State of wonder. Ann Patchett. 2012.

Among the tangled waterways and giant anacondas of the Brazilian Rio Negro, an enigmatic scientist is developing a drug that could alter the lives of women for ever. But Dr Annick Svenson’s work is shrouded in mystery - especially from her investors. When Anders Eckman, a mild-mannered lab researcher, is sent to investigate, a curt letter reporting his death is all that returns. Now Marina Singh, Anders’s colleague and former student of Dr Swenson, must retrace her friend’s perilous steps and uncover the secrets hidden among the remotest tribes of the rainforest. Little does she know that, in this ancient corner of the jungle, she will face challenges beyond her wildest imagination.