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Dr. Fenimore #5
The Doctor Rocks the Boat
Like so many of Dr. Fenimore's adventures, trouble starts with a harmless idea.
From his train window, the good doctor sees a single shell gliding on the surface of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, an image that stirs up fond memories of his rowing days. Rowing had been the perfect antidote to the hectic rush of medical school, and he wonders why he ever gave it up. He could also use some exercise, as Jennifer, his significant other, broadly hints. So with renewed dedication, he goes knocking on the office door at Boathouse Row to reenroll as a member of the Windsor Club.
Charlie Ashburn, whom Dr. Fenimore knows from medical school, is running the club, and they catch up on lost time. Charlie's son, Chuck, is a great rower and is currently training for the big regatta. Talking about Chuck makes Charlie swell with pride, but it makes Fenimore a little uneasy. Charlie was an incredibly talented rower himself but had to give it up because of a serious heart condition.
Dr. Fenimore doesn't enjoy his membership for very long before he finds himself drawn into an Ashburn family problem. Charlie's wife comes to his office in secret and begs him to talk to Charlie about getting their son checked out by a doctor. To Dr. Fenimore's surprise, Charlie has been refusing to face the possibility that Chuck might have inherited the same heart defect he has. The doctor agrees to help, and his well-intentioned efforts put his own life at risk.
In this fifth Fenimore episode, Robin Hathaway captures Philadelphia's exciting rowing scene and proves once again that when this doctor is in, it's great fun for all.
From his train window, the good doctor sees a single shell gliding on the surface of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, an image that stirs up fond memories of his rowing days. Rowing had been the perfect antidote to the hectic rush of medical school, and he wonders why he ever gave it up. He could also use some exercise, as Jennifer, his significant other, broadly hints. So with renewed dedication, he goes knocking on the office door at Boathouse Row to reenroll as a member of the Windsor Club.
Charlie Ashburn, whom Dr. Fenimore knows from medical school, is running the club, and they catch up on lost time. Charlie's son, Chuck, is a great rower and is currently training for the big regatta. Talking about Chuck makes Charlie swell with pride, but it makes Fenimore a little uneasy. Charlie was an incredibly talented rower himself but had to give it up because of a serious heart condition.
Dr. Fenimore doesn't enjoy his membership for very long before he finds himself drawn into an Ashburn family problem. Charlie's wife comes to his office in secret and begs him to talk to Charlie about getting their son checked out by a doctor. To Dr. Fenimore's surprise, Charlie has been refusing to face the possibility that Chuck might have inherited the same heart defect he has. The doctor agrees to help, and his well-intentioned efforts put his own life at risk.
In this fifth Fenimore episode, Robin Hathaway captures Philadelphia's exciting rowing scene and proves once again that when this doctor is in, it's great fun for all.
- GenresMysteryCozy Mystery
224 pages, Hardcover
First published June 27, 2006
1 person is currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Robin Hathaway
11 books9 followersRobin graduated from Germantown Friends School and Smith College (BA/English). While her two daughters were young she owned and operated a printing/advertising firm Barnhouse Press from her home (there was a printing press in the barn and one in the house) and did freelance writing and photography. One daughter claims she was lulled to sleep by the methodical beat of a printing press in the kitchen and a close friend claimed she once found ink in her mashed potatoes!
But Robin had always wanted to write, and on her 50th birthday her husband told her, "It's now or never." So she began. She wrote three mystery novels in three years featuring Dr. Andrew Fenimore, an old-fashioned cardiologist who still made house calls. Robin's amateur sleuth was patterned after her husband, who just happened to also be a cardiologist.
When Robin isn't writing, she does free lance editing, teaches mystery writing, and lectures on the mystery novel at schools, libraries, and other institutions. Her short stories have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Arthur Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and Death Knell.
Robin divides her time between Philadelphia and New York City.
