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A minor road accident landed county prosecutor Katie DeMaio in Westlake Hospital. That night, from her window, she thought she saw a man load a woman's body into the trunk of a car...or was it just a sleeping pill-induced nightmare? At work the next day, Katie began investigating a suicide that looked more like murder. Initial evidence pointed elsewhere, but medical examiner Richard Carroll saw a trail leading to Dr. Edgar Highley. He suspected that the famous doctor's work "curing" infertile women was more than controversial--that it was deceitful, depraived, and often deadly. But before Richard could tell Katie his fears, she left the office for the weekend and an appointment for routine surgery...in Dr. Highley's operating room.
A county prosecutor recovering from a car accident witnesses a suspicious scene from her hospital window that pulls her into a dangerous medical conspiracy. Katie DeMaio must navigate the blurred lines between her own medication-induced perceptions and the reality of a potential crime. As she investigates a suspicious suicide, she unknowingly places herself in the path of a predatory physician whose experimental procedures hide a lethal agenda. The narrative follows a classic suspense structure, alternating between Katie's perspective and the mounting evidence against the antagonist, building tension as the protagonist unknowingly walks into the trap set by her adversary.
This novel is widely recognized as a staple of the medical suspense genre, frequently cited for its ability to maintain high tension through a claustrophobic setting. Readers often note the effectiveness of the protagonist's vulnerability, as her physical recovery limits her ability to act against the encroaching threat. The narrative is characterized by its straightforward, propulsive pacing that prioritizes plot mechanics over complex character studies. It remains a notable example of the author's signature style, which balances professional procedural details with personal peril to keep the reader engaged until the final reveal.
Page Count:
254
Publication Date:
1981-01-01
Publisher:
Fontana/Collins
ISBN-10:
0006170862
ISBN-13:
9780006170860
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