Book Review: Clinical Trial

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Clinical Trial     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
April Christofferson
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Medical   Ethnic
Forge, Oct 2000, $24.95, 333 pp.

Dr. Isabel McLain moved onto the Montana Blackfoot reservation seeking purpose after her marriage failed. However, practicing medicine on the Native American reservation is far from perfect as the clinic is run down and lacks funding. The situation turns deadly when the Hantavirus kills some of her patients.

ImmuVac claims to have a vaccine that will stop the deadly virus. The company wants to test it on the Blackfoot, but the people are divided. Monty Four Bears believes the biotech company wants to use his tribe as guinea pigs. Isabel thinks otherwise as the Oregon-based company is highly regarded in the field. Money is to be made with a vaccine like this one, but who is right and is the risk of proving so worth taking?

April Christofferson, author of the well-received PROTOCOL, provides her audience with an exciting Native American medical thriller. The story line works because the prime cast seems genuine as they debate the issue with both sides having doubts about the merit of their position. The characters propel the story line forward, leaving sub-genre fans with a powerful novel that works on all levels.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner