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Dr. Lou Welcome #1
Oath of Office
Oath of Office Michael Palmer When Dr. John Meacham goes on a shooting spree the office, 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 Welcome worked with Meacham years before as a counselor after John's medical license had been revoked for drug addiction.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. And 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.
464 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 14, 2012
309 people are currently reading
2548 people want to read
About the author
Michael Palmer
68 books242 followersMichael Stephen Palmer, M.D., was an American physician and author. His novels are often referred to as medical thrillers. Some of his novels have made The New York Times Best Seller list and have been translated into 35 languages. One, Extreme Measures (1991), was adopted into a 1996 film of the same name starring Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Gene Hackman.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews
February 26, 2012
Imagine, if you will, that Michael Crichton did not die from cancer, but from a zombie attack. Also, imagine that prior to his death at the relentless jaws of the undead, he read Stephen King's Tommyknockers. Now, suppose the reanimated corpse of Michael Crichton lumbered about for some time. Eventually, it remembered having read the King book and decided to write a book of its own, with only the rotted stumps left where hands used to be.
This book would be the result.
This book would be the result.
March 6, 2012
It's been a while since I've enjoyed a thriller as immensely as I did this one. Maybe because after reading about so many psychopaths and supernaturally touched murderers, one kill more horrifying and graphic than the other, it was refreshing to read a thriller written the classical way. We have an intelligent, likable protagonist, a plausible, fast-paced plot, perfectly timed action sequences and a highly dramatic finale. A page turner of the traditional sort, with a very modern, scarily realistic scenario.
The fact that OATH OF OFFICE is a medical thriller had me braced for scientific monologues and medical lingo that would drown out part of the actual plot. How wonderful that neither was the case! The medical/scientific aspects of the story are well-embedded into the plot, and the fact that the main character, Dr. Lou Welcome, works in an ER only gives the whole thing even more plausibility. Lou's calmness in the eye of the storm directly correlates to the life-and-death decisions he has to make in the ER, and the reader readily believes in his mental strength in dire situations.
OATH OF OFFICE also covers the modern day power play of politics and business. The conspiracy goes all the way up to the White House, and Palmer touches on a highly sensitive issue when it comes to the clashing business interests in and health risks of GMO.
Be warned: After reading OATH OF OFFICE, you'll most likely exclude certain types of food from your diet. At least for a while.
The one thing I could criticize: The common denominator, the link between the victims was very obvious very soon. I couldn't quite believe how Lou didn't put two and two together there. But he's forgiven, and so is Michael Palmer. We've all been there and overlooked the most obvious, haven't we?
What an enjoyable read! And the audio version I listened to was perfectly narrated by Robert Petkoff. A professional, well-paced narration with subtle vocal differentiation of the different characters. Petkoff never over-dramatizes, and never pushes his voice into the foreground. His narration does nothing but completely serve the story and give the characters their unique voices. Couldn't have been done better!
The fact that OATH OF OFFICE is a medical thriller had me braced for scientific monologues and medical lingo that would drown out part of the actual plot. How wonderful that neither was the case! The medical/scientific aspects of the story are well-embedded into the plot, and the fact that the main character, Dr. Lou Welcome, works in an ER only gives the whole thing even more plausibility. Lou's calmness in the eye of the storm directly correlates to the life-and-death decisions he has to make in the ER, and the reader readily believes in his mental strength in dire situations.
OATH OF OFFICE also covers the modern day power play of politics and business. The conspiracy goes all the way up to the White House, and Palmer touches on a highly sensitive issue when it comes to the clashing business interests in and health risks of GMO.
Be warned: After reading OATH OF OFFICE, you'll most likely exclude certain types of food from your diet. At least for a while.
The one thing I could criticize: The common denominator, the link between the victims was very obvious very soon. I couldn't quite believe how Lou didn't put two and two together there. But he's forgiven, and so is Michael Palmer. We've all been there and overlooked the most obvious, haven't we?
What an enjoyable read! And the audio version I listened to was perfectly narrated by Robert Petkoff. A professional, well-paced narration with subtle vocal differentiation of the different characters. Petkoff never over-dramatizes, and never pushes his voice into the foreground. His narration does nothing but completely serve the story and give the characters their unique voices. Couldn't have been done better!
December 29, 2017
A couple of my GR friends gave this high marks & it's written by a doctor, so I was prepared for a pretty good medical mystery-thriller. As I listened to it & heard the excellent way alcohol/drug issues were handled, I was tickled. Too many authors screw that up. Palmer didn't. He got it all right. The characters weren't bad, but not great. Still, this is the first novel in a series, could have been his first ever. Not sure, but I could live with it.
But the story itself... not so good. I liked the psychology behind the craziness. That was pretty well done, but the thriller aspect was trite & full of ridiculous situations. For instance, who would leave a modern combine (which costs more than many of us spend on our houses) sitting conveniently in a field of corn that wasn't ripe yet with the keys in it? Or a First Lady that goes around playing detective up to sliding out bathroom windows for clandestine meetings? Or guys that carry guns hunting others with guns being surprised when they get shot?
The final nail in the coffin was the whole way Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) were handled. It was the worst kind of pseudoscience & guides the reader into completely false impressions of the subject & it's one I object to even fiction spreading. There are more than enough lies being touted. There's a very good reason Obama overturned the Vermont GMO labeling law. While I'm sure that there can be unintended consequences, pinning it on GMOs doesn't work for me. They're far less likely than other breeding methods.
But the story itself... not so good. I liked the psychology behind the craziness. That was pretty well done, but the thriller aspect was trite & full of ridiculous situations. For instance, who would leave a modern combine (which costs more than many of us spend on our houses) sitting conveniently in a field of corn that wasn't ripe yet with the keys in it? Or a First Lady that goes around playing detective up to sliding out bathroom windows for clandestine meetings? Or guys that carry guns hunting others with guns being surprised when they get shot?
The final nail in the coffin was the whole way Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) were handled. It was the worst kind of pseudoscience & guides the reader into completely false impressions of the subject & it's one I object to even fiction spreading. There are more than enough lies being touted. There's a very good reason Obama overturned the Vermont GMO labeling law. While I'm sure that there can be unintended consequences, pinning it on GMOs doesn't work for me. They're far less likely than other breeding methods.
February 14, 2012
My thoughts:
This is an incredible story! The beginning is stunning, gripping, and terrifying. Once I read the prologue I was hooked. This is a masterfully crafted story of corruption and greed as well as compassion and the driving belief in doing the right thing.
The characters are wonderfully constructed, each with a complex life and belief system that makes them come alive from the pages. Lou is fabulous. His profound sense of right and wrong as well as his willingness to see life from all angles makes him stand out, even among the many well-built characters in this book. I was impressed with his ability to co-parent with such a supportive and positive attitude after what had to be a heart breaking divorce and a long, hard road to recovery. He and Cap are both role models that every 12-step program dreams of.
The complex story line and multifaceted plot keep the reader turning the pages, always looking forward to learning one more tidbit in the mystery. The writing is vivid and imaginative, so much so that you literally "see" the story unfold in your mind in full color. Joey's "pets" are the stuff of true nightmares; the descriptions alone left me cringing and shaky.
Great characters make a story for me, but this book has it all - great characters (both the "good guys" and the "bad guys", an intriguing mystery, conflict on a number of levels, and a little bit of a romance. An all around great read.
This is an incredible story! The beginning is stunning, gripping, and terrifying. Once I read the prologue I was hooked. This is a masterfully crafted story of corruption and greed as well as compassion and the driving belief in doing the right thing.
The characters are wonderfully constructed, each with a complex life and belief system that makes them come alive from the pages. Lou is fabulous. His profound sense of right and wrong as well as his willingness to see life from all angles makes him stand out, even among the many well-built characters in this book. I was impressed with his ability to co-parent with such a supportive and positive attitude after what had to be a heart breaking divorce and a long, hard road to recovery. He and Cap are both role models that every 12-step program dreams of.
The complex story line and multifaceted plot keep the reader turning the pages, always looking forward to learning one more tidbit in the mystery. The writing is vivid and imaginative, so much so that you literally "see" the story unfold in your mind in full color. Joey's "pets" are the stuff of true nightmares; the descriptions alone left me cringing and shaky.
Great characters make a story for me, but this book has it all - great characters (both the "good guys" and the "bad guys", an intriguing mystery, conflict on a number of levels, and a little bit of a romance. An all around great read.
December 8, 2011
“Oath of Office” by Michael Palmer, published by St. Martin’s Press.
Category – Mystery/Thriller
If you have not read Michael Palmer before, “Oath of Office” would be a good start. Palmer has 17 books and they are all top notch reads. His novels are medical suspense and many have a Presidential and/or political theme to them.
The author is an associate director of the Massachusetts Medical Society Physician Health Services. This Society is devoted to physicians that are or have been troubled by mental illness, physical illness, behavioral issues, and chemical dependency.
Dr. John Meacham, after admonishing a patient for being overweight, goes on a killing spree, killing several people in his office before he turns the gun on himself.
Meacham, who has had mental issues, was suspended from practice until he overcame his demons. Dr. Lou Welcome, a member of the Physician Wellness Office, was instrumental in getting Meacham reinstated to practice medicine.
Lou now comes under scrutiny for his support of Meacham. He cannot understand what has happened because Meacham was not only a good physician, but seemed to have himself under control.
Once Lou starts to look into the problem he finds that there are similar actions occurring in the town of Kings Ridge. He discovers a mound of giant termites that may be part of a scientific experiment to grow corn that yields more to the acre and more to the plant.
Adding to this, he becomes involved with the wife of the President of the United States. The President has brokered a deal with China to send them the corn that may be tainted.
“Oath of Office” is a really good mystery that combines science and action to give the reader a satisfying read that will hold your interest to the end.
Category – Mystery/Thriller
If you have not read Michael Palmer before, “Oath of Office” would be a good start. Palmer has 17 books and they are all top notch reads. His novels are medical suspense and many have a Presidential and/or political theme to them.
The author is an associate director of the Massachusetts Medical Society Physician Health Services. This Society is devoted to physicians that are or have been troubled by mental illness, physical illness, behavioral issues, and chemical dependency.
Dr. John Meacham, after admonishing a patient for being overweight, goes on a killing spree, killing several people in his office before he turns the gun on himself.
Meacham, who has had mental issues, was suspended from practice until he overcame his demons. Dr. Lou Welcome, a member of the Physician Wellness Office, was instrumental in getting Meacham reinstated to practice medicine.
Lou now comes under scrutiny for his support of Meacham. He cannot understand what has happened because Meacham was not only a good physician, but seemed to have himself under control.
Once Lou starts to look into the problem he finds that there are similar actions occurring in the town of Kings Ridge. He discovers a mound of giant termites that may be part of a scientific experiment to grow corn that yields more to the acre and more to the plant.
Adding to this, he becomes involved with the wife of the President of the United States. The President has brokered a deal with China to send them the corn that may be tainted.
“Oath of Office” is a really good mystery that combines science and action to give the reader a satisfying read that will hold your interest to the end.
Want to read
January 10, 2012I LOVE this place!
I just won an AR copy of this. Being a Michael Palmer fan, I'll dig into this as soon as it arrives, and will certainly post a review.
Thank You! to the publisher for making copies available for us, and especially for Michael Palmer for making it happen!
