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staceek85's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
rarebird_15's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! It was so good! I'm a big fan of medical suspense and thrillers but haven't read much from these authors. After reading this book, though, I definitely plan to read more by them. It kept me guessing what would happen next, and I couldn't put it down.
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
Another Winner by Daniel Palmer! Review to follow.
eclecticbookreviewer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
jwillis81's review against another edition
2.0
I was really looking forward to reading this book because I love stories about the White House, the executive branch, and all things presidential I also enjoy a good medical thriller from time to time. Unfortunately, my issue with this one was that the story focused a little too much on the medical terminology and details, and that came at the expense of the thriller aspect of the book.
Every time the book started to gain some momentum and it seemed like the stakes were about to get ratcheted up, there would be a lengthy detour into the characters discussing medical aspects of the case at length which, while it did certainly add an element of legitimacy and realism to the book, were quite frankly really boring to read and just killed the narrative pacing.
Overall, it was an okay read but I think it'd be better classified as a medical mystery than a medical thriller, as there wasn't any of the tight pacing and excitement that I expect in a thriller.
Every time the book started to gain some momentum and it seemed like the stakes were about to get ratcheted up, there would be a lengthy detour into the characters discussing medical aspects of the case at length which, while it did certainly add an element of legitimacy and realism to the book, were quite frankly really boring to read and just killed the narrative pacing.
Overall, it was an okay read but I think it'd be better classified as a medical mystery than a medical thriller, as there wasn't any of the tight pacing and excitement that I expect in a thriller.
cjeanne99's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Narrated by Fred Berman - loved this book. The son of the President of the United States is a teenage chess prodigy. He participates in a program for “gifted” students called the TPI institute - founded by a man who believes in the power of holistic medicine and dietary supplements to achieve greater mental capability.
Cam is slated to represent his team in the US Chess Championships - until he starts to lose at chess, forgets basic chess moves, gets moody. Susie Banks, a violin prodigy and another student of the TPI has a muscular spasm in the middle of a concert and is unable to control her arms and finish the concert.
Karen Ray, Cam’s Secret Service agent - calls on her ex-husband and physician, Lee Blackwood, because she has concerns about Cam’s medical condition - and believes it is being downplayed by the White House physician.
Lots of sub plots and action. Somebody is killing students who are members of the TPI - but why? An attempt is made on Susie’s life by filling the house with carbon monoxide. Her parents die, she survives. While she’s in the hospital, another attempt is made on her life. By then, Dr. Blackwood is convinced that someone involved with the TPI is harming the children - but can’t figure out why they would resort to murder. Conversations with the White House doctor, who’s son is Cam’s best friend and also second in line if Cam is not able to represent the US in the Chess Championships, grow more terse.
Cam’s motorcade is attacked by someone on a motorbike - which leads Karen to discover that one of her agents is dirty. But who was he selling information to? Cam survives the attack - but when he returns to school a few days later - he disappears.
Now Karen’s job is in jeopardy, Susie’s life is still in danger, and Cam has disappeared. Dr. Blackwood has set up a temporary hospital for Susie at Karen’s family “camp” in the woods. The First Lady insists that Karen go to the camp to help watch over Susie - since her Secret Service position is in question. When the attempt on Susie’s life takes place at the camp - we have a whole new set of twists.
The book is tightly written - and Fred’s narration is great.
Two guys are sent to take out Susie - Karen and son Josh take out one of them - with Josh falling out of a tree as if dead to draw out the killer. Dr. Blackwood, Susie and the nurse escape from the house, only to be found by the other killer - who miraculously decides to try and strangle Dr. B instead of just shooting him. As Susie has a seizure, nurse is injured and it looks like Dr. B is going down - someone emerges from the woods to attack the murderer. Dr. B kills the intruder - but the person who helped has disappeared. Turns out - it was Cam. First Lady had set up the “run away from school” ruse and had the nurse drive him out to Karen’s family camp. First Lady trusts Karen explicitly - and gets her promoted to be in charge of the entire White House detail. Cam coaches the Chess Championships. Dr. B sells his practice (another side plot of his partner being murdered) and starts a new career in genetic research to find a cure for the disease Cam and Susie share. Why? Because they are both in-vitro babies and their father is a doctor who was doing his own set of genetic experimentation. Except when problems arose with his “children” - he had them killed.
