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The first family  Cover Image Book Book

The first family / Michael Palmer and Daniel Palmer.

Summary:

"The President’s teenaged son is threatened by a potentially fatal illness that is rooted in dark secrets from a long-buried past. President Geoffrey Hilliard and his family live in the ever-present glare of the political limelight, with relentless scrutiny of their daily lives. The White House is not an easy place to grow up, so when the President’s son Cam, a sixteen-year-old chess champion, experiences extreme fatigue, moodiness, and an uncharacteristic violent outburst, doctors are quick to dismiss his troubles as teen angst. But Secret Service agent Karen Ray, whose job is to guard the president's family with her life, is convinced Cam’s issues are serious -- serious enough to summon her physician ex-husband for a second opinion. Dr. Lee Blackwood’s concerns are dismissed by the president's team -- until Cam gets sicker. Lee must make a diagnosis from a puzzling array of symptoms he's never seen before. His only clue is a patient named Susie Banks, a young musical prodigy who seems to be suffering from the same baffling condition as Cam. Hospitalized after an attempt on her life by a determined killer, Susie’s jeopardy escalates as Cam’s condition takes on a terrifying new dimension. Is someone trying to murder the President’s son? As Lee and Karen race for a cure to Cam’s mysterious and deadly disease, they begin to uncover betrayals that breach the highest levels of national security. Returning to the same Washington, DC setting of The First Patient, which former President Bill Clinton said 'captured the intense atmosphere of the White House,' The First Family is a riveting new medical drama from acclaimed novelist Daniel Palmer, in the tradition of his late father, New York Times bestselling novelist Michael Palmer."-- Provided by publisher.

Record details

  • ISBN: 9781250107428 (hardcover)
  • Physical Description: 342 pages : 24 cm
  • Edition: First edition.
  • Publisher: New York : St. Martin's Press, 2018.
Subject: Physicians > Fiction.
Children of presidents > Fiction.
Genre: Medical fiction.
Suspense fiction.

Available copies

  • 10 of 11 copies available at BC Interlibrary Connect. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Castlegar Public Library.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 11 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Holdable? Status Due Date
Castlegar Public Library FIC PAL (Text) 35146002092013 Fiction Volume hold Available -

  • Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2018 February #2
    Daniel Palmer writes suspense fiction under his own name, and medical thrillers that carry on the brand established by his late father, Michael (1942–2013). This one falls into the latter category and effectively extends the Michael Palmer legacy, nicely mixing elements of hard science with traditional thriller elements. Cam Hilliard, the son of the U.S. president, is a chess prodigy, but he has begun showing signs of depression and is losing his competitive edge. The president's doctor initially sees therapy as the answer, but a second opinion yields a surprising result. While the two doctors argue over what's best for Cam, it soon becomes clear that the president's son might not be the only one who has this affliction. Murder and political machinations play out in the background, but what makes this story shine is the mix of compelling characters and intriguing science. Michael Palmer and Robin Cook fans are the natural audience for this one, which should reconfirm the fact that Daniel is as adept as his father was at finding suspense in the intricacies of medicine. Copyright 2018 Booklist Reviews.
  • Publishers Weekly Reviews : PW Reviews 2018 February #2

    Paper-thin characters and a hard-to-swallow plot mar bestseller Palmer's self-described homage to his late father Michael's The First Patient. Karen Ray, the Secret Service agent primarily responsible for the safety of Cam Hilliard, the U.S. president's teenage son, consults her ex-husband, Washington, D.C., family practitioner Lee Blackwood, after Frederick Gleason, the head White House physician, suggests that Cam be treated for a mental health problem. Lee is brought in for a second opinion, and, after his exam, clashes with Gleason over Cam's treatment. Lee's suspicions that there's a physical basis for Cam's symptoms are eventually validated and lead him and Karen to look into the True Potential Institute, "a unique educational center dedicated to helping D.C.'s most gifted children develop mastery in a variety of disciplines," where Cam, a chess master, studies chess and where he routinely receives medications intended to boost mental acuity. The plot never generates much suspense. Readers can only hope that Palmer (Mercy) will return to form next time. Agent: Meg Ruley, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Apr.)

    Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly.

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