Mathew Paust

In a secret underground lab near Washington, D.C., Pink Pinkerton concocts a drug that can save humanity from itself. Intended as a better erectile dysfunction remedy, one that enlarges our imagination along with everything else, Pink's formula offers the bonus of taming our lizard brain, quieting the baneful appetites and fears that make millionaires of clever salesmen who make billionaires of their sociopathic clients. These ruthless giants of capital understandably want Pink dead and his formula uninvented. Satire? Absolutely. Yet, so plausible, with characters so believable the narrative pulses with mystery and suspense.

Pink figures powerful corporations believe his miracle potion will ruin the world economy by making people so happy and enlightened they'll quit starting wars and spending money on things they don't need. After his beautiful lab partner, Gladys Alabi, disappears, he hits the road to find her and soon finds himself on the run from deadly mercenaries. Friends assisting him include a Secret Service agent and a former White House official. A chance alliance with an Internet hacker ring keeps Pink and his friends one step ahead of disaster as they seek to identify the enemy and rescue Gladys.