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A review by weaselweader
Natural Causes by Michael Palmer
3.0
One of Michael Palmer's weaker efforts!
We all know what it means to die from natural causes but, in this era of modern medicine, it is an exceptionally infrequent occurrence for someone to be cured by "natural causes". Indeed, the conflict between natural medicine in all its forms - homeopathy, chiropractic, herbal remedies, acupuncture, naturopathy, midwifery, and so on - is the theme of Michael Palmer's latest medical thriller entitled, of course, Natural Causes!
The story starts off with dizzying speed graphically describing the catastrophic deaths of a number of women in labour who essentially bleed to death because of an obscure viral illness that prevents blood clotting. The career of Sarah Baldwin, a young up and coming obstetrician, is in jeopardy as the initial epidemiological research on the deaths seems to indicate that the culprit is herbal supplements she had recommended to her patients in the early stages of their pregnancy.
It seems such a shame! Natural Causes started out as a whirlwind page turner that had so much promise - exciting passages that detailed medical emergencies as this bizarre blood clotting illness consumed its victims with horrific speed; realistic insights into internal hospital politics, the necessity to generate funds through community foundations and the grueling routine of medical training; and, most interesting of all, the conflict between advocates of alternative medicine and standardized medical care as we understand it in the western world of modern medicine.
Sadly, Natural Causes ultimately failed to live up to its own potential. With one or two plot twists too many, it finally just devolved into a morass of medical thriller melodrama - big money, corporate greed and institutionalized medicine versus the vilified, persecuted lone doctor's voice crying from the wilderness! What's even worse is that Palmer couldn't find any better way to ultimately reveal the plot than that hoary old device of having the villain gloat about his megalomaniacal plans to the victim as he metaphorically ties her to the railway tracks in front of the oncoming train! How sad is that?
Despite its failings, it will still appeal to Michael Palmer fans and those who enjoy a medical thriller. But it's clearly one of his weakest efforts thus far and falls a long, long way short of the chills provided by such bombshell medical thrillers as Robin Cook's Coma or Tess Gerritsen's Harvest.
Recommended
Paul Weiss
We all know what it means to die from natural causes but, in this era of modern medicine, it is an exceptionally infrequent occurrence for someone to be cured by "natural causes". Indeed, the conflict between natural medicine in all its forms - homeopathy, chiropractic, herbal remedies, acupuncture, naturopathy, midwifery, and so on - is the theme of Michael Palmer's latest medical thriller entitled, of course, Natural Causes!
The story starts off with dizzying speed graphically describing the catastrophic deaths of a number of women in labour who essentially bleed to death because of an obscure viral illness that prevents blood clotting. The career of Sarah Baldwin, a young up and coming obstetrician, is in jeopardy as the initial epidemiological research on the deaths seems to indicate that the culprit is herbal supplements she had recommended to her patients in the early stages of their pregnancy.
It seems such a shame! Natural Causes started out as a whirlwind page turner that had so much promise - exciting passages that detailed medical emergencies as this bizarre blood clotting illness consumed its victims with horrific speed; realistic insights into internal hospital politics, the necessity to generate funds through community foundations and the grueling routine of medical training; and, most interesting of all, the conflict between advocates of alternative medicine and standardized medical care as we understand it in the western world of modern medicine.
Sadly, Natural Causes ultimately failed to live up to its own potential. With one or two plot twists too many, it finally just devolved into a morass of medical thriller melodrama - big money, corporate greed and institutionalized medicine versus the vilified, persecuted lone doctor's voice crying from the wilderness! What's even worse is that Palmer couldn't find any better way to ultimately reveal the plot than that hoary old device of having the villain gloat about his megalomaniacal plans to the victim as he metaphorically ties her to the railway tracks in front of the oncoming train! How sad is that?
Despite its failings, it will still appeal to Michael Palmer fans and those who enjoy a medical thriller. But it's clearly one of his weakest efforts thus far and falls a long, long way short of the chills provided by such bombshell medical thrillers as Robin Cook's Coma or Tess Gerritsen's Harvest.
Recommended
Paul Weiss