Book Review: White Male Infant

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

White Male Infant     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Barbara D'Amato
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Police Procedural
Forge, Jun 2002, $24.95, 336 pp.

Surgeon Dooley McSweeney and his wife Claudia worries about the health of their adopted son as they fear he has leukemia. Thankfully, the infection turns out to be mononucleosis. However, they also learn that Teddy's bone sample displays evidence of the antibiotic tetracycline, a drug the McSweeney never provided to their son nor could the dirt-poor Russian orphanage be able to have obtained it. It seems that Teddy never came from Russia so Dooley begins a quest to learn more about Teddy’s past.

In Moscow, celebrity reporter Gabrielle Coulter is stunned when someone kills her video-photographer and destroys their tapes that expose horrid conditions at a local orphanage. Though the circumstantial evidence points towards Mother Russia zealots, Gabrielle believes the motives are more evil and economic. Soon her search for the truth joins the McSweeney efforts, but a bottom line only adoption factory mill do anything even murder of innocent little ones to keep the profits high.

This is an exciting thriller that will shake readers with what feels like a modern day Charles Dickens tale of child abuse caused by an orphanage manufacturing plant. The story line is action packed yet quite emotional as the audience will feel for the children and the McSweeneys. Fans of taut thrillers that provide a deep message will want to read D’Amato’s tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner