Silent Treatment

My first book by Michael Palmer, but not the last, I'm sure. A real roller-coaster ride, with lots of suspense all the way. It went fast, mainly because I had trouble putting it down.

If you don't like the state of medical care and medical insurance in the US, this book probably won't change your mind. Although it was a bit over the top, it didn't seem completely unbelievable that the insurance company would try to maximize their profits at the expense of a few patients. Hopefully, they don't go this far, but who knows?

Whilst this had a certain air of deja vu having similar plot elements to a Robin Cook book I had read previously (insurance companies killing expensive patients to save money) there was a distinct difference in implementation of these plot elements. In Silent Treatment the story is more about the ramifications of those acts & the people involved in them, than the acts themselves.

Specifically, a friendly doctor, Harry Corbett, has his wife go in for what should be a rather run of the mill neurosurgery operation, only before she even gets to the operating theatre she dies. Blame is thrust upon Harry by a fellow doctor who had been planning to run away with his wife, and as Harry works to clear his name the situation becomes murkier than show more it initially appeared.

Overall, it was an excellent medical thriller that was thoroughly enjoyable with a climactic ending that wrapped the subplots up nicely. Would recommend for fans of medical thrillers, or thrillers in general. show less

A medical thriller that isn't, in a way. The lives of several people are taken in a mysterious way. The methods cause suspicion to land on Dr. Harry Corbett. To save himself, Corbett must track down the killer himself.

The medical part is that it takes a doctor or otherwise medically trained person to commit these murders. But there isn't any mysterious disease or unusual treatment involved. It is simply an evil person using his medical knowledge. There is a backstory here about the evil person and one of his victims, which complicates the story, adds interest.

Good airplane reading.

I have obtained several of Michael Palmer’s book over the years just by purchasing bulk lots of books of of eBay, and so forth. I think I have 6 or 7 of his book, but this is the first time I picked one up.I thought Silent Treatment was an alright read. It was pretty much your typical medical thriller. There was lots of suspense, so I kept wanting to read on, and on. I did find the ending rushed. The book was 447 pages. Because of the length, certain areas of the book seemed long and drawn out. I found Palmer’s writing style to be very similar to Robin Cook’s, whose books I enjoy very much.

Pretty good thriller. There is a conspiracy. A dangerous killer. The hero just goes from more and more danger. Harry is a very good man and a veteran.

What a great read!! Kind of terrifying-behind the scenes murders of
those costing the insurance companies money. This would make a great movie-as long as Tom Cruise isn't cast as the main character.

Dr. Harry Corbett is accused of killing his wife, from whom he was becoming estranged. Then he's accused of another death & another. Bewildered, declaring his innocence, he seeks the real killer.