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Dr. Lou Welcome #3
Resistant
They fight without conscience or remorse. Their only job is to kill.When Dr. Lou Welcome fills in last minute for his boss at a national conference in Atlanta he brings along his best friend, Cap Duncan. But an accident turns tragic when Cap injures his leg while running. Surgeons manage to save the leg, but the open wound is the perfect breeding ground for a deadly microbial invader committed to eating Cap alive from the inside out.
They are the most ruthless enemy we have ever faced.
And they are one millionth our size.
Meanwhile, hundreds of miles away, a teenaged girl is fighting for her life against the same bacteria. The germ is resistant to any known antibiotic and the government scientist tasked with finding a cure has been kidnapped. Turning to the Centers for Disease Control for help, Lou Welcome uncovers a link to a shadowy group known as One Hundred Neighbors that has infiltrated our society and is using our health institutions as hostages. Like the deadly germs they can unleash, One Hundred Neighbors will stop at nothing to further their agenda. From the hospital corridors where anything you touch can mean your end, to the top corridors of power in this race against time, Lou must stop an epidemic, save his best friend, and face even his own most terrifying demons.
From the New York Times bestselling author comes another heart stopping thriller that will make you look at the world around you in a new and frightening way.
"When you open the pages of a Michael Palmer novel, you know you are in the hands of a pro." -The Huffington Post
Unknown Binding
First published May 20, 2014
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About the author
Michael Palmer
67 books242 followersMichael Stephen Palmer, M.D., was an American physician and author. His novels are often referred to as medical thrillers. Some of his novels have made The New York Times Best Seller list and have been translated into 35 languages. One, Extreme Measures (1991), was adopted into a 1996 film of the same name starring Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Gene Hackman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
February 24, 2017
I really liked this series until I read this book, which I think is the last book in the series. The character development in this series, I feel wasn't done so well. I have loved every book by Michael Palmer and loved every book that he wrote until I read this one. I did enjoy certain parts but it seemed to drag when they discussed the topic of bacteria. It at one point felt to me that it was nonfiction dragging the topic of bacteria. Some parts just felt like it was over my head. This book was a big disappointment to me.
Dr. Lou Welcome needs to give a presentation at a medical convention. Lou's boss can't give the presentation himself due to his wife's health.
Lou brings his best friend and AA sponsor, Cap Duncan on the trip. Cap ends up in the hospital. At the hospital he finds out that he has a deadly infection for which there is no cure. This flesh eating bacteria is a controversy called the Doomsday Germ. He then ends up being fired for not giving the presentation. He tells his boss that it was impossible to give the presentation because his friend Cap needed him because he was dying but his boss told Lou he was at fault and the cause of being fired is dereliction of duty.Doctors told him the infection has spread and they have to amputate Cap's leg. Lou meets a pharmacist, Humphrey Mills who suggests a surgeon. Humphrey is an intelligent man who suffers from cerebral palsy and is often overlooked and unappreciated at the hospital. He asks Lou to help in his lab as Humphrey is very knowledgable about the virus and has an avid interest in microbiology.
There is a group of terrorists who are wealthy men. They want to eliminate entitlement programs such as social security, medicare and welfare. This part was so boring.They plan to obtain the cure for the Doomsday Germ and blackmail the government into eliminating the entitlement programs in return for a cure of the disease.
There are good characters who are sympathetic also the evil characters are very evil and we hope they can be stopped. I felt that the book was moving very slow and found out that the author died at the end of last year and his family completed the novel. I didn't think the conclusion was up to the previous Lou Welcome novels, perhaps because it wasn't the work of the author. Once I found this out which I just found this out and explains everything now why I was disappointed. I did enjoy the first two books in the series. So I know now that the series is completed.
Dr. Lou Welcome needs to give a presentation at a medical convention. Lou's boss can't give the presentation himself due to his wife's health.
Lou brings his best friend and AA sponsor, Cap Duncan on the trip. Cap ends up in the hospital. At the hospital he finds out that he has a deadly infection for which there is no cure. This flesh eating bacteria is a controversy called the Doomsday Germ. He then ends up being fired for not giving the presentation. He tells his boss that it was impossible to give the presentation because his friend Cap needed him because he was dying but his boss told Lou he was at fault and the cause of being fired is dereliction of duty.Doctors told him the infection has spread and they have to amputate Cap's leg. Lou meets a pharmacist, Humphrey Mills who suggests a surgeon. Humphrey is an intelligent man who suffers from cerebral palsy and is often overlooked and unappreciated at the hospital. He asks Lou to help in his lab as Humphrey is very knowledgable about the virus and has an avid interest in microbiology.
There is a group of terrorists who are wealthy men. They want to eliminate entitlement programs such as social security, medicare and welfare. This part was so boring.They plan to obtain the cure for the Doomsday Germ and blackmail the government into eliminating the entitlement programs in return for a cure of the disease.
There are good characters who are sympathetic also the evil characters are very evil and we hope they can be stopped. I felt that the book was moving very slow and found out that the author died at the end of last year and his family completed the novel. I didn't think the conclusion was up to the previous Lou Welcome novels, perhaps because it wasn't the work of the author. Once I found this out which I just found this out and explains everything now why I was disappointed. I did enjoy the first two books in the series. So I know now that the series is completed.
October 2, 2023
3.5 stars
In this 3rd book in the 'Dr. Lou Welcome' series, Dr. Welcome is in a race against time to find a cure for a horrific man-made microbe. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
An organization called the "Society of One Hundred Neighbors", which has exactly 100 members, wants to control the U.S government so they can get rid of policies they don't like - especially entitlement programs. The society has secret members across the country including politicians, cops, judges, doctors, scientists, business people, and so on - all of whom are dedicated to achieving their goal.
As the story opens the society has created and unleashed a 'Doomsday Germ' called Janus - an antibiotic-resistant, flesh-eating bacteria that breaks down a victim's body from the inside out.
As the disease spreads through the body, the unfortunate victim has their infected limbs amputated, one at a time, until they succumb to death.
The society is blackmailing the government, saying it will provide a cure for the Janus germ if policies are changed to suit their goals. There's a huge problem however. Janus has mutated and the society's cure no longer works. Desperate to continue to extort the government, the society hatches a plan to kidnap scientists, install them in a secret lab, and force them to find a new antibiotic.
The government, of course, wants to thwart the society. Thus, it has it has its own people working on a cure.
Dr. Lou Welcome, a recovering drug addict and alcoholic, is an ER doctor and assistant director of the Physicians Wellness Office. Due to some bad luck Lou's best friend, Cap Duncan, sustains a horrific compound fracture of his leg and - while in the hospital - gets infected with the Janus bacteria. Lou is determined to help his friend and gets pulled into an underground scheme to find a cure.
I had hoped the author would talk more about the actual Janus bacteria but the book is essentially a thriller. The society ruthlessly tortures and kills people to achieve its goal while Lou and an FBI agent try to free the kidnapped scientists and destroy the society.
The story is violent, suspenseful, and fast-moving with an interesting array of repellant bad guys and heroic good guys. I have a reservation that applies to most fictional stories with a 'deadly germ' theme, including this one. The fictional scientists find a cure in a few days that - in real life - would literally take years or decades. I'll accept authors' license however.
I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to fans of thrillers.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
June 13, 2014
Maybe it's my fault - I thought this would be a good summertime read, another enjoyable "end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it" apocalypse story, but I was soooo wrong. It was just cheap, political propaganda, and I resent the author's intent to vilify me as a domestic terrorist just because I sustain and support the Constitution. I was extremely disappointed in this novel.
February 5, 2014
Dr. Lou Welcome is a recovering drug and alcohol addict who is now an ER doc in D.C. His best friend and sponsor, Cap, is a longtime friend who has helped him through the worst times of his life. While Lou and Cap are at a medical conference in Atlanta they decide to go trail running. When Cap is hurt during the run Lou draws upon all of his medical experience to try to save him. After safely getting Cap to the hospital and on his way to recovery Lou must go back to D.C. to try to save his job. While he is fighting for his job and trying to raise money to take care of Cap���s medical bills Lou gets a phone call that Cap has developed a serious infection in his leg. Lou immediately flies back to Atlanta and finds out that the news is worse than he thought. Cap has the newly dubbed flesh eating ���Doomsday Germ��� that has infection specialists in a panic since the virus has mutated and is now resistant to all antibiotic treatments. People have started dying and they have not found a cure yet. Lou must do everything in his power to find a way to save his friend.
As expected, Palmer���s newest medical suspense thriller is a great one! The action is nonstop from beginning to end. I really enjoyed a lot of the characters in this book. Highly recommended!
As expected, Palmer���s newest medical suspense thriller is a great one! The action is nonstop from beginning to end. I really enjoyed a lot of the characters in this book. Highly recommended!
August 31, 2015
Having not read Michael Palmer before i saw this in the library give it a go was okay but not outstanding the story starts when a scientist working on the centres top secret case is kidnapped by terrorists Dr Lou Welcome is on the hunt that takes him from hospital wards to the top corridors of power as he races against time to stop a lethal epidemic to the world & races to save his best friend Cap who has a germ eating flesh which may kill him would read more of this author
January 23, 2017
Based on the book's blurb and the couple of chapters I had read in advance of my vacation, I brought this book along with me expecting a entertaining and thrilling read as I had come to expect from Michael Palmer.
Unfortunately, the cringe worthy character descriptions and dialogue and blatant political positioning totally through me off, and honestly made it very difficult for me to finish this book. Can't say I'm not just a little disappointed.
Thank you to Goodreads First Reads for providing me a copy of this book.
Unfortunately, the cringe worthy character descriptions and dialogue and blatant political positioning totally through me off, and honestly made it very difficult for me to finish this book. Can't say I'm not just a little disappointed.
Thank you to Goodreads First Reads for providing me a copy of this book.
May 2, 2014
It is bittersweet to have to review a novel by one of my favorite authors that was released posthumously. RESISTANT is the final novel written by the great Michael Palmer who died unexpectedly last fall
For decades, Palmer established himself as a top-notch writer of primarily medical thrillers. One of his novels even made it to the big screen as EXTREME MEASURES was made into a film starring Hugh Grant and Harrison Ford. Palmer's last few novels went away from the medical genre and were solid political thrillers.
RESISTANT is a nice combination of both medical and political thriller. However, it's more Brad Thor than it is Robin Cook. A Doomsday Virus has been released and is being exposed to various innocent victims in hospitals around the country. The virus spreads quickly and begins with amputation and usually results in death of the subject. Dr. Lou Welcome finds himself caught in the middle of this crisis when his best friend, Cap, is inflicted with the deadly killer strain. He realizes that the human body is equipped to fight off many foreign bodies that seek to cause it harm. This virus, however, as been created to win every battle with the human body.
A ruthless domestic group, who has been operating for nearly a century, is at the heart of this plot and Dr. Welcome and a few stalwart FBI agents are all that is between us and exposure to a strain that could potentially wipe everyone out. An enjoyable thriller, hard to put down. Farewell, Mr. Palmer, and thank you for all the great reading adventures --- I even learned something along the way!
For decades, Palmer established himself as a top-notch writer of primarily medical thrillers. One of his novels even made it to the big screen as EXTREME MEASURES was made into a film starring Hugh Grant and Harrison Ford. Palmer's last few novels went away from the medical genre and were solid political thrillers.
RESISTANT is a nice combination of both medical and political thriller. However, it's more Brad Thor than it is Robin Cook. A Doomsday Virus has been released and is being exposed to various innocent victims in hospitals around the country. The virus spreads quickly and begins with amputation and usually results in death of the subject. Dr. Lou Welcome finds himself caught in the middle of this crisis when his best friend, Cap, is inflicted with the deadly killer strain. He realizes that the human body is equipped to fight off many foreign bodies that seek to cause it harm. This virus, however, as been created to win every battle with the human body.
A ruthless domestic group, who has been operating for nearly a century, is at the heart of this plot and Dr. Welcome and a few stalwart FBI agents are all that is between us and exposure to a strain that could potentially wipe everyone out. An enjoyable thriller, hard to put down. Farewell, Mr. Palmer, and thank you for all the great reading adventures --- I even learned something along the way!
October 20, 2021
I was recommended this as I enjoy Robin Cook's medical thrillers. This was similar, involving a terrorist organisation spreading a multi antibiotic resistant bacteria. The terrorist organisation were not the usual suspects which was interesting.
July 1, 2016
First off let us get a couple of things on the table, I don't consider myself to be a high brow reader, what I look for in books is entertainment, pure and simple, anything else that comes along is surely welcome and well recieved.
With that out of the way I'd sincerely recommend anyone to avoid this book like the plague.
It starts off well enough, we are introduced to the bacteria, a very nasty piece of work that is unstoppable. This evil thing was released into the world by a group of terrorists who call themselves "the hundred neighbours" in a plan to extort the goverment to stop all social welfare leeching on the honest work of true americans.
Then in comes our blue eyed, blond, handsome, fit, super smart, recovered alcoholic hero, who also happens to be an awesome e.r doctor, with his "best friend in all his life" Cap, who is a very black, super fit, ex boxer, gym owner. So far not that bad, though when I read these guys descriptions I admit I rolled my eyes.
