One part of this book is academic. The other part reveals heart-breaking stories of those that have succumbed to cancer.

Lawrence Ingrassia educates readers with remarkable progress that has been made over the years with genetic cancer research. Between chapters of the scientific reports, he inserts his personal story of what happened to his family. Sadly, he lost his mother at a young age, and later his two adult sisters and brother along with his nephew – all to different types of cancer.

Ingrassia knows more about cancer than most people. He writes about how his family and others have been studied. He said epidemiologists have faced intense competition for funding from the National Cancer Institute driving them to want to be first to make advancements.

This book is well written and informative. It’s also very sad and complicated with some of the reports. It opens up a lot of unanswered questions related to those affected by this devastating disease. This book will appeal to those interested in hereditary factors of cancer, those interested in genetic research and others who are curious.

My thanks to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of May 14, 2024.

Highly recommended. Ingrassia has produced an easy-to-read history of cancer as an hereditary illness. Bravo!!

Books that reveal medical research and information through families are interesting, informative, and heartbreaking at the same time. A Fatal Inheritance is no exception. We learn about the research of Dr. Frederick Pei Li and Dr. Joseph Fraumeni, beginning in the 1960s when cancer was considered to be caused by very bad luck but very little was known about real causes. Through their research, the doctors discovered Li-Fraumeni syndrome, an alteration in the TP53 gene. This gene provides instructions to make tumor protein 53, which when properly functioning acts to suppress tumors. The author, Lawrence Ingrassia experienced things in a much more personal way. Cancer killed his mother, brother, and sisters, in terrible and tragic ways. Many of the family members had multiple types of cancer, with some of them beginning at very young ages. After genetic testing, the author was found to be one of the few members of his family that did not have the abnormal gene. When Ingrassia's brother Paul (also a fellow journalist) died after having lung, prostate, and pancreatic cancer, Lawrence felt compelled to tell their family's painful story in parallel with that of Drs. Li and Fraumeni.

This is a difficult book to read, mainly because of the incredibly painful family history of the Ingrassia family. But it may also be the best way to learn about genes and cancer so we can always remember that there are real people behind genetic research.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. A Fatal Inheritance will be published on May 14, 2024.

Larry Ingrassia and his family are part of a medical phenomenon where they are prone to cancers and malignancies from a very young age. Mysteriously, there seems to be no answer as to why this is so. As the years go by, Ingrassia discovers that a genetic glitch is responsible for generations of various cancers. In this book, he approaches the issue from two viewpoints: the scientific and medical research to find and fix the genetic problem, and the personal toll taken on families for generations. The true strength of this book is Ingrassia's account of having a mother, three siblings and a nephew who all eventually suffer tmerminal cancers- science is unable to find a cure for them.

"A Fatal Inheritance: How a Family Misfortune Revealed a Deadly Medical Mystery" by Lawrence Ingrassia is a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of a family's medical mystery, intertwining personal narratives with the broader implications of genetic research. The book stands out for its meticulous research, the author's empathetic storytelling, and the ethical questions raised by the intersection of medicine and personal privacy.

One commendable aspect of the book is Lawrence Ingrassia's dedication to unraveling the medical mystery that affected generations of a single family. The author's thorough research and investigative journalism bring to light the complexities of genetic disorders and the challenges faced by individuals grappling with the unknown. The narrative skillfully weaves together personal stories with scientific discoveries, creating a compelling and informative account.

Ingrassia's writing style is engaging and accessible, allowing readers to connect with the individuals at the center of the medical mystery. The author navigates the delicate balance between scientific explanations and the emotional impact on the family, ensuring that the narrative remains relatable and compelling. The inclusion of ethical considerations adds depth to the exploration, prompting readers to contemplate the implications of genetic research on personal privacy and medical advancements.

However, some readers may find the scientific details and medical terminology challenging to follow, especially if they lack a background in genetics or medicine. While the author strives to make the information accessible, individuals seeking a more straightforward narrative may find certain sections of the book demanding.

In conclusion, "A Fatal Inheritance" is a thought-provoking and meticulously researched exploration of a family's medical journey. Lawrence Ingrassia's empathetic storytelling and ethical considerations elevate the book beyond a mere medical mystery, creating a narrative that resonates with broader implications for genetic research and personal privacy. While the scientific details may be intricate, the overall impact of the book lies in its ability to blend human stories with the complexities of modern medicine.

