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angela42's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Chuck Benson.
This book was not what I expected. I did not really know much before reading, only that it is a medical thriller (and I was already familiar with the writing of Michael Crichton).
This book is a murder mystery, wherein the main character tries to figure out who is responsible for the death of the daughter of a prominent family, who has died after undergoing an illegal medical procedure.
The main character is pretty clearly an author stand-in, but that wasn't an obstacle to my reading experience. This book seems to me a vehicle for the author to give his opinion on morality versus legality in medical issues. Please note: this book also shows some author biases regarding race and sex/gender, which is less great.
At points, this book was quite thrilling (which is great, because it is a thriller after all) and tense. I think it was well-paced. The technical medical talk seemed plausible to me (which makes sense, because Crichton earned an MD).
A note on the narration: I am not American, so I am not very discerning when it comes to accents, but to me the narrator seems to have been chosen well. The way he speaks seems right to me, with the book being set in Boston.
This book was not what I expected. I did not really know much before reading, only that it is a medical thriller (and I was already familiar with the writing of Michael Crichton).
This book is a murder mystery, wherein the main character tries to figure out who is responsible for the death of the daughter of a prominent family, who has died after undergoing an illegal medical procedure.
The main character is pretty clearly an author stand-in, but that wasn't an obstacle to my reading experience. This book seems to me a vehicle for the author to give his opinion on morality versus legality in medical issues. Please note: this book also shows some author biases regarding race and sex/gender, which is less great.
At points, this book was quite thrilling (which is great, because it is a thriller after all) and tense. I think it was well-paced. The technical medical talk seemed plausible to me (which makes sense, because Crichton earned an MD).
A note on the narration: I am not American, so I am not very discerning when it comes to accents, but to me the narrator seems to have been chosen well. The way he speaks seems right to me, with the book being set in Boston.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Death, and Abortion
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Racism, and Misogyny
lisawhelpley's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book. Good characters, and it kept me guessing.
lilbittybritty1's review against another edition
3.0
I had to read this book for my ethics class. I liked how gritty the book was, and how the author was unafraid of profane language. It helped to get his point across. I can see the glimmer of greatness in this book which led to Crichton being a bestselling author. The only think I disliked was the ending, I wished it would have been more epic. However, overall it was a good read, and I may look to read more of Crichton's books.
saraa_t's review against another edition
2.0
While I normally really enjoy medical thrillers, this one was just difficult to get through. I'm on the edge of my seat with Robin Cook and Gary Braver, but I had a hard time even getting motivated to keep picking this one up.
Too many characters and potential storylines and not enough development of any of them.
Too many characters and potential storylines and not enough development of any of them.
bupdaddy's review against another edition
3.0
I'd never read a Michael Crichton book, and figured I should try one.
It was a quick, satisfying read. He tells a story compellingly, and keeps you interested. I enjoyed it.
It was a quick, satisfying read. He tells a story compellingly, and keeps you interested. I enjoyed it.
samharnold's review against another edition
1.0
Not my sort of thing this although I normally love Michael Crichton. The story was too weak. The plot was held up with either complicated medical information of padding that had no real reference to the plot at all.
leahreadsalot's review against another edition
3.0
For summer reading, you can't beat Crichton! His books are generally quick-reads and suspenseful! This is one of his earliest, published in 1968. The plot concerns a doctor being accused of killing one of his patients during an abortion, which he performs on the sly since they're illegal. The doctor's friend, himself a pathologist at the same hospital, becomes obsessed with finding the REAL killer and clear his friend's name, and hopefully save the doctor's reputation.
simtara's review
4.0
A blend of murder mystery who-dunnit and medical drama, A Case of Need is a compelling read. This page turner introduces twists, new suspects,and evolving theories in a gripping manner and keeps the reader guessing.
The book is set in a time when doctors (almost) exclusively men. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll are erasing the prim and proper world of the 50s & 60. Racism is we rigueur. Crichton plays with threads of these underlying issues in a subtle manner that is still thought provoking and relevant today. In the foreground is the taboo topic of abortion; Crichton explores it through ethical, moral, and legal lenses of his-century America. Echoes of past conflicts and struggles over abortion continue to ring true through the decades and same points of contention exist today.
The book is set in a time when doctors (almost) exclusively men. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll are erasing the prim and proper world of the 50s & 60. Racism is we rigueur. Crichton plays with threads of these underlying issues in a subtle manner that is still thought provoking and relevant today. In the foreground is the taboo topic of abortion; Crichton explores it through ethical, moral, and legal lenses of his-century America. Echoes of past conflicts and struggles over abortion continue to ring true through the decades and same points of contention exist today.
acdauz's review against another edition
4.0
This book was great because it was free with Kindle unlimited. It was a thought-provoking and interesting book about abortion and things that come around with the idea of a physician who provides illegal abortions. I recently gotten into the Medical thriller genre and this wasn’t my number one favorite book but it was good especially if it’s available to you on Kindle unlimited.