Pest
by G. Spencer Myers

Reviewed by Frances J. Rossi

From the beginning Pest plunges us into a vortex of personalities, motives, schemes, and yearnings. Our first glimpse of the situation is by flashlight, as a stealthy group of intruders are prevented from achieving their objective. Next we meet Derk Bryan, independent contractor working with the EPA, wakened at 2am in his St. Pete beach condo in Florida with a message about the break-in at Jack Von Lleuwan’s chemical plant up in Zeeland, Michigan. It turns out that the culprits tied up a guard and left him in a chemical vat, which subsequently filled with chemicals, which leave his body mostly disintegrated. A chemical spill into a nearby stream has resulted. Derk is called on to investigate. As he follows through, he discovers another possible poisoning by pesticides in the same area. The victim turns out to be the son of an old girlfriend, and this fans back to life a smoldering relationship that he must now resolve.

As her son lies dying, Kate McCardigan engages in a struggle with the Von Lleuwan Enterprises, seeking to uncover proof that their chemicals are responsible for her son's illness. Her bumbling foreman, John Westerfield, has taken the quest more seriously than she had intended and has hired a team of amateurs to break in to the chemical plant, and, when that fails, to continue investigating in this vein. Distressed that their attempt has backfired, she calls on an old college friend, Skip Trace, to take the investigation to a more professional level. Kate, the hard-nosed businesswoman, Skip, undaunted investigator, and Derk are old college friends who have followed their own paths. The ordeal of Kate’s son and the discovery of a similar poisoning in Florida draw them, unknowing, into a common search for the perpetrator of these crimes, and, in the process, a reexamination of the values that led each of them into their present state. Kate struggles with the pain of a failed marriage and the impending loss of her son; Derk questions his choice to leave his native Michigan for the natural beauty of Florida.

To his dismay, Derk discovers that cool, blond professional Sandra French, “the least sexy good-looking woman he’d ever known,” is assigned to work the case with him. He struggles with a growing attraction for this woman, despite his enduring feelings for Kate. As his path leads him to Jack Von Lleuwan’s plant in Michigan, he must also follow up his feelings for Kate and his unresolved nostalgia for his home state.

Von Lleuwan, a passionate golfer and ruthless entrepreneur, has his own crew of thugs protecting his interests, and, specifically, his new product, ™Pestfree, that will replace all other pesticides and will prove harmless to the environment. Unfortunately, evidence points to the contrary, but Von Lleuwan will not let that stop him. Unfortunately, Von Lleuwan finds he cannot entirely control his own henchman, “Gloves,” who resorts to violence in the face of threats to the company.

Woven into this story of unrequited love and unsolved mystery, we find a strong message about the threat of pesticides in use in the United States. Myers does this without sacrificing his story line.

Pest kept me interested throughout. Myers skillfully develops Derk’s growing attraction for Sandra, as well as his lingering feelings for Kate, leaving the reader engaged in his emotional struggle right up to the end of the story. The full details of the story unfold gradually, leaving the reader fitting the puzzle pieces together. When will these three old friends discover that they are all fighting the same enemy? Will they uncover Von Lleuwan’s guilt before he is able to destroy the evidence and his pursuers? Myers never lets up on the suspense.

Myers’ descriptions of Florida and Michigan create a nice geographical contrast, which he carries out effectively and sustains, as Derk seeks in both places his true self and deepest longings.

The story moves steadily and inexorably to a satisfying ending, depicting well-developed characters and a psychologically authentic romance, as well as making a principled statement about the environment.