Book info

• Title A Case of Need
• Author Michael Crichton
• Year 1968
• Genre Thriller

In the tightly knit world of Boston medicine, the Randall family reigns supreme. When heart surgeon J. D. Randall’s teenage daughter dies during a botched abortion, the medical community threatens to explode. Was it malpractice? A violation of the Hippocratic Oath? Or was Karen Randall murdered in cold blood? The natural suspect is Arthur Lee, a brilliant surgeon and known abortionist, who has been carrying out the illegal procedure with the help of pathologist John Berry. After Karen dies, Lee is thrown in jail on a murder charge, and only Berry can prove his friend wasn’t the one who wielded the scalpel. Behind this gruesome death, Berry will uncover a secret that would shock even the most hardened pathologist.

Thoughts

One of Crichton’s early works, and a medical thriller, this is heavy going. The subject matter is controversial and tough to read, but ultimately it’s a story of a pathologist trying to prove his case.

One big problem I had with this book was the sheer number of characters. It started off quite simply with just the narrator and his family, and the accused and their family. Then there was a victim and that family, three hospitals, doctors, scientists, police, reporters, friends, relations and goodness knows who else. By about halfway through I was getting very confused.

The writing can get a bit technical in places, although there were handy notes at the bottom of each page if necessary, and a small appendix at the back of the book. Written in the first person, it flows very well, although sometimes jumps from person to person in an unexpected and jarring fashion.

I’m a big fan of Michael Crichton, and I didn’t mind this book, but I was hoping to love it. I was disappointed.

Rating: 3 / 5