Book Review: Misconception

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Misconception     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Robert Shapiro , Walt Becker
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Legal Setting   Medical   Thriller
Morrow, May 2001, $25.00, 320 pp.

Highly regarded Louisiana Dr. Daniel Wyatt is expected to be a breeze for accepance by the Senate as the new Surgeon-General. However, the father of three has had a recent indiscretion that could derail his nomination. He slept with a patient Sarah Corbett, who is now pregnant. Daniel suggests an abortion, but Sarah rejects the notion.

Attorney Claire Davis, a pro-choice advocate, gives Wyatt the French abortion pill for him to give to Sarah. Sarah takes the RU-486 pill and soon suffers a miscarriage. The D.A. uses Sarah to incriminate Wyatt for murdering a fetus. Meanwhile, an anti-abortionist serial killer, Peter O'Keefe, targets Wyatt for death if the doctor is acquitted of murder at the conclusion of the trial of the century that could change the course of abortion in this nation.

Readers must not get the MISCONCEPTION that this novel has anything to do with OJ although Dream Team defense attorney Robert Shapiro is a co-author. Instead, the story line is an entertaining legal medical thriller that readers will find more enjoyable than rehashing OJ. Daniel is a decent person and though Sarah and Claire seem extreme they are fully developed and understandable. Insight into the fiery nature of Peter adds to a better comprehension of the extreme anti-abortion element in a John Brown type of way.. Still Mr. Shapiro and Walt Becker have written a powerful medical-legal thriller that provides insight into a complex and emotional issue, but never eases up on the action for a moment while doing so.

Harriet Klausner

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