Michael Connelly's Fair Warning is an intriguing and cautionary thriller that revolves around the misuse of DNA testing, a service that continues to flourish despite having very little government oversight. This time it is journalist Jack McEvoy who is thrust into a contemporary thriller involving a man who uses pirated DNA to identify potential victims based on specific traits attributed to their genetic makeup. 

While working for a consumer watchdog nonprofit, McEvoy becomes a person of interest because he happened to have a one-night stand with a murder victim more than a year ago. Despite believing the hookup was mutually inconsequential, the victim felt differently — keeping McEvoy in her contacts and having his books by her bedside. Add to these facts that one of the investigating officers holds a grudge against McEvoy; it's plainly apparent McEvoy will have to use his latent serial killer reporting skills to prove his innocence.

After convincing his boss to let him follow (and support) an investigative story despite his conflict of interest, McEvoy pulls out all the stops to search for the killer and how this ruthless murderer acquires his targets. Add in some interesting commentary about the state of journalism today, and Connelly delivers a brisk and entertaining but not-all-the-deep blend of a police (journalist) procedural and light-weight thriller with only a few flat spots.