The Last Surgeon

by Michael Palmer

The New York Times bestselling author and master of medical suspense delivers another shocker of a thriller filled with insider details and a terrifying psychopath Four murders. Three accidents. Two suicides. One left… THE LAST SURGEON Michael Palmer's latest novel pits a flawed doctor against a ruthless psychopath, who has made murder his art form. Dr. Nick Garrity, a vet suffering from PTSD—post traumatic stress disorder—spends his days and nights dispensing medical treatment from a mobile clinic to the homeless and disenfranchised in D.C. and Baltimore. In addition, he is constantly on the lookout for his war buddy Umberto Vasquez, who was plucked from the streets by the military four years ago for a secret mission and has not been seen since. Psych nurse Gillian Coates wants to find her sister's killer. She does not believe that Belle Coates, an ICU nurse, took her own life, even though every bit of evidence indicates that she did—every bit save one. Belle has left Gillian a subtle clue that connects her with Nick Garrity. Together, Nick and Gillian determine that one-by-one, each of those in the operating room for a fatally botched case is dying. Their discoveries pit them against genius Franz Koller--the highly-paid master of the "non-kill"—the art of murder that does not look like murder. As Doctor and nurse move closer to finding the terrifying secret behind these killings, Koller has been given a new his mission will not be complete until Gillian Coates and Garrity, the last surgeon, are dead.

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

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 16, 2010

About the author

Michael 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.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped after 5-6 chapters... I've grown to hate the whole "let's get inside the mind of a sick & twisted killer for hire" part of the thriller genre. I don't need to read another book that makes me feel like I need a shower when I finish reading 20 pages or so.

[Freda Mans-Labianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a suspenseful, thrilling and action packed read this is! I loved it, and honestly I didn't think I would. For me it was as if Jason Bourne joined ER.
I liked the characters in this story. I was really afraid of the killer in the book. His steeliness came through, and yet Nick Fury, the doctor, was the character that made it alright to endure the creepy guy. I really like Nick, and am secretly hoping the author writes more tales with him as the star.
A must read for any thriller or suspense junkie. If you read Koontz or King, check this book out!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never been approached by an author or publisher directly for any ARCs. So, when I received an e-mail from Michael Palmer, the author, asking if I were interested in a copy of his latest book for review, I knew I was not going to turn down the opportunity to do so. Since I like thrillers and medical mysteries, it was not a hardship for me. Having never read any of Mr. Palmer's previous work, I did not know what to expect. On the whole, I enjoyed my foray into his work. There was a lot to like about it; unfortunately, there was also a lot to dislike.

For starters, I felt that the story itself was a tad too predictable. I had figured out the mystery behind Umberto Vazquez's disappearance well in advance of the disclosure of the answer. Remember, I am not one who actively tries to solve the mystery before the narrator reveals the answer, so any time I can predict the ending accurately does detract from my overall enjoyment.

In addition, at times, the story line is a bit unbelievable, or at least stretches the reader's imagination more than normal. While this is okay with science fiction or fantasy, this is not an admirable trait in a medical thriller. For example, a nurse and a surgeon are able to take on a sociopathic mass murderer who is a master of disguise and who earns his living murdering people while making it look like an accident or suicide? A child infiltrates the government's secrets that its own employees cannot unravel? It is a bit too farfetched, in my opinion.

Also, the characters are not well-established. Okay, that is not necessarily true. It is just that the minor characters are more entertaining, more likeable than the main two characters. Even Franz Koller, the sociopathic killer, is fascinating if only because one gets a glimpse into a mind that is most unusual. Junie and Reggie were far more enjoyable than Nick and Jillian, and I found myself more concerned about their well-being than I did for Nick and Jillian's plight.

That being said, there was a lot to like about The Last Surgeon. As mentioned above, Junie was a fun character, and Reggie provided some much-needed comic relief throughout the story. Nick's post traumatic stress disorder, as well as his struggles helping vets receive their VA benefits, is truly heartbreaking because of the truth behind them. How many of our soldiers are coming home facing these same issues with no help whatsoever?

