In a novel that will definitely appeal to those of us mystery lovers that lay rather fond, perhaps even snobbish, claim to the title of "geek", COLD DARK MATTER uses the Canada-France-Hawaii telescope, located near the summit of Mauna Kea mountain in Hawaii at the lofty altitude of 4,204 metres as the site of a unique mystery set in the erudite world of scientific research, astronomy, cosmology and dark matter.
When an astronomer commits suicide, the Canadian authorities send Morgan O'Brien to find some missing data and notebooks. The barriers that O'Brien encounters, the questions she asks, the resistance she meets and the dangers she faces turn a suicide into a murder and lead down a dark path that has roots in the Cold War era of the 1950s.
COLD DARK MATTER is an interesting and informative mystery. In particular, the discussion of the culture of scientific research and the 1950s Cold War McCarthy witch hunt that manifested itself in this context in the Canadian Fruit Machine will make you shake your head in amazement. (No, I'm not kidding ... this is all true stuff and, in hindsight, pretty darn embarrassing to have it turn up in Canada's history).
Canadian culture in general and the more detailed, specific ethos and work setting of the Canadian civil service in Ottawa is well described and, from the perspective of this Canadian who used to work and live there, seemed to be pretty accurate. Again, to the outsider looking in, it would be both interesting and informative.
But none of this ever came up to the level of compelling and certainly never reached breathlessness or urgency. In fact, for me, it was much more often down at the level of mundane and matter of fact.
An interesting, unique plot idea with some really obscure history is worth 4 stars. A humdrum execution at the level of 2 stars brings the whole novel in at an average of 3 stars. Readable and interesting but definitely not high on the charts for me.
Paul Weiss
