Political Suicide

By: Michael Palmer

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 10 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

From The New York Times bestselling author of Oath of Office comes a gripping thriller at the crossroads of politics and medicineDr.

Lou Welcome, from Palmer's bestselling Oath of Office, is back in this heart stopping medical thriller. A desperate phone call embroils Lou in scandal and murder involving Dr. Gary McHugh, known around the Capital as the "society doc." Lou has been supervising McHugh, formerly a black-out drinker, through his work with the Physician Wellness Office.

McHugh has been very cavalier about his recovery, barely attending AA and refusing a sponsor. But Lou sees progress, and the two men are becoming friends. Now, McHugh has been found unconscious in his wrecked car after visiting a patient of his, the powerful Congressman Elias Colston, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Soon after McHugh awakens in the hospital ER, Colston's wife returns home to find her husband shot dead in their garage. She then admits to the police that she had just broken off a long-standing affair with McHugh.

Something about McHugh's story has Lou believing he is telling the truth, that the Congressman was dead when he arrived and before he blacked out. Lou agrees to look into matters, but when he encounters motive, method and opportunity he is hard pressed to believe in his friend - that is until a deadly high-level conspiracy begins to unravel, and Lou acquires information that makes him the next target.

©2012 Michael Palmer (P)2012 Macmillan Audio

Good Listen.

Usual excellent Michael Palmer offering. Lots of twists and turns and superb dialog. Well offered and well read. A must read.

Disappointing

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I was on a two-day car trip and it kept me awake for much of the trip, so that was good.

What was most disappointing about Michael Palmer’s story?

Plot was VERY contrived. Two educated people put themselves in ridiculous peril repeatedly with no back-up plan -- no one knowing where they were going or when they should be back. I can suspend my disbelief for one or two instances of that, but 8 or 10 in one book is WAY over the top. Parts of the plot were interesting and somewhat credible (use of drugs to control soldiers' behavior and reactions), but some of the activities that supposedly took place on military bases were beyond the pale. And the author's grasp of the American court system was thin at best -- he should have done more homework or just cut the courtroom scenes.

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

Not that I know of, but i would not turn away from his readings -- he rendered what he had just fine.

Did Political Suicide inspire you to do anything?

Not read or listen to Michael Palmer again.

Unusual story line...

Medical mysteries are not usually my preference, however Dr. Welcome does not seem to fit into a medical mystery. He is more of a detective. I find him to be a very likable character along with Cap his AA sponsor. I enjoyed this book and I will try the next one.

I reserve 4-Stars and 5-Stars for the "I can't put them down page turners" This is not in that category, but I did find it an interesting premise.

Political Suicide

A thrill ride that kept me guessing to the vey end by a favorite author’

A Little Below Michael Palmer's Standards

What did you love best about Political Suicide?

I love political novels and I love medical novels and this combines the two.

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

No

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

Michael Palmer is one of my favorite authors and this book is better than most other authors' books, but it definitely falls below Palmer's usual standards. A little slow and unimaginative in spots, I would still take it over most other authors. If you have never read Michael Palmer, you will love it. If you are a Michael Palmer fan, you might be a little disappointed.

Not as Good as the First Novel

This novel was more on the macho side and less on the cerebral side. The characters were not well developed. Some of the medical information in the book was wrong.

Not bad but some silly plotting

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Probably would not recommend as there are so many better options.

Would you ever listen to anything by Michael Palmer again?

I have read other books by Palmer and was not disappointed.

Medicine-thriller of 2012

Would you listen to Political Suicide again? Why?

Yes: This book has amazing details. As a medical anthropologist I love details given in this book. Creates a well-layered story. Fringe and the President on a high-level. More realistic much more detailed than ANY tv-show. Brilliant from first to the very last page. A priviliege!

What did you like best about this story?

The great details and the smart plot.

Which scene was your favorite?

I won't spill, it does involve the V.P

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

A political chaos.

Just ok

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I might. It was just ok though, not great writing or storyline. The characters were a little juvenile or maybe underdeveloped.

What was most disappointing about Michael Palmer’s story?

It was not very believable.

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

No but the reading was really good, better than the story itself

Was Political Suicide worth the listening time?

Better than listening to the radio, I drive an hour each way to work.

YOUR WELCOME, LOU

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, a good series that offers an insight of an ER doctor struggling to make life right

What did you like best about this story?

Doctor Lou's character in total

What about Robert Petkoff’s performance did you like?

Job well done

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

Whatever it takes! Mantis