Oath of Office

December 5, 2011
In this suspenseful thriller from bestseller Palmer (A Heartbeat Away), Dr. Lou Welcome, who nine years earlier lost his medical license “for self-prescribing amphetamines,” now works for the organization that cured him of his addiction, the Physician Wellness Office, counseling doctors with similar problems in Kings Ridge, Va., outside Washington, D.C. When John Meacham, a client of Lou’s who had “a better-than-decent recovery program,” fatally shoots seven patients and staff members at his office before shooting himself, the PWO suspends Lou. Other strange anomalies in Kings Ridge that Lou uncovers lead him to the U.S. president’s wife, who’s received a mysterious warning from a man known only as Double M. An unusual corn crop, giant termites, and greed combine to create a grave threat. Palmer’s easy mix of science and individual courage should please his many fans. Agent: Jane Rotrosen Agency.

March 26, 2012
Robert Petkoff delivers solid narration in this audio edition of the latest medical thriller from Palmer. When Dr. John Meacham, whose medical license was once suspended for alcohol abuse and anger issues, loses control and murders seven people before turning the gun on himself, much of the blame falls on Meacham’s counselor, Dr. Lou Welcome, who approved his return to practice. But when Welcome begins to look into the incident, he unearths a dark conspiracy whose twisted roots stretch toward the highest office in the land and the fruits of which could grow into a deadly threat of global proportions. Petkoff’s pacing is spot on and his reading often chilling. He infuses his performance with just enough melodrama to maintain suspense while keeping the novel grounded in reality. Petkoff deftly delivers Palmer’s complex story, while providing unique voices for all the characters. The result is an enjoyable listen. A St. Martin’s hardcover.