ladyconsumer's Full Review: Michael Palmer - Silent Treatment
Greed. It's the driving force behind many an evil act. Especially in Michael Palmer's medical thrillers. And Silent Treatment is no exception. Love of the almighty dollar plays a huge role in the problems faced by the protagonist, Harry Corbett, as he fights unseen enemies with their own greedy agenda.
Harry's wife is about to have a fairly routine surgery when she suddenly and unexpectedly dies. When the death starts to look like murder, Harry is the primary suspect. Of course we, the readers, know that Harry is innocent, but proving it will turn out to be extremely difficult. Especially as more and more evidence points his way.
At the same time, a clandestine group of businessmen meets twice a month. Their shared goal: make more money for their companies. These men are CEO's of the largest managed care organizations in the country. And how do these companies make money? By not having to pay out benefits to their sickest (i.e., costliest patients). Using whatever means possible, this group is determined to make sure that these patients no longer require services.
Of course the two storylines merge. As Harry tries to free himself from false accusations, he stumbles upon a plot far more evil and twisted than he ever could have imagined.
Throughout most of the book, I was hooked. Michael Palmer does a great job of slowly handing out the clues so that you can usually figure things out just one step ahead of the protagonist. The excitement is in putting together the puzzle and watching as Harry comes to the same conclusions you did, but just a moment behind. And what a puzzle this one is! There are many facets to this story, including several flashbacks to events that occurred years ago. And while we occasionally get the story from the killer's point of view, we never really know who he/she is until the end of the book. Along the way, I made guesses, but frequently changed my mind as one person after another became suspicious.
But there were a couple aspects I did not like. The first is the romance that develops between Harry and the patient in the bed right next to Harry's wife. Yes, that's right. Approximately two minutes after the wife was buried, Harry starts a friendship with this other woman, that develops instantly into something more. Not only was the timing completely ridiculous, but they paint this other woman in a very unflattering light from the minute we meet her, suffering the effects of alcohol withdrawal. And I'm not saying that she doesn't deserve love - she does. But I doubt that romance with a doctor being accused of murder is exactly the best path she could choose for herself, as she attempts to sober up.
And, finally, I was a bit disappointed in the ending. It wrapped up way too quickly. If you blink, you'll miss it. And, there was a rather odd choice of getaway vehicle. I'm not sure if it was included as an attempt to be humorous, but it just came off as ridiculous. After such a serious novel delving into a very evil, deadly plot, the ending seemed cheap to me.
But this is a minor complaint as the rest of the book held my interest throughout. I recommend it for lovers of the medical thriller genre. But be forewarned that the ending is a bit of a letdown.
In his five bestselling novels, from The Sisterhood to Natural Causes, physician Michael Palmer has drawn on years of firsthand emergency-room experie...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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