Under the Knife

Working in the medical field, I was especially enthralled with what a brilliant, diabolical story this was. The characters were sympathetic and warm, and the story didn't slow down for a minute. I've always enjoyed Frances Roe's books, but this was his best yet. If you like medical thrillers, or just thrillers in general, this is the book for you.

Dr. Fred Newsome is the head of a group practice in New Coventry, Connecticut. The group is debating whether to work with big insurance companies that would make everyone of them extremely wealthy. Fred opposes this idea while his friend and partner Dermott Spencer fully supports the concept. Fred is flying his plane to see a crony, who went through a similar experience. However, his plane crashes, leaving him dead. A couple of years later, Dermott is in charge of the group, which is now affiliated with Lovejoy Hospital, a place whose vision is to have the world's most cost efficent health program without regard to the medical need or care required. Mike Richmond, an ethical resident, wants to join Spencer's group. He wins the approval of Dermott when he covers the man's bungling during surgery. Mike is quickly accepted into the practice, but soon realizes that he has joined a malignant entity capable of doing any evil necessary to survive. When Mike begins to ask questions, he finds that if he fails to shut up immediately he will lose more than what he recently gained. He could lose his life. Frances Roe, known for her exciting thrillers, delivers a frightening glimpse into what is a very possible future state of health care. The chilling aspects of UNDER THE KNIFE lies in the basis of reality that money is the only determinant in health care decisions. Ms. Roe shows the ethical dilemmas confronting doctors by using her protagonist as a symbol of a practitioner trying to stay on the right road. Readers of medical thrillers and conspiracy theorists will want to read this medical equivalent to THE FIRM. Harriet Klausner