Mr. Palmer writes a decent story. His physical descriptions of settings were detailed enough to help contribute to the action, and his descriptions of the characters were realistic enough that I could picture each one very clearly in my mind. Unfortunately, I felt he switched the narrator's point of view too often. Waffling between Franz, Nick, Jillian, and even Beth and Reggie as well as other minor characters made the story rather chaotic and interrupted the overall flow of the story. In fact, it helped prevent the reader from becoming too attached to any one character.

It may seem as if I did not like the story, but honestly, I did enjoy it! I read the entire novel in a matter of two days because I could not put it down in order to unravel the mystery. As interesting a character as he was, I truly wanted Franz to receive his comeuppance. I may not have been on the edge of my seat with concern about their fates, but I did want Jillian to receive some desperately-needed closure of her sister's death. More importantly, I wanted Nick to find his happily-ever-after and recover from his PTSD. I wanted him to stop living with the guilt and live to enjoy life. In the end, that is what an author hopes the reader will glean from their writing - genuine feelings for his characters. Mr. Palmer achieved that.

I will definitely be putting The Last Surgeon on my husband's TBR pile. In addition, I will be recommending it to all of my friends who enjoy thrillers. It is an enjoyable, fun, thrilling read with a very poignant understory that deserves more attention. Thank you to the author, Michael Palmer, for this Advanced Reading Copy.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing novel for a medical thriller fan..., June 23, 2010
By Denise "DC" (Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)
This review is from: The Last Surgeon (Hardcover)
There was not much "medical" in this purported medical thriller novel by Michael Palmer. I've read his entire backlist, and indeed some of his novels are better than others, but this one was very much not one of his better ones. This book was about conspiracy and secret operations and veterans and only marginally even about PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). The characters in the book seemed flat and stereotypical -- the vet, a doctor, had a fiance who was brutally murdered by a terrorist and thus he suffers the survivor guilt and also the PTSD from the event. The typical beautiful psychiatric nurse, Jillian, who falls for him was such a cliche (far too perfect and the romance was so contrived as to be nauseating). Both of them mostly just annoyed me. I didn't need so much focus on the romance in this book and was looking for far more medicine and a lot more thriller. It just falls short in every respect.

The ex trauma surgeon, Dr. Nick Garrity, actually only works for one or maybe two nights during the whole of the novel in an RV that he and a nurse have developed into a charitable business delivering care to the poor of Baltimore and DC, and to veterans in particular -- Helping Hands Mobile Medical Unit. That is the sum total of the "medical" part in this book. After the second chapter, the story line focuses on his search for his Marine buddy, the guy who saved him from the terrorist, Umberto Vasquez. Apparently the staff sergeant disappeared about 4 years previously, supposedly called back to some secret special operation and has not been heard from since.

The nurse, Jillian Coates, works on the psychiatric unit in a hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina (I think she works maybe twice during the whole book too), when her sister is murdered in what appears to be a staged suicide. Of course she's suspicious. Starts her own investigation. Hooks up with Dr. Nick and then they both start investigating and of course the two events are connected in a vast conspiracy that ends up being pretty much exactly what the reader expects -- and basically sort of boring.

In short, this is one of Palmer's books that you can safely skip if you're looking for a medical thriller with lots of clinical details. It's basically not that at all -- more of a mystery that happens to involve a doctor and a nurse and an unscrupulous plastic surgery clinic and the CIA and well, you get the picture.

Readers -- tell me -- are there ANY good medical thrillers being written any more? If you find one, please let me know!

[J.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I know you can’t believe this is happening, Ms. Coates, but I assure you it is. I have been paid, and paid very well, to kill you.” – The Last Surgeon, Prologue, Page 1.

From the very first sentence, New York Times Bestselling Author Michael Palmer captures the reader’s attention with no intention of release. In fact, it is advisable to keep water and food nearby as it is tempting to read “one more chapter” rather than to prepare dinner.

Palmer’s latest medical thriller involves Dr. Nick Garrity, former trauma surgeon and victim of PTSD, searching for his missing friend, Lieutenant Umberto Vasquez, with whom he served in Afghanistan. Fate introduces him to psych nurse Jillian Coates, searching for the killer of her sister, Belle Coates, refusing to believe that Belle’s death was a suicide. The combination of the two forces results in a story that stimulates the mind, challenges the emotions and satiates the imagination.

Among other factors, Palmer makes us realize that it is not the government we should be concerned with – it is the people within. The reader also questions the value of human life – more importantly, who has the right to decide.

A timely book destined to be embraced by book clubs, The Last Surgeon makes us question our loyalty – whether it be to our friends, to our patients or to our country.

The ending is nothing less than explosive – an ending, that is, to a masterful performance.


J.R. Reardon
author, CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS
and DISHONORED

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder mysteries and corporate conspiracy stories don't stimulate me much, so discount my review. Well written and lengthy character development. I found the expert of "non-kills" to be the most interesting character, which is kind of sad considering he was just a supporting role. Nothing super exciting or different in my opinion. Could easily be made in a typical action movie with predictable plots.

[Kea4 · Rating 1 out of 5]

At first, this book had me intrigued. I liked how it tied into the Nick fury of marvel.

But oh this book goes downhill so fast. I do not need to get into the mind of a killer. I also found the ending so dumb and the reason behind the killings. You have breaking and entering, cyber hacking, corrupt government faking medical procedures. It’s just ridiculous.

https://theworldisabookandiamitsreade...

[Doug · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made it to the 51% mark and decided not to go on. I realized that I simply didn't care about anything the book had to offer. I didn't care about any of the characters and I didn't care about the answers to any of the outstanding questions.

The dialog is childish and painful at times and the plot just isn't very interesting.

[Maryann Winfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is FANTASTIC!!!! My first Michael Palmer novel. I will read as many of his books as I can get my hands on! Seems like many of the less-than-positive reviews were written by people who listed to an audio book rather than read the story. Not sure if that would have made a difference for me. I didn’t want to put this book down.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved reading "The Fifth Vial" during lockdown. I have really enjoyed other medical mysteries, but this time, the author must have been under the gun of his publisher to put out another novel and suddenly hired a ghost author! Lots of drivel to force myself through. Then, at the end of the book, there was an excerpt of the same book. ¡Frijole!

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although we're told that our gov't. never negotiates with terrorists, this work of fiction tells a story otherwise. They locate a vet with no relatives & similar physical characteristics of a terrorist in custody. They tell the vet they need him for a classified job, which includes a little plastic surgery & learning a little Arabic. When that's completed, they tell the vet that he's developed a medical condition, requiring surgery. The vet is placed on the table in the surgical room, not realizing he now has the appearance of the terrorist. Before the doctor makes an incision, the vet suddenly screams in Arabic & dies from what appears to be natural causes. The timing of these 'natural causes' is assisted by security personnel in the room. Doctors in the room, from facial recognition of having to operate on a terrorist, identify the newly deceased as the terrorist. As no surgery was performed, there's no reason for doctors to conclude differently. Surgical procedures are videotaped. Thus the gov't has a videotape of the deceased 'terrorist' (vet) while the real terrorist is on a plane thousands of miles away - terrorist & hostage swap completed. But the gov't. didn't realize that close friends of the vet would leave no stone unturned in searching for him.

[Anne Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me a review is not a synopsis of a book. To me a review is my opinion of whether or not I would recommend this book to another person. I highly recommend this book. It is, like all of Palmer's books, a medical thriller with a tad of corny romance thrown in. This is an excellent and " can't put it down" read. It is also quite educational about war veterans and PTSD. I like to learn while I am entertained so this was a perfect fit. If you listen to it, the narrator is quite good. ( I listen to a lot of my books as I can do tasks around the house while listening.) If you like Robin Cook or Tess Gerritsen, you will love this book and Michael Palmer.