I just won an AR copy of this. Being a Michael Palmer fan, I'll dig into this as soon as it arrives, and will certainly post a review.
Thank You! to the publisher for making copies available for us, and especially for Michael Palmer for making it happen!
January 8, 2012
Dr. John Meacham appears to be going about business when something odd happens-he kills two patients, his business partner, and staff. Dr. Welcome is blamed as he helped Dr. Meacham earn back his medical license after losing it to alcohol abuse. Dr. Welcome believed in Dr. Meacham's capability as a doctor. As a result, Dr. Welcome is under inspection himself. Dr. Welcome still believes in Dr. Meacham even after the horrible shooting, he resolves to dig deeper into the occurrence and uncover the other possibilities-that maybe Dr. Meacham's shooting was something else entirely. Dr. Welcome discovers that similar occurrences have can be found in the town itself as well as a suspicious termite mound with termites that are far from the norm. The book takes off from there.
Dr. Welcome is a character the reader will like. He is inquisitive, intelligent, and caring. He exudes integrity, the reader knows that what he is telling him/her is true, he holds nothing back. The other characters the reader will have to decide his/her opinion of them, some are easy to relate to while others will make the reader want to shake him/her. The events are fast-paced, the mystery does not lag or include extraneous information. The transitions are smooth and the plot is easy to follow while still containing intricacies that will force the reader to think. The plot develops over the course of the book and the reader will unlikely not be able to guess at the ending-there are plenty of surprises and twists that the reader will have to think twice about. This book was exciting and fun to read, recommended to adult readers.
February 19, 2012
I usually really like Michael Palmer, unfortunantly this is not one of them. I found most of the book to be unbelievable. For instance I don't think the POTUS's wife could sneak around like she did (the diner in the middle of the night), without him knowing about it. The ending left me feeling sour, my final thought was "that's it". (not in a good way). I thought everything was tied up a little too neatly. I also thought the ending was a little too predictable. POTUS gets a concious and tries to do the right thing, all the bad guys get killed, life goes on for the good guys. Although the idea of Ms. Millie being in on it was good, she went from sweet grandmotherly type to someone way more involved than you would've thought.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2013
This is not Michael Palmer at his best. I don’t even know why he chose this subject to write about. This is a most distressful story. 2 of 10 stars
January 17, 2012
Michael Palmer has been writing edge-of-your-set medical thrillers for several decades and firmly taken the place of Robin Cook in that genre. His last few novels have ventured out into pure thriller territory and with a nice political spin!
His latest effort, OATH OF OFFICE, combines both the medicine and politics to create a novel that has very current and relevant themes at its core. The story opens with a well-respected but curiously troubled Doctor named John Meacham going on a shooting spree in his own office and killing several people before taking his own life.
The results of this tragedy are placed at the feet of Dr. Lou Welcome, the counselor who had worked to get Dr. Meacham’s medical license restored after it was revoked due to prescription drug addiction. Welcome does not want to believe that the two acts are related so he begins to look into the homicidal act to find out what the actual root cause was.
Welcome’s search quickly pits him against powerful opponents. He uses his position as a physician with the PWO --- Physician Wellness Office --- to look further into the Meacham case. When a few other cases of people acting out sorts or maniacal occur, Welcome suspects that this is no mere coincidence and delves further into the investigation.
His journey leads him to a small town named Kings Ridge where the residents have been acting odder than usual. Ironically, this is also the town of multi-millionaire William Chester, the head of Chester Enterprises. Chester is a major food magnate and Lou and the colleagues he enlists to aid him in his efforts find out first-hand just how powerful Chester is when they find themselves nearly mowed down in one of his huge corn-fields.
Death by a corn thrasher is more than just a sick coincidence when it turns out that this very corn (and other produce being manufactured by Chester Enterprises) may have been genetically tampered with. Could this tampered food be behind the behavioral changes of the local residents and possibly have brought about the homicidal reactions of Dr. Meacham?
As frightening as this premise is for Welcome, it does not come near the greater revelation that he uncovers. Could the White House itself have been behind the genetically tampered food products? If yes, the next question would have to be to what end was this being done? That answer is one that Welcome is definitely not prepared for and will terrify readers with how eerily plausible this discovery is.
Michael Palmer continues to evolve as a writer and his ability to leap from purely medically driven thrillers into novels that pack such strong political overtones like OATH OF OFFICE shows of an author at the top of his game. With well-researched and shockingly relevant fiction like this it scares me as to what Mr. Palmer will think up next!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for New Mystery Reader
His latest effort, OATH OF OFFICE, combines both the medicine and politics to create a novel that has very current and relevant themes at its core. The story opens with a well-respected but curiously troubled Doctor named John Meacham going on a shooting spree in his own office and killing several people before taking his own life.
The results of this tragedy are placed at the feet of Dr. Lou Welcome, the counselor who had worked to get Dr. Meacham’s medical license restored after it was revoked due to prescription drug addiction. Welcome does not want to believe that the two acts are related so he begins to look into the homicidal act to find out what the actual root cause was.
Welcome’s search quickly pits him against powerful opponents. He uses his position as a physician with the PWO --- Physician Wellness Office --- to look further into the Meacham case. When a few other cases of people acting out sorts or maniacal occur, Welcome suspects that this is no mere coincidence and delves further into the investigation.
His journey leads him to a small town named Kings Ridge where the residents have been acting odder than usual. Ironically, this is also the town of multi-millionaire William Chester, the head of Chester Enterprises. Chester is a major food magnate and Lou and the colleagues he enlists to aid him in his efforts find out first-hand just how powerful Chester is when they find themselves nearly mowed down in one of his huge corn-fields.
