Play Audiobook Sample
The Second Opinion Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.02) - 1,431 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
Dr. Thea Sperelakis has always been an outsider. She has a brilliant medical mind and a remarkable ability to recall details, but her difficulty in dealing with hidden agendas and interpersonal conflicts has led her to leave the complex, money-driven dynamics of a hospital and to embrace working with the poor. Her father, Petros, is one of the most celebrated internal medicine specialists in the world and the founder of the cutting-edge Sperelakis Center for Diagnostic Medicine at Boston’s sprawling, powerful Beaumont Clinic. When Petros is severely injured by a hit-and-run driver, no one thinks he will survive. Two of Petros’s other children, both physicians, battle Thea and their eccentric brother, Dimitri, by demanding that treatment for their father be withheld. Meanwhile, Petros lingers in the Beaumont Clinic’s intensive care unit, where Thea is his only advocate. As Thea uncovers the facts surrounding the disaster, it seems more and more to be no accident. Petros himself is the only witness. Who would want him dead? The answers are trapped in his brain...until he looks at Thea and begins to slowly blink a terrifying message. In The Second Opinion, Michael Palmer has created a cat-and-mouse game where one woman must confront a conspiracy of doctors to uncover an evil practice that touches every single person who ever has a medical test. With unforgettable characters and twists and betrayals that come from the most unlikely places, The Second Opinion will keep you guessing...and looking over your shoulder.
Download and start listening now!
"I found this medical thriller even more interesting because two of the characters in the book have Asperger's Syndrome. Michael Palmer's son was diagnosed with Asperger's when he was 4. Palmer's knowledge of and personal experience with Asperger's is quite evident in the story. I suggest listening tot he book on CD for a much fuller experience of this book. The narrator does a fantastic job on the voices of Thea and Demetri, which helps you get a better picture of Asperger's from these two characters thought processes, actions and dialogue."
— Debby (4 out of 5 stars)
The Second Opinion Listener Reviews
-
" Interesting with the Aspbergers/Autism angle but in the end the mystery didn't get tied together to my satisfaction. "
— Lisa, 2/5/2014 -
" I really liked this book. The focus on Asberger's (which Boston Legal made me aware of) and Electronic Medical Records (because I work in the healthcare field) were very interesting and made for a good page turner. "
— Marcia, 2/4/2014 -
" Decent medical thriller....nice to have a different aspect/setting for my most recent suspense read. "
— Brooke, 2/3/2014 -
" Sort of slow building up to the plot but got good at the end. "
— Katrin, 2/1/2014 -
" Quick fun beach read. Medical suspense story. A few interesting characters. "
— Stephanie, 1/31/2014 -
" It was interesting to get in the head of someone with Aspergers Syndrome, but this wasn't my favorite Michael Palmer novel. "
— Elaine, 1/29/2014 -
" Very good thriller. Lot of great information on the autism spectrum- specifically Ausperger's "
— Charles, 1/19/2014 -
" A fun to read medical thriller...easy. Very Palmer. "
— Nan, 1/6/2014 -
" Decent. A bit disturbing. Also an interesting insight into Asperger's syndrome. "
— Claudia, 12/31/2013 -
" Being ADHD myself, I *very* much enjoyed this book. It seemed like it was skipping around at the beginning, but I promise it does all tie together. "
— CodyAnne, 12/25/2013 -
" This thriller grabbed me from the get go. VERY unusual and interesting main characters, a fast moving plot and a surprising ending all goes together to make a fine piece of reading!!! I apprecite this author who doesn't give up his talent to mass produce too many weak books. "
— Kay, 10/15/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this one. In fact I read it in three days, I ever figgured out the ending 0 It was quite suspenseful., "
— Gloria, 9/15/2013 -
" This was just a don't think too much, easy read. It kept me entertained but wouldn't recommend it as a must read! "
— Ann, 7/23/2013 -
" This is a fast paced medical thriller with a couple of intertwined mysteries. Who tried to kill Thea's father and are they now after her? And why? And how about that wonder cure for pancratic cancer leading to big donations to the hospital. Who is behind this data manipulation? "
— Jody, 7/2/2013 -
" This is a "medical thriller" that I read in between my more literary choices. Sometimes I just like mindless books. "
— Diane, 5/31/2013 -
" Second book I read by Michael Palmer...Great author!!!Great story. "
— barry, 2/25/2013 -
" This seemed a little harder to get into than some of his books but was still good. "
— Rosalie, 2/14/2013 -
" Interesting story, main character has autism, I wonder if this is why I found the author to be more jumbled in his writing? I enjoyed First Patient MUCH more. "
— Laura, 11/22/2012 -
" Welcome summer reading. It was a good book, a page turner. It felt a little hacky. "
— Rob, 11/2/2012 -
" A good medical yarn that I was going to give 4 stars...but after reading all the way to the end (do NOT read the epilog first!) I gave it a five. Unexpected climax! "
— Steve, 4/22/2012 -
" I am a sucker for Michal Palmer's stories and this one was one that literally sucked me in from word one. The protagonist is a doctor with asberger's syndrome and that, alone, was fascinating. This also had one of the most creative murders I've ever read. "
— Susan, 1/9/2012 -
" this was an excellent medical thriller full of suspense twists n turn..totally could not put book down.. "
— Grace, 11/16/2011 -
" Readable but forgettable. The author seems to be using this novel to instruct us about Asperger's syndrome in the context of an implausible plot set with unappealing characters. "
— Barbara, 6/20/2011 -
" This was an interesting story about a doctor that has Asperger's syndrome. I wish it had ended differently, but I think it was well written. I thought Michael Palmer did a good job of portraying Thea Speralakis as the main character. "
— Sue, 5/6/2011 -
" I always enjoy Michael Palmer's books, and this one is no exception. Great characters and interesting <br/>information regarding Asperger's syndrome. "
— Kw, 4/14/2011 -
" This was very good. A good "Who Done It" book. "
— Karen, 4/6/2011 -
" I enjoy reading books by this author as he is also a doctor. There is a credibility in his writing due to that fact....it was an okay book and i would recommend it if you enjoy medical thrillers. "
— kathi, 4/4/2011 -
" Predictable and at times annoying. "
— Rebecca, 3/25/2011 -
" Being ADHD myself, I *very* much enjoyed this book. It seemed like it was skipping around at the beginning, but I promise it does all tie together. "
— CodyAnne, 2/22/2011 -
" Meh? The romance in the story seemed very secondary and unnecessary to the story and almost tacked in to satisfy some unknown formula. The rest of the emotion in it seemed very remote, even the action scenes. Otherwise, a decent "who done it." "
— Jesi, 2/11/2011 -
" What are the chances of finding another book about people with asbergers? This one was good, but the characters didn't display symptoms as strong as the first book. At the end I discovered that the author actually has a son with the disorder. It was exciting and education at the same time. "
— Julie, 1/19/2011 -
" Autism and adult Asperger Syndrome in the novel made it unique. The Author's Note at the end was very interesting too. "
— Gary, 1/17/2011 -
" Amazing how twins can be so different even when sharing Asperger's syndrome. "
— Mary, 1/3/2011 -
" Excellent plot. NOT written well, "
— Jim, 12/22/2010 -
" I found the insights into Aspergers Syndrome fascinating. The main character was not a flawless superhuman as is the typical protagonist. "
— Joan, 12/1/2010 -
" I liked this book. It was well-written and I'm pleased to see that this author has written many others that I'd like to read. It was a good page-turner and contained a lot of interesting medical information. "
— Bill, 11/26/2010 -
" OK read...fairly typical of the author. "
— John, 11/19/2010
About Michael Palmer
Michael Palmer (1942–2013) authored twenty-one novels of medical suspense, all international bestsellers, including The First Patient, The Second Opinion, and The Last Surgeon. His books have been translated into thirty-five languages. Extreme Measures was the basis for a movie starring Hugh Grant and Gene Hackman.