Forever, a captivating medical thriller, is the newest addition to the fictional books written by Geoffrey M. Cooper. During his sabbatical, Dr. Brad Parker is learning genome editing techniques at a neighboring institute. When two FBI officials enlist his help to investigate a claim of suspected academic espionage, he reluctantly agrees at his partner’s insistence. However, things escalate very soon, culminating in the death of a promising young researcher. Meanwhile, the Monroe Foundation becomes extremely keen on the laboratory techniques Parker has developed. In exchange for lucrative funding, he has to conduct his research in a private laboratory provided by Walter Monroe. When Parker finally realizes that he is being used as a pawn in a nefarious scheme, it might already be too late to escape.

The thriller maintains a steady pace with tension building up gradually, giving the reader the feel of a cozy mystery. That is until the situation escalates rapidly and the reader finds themselves stuck in a nightmarish plot, unable to escape. While some parts of the novel might have been predictable to the seasoned readers, Cooper saves the best for the end. The last twist was so unexpected that I never saw it coming. Thankfully, Parker demonstrates a combination of scientific knowledge, technical expertise, meticulous planning, and level-headedness without which thwarting the evil plans would have been impossible.

Cooper incorporated a few debatable, if not outright controversial, themes prevalent in academia. The notion of academic espionage by Chinses researchers is one such topic that might cause raised eyebrows. The prejudice directed against a particular ethnic group is more common than we would like to believe; however, I was relieved when Parker proved to be unbiased and insistent on logical proof instead. Another controversial topic presented here was human gene editing and the ethical issues concerned therein. Popular thrillers have a penchant for portraying this technology as an evil scheme, one that is akin to playing God, while they gloss over its potential benefits. Admirably, Cooper handles this sensitive issue with a firm scientific approach and rightly proclaims “The technology was the same whether it was used for good or evil.”

The presence of such heavy topics does not forbid readers to enjoy the little pleasures of life. Parker appreciates every moment, enjoying culinary delights, scenic beauty, bird watching, and loving company of his partner Karen and pet Rosie. Cooper’s extreme attention to detail ensures a thorough setting for each scene, making the reading experience comfortable.

I will never cease to be amazed at the ease with which Cooper presents mind-boggling scientific phenomena or cutting-edge technologies to his readers. Had I not read this book, I wouldn’t have believed that one could explain the CRISPR technique or the logic behind blood plasma transfusion in a purely fictional setting. Cooper has a unique way of making the academic details palatable so that readers without a science background can easily follow the logic.

As a graduate student myself, this book fell right inside my comfort zone. I could relate to various aspects of this novel, be it the frustration over agonizingly slow-going experiments or the inevitable slumber that follows a hearty lunch during an endlessly dragging conference. Besides, I was able to garner some knowledge from the book, especially regarding the aging research and the behavioral tests conducted on mice. Having enjoyed both the scientific and the thrilling parts of the novel, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to the readers who appreciate medical thrillers. It doesn’t matter if you are from academia or not, this book is certainly a treat for everyone. ( )