Death by a corn thrasher is more than just a sick coincidence when it turns out that this very corn (and other produce being manufactured by Chester Enterprises) may have been genetically tampered with. Could this tampered food be behind the behavioral changes of the local residents and possibly have brought about the homicidal reactions of Dr. Meacham?
As frightening as this premise is for Welcome, it does not come near the greater revelation that he uncovers. Could the White House itself have been behind the genetically tampered food products? If yes, the next question would have to be to what end was this being done? That answer is one that Welcome is definitely not prepared for and will terrify readers with how eerily plausible this discovery is.
Michael Palmer continues to evolve as a writer and his ability to leap from purely medically driven thrillers into novels that pack such strong political overtones like OATH OF OFFICE shows of an author at the top of his game. With well-researched and shockingly relevant fiction like this it scares me as to what Mr. Palmer will think up next!
Reviewed by Ray Palen for New Mystery Reader
February 19, 2012
Written by one of the world’s most stellar suspense authors, this book is a complete shock to any reader’s system. Keeping you completely on edge, this story starts out rapidly…and never lets you take a breath.
A very honored physician in a town near Washington, DC, goes on a violent rampage in his office and, before he’s through, he fatally wounds his staff, his associate and two patients. Then, turning the gun on himself, he shouts the words over and over again: No Witnesses.
The doctor, John Meacham, was a respected member of the medical community. However, he had lost his license and been suspended for alcoholism, as well as losing his temper with a patient that did not follow his instructions. A colleague, Dr. Lou Welcome, had worked with Meacham in the past through an organization called, “Physicians Wellness Office.” Dr. Welcome had done a great deal to help . Meacham through his problems, even sending him to AA meetings and psychiatric visits until, finally, Dr. Meacham had been able to return to the practice of medicine. When Dr. Welcome hears the news of this horrible slaughter in his colleague’s office, he practically goes into shock, seeing as that everything had been going so well.
Dr. Welcome immediately rushes to the aid of Meacham’s wife, offering to take her home after viewing her husband’s body. But on the way, Mrs. Meacham begins to develop some very strange symptoms, and almost causes an accident on the highway because she begins to chase a car with a broken tail light for no reason. Definitely out of her mind, Doctor Welcome decides to look more deeply into these sudden ‘strange’ occurrences to see if there is perhaps something in common that sent these perfectly normal people into homicidal rages in mere seconds.
When Dr. Welcome begins his investigation, he stumbles upon a horrendous conspiracy that will lead him to some very wealthy people; people who may or may not include the leader of the free world.
Delving deeply into the significant and very real fact that all people in authority take oaths to protect, to defend and to obey, this author reveals various individuals who will break those powerful oaths, no matter what the cost.
Mr. Palmer is well-known for writing about the medical profession and really knows his subject to the core. An eye-opener when it comes to keeping said ‘eye’ on the people who are in charge of all citizens, Mr. Palmer has delivered a perfect, chilling read.
July 21, 2016
I was so happy to get this book in a Goodreads giveaway because I've always been a Michael Palmer fan. This book didn't disappoint. Once I picked it up and started reading, I had a hard time putting it down.
What's not to like about a medical thriller with political conspiracies tossed in for good measure?
If I have one complaint about Michael Palmer's books, it's that he apparently doesn't do series. He creates these great settings and characters and then never uses them again in another story.
Lou Welcome is a really great character. He's a recovering addict, boxer, ER doctor and mentor for other doctors who are working to regain their license after having problems with drugs and alcohol. And when one of his clients kills everyone in his office and then himself, Dr. Meacham starts to notice that there's something just a little bit off with some of the people living in the little town of King's Crossing.
I love how Palmer wove this character and the story, leading the reader down a winding and dangerous path of discovery, building tension all the way to an explosive ending and some surprising revelations about the President of the United States and the world food supply. I was ready to run out and plant a garden and start preserving my home-grown harvest. Extreme couponing and a basement (or attic) filled with food surplus won't seem like such a crazy idea after you read this book. And if you think termites are icky before you read this book, your skin will really be crawling after you read it.
I'm not going to give away any of the surprises, but there are plenty of them and I didn't even see them coming. Some of it's not all the hard to figure out and I don't think it's meant to be, but there were plenty of revelations I didn't expect.
If, like me, you like medical thrillers mixed in with political conspiracy, you'll really like this book.
Now, for the really ugly: the price. It's a whopping $14.99. What the hell is going on with the publishing industry?? Unless you're used to paying that kind of price for a book in any format (and I'm not and I won't), wait for the paperback, buy a used copy or see if the library has it.
What's not to like about a medical thriller with political conspiracies tossed in for good measure?
If I have one complaint about Michael Palmer's books, it's that he apparently doesn't do series. He creates these great settings and characters and then never uses them again in another story.
Lou Welcome is a really great character. He's a recovering addict, boxer, ER doctor and mentor for other doctors who are working to regain their license after having problems with drugs and alcohol. And when one of his clients kills everyone in his office and then himself, Dr. Meacham starts to notice that there's something just a little bit off with some of the people living in the little town of King's Crossing.
I love how Palmer wove this character and the story, leading the reader down a winding and dangerous path of discovery, building tension all the way to an explosive ending and some surprising revelations about the President of the United States and the world food supply. I was ready to run out and plant a garden and start preserving my home-grown harvest. Extreme couponing and a basement (or attic) filled with food surplus won't seem like such a crazy idea after you read this book. And if you think termites are icky before you read this book, your skin will really be crawling after you read it.
I'm not going to give away any of the surprises, but there are plenty of them and I didn't even see them coming. Some of it's not all the hard to figure out and I don't think it's meant to be, but there were plenty of revelations I didn't expect.
If, like me, you like medical thrillers mixed in with political conspiracy, you'll really like this book.
