Many self-published books are submitted to the mRb for review. Most of them are badly edited: not only are there mistakes in grammar and spelling, but the novels lack structure, or the dialogue needs work. Non-fiction books are generally better, but even here, authors who consider self-publishing should also strongly consider hiring a qualified professional editor. Hiring a professional designer for the cover is also a good option

.That being said, a recent self-published book stands out.

The earth’s fragile eco-system is being destroyed by humanity, and a think tank has identified the work of a professor of molecular biology as the last hope for mankind. A young investment banker starts by assessing the professor’s research, but soon finds himself on a mission to find the plant that can save the world. There are bad guys too, including a Roman Catholic Cardinal (fast becoming a cliché, thanks to Dan Brown).

The writing is skilled, the dialogue believable, and the premise fascinating, but The Ovum Factor bogs down in the middle, perhaps because Zimmerman did a lot of research and didn’t want to waste it. Nonetheless, a good summer read with a gripping ending. mRb