In
Tallahassee, Florida, scientists at EcoEnergy have made a
breakthrough in their search for an alternative fuel source to
replace America's dependency on foreign oil. The process, which
converts refuse and waste materials into oil, promises a cleaner
environment and decreased energy costs. This will have an
astounding economic impact on American and global markets but has
made some prominent people very nervous. The possibility of losing
their monopoly on controlling oil prices and production threatens
foreign oil-producing countries, which stand to lose
billions.

Preparations are underway to announce the successful scientific
breakthrough during an international energy summit, which will be
attended by some of the most influential power brokers from
Washington, D.C. and all over the world. But all is not as it
seems.

Dr. Dwight Lansik, the head scientist at EcoEnergy, fails to show
up for a secret meeting. He has some critical and damaging
information that could jeopardize the laboratory's funding and
reputation. Days before the summit, Dr. Lansik is nowhere to be
found. In his absence, Sabrina Galloway, one of EcoEnergy's
rising-star scientists, is directed to give a VIP tour of the
facility for a high-profile Senate contingent and potential
investors with deep pockets.

Sabrina is a Chicago transplant living in Florida to be near her
once-brilliant father, who is in a mental institution following his
breakdown after his wife's death. Sabrina's father has lost touch
with reality, and Sabrina is no longer in contact with her brother
Eric, who blames their father for their mother's death. To
compensate for her lonely and painful family life, Sabrina
dedicates herself to her work at the lab, where competition among
the scientists is fierce. After Sabrina is selected to give a VIP
tour in place of her missing boss, jealousy among her co-workers
intensifies.

During the tour, Sabrina makes an unsettling discovery. She
observes that the carefully guarded production process, which
converts waste matter into oil, has been violated. The breakdown of
this intricate process could spread toxic waste into the Florida
waterways and the Gulf of Mexico. To confirm her findings about
this environmental disaster-in-the-making, Sabrina needs to consult
with Lansik, who is still missing. And none of the other scientists
or the executives at EcoEnergy seem to be concerned about Lansik's
disappearance.

Lurking in the shadows, a dangerous adversary finds out about
Sabrina's suspicions. Her knowledge about the toxic leak puts her
life in jeopardy. When an attempt to kill her goes deadly wrong,
she must flee after she is accused of murder. Isolated and alone,
Sabrina believes she has no one to turn to for help. 

WHITEWASH is an interesting page-turner with memorable characters,
most notably Sabrina and her neighbor Miss Sadie. But this is not a
book for readers with weak stomachs. Some of the descriptions of
the waste conversion process are so graphic that I flipped past
those pages. Still, I enjoyed the novel and recommend it to anyone
who likes reading thrillers about corporate greed, shadow
governments and international conspiracies.