The Inquisitor

Dr. Earl Garnet #5

by Peter Clement

It’s spring in Buffalo, New York. At sprawling St. Paul’s Hospital, new interns rush through the halls, staff doctors scramble to catch their protégés’ mistakes, and everyone is aware of one unrelenting A new and vicious strain of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has hit America hard and is menacing the hospital like a wolf at the door. Wrapped in spacesuit-like garb to search for every possible source of infection, the hospital staff desperately tries to protect the lives of patients–and of each other. Yet despite St. Paul’s best efforts, people are dying.

In this chilling medical landscape, no one notices the slight spike in the death rate in a palliative care ward. The prevailing attitude is “They’re supposed to die. That’s why we call them terminal.” When these same patients complain of terrifying near-death experiences, the hospital staff attributes it to delirium caused by medication. But when ER chief Dr. Earl Garnet gets blamed for the unexpected death of a patient, he defies protocol and opens an independent investigation. He quickly becomes suspicious that something far more sinister than disease is killing the hospital’s most vulnerable patients.

For Garnet, looking into the deaths means rattling relationships that have been built over years–relationships with several men and women he once trusted but now must doubt. With the SARS epidemic spinning out of control and a storm of suspicion, fear, and mistrust raging through the corridors of St. Paul’s, the hospital is rocked by a horrifying A respected researcher is found brutally murdered. And his executioner may be ready to strike again.

With brilliant pacing, scalpel-sharp suspense, and an unmatched knowledge of the workings of a big-city hospital, Peter Clement is a thriller writer in a league of his own. In his new work, he takes us on a galvanizing, frightening, and constantly fascinating journey set on the front lines of medicine–where some dangers can be prevented and others can only be feared.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Medical, Medical Thriller

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 28, 2004

Reviews

[Christine Irvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something strange is happening at St. Paul's Hospital in Buffalo, NY. Many patients in the palliative care ward are complaining about terrifying near-death experiences. Although this is something that can happen to terminally ill patients when they have an attack or an episode where they "die" and then are brought back, the numbers are unusually high. Also, it appears as though more patients than usual are dying sooner than expected on this floor. The sheer numbers of these occurrences makes Dr. Earl Gamet, the chief of the ER, wonder if something else is afoot. He becomes suspicious after a patient dies earlier than expected and he gets blamed for the death.

All this is taking place in the hospital during a SARS epidemic in the city, which of course, adds to the drama.

This is a fact-paced thriller set in a big city hospital. The author, Peter Clement, is a doctor who once headed the ER at a major metropolitan hospital. He writes with an insider's view of how things really work in big hospitals. The insight is both enlightening and a bit frightening, but the action and subject matter are definitely worth the read.

Apparently, this is the 5th book in this series. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, or any other books by this author, but I might have to do so now.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman dies of a morphine overdose in the hospital and ER chief Dr. Earl Gannet starts nosing around. Are there too many unexplained deaths? And is everyone acting strange out of fear of the SARS virus or are they hiding something more sinister? 3.5 stars

[Teryll C. Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book!

Finally a great book with twist and turns that even surprise d me.
I am very picky but this time Dr. Earl wasn't as compulsive and seemed more real! Thanks for a great book!

[Betty Stoneking · Rating 5 out of 5]

If i have never read any thing by peter clement. I would read more book like if you like murder medicalyou will like this book. It has a lot er stuff in it .

[Sharon Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written as are all of Clement's books that I have read so far.

[Jenifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

First good medical thriller I’ve read besides my favorite author, Robin Cook.

Believable characters and I was guessing until the end!

[Jo K Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although well written and pacy, it can leave the reader a little sour at times.

[Phyllis Peterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite genres is medical thrillers and it's rare for me to pass up any. I wasn't familiar with this author before coming across this novel and was excited at first to see a lot of realistic medical terminology being used and was waiting for the evolution of the SAS epidemic to take precedence so was a bit disappointed that it held 2nd place to a rather confusing secondary plot (or what should have been secondary plot). The "thriller" aspect was a tad confusing to me, possibly because the character development was not thorough enough so there didn't seem to be enough justification or motive given ultimately as to why the things were done and to whom. Normally a book of this length that grasps my attention will keep me up all night reading until finished but I was able to put this one down and read over period of days. Was an interesting read but not one of my favorites

[Robyn26 loid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good one! Very suspenseful. My favorite books are medical thrillers. I just finished one that rates a 10 on my summer reading list. It is called, "The Rx Factor" by author J. Thomas Shaw.

This is a fiction medical thriller, which is about a failed cancer researcher who meets a female scientist who reignites his passion and interest in medical researcher when she decides to open a low cost clinic in Mexico for terminally ill patients. She plans to offer them an experimental medication. An explosion on the island leads them into a journey of twists and turns as they discover that the United States Government will stop at nothing to block their efforts.

I couldn't put this book down until I had read every single word!
http://www.therxfactor.com/

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was okay as far as medical thrillers go. i thought there was going to be more about SARS and was disappointed. also, i never really understood the motive of the killer.

[C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those who love medical thrillers, this is a good one. 3 1/2 stars

[Karen Sikora Toronyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Clement is an excellent suspense writer with very vivid depictions of everything going on....you are there witnessing every moment.

[Denisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another rating: 7,5/10

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Plot was well developed. I would have liked to see more character development but overall it was well done. Great insight as to what the hospitals are probably like inside.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not memorable, but certainly a page turner, put more hot water in the tub to finish another chapter. Medical fiction, better than Robin Cook because much more believeable. Really 3 1/2 Stars.

[Bob Gilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doctor revenges death of father by killing patients, framing father “killer”