The Sisterhood

Rating:
Summary: Fine first novel medical thriller by another Mass General MD
Review: A friend gave us the old "if you like Robin Cook, you'll love Michael Palmer." Close enough - a medical thriller for sure, Palmer ironically was a contemporary of Cook at Massachusetts General, and has practiced since as an MD for some 20 years. Somehow he found time to start writing, and although his first book didn't make the cut, he got a commission for The Sisterhood, copyrighted in 1982. At the pace of about one each two years, his tenth novel ("Fatal") has just arrived, so he must be doing well.

Unlike the "stretch", if not medico-sci-fi premises of Cook, this story has a very believable premise: that a group of well-intentioned nurses have formed a secret society that very selectively practices euthanasia on "appropriate" patients. Remember this was written several years before Dr. Kevorkian, in just a slightly different way, shed so much light on this subject. So part of the book is a light, but thought provoking, discussion of the morality and or virtues (or not) of mercy killing.

The suspense really picks up when one of these killings goes sour. Subbing for a prominent surgeon, our leading man, Dr. David Shelton, into whose life a lot of tragedy has already fallen, has a recent operative patient die on him. Between the outrage of the head surgeon and the thoroughness of our hero, the autopsy reveals foul play. The "sisterhood" has to go into action to take unusual measures to cover its tracks, point to Shelton as the murderer, and put out contracts on the nurse, Christine Beall, who we already know actually did the deed, and our doctor as well. Literally running for their lives, Christine and David wind up romantically involved as well, just adding to the fun. Before it's over, another couple of murders add to the tension and suspense, and a great twist at the end concludes a very entertaining story.

Were it not for a bit of a slowdown in the middle book area, we might have rated this first novel 4 stars - so we recommend it; and eagerly look forward to reading Palmer's second book, "Side Effects".

Rating:
Summary: Fine first novel medical thriller by another Mass General MD
Review: A friend gave us the old "if you like Robin Cook, you'll love Michael Palmer." Close enough - a medical thriller for sure, Palmer ironically was a contemporary of Cook at Massachusetts General, and has practiced since as an MD for some 20 years. Somehow he found time to start writing, and although his first book didn't make the cut, he got a commission for The Sisterhood, copyrighted in 1982. At the pace of about one each two years, his tenth novel ("Fatal") has just arrived, so he must be doing well.

Unlike the "stretch", if not medico-sci-fi premises of Cook, this story has a very believable premise: that a group of well-intentioned nurses have formed a secret society that very selectively practices euthanasia on "appropriate" patients. Remember this was written several years before Dr. Kevorkian, in just a slightly different way, shed so much light on this subject. So part of the book is a light, but thought provoking, discussion of the morality and or virtues (or not) of mercy killing.

The suspense really picks up when one of these killings goes sour. Subbing for a prominent surgeon, our leading man, Dr. David Shelton, into whose life a lot of tragedy has already fallen, has a recent operative patient die on him. Between the outrage of the head surgeon and the thoroughness of our hero, the autopsy reveals foul play. The "sisterhood" has to go into action to take unusual measures to cover its tracks, point to Shelton as the murderer, and put out contracts on the nurse, Christine Beall, who we already know actually did the deed, and our doctor as well. Literally running for their lives, Christine and David wind up romantically involved as well, just adding to the fun. Before it's over, another couple of murders add to the tension and suspense, and a great twist at the end concludes a very entertaining story.

Were it not for a bit of a slowdown in the middle book area, we might have rated this first novel 4 stars - so we recommend it; and eagerly look forward to reading Palmer's second book, "Side Effects".

Rating:
Summary: The power of playing God.
Review: I stumbled upon Michael Palmer while looking for a book prior to a business trip and can't seem to stop reading his work. The Sisterhood examines the moral question of euthanasia with the ingenuity I've come to expect from a Michael Pamler novel. You don't get quite the insight into the background of the characters as you do in later novels, but the story doesn't quit. if you like medical mysteries, start working through the Michael Palmer collection.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I've now read all but one of Michael Palmers's books and this really wasn't that great. For some reason, maybe because the printing is large, the story seemed short.
The book is based around a highly contriversial topic, euthanasia. Most of Palmer's books have been centered highly around hospitals and procedures. While this one had a doctor and nurse, it didn't seem like one of his typical books. The suspense just wasn't there. I've you've never read a Michael Palmer book, don't start with this one or you'll probably never read another again.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I've now read all but one of Michael Palmers's books and this really wasn't that great. For some reason, maybe because the printing is large, the story seemed short.
The book is based around a highly contriversial topic, euthanasia. Most of Palmer's books have been centered highly around hospitals and procedures. While this one had a doctor and nurse, it didn't seem like one of his typical books. The suspense just wasn't there. I've you've never read a Michael Palmer book, don't start with this one or you'll probably never read another again.

Rating:
Summary: Watch Out for These Nurses
Review: In a Boston hospital, patients are dying mysteriously at an alarming rate. Not only is there euthanasia, but there is also death of healthy people. The culprits are a small group of nurses who believe that they are relieving suffering of terminal patients. Actually, they are innocently acting as a screen for an evil murder-for-hire scheme. The protagonist, a young surgeon, stumbles unknowingly onto the scheme and becomes a target of brutal killers that pursue him relentlessly. The action begins slowly (if you can call several murders slow), but soon races along to the point where you will have trouble putting the book down. This is a good story, and it will certainly hold your attention.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Subject
Review: Suspenseful, non-stop action, and interesting subject---mercy killing. Loved the book.

Rating:
Summary: Review of The Sisterhood
Review: This suspenseful novel by Michael Palmer was very fun to read as it kept you turning the pages and wondering what was lurking around the corner of the next page. At first, I wasn't sure which side to take, the sisterhood, or the doctor's side. Near the end, you find out which one you are on. It is a great book and I reccomend it very highly.

Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: While I always enjoy Michael Palmer's work, Sisterhood had it's slow moments where I seemed to "plod" along until something happened. However, those small breaks were worth hanging in there as Mr. Palmer came through with a surprise ending and a great wrap up of all the characters involved.

I always recommend his writing and will continue to follow it as religiously as I have in the past.

Always a great recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: I've read all of his books except "Patient"
Review: Yes - his books seem to following the typical formula/recipe for medical mystery thriller - BUT, each of the eight paperbacks of his books I finished in record time and couldn't get enough of them! After reading the first one "Silent Treatment" I ordered the other seven to read too! Yes, I too am fairly good at guessing the next "thing" that will occur in mystery books that I read - but I am pretty good at doing so with mystery movies and TV series too - so this is nothing new to me. I have to say that I have also passed on his books to friends and family to read and they are just as captivated by his writing ability and plots as I have been! They are a good, exciting, fast read and if that is what you are after you won't be disappointed - give his books a shot - I certainly did - and I'm not in the least bit disappointed that I did.