Description:
Dr. Milt Davidson is recruited by the CIA to spy on Russia's bioweapons program using odors and the sense of smell after relocating to Moscow. His cover is a startup biopharma company. He faces intrigue, assassinations, and seductions.
Brief description: David M. Goldenberg, Sc.D., M.D., spent 60 years conducting cancer research and was a medical school professor who founded two cancer centers as well as Immunomedics, Inc. He directed the development of Trodelvy(R), an antibody-drug combination approved by the U.S. FDA and several foreign health authorities for the treatment of certain advanced cancers. The sense of smell, the focus on this novel, stems from his studies at the Universities of Erlangen and Heidelberg in Germany, after graduating with an S.B. from the University of Chicago.
Review Quotes:
Congratulations to the author! You have done it again and even better than Book One in this series of The Scenturion Spy. I really enjoyed the actions of the main characters, especially the inner life and thoughts of the protagonist, Milt, and also the capricious women romantically involved with him. Book Two expands on the details of olfaction and how it could be weaponized. Also, the byproduct subject of cell fusion and cancer is fascinating, and evidently the author's actual science contribution. The subject of art and the focus on Modigliani, as well as impressionism in general, as well as interesting scenes of a Bar Mitzvah, and attention to details on cuisine, music, and life in Russia, contribute to a broader readership interest alongside the intriguing espionage. I devoured this quickly and am anxious to read Book Three.
- Azra Raza, M.D.
Chan Soon-Shiong Professor of Medicine/ Director, MDS Center
Columbia University Medical Center
Author of The First Cell: And the Human Costs
Of Pursuing Cancer to the Last
In his second book in The Scenturion Spy series, Dr. David M. Goldenberg beautifully weaves science and art through the main espionage theme, capturing the perils of spying, while also treating the reader to the marvelous process of discovery in cancer research, academic politics, clinical trials, and the world of art, all from the vantage point of the protagonist, Milt Davidson, MD, PhD. The espionage activity, spanning several countries, revolves around attempts to unearth the purpose and the details of the olfaction program in the adversary's territory, with shocking events and a surprising news unfolding at the end. Rich details adorn this fascinating novel, which flows at a breathtaking pace. The reader is left yearning for more as it comes to a sudden end. It is this reader's wish that more will be forthcoming.
- Serengulam Govindan, Ph.D.
Former Chief Chemist, Immunomedics, Inc.
The much-anticipated second book of The Scenturion Spy series by David M. Goldenberg does not disappoint. It picks up from the first book when the main character, Milt Davidson, M.D., Ph.D., is recruited by the CIA because of his interest in olfactory olfactory biology. The Israeli Mossad and CIA indicate that the Russians are using psychedelics as odors binding to olfactory receptors to control mood and regulate behavior. Milt uses his start-up biopharmaceutical company to conduct clinical trials in Russia as a cover to learn more about their attempts to weaponize the olfactory delivery of mood-altering compounds. The twists and turns leap from each chapter, including his involvement with two beautiful women. The first is Marie Chalfont, who is a Mossad agent, and the second is Dr. Natasha Petrushkin, a Russian deputy minister, who Milt attempts to recruit as a double agent. The action spins the globe, from New York to Moscow and Israel. The storyline is timely, and the current geopolitical climate color the personal interactions of the characters. The author's own expertise in the pharmaceutical industry and also cancer research come through and add greatly to the storyline. For those who love a good spy novel, this is a must-read.
- James W. Freeman, Ph.D.
Retired Professor of Experimental Pathology,
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Author of The Boys of Laurel