EINSTEIN'S DAUGHTER

James (First Lady Blues, 2011) returns with a thriller that straddles the worlds of science, skiing and subterfuge.

A meticulously crafted mystery that kicks off right out of the gate, James’ most recent offering hinges on the extreme likability of its protagonist, Claudia. Her atypical combination of keen interest in physical science and elite-level skiing allows the author freedom to demonstrate that he’s as adept at writing exhilarating sport scenes as he is in conveying dense scientific content. Claudia stumbles upon a major scientific discovery that could result in significant political and economic repercussions around the globe—a universal theory for energy that Einstein himself failed to prove. When word gets out, she ends up in the middle of a dangerous multinational struggle for power. Her world-class scientific experimentation lab is relocated to the Swiss Alps, where the author continues to deliver beauty and brilliance in his depictions of ski-centric scenes and landscapes. Meanwhile, in a jeweled city center in the Arabian Peninsula, Claudia’s enemies position themselves to make a power play. Within the action-packed main plot, James combines just the right mix of tension in Claudia’s rekindled romance with an old flame, a few long-held family secrets and an abundance of backdoor wheeling and dealing. James masterfully creates suspense as he unravels the climax, an appealing fusion of action and exposition. Readers will be on the edge of their seats to find out if Claudia’s discovery will save the world or end her life.

A blizzard of fast-paced action, mystery and romance.