But Robin had always wanted to write, and on her 50th birthday her husband told her, "It's now or never." So she began. She wrote three mystery novels in three years featuring Dr. Andrew Fenimore, an old-fashioned cardiologist who still made house calls. Robin's amateur sleuth was patterned after her husband, who just happened to also be a cardiologist.
When Robin isn't writing, she does free lance editing, teaches mystery writing, and lectures on the mystery novel at schools, libraries, and other institutions. Her short stories have appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Arthur Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and Death Knell.
Robin divides her time between Philadelphia and New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 24, 2018
This is the fifth in the Dr. Fenimore series, but was the first for me. The author did a great job of giving background on the characters without overdoing it for those who had read the previous books.
In this book, Dr. Andrew Fenimore decides to rejoin his rowing club from college. One of his college friends, Charlie Ashburn, sponsors him. Charlie was an excellent rower who had to quit rowing competitively during college when it was discovered that he had a serious heart condition.
Now, Charlie's son, Chuck, is carrying on the family name and is in competition for a slot in the Henley Regatta in England, where he hopes to win the Diamond Skulls. However, Chuck's mother approaches Dr. Fenimore, expressing her concern that Chuck might have the same heart condition as his father.
Fenimore's adventures begin, as he tries to delicately discover whether or not Chuck should be rowing competitively. Charlie insists that his son was checked out thoroughly by Dr. Burton and found to be in good health. Fenimore makes an appointment to see Dr. Burton, and is able to sneak a look at Chuck's records. He sees that Chuck was diagnosed with SCD and also had a defibrillator implanted.
Fenimore attempts to dissuade Chuck from rowing, but Chuck runs away and does win the qualifying race. Shortly after, however, Chuck is rushed to the emergency room. Andrew learns that there was no evidence that Chuck suffered from SCD, but his potassium levels cause Chuck's death.
Fenimore is almost killed when he starts to investigate the situation. In the meantime, his faithful nurse, Mrs. Doyle, and "Rat" (Horatio), his high school office assistant, attempt to help while also aiding a young runaway that Rat has found. Fenimore's girlfriend, Jennifer, seems distant, which leads Andrew to think he might be taking her for granted.
The existence of the various subplots adds a level of reality to the book, because nothing takes place in a vacuum. A group wanted to dismantle the boathouses and build a tourist mall, while a local group tried to have the boathouses declared a Historic Landmark. Jennifer is spending a lot of time with a Native American, trying to get his story down in order to write a book.
Fenimore suspects Chuck's mother, his father, and others before finally realizing what was actually going on. I enjoyed the book, the descriptions of settings, the information about rowing, and the relationships of the characters. I hope to find the previous books in the series.
**********Spoilers*********
I began to suspect Dr. Burton only when Fenimore and Jennifer went to his secluded cabin and saw all of his expensive wooden carvings. As it turned out, Dr. Burton was Chuck's killer. He had been at the hospital to attend a lecture when Chuck was in intensive care. Slipping out of his seat at the back of the lecture hall, he had donned medical clothing, gone into the room, and injected potassium into Chuck's IV. After trying to kill Fenimore and Jennifer in a fire (Charlie ended up showing up and rescued them), Burton went out to dinner with Fenimore, Jennifer, and Charlie. That was when Fenimore told Charlie that Burton had murdered his son. After dinner, Charlie and Burton went off together, tipsy and singing college songs. The fact that Burton ended up drowning during a rowing lesson from Charlie that night did not fool Fenimore, but it was declared an accidental drowning.
In this book, Dr. Andrew Fenimore decides to rejoin his rowing club from college. One of his college friends, Charlie Ashburn, sponsors him. Charlie was an excellent rower who had to quit rowing competitively during college when it was discovered that he had a serious heart condition.
Now, Charlie's son, Chuck, is carrying on the family name and is in competition for a slot in the Henley Regatta in England, where he hopes to win the Diamond Skulls. However, Chuck's mother approaches Dr. Fenimore, expressing her concern that Chuck might have the same heart condition as his father.
Fenimore's adventures begin, as he tries to delicately discover whether or not Chuck should be rowing competitively. Charlie insists that his son was checked out thoroughly by Dr. Burton and found to be in good health. Fenimore makes an appointment to see Dr. Burton, and is able to sneak a look at Chuck's records. He sees that Chuck was diagnosed with SCD and also had a defibrillator implanted.
Fenimore attempts to dissuade Chuck from rowing, but Chuck runs away and does win the qualifying race. Shortly after, however, Chuck is rushed to the emergency room. Andrew learns that there was no evidence that Chuck suffered from SCD, but his potassium levels cause Chuck's death.
Fenimore is almost killed when he starts to investigate the situation. In the meantime, his faithful nurse, Mrs. Doyle, and "Rat" (Horatio), his high school office assistant, attempt to help while also aiding a young runaway that Rat has found. Fenimore's girlfriend, Jennifer, seems distant, which leads Andrew to think he might be taking her for granted.
The existence of the various subplots adds a level of reality to the book, because nothing takes place in a vacuum. A group wanted to dismantle the boathouses and build a tourist mall, while a local group tried to have the boathouses declared a Historic Landmark. Jennifer is spending a lot of time with a Native American, trying to get his story down in order to write a book.
Fenimore suspects Chuck's mother, his father, and others before finally realizing what was actually going on. I enjoyed the book, the descriptions of settings, the information about rowing, and the relationships of the characters. I hope to find the previous books in the series.
**********Spoilers*********
I began to suspect Dr. Burton only when Fenimore and Jennifer went to his secluded cabin and saw all of his expensive wooden carvings. As it turned out, Dr. Burton was Chuck's killer. He had been at the hospital to attend a lecture when Chuck was in intensive care. Slipping out of his seat at the back of the lecture hall, he had donned medical clothing, gone into the room, and injected potassium into Chuck's IV. After trying to kill Fenimore and Jennifer in a fire (Charlie ended up showing up and rescued them), Burton went out to dinner with Fenimore, Jennifer, and Charlie. That was when Fenimore told Charlie that Burton had murdered his son. After dinner, Charlie and Burton went off together, tipsy and singing college songs. The fact that Burton ended up drowning during a rowing lesson from Charlie that night did not fool Fenimore, but it was declared an accidental drowning.
January 17, 2013
#5 in the Dr. Andrew Fenimore series. The elderly author has been ill and this 2006 entry likely marks the end of this enjoyable series. For some reason, as I read these books I visualize (the white-haired, mustachioed)Dick Van Dyke as the doctor.
Dr. Andrew Fenimore runs into fraternity brother, Charlie Ashburn, who had to give rowing due to a heart condition. Now son Chuck is rowing and Charlie's wife asks Fenimore about the possibility of Chuck's having the same condition as Charlie. The regatta goes off without a hitch, but soon after Chuck collapses and dies. Dr. Fenimore is determined to help find the killer.
Dr. Andrew Fenimore runs into fraternity brother, Charlie Ashburn, who had to give rowing due to a heart condition. Now son Chuck is rowing and Charlie's wife asks Fenimore about the possibility of Chuck's having the same condition as Charlie. The regatta goes off without a hitch, but soon after Chuck collapses and dies. Dr. Fenimore is determined to help find the killer.
April 6, 2014
This is the last book in the Series unfortunately. It is a really great series with lots of excellent twists and a real down to earth attitude. I really like all of the characters - all with very recognizable traits and very relatable. Nice medical details without being too overwhelming. I wish there were more...
August 24, 2014
I read this more for the rowing descriptions than for the mystery. It was superficial in its rowing expertise, but the mystery was good enough to warrant a quick read. There were many opened threads that could be used in future publications.
February 20, 2015
A trifle. The rowing part was my hook. Story and characters were too thin.
August 11, 2016
Enjoyed the rowing theme in this one, number 5. Read this one first and will read the rest of the series. Familiar Philly landmarks - Boathouse row, etc.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews