Michael Ransom, author of The Ripper Gene , is known as a “pharmaceutical executive by day and an author by night.” Though Ransom has authored numerous articles, papers, and books on scientific topics, The Ripper Gene is his debut novel. This novel is described as "A furiously fast-paced thriller," and it does not disappoint.
The novel follows Dr. Lucas Madden, a neuroscientist-turned-FBI profiler and a renowned scientist well known for cloning the "Ripper Gene", the gene present in the brains of psychopaths, making them more susceptible to committing violent crimes, or even becoming a serial killer. Madden also created the "damnation algorithm", an algorithm that can predict psychopathic behavior using DNA alone.
Dr. Lucas Madden, our protagonist, seems to be plagued by death wherever he goes. As a child he lost his mother to a gruesome murder, which was the catalyst that led him to eventually join the FBI. The Ripper Gene follows Dr. Madden as he tracks down a serial killer dubbed by the public as the “Snow White Killer.” The more he delves into the murders of these young women, the closer to home the investigation begins to hit, pulling in his parents, siblings, and even old lovers into the web.
This thriller is enthralling and can be captivating to a wide scope of readers. The smooth prose allows even a novice to the world of science to follow and enjoy. The plot is unpredictable, with the author leading you down one road, and just when you think you know what's happening, you're diverted onto another road. Though Michael Ransom doesn't use long drawn out descriptions to set the scene, he shines at painting a vivid image of the crimes scenes.
I rate The Ripper Gene 3.5/5 stars because though the novel is cohesive, leaving every dot connected, the conclusion of the book left me wanting a little more. The novel lost a star and a half because the ending is too final, too finished. As a thriller, it leaves something sinister to be desired, something to haunt you after you put the book down. At the conclusion of the book, Lucas has grand realizations. Though these realizations seem genuine, they also feel a tad bit cliché. Additionally, the plot feels a little familiar, like something you might find in an episode Criminal Minds.
However, the book succeeds because it keeps the reader engaged. Ransom does not introduce any unnecessary characters, just for the sake of the adding more pages to the story. The plot is clear without unnecessary detours or superfluous language. It is a great, fast-paced read that I thoroughly enjoyed and would highly recommend.