[Daniel Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based in other Micheal Palmer books I read, I was expecting something more than 3 stars. Could be a rough ranking; there was enough excitement for four stars. The main protagonist was well developed, a deep character, worth caring and routing for. But the book overall did not really work. It seemed to me to be a set where Palmer said "let's see how many creative ways I can 'non-kill' someone," set those, and then asked himself "what plot can I use around these 'non-kills?'" I basically guessed the plot twist, so it ended up pretty obvious. The last two chapters I suppose were supposed to be suspense, but seemed more like filler. Good idea, but not done quite right.

[Beth Orr · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read to page 128 out of 373 pages and skipped to the end. Only by reading the jacket summary could I tell where the book was supposedly going. It was taking way too long to get anywhere. Turned out to be a big government vigilante conspiracy that barely made sense. Another major detractor was the hit man who specialized in the non-kill meaning the deaths looked like accidents or suicides and he took a perverse pleasure out of informing the victim what was about to happen but never why. He also enjoyed particularly horrible tortures. It was all really disturbing.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found that I liked this book better toward the end. The bad guy psychopath reminded me a little of the John Lithgow character in last year's season of Dexter--getting people essentially to kill themselves. Surgepn Nick Garrity suffers from post traumatic syndrome disorder and teams up with the sister of one of the victims. Will they manage to outsmart him? There is a really great sequence near the end.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one was really good. I was kept at the edge of my seat the entire time and didn't really know how it was going to turn out. The twist and turns were really well done. I liked Dr. Nick and I wish we got to read about him again.

[Anthea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh

Too much dialogue too little action. was about halfway through the book when i just gave up. Couldn't care about the characters and the plot didn't seem to be progressing. Slow and draggy.

Not for me

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll just warn future audiobook listeners that the concluding full-on recorded SONG based on this "medical thriller" does nothing to enhance the reader experience. In fact it deducts a star. Wth

[Krysti · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book contains some of the worst writing I've had the misfortune to read.

[Adrinna Hardy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I heard good things about this author, but after this book...no thanks

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I need to take a break from this type of storyline, I am tired of people being tortured by some psychopath. Sorry just didn't like this book.

[Sandy Pfefferkorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a medical thriller mystery by the late Dr. Michael Palmer. I enjoyed it.

[Ali Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gut Instinct Rating: 4.5
Characters: 4.5
Believability: 5
Uniqueness: 5
Writing Style: 4.5
Excitement Factor: 5
Story Line: 5
Title Relevance: 5
Artwork Relevance: 5
Overall: 4.83🏳️‍🌈
•
Review: This was a little more confusing than the first book I read by him, but in a magnificent way. There was hire-for-kill mixed in with good deeds, dirty politicians, and of course... a tad bit of romance. (Note, don't read the synopsis because it ruins the element of surprise.) This book really packed a punch. I will say that it was a tad bit overwhelming at times, trying to float between various story lines or characters, rather. Sometimes it made it confusing to keep track of who was who, initially, anyways. But once you settle into the story line, and you really try to track the story, and not focus on every single little detail, this book can be a fantastic action-packed read. I, again, will still be picking up more Michael Palmer books because this guy is absolutely insane in his abilities to create these story lines that intertwine so smoothly.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vacation read of a book I got for 50 cents a the library book sale. My daughter read it first and warned me it might not be my favourite.

Psycho Thriller is not my usual genre but I thought I would give this one a try because I work in the health care profession. Many plot lines and details were far fetched and implausible. The author brushed over major ethical and legal breeches that would not be possible in real life. However, this is a novel and I must suspend reality.

