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Tangled Web
Medical thriller writer Ken McClure evokes a sinister world where no life is sacred -- least of all a baby's. Used to the sleepy tranquillity of village life in rural Wales, the residents of Felinbach are shocked by the brutal killing of a local baby, Anne-Marie Palmer. None more so than GP Tom Gordon, the only friend left to John Palmer who, faced with irrevocable evidence, stands accused of his daughter's murder. Just days later Tom is co-opted to investigate the disappearance of the body of a three-month-old cot-death victim from Caernarfon General's Pathology Department. But the hospital is anxious to keep publicity firmly on their upcoming symposium on in vitro fertilisation, headed by world-renowned specialist Professor Carwyn Thomas, so Tom's investigations seem thwarted at every turn. That is, until he makes the chilling discovery that Professor Thomas has more than just a passing interest in the murder of little Anne-Marie Palmer...and seems prepared to go to any lengths to stop Tom finding out why. Suddenly a disturbing link between the murder of the Palmer baby, the missing body of a child and the IVF clinic at Caernarfon General begins to emerge. And with John Palmer about to be tried for a murder Tom is sure he didn't commit, things are starting to look desperate -- and dangerous -- for all of them.
343 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2000
14 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Ken McClure
72 books125 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 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 25, 2012
I am not sure how Ken McClure does it but his books capture me and draw me in right from the first page and this one was no different. An excellent storyline with lots of twists and turns which really had me guessing ... I felt like I had taken on the role of Tom Gordon myself.
If I could award this more than 5*'s I would ... Fantastic !!
If I could award this more than 5*'s I would ... Fantastic !!
September 2, 2012
Disappointing as the plot was clear from the offset, the characters where weak and the grammar bad.
August 27, 2012
Once again, Ken McClure has woven together a medical mystery masterpiece.
Clues very early on in the book scream at the reader, but only give some indication as to where the plot may be heading, the conclusion isn't given away until the reader reaches the action-packed ending. The protagonist, Dr Gordon, is a compelling one; the reader can really empathise with his determination and tenacity in the face of closed doors and blocked off avenues of investigation.
McClure seems to have found himself a fool-proof formula for a brilliant story; each of his novels seems to feature a protagonist who should probably leave well alone for himself but in the face of wrongdoing is simply unable to. Add in a splash of romantic interest, usually intertwined in the story in some other way, and one culprit after another who is in turn dismissed, until the final pieces of the puzzle fall together - usually into something a lot more horrific and terrifyingly realistic than your worst imaginations could muster.
Once again, Ken McClure, I commend you for a fantastic novel, and condemn you, for the sake of my bank balance, because inevitably I will have to go and purchase another of your novels tomorrow!!
Clues very early on in the book scream at the reader, but only give some indication as to where the plot may be heading, the conclusion isn't given away until the reader reaches the action-packed ending. The protagonist, Dr Gordon, is a compelling one; the reader can really empathise with his determination and tenacity in the face of closed doors and blocked off avenues of investigation.
McClure seems to have found himself a fool-proof formula for a brilliant story; each of his novels seems to feature a protagonist who should probably leave well alone for himself but in the face of wrongdoing is simply unable to. Add in a splash of romantic interest, usually intertwined in the story in some other way, and one culprit after another who is in turn dismissed, until the final pieces of the puzzle fall together - usually into something a lot more horrific and terrifyingly realistic than your worst imaginations could muster.
Once again, Ken McClure, I commend you for a fantastic novel, and condemn you, for the sake of my bank balance, because inevitably I will have to go and purchase another of your novels tomorrow!!
September 23, 2020
Nice story but a bit far fetched
As an avid who dunnit reader I worked out basis of the crime a third of the way through the book. That with some convenient turns of fate made this book lack credibility. Nice characters but I won't be reading any more of the series.
As an avid who dunnit reader I worked out basis of the crime a third of the way through the book. That with some convenient turns of fate made this book lack credibility. Nice characters but I won't be reading any more of the series.
October 20, 2025
mixed feelings about this. I enjoy this author, and have read a few of his books. The fact that the police were surprised that someone would kidnap a disabled child, and then that it was obvious, to them, that the parents killed her because of that just seemed grim. All a story, I know, but 🤷🏼♀️
December 29, 2015
Was quite enjoying this book until the last few chapters.....other reviewers have already mentioned the high number of spelling and grammar mistakes (would highly recommend this author employ a proof-reader) but was happy to overlook these as the story was quite interesting.
(spoiler alert) That is until the main character started acting like an impulsive teenager, constantly haring off on the latest risky endeavour - despite having been in mortal danger a few times already. I could overlook even this until he and his romantic interest suddenly decide to take a little trip and are able to purchase last-minute airline tickets without needing to produce passports and then get through passport control with dummy documents purchased in an airport shop. There is absolutely no way they could do this in reality - I got so annoyed with this that, despite wanting to know how the story ended, I had to stop reading.........
(spoiler alert) That is until the main character started acting like an impulsive teenager, constantly haring off on the latest risky endeavour - despite having been in mortal danger a few times already. I could overlook even this until he and his romantic interest suddenly decide to take a little trip and are able to purchase last-minute airline tickets without needing to produce passports and then get through passport control with dummy documents purchased in an airport shop. There is absolutely no way they could do this in reality - I got so annoyed with this that, despite wanting to know how the story ended, I had to stop reading.........
January 2, 2013
Another easy read from Ken McClure. The tale rolls along well enough and the characters are sympathetic enough for the average reader to ignore the bumps in the narrative. These (as I've found with the other half dozen of Ken's books I've read) are of two sorts: the typos and formatting faults, and a few plot inconsistencies.
The best of the former seemed apt for the main player (he's a doctor) - 'a vein attempt to find his car keys'. I think examples of the latter are that there were no tracks left in the snow in the first chapter, and that in a post mortem where the victim had been injected, the injection site in the neck had not been noticed.
I also thought DS Walters failed to ask some very obvious questions about the disabled baby.
Despite the failings it was an entertaining light read especially as I picked it up on a free promo day. Clearly very little to complain about.
The best of the former seemed apt for the main player (he's a doctor) - 'a vein attempt to find his car keys'. I think examples of the latter are that there were no tracks left in the snow in the first chapter, and that in a post mortem where the victim had been injected, the injection site in the neck had not been noticed.
I also thought DS Walters failed to ask some very obvious questions about the disabled baby.
Despite the failings it was an entertaining light read especially as I picked it up on a free promo day. Clearly very little to complain about.
May 10, 2012
A little bit predictable but plenty of suspense. An entertaining read.
September 19, 2012
Predictable & far fetched
October 8, 2012
Really enjoyed this and it had such a brilliant twist at the end am looking forward to reading some more of Ken mcClure novels
November 22, 2013
I enjoyed this book, some of the plot was unexpected, but then I am rather biased as I am a McClure fan
January 22, 2013
Oh dear, 4 mistakes in as many pages...........lost speechmarks, commas not needed and THEN speechmarks appeared where they weren't required !!
I wasn't prepared to persevere, I'm afraid.
I wasn't prepared to persevere, I'm afraid.
October 18, 2013
Another excellent Ken McClure medical thriller, but this one nearly broke my heart.
January 19, 2017
Medical thriller. Doctors and scientists working at the frontier of medical science, but not in a good way. O brave new world. But a rural GP is determined to resolve the mystery.
November 4, 2012
Reall enjoyed this book kept me guessing until the end
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews