The Second Opinion

by: Michael Palmer

Published by: St. Martin's

Reviewed by Alex McGilvery

The Second Opinion by Michael Palmer is a fascinating thriller. Even without the strange goings on at the Beaumont Hospital, the glimpse into the mind of Thea Sperelakis is worth reading the book. Thea has returned home from Africa where she worked with Doctors without Borders to be at her father’s bedside. Petros is the victim of a hit and run and is in a coma. Thea discovers undercurrents surrounding her father, and they can’t all be attributed to the difficulty in interpreting other people’s emotions that is caused by her Asperger’s (a high-functioning form of autism).

Thea struggles to understand what is happening, while arguing with her twin siblings that Petros should be kept alive. Dimitri, her oldest brother is her ally in her investigations, but she also meets some other people who aid her in her investigations of the dark side of the hospital’s success.

Thea is one of those characters that you immediately care about. She is equal parts tough and vulnerable, but often she appears to be the most human of the people surrounding her.
I found the presentation of her Asperger’s believable and integral to the story. She is a person who cares differently about the world we live in. The way Michael Palmer presents Asperger’s as having both positive and negative aspects, adds depth. There are no lectures, just a glimpse into another way of being.

The Second Opinion is a book for those who like well-written thrillers. There is plenty of action and a cast of unique characters. It is also a book for people who like to know what it is like for others to deal with the challenges of our evermore-complex world. The reality of Asperger’s is presented without maudlin sentiment, but just as part of Thea’s being.

Armchair Interviews says: This is a book that is well worth the time to read.

Author’s Web site: http://www.MichaelPalmerBooks.com