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116th out of 266 books
—
32 voters
Natural Causes
by
Michael Palmer (Goodreads Author)
Dr. Sarah Baldwin races to a Boston hospital with a young woman whose normal labor has suddenly become a matter of life and death. As she struggles to save both mother and baby, she doesn't know that two other women have already died under horrifying identical circumstances. And so begins Sarah's own nightmare, as she learns that the prenatal herbal vitamins she prescribed...more
Paperback, 496 pages
Published
December 1st 1994
by Bantam
(first published 1994)
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I am a M. Palmer fan. He is kind of like the John Grisham of medical thrillers. Easy to read without going overboard on complicated medical jargon.
I decided to go with an earlier work with Natural Causes (his fourth or fifth book) and found the same steam as his more recent novels. I will be reading a few more in the coming weeks as part of my exploration into the writing of Michael Palmer.
This novel involved a surgeon named Sarah who, by the looks of things, was getting in trouble using holisti...more
I decided to go with an earlier work with Natural Causes (his fourth or fifth book) and found the same steam as his more recent novels. I will be reading a few more in the coming weeks as part of my exploration into the writing of Michael Palmer.
This novel involved a surgeon named Sarah who, by the looks of things, was getting in trouble using holisti...more
Almost too complicated, villian-riddled plot thrills!
We're fans of Palmer and have read most of his booklist, now standing at ten novels. We like his ability to describe medical complexities in plain enough terms to get us through but with plausible enough premises that the scare factor heightens his suspenseful storylines. "Natural Causes" continues in this vein as pregnant women start losing their babies and dying themselves from a rare blood disorder. Is it being caused by (our heroine) Dr. S...more
We're fans of Palmer and have read most of his booklist, now standing at ten novels. We like his ability to describe medical complexities in plain enough terms to get us through but with plausible enough premises that the scare factor heightens his suspenseful storylines. "Natural Causes" continues in this vein as pregnant women start losing their babies and dying themselves from a rare blood disorder. Is it being caused by (our heroine) Dr. S...more
This was my first Michael Palmer novel and it definitely will not be the last. I really enjoyed this a lot and especially so knowing that Michael Palmer is an MD.
Dr.Sarah Baldwin came to the Medical Center of Boston as an OB/GYN resident after spending years in Thailand studying herbal medicine and wanting to do more with her knowledge. She wasted three years with Peter Ettinger who sees himself as a health guru (think New Age quack) who was actually someone with just a bachelor and master's de...more
Dr.Sarah Baldwin came to the Medical Center of Boston as an OB/GYN resident after spending years in Thailand studying herbal medicine and wanting to do more with her knowledge. She wasted three years with Peter Ettinger who sees himself as a health guru (think New Age quack) who was actually someone with just a bachelor and master's de...more
Took me a while to get into this. I don't know if the thickness of the book played with my mind or what, but at one point over the weekend I questioned whether I should continue. Palmer's reputation as an author whose books I enjoy is what kept me motivated, and once I got in about 100 pages it was smooth sailing until the end.
I felt there could have been more character development in the book. So many people were introduced and given just enough suspicious traits to make the reader wonder if th...more
I felt there could have been more character development in the book. So many people were introduced and given just enough suspicious traits to make the reader wonder if th...more
A gripping medical novel that kept me sitting on the edge of my seat!! Page after page I was intrigued with the nightmare which Sarah finds herself caught up in.
From back cover:
"Dr. Sarah Baldwin races to a Boston hospital with a young woman whose normal labour has suddenly become a matter of life and death. As she struggles to save both mother and baby, she doesn't know that two other women have already died under horrifying identical circumstances. And so begins Sarah's own nightmare, as she l...more
From back cover:
"Dr. Sarah Baldwin races to a Boston hospital with a young woman whose normal labour has suddenly become a matter of life and death. As she struggles to save both mother and baby, she doesn't know that two other women have already died under horrifying identical circumstances. And so begins Sarah's own nightmare, as she l...more
I finished this book last night, and I am kind of pissed at what a let down it was. This book hooked me from the first few pages. It was so interesting that I couldn't put it down. About three quarters of the way through the author must have had visions of a Hollywood thriller. The characters are thrown in to evermore implausible and stupid situations. The plot went from amazingly believable to eye-rollingly awful. Think Bourne Identity on top of James Bond layered with Mission Impossible. If ha...more
Well, for the most part I liked this book! It did take me a long time to get really interested. I thought about putting it down many times and starting another book. This was my first Michael Palmer book..onece I started getting more used to his writing style I became more interested. For me there was just a little too much hospital politics in this book. He seems to be a very knowledged writer which was what kept me reading.
