The Craving

THE CRAVING by Arthur Herzog is a book that captures the desperate feelings of the overweight, who cannot, even with steely determination, lose the flab and bulk. Some become suicidal. It is no wonder that people like Dr. William C. Wren come along, offering a panacea---a product called Sovwren to help them lose weight, one that can make a fortune.Herzog presents a behild the scenes look at the industries that spring up to aid the afflicted. Dr. Wren and his silent partner Macdonald run a far-flung weight loss empire and wrest huge profits from it. This wealth requires an off shore bank account--one that enables them to pay for private jets, expensive cars, and beautiful women. Visits to Dr. Wren cost $200 and $75 after that. Most appointments are ten minutes twice a week. Time spent at Wren's fabulous spa, Slenderosa, costs five figures a week. In a plausible plot, Herzog describes a weight loss product from the goomie plant that does not come without side effects ( not unlike the ephedra plant). In this fictional narration, users of the weight loss product are faced with a feeding frenzy, one that could become a national epidemic. Will an antidote be found in time to save thousands of lives--including Dr. Wren's? There is one good guy amongst the greedy businessmen and it is the son-in-law of Dr. Wren--Dr Andy Larsen--a medical researcher. He has come up with a brilliant solution to halt the epidemic. But, with his life threatened, he may not be able to finish it in time. Murder and mayhem abound. THE CRAVING has a surprise ending, which I will not give away. It is a suspenseful read ( and extremely well researched by Herzog). I enjoyed it.

Considering the current fascination with nutrition, dieting, and eating disorders this 1982 novel by speculative suspense writer Arthur Herzog (The Swarm, Heat, and Earthsound) needs to be rediscovered and widely read. A new dietary supplement, Sovren, has an unforseen side effect...it makes its users uncontrollably hungry. When they begin literally eating themselves to death trying to satiate a hunger that will not fade, the corporate powers that be want the facts buried. Meanwhile the doctor who invented the miracle weight loss shake falls victim to it himself in a classic Frankenstein twist.Although Herzog had his weaknesses as a writer, namely having a deus ex machina parked in each of his story's garage, he was a master at the slow burn terror. Hints and clues build atop each other as the inevitable fallout gathers. A memorable book worth seeking out by medical suspense lovers everywhere.