Doing Harm

A Novel

By: Kelly Parsons

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

There are many ways to die in a hospital…being sick is only one of them.

Chief resident Steve Mitchell is the quintessential surgeon: ambitious, intelligent, confident. Charged with molding a group of medical trainees into doctors, and in line for a coveted job, Steve's future is bright. But then a patient mysteriously dies, and it quickly becomes clear that a killer is on the loose in his hospital. A killer set on playing a deadly game with Steve. A killer holding information that could ruin his career and marriage. Now, alone and under a cloud of suspicion, Steve must discover a way to outsmart his opponent and save the killer's next victim before the cycle repeats itself again and again…

A chilling and compelling thriller that also takes you into the hospital and details the politics and hierarchy among doctors, as well as the life and death decisions that are made by flawed human beings, Kelly Parsons' Doing Harm marks the gripping debut of a major fiction career.

Critic reviews

<p>“Best damn medical thriller I've read in 25 years. Terrifying OR scenes, characters with real texture.” —<i>Stephen King</i><br><br>“<i>Doing Harm</i> is a terrific medical thriller--compelling, gripping, and terrifying.” —<i>Harlan Coben, author of Six Years</i><br><br>“A twist worthy of a surgical knot. Flawed characters standing on moral pedestals. Insight into the world of medicine and the ambitious geniuses who make life and death decisions. <i>Doing Harm</i> is more faction than fiction, presenting a world so close to our own that you find yourself second guessing the characters as if they're sitting next to you. Repeatedly, I found myself breathless and troubled yet compelled to keep reading. Brilliant.” —<i>Ridley Pearson, author of Choke Point</i><br><br>“A classic cat-and-mouse game with a refreshing, unexpected twist. It opens with some remarkable bait--dangling a hook that the reader will definitely want to bite. Top notch storytelling.” —<i>Steve Berry, author of The King's Deception</i></p>

Suspenseful

Kept me on the edge of my seat! Could not wait to get back in the car to continue!

Too much medical terminology and explanation

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would leave out some of the medical details . It is a very impractical plot.

Would you recommend Doing Harm to your friends? Why or why not?

If you are not in the medical field you would constantly challenging the scenarios and if you are a layperson you would have difficulty understanding some of the situations. I know it is written by a physician, but is is more fantasy than reality.

Which character – as performed by Robert Petkoff – was your favorite?

Obviously the lead character, Chief resident Steve Mitchell as he solve the medical puzzle,

Was Doing Harm worth the listening time?

Sort of, but it was well read, allowing you to identify the characters.

Fun, thrilling, cunning

What did you love best about Doing Harm?

This book was a fun ride from beginning to end. I appreciated the accuracy of the medical terminology and don't agree with the other reviewers that it seemed "arrogant." Rather, the thorough medical explanations of how easy it is for things to go wrong in hospitals was eye-opening. I thought it was a unique and twisted plot and the book kept me on the edge of my seat.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, it did! It keeps you guessing on who might be the next victim and how.

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

The narration was engaging and fluid.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Oh yeah. But I don't want to give away any spoilers.

Just another attempt at a medical thriller

What did you love best about Doing Harm?

One on hand, being involved in the medical field, I appreciated the exactness of the medical terminology and procedures. On the other hand, if you are not familiar with this professional, you could still listen, but the technical stuff could possibility turn you off and leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Doing Harm?

Finally at the end of the book when you think he has been beaten, and "circling the drain" the person who saves him is a total surprise that I really didn't see coming.

Which character – as performed by Robert Petkoff – was your favorite?

I'm not a sadist, but I absolutely enjoyed Gigi. How her mind works, her methods and games just really make you stop and wonder how the mind goes to such a dark place. She may have been insane, but she was brilliant and cunning in her delivery.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

At many points I had to stop and look at the time left til the end and decide if I wanted to devote that much time to the book. It was a LONG listen and there was so much that was not needed to develop the characters. There were points where I wondered how someone so insecure and immature could make it through medical school. I finally got into it about half way through.

Any additional comments?

It is a good start to a series. Michael Palmer, Robin Cook and other medical writers have nothing to worry about. She isn't going to win over any of their fans. Actually, the author might want to read a couple of their books and see how the best writers do it and learn a few things.

Mildly interesting

The story is ok. Has a lot of details that you know connect to something, but there are so many, it's semi-distracting. The main character is infuriatingly clever at many things, but dreadfully slow to pick up on many major clues.

The medical stuff is realistic enough to set the stage for some of the other less believable plot points.

The ending is drawn out rather painstakingly, and the deus ex machina is completely unnecessary- the main character should have been able to handle himself without any help.

The book is ok for road trips/plane rides/other times when you want a distraction but not to immerse yourself fully in the story.