I actually liked this book, even though it reminded me a lot of the movie, "Extreme Measures," which was based on another novel by this author. There was quality action, suspense, and, of course, a surprise villian at the end. My only hope is that all his books aren't written the same way. I may go back to this author sometime again in the future to check out more medical thrillers.
This is the first Palmer book I've read, and it was okay. There were some twists and turns to keep me reading, a little action and romance. However, before I was halfway through the book I knew how it would end and knew the villain would be one of two people. The only thing that kept me reading was in the details. I would probably read another of his books though, if only for a second chance.
This was almost as good as the last two older Palmer novels I've read recently. The only reason I didn't like it quite as well was that things kind of slowed down a bit in the story right before the ending unfolded and I had to push myself to read for a bit. Otherwise, another suspensful plot with likeable characters. I'm definately reading more of his older books.
Another good who done it medical story, but I fear that all of his books are starting to have the same plot. Reminds me of "House"...some bizarre patient shows up, some doctor is puzzled, there is the obligatory romance that develops between said doctor and someone involved in the case, and then at the end it is a shock who really did it.
Sarah's patients are dying in labor and it may be connected to the herbal supplements she's been prescribing. I hated every character in this book. Their science was bad and their ethics were bad. A lot of their other dimensions were also bad, but I think they're generally covered by those, because life is generally covered by those.
Like his other books, Natural Causes is a very suspenseful medical thriller that addresses an ethical question in medicine--this one about the ethics of using complementary/alternative therapies. As a medical writer, I love all the medical information he so deftly weaves into the books.
I picked this book up from the Readers' Choice section at the library. It was a fairly good medical mystery, but there was more strong language than I like in a book. For those not bothered by that, it was a pretty good way to entertain oneself on a slow summer afternoon.
This one was a bit of a disappointment, maybe for me because it followed right on the heels of my finishing The Patient, to which I gave 5 stars. Natural Causes though felt forced, convenient situations and dialogue that was not at all up to Palmer's prior standards.
Ok, with the exception of the ever-present "a man and a woman cannot work together for two weeks without having sex" fantasy of the author, it was a well-structured, fast-paced, interesting read. Hope they work the bugs out of that virus real soon.
It was an OK read. I'd give it 2 1/2 stars if I could, because I like that I never suspected the killer was that person. But all in all, I wasn't impressed. Way too much legal and medical termanoloy, it left me confused at times.
A mildly entertaining medical thriller involving alternative medicine and viruses.
By the way, I was annoyed every time I saw the word venipuncture spelled with an 'a'.
By the way, I was annoyed every time I saw the word venipuncture spelled with an 'a'.
This was my first Michael Palmer novel & I doubt it will be my last.
It was a little slow to start with but then the pace picks up & the story line intensifies. There are several twists along the way & the author keeps you guessing & intrigued. The last few chapters especially keep you riveted, wanting to know what happens next.
It was a good read & I enjoyed it very much.
It was a little slow to start with but then the pace picks up & the story line intensifies. There are several twists along the way & the author keeps you guessing & intrigued. The last few chapters especially keep you riveted, wanting to know what happens next.
It was a good read & I enjoyed it very much.
Another book that's entertaing, ala Sheldon, etc., but before you reach the end you know whats going to happen.
This medical mystery by Palmer was very interesting. I really enjoyed reading this and would recommend it.
Michael Palmer is very good at what he does. This book is a fast paced read that I didn't want to put down.
This is the first book by M Palmer and it was a great medical thriller. It was fast paced and sucked you in.
Still a reasonable read even though some of the issues and the medical technology are dated.
A quick, fun read. Entertaining even if it was a little over-the-top (think Hollywood movies).
Michael Palmer tem uma escrita que prende, é sempre um prazer!( Mortes Naturais )
Great medical thriller-will make you never take quick-weight loss pills!
Well written, easy to read, not too bad on plot, but far too predictable.
Robbie hasn't yet read this one.
Medical thriller full of suspense
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Michael Palmer, M.D., is the author of the forthcoming A Heartbeat Away (2011), The Last Surgeon, The First Patient, The Fifth Vial, The Society, Fatal, The Patient, Miracle Cure, Critical Judgment, Silent Treatment, Natural Causes, Extreme Measures, Flashback, Side Effects, and The Sisterhood. His books have been translated into thirty-five languages. He trained in internal medicine at Boston Cit...more
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