Brain Storm Book

Grab a cup of strong coffee and settle in for a thrill ride of legal battles, neurobiology, hate crimes and love-starved chimpanzees. Richard Dooling's cyber-legal- detective thriller is tough to categorize, because it is so many things: lawyer-turned-gumshoe murder mystery, paean to free speech, speculative fiction and sex romp, all jumbled together in a hyperactive mix of fun. In near-future Saint Louis, web geek Joe Watson is a non- practising attorney; instead, he fills his days with arcane Internet research in support of his firm's cases--computer game copyright violation, for instance. He's got the wife and kids, and just enough money to afford a big house in an affluent suburb. All hell breaks loose when a leathery old judge assigns him to defend the accused killer of a deaf black man. In pursuit of truth, Watson enlists the help of a punk defence lawyer and a gorgeous neurobiologist, losing the wife, the kids and even his cushy job in the process. The fast- paced action and oddball circumstances make this a winner for thriller fans. The bonus is Dooling's absurd sense of humour and deft characterizations, most notably the cranky Judge Stang. America's obsessions with sex, justice and computers look endearing and funny through Dooling's microscope. Brain Storm is a fast, fresh and enjoyable book.Read More