Tri-Star Investigations: Book 2
Publication Date: January 13, 2025
Marko Korb is a fat, egotistical, and brilliant detective, Bosnian Jew, and a veteran of the war with Serbia. His associate, Kelan Su, is a Chinese-American woman who does most of the investigative legwork. She is a former Chicago police officer, licensed attorney, and martial arts expert. Desmond St. Clair, chef, tech expert, and former British SAS commando, joins the duo.
Alan Scanlon, a medical scientist, head of the Shabel Institute, fraudulently patented and restricted the research on the gene for the rare genetic disease, feraxia. Golda Merino, the mother of a child with feraxia and head of a group that supported Scanlon’s research, is charged with Scanlon’s murder.
The Tri-Star Investigations trio work with Attorney Cheryl Dain defending Golda. The detectives must discover the killer while negotiating Chicago’s underworld and politics.
Ripped Genes is the second book in the Tri-Star Investigation series by Lawrence E Rothstein. An investigative thriller mystery with a murder surrounding a medical breakthrough that wouldn’t be used for whom the research was intended leads us on a merry chase.
The book is filled with impressive characters, but no more than the very heavyset detective, Marko Korb, and his two right hands, a Chinese-American woman, Kelan Su, and Desmond St. Clair, who investigates but is also their chef. The three make a great team, and nothing seems to get by them. Korb always takes charge of a room, but it’s not just his size, it’s his intelligence, instincts, and how his mind works. There are vivid descriptions, lots of foodie moments, clues, red herrings, and intrigue until the final reveal of whodunnit.
Every secondary character plays an important role, and we get to see them in action and learn some of their motives. With multiple storylines having many layers and connections, there is a depth to the story. There are details provided, none of which are inconsequential. As the murderer is revealed, we see Korb’s mind in action as he weaves all the clues together. There is closure with a few surprises along the way. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series, as well as the first book, Venetian Bind.  Although I haven’t read the first book in the series yet, I was drawn into Ripped Genes from the first page to the last.
Ripped Genes is an investigative thriller mystery set in Chicago with memorable characters. Reminiscent of books by authors John Grisham and Scott Turow, and I wasn’t disappointed!
I am a retired lawyer and university professor who has published in constitutional law, privacy law, political theory and labor law. Born and raised in Chicago, I am now residing with my wife and family in beautiful southern Rhode Island. I have lived and traveled widely in Europe. As an avid reader of crime fiction, I have always wanted to write detective novels. I consider this my third career. Venetian Bind published in May 2024 was my first Tri-Star Investigations novel. Ripped Genes is my second and I am well into my third, The Tell-Tale Art. As a lover of food and cooking, I include many scrumptious meals and some recipes in my novels and on my website.
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Joanne,
Thank you for the excellent review of Ripped Genes.
Yours,
Lawrence Rothstein
Joanne,
Thank you for the excellent review of Ripped Genes.