Accidents do happen, even to conditioned people, and the doctor's buddy falls off a cliff, our hero, Lou, saves him in the middle of nowhere by being plain amazing and having just the right amount of luck. In hospital Cap gets infected with the bacteria and Lou is desperate to find a way to help. In rolls our genius saviour, with his hidden talent in microbiology and his difficult speech he proceeds to say "I have to keep it short 'cause people can't concentrate in trying to understand me for long periods of time" and then launches in a lengthy autobiography (another roll of the eyes). This guy is seriously disabled, wheelchaired, with cerebral palsy.
And to complete the cast in comes in the FBI agent, whose wife was murdered by a member of the terrorist cell, bent on vengeance and strangely let on by his superior on the case. The good doctor becomes a suspect and is mercilessly interrogated by the FBI.
Bad cop turns ally and they unite against the common evil, bringing them down in one of the most anticlimatic scenes I've ever read.
Everything turns out well and we all live happily ever after. (Me particularly trying to get this whole thing behind me and start to forget)
The characters are all exceptionaly bright but they make the most stupid decisions that could be made presented with the alternatives. Dialogues are unreal and unnatural. It's like a caricature. It's not at all believable, even in the universe where all things are possible, it just doesn't add up.
This book made me mad, I should've dropped it but I just can't leave something unfinished.
And don't get me started on the quotes along the length of the book taken from the work which inspires the fundamentalists blackmailing the goverment.
I'm starting to rant, sorry.
With that out of the way I'd sincerely recommend anyone to avoid this book like the plague.
It starts off well enough, we are introduced to the bacteria, a very nasty piece of work that is unstoppable. This evil thing was released into the world by a group of terrorists who call themselves "the hundred neighbours" in a plan to extort the goverment to stop all social welfare leeching on the honest work of true americans.
Then in comes our blue eyed, blond, handsome, fit, super smart, recovered alcoholic hero, who also happens to be an awesome e.r doctor, with his "best friend in all his life" Cap, who is a very black, super fit, ex boxer, gym owner. So far not that bad, though when I read these guys descriptions I admit I rolled my eyes.
Accidents do happen, even to conditioned people, and the doctor's buddy falls off a cliff, our hero, Lou, saves him in the middle of nowhere by being plain amazing and having just the right amount of luck. In hospital Cap gets infected with the bacteria and Lou is desperate to find a way to help. In rolls our genius saviour, with his hidden talent in microbiology and his difficult speech he proceeds to say "I have to keep it short 'cause people can't concentrate in trying to understand me for long periods of time" and then launches in a lengthy autobiography (another roll of the eyes). This guy is seriously disabled, wheelchaired, with cerebral palsy.
And to complete the cast in comes in the FBI agent, whose wife was murdered by a member of the terrorist cell, bent on vengeance and strangely let on by his superior on the case. The good doctor becomes a suspect and is mercilessly interrogated by the FBI.
Bad cop turns ally and they unite against the common evil, bringing them down in one of the most anticlimatic scenes I've ever read.
Everything turns out well and we all live happily ever after. (Me particularly trying to get this whole thing behind me and start to forget)
The characters are all exceptionaly bright but they make the most stupid decisions that could be made presented with the alternatives. Dialogues are unreal and unnatural. It's like a caricature. It's not at all believable, even in the universe where all things are possible, it just doesn't add up.
This book made me mad, I should've dropped it but I just can't leave something unfinished.
And don't get me started on the quotes along the length of the book taken from the work which inspires the fundamentalists blackmailing the goverment.
I'm starting to rant, sorry.
June 19, 2014
Dr. Lou Welcome is sent to Atlanta to give a presentation for his boss. It is to take place at a medical conference where Lou's boss dreams of becoming the president. He wanted to give the talk himself but his wife's ill health forced him to remain at home.
Lou brings his best friend and AA sponsor Cap Duncan. They go running on mountain terrain and a fall lands Cap in the hospital. While there, he contracts a deadly infection for which there is no cure. This flesh eating bacteria is dubbed the Doomsday Germ by the media.
Since Lou was caring for Cap, he was unable to give the presentation and when he returned home, his boss was incensed and fired him. Unhappy with the turn of events, it does give Lou the chance to return to Atlanta and be with Cap.
Doctors tell Lou that Cap's infection has spread and they'll need to amputate his leg. A hospital employee, Humphrey Mills, recommends a surgeon and Lou is grateful.
Humphrey Mills is a pharmacist at the hospital but suffers from cerebral palsy and is often overlooked and unappreciated. Lou treats him with respect and they become friends. Humphrey has a high intelligence with a passion for microbiology. He and a doctor he met on the internet were working on a cure for the Doomsday Germ and now he asks Lou to help in the lab.
A group of terrorists called the One Hundred Neighbors has a goal of ending government entitlement programs such as welfare, medicare and social security. These wealthy individuals feel these programs are ruining the country. They want to get the cure to the Doomsday Germ and blackmail the government to eliminating the entitlements in return for the cure.
There are a number of surprises and excellent themes to the story such as the value of friendship, the compassion that Lou has for Humphrey, and the dedication of some people to help society, no matter what the cost.
The good characters are well described and we root for their success. The evil characters are very evil and we want them to be punished. With good suspense, fast action and good against evil, what more could a mystery fan want?
The author died suddenly at the end of last year and his family had the novel completed, I think that this is the reason why the conclusion of the novel wasn't quite as well written as Michael Palmer's other books with Lou Welcome, "Oath of Office," and "Political Suicide."
Lou brings his best friend and AA sponsor Cap Duncan. They go running on mountain terrain and a fall lands Cap in the hospital. While there, he contracts a deadly infection for which there is no cure. This flesh eating bacteria is dubbed the Doomsday Germ by the media.
Since Lou was caring for Cap, he was unable to give the presentation and when he returned home, his boss was incensed and fired him. Unhappy with the turn of events, it does give Lou the chance to return to Atlanta and be with Cap.
Doctors tell Lou that Cap's infection has spread and they'll need to amputate his leg. A hospital employee, Humphrey Mills, recommends a surgeon and Lou is grateful.
Humphrey Mills is a pharmacist at the hospital but suffers from cerebral palsy and is often overlooked and unappreciated. Lou treats him with respect and they become friends. Humphrey has a high intelligence with a passion for microbiology. He and a doctor he met on the internet were working on a cure for the Doomsday Germ and now he asks Lou to help in the lab.
