A Quirk of Destiny – Book Review

Review by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

A Quirk of Destiny
by Catherine Greenall
published by Austin & Macauley (28 Sep 2012)
344 pages, paperback, 19.6 x 13 x 3.2 cm
ISBN: 978-1849632270
Price: £9.99

16051325A Quirk of Destiny is a chilling look at a world where science is used against rather than for the good of mankind. Calum O'Connell is a scientist at the Department for Food and Environment assessing the safety of new food technologies. Puzzled by a number of incidents involving fellow scientists he soon finds himself caught up in a deadly worldwide epidemic.

Calum suspects genetically-modified food is the cause of the epidemic and sets out in search of the truth. A natural leader, he gathers around him an ever-growing band of people unaffected by the illness in his quest to find answers and refuge from the authorities who seek to silence him.

A Quirk of Destiny is a fast-moving story about what happens when too much power is held by too few people.

Reading this book one cannot but wonder as to whether of this in a “milder” form, if I may put it this way, is not already happening all around us seeing the mindless violence perpetrated by especially some – quite a few in fact – young people today and even young children who have grown up and are growing up with fast food of the McDonald's kind, ping meals, and such and also the road rage incidents which were almost unknown in the 1960s and 1970s.

This book is an important tool in the armory of the battle against acceptance of GM foods and feeds as the scenario outlined and described by the author could happen if we are not very careful indeed. We so not know what GMOs might do to humans and other animals and as to transgenic mutations. Being told by our governments and the likes of Monsanto that it is all save is definitely something to worry about.

We have been hearing a lot in recent times about zombies and even a Zombie Apocalypse and according to some, lets call them source if you will, there appears even to be a US military manual around as to how to deal with zombies. Could we talking genies here? One can but wonder, I guess.

At times this books is rather scary at times as to the scenario it presents and even more so when one considers the author's background. The reader may be left wondering, and possibly rightly so, I should say, as to whether this might not be whistle blowing disguised as fiction. A definite must read book.

Another thing that readers should take away from this book is the importance, though not portrayed in it, of having a so-called bug out bag, often referred to as a BOB, and a location earmarked where to go to in the even of a crisis such as this or other. An old military base is not a good idea though, as we can see from the book.

Following a long career as a government scientist Catherine Greenall is now a full-time writer. Her work includes ghost, horror and science fiction. A long-term vegan, she has published a vegan cookbook, Vegans Can't Eat Anything! and a ghost story, Echoes.

© 2013