This was a hard book to read as the struggles of the family book was depressing but a good read.

Some places were slow but is a definite read.

Thanks NetGalkey for letting me read and review

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co .Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

This memoir masterfully excavates the roots of cancer, marrying personal narrative with scientific sleuthing. Through its compassionate lens, we witness the unraveling of the enigma that has haunted families for generations. I found myself nodding in solidarity, tears springing forth as the author illuminated the dark corners of this merciless disease. Part detective story, part scientific odyssey, this book is a beacon of hope for those navigating the cancer labyrinth. Emotionally charged and intellectually stimulating, it's a must-read for anyone seeking understanding and resilience in the face of adversity.

This is not only memoir but an extensively and deeply researched and compassionate journey into the history of cancer research. More specifically this memoir explains how scientists came to identify what causes this rare and horrible quirk in some families' histories, and what that research means for individuals, and families, affected by cancer. As one such family, I found it hit home in the most poignant parts, while at the same time giving me those 'ah ha' moments.

This is a must read for anyone affected by this terrible disease and, at times reads more like a medical thriller than a memoir. It is an emotional read but that is in keeping given the subject matter.

While I really enjoyed reading the book, this was not an easy book to read. To read about how, one by one, his siblings and some of their children died from various forms of cancer was very difficult. But as difficult as this book was to read, the author kept me engaged and wanting to read more. And I did, spending many hours past my bedtime reading about the saga of the discovery of Li–Fraumeni Syndrome.

Author Lawrence Ingrassia is a professional journalist and editor who worked for many prominent news organizations, specifically reporting on business. However, with three of his siblings having suffered from cancer with some of their children also dying from cancer, he wanted to know more about the disease that hunted his family.

The book starts off with author Ingrassia profiling his own family’s dreadful losses segueing into the work of Dr. Frederick P. Li and Dr. Joseph F. Fraumani Jr. who collected records from various sources to analyze the data to see if they could detect a pattern for the clusters of cancers they were seeing in families.

Finally, they were able to announce their results in their landmark paper titled “Rhabdomyosarcoma in Children: Epidemiologic Study and Identification of a Familial Cancer Syndrome,” published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. If you search for the article on your favorite search site, you’ll be able to find a copy to read. Their results definitively showed that there was a likely a genetic component to the clusters of cancers they witnessed in families.

While there is no cure for Li–Fraumani Syndrome, there are now ways to test to see if a person is carrying the gene that causes the syndrome, allowing both the patient and medical professionals to keep a constant vigilance.

As I mentioned, this is not an easy book to read but it is a totally fascinating one. Readers will get a solid understanding of how research is conducted, and the consequences of discovery, as not everyone potential carrier wants to know if they carry the gene. The book also has an extensive notes section that are well worth perusing.

This book would be of interest to anyone who is drawn to scientific discovery or the detection and management of cancer.

[Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advanced ebook copy in exchange for my honest and objective opinion which I have given here.]

While I did not finish this book as I found it repetitive and ponderous, the subject, finding a unique mutation on a cancer-protecting gene that transforms it to a cancer-facilitating gene, especially as it runs in families, is very interesting. I thought, however, that the book would have been easier to read and more compelling if it were half its length.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

This is a book about familial cancer. While this may be of vital interest to those who share this problem or to medical people, I found it so terribly depressing that I couldn't see it through to the end. You know if you fit as consumer of this writing, or not.
The quality of the writing itself is good.

This was a hard book to read. It is equal amounts of family history and historical information on cancer. It was hard to read because of the amount of sadness that cancer has caused these families that have higher than normal occurrences of cancer in their family is absolutely heartbreaking. Children growing up with sick parents or siblings, parents raising children with reoccurring cancer, and the amount of loss of such young children and adults made it hard to read. I don’t at all regret reading it, though. It was such a well written book and very interesting, especially the history of cancer and proving the genetic link to cancer. I hope that some day in the future we have the technology to cure cancer and that it will be affordable for those who need it.

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.