Now, for the really ugly: the price. It's a whopping $14.99. What the hell is going on with the publishing industry?? Unless you're used to paying that kind of price for a book in any format (and I'm not and I won't), wait for the paperback, buy a used copy or see if the library has it.
January 15, 2012
In Michael Palmer’s newest thriller, “Oath of Office,” Dr. John Meacham goes through a violent shooting spree in his office—killing himself and his staff after a patient threatens to contact the medical board about his anger issues—while odd incidents continue to occur among folks in King’s Ridge: a worker at a local restaurant nearly loses his thumb, Meacham’s wife nearly gets herself killed in a car accident over a random road situation, and Dr. Meacham’s patient Roberta Jennings attempts to lose weight by operating herself. All these incidents have one thing in common—people doing dangerous things, and acting opposite their normal personality. Along comes Dr. Lou Welcome, a friend of Meacham who is concerned about the strange goings on in the town, and in a secondary storyline, first lady Darlene Mallory who is contacted by a mysterious man claiming that the disgraced Secretary of Agriculture Russell Evans was unfairly forced to resign over his refusal to pass some policies. Can those “policies” possibly be connected to what’s going on in King’s Ridge? As Dr. Welcome and his friends begin to uncover some strange clues, along with the local police chief Gilbert Stone, lives become threatened and nothing is what it seems. Now to my thoughts: I thought the first half of the book is particularly engrossing, as the mystery is being set up. At first I was surprised about the White house angle of the book, but the subplot became as interesting as the main plot. The second half of the book balances action scenes with gradual explanations of what’s going on (some of it is easy to guess, while other parts, such as Mallory’s mysterious informer, kept me turning the pages). Overall, an entertaining read.
January 27, 2012
Michael Palmer is the author of sixteen medical mystery/suspense novels. It is no secret that he has been one of my favorite authors for years, and Oath of Office is another outstanding book by this author.
The character of Dr. Lou Welcome brings us an area of medicine that patients do not like to think about. He is a medical doctor that has fought his way back from addiction and is now helping other troubled doctors. Unexpectedly, one of his doctors suddenly goes on a shooting spree. He kills patients, another doctor, and his staff before killing himself. Lou was overseeing this doctor’s progress and is held responsible for the carnage. But things are strange all over the small town of Kings Ridge, and Lou finds several cases of individuals behaving out of character. He must solve the mystery to keep his position as counselor to his troubled colleagues. There is a political connection (non-partisan) in the story that leads all the way to the First Lady and President.
I always enjoy the medical foundation to the story, and with the suspense and great writing, this book was a pleasure to read. Each of the main characters of the book is unique. Lou Welcome was likeable, and I enjoyed the relationship he had with his father, daughter and even his ex-wife Renee. He and Renee still had a respect and fondness for each other. Of course, there is action and adventure when Dr. Welcome finds criminal activity going on where you least expect it. There is a perfect balance of dialog and narration, and I highly recommend Oath of Office.
The character of Dr. Lou Welcome brings us an area of medicine that patients do not like to think about. He is a medical doctor that has fought his way back from addiction and is now helping other troubled doctors. Unexpectedly, one of his doctors suddenly goes on a shooting spree. He kills patients, another doctor, and his staff before killing himself. Lou was overseeing this doctor’s progress and is held responsible for the carnage. But things are strange all over the small town of Kings Ridge, and Lou finds several cases of individuals behaving out of character. He must solve the mystery to keep his position as counselor to his troubled colleagues. There is a political connection (non-partisan) in the story that leads all the way to the First Lady and President.
I always enjoy the medical foundation to the story, and with the suspense and great writing, this book was a pleasure to read. Each of the main characters of the book is unique. Lou Welcome was likeable, and I enjoyed the relationship he had with his father, daughter and even his ex-wife Renee. He and Renee still had a respect and fondness for each other. Of course, there is action and adventure when Dr. Welcome finds criminal activity going on where you least expect it. There is a perfect balance of dialog and narration, and I highly recommend Oath of Office.
February 10, 2012
Michael Palmer writes medical mystery/thrillers which are suspenseful and thought provoking and Oath of Office is no different. Unstable Dr. John Meacham goes on a shooting spree in his own office killing his partner, some and his staff and a few patients before turning the gun on himself. His friend Dr. Lou Welcome is blamed because he had previously help Meacham gets his license restored. He can’t believe that Meacham could do such a thing and investigates the reasons behind it. What he finds is a conspiracy that may lead to the White House.
Palmer has written another astonishing story that takes the reader through the medical and political arenas without losing us. Filled with suspense and action; it was definitely a good one!
Palmer has written another astonishing story that takes the reader through the medical and political arenas without losing us. Filled with suspense and action; it was definitely a good one!
March 10, 2021
I read "political Suicide" earlier in the year and was thoroughly entertained by that political thriller, so I went back to read the "intro-novel" of the Dr. Lou Welcome and I didn't waste my time...The good doctor and his cast have to confront some strange, risky and sometimes deadly behaviors occurring in a collar suburb...It opens with a GP, a counselee of Welcome, "going postal" in his office drawing Dr. Lou into determining why...Decent page-turner!
February 26, 2018
I would really give this 3.5 stars, but alas there are no half stars. It's a good, fast read. It's not super thought provoking and there are some minor details that were wrong that irritated me to no end. (1,000 sqft gym? fits 3 boxing rings, heavy bags, and a locker room - no way - Mr. Palmer literally described the boxing rings as being 20' x 20' - simple math tells you that 3 boxing rings would be 1,200 sqft alone not including walking space, heavy bags, and a locker room) I may be giving it higher marks than it deserves simply because the last book I read was so incredibly bland and a slugfest to get through. If you are looking for a quick, light reading thriller this will work.
