Crisis by Robin Cook (2006, Unabridged, Compact Disc)

Disturbed by the insurance industry’s increasing ability to dictate courses of treatment better decided by doctors and concerned about quality of care, successful physician Craig Bowman leaves his traditional office to practice concierge medicine. Concierge doctors work for a limited clientele who pay an annual retainer for exclusive care. With Patience Stanhope, a wealthy hypochondriac of the first order who requires constant handholding and weekly house calls only to ignore all of his advice, Bowman earns his salary. When Stanhope actually has a fatal cardiac emergency, Bowman does all one would expect and more to try to save her. Yet, he finds himself sued for malpractice.

Concierge medicine is certainly on trial in Cook’s latest thriller, but that’s only one aspect of this fast-paced, surprise-filled novel. Bowman’s wife calls upon her brother Jack for assistance. Jack, a New York City Medical Examiner who thinks outside of the box, determines that Patience may have been murdered. Working furiously against legal and personal deadlines and the threats of some mysterious and nasty thugs, Jack seeks to exhume the body and perform an autopsy before it's too late to secure justice for his brother-in-law. Lovers of courtroom drama and forensic procedures will find plenty to enjoy here. Guidall, in fine voice, uses his broad range of accents to good advantage.