A review by rbharath
Miracle Cure by Harlan Coben

mysterious relaxing tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

While crime / suspense is one of my favourite genres, I have not read many of Harlan Coben’s books. This is apparently one of his early books and he warns that it may not be as polished as his later ones. That said, I liked the book for being a relaxing read. 

The story will seem a little dated today as it is set at a time when there was a sense of hopelessness around AIDS, and gay people were stigmatized. Dr Harvey Riker & Dr Bruce Grey are partners in the Sidney Pavilion clinic working on a drug for AIDS, and on the verge of a breakthrough. A couple of cured patients are killed and it seems like there are enemies of the clinic out to destroy them. Dr Bruce Grey is found dead in what appears to be a case of suicide, by jumping from his hotel room. None who know him feel he had any reason to end his life, but he has left a suicide note in the hotel room. There are many other characters in the story: 

·        Ernest Sanders - an evangelist, accused of tax fraud, who is vocal that AIDS is a warning for humankind to return to the right path. 

·        Sarah Lowell - a newscaster who picks up the story of the clinic, with Donald Parker, a senior newscaster. She is married to Michael Silverman, a baseball player. 

·        Dr John Lowell - Sarah’s dad, who is sore that his cancer wing is not getting more funding due to most of it going to AIDS research. 

·        Cassandra – Sarah’s sister, is wayward and a little envious of Sarah. Gets romantically involved with Dr Harvey Riker. 

·        Dr Eric Blake – a new researcher and partner at the clinic. 

·        Lieutenant Max Bernstein – investigates the deaths of clinic patients to get to the serial murderer of the clinic patients. 

·        Senator Stephen Jenkins – his son is gay, though the information is not public and is being treated at the clinic. He is conscious and careful of his image with the electorate. 

The pace is very good, and so is the character development. Though some of the murders are unnecessarily brutal, it is still an entertaining & relaxing read. This is written in a style which is somewhat typical of the genre with suggestions to the reader on who could be the culprit, only to spring a surprise later. Aspects of prejudice form a strong part of the story, and while a lot has changed, some of it stays till date. As Harlan Coben does warn in his foreword, the last section has long explanations of the motive and the resolution.