Rabbit in the Moon

The latest novel by Boca Raton residents Deborah and Joel Shlian, "Rabbit in the Moon," is a medical/ international thriller set in China. The novel begins in San Francisco in 1989 and 40 years after the Cultural Revolution when 27-year-old Dr. Lili Chan leaves for China, honoring her mother's dying wish that Lili "return home."

The journey changes Chan's life - she meets and falls in love with Chi-Wen Zhou, a victim of the Cultural Revolution and a Taoist zealot, but finding the grandfather she thought was dead has an even greater impact. Her grandfather, Dr. Ni-Fu Cheng, is a brilliant scientist who has discovered the secret to long life. Dr. Cheng reveals the secret to Lili Chan, immediately placing her in danger as unscrupulous men vie for the information. In defending herself and striving to get back to America, Lili Chan learns much about her own family's past and even more about herself.

The book has an air of authenticity, which is well earned since the Shlians visited every site depicted. The plot moves quickly. There is much to be learned about the values and morals of the Chinese, and it's a very readable and informative novel. Most skillfully done to this reviewer's mind, however, is the creation of the atmosphere in China today.

The People's Republic of China comes across as a frightening, dangerous country where nothing is quite as it seems and where the shadows always harbor enemies. It is depicted as an uneasy place where undercurrents are prevalent and political treachery is ever present.

The Shlians are an interesting husbandwife team. They practiced medicine together in a large multispecialty group before returning to UCLA where they earned MBAs. Since that time, they have balanced medical management consulting with writing. They also write together and topics have included magazine and journal articles on healthcare and medical management issues. Two of their novels have been optioned for films.

"Rabbit in the Moon" - the title refers to a Chinese symbol for longevity - is a thoughtful and thought-provoking book. It is also timely given China's re-emergence as an economic giant on which the United States is so dependent. Release date is June 1.