The Choice

The protagonist of Denker's (Outrage 20th novel is Walter Duncan, an outstanding orthopedic surgeon at a prestigious midwestern hospital. Duncan is dedicated and compassionate, but his professional commitment often results in neglect of his wife and daughter, even though he tells himself they are getting ""quality time.'' His newest patient is a promising young tennis star who has contracted osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer). He handles Amy Bedford's case brilliantly, but just as his patient begins to recover, Duncan's own daughter is stricken with leukemia. Duncan must now confront himself, his wife and his profession as well as the gloomy prospects that lie ahead. The frantic routine of a busy hospital is well depicted, but the narrative often reads more like a screenplay for a TV movie than a novel. Still, it's a vivid portrayal of a family crisis. (June 24)