The Serpent's Embrace — John Hands

What If Science Could Make You Immortal?For centuries, humanity has pursued the dream of immortality. Myths, religions, and now science all point toward the possibility of defeating aging. But what if someone had already unlocked the secret-and what if the consequences were far more terrifying than anyone ever imagined?The Serpent's Embrace is a brilliantly crafted scientific thriller that delves into genetic engineering, corporate power, and the ethical dilemmas of science, drawing readers into a fast-paced, morally complex, and deeply unsettling world.Highly principled, visionary cancer researcher Richard Trent discovers what he believes is the anti-aging gene. He resolves to develop a genetic cure for heart disease, strokes, Alzheimer's, and all the other diseases of aging.But his claim is sabotaged by his university department chair, whose own biotech company is bankrolled by a pharmaceutical corporation that would face disastrous losses if a cure for aging diseases were freely available.Dismissed from his university post, Richard resolves to prove that he is right. Enter the entrepreneur Maria Snowe, half Maya Indian, who is revered by her Maya retainer as the reincarnation of the serpent goddess Ixchel. Maria tempts Richard with the means to revolutionize medical science-subject to one condition. That condition shocks his assistant Lucy Jonnsen.Richard discovers that Maria's agenda goes way beyond what he imagined.As apparently accidental deaths of people involved in his work increase, Lucy battles with Maria for Richard's soul as each step he takes involves an ever greater sacrifice of his integrity until he is forced to choose between scientific immortality at an awesome cost or the death of his dream.