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Eric Lustbader takes us to the cutting edge of technology with this unique novel of suspense. New York City Homicide Detective Jon Christopher has a perfect record bringing serial killers to justice, but now all that has changed: the genocidal maniac dubbed the Pale Saint has eluded him for 18 months. When Christopher's best friend, assistant D.A. Bobby Austin becomes the Pale Saint's latest victim, Christopher's need to catch the killer becomes of matter of personal obsession. Forced to take desparate measures in order to track down the Pale Saint, Christopher enlists an unexpected partner, the great lost love of his life, Austin's widow, Cassandra, a brilliant genetic engineer. Together they make a cataclysmic decision: they will create and train a clone of the Pale Saint, his mirror image, to become the human bullet that will bring the wily killer down. Eric Lustbader's new novel is an intense, breathless chase to root out and destroy the ultimate evil. And in redefining the age-old mysteries of love and death, loyalty and betrayal, sin and redemption, Pale Saint forces us to confront the most profound questions of our time: What defines a human being? What constitutes a family? What right do scientists have to breach the barrier of the unknown?
A seasoned homicide detective faces a moral and existential crisis when he attempts to hunt a serial killer by creating a genetic clone of his adversary. Detective Jon Christopher, known for his impeccable record, finds his professional life shattered by the elusive Pale Saint, who has evaded capture for eighteen months. Following the murder of his close friend and colleague, Christopher descends into a state of personal obsession, leading him to recruit the victim's widow, a genetic engineer, for a radical plan. The narrative follows their descent into ethical ambiguity as they utilize advanced biotechnology to manufacture a mirror image of the killer, forcing the protagonist to navigate the blurred lines between justice and vengeance.
This novel presents a high-concept premise that blends traditional police procedural elements with speculative science fiction themes. The narrative focuses on the moral friction generated by the protagonist's decision to weaponize genetic technology against his foe. Readers likely encounter a fast-paced investigation that prioritizes plot momentum and the technical aspects of the cloning process. The story invites reflection on the boundaries of scientific ethics and the nature of identity, framing the hunt for the killer as a catalyst for deeper philosophical inquiry.
Page Count:
368
Publication Date:
2009-01-01
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
ISBN-10:
0007334354
ISBN-13:
9780007334353
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