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A review by papercuts1
Oath of Office by Michael Palmer
5.0
It's been a while since I've enjoyed a thriller as immensely as I did this one. Maybe because after reading about so many psychopaths and supernaturally touched murderers, one kill more horrifying and graphic than the other, it was refreshing to read a thriller written the classical way. We have an intelligent, likable protagonist, a plausible, fast-paced plot, perfectly timed action sequences and a highly dramatic finale. A page turner of the traditional sort, with a very modern, scarily realistic scenario.
The fact that OATH OF OFFICE is a medical thriller had me braced for scientific monologues and medical lingo that would drown out part of the actual plot. How wonderful that neither was the case! The medical/scientific aspects of the story are well-embedded into the plot, and the fact that the main character, Dr. Lou Welcome, works in an ER only gives the whole thing even more plausibility. Lou's calmness in the eye of the storm directly correlates to the life-and-death decisions he has to make in the ER, and the reader readily believes in his mental strength in dire situations.
OATH OF OFFICE also covers the modern day power play of politics and business. The conspiracy goes all the way up to the White House, and Palmer touches on a highly sensitive issue when it comes to the clashing business interests in and health risks of GMO.
Be warned: After reading OATH OF OFFICE, you'll most likely exclude certain types of food from your diet. At least for a while.
The one thing I could criticize: The common denominator, the link between the victims was very obvious very soon. I couldn't quite believe how Lou didn't put two and two together there. But he's forgiven, and so is Michael Palmer. We've all been there and overlooked the most obvious, haven't we?
What an enjoyable read! And the audio version I listened to was perfectly narrated by Robert Petkoff. A professional, well-paced narration with subtle vocal differentiation of the different characters. Petkoff never over-dramatizes, and never pushes his voice into the foreground. His narration does nothing but completely serve the story and give the characters their unique voices. Couldn't have been done better!
The fact that OATH OF OFFICE is a medical thriller had me braced for scientific monologues and medical lingo that would drown out part of the actual plot. How wonderful that neither was the case! The medical/scientific aspects of the story are well-embedded into the plot, and the fact that the main character, Dr. Lou Welcome, works in an ER only gives the whole thing even more plausibility. Lou's calmness in the eye of the storm directly correlates to the life-and-death decisions he has to make in the ER, and the reader readily believes in his mental strength in dire situations.
OATH OF OFFICE also covers the modern day power play of politics and business. The conspiracy goes all the way up to the White House, and Palmer touches on a highly sensitive issue when it comes to the clashing business interests in and health risks of GMO.
Be warned: After reading OATH OF OFFICE, you'll most likely exclude certain types of food from your diet. At least for a while.
The one thing I could criticize: The common denominator, the link between the victims was very obvious very soon. I couldn't quite believe how Lou didn't put two and two together there. But he's forgiven, and so is Michael Palmer. We've all been there and overlooked the most obvious, haven't we?
What an enjoyable read! And the audio version I listened to was perfectly narrated by Robert Petkoff. A professional, well-paced narration with subtle vocal differentiation of the different characters. Petkoff never over-dramatizes, and never pushes his voice into the foreground. His narration does nothing but completely serve the story and give the characters their unique voices. Couldn't have been done better!