Journalist Alex Bernier has her hands full investigating a story for the Gabriel Monitor: A legion of activists has besieged Benson University to protest research on genetically engineered food. The debate threatens to rip the town in half as those in favour of the research face off with those against the technology. When charismatic plant-science professor Kate Barnett is found beaten to death in her lab, the activists are the number one suspects. But is it really such an open-and-shut case? As Alex searches for the truth...she becomes the killer's next target.