A group of terrorists called the One Hundred Neighbors has a goal of ending government entitlement programs such as welfare, medicare and social security. These wealthy individuals feel these programs are ruining the country. They want to get the cure to the Doomsday Germ and blackmail the government to eliminating the entitlements in return for the cure.
There are a number of surprises and excellent themes to the story such as the value of friendship, the compassion that Lou has for Humphrey, and the dedication of some people to help society, no matter what the cost.
The good characters are well described and we root for their success. The evil characters are very evil and we want them to be punished. With good suspense, fast action and good against evil, what more could a mystery fan want?
The author died suddenly at the end of last year and his family had the novel completed, I think that this is the reason why the conclusion of the novel wasn't quite as well written as Michael Palmer's other books with Lou Welcome, "Oath of Office," and "Political Suicide."
January 28, 2021
Totally unrealistic drivel.
It started off decently, a 3 to 3.5, but that quickly started to falter. To me, I know it's a book and there should be some creative freedom allotted, but that creativity shouldn't border or exceed what could truly happen. I mean, I give plausibility to field setting a compound fracture in the wilderness because Dr. Welcome is a doctor and Cap is athletically inclined with a good physique and a lot of strength, so I can see how it can be done.
But when the FBI detains Dr. Welcome and then officially arrests him, that's when the book begins to sour for me. He's labeled as a domestic terrorist and is transferred to the US Marshals for jailing, but because one agent, Viall, believes Welcome to be innocent, Viall basically assists with Welcome's unauthorized release/escape (like that could or would ever occur).
It gets worse when Welcome returns to his hotel to find that the rogue FBI agent, Burke, has come to collect the documents that Humphrey, a pharmacy technician who happens to be a microbiology wizard but it's never taken seriously because of his cerebral palsy, had given to Welcome. When giving the information to Burke, Welcome drops the notes under a hotel bed. When Burke goes to retrieve them (instead of wounding or killing Welcome for this insolent game), Welcome rushes Burke and escapes of the 6th floor balcony into the pool below.
After that, I gave up on this book. I did read to the end and learned that the 100 Neighbors were captured because of Welcome and Viall, though Viall ended up dying with Burke, his nemesis, by falling from the window at Red Cliff into the sea below. Yes, more unrealistic writing as Welcome and Viall stormed Red Cliff and overthrew the guards, Burke and Bacon.
So, with that, I advise no one to read this. It's just not good writing. It's not good at all.
.25 stars if I could give it that.
It started off decently, a 3 to 3.5, but that quickly started to falter. To me, I know it's a book and there should be some creative freedom allotted, but that creativity shouldn't border or exceed what could truly happen. I mean, I give plausibility to field setting a compound fracture in the wilderness because Dr. Welcome is a doctor and Cap is athletically inclined with a good physique and a lot of strength, so I can see how it can be done.
But when the FBI detains Dr. Welcome and then officially arrests him, that's when the book begins to sour for me. He's labeled as a domestic terrorist and is transferred to the US Marshals for jailing, but because one agent, Viall, believes Welcome to be innocent, Viall basically assists with Welcome's unauthorized release/escape (like that could or would ever occur).
It gets worse when Welcome returns to his hotel to find that the rogue FBI agent, Burke, has come to collect the documents that Humphrey, a pharmacy technician who happens to be a microbiology wizard but it's never taken seriously because of his cerebral palsy, had given to Welcome. When giving the information to Burke, Welcome drops the notes under a hotel bed. When Burke goes to retrieve them (instead of wounding or killing Welcome for this insolent game), Welcome rushes Burke and escapes of the 6th floor balcony into the pool below.
After that, I gave up on this book. I did read to the end and learned that the 100 Neighbors were captured because of Welcome and Viall, though Viall ended up dying with Burke, his nemesis, by falling from the window at Red Cliff into the sea below. Yes, more unrealistic writing as Welcome and Viall stormed Red Cliff and overthrew the guards, Burke and Bacon.
So, with that, I advise no one to read this. It's just not good writing. It's not good at all.
.25 stars if I could give it that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2014
As much as I enjoy Michael Palmer's novels, I am not a fan of Dr. Lou Welcome. As this book was released after Palmer's unexpected death, I wanted to like it and tried to keep a more open mind about Welcome. Truthfully, I didn't find him quite as irritating, and the premise of the medical portion of the book was interesting. The resolution was tense and shocking....all makings of a good thriller. As great a guy as "Cap" may be, I was kind of tired of reading the same descriptions of the man, and also Welcome's groveling over his fateful trail run. The whole exercise/boxing aspect really overtakes Welcome's personality and makes him arrogant. However, it is bittersweet to know that Palmer will no longer share his vast medical knowledge with us via new thrillers. It would have been nice to have a tribute of some type in the back of the book; the only reason I knew that Palmer had passed was the dedication in his son's new book (Daniel Palmer) that was released a month earlier. The dedication alluded to his dad's death and I was able to read about it following some research on the internet.
May 12, 2014
It has been a few books since I have read anything by Mr. Palmer. His latest and last one sounded like a winner. I am sorry that I did not read more of his books while he was alive. This book was a good, quick read. The idea of a bacterial flesh-eating virus is scary. So scary that I was talking to my co-worker about this book and told her that if this ever happened to me that I would just want to be put out of my misery. I would not want the doctors cutting of my limbs one at a time.
So the medical aspect of this story was creepy. However the political aspect of the story, I thought was just alright. I went through the motions of reading this book. None of the characters really jumped off the pages at me. Again though, Mr. Palmer does know how to tell a good story that does leave me the reader thinking about what I just read.
So the medical aspect of this story was creepy. However the political aspect of the story, I thought was just alright. I went through the motions of reading this book. None of the characters really jumped off the pages at me. Again though, Mr. Palmer does know how to tell a good story that does leave me the reader thinking about what I just read.
February 25, 2020
Very disappointing. It should have been classed under cops and robbers. I was hoping for a good science fiction medical thriller, but instead I got a lot of violence and stereotypical characterization.
January 28, 2019
the dialogue was SOOOOOOOOO corny
March 2, 2021
Halfway through and I’ve had as much as I can take. Lou versus the federal agents was the last straw, all the characters are stock cardboard cutouts and the dialogue is cringey, simplistic, and just plain unrealistic. Palmer really knew the medical side of things and those are the parts that are enjoyable to read, unfortunately they’re too few and far between for me to finish. I skipped through to the last couple chapters and things ended as predictably as I thought they would, but even that wouldn’t be the worst thing if it was enjoyable to get there. I do understand that unfortunately this work had to be finished post humorously... my review absolutely doesn’t reflect on Palmer’s earlier work which I’ve been thoroughly enjoying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2018
I had no idea this was a series-so this read just fine as a standalone book. Dealing with deadly germs-it's certainly a relevant topic to what is going on in the world. Parts are very fast paced. Great character development with a fascinating array of people. Interesting read.
November 25, 2019
Gripping thriller, well paced and in its own way, terrifying.
March 29, 2025
Enjoyed very much. Makes one think.
July 26, 2019
Have not read the two books before it, but I enjoyed this one. End of the world thriller. Short and easy. Will try the other two books.
October 28, 2014
Medical thrillers seem to come and go and often, after completing my reading of them, I tend to toss them aside, grateful for the opportunity to get to a really good book. I’ve even done that with a Michael Palmer book or two in the past. But I’m happy to report that this series of books featuring Dr. Lou Welcome is probably Palmer’s best work.
The plot for this novel sounds, at first glance, extremely hokey…something reminiscent of a movie-of-the-week from back in the 70’s. A group of 100 right-wing radical elitists, calling themselves “The Society of 100 Neighbors” produce a deadly virus in order to blackmail the US government into abandoning all forms of economic welfare. Yeah right. The author doesn’t even try to make that believable and concentrates on his writing strength: stopping the contagion from the point of view of the medical community. And that he does extremely well.
This is the third novel in the series and, unfortunately, the last due to Mr. Palmer’s unexpected passing at the end of October last year. I’ve read hundreds of thriller novels and I would put this into the top 25%. Mainly, that’s due to the characters (at least the medical professionals that are his main focus). Lou Welcome, as the lead character, is a well-drawn creation. His incredibly good-guy nature, his desire to help every down-trodden human that comes within his sphere is noble and really helps the reader to flat-out like him. Lou’s past was fraught with drug and alcohol abuse. Though sober for ten years, he must continuously struggle with those demons and when his best friend (and sponsor) suffers severe medical trauma, we all feel the need for urgency.
Since Dr. Welcome is an MD, boarded in both internal and emergency medicine (the author is also trained in internal medicine), there could be a tendency to overdue the medical terminology. Fortunately, the medical scenes are handled masterfully and readers can get a feel for what is happening, get just enough lingo to feel the reality and urgency of the scene, while not being pummeled with medical jargon.
Other major characters are just as vividly developed and as a reader I found myself absorbed in their lives and rooting for their success. It helps that Palmer’s good guy characters are intelligent people and he writes them that way. Unfortunately the bad guys are extreme right-wingers and show not an ounce of compassion and very little actual intelligence. I don’t mind characters with strong political beliefs (in either direction) but the author should not take pains to present them as cartoon characters. The plot is intriguing, thrilling, and very well paced. Definitely a page turner. The ending was very satisfying even if Palmer does ensure that every conceivable loose end is neatly wrapped up.
Oh, and I will say that this novel includes lots of involvement from the CDC and we are treated to an insider’s look at real-world threats of what biological attacks can do and just how close we all are to experiencing such phenomena. Truth can often be scarier than fiction.
So overall, 5 stars for the medical thriller parts, 3 stars for the cartoonish bad-guys and absurd plot concept. Overall 4 stars.
Thank-you to the publisher and Goodreads giveaways for the free advanced readers copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The plot for this novel sounds, at first glance, extremely hokey…something reminiscent of a movie-of-the-week from back in the 70’s. A group of 100 right-wing radical elitists, calling themselves “The Society of 100 Neighbors” produce a deadly virus in order to blackmail the US government into abandoning all forms of economic welfare. Yeah right. The author doesn’t even try to make that believable and concentrates on his writing strength: stopping the contagion from the point of view of the medical community. And that he does extremely well.
This is the third novel in the series and, unfortunately, the last due to Mr. Palmer’s unexpected passing at the end of October last year. I’ve read hundreds of thriller novels and I would put this into the top 25%. Mainly, that’s due to the characters (at least the medical professionals that are his main focus). Lou Welcome, as the lead character, is a well-drawn creation. His incredibly good-guy nature, his desire to help every down-trodden human that comes within his sphere is noble and really helps the reader to flat-out like him. Lou’s past was fraught with drug and alcohol abuse. Though sober for ten years, he must continuously struggle with those demons and when his best friend (and sponsor) suffers severe medical trauma, we all feel the need for urgency.
Since Dr. Welcome is an MD, boarded in both internal and emergency medicine (the author is also trained in internal medicine), there could be a tendency to overdue the medical terminology. Fortunately, the medical scenes are handled masterfully and readers can get a feel for what is happening, get just enough lingo to feel the reality and urgency of the scene, while not being pummeled with medical jargon.
Other major characters are just as vividly developed and as a reader I found myself absorbed in their lives and rooting for their success. It helps that Palmer’s good guy characters are intelligent people and he writes them that way. Unfortunately the bad guys are extreme right-wingers and show not an ounce of compassion and very little actual intelligence. I don’t mind characters with strong political beliefs (in either direction) but the author should not take pains to present them as cartoon characters. The plot is intriguing, thrilling, and very well paced. Definitely a page turner. The ending was very satisfying even if Palmer does ensure that every conceivable loose end is neatly wrapped up.
Oh, and I will say that this novel includes lots of involvement from the CDC and we are treated to an insider’s look at real-world threats of what biological attacks can do and just how close we all are to experiencing such phenomena. Truth can often be scarier than fiction.
So overall, 5 stars for the medical thriller parts, 3 stars for the cartoonish bad-guys and absurd plot concept. Overall 4 stars.
Thank-you to the publisher and Goodreads giveaways for the free advanced readers copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2014
Resistant
Michael Palmer
I'm sad that Resistant by Michael Palmer is the last episode of Dr. Lou Welcome that I'll ever have the pleasure of reading. Palmer passed away as the book was being finished, so this will serve as his final work. I read that his family worked to finish it up and get it published, and I wonder if that's responsible for a few of the nagging issues I had with the story.
The overall story line involves the emergence of a bacteria that is resistant to all antibiotics that doctors have available. Patients who end up with the Doomsday Germ start out with a small infection that rapidly turns toxic, leading to amputations and usually death. The question is where did it come from? The answer lies in a shadow terrorist group known as One Hundred Neighbors, a group that has tentacles throughout government and industry. They have an agenda, and they are willing to use germ warfare to accomplish their aims. Dr. Welcome gets involved when his best friend and AA sponsor seriously injures his leg in a trail run. Welcome is able to get him to a hospital in time, but when Cap gets the Doomsday infection, Welcome shifts into overdrive to try and find a way to keep his friend from dying. Unfortunately, there are a number of people who are just as committed to making sure he doesn't.
I picked up the book yesterday at the library, and finished it early this morning. I haven't done that in a while with a library book. For me, the main driver was the characters that Palmer created. Dr. Welcome is a fun blend of sarcasm and loyalty, willing to do anything he can to help and protect those he cares about. One of the other major characters is also unique, as he has severe cerebral palsy, Palmer handles that with a lot of respect for the person under the disease.
Where I had some issues is with the One Hundred Neighbors plot driver. On one hand, having a "powerful mystery group" allows you a lot of leeway in where you can go with the story. It also allowed Palmer to keep the reader guessing as to who was the good guy vs. the bad guy when dealing with various organizations. But the agenda portion of the group almost seemed to be a soapbox for the author (although I hope he wasn't really that far right-wing). He also didn't do much in terms of detailing much about how the group was holding the government hostage to accomplish their goals. Other than "we've done this and been responsible for that, and if you don't do this next thing, we'll do this other thing", it was all sort of vague.
I'm also OK with some level of "suspension of belief", but a few items in the story pushed that a little too far. For instance, if someone took a bullet to the head, would they *really* be allowed to leave the hospital after only a couple of days *and* be allowed to resume work immediately? I'm guessing... no. But even with those problems, I still enjoyed the book (and "couldn't put it down").
Mr. Palmer, thanks for the many hours of reading enjoyment you're given us. You'll be missed.
Disclosure:
Obtained From: Library
Payment: Borrowed
Michael Palmer
I'm sad that Resistant by Michael Palmer is the last episode of Dr. Lou Welcome that I'll ever have the pleasure of reading. Palmer passed away as the book was being finished, so this will serve as his final work. I read that his family worked to finish it up and get it published, and I wonder if that's responsible for a few of the nagging issues I had with the story.
The overall story line involves the emergence of a bacteria that is resistant to all antibiotics that doctors have available. Patients who end up with the Doomsday Germ start out with a small infection that rapidly turns toxic, leading to amputations and usually death. The question is where did it come from? The answer lies in a shadow terrorist group known as One Hundred Neighbors, a group that has tentacles throughout government and industry. They have an agenda, and they are willing to use germ warfare to accomplish their aims. Dr. Welcome gets involved when his best friend and AA sponsor seriously injures his leg in a trail run. Welcome is able to get him to a hospital in time, but when Cap gets the Doomsday infection, Welcome shifts into overdrive to try and find a way to keep his friend from dying. Unfortunately, there are a number of people who are just as committed to making sure he doesn't.
I picked up the book yesterday at the library, and finished it early this morning. I haven't done that in a while with a library book. For me, the main driver was the characters that Palmer created. Dr. Welcome is a fun blend of sarcasm and loyalty, willing to do anything he can to help and protect those he cares about. One of the other major characters is also unique, as he has severe cerebral palsy, Palmer handles that with a lot of respect for the person under the disease.
Where I had some issues is with the One Hundred Neighbors plot driver. On one hand, having a "powerful mystery group" allows you a lot of leeway in where you can go with the story. It also allowed Palmer to keep the reader guessing as to who was the good guy vs. the bad guy when dealing with various organizations. But the agenda portion of the group almost seemed to be a soapbox for the author (although I hope he wasn't really that far right-wing). He also didn't do much in terms of detailing much about how the group was holding the government hostage to accomplish their goals. Other than "we've done this and been responsible for that, and if you don't do this next thing, we'll do this other thing", it was all sort of vague.
I'm also OK with some level of "suspension of belief", but a few items in the story pushed that a little too far. For instance, if someone took a bullet to the head, would they *really* be allowed to leave the hospital after only a couple of days *and* be allowed to resume work immediately? I'm guessing... no. But even with those problems, I still enjoyed the book (and "couldn't put it down").
Mr. Palmer, thanks for the many hours of reading enjoyment you're given us. You'll be missed.
Disclosure:
Obtained From: Library
Payment: Borrowed
April 30, 2014
3.5 out of 5 stars - "It is not our nature to suffer, and most of those who are offered government handouts in place of effort will take them."
My reaction to this third book in the Dr. Lou Welcome series probably was a bit affected by the fact that I had just finished watching Part I and Part II of ATLAS SHRUGGED (author: Ayn Rand) on Netflix. Both have a theme centering on political philosophy: the 100 Neighbors in RESISTANT want the government to end entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare and they intend to do this by holding them hostage to a lab-created organism that is resistant to any antibiotic treatment. Unfortunately, this "doomsday germ" has mutated and is now out of control, is spreading rapidly, and their scientists are unable to find a treatment. The "good guys" at the CDC haven't been able to develop an effective agent either.
Dr. Lou Welcome (recovering alcoholic and drug abuser) gets involved with the desperate search to stop the 100 Neighbors and find a cure when his best friend and mentor, Cap Duncan, breaks his leg while trail running. After a heroic mountainside save by Dr. Lou, Cap acquires the infection with the bacteria while in the hospital. The race is on to find some sort of treatment before Cap loses his leg and his life to the deadly bug.
The action in this medical thriller involves a large measure of suspension of disbelief that a middle-aged doctor who is board certified in Internal Medicine and ER - could possibly have the physical stamina and training to do all the things that he does in this novel -- in short, readers are to believe he can outsmart evil rogue FBI agents and physically outlast the homegrown terrorists in several amazing escape from death scenes. I don't think I'm telling any spoilers when I say that, despite the fact that Dr. Lou is no James Bond, he manages to outmaneuver and baffle the evil organization and save the day. Coincidences notwithstanding, he's just too clever for the 100 Neighbors and their cohort.
I've not read the first two books in this series, and since the author's unfortunate and untimely death, it's not likely that there will be a #4. As a standalone it works well enough to give fans of the suspense action novel a taste of the medical-related thrills they're looking for. Would make a great beach read!
Amazon Vine ARC for review.
My reaction to this third book in the Dr. Lou Welcome series probably was a bit affected by the fact that I had just finished watching Part I and Part II of ATLAS SHRUGGED (author: Ayn Rand) on Netflix. Both have a theme centering on political philosophy: the 100 Neighbors in RESISTANT want the government to end entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare and they intend to do this by holding them hostage to a lab-created organism that is resistant to any antibiotic treatment. Unfortunately, this "doomsday germ" has mutated and is now out of control, is spreading rapidly, and their scientists are unable to find a treatment. The "good guys" at the CDC haven't been able to develop an effective agent either.
Dr. Lou Welcome (recovering alcoholic and drug abuser) gets involved with the desperate search to stop the 100 Neighbors and find a cure when his best friend and mentor, Cap Duncan, breaks his leg while trail running. After a heroic mountainside save by Dr. Lou, Cap acquires the infection with the bacteria while in the hospital. The race is on to find some sort of treatment before Cap loses his leg and his life to the deadly bug.
The action in this medical thriller involves a large measure of suspension of disbelief that a middle-aged doctor who is board certified in Internal Medicine and ER - could possibly have the physical stamina and training to do all the things that he does in this novel -- in short, readers are to believe he can outsmart evil rogue FBI agents and physically outlast the homegrown terrorists in several amazing escape from death scenes. I don't think I'm telling any spoilers when I say that, despite the fact that Dr. Lou is no James Bond, he manages to outmaneuver and baffle the evil organization and save the day. Coincidences notwithstanding, he's just too clever for the 100 Neighbors and their cohort.
I've not read the first two books in this series, and since the author's unfortunate and untimely death, it's not likely that there will be a #4. As a standalone it works well enough to give fans of the suspense action novel a taste of the medical-related thrills they're looking for. Would make a great beach read!
Amazon Vine ARC for review.
April 8, 2014
Michael Palmer gives us another Medical drama / action thriller that is amazing. He takes four or more different sub-plots about one bacterial infection and weaves them together in an unforgettable novel.
What would happen if 100 ultra rich and powerful people in the United States formed a secret society that was set on bringing our Government to it's needs and forcing it to close down all social programs, such as Social Security, Medicare, Food Stamps, etc. What would happen. Well this group comes together and they in essence become "Home Grown Terrorist." Their goal is to restructure the American Government and the American way of life, to match their idealistic views.
They do this by developing a germ/bacteria that they want to control to infect thousands and force the government to abide by their wishes to get them to give the cure to the hospitals
The problem, the germ goes wild and ends up being "resistant" to all treatments. Their scientist can't solve the issue and come up with the antidote.
Along comes a recovering alcoholic emergency room doctor, a former semi-pro boxer and a wheel chair bound Cerebral Palsy patient, with the addition of an FBI agent. These four men will be the catalyst to launch the drive for the cure to the germ warfare attack.
The story will weave you through so many twists and turns that you will wonder where it is all going to end. I found myself wanting to take a day off work just so I could keep reading (I didn't, but wanted to). I just wanted to know how it was going to end.
I had many questions, "Will Dr. Lou Welcome become a hero and fall in love with a CDC doctor?" Will FBI agent Tim Vaill get the revenge he wants while also getting his man? Will a Cerebral Palsy victim become the savior of the world?
There are lots of questions and you will want to read and read and read until you get to the end.
No spoilers here, but you will love the ending and it doesn't all resolve perfectly (OK, maybe that was a spoiler).
I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.
What would happen if 100 ultra rich and powerful people in the United States formed a secret society that was set on bringing our Government to it's needs and forcing it to close down all social programs, such as Social Security, Medicare, Food Stamps, etc. What would happen. Well this group comes together and they in essence become "Home Grown Terrorist." Their goal is to restructure the American Government and the American way of life, to match their idealistic views.
They do this by developing a germ/bacteria that they want to control to infect thousands and force the government to abide by their wishes to get them to give the cure to the hospitals
The problem, the germ goes wild and ends up being "resistant" to all treatments. Their scientist can't solve the issue and come up with the antidote.
Along comes a recovering alcoholic emergency room doctor, a former semi-pro boxer and a wheel chair bound Cerebral Palsy patient, with the addition of an FBI agent. These four men will be the catalyst to launch the drive for the cure to the germ warfare attack.
The story will weave you through so many twists and turns that you will wonder where it is all going to end. I found myself wanting to take a day off work just so I could keep reading (I didn't, but wanted to). I just wanted to know how it was going to end.
I had many questions, "Will Dr. Lou Welcome become a hero and fall in love with a CDC doctor?" Will FBI agent Tim Vaill get the revenge he wants while also getting his man? Will a Cerebral Palsy victim become the savior of the world?
There are lots of questions and you will want to read and read and read until you get to the end.
No spoilers here, but you will love the ending and it doesn't all resolve perfectly (OK, maybe that was a spoiler).
I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.
January 25, 2015
When starting this review, I was disappointed to learn that Michael Palmer had died in October 2013. Although some reviewers whine that this novel was published posthumously so somebody or bodies finished it, I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable medical/quasi-political thriller. The flesh-eating "Doomsday Germ", as the media term it, was released into some hospitals by a political organization called 100 Neighbors whose mission is to roll back what Tea Party types call "the welfare state." They want to destroy any form of medical care support system, social security and "entitlements", code for payments to individuals by the state. A scientist member of the organization which is always limited to 100 members discovered this super bacteria and saw its potential to wreak havoc. Their intention is to use the virus as leverage/blackmail to get the government to roll back all social programs and return to "a survival of the fittest" model.
Dr. Lou Welcome, featured in two previous Palmer novels, is in Atlanta filling in for his boss at a medical convention. When Lou and his sidekick (boxing trainer) Cap go for a morning adventure run through difficult terrain, Cap has a bad fall and breaks his femur. Lou and Cap somehow defy the odds and get Cap fixed up to a point where he can be taken to the hospital. While there Cap is infected with this flesh-eating bug which has started to spread rapidly across the country. 100 Neighbors has lost control of their bioweapon but cannot admit it. They kidnapped a top govt scientist to work on a means of controlling the Doomsday Germ.
Lou Welcome launches a quest of his own for a cure with the help of a brilliant but disabled hospital technician. He is pursued by the FBI until finally convincing them that he is not one of the enemy. Together a few of them track down the HQ of the 100 Neighbors and launch an assault to rescue those with the best chance of controlling the super bug and to capture the leader of this diabolical organization.
Dr. Lou Welcome, featured in two previous Palmer novels, is in Atlanta filling in for his boss at a medical convention. When Lou and his sidekick (boxing trainer) Cap go for a morning adventure run through difficult terrain, Cap has a bad fall and breaks his femur. Lou and Cap somehow defy the odds and get Cap fixed up to a point where he can be taken to the hospital. While there Cap is infected with this flesh-eating bug which has started to spread rapidly across the country. 100 Neighbors has lost control of their bioweapon but cannot admit it. They kidnapped a top govt scientist to work on a means of controlling the Doomsday Germ.
Lou Welcome launches a quest of his own for a cure with the help of a brilliant but disabled hospital technician. He is pursued by the FBI until finally convincing them that he is not one of the enemy. Together a few of them track down the HQ of the 100 Neighbors and launch an assault to rescue those with the best chance of controlling the super bug and to capture the leader of this diabolical organization.
