Book Review: Michael Palmer: The Society

For those of you not familiar with Michael Palmer's work, he has written 11 (I think) fictional medical thrillers. His books are always fast-paced and exciting. I also like that I feel like I am learning a little bit about a subject while I read a fictional tale. Palmer always accomplishes that. The Society, his most recent release (11/2004, paperback 8/2005), is no exception.

It is the story of Will Grant, divorced overworked surgeon and Patty Moriarity, rookie cop, trying to team up to take down a serial killer whose victims are all heads of powerful HMOs. Complicating the plot are the fact that Grant is an outspoken member of the Hippocrates Society, who reject HMOs and their way of practicing medicine from a business point of view and not from what is best for the patient. He is a suspect himself, although Moriarity of course rejects that then falls in love with him.

The book presents many effective plot twists and turns and keeps the reader on his or her toes throughout. While there are of course some sections where the reader is forced to suspend disbelief, and the whole love twist does seem a bit forced, overall this book was much more enjoyable than Follett's Whiteout that we discussed last week.

If you have not read Palmer before, he is a pretty consistently strong author, so I would recommend any of his stuff, particularly The Patient, Critical judgment, or Miracle Cure. Whether you are new to Palmer or not, I recommend The Society as worthy of your fiction rotation. Add it to the list. Dils grade: B+.

Next on the reading list: A Small Death in Lisbon by Robert Wilson (recommended by Barry Bredt) and Secret Sanction by Brian Haig (recommended by Goldie)