From Publishers Weekly
In her latest Kate Millholland mystery, Hartzmark offers a suspenseful account of a hospital's takeover by a crooked HMO. Prescott Memorial--a charitable institution, founded by Kate's family, that serves Chicago's most needy citizens--is about to be purchased by the dubious Health Care Corporation (HCC), which has been buying up hospitals around the country. Kate, a corporate attorney, doubts her flaky, socialite mother's commitment to the cause, but she reluctantly agrees to help her block the sale, and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the hasty purchase and rumors of mysterious deaths at the hospital draw her deeper into the case. She learns from her roommate, Claudia Stein, a surgeon at Prescott, that several patients have died of unexplained respiratory arrest after being operated on by the same doctor. The situation hits home when Claudia is accused of negligence after one of her own patients dies following routine surgery. Running on caffeine and adrenaline, Kate keeps her cool as she races to clear her friend's name and thwart HCC's efforts. Kate is a witty and quick-witted protagonist, and she is joined by an interesting, well-developed supporting cast. Hartzmark (Rough Trade) weaves multiple plot threads into a complex and satisfying thriller as deftly as her heroine juggles cases.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"Hartzmark is an excellent writer . . . especially good at catching the vibrations of tension which encircle complex business dealings."
--Mystery News
"When it comes to the legal thriller, Gini Hartzmark's work is top of the line."
--LES ROBERTS
--Mystery News
"When it comes to the legal thriller, Gini Hartzmark's work is top of the line."
--LES ROBERTS
Book Description
FROM MANAGED CARE TO MURDER
Attorney Kate Millholland grew up on Chicago's Gold Coast, an accessory to her socialite mother. Now she lives in a rough Hyde Park neighborhood, works long hours for demanding clients, and eats cold takeout for breakfast. Then Kate takes her mother on as a client, and her legal career takes an unexpected turn.
The sale of her family's charitable hospital to a greedy corporation has Kate's mother up in arms. And when Kate enters the fray, she finds a shocking secret: Patients are mysteriously dying at Prescott Memorial Hospital. Kate is dead certain that a killer is on the loose--and for proof, she has to look no closer than home. . . .
Attorney Kate Millholland grew up on Chicago's Gold Coast, an accessory to her socialite mother. Now she lives in a rough Hyde Park neighborhood, works long hours for demanding clients, and eats cold takeout for breakfast. Then Kate takes her mother on as a client, and her legal career takes an unexpected turn.
The sale of her family's charitable hospital to a greedy corporation has Kate's mother up in arms. And when Kate enters the fray, she finds a shocking secret: Patients are mysteriously dying at Prescott Memorial Hospital. Kate is dead certain that a killer is on the loose--and for proof, she has to look no closer than home. . . .
From the Back Cover
"Hartzmark is an excellent writer . . . especially good at catching the vibrations of tension which encircle complex business dealings."
--Mystery News
"When it comes to the legal thriller, Gini Hartzmark's work is top of the line."
--LES ROBERTS
About the Author
Gini Hartzmark attended the law and business schools of the University of Chicago and was a business and economics writer. She has written articles on a variety of topics for the Chicago Sun-Times, the Chicago Tribune, and a number of national magazines. She is also the author of the Kate Millholland novels: Principal Defense, Final Option, Bitter Business, Fatal Reaction, and Rough Trade.
Ms. Hartzmark and her husband live in Arizona with their three children.
Ms. Hartzmark and her husband live in Arizona with their three children.