August 2, 2022
This is the first audio book I have ever gotten through! It's an action packed medical thriller with some political events thrown in, amazingly similar to what our country is going through these days. I am anxious to read or listen to the remaining books in this series.
March 18, 2020
My first book by Michael Palmer. I read how much others have enjoyed his books; so wanted to see what his writing is like. Palmer does a good job of creating his characters. It is easy to establish rapport with them. At first there seemed to be several sub-plots, but things eventually come together. I have to say some of the action is somewhat unbelievable, but they make for a riveting read. I will read more os Michael Palmer!
September 5, 2022
Horrible. Women characters are smart? But it’s apparently very amazing that they are. The romance was an abomination. You can tell who is evil because they are fat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2023
Recombinant DNA, flesh eating termites, and corn that makes people not think about their actions. A good mystery, kind of gory, but with the list just stated, readers should expect some gore. The science has gone all the way to the White House. Money and power are the reason for all this scientific work, and politicians make it worse. The mystery kept my interest.
December 12, 2021
Here’s a book with a little bit of everything-politics, medicine, a small town with citizens suddenly acting violently strange, illicit romance, car chases and, best of all, mutant flesh eating termites!! It all adds up to one of the stupidest books Michael Palmer ever wrote!
September 25, 2020
Palmers books are always entertaining. This was a good story about corruption and food. Two of my favorite topics. Dr Lou Welcome finds himself in the middle of it when one of his friends kills seven people and himself. This story has some really interesting characters, including the First Lady. Good read, good story. Interesting ending. I’m not sure I Buy the GMO stuff , but hey, it’s fiction.
August 17, 2024
Holy Cow, what an exciting book. I’m not going
to build up to much but I can tell you it had all kind of Political intrigue and twists right down to the end. Have you ever wondered about GMO? Enjoy, I sure did!,
to build up to much but I can tell you it had all kind of Political intrigue and twists right down to the end. Have you ever wondered about GMO? Enjoy, I sure did!,
April 10, 2012
*Genre* Mystery
*Rating* 3.0
*Review*
What starts out as a murder spree by Dr. John Meacham, ends with questions about how far a sitting president would go in order to provide thousands of jobs to the unemployed in a struggling economy and how far he would go in order to keep his own job in the oval office.
At the forefront of the story is Dr. Lou Welcome. Welcome is an ER attending who worked himself back from the brink of addiction to amphetamines. As a member of the Physicians Wellness Office it is Welcome’s job to oversee the treatment of fellow doctors who have fallen into drug and alcohol abuse.
Welcome was the point of contact for Meacham at the time of his going postal and therefore blamed for Meacham’s killing spree by the PWO because of what is deemed to be his lack of oversight.
Welcome soon discovers a total lack of professionalism at the hospital where Meacham ends up. They can’t seem to do anything right, and are lethargic and uncaring in their efforts to save Meacham. This leads to some strange events like a teenager cutting his own finger off in an attempt to grab a carrot. It also leads to the discovery of genetically mutated termites which may or may not have been used to enhance corn.
Michael Palmer’s Oath of Office is really the author’s way of questioning how our food supply is made, labeled, handled, as well as overseen by the FDA and Department of Agriculture. One of the major concerns is genetically engineered food and how it is treated by the regulatory agencies supposedly in place to protect us from harm.
Welcome is an interesting character to follow. A positive in my view, is his relationship with his ex-wife and daughter. Even though he is no longer married to Renee, he holds no grudges towards her now that she’s remarried. He actually still respects and loves her and goes out of his way to ensure her safety from the bad buys. He gets along extremely well with his 13, going on 30 year old daughter Emily who is too smart for her own good at times.
The secondary story, which eventually merges with Welcome’s, is that of the first lady Darlene Mallory. Mallory is contacted by a mysterious man who claims that the former secretary of Agriculture was framed because of his policies. Mallory soon learns the extent of the conspiracy and realizes that her own husband is at the forefront of the problem because of his idiotic dealings with the Corn manufacturer.
Normally with Palmer’s book you will find some semblance of a love affair between characters. This time it is hinted at, but not played out because of who the characters are and the fact that the first lady makes the right choice in the end.
I’ve been a fan of Palmer’s stories since the Sisterhood was released in 1982. His stories are deeply embedded with medical terminology and mysteries. Palmer remains in the medical profession and thus knows about what he is speaking.
*Rating* 3.0
*Review*
What starts out as a murder spree by Dr. John Meacham, ends with questions about how far a sitting president would go in order to provide thousands of jobs to the unemployed in a struggling economy and how far he would go in order to keep his own job in the oval office.
At the forefront of the story is Dr. Lou Welcome. Welcome is an ER attending who worked himself back from the brink of addiction to amphetamines. As a member of the Physicians Wellness Office it is Welcome’s job to oversee the treatment of fellow doctors who have fallen into drug and alcohol abuse.
Welcome was the point of contact for Meacham at the time of his going postal and therefore blamed for Meacham’s killing spree by the PWO because of what is deemed to be his lack of oversight.
Welcome soon discovers a total lack of professionalism at the hospital where Meacham ends up. They can’t seem to do anything right, and are lethargic and uncaring in their efforts to save Meacham. This leads to some strange events like a teenager cutting his own finger off in an attempt to grab a carrot. It also leads to the discovery of genetically mutated termites which may or may not have been used to enhance corn.
Michael Palmer’s Oath of Office is really the author’s way of questioning how our food supply is made, labeled, handled, as well as overseen by the FDA and Department of Agriculture. One of the major concerns is genetically engineered food and how it is treated by the regulatory agencies supposedly in place to protect us from harm.