February 13, 2016
Normally I love Michael Palmer's books but for some reason this one fell short. I got bogged down a couple of times and found myself skipping a few pages. It wasn't the main character. I really liked Dr. Lou Welcome with all his faults and weaknesses. He had gotten hooked on amphetamines and ended up in rehab, his life in shambles. Now he's reestablished a relationship with his daughter and is getting along much better with his ex-wife. He even has a job in the medical field, helping others with like circumstances such as his. His mentor and friend, Hank "Cap" Duncan are on a mini vacation. Lou has been asked by his boss to fill in for him by giving a talk since the man's wife is in the hospital. Lou convinces Cap to come with him and while there, talks Cap into going for a run before his meeting. He ends up trying to save Cap's life when he plunges off a cliff and severely breaks his leg. As if that isn't bad enough, while in the hospital, Cap runs afoul of what is being called The Doomsday Germ. A group, calling themselves One Hundred Neighbors, are using the bacteria to blackmail the government into meeting their demands.
What follows is a frantic rush by Lou to discover a cure for his friend. He meets Humphrey, a man wheelchair bound from cerebral palsy, but possessing a brilliant mind, one that's come up with a solution to the germ. But powerful forces are working against them, including the government in their pursuit of The Neighbors.
What follows is a frantic rush by Lou to discover a cure for his friend. He meets Humphrey, a man wheelchair bound from cerebral palsy, but possessing a brilliant mind, one that's come up with a solution to the germ. But powerful forces are working against them, including the government in their pursuit of The Neighbors.
November 17, 2015
I really did enjoy much of Michael Palmer's earlier works (he was neck-and-neck with Robin Cook for a while), and I was sorry to hear this was his last book.
That being said, the plot twists and turns (from the trail run, to the CDC, to the FBI investigation, to Red Cliffs) and the persistent amazing-ness of Dr. Lou Welcome went from pretty cool to overbearing and then just plain ridiculous. As the story went on, I started thinking of the Old Spice Guy from recent TV commercials. From Wikipedia: "Mustafa begins at a shower station on the beach. The scenery splits in half (as do false legs and a towel) and pulls away to reveal Mustafa log rolling before he walks across the surface of a lake (catching a falling cake mid-stride) into a kitchen (power-sawing a countertop mid-stride) to the top of a waterfall, which he "swan dives" off into a hot tub, which then collapses to reveal that Mustafa is sitting on a motorcycle, his shorts having been replaced by jeans. He performs the entire commercial without breaking eye contact with the camera, while addressing female viewers and asking rhetorical questions..." (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_M...). Yes, folks, that's Dr. Lou Welcome for you. Super-Doc to the rescue!
That being said, the plot twists and turns (from the trail run, to the CDC, to the FBI investigation, to Red Cliffs) and the persistent amazing-ness of Dr. Lou Welcome went from pretty cool to overbearing and then just plain ridiculous. As the story went on, I started thinking of the Old Spice Guy from recent TV commercials. From Wikipedia: "Mustafa begins at a shower station on the beach. The scenery splits in half (as do false legs and a towel) and pulls away to reveal Mustafa log rolling before he walks across the surface of a lake (catching a falling cake mid-stride) into a kitchen (power-sawing a countertop mid-stride) to the top of a waterfall, which he "swan dives" off into a hot tub, which then collapses to reveal that Mustafa is sitting on a motorcycle, his shorts having been replaced by jeans. He performs the entire commercial without breaking eye contact with the camera, while addressing female viewers and asking rhetorical questions..." (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_M...). Yes, folks, that's Dr. Lou Welcome for you. Super-Doc to the rescue!
April 30, 2014
I won this book as a First Reads giveway through Goodreads. This book had such a cool premise yet the writing brought this down to a 2 star book. There was barely any character development. Characters would pop up without an explanation of who they were for another 20 pages. There is one line in the book where it is thrown out that the guy's daughter has a cat. So????
The main character depises other doctors for not being emphathetic yet in his mind he apparently can connect with people like no other doctor (or person for that matter). Near the end of the book a male character is talking about a woman that he admired and even had a crush on and says, basically, it's sad she got killed but getting the recognition I deserve means a lot.
What??? Who thinks like that??
The main character depises other doctors for not being emphathetic yet in his mind he apparently can connect with people like no other doctor (or person for that matter). Near the end of the book a male character is talking about a woman that he admired and even had a crush on and says, basically, it's sad she got killed but getting the recognition I deserve means a lot.
What??? Who thinks like that??
November 7, 2014
When Dr. Lou Welcome fills in as a last minute replacement for
his boss at a convention in Atlanta he brings along his best
friend Cap Duncan. An accident turns tragic when Cap injuries his
leg while running. Surgeons save the leg but the open wound is a
perfect breeding ground for a deadly microbial invader committed
to eating Cap alive from the inside out. The germ is resistant to
any known antibiotic and the scientist tasked with finding a cure
has been kidnapped. Turning to the Center for Disease Control Lou
uncovers a link to a shadowy group known as One Hundred Neighbors
that is planning to use our health institutions as hostages. Now
Lou must stop an epidemic, save his friend and face his own
terrifying demons. Had to give this one a five. Very good story.
his boss at a convention in Atlanta he brings along his best
friend Cap Duncan. An accident turns tragic when Cap injuries his
leg while running. Surgeons save the leg but the open wound is a
perfect breeding ground for a deadly microbial invader committed
to eating Cap alive from the inside out. The germ is resistant to
any known antibiotic and the scientist tasked with finding a cure
has been kidnapped. Turning to the Center for Disease Control Lou
uncovers a link to a shadowy group known as One Hundred Neighbors
that is planning to use our health institutions as hostages. Now
Lou must stop an epidemic, save his friend and face his own
terrifying demons. Had to give this one a five. Very good story.
January 2, 2015
I was saddened to hear of Michael Palmer's death in 2013, so this is the last of his writing which will be published.
It was a pretty good thriller, involving a so-called Doomsday Virus, which was actually a bacterium since it was first treatable with antibiotics. Then the bacterium mutated, and scientists were frantically looking for something that would destroy it, since the incidence of the human cases were spreading. Unknown to the government and the doctors trying to treat patients, the bacterium was devised by a domestic, far-right bioterrorist group. The story of how the group was exposed and who were members and how they were thwarted made for some pretty exciting reading, almost taken from today's media headlines.
It was a pretty good thriller, involving a so-called Doomsday Virus, which was actually a bacterium since it was first treatable with antibiotics. Then the bacterium mutated, and scientists were frantically looking for something that would destroy it, since the incidence of the human cases were spreading. Unknown to the government and the doctors trying to treat patients, the bacterium was devised by a domestic, far-right bioterrorist group. The story of how the group was exposed and who were members and how they were thwarted made for some pretty exciting reading, almost taken from today's media headlines.
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