Michael Kaufman brings 2022 to a close with a new book in his Jen Lu series

For our final episode of 2022, I’m happy to once again be sitting down with author Michael Kaufman to talk about is soon to be released book “The Last Resort,” second in the Jen Lu series. Here’s a quick look at the synopsis:

 

It’s March 2034, six months after D.C. police Detective Jen Lu and Chandler, her sentient bio-computer implanted in her brain, cracked the mystery of Eden. But the climate crisis is hitting harder than ever: A mega-hurricane has devastated the ecosystem, and waves of refugees are pouring into Washington, D.C. The rich live forever while the desperate scramble for the modified longevity treatment.

 

Then, the death of lawyer and media darling Patty Garcia, who won a court case for massive climate change reparations to be paid out by oil, gas and coal companies, signals a glaring red flag to a wider conspiracy. Jen and Chandler are called in to crack the case. Signs point to Patty’s ex, James Culpepper, a former oil giant, but as the

duo dig deeper, they turn up more suspects who might have an even greater motive for killing Patty.

 

Jen’s search puts her in the crosshairs of those who will ensure the truth never comes to light, no matter the cost. As she continues to delve deeper into the seedy underbelly of the city, she has to move quickly — before she becomes next on the killer’s list.

 

Michael and I talk about Jen and Chandler, both on their roles in the book and how they’ve changed since the events of the first novel. We dive deep into Chandler’s function and how it reflects current technology as well as its future potential. 

 

Micael’s worked for years to end violence against women through the White Ribbon Campaign and help men to identify their misogynistic tendencies. We talk about the role this plays in his writing and what he hopes to accomplish with Jen as his lead character.