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Past Lives
When successful neurosurgeon John MacAndrews performs a routine operation to remove a tumor, the patient undergoes a severe personality change post-surgery. Hartman’s Tumor is diagnosed, a rare condition which leaves its victims deranged and destined to be confined to mental institutions. There is no option but to have the patient committed. With his career nearing ruin, MacAndrew retreats to his native Scotland to lick his wounds and it is there that he makes further discoveries about the mysterious illness and the chemical that induced it. MacAndrew thinks he may be able to save his patient, until he discovers someone is deliberately using the chemical to regress selected individuals and gain eyewitness accounts of events in the past.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
21 people are currently reading
242 people want to read
About the author
Ken McClure
71 books124 followersKen McClure is the internationally bestselling author of over twenty medical thrillers such as The Lazarus Strain, The Gulf Conspiracy, White Death and Dust to Dust. His books have been translated into twenty-five languages and he has earned a reputation for the accuracy of his predicitions. McClure's work is informed by his background as an award-winning research scientist with the UK's Medical Research Council. He lives in a small village in the Lammermuir Hills of Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 10, 2012
Bit disappointed. This started off fine and I thought we were going to have a look into some of the past lives, especially the most important one. A great beginning build up but the direction changed to something of a formulaic pursuit and action event. The ending was a shade too 'Boy's Own' for my taste. There is not question that Ken can write more than a little, after all I read to the end without effort (all right perhaps the last few dozen pages were pedestrian) when they should have erupted, but I'm going to give the Lazarus Strain a go and see it that hits the spot more accurately.
February 19, 2018
(shameless cut and paste of my brief review from August 2013 on Amazon!)
Past Lives is a good book that you will find hard to put down. Medical thriller meets religious conspiracy with some truly sinister characters to chill your blood.
John Macandrew is a well respected neurosurgeon carrying out a routine operation. All goes well until his patient recovers with a completely different personality. A vicious and unreasonable husband blames John with brutal and possibly career-ending consequences.
A vacation to aid his convalescence opens a Pandora's Box of mysteries leading John on a heart-stopping voyage and unearthing a plot headed by a deranged and chillingly dangerous Vatican priest. To tell you more would spoil it, Sufficient to say I enjoyed it a lot and if my review grabs your attention; then so will you.
Past Lives is a good book that you will find hard to put down. Medical thriller meets religious conspiracy with some truly sinister characters to chill your blood.
John Macandrew is a well respected neurosurgeon carrying out a routine operation. All goes well until his patient recovers with a completely different personality. A vicious and unreasonable husband blames John with brutal and possibly career-ending consequences.
A vacation to aid his convalescence opens a Pandora's Box of mysteries leading John on a heart-stopping voyage and unearthing a plot headed by a deranged and chillingly dangerous Vatican priest. To tell you more would spoil it, Sufficient to say I enjoyed it a lot and if my review grabs your attention; then so will you.
August 21, 2012
Mac is a brain surgeon who becomes unstuck after the most routine of operations to remove a tumour in a patient leads to an ‘accident’ breaking all the bones in his hands, when the patient wakes up a completely different person. Convalescing and fearing he may never operate again, Mac heads to Scotland to trace his roots. While there, he becomes caught up in a web of intrigue revolving around research about the kind of personality-changing tumour he has just removed, and a dangerous investigation by the Church into that very same subject, but for very different, entirely more sinister, reasons. I really enjoyed this Ken McClure novel – the first one I have read, though I already have a few more waiting in the wings, that I now can’t wait to read. McClure has a talent for writing that really grips and captivates his audience; he truly is a gifted man and I look forward to reading more of his work!
April 9, 2011
I really liked this book.
I'm intrigued by the subject of past lives, having done some work for a research hypnotist/past life regression therapist. The title grabbed my attention straight up.
The characters are great, a gripping story line with plenty of intrigue, and that shower scene was perfect. Good girl, Simone!
McClure's writing is on par with the best thriller and mystery writers. I will certainly read more of his work.
(After I started reading this book a family member passed away and I couldn't focus on reading as I normally would. When I'd pick it up to read at night my mind would wander off to my troubles. As a result, it took me a while to finish. In retrospect, I should have waited until I had worked through my grief. Such a great book — and my memory of reading it is tainted with personal grief.)
I'm intrigued by the subject of past lives, having done some work for a research hypnotist/past life regression therapist. The title grabbed my attention straight up.
The characters are great, a gripping story line with plenty of intrigue, and that shower scene was perfect. Good girl, Simone!
McClure's writing is on par with the best thriller and mystery writers. I will certainly read more of his work.
(After I started reading this book a family member passed away and I couldn't focus on reading as I normally would. When I'd pick it up to read at night my mind would wander off to my troubles. As a result, it took me a while to finish. In retrospect, I should have waited until I had worked through my grief. Such a great book — and my memory of reading it is tainted with personal grief.)
April 11, 2012
3.5 out of 5 stars - What if someone found a substance that, when injected, would allow people to remember their past lives?
This wasn't really a medical thriller as much as it was a suspense adventure about a neurosurgeon on a mission to find out why one of his patients was a completely changed woman after he removed her brain tumor. His search leads him from a midwestern hospital (kind of interesting as I am actually familiar with the institution) in Kansas to Scotland to Paris and back again. A fast paced read that raises all sorts of moral and ethical questions about reincarnation and memory.
All of it ties up way too neatly at the end for me, and it was certainly predictable, but was an enjoyable read.
