Critical Condition

Dr. Richard Steele #2

by Peter Clement

In the heat of a passionate encounter, ecstasy suddenly turns to terror for renowned geneticist and TV personality Dr. Kathleen Sullivan. Stricken by a brain hemorrhage, she is rendered completely paralyzed and speechless . . . but still utterly aware; a prisoner inside her own body.

Kathleen is rushed to a Manhattan hospital, her chances of survival slim. Even if she pulls through, the likelihood that she’ll sustain permanent brain damage is near one hundred percent. But neither outcome can compare to the insidious fate in store for her masterminded by the very people entrusted with saving her life. As her lover, ER chief Richard Steele, watches and waits for a miracle, Kathleen becomes a pawn in a clandestine plot that runs deeper than medical politics–and reaches into the highest echelons of power at New York City Hospital.

Placed in the hands, and at the mercy, of revered Chief of Neurosurgery Dr. Tony Hamlin, Kathleen descends into a waking nightmare. Powerless to resist the sinister experiments she is subjected to, and unable to cry out for help, she must fight desperately to communicate her tortured, trapped thoughts to Steele–before her tormentors can carry their bizarre and potentially lethal work to its completion.

Ruthlessly determined to achieve their goals, the secret cabal of ambitious physicians will go to any length to avoid discovery, defy the law, and make medical history at all costs . . . even the human life they are sworn to preserve.

For anyone who has ever had a mortal fear of hospitals, and the sense of powerlessness that often transpires within their cold, sterile corridors, Peter Clement’s Critical Condition will provide chilling new nightmares–along with infectious suspense.

Genres: Medical, Thriller, Medicine, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Fiction

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 30, 2002

Reviews

[Peggy Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was interesting to me, because it involved clandestine stem cell research. I work in medical research, and as it happens we are currently doing a study involving infusions of adult stem cells to treat chronic lung disease. Because of that, the subject matter was interesting. The author got some of the science right, but the research aspect really wrong. Evidently, these same characters were used in a previous novel, but I'm not sure where they can go from here. I had the bad guy pegged fairly early, since he had no visible purpose in the story. OK for a very light read....airplane or beach fare.

[Cathy Enochs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a really good read. Kept me turning pages until wee hours of the morning. Contrary to other reviews, there weren't too many characters to keep up with but rather just enough to keep it interesting.

[Michèle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Médical thriller, good story with some twists and some stuuupids decisions taken by characters ( they know there's a murderer on the loose) just to pull them into more danger and up the suspense. The whole pursuit in the archive room is preposterous.

Some good moments, some moral reflections, all in all an entertaining story.

My best sentence, on page 111, the narrative about residents:" doctors in training wheels ". Hahaha!

[allother · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was in my $5.oo for a bag of books bag. I don't normally like medical dramas. This book didn't change my opinion on that. I don't care how a surgeon does the surgery. I don't need the details. I don't want the details. I just want to know that the surgeon knows what he/she/it is doing. Nough said. The plot was a wee bit out there. The main problem was the end with Peter Clement tying everything up. The 'Maniac's motive was really, really, really lame. Not worth all the death and destruction. And nothing lead up to the end of the book. I know you are suppose to keep your readers guessing. By why did I read this book shouldn't be one of the guesses.

[Kate McDougall Sackler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and plausible medical thriller about giving stroke and heart attack victims embryonic and adult stem cells against their consent. Also, a whole bunch of murder. Since this was written in 2003, I am interested to know if this unstudied treatment is really a thing.

[Samantha Fink · Rating 1 out of 5]

es ist eher etwas für Erwachsene anstatt für Jugendliche und Spannung lässt sich nur wenig finden. es ist sehr unbefriedigend geschrieben. Für mich ist es nix und ich würde Teenagern zwischen 13-17 Jahre auch definitiv eher Bücher von Stephen King empfehlen (alles nur meine Meinung und kein hate!)

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not so sure if to give this a 3 or 4. This book has a good plot but I found hard to handle so many characters at once in the story. Many interesting twists and turns kept me up at night! A good read.

[Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took away a star as He kind of gives the impression that anyone opposed to abortion is narrow minded and that Christians are all stupid and fundamentalist. Other than that a good read.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Steele sluths again

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Judyspadoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good plot but a little too long to hold my interest

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because I like the medical terms it uses mixed with a regular everyday encounter of two doctors. It also shows some of the malpractices that go own I the medical field

[Rosanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.....

[Stevana Mccullough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read

If you love medical suspense, this is the book for you. Lots of action and tension. Sometimes I just couldn't read fast enough!

[Katrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good plot but they could leave out the fbombs