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The Society
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Plot Summary of The Society
"

Bantam, August 2004, 25.00, 351 pp.
ISBN 05533900579

He practices medicine to help people but Dr. Will Grant is becoming increasingly frustrated with the way managed health care is short changing patients. The HMOs have absolute power in telling a doctor what they can and can not do if they want reimbursement for services rendered. Will is a member of the Hippocrates Society, an organized movement to effect change on the health care system.

Someone apparently agrees with Will's assessment on the state of healthcare in America because to date four CEOs of different HMOs have been murdered. Detective Polly Moriarity at first believes that Will is a likely suspect but when she gets to know him she believes he is a dedicated doctor who wants to change the health care profession. When Will passes out in surgery, it is discovered he has a powerful narcotic in his system. Although he denies taking anything stronger than Tylenol, he gets suspended from the hospital and his medical license is revoked. While investigating a medical anomaly, he and Polly are kidnapped and are going to be killed unless Will turns over damaging x-rays that could cause certain HMOs to be in trouble with the law.

Michael Palmer has written an exciting medical thriller that gives insight into what doctors have to go through to practice good health care in spite of HMOs and insurance procedures. The protagonist of THE SOCIETY is a true hero, willing to fight for good health care for the public. He believes a National Health Care plan that is similar to England and Canada is the best way to have quality healthcare. Michael Palmer knows how to write quality thrillers that entertain as well as educate the audience.

Harriet Klausner

"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Society
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 20%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10%




Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
Time/era of story: - present (2000-2010)
Murder of certain profession? - doctors/patients
Kind of investigator - amateur citizen investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - doctor
Age: - 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use? - a little
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - business executive
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 1
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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Michael Palmer Resident Scholar Profiles

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