Welcome is an interesting character to follow. A positive in my view, is his relationship with his ex-wife and daughter. Even though he is no longer married to Renee, he holds no grudges towards her now that she’s remarried. He actually still respects and loves her and goes out of his way to ensure her safety from the bad buys. He gets along extremely well with his 13, going on 30 year old daughter Emily who is too smart for her own good at times.
The secondary story, which eventually merges with Welcome’s, is that of the first lady Darlene Mallory. Mallory is contacted by a mysterious man who claims that the former secretary of Agriculture was framed because of his policies. Mallory soon learns the extent of the conspiracy and realizes that her own husband is at the forefront of the problem because of his idiotic dealings with the Corn manufacturer.
Normally with Palmer’s book you will find some semblance of a love affair between characters. This time it is hinted at, but not played out because of who the characters are and the fact that the first lady makes the right choice in the end.
I’ve been a fan of Palmer’s stories since the Sisterhood was released in 1982. His stories are deeply embedded with medical terminology and mysteries. Palmer remains in the medical profession and thus knows about what he is speaking.
March 24, 2013
Whether you call Michael Palmer's OATH OF OFFICE a suspense thriller or a medical mystery doesn't matter much. Just know that this book is an intelligent look at what science has come up with when it comes to genetically engineered or chemically altered foods and the lack of oversight of these operations. It would seem that if one has enough money and greases the right palms anything is possible.
Hooked from the first page by the "doctor gone mad" scene, I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the books premise and began to wonder exactly what the effect of scientific engineering on those bigger and supposedly better fruits and veggies that we consume on a daily basis might also have on our genetic make-up. Could the reason for the mass murders that took place at Virginia Tech, Newton, Connecticut, and Aurora, Colorado in the U.S. as well as the multiple murders committed in other countries like Scotland, Ireland, England, etc. be as simple as "it was something he ate"? In many cases there was no apparent motive for the mass killings and the perpetrator ended up committing suicide so the question of motive remains largely unanswered. The theory that a chemical alteration in the person's biology drove them to commit a crime seems just as plausible an assumption as "it was because he had access to a gun".
With the actions of several characters, from hospital staff members to the sheriff to several townsfolk becoming more and more bizarre you will find yourself quickly turning the pages in order to ascertain just what new discoveries our protagonist, Dr. Lou Welcome, has come up with and how they will impact his life and the lives of those he cares about.
Also interesting was the discovery that the Physicians Wellness office described in the book is in fact based on actual programs that help doctors recovering from various forms of addiction to re-assimilate into the medical community. (Can I get a list of those doctors before I make my next appointment?)
The secondary plot line concerning the friend of the President's wife who was framed in a sex scandal appears to be there primarily to bring a touch of romance into the tale. In general, this is a cracking good read and Michael Palmer has once again proven that not only does he write an absorbing story he is also able to present medical subject matter in a clear and concise way that adds to the story rather than placing the reader in a catatonic state.
Hooked from the first page by the "doctor gone mad" scene, I found myself thoroughly engrossed in the books premise and began to wonder exactly what the effect of scientific engineering on those bigger and supposedly better fruits and veggies that we consume on a daily basis might also have on our genetic make-up. Could the reason for the mass murders that took place at Virginia Tech, Newton, Connecticut, and Aurora, Colorado in the U.S. as well as the multiple murders committed in other countries like Scotland, Ireland, England, etc. be as simple as "it was something he ate"? In many cases there was no apparent motive for the mass killings and the perpetrator ended up committing suicide so the question of motive remains largely unanswered. The theory that a chemical alteration in the person's biology drove them to commit a crime seems just as plausible an assumption as "it was because he had access to a gun".
With the actions of several characters, from hospital staff members to the sheriff to several townsfolk becoming more and more bizarre you will find yourself quickly turning the pages in order to ascertain just what new discoveries our protagonist, Dr. Lou Welcome, has come up with and how they will impact his life and the lives of those he cares about.
Also interesting was the discovery that the Physicians Wellness office described in the book is in fact based on actual programs that help doctors recovering from various forms of addiction to re-assimilate into the medical community. (Can I get a list of those doctors before I make my next appointment?)
The secondary plot line concerning the friend of the President's wife who was framed in a sex scandal appears to be there primarily to bring a touch of romance into the tale. In general, this is a cracking good read and Michael Palmer has once again proven that not only does he write an absorbing story he is also able to present medical subject matter in a clear and concise way that adds to the story rather than placing the reader in a catatonic state.
August 30, 2015
A very unique thriller, focused on the strange behavior being elicited by random citizens of Kings Ridge, a small town near Washington, D.C. The episode that triggered this focus occurred when Dr. John Meacham, a recovering alcoholic, muttered "no witnesses" as he boldly and brazenly shot and killed a total of seven patients and colleagues before ultimately killing himself.
Dr. Meacham's inexplicable behavior completely stymied Dr. Lou Welcome, the ER doctor and recovered alcoholic who personally counseled and evaluated other doctors, particularly those who had been in psychological trouble and were working hard to regain the normalcy in their lives. Lou conducted his counsel through the Physician Wellness Office, a clinic dedicated to helping troubled doctors overcome their problems. Having believed Dr. Meacham was well on the road to full recovery, Lou felt compelled to explore Dr. Meacham's violent actions and to extend his investigation to include the strange behavior patterns arising in other Kings Ridge residents. As he began his investigation, Lou discovered the existence of very unique & unusual corn crops, being grown on the property of William Chester, a prominent citizen of Kings Ridge, and suspected there might be a connection between the odd behavior patterns and the unusual corn growing in the region. Shortly after an attempt was made on Lou's life while he was trying to learn more about the corn, he was contacted by Darlene Mallory, the First Lady of the United States. Darlene was trying to help Russell Evans, the disgraced, now ex-Secretary of Agriculture, prove he was framed over revelations he was preparing to make about corn shipments that were about to be sold to the Chinese government. Together, Mrs. Mallory & Dr. Welcome set out to uncover what might very well become extremely important information about the corn and its potential impact on society.
A page turner that presents a curious puzzle about Genetically Modified foods and raises a lot of interesting questions about their future. Seemingly far-fetched, I imagine further research might show otherwise. A fascinating and compelling read.
Dr. Meacham's inexplicable behavior completely stymied Dr. Lou Welcome, the ER doctor and recovered alcoholic who personally counseled and evaluated other doctors, particularly those who had been in psychological trouble and were working hard to regain the normalcy in their lives. Lou conducted his counsel through the Physician Wellness Office, a clinic dedicated to helping troubled doctors overcome their problems. Having believed Dr. Meacham was well on the road to full recovery, Lou felt compelled to explore Dr. Meacham's violent actions and to extend his investigation to include the strange behavior patterns arising in other Kings Ridge residents. As he began his investigation, Lou discovered the existence of very unique & unusual corn crops, being grown on the property of William Chester, a prominent citizen of Kings Ridge, and suspected there might be a connection between the odd behavior patterns and the unusual corn growing in the region. Shortly after an attempt was made on Lou's life while he was trying to learn more about the corn, he was contacted by Darlene Mallory, the First Lady of the United States. Darlene was trying to help Russell Evans, the disgraced, now ex-Secretary of Agriculture, prove he was framed over revelations he was preparing to make about corn shipments that were about to be sold to the Chinese government. Together, Mrs. Mallory & Dr. Welcome set out to uncover what might very well become extremely important information about the corn and its potential impact on society.
A page turner that presents a curious puzzle about Genetically Modified foods and raises a lot of interesting questions about their future. Seemingly far-fetched, I imagine further research might show otherwise. A fascinating and compelling read.
February 19, 2012
I’ll admit that although I love TV shows and movies that deal with political scandals and medical mysteries and dramas, I have not read many books in this type of genre. However, when I read the synopsis for Oath of Office, I was intrigued and requested an Advanced Reader Copy of the book. I thought it was interesting that the book was released on Valentine’s Day because it is definitely not a Valentine’s story!! It is a thought-provoking page turner with amazing twists and unexpected revelations with every turn of the page.
In the letter I received from the author with the book, he wrote that the book was inspired by the documentary Food, Inc., and states “My hope is that my book will make readers more aware about the importance of being educated in the areas of labeling and the genetic modification of what we eat.” I have not looked into more about our food in the past, but after reading this book I do want to learn more about what is put into our food. I hope that it opens other people’s eyes too and that others don’t just read it strictly as a fictional book. Although it is fiction, if we are not careful we could easily have some kind of similar situation on our hands, especially with the way our economy is currently. I know that what we eat and medicines we take can influence our thoughts and actions. I hope that we never have to deal with some of the extreme examples of loss of reason that occur in the book. I don’t want to give anything away, but there was one situation in the book that was so extreme it almost caused me to stop reading. However, at the same time, it made me want to read more to find out what happened in the end and how things were resolved. Oath of Office is one of the most eye-opening and reflective books I’ve read in a while and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
In the letter I received from the author with the book, he wrote that the book was inspired by the documentary Food, Inc., and states “My hope is that my book will make readers more aware about the importance of being educated in the areas of labeling and the genetic modification of what we eat.” I have not looked into more about our food in the past, but after reading this book I do want to learn more about what is put into our food. I hope that it opens other people’s eyes too and that others don’t just read it strictly as a fictional book. Although it is fiction, if we are not careful we could easily have some kind of similar situation on our hands, especially with the way our economy is currently. I know that what we eat and medicines we take can influence our thoughts and actions. I hope that we never have to deal with some of the extreme examples of loss of reason that occur in the book. I don’t want to give anything away, but there was one situation in the book that was so extreme it almost caused me to stop reading. However, at the same time, it made me want to read more to find out what happened in the end and how things were resolved. Oath of Office is one of the most eye-opening and reflective books I’ve read in a while and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
December 21, 2013
A novel about genetic engineering of crops and their effect on health and the environment. There is so much evidence in the world about the damage to health and to the environment from GMO. There is a political battle going on between governments, international corporations and the people concerning GMO food. There is even solid Biblical prophecy about the need for Jesus to return before mankind is destroyed... by genetic manipulation as was done in the time of Noah.
But Michael Palmer has not developed a solid reasonable plot based on any of the above possibilities. Instead he has written a novel with too many gaps in character and plot especially in the relationship between the unexplained behavior and GMO. Yes, there are severe health effects from GMO; yes, there might be psychological effects; yes, there is a crossover to other organisms in the environment; but there is no logical explanation for the random events and victims in this story. The story lacks credibility based on science.
The political plot is even more badly developed with gaps too far removed from normal behavior in the White House. Yes, there is corruption. Yes, politics serves the "ruling class" and not the people. But the plot here is also much too unrealistic...
Not worth the time to read.
Too bad, because a novel on these topics is greatly needed at this time to waken people up to the dangers of GMO in their environment.
But Michael Palmer has not developed a solid reasonable plot based on any of the above possibilities. Instead he has written a novel with too many gaps in character and plot especially in the relationship between the unexplained behavior and GMO. Yes, there are severe health effects from GMO; yes, there might be psychological effects; yes, there is a crossover to other organisms in the environment; but there is no logical explanation for the random events and victims in this story. The story lacks credibility based on science.
The political plot is even more badly developed with gaps too far removed from normal behavior in the White House. Yes, there is corruption. Yes, politics serves the "ruling class" and not the people. But the plot here is also much too unrealistic...
Not worth the time to read.
Too bad, because a novel on these topics is greatly needed at this time to waken people up to the dangers of GMO in their environment.
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