065 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Predictable, August 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Knockout Mouse: A Bill Damen Mystery (Silicon Valley Mysteries) (Paperback)

I found the story boring and the characters predictable. The main character's motivations were unclear. Even the ending was dull.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A knockout book!, February 6, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Knockout Mouse: A Bill Damen Mystery (Silicon Valley Mysteries) (Paperback)

I really loved this book! James Calder is a gifted writer who has created an imaginative, fast-paced, and truly clever mystery that hinges on cutting-edge biotechnology, but that also brings up interesting questions about the world biotech is producing. Bill Damen is a complex mix of macho and sensitive who has an artist's eye for detail, the hutzpah of a curious journalist, and a bulldog's fight and determination. But he also has a fine-tuned sense of how complicated relationships are between people, including himself, and a subterranean ambivalence about what it all means--so fitting for the Bay Area, I think. He's someone I'd like to know. The writing is witty, the story always compelling, and I can't wait to get my hands on the next one.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bring it on James Calder!, July 19, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Knockout Mouse: A Bill Damen Mystery (Silicon Valley Mysteries) (Paperback)

As a Silicon Valley ex-pat, I was thrilled by this insightful and well researched thriller. Here's a hero that no one can resist. Bill Damen is brilliant. He reminds us of the importance of integrity, and the power that is gained in trusting our own intuition.
I would leave my children with this man!
With many unexpected twists and turns, (as one would expect in a story classified as a mystery) nothing prepared me for this enlightening journey through the business and cultural world of bio and high-tech.
I am convinced that this series is destined for greatness.
Keep up the great work James!