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constantreader471's review against another edition
4.0
This is a well written mystery that starts out as a hit and run but turns into a murder mystery. There is a also a medical malpractice investigation tied into the case. This is book 8 in the series but it read ok as a stand alone. Dismas Hardy is a lawyer hired by Dr.Eric Kensing, a prime suspect in the murder. Abe Glitsky is Hardy's friend and head of the San Francisco homicide squad. There are other characters who evidently have recurring roles in the series, but Hardy and Glitsky are the main characters and on opposite sides of this case.
This book started off slow but held my interest throughout. I was not sure who the murderer was until almost the end. This book was lent to me by a relative who enjoys Lescroart's books.
I like his ability to describe body language: "She smiled with all the warmth of a cobra."
This book started off slow but held my interest throughout. I was not sure who the murderer was until almost the end. This book was lent to me by a relative who enjoys Lescroart's books.
I like his ability to describe body language: "She smiled with all the warmth of a cobra."
weaselweader's review against another edition
3.0
A timely cautionary tale on the profit motive in health care!
HMO executive, Tim Markham, is hit by a car during his regular morning run and subsequently succumbs to his injuries in the ICU unit of his flagship hospital. Despite the fact that his death appears to be a slam-dunk case of hit-and-run vehicular homicide, there are circumstances surrounding the man and how the hospitals are managed that lead investigators to consider it may in fact have been a murder. Further investigation gives rise to the possibility that the halls of the hospital are being haunted by some sort of Angel of Death who has committed as many as a dozen murders over the last few years. The question is “why?” and the sleazy business practices of the hospital’s administration are definitely one of the possibilities.
Although THE OATH was written the better part of 20 years ago, it’s a workmanlike, enjoyable legal and police procedural that questions the myriad conflicts of interest that arise between the profit motive of HMOs and the best medical interests of patients unfortunate enough to need their care. Given the current political conflicts over the issue in the lead-up to the 2020 election, it’s certainly a timely novel that would likely raise more eyebrows today than it did when it first appeared on bookstore shelves. That the villain of the piece is easily predictable takes away marginally from THE OATH’s impact as a legal or medical thriller, but its interest as a political statement that is very relevant today remains.
Recommended as an enjoyable and controversial diversion.
Paul Weiss
HMO executive, Tim Markham, is hit by a car during his regular morning run and subsequently succumbs to his injuries in the ICU unit of his flagship hospital. Despite the fact that his death appears to be a slam-dunk case of hit-and-run vehicular homicide, there are circumstances surrounding the man and how the hospitals are managed that lead investigators to consider it may in fact have been a murder. Further investigation gives rise to the possibility that the halls of the hospital are being haunted by some sort of Angel of Death who has committed as many as a dozen murders over the last few years. The question is “why?” and the sleazy business practices of the hospital’s administration are definitely one of the possibilities.
Although THE OATH was written the better part of 20 years ago, it’s a workmanlike, enjoyable legal and police procedural that questions the myriad conflicts of interest that arise between the profit motive of HMOs and the best medical interests of patients unfortunate enough to need their care. Given the current political conflicts over the issue in the lead-up to the 2020 election, it’s certainly a timely novel that would likely raise more eyebrows today than it did when it first appeared on bookstore shelves. That the villain of the piece is easily predictable takes away marginally from THE OATH’s impact as a legal or medical thriller, but its interest as a political statement that is very relevant today remains.
Recommended as an enjoyable and controversial diversion.
Paul Weiss
martyfried's review against another edition
4.0
I was tempted to only give this one star because of the tricky ending, but I decided to chalk it up to Lescroart's sense of humor. Aside from that, I enjoyed this book very much, but that's not surprising as I have enjoyed all of his books so far.
It seems like there is more humor in this series as I continue to read it. The two main characters, Glitsky and Hardy go well together. Glitsky is a good straight man for Hardy's frequent jokes and wisecracks - that is, when they're speaking to each other. Occasionally, one or the other gets a bit carried away with his job and causes friction with the friendship, but they usually kiss and make up. Well, not literally of course, even though it is San Francisco.
The humor is somewhat welcome in this one, as the subject is pretty serious, and affects most everyone - medical care, or lack of it as is often the case. Here, it's about an HMO that is business first and care last. There are some sad facts that I'm afraid are true. Drugs on the formularies are there because they're cheap, generic drugs are not the same as the name-brand ones - they simply have the same main ingredient, but side effects may make a difference. And you can't sue for medical malpractice, because it's an insurance company, not a hospital. And the biggest problem in this story is that the HMO gets paid a set amount for most patients, so if these happen to get in the way of the higher-paying ones, well, something's got to give and sometimes it's the patient's life. Oh well, usually nobody notices.
So, read it and weep. It's a good story, and it doesn't hurt to have a bit of reality mixed in.
It seems like there is more humor in this series as I continue to read it. The two main characters, Glitsky and Hardy go well together. Glitsky is a good straight man for Hardy's frequent jokes and wisecracks - that is, when they're speaking to each other. Occasionally, one or the other gets a bit carried away with his job and causes friction with the friendship, but they usually kiss and make up. Well, not literally of course, even though it is San Francisco.
The humor is somewhat welcome in this one, as the subject is pretty serious, and affects most everyone - medical care, or lack of it as is often the case. Here, it's about an HMO that is business first and care last. There are some sad facts that I'm afraid are true. Drugs on the formularies are there because they're cheap, generic drugs are not the same as the name-brand ones - they simply have the same main ingredient, but side effects may make a difference. And you can't sue for medical malpractice, because it's an insurance company, not a hospital. And the biggest problem in this story is that the HMO gets paid a set amount for most patients, so if these happen to get in the way of the higher-paying ones, well, something's got to give and sometimes it's the patient's life. Oh well, usually nobody notices.
So, read it and weep. It's a good story, and it doesn't hurt to have a bit of reality mixed in.
catherine_t's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ericwelch's review against another edition
4.0
I hesitate to mark this as a legal mystery as, unlike many of Lescroart's other books, there is very little that takes place in a courtroom except for a couple of grand jury scenes.
No need to summarize the plot as the book's description does that just fine without any spoilers and this book would be ripe for spoilers. Not a great book, just a lot of fun. I especially enjoyed the repartee between Glitsky and Hardy, two best friends, who manage to focus on their own conflicting jobs and irritate each other no end, yet manage to forgive and forget.
You'll learn some interesting economics of running a hospital and HMO and trying to keep the HMO going provides the motivation for several of the "mercy" killings that lead to the penultimate murder. I did find the murderer's motivations to be rather unconvincing, but then again, I don't value money and power the way her/she/it (no spoilers there) did.
No need to summarize the plot as the book's description does that just fine without any spoilers and this book would be ripe for spoilers. Not a great book, just a lot of fun. I especially enjoyed the repartee between Glitsky and Hardy, two best friends, who manage to focus on their own conflicting jobs and irritate each other no end, yet manage to forgive and forget.
You'll learn some interesting economics of running a hospital and HMO and trying to keep the HMO going provides the motivation for several of the "mercy" killings that lead to the penultimate murder. I did find the murderer's motivations to be rather unconvincing, but then again, I don't value money and power the way her/she/it (no spoilers there) did.
allison_21's review against another edition
4.0
A little slow during the set-up, but it really paid off in the end - kept me on the edge of my seat during the entire second half.
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