Cam is slated to represent his team in the US Chess Championships - until he starts to lose at chess, forgets basic chess moves, gets moody. Susie Banks, a violin prodigy and another student of the TPI has a muscular spasm in the middle of a concert and is unable to control her arms and finish the concert.
Karen Ray, Cam’s Secret Service agent - calls on her ex-husband and physician, Lee Blackwood, because she has concerns about Cam’s medical condition - and believes it is being downplayed by the White House physician.
Lots of sub plots and action. Somebody is killing students who are members of the TPI - but why? An attempt is made on Susie’s life by filling the house with carbon monoxide. Her parents die, she survives. While she’s in the hospital, another attempt is made on her life. By then, Dr. Blackwood is convinced that someone involved with the TPI is harming the children - but can’t figure out why they would resort to murder. Conversations with the White House doctor, who’s son is Cam’s best friend and also second in line if Cam is not able to represent the US in the Chess Championships, grow more terse.
Cam’s motorcade is attacked by someone on a motorbike - which leads Karen to discover that one of her agents is dirty. But who was he selling information to? Cam survives the attack - but when he returns to school a few days later - he disappears.
Now Karen’s job is in jeopardy, Susie’s life is still in danger, and Cam has disappeared. Dr. Blackwood has set up a temporary hospital for Susie at Karen’s family “camp” in the woods. The First Lady insists that Karen go to the camp to help watch over Susie - since her Secret Service position is in question. When the attempt on Susie’s life takes place at the camp - we have a whole new set of twists.
The book is tightly written - and Fred’s narration is great.
katkinney's review against another edition
5.0
In this domestic thriller, the president’s son Cam is caught up in the middle of a medical crisis and an assassination attempt… and no one can figure out who is behind it. With his parents at odds (first lady Ellen was one of my favorite characters), and his female secret service agent (another favorite—she was awesome) and a family physician trying to piece together what’s going on while everyone around them plays politics, things quickly spin out of control. If I had to describe this, it was part medical drama, part secret service thriller, and part soap opera. I loved it. Lots of drama and unexpected surprises!
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
weaselweader's review against another edition
3.0
A medical thriller about the president’s family
The president’s son is a gifted chess player. Good enough, in fact, to imagine that he just might qualify to become the US National Junior champion, an achievement that requires astonishing mental effort and countless hours of learning and practice. But when he begins to lose to lesser players and his moodiness devolves into violent outbursts, it becomes clear that the problem is more than simple teenage hormones. THE FIRST FAMILY is an enjoyable thriller that blends medicine and suspense with riffs on politics, privilege, loyalty, family and friendship, and the typical American problems related to a medicine-for-profit model. A background story on the internal workings of the Secret Service and their mandated protection of the First Family provides an interesting and informative side bar that runs for the entire length of the novel.
I found it unfortunate that the climax and dénouement of the story line stretched credibility just a little too far and, after all was said and done, seemed a little too contrived. And that’s a shame because the medicine and the emergency care throughout the entire novel was fast-paced, intense, informative and genuinely exciting. I did enjoy it but, ultimately, it just didn’t have the “wow” factor of a four or five star thriller.
Paul Weiss
The president’s son is a gifted chess player. Good enough, in fact, to imagine that he just might qualify to become the US National Junior champion, an achievement that requires astonishing mental effort and countless hours of learning and practice. But when he begins to lose to lesser players and his moodiness devolves into violent outbursts, it becomes clear that the problem is more than simple teenage hormones. THE FIRST FAMILY is an enjoyable thriller that blends medicine and suspense with riffs on politics, privilege, loyalty, family and friendship, and the typical American problems related to a medicine-for-profit model. A background story on the internal workings of the Secret Service and their mandated protection of the First Family provides an interesting and informative side bar that runs for the entire length of the novel.
I found it unfortunate that the climax and dénouement of the story line stretched credibility just a little too far and, after all was said and done, seemed a little too contrived. And that’s a shame because the medicine and the emergency care throughout the entire novel was fast-paced, intense, informative and genuinely exciting. I did enjoy it but, ultimately, it just didn’t have the “wow” factor of a four or five star thriller.
Paul Weiss
reading_ridge's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0