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White Male Infant
Dr. Dooley McSweeny and his wife, Claudia, dearly love the son they adopted from Russia four years ago. But when medical tests indicate that their little boy could not possibly have come from Russia, the couple is plunged into the dark, complex and emotionally fraught world of international adoption.
Who is their son? Where did he come from? How did he come to them? The answers to these questions threaten to destroy their marriage, their happiness-and their lives-as they explode a powder keg of betrayal and deceit.
Who is their son? Where did he come from? How did he come to them? The answers to these questions threaten to destroy their marriage, their happiness-and their lives-as they explode a powder keg of betrayal and deceit.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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44 people want to read
About the author
Barbara D'Amato
45 books27 followersAka Malacai Black
Barbara D'Amato has had a checkered career, working in the distant past as an assistant surgical orderly, carpenter for stage magic illusions, assistant tiger handler, stage manager, researcher for attorneys in criminal cases, and recently sometimes teaching mystery writing to Chicago police officers.
"Writing is the greatest job of all," D'Amato says. "I get to hang around with cops, go ask people questions about their jobs that I would be too chicken to ask without a reason, and walk around Chicago looking for good murder locales. Best of all, I get to read mystery and suspense novels and call it keeping up with the field."
She was the 1999-2000 president of Mystery Writers of America. D'Amato is also a past president of Sisters in Crime International.
D'Amato is a playwright, novelist, and crime researcher. Her research on the Dr. John Branion murder case formed the basis for a segment on "Unsolved Mysteries," and she appeared on the program. Her musical comedies, The Magic Man and children's musical The Magic of Young Houdini, written with husband Anthony D'Amato, played in Chicago and London. Their Prohibition-era musical comedy RSVP Broadway, which played in Chicago in 1980, was named an "event of particular interest" by Chicago magazine. A native of Michigan, she has been a resident of Chicago for many years.
Barbara D'Amato has had a checkered career, working in the distant past as an assistant surgical orderly, carpenter for stage magic illusions, assistant tiger handler, stage manager, researcher for attorneys in criminal cases, and recently sometimes teaching mystery writing to Chicago police officers.
"Writing is the greatest job of all," D'Amato says. "I get to hang around with cops, go ask people questions about their jobs that I would be too chicken to ask without a reason, and walk around Chicago looking for good murder locales. Best of all, I get to read mystery and suspense novels and call it keeping up with the field."
She was the 1999-2000 president of Mystery Writers of America. D'Amato is also a past president of Sisters in Crime International.
D'Amato is a playwright, novelist, and crime researcher. Her research on the Dr. John Branion murder case formed the basis for a segment on "Unsolved Mysteries," and she appeared on the program. Her musical comedies, The Magic Man and children's musical The Magic of Young Houdini, written with husband Anthony D'Amato, played in Chicago and London. Their Prohibition-era musical comedy RSVP Broadway, which played in Chicago in 1980, was named an "event of particular interest" by Chicago magazine. A native of Michigan, she has been a resident of Chicago for many years.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 10, 2014
Barbara D'Amato has a magnificent plot that kept me up all night reading. Highly recommended.
October 11, 2007
I read this book after I hadn’t read a thriller in a while so maybe my loving it as much as I did was slightly increased by my time away from the genre, but regardless of that, this title is a pleaser. First of all, it’s not a “conventional” thriller. It’s more literary in that the writing style and quality is a notch or two above what I normally think of when I think of “thrillers.” Secondly, the ending will surprise you. I mean, I’m not going to ruin anything but it definitely does not have the ending I expected. The story revolves around a family who just escaped a possible medical tragedy with their adopted four-year-old son. While his son was having tests done to rule out leukemia, the father (who is a doctor) finds out that his son had to have been treated with a drug that was unavailable to him when he was a baby in Russia…before they adopted him. The father proceeds to go on a search—that takes him to Moscow—in his quest to find out the truth about his adopted son. There is also an intertwining story about a CNN reporter (who also helps the father out ) that adds to the tension. Overall, this is a top-shelf thriller for anyone who wants to read something a bit “beyond” (meaning better than) the typical bestseller.
September 10, 2007
WHITE MALE INFANT – G
Barbara D’Amato – 5th stand alone
When surgical pathologist Dooley McSweeny discovers the son he and his wife adopted could not have come from Russia, as they believed, he becomes involved in the world of international adoption.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who has adopted, or is thinking about adoption, as it is disturbing. I am, in general, a fan of Ms. D’Amato’s. However, I found the coincidences in this story a bit extreme and the characters flat. I would recommend Nora Robert’s “Birthright” as being a better “read.”
Barbara D’Amato – 5th stand alone
When surgical pathologist Dooley McSweeny discovers the son he and his wife adopted could not have come from Russia, as they believed, he becomes involved in the world of international adoption.
I would not recommend this book to anyone who has adopted, or is thinking about adoption, as it is disturbing. I am, in general, a fan of Ms. D’Amato’s. However, I found the coincidences in this story a bit extreme and the characters flat. I would recommend Nora Robert’s “Birthright” as being a better “read.”
January 16, 2022
The author was very good with creating characters and a story line that keeps you turning the pages. The plot involved the adoption of a baby that couldn't be who the adoption agency said it was. I had not read any of Barbara D'Amato's books so I was glad to find another good author. Now I have more good books to read.
January 19, 2009
I've read Barbara D'mato's books before and I've always enjoyed them.
This book too is a winner. Disturbing for people who are looking overseas to adopt a child but it keeps the reader guessing up to the last minute.
This book too is a winner. Disturbing for people who are looking overseas to adopt a child but it keeps the reader guessing up to the last minute.
July 1, 2015
By a mere coincidence, this is the second book I have read recently about adoptions in Russia. Both books made mention of the neglect and poor conditions these babies suffer through. In addition to the adoption story, this book has murder and conspiracy. Quick read and a page turner.
November 2, 2007
The perfect kind of book to read on an airplane, or at any other time when you just want to read something easy and entertaining.
December 15, 2009
obviously not great literature but a fun, quick read, especially after reading that long history of the CIA.
a good palate cleanser before moving on to other books.
a good palate cleanser before moving on to other books.
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February 18, 2016I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13861778
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13861778
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews