Blue Genes
Encyclopedia
Blue Genes is the fifth story in the "Kate Brannigan Series" written by Val McDermid
A popular Scottish author. The book was written in 1996 and has been advised that younger reader's do not read it as it has sexual responses and death.
announcing the fake death of her boyfriend in the newspaper. She does this as two fraudsters - posed as undertakers -
have been stealing money from recently mourning people grieving over the loss of dead ones by promising top of the art gravestones in which the result is nothing. After a failed attempt to catch the criminals, a neo-punk rock group led by "Dan Druff" request the help of Kate to catch people tearing up their flyposting
. The next morning Kate goes to work only to find out that her partner, Bill has returned from his trip to Australia
and has fallen in love with Sheila and plans to marry her, and move to Australia. In the event he sells his shares which leaves Kate heart-broken yet angered, a mutual feeling by the secretary Shelley, who explains her plans to purposely share her sells to confuse and annoy Bill to his worst enemy. Kate declines at first but then begins to think about on the way home. Upon reaching home Kate is confronted by her best friend Alexis, a lesbian
journalist whose girlfriend Chris is pregnant, much to Alexis' fright. After a few Vodka's and cigarettes Alexis explains that the doctor responsible for the fertility treatment is murdered and leaves Kate confused as to why she's so scared. Alexis then explains that all eggs in a female reproductive system have an X chromosome which require either another X or Y chromosome from usually a sperm cell, but recent documents lead Alexis to conclude that the doctor Helen Maitlande was performing Illegal tests by mixing two X chromosome's from female eggs and the baby might be taken from her. Kate is asked to find out more and to stop other people from noticing that the doctor isn't round and take her files so the authorities won't find out about the illegal testing. Meanwhile Kate (who previously took photos of the fraudster known as Will Allen's car) heads off to the city centre to find Gizmo an ICT genius who was able to hack into MI5
's codes as a teenager. He finds out where Will Allen and his trusty side-kick Sarah Sargeant work and follow them home only to be interrupted and her plans foiled. The next day Kate and her friend Denise (who is the mother of Christie, a girl Kate used to look after during P.E. practices) visit the prison where Dennis, Denise's husband is locked up in. Dennis explains that whoever's trashing the flyposting is costing the band big slice's of money and their record deal will soon be over for the band. That evening Kate follows the fraudsters, this time successfuly home, on their way buying a local issue of the chronical to see who's died that week. Later Sarah Sargaent leaves to confront another man about gravestones but is then interrupted by a woman (who Kate hired) and asked her neighbournot to buy the Gravestone without including their families decision, leaving Sarah pissed off. Kate returns that night only to be confronted by police.
More will be written soon.
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Val McDermid
Val McDermid is a Scottish crime writer, best known for a series of suspense novels starring her most famous creation, Dr. Tony Hill.-Biography:...
A popular Scottish author. The book was written in 1996 and has been advised that younger reader's do not read it as it has sexual responses and death.
Plot
The book starts with Kate Brannigan, a conving PIPrivate investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
announcing the fake death of her boyfriend in the newspaper. She does this as two fraudsters - posed as undertakers -
have been stealing money from recently mourning people grieving over the loss of dead ones by promising top of the art gravestones in which the result is nothing. After a failed attempt to catch the criminals, a neo-punk rock group led by "Dan Druff" request the help of Kate to catch people tearing up their flyposting
Flyposting
Flyposting is a guerilla marketing tactic through the act of placing advertising posters or flyers in legal or illegal places. In the United States, these posters are known as bandit signs, snipe signs, or street spam. Posters are adhered to construction site barricades, building facades, in...
. The next morning Kate goes to work only to find out that her partner, Bill has returned from his trip to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and has fallen in love with Sheila and plans to marry her, and move to Australia. In the event he sells his shares which leaves Kate heart-broken yet angered, a mutual feeling by the secretary Shelley, who explains her plans to purposely share her sells to confuse and annoy Bill to his worst enemy. Kate declines at first but then begins to think about on the way home. Upon reaching home Kate is confronted by her best friend Alexis, a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
journalist whose girlfriend Chris is pregnant, much to Alexis' fright. After a few Vodka's and cigarettes Alexis explains that the doctor responsible for the fertility treatment is murdered and leaves Kate confused as to why she's so scared. Alexis then explains that all eggs in a female reproductive system have an X chromosome which require either another X or Y chromosome from usually a sperm cell, but recent documents lead Alexis to conclude that the doctor Helen Maitlande was performing Illegal tests by mixing two X chromosome's from female eggs and the baby might be taken from her. Kate is asked to find out more and to stop other people from noticing that the doctor isn't round and take her files so the authorities won't find out about the illegal testing. Meanwhile Kate (who previously took photos of the fraudster known as Will Allen's car) heads off to the city centre to find Gizmo an ICT genius who was able to hack into MI5
MI5
The Security Service, commonly known as MI5 , is the United Kingdom's internal counter-intelligence and security agency and is part of its core intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service focused on foreign threats, Government Communications Headquarters and the Defence...
's codes as a teenager. He finds out where Will Allen and his trusty side-kick Sarah Sargeant work and follow them home only to be interrupted and her plans foiled. The next day Kate and her friend Denise (who is the mother of Christie, a girl Kate used to look after during P.E. practices) visit the prison where Dennis, Denise's husband is locked up in. Dennis explains that whoever's trashing the flyposting is costing the band big slice's of money and their record deal will soon be over for the band. That evening Kate follows the fraudsters, this time successfuly home, on their way buying a local issue of the chronical to see who's died that week. Later Sarah Sargaent leaves to confront another man about gravestones but is then interrupted by a woman (who Kate hired) and asked her neighbournot to buy the Gravestone without including their families decision, leaving Sarah pissed off. Kate returns that night only to be confronted by police.
More will be written soon.
Ratings and Reviews
The book has received mainly positive views, the Mail on Sunday commenting that Kate Brannigan as "One of the most convincing PI's" giving the book an overall average of 8.7/10, the third best-selling book of the Kate Brannigan series leaving it just behind, The last temptation and The Mermaids SingingThe Mermaids Singing
The Mermaids Singing is a crime novel by Scottish author Val McDermid, the first featuring her recurring protagonist, Dr. Tony Hill. It was adapted into the pilot episode of ITV1's television series based on McDermid's work, Wire in the Blood, starring Robson Green and Hermione Norris.The title is...
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