Things I didn’t like
- too much killings and disregard for human life
- That one scene in the hotel room with sex workers. Totally unnecessary.
- Political/government conspiracy/unethical grab for power and political gain. I found it a confusing plot line explanation.

What I did like
- characters Nick and Jillian and their wholesome romance.
- The evil spookiness of the bad guy. He was definitely a psycho killer. Well written character.
- Discussion of ptsd and the stigma that goes with it. How hard it is for people to get help even when they have made the step to acknowledge their trauma.

Recommendations: not for the faint of heart. Only read if psycho thrillers are your jam.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story itself was kinda compelling, enough for me to keep reading. But nothing was left to suspense or to make you think or question what was going on. It was all just laid out for you. The execution was poor.

Specific gripes I have - (Spoilers!!) The conversations between characters was stilted and felt forced. It all felt very flat and emotionless. Almost all of the women were sexualized. There were graphic descriptions of the killer being turned on by violence that I could have done without reading.

One of the FMC's sister died 3 weeks ago and just found out her house and all her and her sisters stuff is destroyed. And she's making heart eyes at an insurance investigator? Ugh come on. Just no.

One of the characters calling his ex "la bitch" and wanting to smack her around more often and how she turned their kids against him like that wasn't 100% on him.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Nick Garrity suffers from PTSD as a result of injuries sustained in Afghanistan during a suicide bombing that killed his fiancée. Along with nurse Junie, Nick now helps care for people on the streets of Baltimore and D.C., making rounds in a medically renovated RV.

Franz Koller murders for both money and pleasure, disguising the seemingly unrelated deaths paid for by an organization called Jericho as “non-kills.” Koller makes Belle Coates’ death look like a suicide, but her sister Jillian, a psychiatric nurse, suspects murder.

Jillian and Nick team up as he is looking for a war buddy who mysteriously disappeared four years before. Jillian is looking for her sister's killer.

Quick read as you can't put the book down.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down! Dr. Nick “Fury” Garrity wants to “avenge” the murders of his army buddy, Umberto, and the sister of his girlfriend, Jillian Coates. He is up against a diabolical killer, Franz Koller, who specializes in the “non-kill” – murder that looks accidental, and the upper echelons of a secret government organization. Dr. Palmer teaches a lot about PTSD and government (in)action regarding its sufferers.
The characters are well developed. Most interesting was the development of the Koller character – a methodical killer without a conscience. Almost as interesting was the emotional development of the “Mole” Mollender, records keeper character.

[Chaos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never read a Michael Palmer books so this was a first. Overall, I did enjoy the book because it ticked the right boxes for me. It was a medical thriller, which I absolutely love. My biggest issues stemmed from the shallowness of the main characters. I felt more connection and depth with the side characters who honestly made me smile. I wanted to get to know them better. It's bad when I didn't care what was going on with Nick and Jullian. Also, for me, I figured out the reasoning behind Umberto's disappearance as it was so obvious. That took away from my overall enjoyment of the story. I will pick up other books by this author as his writing style is something I liked a lot.

[Wanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Last Surgeon" by Michael Palmer is a riveting masterpiece that masterfully intertwines political intrigue, the harrowing realities of PTSD and foster care, and a gripping murder mystery, all woven together with a poignant love story. Palmer's expert storytelling keeps readers on the edge of their seats, seamlessly blending suspense with heartfelt moments of hope and resilience. The depth of character development, especially in portraying veterans and their struggles, adds a compelling layer of authenticity and emotional impact. An unforgettable novel that not only entertains but also sheds light on important social issues, earning a well-deserved five stars.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Nick Garrity, suffering from PTSD drives a mobile clinic giving medical treatment to the homeless of DC and Baltimore. In addition he is looking for his best friend who disappeared four years ago after being recruited by the government for a top secret mission.
Then there's Jillian Coates whose sister Belle supposedly killed herself but a clue left behind makes Jillian believe she was murdered.
These two people are drawn together to find out what really happened and stumble into a string of murders that are made to look like accidents.