Primacy

When primate researcher Liane Vinson discovers that one of the subjects at a secretive animal lab, a bonobo named Bea, can speak, she decides after a crisis of conscience to abduct Bea and (eventually) return the ape to Africa. In this debut novel, Fishman questions the ethics of human use of animals but is unable to explore these issues in much depth because the novel's fast pacing doesn't allow enough space for thoughtful discourse on these topics. Though the main character has sufficient internal and external conflict to move the narrative quickly, most of the supporting characters, and especially the villain, are one-dimensional. However, Fishman's excellent imagery and pacing redeems the novel. A former Doubleday editor, he has also been involved with several nature conservancies, which is apparent in his obvious sympathy for Liane's predicament.