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Summary: "The Patient" is an exciting medical thriller.
Review: Michael Palmer has written some very good medical thrillers, including "The Sisterhood" and "Natural Causes". In his latest novel, the star is ARTIE, which stands for Assisted Robotic Tissue Incision and Extraction. Dr. Jessie Copeland is a brilliant engineer and neurosurgeon who is using ARTIE, a robot, to excise brian tumors without destroying normal brain tissue. The parts of the book in which the author describes how ARTIE works are absolutely fascinating. In an afterword, Palmer tells his readers that ARTIE is not just a product of his imagination, but a real possibility in the future of surgery. The main plot of the novel deals with a vicious terrorist named Claude Malloche who has a brain tumor and wants it removed expertly and completely. Unfortunately, he will kill anyone who gets in his way, including medical personnel. Jessie gets involved with a rogue FBI agent named Alex Bishop, who has been tracking Malloche unsuccessfully for five years. The plot becomes a little cliche-ridden by the end of the book (terrorists are used far too often in thrillers these days), but Palmer keeps the suspense at a high level throughout. This is a better than average medical thriller and I recommend it to fans of this genre.
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Summary: Pretty good, but not Palmers best
Review: I have been looking forward to Palmers latest for some time, and while I'm not dissapointed, contrary to many of the other reviews I don't feel that it is anywhere near his best. I would probably have given it 3 1/2 stars if I could have. It is a good book, but you get the been there, done that feeling while reading it. It is interesting enough, with likeable characters, good pace and the neurosurgery aspect is well done, but the "suprises" are way too predictable, draining much of the suspense. I enjoyed the conflict between Jessie and the egomaniacal Dr. Gilbride. It added an interesting dimension to the book. Also there wasn't any mention at the end about what happened to the rest of Jessies patients, unless I somehow missed it, which was a dubious ommision. Overall, a solid if not spectacular book.
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Summary: Brain-Dead Fiction
Review: Unless you really, REALLY get into brain surgery as a backdrop for cliched villians, inane dialogue, and the same kind of action done to death by countless other novels, skip this one.
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Summary: Another Great Palmer Book
Review: I have been waiting for over a year for another Michael Palmer book after reading all of his previous books. I wasn't disappointed, but I'm sorry I finished it because I want more. This book is great, with drama, suspense and a little romance. There are several interesting characters and it also introduces nerosurgery of the future. Thanks Michael.
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Summary: Paging Dr. Bruce Willis!
Review: "The Patient" is what "Die Hard" movies are made of: Brilliantly nasty terrorists hectoring innocent folks with only a wisecracking lone wolf to forestall Armageddon, all set in a complex urban edifice festooned with state-of-the-art gadgetry. And the gadget just might be the real star of this traumatic new thriller. Like Robin Cook, Michael Palmer writes vastly popular novels about doctors in crises, including "Natural Causes," a 1994 best seller; "Silent Treatment" (1995); and "Critical Judgment" (1996). "The Patient" might be his most riveting book yet, leaving hardly enough time to take a breath. After all, it is brain surgery.
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Summary: 4 1/2 stars. Great read
Review: Must go along with the consensus in that this is Michael Palmer's best book to date. This fast paced novel grabs you by the greens and straps you to the gurney. A well researched story line combined with realistic characters makes for a very enjoyable read. I particularly liked Alex's odd snacking habit...Highly recommended
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Summary: But Ya Gotta Be Patient...
Review: Slow start - great middle and good ending. A nice page-turner that, when you're done, you wish you could pick up another and keep going. The characters are believable; the plot plausible. This was my first read of a Palmer novel, and I can tell you I will be seeking out his others to catch up on this excellent story teller's works. Buy it now!
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Summary: The Dangers of Technology
Review: I have been a Michael Palmer fan since reading "Critical Judgment" and routinely race to find his new releases. Thankfully, I was not disappointed by "The Patient" and recommend it to fans of the medical-thriller genre. In "The Patient", Palmer tackles one of the continuing frustrations of modern times: with the advent of technological miracles: why can we still not cure some of the greatest threats to befall humans? In this case, the seemingly-insurmountable danger takes the form of inoperable brain tumors, and the innovation is robatic-assisted surgery. However, Palmer shows us that even with the invention of such a cure, the ultimate threat to mankind may still be humanity itself (or the utter lack thereof, in the person of a professional terrorist and assassin). This novel is well-researched and realistic; you never feel that the scenerio is not plausible (scientifically) nor that such a seige as is launched by the terrorist could not happen (whether with a robotic surgical device, biological agent, etc.) I also applaud Palmer for not singularly relying on an obvious (but unnecessary) romance between lead characters to "juice-up" what is otherwise a compelling story. Overall, Palmer's characters are genuine (some you may genuinely hate, in addition to those who are equally likeable) and you will fear for them, although you know that the evils ailing them will be cured in the end. I maintain that "Critical Judgment" is still Palmer's best novel to date, but he consistently produces appealing work, which encourages us to ponder the mysteries of medicine and the ills often unseen in their cures.
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Summary: NON STOP THRILL RIDE
Review: Michael Palmer returns with his BEST thriller to date. The story centers around a gifted Neurosurgeon involved with the latest technology of removing brain tumors, her skilled craft catches the eye of a diabolical terrorist who needs her to remove the tumor that is killing him. Michael Palmer has written a non stop thrill ride that will have you turning the pages until the end.
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Summary: Palmer always leaves you wanting more
Review: Eastern Massachusetts Medical Center (EMMC) neurosurgeon Jessie Copeland tests the use of assisted robotic tissue incision and extraction on corpses. However, in spite of the media push of her odious boss, Jessie feels ARTIE is not quite ready for prime time use to remove brain tumors in humans. Still, Jessie applies ARTIE on a renowned gymnast. For years, CIA agent Alex Bishop has tried to capture the elusive soulless mercenary Claude Maloche without any success. However, Alex feels he is closing in on his enemy when he learns Claude suffers from a brain tumor with the trail leading to EMMC and Jessie. To ensure his full recovery and safety, Claude threatens to kill thousands if Jessie errs. She and Alex know this amoral assassin is more than capable of carrying out what he threatens even if he dies on the operating table. THE PATIENT is a typical Michael Palmer medical-terrorist thriller that leaves readers wondering how so much action and excitement can be packed into one story line. The plot is dynamic as Mr. Palmer blends modern medical technology with the unmerciful word of cold-blooded mercenaries. Jessie is a fine character struggling to keep her Oath and morals above board even as individuals surround her from both sides of the law who would corrupt her for their use. A Mr. Palmer tale should carry a warning label that his books increase adrenaline and the pulse rate to dangerous levels because they are so excitingly good. Harriet Klausner
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