Doing Harm

With a deft initial setup reminiscent of Grisham’s The Firm, urologist Parsons’s strong first novel paints a picture of the competitive, ego-driven realm of a world-class teaching hospital and the kind of personalities that thrive there. Steve Mitchell, the chief surgical resident at a topflight Boston hospital, believes he has his life and career well in hand. Mitchell’s arrogance and pride may be justified, but they have primed him for a fall. This comes swiftly when a patient dies and Mitchell is blamed. A lovely and charismatic young medical student serving under him may not be all she seems. With the lives of his patients on the line, Mitchell is forced into a game of medical cat-and-mouse to stop a murderer and to reclaim his shattered life and reputation. The author’s attention to detail keeps the action chillingly plausible, until the climax when one too many twists sends this medical thriller skittering into silliness. Announced first printing of 100,000. Agent: Al Zuckerman, Writers House. (Feb.)