About the same time, a young woman named Chelsea Wright is found murdered. Since the name of the clinic was written in her day planner, the police seek more information from Lisa, Matthew, and the rest of the clinic staff. Neither Lisa nor Matthew can offer the police much help. Chelsea had been an egg donor at the clinic, but Lisa cannot imagine that her relationship with the clinic has any connection with her death.

Shortly afterward, allegations are made against the clinic for egg switching and other unorthodox procedures. In addition, Matthew Gordon cannot be located and Lisa suspects foul play. She believes Matthew has been kidnapped or murdered because of his investigation, but she is reluctant to relay this information to the police. They are more inclined to believe that Matthew is involved and has disappeared to avoid interrogation and possible prosecution.

Lisa can't believe her fiancé is involved, and with the aid of friend and fellow doctor at the clinic, Sam Davidson, decides to conduct her own investigation.

While Fertile Ground is a good mystery, it is actually more than that. Ms. Krich explores the whole infertility industry. The procedures involved are labor intensive, requiring highly skilled technicians as well as doctors. Therefore, these procedures are very expensive and, because they are dealing with unique biological systems, have a variable success rate. As the author points out, this situation is quite tempting to the unscrupulous. There is much money to be made if one have no ethics.

Ms. Krich is also quite knowledgeable about the Jewish faith. In Fertile Ground she discusses tenets of the Jewish religion that make the already complex area of human fertility even more complicated.

As usual, Ms. Krich does a wonderful job portraying the many facets of her main character. Lisa Brockman is a dedicated physician committed to doing her utmost for her patients. As for her personal life, she has been brought up in a Jewish home, believing herself to be Jewish. As an adult she discovers she was adopted, and hence does not know whether she should consider herself a Jew any longer. This situation presents her with a new set of challenges and questions. It is easy to be fascinated by her life.

Fertile Ground is a well developed mystery with a complex plot. How the police with the help of Dr. Brockman finally solve the crime is intriguing. We're given enough information to play detective along with the protagonists and the presence of numerous red herrings only adds to the fun.

--Andy Plonka