Oath of Office

By: Michael Palmer

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

From the New York Times best-selling author of A Heartbeat Away and The Last Surgeon comes a shocking new novel at the crossroads of politics and medicine.

What if a well respected doctor inexplicably goes on a murderous rampage? When Dr. John Meacham goes on a shooting spree, his business partner, staff, and two patients are killed in the bloodbath. Then Meacham turns the gun on himself.

The blame falls on Dr. Lou Welcome. Welcome worked with Meacham years before as a counselor after John's medical license had been revoked for drug addiction. Lou knew that John was an excellent doctor and deserved to be practicing medicine, and fought hard for his license to be restored. After hearing the news of the violent outburst, Lou is in shock like everyone else, but mostly he's incredulous. When he begins to look into it further, the terrifying evidence he finds takes him down a path to an unspeakable conspiracy that seems to lead directly to the White House and those in the highest positions of power.

©2012 Michael Palmer (P)2012 Macmillan Audio

Suspenseful Storyline with Exceptional Narration!

Outstanding narration! Robert Petkoff assumed the voices of all characters, who were each clearly distinguishable and whose voices consistently executed. Exceptional!

A great story

Easy to read and follow, Dr Welcome leads us in his pursuit of why the inexplicable keeps happening near his city. Very enjoyable, all the way to the end.

Never Disappoints

Mr Palmer's stories never disappoint and this was no exception. What a thrill ride, I couldn't wait for the next chapter. A twist everywhere, although I thought I knew, I was surprised and would highly recommend this to anyone interested in medicine at its twisted best.

A Roller Coaster Ride of Thrills!

Would you consider the audio edition of Oath of Office to be better than the print version?

Yes it might be. There were moments when I wanted to stop reading and I couldn't I credit the reader and the plot line. If I had been reading a print version it probably would have been easier to stop reading.

What did you like best about this story?

The wildness. I was completely unable to stop listening. The plot is very interesting however the pace is so contagious; the story just goes from thrill to thrill.

Have you listened to any of Robert Petkoff’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No; but I enjoyed him immensely.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A electrifying thrill you'll never finish eating your popcorn!

Any additional comments?

No

Prediction of the future?

This story was gripping. The characters always remained human, not super-human or super-intelligent. They had to use ordinary means and logic to solve the puzzle. Some of the story reminded me of the Stepford Wives in that a community was slowly being effected to think in certain ways. If you have a tendency to believe conspiracy theories, this book will make you more paranoid. I started this review before the recent reports of “pink slime” in the meat. This book will cause you to become more suspicious. Remember, the book is fiction, not a documentary or an augury of the future – or is it?

What a chore to listen to this book

Has Oath of Office turned you off from other books in this genre?

I usually love Michael Palmer books but this was just . . . bizarre . . . and made no sense.

What about Robert Petkoff’s performance did you like?

No problem with the narration but the story didn't make any sense.

Couldn't Finish- Not Impressed

Would you try another book from Michael Palmer and/or Robert Petkoff?

I would not buy another Michael Palmer book. The plot was too predictable, and the characters vastly underdeveloped. Disappointing.

Terrible book

This book was so ridiculous The story line is crazy. It's as if someone didn't have any ideas for a real story. I won't read Palmer again. Not sure I believe he actually wrote this book Waste of money. If I had lent book from library would have returned it.

Flat As Imitation Cola

You've drunk the stuff... Looks like Coke, Pepsi, or Dr. Pepper, maybe smells like one of them - and then you taste it. Ewwwww! There's no there - there. And that's the problem with "Oath of Office". Palmer is an imitator, good enough to get published, even good enough to have an audience of franken-writing people guzzle it, But for folks like me who've ingested the Pepsi, Cokes, and Dr. Ps for years, the book is like a sugar-free doughnut with all the gluten, trans-fats, and most of its taste excised. Think of it as say... Robin Cook's med-thriller plotting and narrative after lipo-suctioning away too much muscle.

Palmer's frank in the ending interview in explaining that his knowledge of politics is Google-grazing thin. And yet, this is supposed to be a political thriller. Instead it's an off brand of Hubris Cola, all looks and smell but a gassy tease that leaves my taste buds really frustrated. Ditto the pointless action sequences sufficient to create the weight of a novel.

I cared about no one in this cast in spite of Robert Petkoff's journeyman voices. The only one surprised over who-dunnit, or why-dunnit is Dr. Lou Welcome the novel's half-dimensional hero. This book stirs at ideas with an itsy-bitsy swizzle stick. Perhaps doctors should keep to doctoring, or at least write about doctoring and leave geo-political existentialism to people who do that? Or, as Dr. Palmer admits in his interview, he's careened around through extra-curricular interests a lot and has settled upon political thriller writing because some of his best friends do it.

Judging by all the books he's had published, well, he's found an audience. And maybe there's such an appetite among people who like Robin Cook's medical thrillers that they're easily sated between Cook's books?

Dunno... But just as I've learned to pass when a server offers me Milly's Cola instead of Coke, Pepsi, or Dr. P... This experience with Michael Palmer's flat characters and clattering action scenes... leaves me yearning for the truthiness of writers who either know what they are writing about, or have learned to fake it.

Beware, this book's the Milly's Cola of franken-novels.

wish I could get refund

What disappointed you about Oath of Office?

the story was not good at all. why was it printed or in audio beats me!!!!

Would you ever listen to anything by Michael Palmer again?

nope, would not do that again.

What didn’t you like about Robert Petkoff’s performance?

n/a

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

none

Any additional comments?

would love a refund, or a better book.