THE GIRL AT THE BAR
Fiction Cancer vaccine and letter puzzles ... THE GIRL AT THE BAR By Nicholas Nash 383 pp. Fireflies Publishing Reviewed by David E. Hoekenga, M.D. Despite a completely nondescript title, The Girl at the Bar is a well crafted mystery set in the vicious, high-finance world of cancer drug research. Rebecca is a beautiful, brilliant young researcher who disappears after a night of drinking in New York. The next morning she is slated to deliver an important paper about a vaccine that could protect humans from all forms of cancer. For several weeks despite finding a bloody dress of hers with stab marks in it, Rebecca’s fate remains unknown. A variety of denizens from bosses, associates, a fiancé, a one-night stand, a Triad member and a research subject come under suspicion. Nash effectively weaves the timeline of the story, and casts a bright light on the various denizens mentioned above as possible killers. The actual killer turns out to be more vicious and focused that could easily be im...