In 1968, at the age of 42, Ingrassia's mother died of cancer—a tragic event for any family, but unusual mostly for her young age. Cancer is common enough that all of us will be touched by it in some way or another—oneself, a loved one, etc.—and treatment options had (still have) a long way to go. But then Ingrassia's youngest sister was diagnosed with cancer and died at 24, and his other sister was diagnosed with cancer and died at 32, and his nephew got cancer when he was just 2. It didn't end there. "In the United States," writes Ingrassia, "life expectancy is nearly eighty years. In my family, not including me, the average life span was forty-five" (loc. 3997*). The odds were staggering, but at the time doctors shrugged it off as terrible luck.

But the brilliance of this book is that it is not only memoir—and I say this as someone who loves memoir—but a meticulously researched, compassionately reported dive into the history of cancer research: more specifically, how scientists came to identify what caused this rare and horrible quirk in some families' histories, and what all that research means for individuals, and families, affected by cancer.

Although Ingrassia opens with his family's story in the first chapter, it's another dozen chapters before he returns to the subject—instead he introduces other families facing staggering counts of cancer diagnoses (and deaths), sets the scene for the scientists who are some of the heroes of the story, and begins to carefully and precisely walk lay readers through the complicated science behind cancer and gene mutations. I thought this might be a book to read in small pieces, but instead I tore through it in two days. Reminiscent of "Hidden Valley Road", which explored research into schizophrenia via the lens of one family disproportionately affected by it, "A Fatal Inheritance" brings to life the drier work of lab science by putting it within the context of families—including his own—for whom cancer after cancer made the future uncertain.

It is at times hard to keep all of the names and dates straight, but Ingrassia is an award-winning journalist, and the skill and care he has put into this work shows. I'd be remiss not to note that although I found tremendous value in the research and science Ingrassia makes accessible to the lay reader, he observes toward the end that "while this is a book about scientific discovery begun by two tireless doctors, it is even more a love letter to my family, written to preserve memories for my children, and their children, and the children after them. Because I will be gone someday as well, and I don't want these memories to be gone with me" (loc. 3991).

4.5 stars; this will be a must-read for those seeking to better understand cancer and cancer research.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

*I read an ARC, and quotes may not be final.

Beautifully detailed book. Beginning in the 1960s, it follows not just the family but the scientists who made the breakthroughs that are referenced in the title. Occasionally slow paced but thorough. Certainly a book of interest for those who enjoy "fascinomas" or unique medical mysteries.

Horribly fascinating and compulsively readable, A Fatal Inheritance weaves scientific research with the tragic stories of families coping with unbearable loss. In the late 1960s, when Dr. Frederick Pei Li began his research, multiple cancers in one family were considered bad luck. Dr. Li’s research led him to a family where almost every member had died of a different kind of cancer at an early age. Dr. Li suspected a genetic link. Through his work he met Dr. Joseph Fraumeni and in the following years the two discovered Li-Fraumeni syndrome, defined by a mutation in the p53 gene. This mutation meant the carrier would likely develop cancer and their descendants had a fifty-fifty chance of inheriting the defective gene. And there is, as yet, no cure. Until the gene can be modified, all those who have inherited it can do is undergo frequent testing.

Author Lawrence Ingrassia understands the effect of a defective gene. After ten years of fighting cancer, his mother died at age 42. His sister Angela died at 24, sister Gina at 32, his nephew Charlie at 39 and finally his brother Paul at 69. Lawrence Ingrassia does not have the gene mutation. He chronicles the horror his family experiences. It is particularly heart-breaking to read how, after Angela’s death, Gina adopted a healthy lifestyle with diet and exercise to ward off cancer. Charlie, disfigured by cancer in childhood, tried desperately to have a normal life.

A Fatal Inheritance has details not only of the Li-Fraumeni research but that of the many scientists studying the role genes play in cancer. It is an upsetting, informative book that at times, reads like fiction. I wish it were. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company and Lawrence Ingrassia for this ARC.

An excellent book on the history of the discovery of different genes with mutations linked to hereditary cancer risks. A person who inherits a genetic mutation from their parent will have a higher lifetime risk for certain types of cancer. A family with hereditary cancer may have many family members who have been diagnosed. The author tells the story of his family, which is heartbreaking, while also shows the tremendous courage and spirit his family members had. This story weaves his and others who have suffered similar losses along with the research and dedication of so many dedicated to ending this dreadful disease without it being dry at all. A must read for any who has suffered any loss in their family. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.