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Highest Form of Killing
When three young people--Mark, Sylvia, and Derek--investigate a series of mysterious deaths linked to a chemical weapon called T42, they become entangled in a web of government intrigue, high-level conspiracy, and misunderstandings linked to the deadly weapon.
226 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1992
About the author
Malcolm Rose
65 books65 followersBelieve it or not, until Easter 1996, I was a Lecturer in Chemistry at The Open University. I carried out research in analytical chemistry, particularly in the area of health, and I taught mainly organic chemistry. The teaching part of the job predominantly involved writing, with some radio, TV and video work. It also left very little time for fiction writing which I tackled mostly after midnight. Perhaps that is why some of my strongest scenes are set on dark nights! Anyway, I am now a full-time writer.
Many people think it odd and fascinating that a scientist should also be a novelist but I don’t find it strange. After all, scientists have to be creative and show perseverance to carry out research. They also write a lot; in particular, they produce textbooks and articles on their research. Anyone who is imaginative, can stick to a task, and knows how to construct a sentence has the credentials for writing a novel. On top of that, my chemical research was aimed at understanding a little better some aspects of human life. A novel also seeks to illuminate some aspects of human life. The aims are similar even if the tools are different.
I reckon novel writing is not so removed from chemistry as you might think. In one life, I mix chemicals, stew them for a while and observe the reaction. In the other, I mix characters, stir in a bit of conflict and, again, observe the outcome.
I began writing stories while I was carrying out research at York for my DPhil degree in chemistry. Writing became a means of escape from everyday life. While I was at York, my then girlfriend (now wife) read my efforts and commented that I ought to try and get something published. I had never thought of writing as anything other than a hobby. Besides, as I thought then, a budding chemist couldn’t possibly be any good at it! Anyway, I joined a writers’ club to find out how to submit a manuscript to a publisher and, to cut a long story short, found a publisher in William Collins for my first novel, Rift.
I am now over half a century old, married to Barbara and have one son (Colin) who is an architect. I read all of my stories aloud to Barbara and Colin and they help me with their comments.
Many people think it odd and fascinating that a scientist should also be a novelist but I don’t find it strange. After all, scientists have to be creative and show perseverance to carry out research. They also write a lot; in particular, they produce textbooks and articles on their research. Anyone who is imaginative, can stick to a task, and knows how to construct a sentence has the credentials for writing a novel. On top of that, my chemical research was aimed at understanding a little better some aspects of human life. A novel also seeks to illuminate some aspects of human life. The aims are similar even if the tools are different.
I reckon novel writing is not so removed from chemistry as you might think. In one life, I mix chemicals, stew them for a while and observe the reaction. In the other, I mix characters, stir in a bit of conflict and, again, observe the outcome.
I began writing stories while I was carrying out research at York for my DPhil degree in chemistry. Writing became a means of escape from everyday life. While I was at York, my then girlfriend (now wife) read my efforts and commented that I ought to try and get something published. I had never thought of writing as anything other than a hobby. Besides, as I thought then, a budding chemist couldn’t possibly be any good at it! Anyway, I joined a writers’ club to find out how to submit a manuscript to a publisher and, to cut a long story short, found a publisher in William Collins for my first novel, Rift.
I am now over half a century old, married to Barbara and have one son (Colin) who is an architect. I read all of my stories aloud to Barbara and Colin and they help me with their comments.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 12, 2021
ZERO STARS! - I picked this up in a charity shop because the blurb sounded interesting but I hated this book. I should have DNF’d this but I’m not that person… yet. I may behave differently after this book. It was really dull. I felt like most of the book was the characters just talking about info we found out within the first few chapters of the book, over and over again. The ending was flat. The story just didn’t seem to go anywhere and seemed utterly pointless by the end of the book. The characters were dull, there was no character development. I wish I hadn’t wasted my time. If I had to compare this to a film, this is the ‘Open Water’ of books.
January 29, 2019
Easy/quick read, but fairly predictable.
February 8, 2022
More love triangle than thriller. It didn't really do it for me on either front either not a bad book but I expected something completely different.
July 2, 2011
The local Co-op next to my place of work has recently installed a charity book table whereby members of the public bring in their unwanted books for the public to buy. When I saw The Highest Form Of Killing by Malcolm Rose I knew I had to have it. Why? Well, because it is a Point book. I used to love Point horror novels when I was a kid and have always had a hankering to pick one up again if only for the sake of nostalgia.
The Highest Form Of Killing is the story a secret chemical weapon being developed by the MoD. When animal rights campaigners stumble across it a dog infected with the weapon is released, only for its degenerated carcass to be washed up on a beach a few days later. The main protagonists in the story, Mark (18), Derek (33) and Sylvia (19) must battle the powers of the government in order to stop this deadly weapon being developed still further.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Highest Form of Killing and it threw me right back into childhood. Whilst discerning adult readers would laugh at the novel (I chortled a lot) you have to remember that it’s written for youngsters and it has the kind of plot that is easily understandable and exciting to boot. These were the sorts of stories that I loved as a child, though I swear I remember them being a little more disgusting – maybe that’s just rose-tinted memories though.
All in all a good book that’s very much of it’s time (it was written in 1991).
The Highest Form Of Killing is the story a secret chemical weapon being developed by the MoD. When animal rights campaigners stumble across it a dog infected with the weapon is released, only for its degenerated carcass to be washed up on a beach a few days later. The main protagonists in the story, Mark (18), Derek (33) and Sylvia (19) must battle the powers of the government in order to stop this deadly weapon being developed still further.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Highest Form of Killing and it threw me right back into childhood. Whilst discerning adult readers would laugh at the novel (I chortled a lot) you have to remember that it’s written for youngsters and it has the kind of plot that is easily understandable and exciting to boot. These were the sorts of stories that I loved as a child, though I swear I remember them being a little more disgusting – maybe that’s just rose-tinted memories though.
All in all a good book that’s very much of it’s time (it was written in 1991).
February 10, 2014
(This review may contain spoilers).
I have some mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I always loved Point books when I was younger - and I really liked Plague, which I believe is by the same author.
The blurb for this book sounded really interesting, but I felt that there wasn't a lot of mystery involved.
The characters were interesting, to an extent, but I felt there were too many flashbacks in the book, which were kind of confusing. I think I would have liked the book better if the flashbacks had been cut down.
The book was pretty intense at times and kept me reading. I also found it interesting how certain characters did bad things - for what they thought were good reasons. That provides a moral grey area that I tend to quite like.
I wasn't too keen on the ending, if I'm honest. There was an implied hope that was then pretty much snatched away.
I have some mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I always loved Point books when I was younger - and I really liked Plague, which I believe is by the same author.
The blurb for this book sounded really interesting, but I felt that there wasn't a lot of mystery involved.
The characters were interesting, to an extent, but I felt there were too many flashbacks in the book, which were kind of confusing. I think I would have liked the book better if the flashbacks had been cut down.
The book was pretty intense at times and kept me reading. I also found it interesting how certain characters did bad things - for what they thought were good reasons. That provides a moral grey area that I tend to quite like.
I wasn't too keen on the ending, if I'm honest. There was an implied hope that was then pretty much snatched away.
April 18, 2013
I bought The Highest Form of Killing randomly one day in January. I have never been so lucky in chooing a novel. I loved it from the beginning. The plot is fast paced. Although I did not like the end.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews