Giveaway dets at the bottom.
Did you ever see the movie Extreme Measures? It came out in 1996 and proved to be my introduction to Michael Palmer. I was fifteen that year and had seen the trailers for the movie. While spending the night at my grandmother's house I discovered she owned a copy of the book the movie was based on. So I snatched it up and spent the night reading it and I've been a Palmer fan ever since!
Palmer is the author of 18 novels. All thrillers and all (in my opinion) pretty freaking fabulous. His latest, Political Suicide hit shelves just this week and has been keeping me awake reading at night just like Extreme Measures did all those years ago.
Dr. Lou Welcome is certain that his friend and fellow doctor Gary McHugh is not a murderer. Unfortunately, McHugh has been struggling with alcoholism and recently suffered a black out. His car was crashed into a tree near the house of a senator whose wife had been having an affair with McHugh. That same night, the senator was murdered in his own home. Though no weapon has been found, McHugh's circumstances are all the police need in the way of motive and opportunity. McHugh asks Lou to do anything he can to help clear his name. As Lou begins to dig into the case, he quickly discovers evidence missed by the police. Evidence that points to another possible suspect with a motive to kill the senator. But when Lou clues the cops in, the evidence somehow disappears and Lou's copy is stolen as well. Now he and McHugh's lawyer are certain that there's something fishy going on, but proving McHugh's innocence also means putting themselves both in grave danger.
If you're in the mood for a quick and suspenseful read with a really smart and original plot, you should check this one out! Technically this is a follow up to Oath of Office in that Lou appears as the main character once again. Never fear, though, Political Suicide stands completely on its own.
Lou is the standout, of course, as a returning character and a character that readers will connect with on multiple levels. He's admirable, he's smart, and he's determined to help his friend no matter what. And you get all of that even if you haven't read Oath prior to this.
I'm absolutely loving this new twist Palmer has put on his subjects of late as well. He's added a political element to the medical thriller subgenre he's so well known for. I've no doubt that there are plenty of plots that can be built around medical mysteries but in adding this extra element, I think it's given Palmer a chance to explore even more issues and pretty much guarantee that each new book will be just as fresh and original as the ones before.
Take it from someone who has a history of binge reading this particular author, if you're just coming to Palmer you might want to clear some space in your TBR for his other titles once you're done!
I almost forgot! I have an extra copy of Political Suicide to give away. If you're interested, just leave me a comment here (with an email addy so I can get in touch with you if you win) before midnight, December 30. (US/Canada only)
Good luck!
