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.
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"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)
" 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, 10/15/2013Michael 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.