This wasn't really a medical thriller as much as it was a suspense adventure about a neurosurgeon on a mission to find out why one of his patients was a completely changed woman after he removed her brain tumor. His search leads him from a midwestern hospital (kind of interesting as I am actually familiar with the institution) in Kansas to Scotland to Paris and back again. A fast paced read that raises all sorts of moral and ethical questions about reincarnation and memory.
All of it ties up way too neatly at the end for me, and it was certainly predictable, but was an enjoyable read.
February 22, 2011
That was a fun and exciting book! I wasn't sure where the story was headed when I first started the book. Furthermore, I wasn't sure how it would all tie together in the end. Although it seemed like the book started off slow, I came to realize that it was continuing to build with its' twists and turns.
I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy medical thrillers with a little DaVinci Code type action thrown into the mix!
I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy medical thrillers with a little DaVinci Code type action thrown into the mix!
July 30, 2012
This is the first Ken McClure book I have read. I have downloaded lots as they became free and medical thrillers is one of my favourite genres.
This was a great tale, plenty of science and plenty of action. It was very well written and kept me interested throughout. He even made you believe in the far fetched bits.
This was a great tale, plenty of science and plenty of action. It was very well written and kept me interested throughout. He even made you believe in the far fetched bits.
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September 7, 2012Suprisingly good book and may check out further Ken McClure books. The story starts off along two threads that intertwine eventually. This is followed by the heroe trying to save science from mad men. A couple of interesting concepts kept me reading along with the easy flowing language. Good Holiday book.
June 27, 2012
A cross between Michael Crichton and Dan Brown, thankfully not dependent on huge conspiracy theories like Brown depends on. Some good descriptive writing will make your fingers ache and your stomach turn at certain points.
December 29, 2011
This book was just ok. I thought the first half was better than the second half. It had promise but it was if the author got bored with the story line.
July 8, 2012
my fisrt Ken McCLure book and I was not disappointed. A bit of a page turner and perfect for a good holiday read.
June 27, 2012
Enjoyable page turner. The medical side added an interesting dimension. Would give 3 1/2 stars if available. Will read more of his books!
July 9, 2012
As always, excellent :-)
April 21, 2013
A brilliant story-teller and a suspense filled thriller!
December 16, 2008
It was a good book. Intriguing. I am interested in reading more by him.
October 25, 2018
Really enjoyed this. Very fast paced medical thriller.
August 11, 2019
That was fun. Nothing deep and meaningful, but an entertaining, action-filled, lazy bank holiday read.
February 21, 2012
I guess this is a bit of a spoiler, so don't read on if you want to read this book.
On a positive note, this is a five-star story.
Now the negatives:
I found the writing a bit sloppy and predictable.
Maybe it was just me, but I found a character's name changing from John to George and then back to John a bit disconcerting. Where was Ringo and Paul?
Lots of stereotypes here too. MacGyver or the A team wouldn't have felt out of place. All we needed were black hats and white hats for the baddies and goodies - in case you were too stupid to pick them.
Lady luck also came into play during the book a bit too often for my liking.
How come distant thunder never seems to rumble at those times I am trying to disguise my movements?
To top this all off, there was a happy ending. Nothing wrong with that. It tops off a successful formula. And that's a pet hate of mine. Formulas and templates.
As I said, this is a five-star story. There are other writers around who would have done a lot better with it.
To be fair to Ken McClure this genre is not my usual diet. And I did hurtle to the end of it so it must have grabbed me.
On a positive note, this is a five-star story.
Now the negatives:
I found the writing a bit sloppy and predictable.
Maybe it was just me, but I found a character's name changing from John to George and then back to John a bit disconcerting. Where was Ringo and Paul?
Lots of stereotypes here too. MacGyver or the A team wouldn't have felt out of place. All we needed were black hats and white hats for the baddies and goodies - in case you were too stupid to pick them.
Lady luck also came into play during the book a bit too often for my liking.
How come distant thunder never seems to rumble at those times I am trying to disguise my movements?
To top this all off, there was a happy ending. Nothing wrong with that. It tops off a successful formula. And that's a pet hate of mine. Formulas and templates.
As I said, this is a five-star story. There are other writers around who would have done a lot better with it.
To be fair to Ken McClure this genre is not my usual diet. And I did hurtle to the end of it so it must have grabbed me.
January 30, 2012
Much "puffing" on the cover about the author's medical knowledge. This book was pretty good in the opening chapters which were mostly medical. Then we got on to the "action" part and everything took a nose-dive. Clunky sixth-form sort of writing. I skip read to the end. Not tempted to read any more of his stuff ...
September 9, 2012
This is a bit Dan Brown ish. Neurosurgeon chasing round USA, Paris and GB hunting for truth getting into scrapes & falling in love.
I thought from the plot line at the Start of the book with past life regression through surgery it would be exciting and original. I felt that it turned into same old genre. A bit dull
I thought from the plot line at the Start of the book with past life regression through surgery it would be exciting and original. I felt that it turned into same old genre. A bit dull
January 9, 2012
This book was so boring that I tried to use it to read myself to sleep, but I kept getting annoyed with it taking so long to get to the next obvious plot point that it left me wide, wide awake. I did finish it, though, so it didn't totally suck.
November 7, 2014
Imaginative medical thriller with a holy land connection
May 28, 2012
Promising start becoming all rather formulaic from the halfway point. Didn't really care what happened by the end.
January 3, 2014
Read in one night!
July 21, 2016
Started off well but tailed off. Bit of a disappointment. First time I've read this author and like his style; will be checking out his other books.
January 30, 2017
A good solid journeyman-like thriller. Ideal filler for holidays etc
June 25, 2014
Interesting subject, too many 'oh wasn't that convenient' moments.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews