From the bestselling author of Jurassic Park and Rising Sun, this national bestseller combines breathtaking suspense with a penetrating examination of America's medical establishment. When a woman bleeds to death on the operating table, her physician is accused of murder--and another physician searches for the horrible truth. HC: Dutton.
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"I love anything Michael Crichton writes, but his early medical thrillers have been favorites of mine." -Stephen King
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ALL HEART SURGEONS ARE BASTARDS, and Conway is no exception. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
ALL HEART SURGEONS ARE BASTARDS, and Conway is no exception. Read the first page
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Dave Deubler
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Crichton focuses his microscope on the medical profession in this story of a butchered abortion performed on the daughter of a prominent Boston physician. John Berry is a Boston pathologist who has been helping to cover up the illegal abortions performed by a Dr. Arthur Lee. When Lee is arrested for murder, Berry has to unravel the case before the consequences of his own actions catch up with him. There's a lot of the technical medical terminology that Crichton has made popular on the hit TV show "ER", and a lot more of the serious analysis of the moral dilemmas that face medical practitioners in the real world, particularly as they relate to abortion. Like "ER" this is not science fiction, but a very compelling story (actually a murder mystery) informed by substantial scientific knowledge. (Crichton was a medical student at the time this novel was written). As such, there is no speculation here, just the facts as Crichton sees them, in the context of a juicy potboiler that includes licentiousness and loose living among the rich and privileged. The end result is a thoroughly compelling can't-put-it-down page-turner that seems certain to please a mass audience.
The down side is that apart from the (admittedly even-handed) discussions on abortion, there really isn't any substance to this novel. The characters are pretty generic, and only the hero really manages to make any claim on our sympathy. Mystery lovers are sure to enjoy this book, as are fans of "ER", but science fiction fans should not be expecting to find any far-out ideas here. Very entertaining, but not mind-boggling, this book will raise your consciousness about the abortion issue. Just don't expect a whole lot more from it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By James
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This was an okay book to read. It was entertaining, however, very forgettable. Having finished the book last night, I had already forgotten the main characters name. Crichton deals with abortion in an evenhanded manner. What the story lacks however seems to be any real substance. The story seems very trite and easy to predict each turn that it will take. It does keep you interested while you read it, but only to confirm what you figured out early on. All in all three stars for the lack of depth found in this novel (unlike most Crichton novels.)
By Jorge Frid
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I like all kind of medical thrillers, I like Palmer, Cook, Sheldon (Nothing Last Forever) and of course Crichton, when I started to read these kind of novels, many times I had to go to the dictionary to understand many medical descriptions, or ask some friends what does it mean this or that in the hospital, this book explain all that and after you read it you will understand many things about hospitals and doctors, this book doesn't say anything against any doctor as other medical thrillers, in this book you see how the doctors try to help themselves and their medical friends.
The case of the abortion is good, nevertheless you will not know exactly how John knew who was the bad guy, he just found it, so, at the end you will be a little disappointed but you will learn many things about doctors, for example: do you really know why the clothes of the M.D. are white?
The case of the abortion is good, nevertheless you will not know exactly how John knew who was the bad guy, he just found it, so, at the end you will be a little disappointed but you will learn many things about doctors, for example: do you really know why the clothes of the M.D. are white?
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3.8 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another Crichton Masterpiece!
This is another one of those books that I found very difficult to put down. It is a definite page-turner! Read more
Published on Jan 3 2004 by Anthony Pultrone
5.0 out of 5 stars
Crichton's first "official" novel is a page-turner!
I found MC's new introduction to his earliest breakthrough novel, A CASE OF NEED, quite interesting. Read more
Published on Dec 10 2003 by John
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, But Not His Best
A Case of Need was an alright book with a so-so book, but I felt that it could have been better, All of Crichton's other novels such as Rising Sun and Jurassic Park have been great... Read more
Published on Dec 8 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pure Genius
This book is amazing. It has everything - suspense, drama and a throlling ending. Pick up a copy and read it today!
Published on Dec 8 2003
1.0 out of 5 stars
Trite
This is the first, and at this point only, book written by Mr. Crichton that I have read. It hasn't exactly inspired me to read any others. Read more
Published on Nov 8 2003
4.0 out of 5 stars
Ert...
Wow. I'm not a very big Crichton fanatic... I've only recently read a few of his books, Sphere included, and I think they're absolutely amazing... Read more
Published on Aug 1 2003 by "guyswithblackhairwelcome"
3.0 out of 5 stars
NOT AS GOOD AS OTHER CRICHTON-NOVELS, BUT INFORMATIVE
This is very much an average book, with nothing new to offer but for a lot of explanation of a great deal of technical terms used in the field of medicine; and it is these details,... Read more
Published on July 28 2003 by Vish Iyer
4.0 out of 5 stars
A case of career change
As is mentioned by other reviewers here, this is Crichton's first novel, a medical mystery written under an assumed name. Read more
Published on July 1 2003 by Brian Hulett
2.0 out of 5 stars
A Rough Start for Michael Crichton
"A Case of Need" is worth reading for a devoted Crichton fan if for no other reason than to mark how much Mr. Crichton has improved since this debut novel. Read more
Published on April 5 2003 by sweetmolly
4.0 out of 5 stars
Everyone must read this book
Let's dismiss the fact that Crichton is a great novelist for a moment. Now let's take a look at A Case of Need. The writer obviously knows a lot about medicine. Read more
Published on Mar 14 2003 by bob
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