THE SECOND OPINION (Michael Palmer)

Palmer's latest medical thriller has an added dimension that sets it apart from his previous novels. Dr. Thea Sperelakis returns home to Massachusetts from the Congo, where she has been working with Doctors without Borders, after she has been informed that her father, Petros, also a physician, has been critically injured in a hit and run accident. A series of disturbing events and a conversation with her quirky, but brilliant brother Dimitri soon convinces Thea that her father's accident was, in reality, a deliberate attempt to kill him. Thea herself is soon caught up in trying to protect her comatose father from further harm while figuring out who can be trusted. Even her other older brother and sister, twins and physicians as well, may not be trustworthy. Palmer has created a fresh and charming character in Thea, a doctor who is afflicted with Asperger's Syndrome. For those of you who are not familiar with this condition, Asperger's is a neurological disorder characterized by an impaired ability to interpret social clues, such as facial and verbal expressions, by intense interests, and by high sensitivity to environmental stimulation. "Aspies" are often highly intelligent and excellent at memorization. Thea's lifelong struggle with Asperger's adds an aspect to the character that sets her apart from your run of the mill "female-doctor-in-jeopary". Her literal interpretation of questions and comments, her logical approach to outfoxing her enemies, and her budding romantic relationship with security guard Dan Cotton all add to her appeal. I think that Michael Palmer has done a superb job of showing us Asperger's from the inside looking out while seamlessly incorporating the syndrome into a terrific thriller.

As an added note, there is an excellent interview about Asperger's Syndrome included at the end of this novel. Palmer's son was diagnosed with Asperger's at age 4 (I have a family member who was not diagnosed until age 20). If you have an interest in learning more about Asperger's be sure to read these pages.

COVER YOUR ASSETS (Patricia Smiley)

The cover of this mystery has a quote from Janet Evanovich describing the novel as "a real treat", and she is right! I really enjoyed sleuth Tucker Sinclair, a smart, determined management consultant with a wacky movie star mother named Pookie, a silver Boxter, and an adorable dog named Muldoon. In this entry Tucker is called upon by old friend Cissie Brice to help her clean up loose ends after the murder of Cissie's husband Evan, who also happened to be Tucker's fiance in college before she caught Cissie and Evan in flagrante delicto. Tucker is drawn into the investigation of Evan's death after she is asked by Cissie to clean out Evan's apartment, which he purportedly used to unwind from the demands of his career as a successful Hollywood agent. Tucker's natural curiosity, analytical skills, and daredevil tendencies lead her through a series of almost believable adventures, including a car chase, a mugging, and a desparate search for a lost dog. This promises to be a solid mystery series with likeable characters and very logical, well-thought out plots.

The Stepmother (Carrie Adams)

What can be better than discovering a wonderful new author? Since this is only Carrie Adams' second novel (and I haven't read the first yet!) there is the promise of great things to come in the years ahead.

First of all, to the casual observer this would seem to be chick lit. The cover art, the premise (woman decides that she loves her ex-husband and wants him back just as HE announces that he is engaged to a younger woman), and the book jacket all suggest an entertaining light read. Inside, however, the reader is quickly drawn into the lives of two very different women. One is Bea, who ended her marriage to James 4 years previously. Bea is an overweight and unhappy supermom to 14-year-old Amber, 9-year-old Lulu and 8-year-old Maddie. She has maintained a good relationship with James over the years and of late has come to the realization that things might be much better if the family reunites. Tessa King is a 38-year-old business woman who believes she has finally found the love of her life in James and is determined to win over his three daughters, especially the recalcitrant Amber, who has her father wrapped around her little finger. Over the course of the novel we witness a complex interweaving of relationships and resulting difficulties involving extended families, broken marriages, addiction, and adolesence. The unique aspect of this novel is the technique of alternating between the viewpoints of the two female protagonists in four-chapter segments in real time. While we are experiencing Bea's life, Tessa's continues on out of sight. As we rejoin Tessa she takes up at the point in time where Bea left off, and so on. I found this to be a very effective way of telling the story.

I am looking forward to reading Adams' "prequal", The Godmother, and whatever comes next!