Conspiracies, Homicide, and Mercy Killing by a Sisterhood of Nurses Sets the Scene for The Sisterhood by Michael Palmer
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With The Sisterhood, Veteran M.D. Michael Palmer brings to life the fears of humankind regarding the right to die with dignity, as well as, the question of if we can truly trust those hired to care for us when we are unable to care for ourselves. The murderous plot revolves around two groups of clandestine nurses who opt to kill hospitalized patients; some with terminal illnesses and others who just happen to be inconvenient to someone in their lives.
Palmer’s The Sisterhood features dedicated, tragedy stricken Dr. David Shelton, a witless scapegoat for the sisterhood, who finds himself embroiled in a fight to clear his name after he stumbles upon an euthanasia case and is framed for the murder. Another unlikely protagonist, however, is Christine Beall R.N. whose sensitive nature causes her to join the sisterhood as a means of relieving the agony she sees in the terminally ill around her. Her distress over her part in the assisted suicide of a fellow nurse, however, is undeserved since another member of the sisterhood actually administered the fatal drug. Eventually, in an attempt to prove David’s innocence, the two protagonists join forces while running for their lives and wind up romantically involved.
While I was able to understand and sympathize with the motives behind the Sisterhood I was angered and frightened by the real possibility of a group like the Garden taking root for the sole purpose of killing the unfortunate for profit. It was also disturbing that in the end that while the Sisterhood was dissolved, the Garden found another leader to continue their evil endeavor.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but I wish some of the characters had been a little more developed, especially the scarred nurse, Janet who belonged to both the Sisterhood and the Garden. It seemed to this reviewer that she could have been a more influential character if we knew a little more about her. With that said, the plot kept me interested from the first page and I was surprised as to who put out the hit on David and Christine, which in my opinion made for a good read. Like with all his books, I would give this one a thumbs up for anyone who enjoys being frightened and possibility alerted to event that can occur when one is seeking medical help.
Tags: the sisterhood, michael palmer, conspiracy, medical mystery, murder, homicide, fiction, nurses, novel, book review, death with dignity, euthanasia, assisted suicide, murder for hire
3 Comments
University Update - Virginia Tech - Conspiracies, Homicide, and Mercy Killing by a Sisterhood of Nurses Sets the Scene for The Sisterhood by Michael Palmer
July 11th, 2007
at 8:11pm
[…] Wake Forest University Link to Article virginia tech Conspiracies, Homicide, and Mercy Killing by a Sisterhood of Nurses Sets the Scene for The Sisterhood by Michael Palmer » Posted at Reflections by J. Schenone on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 [ Author Avatar] With The Sisterhood, Veteran M.D. Michael Palmer brings to life the fears of humankind regarding the right to die with dignity, as well as, the question of if we can truly trust those hired to care for us when we are unable to care for ourselves View Entire Article » […]
Cheryl Kaye Tardif
July 11th, 2007
at 9:49pm
I’ve always enjoyed Michael Palmer’s novels. There is something to be said for a novel that makes you cringe…and wonder if its plot could possibly be true.
I’m an author as well and I also explored the issue of assisted suicide or assisted dying. Although my novel Whale Song is not as dark or chilling as Palmer’s The Sisterhood, it does delve into the emotions of all concerned when faced with a loved one’s dying wish. Whale Song asks a tough question: If someone you loved was dying and in pain would you assist in their death? Could you?
Two months after Whale Song was released, Jack Kevorkian (aka Dr. Death) was paroled, and now the highly controversial subject of assisted suicide is in the limelight again. After all of my own research and after digging deep, I have come to some realizations. We ALL deserve a dignified death. No one deserves to die painfully and slowly. If governed by common sense and by trained physicians, this choice should be respected. Who are we to judge someone’s personal decision to end their life if they are already suffering from a debillitating disease? How humane is it to make them wait and suffer more?
I feel for the families of loved ones who have chosen this way out. I feel for those who have wanted it and have been prevented from ending their lives with dignity. I would not want to have to make this decision–on either side of the fence. But…I believe it should be looked at on an individual basis, case by case. I’m not saying that just anyone should look for this way out of life. But someone whose body is ravaged by disease or someone who may slip into a coma at any time, should be given the option.
Whose life is it anyway?
Cheryl Kaye Tardif
author of Whale Song, The River and Divine Intervention
reflections
July 13th, 2007
at 4:53am
Dear Cheryl,
I am so happy that you visited my site. I will check out the book you wrote and comment on it once I am finished.
I agree with your conclusions that everyone should have the right to die with dignity. That is not to say that I believe that suicide itself should be legal. In most cases I believe that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. However, for those of us who have terminal illnesses or terrible ones like Lou Gehrig’s disease I firmly believe that the victim’s wishes should be honored. I also believe that by legalizing assisted suicide the victim would be able to die in a peaceful manner and the burden would be taken off of the family.
When my father-in-law suffered a debilitating stroke that left him as a vegetable we were forced to help his wife make the decision to let him go. It was a terrible time for us as to do this he was denied water and food. I thought that this was barbaric. How much more humane it would have been to give him some drug that would have put him to sleep.
Again thank you for your input into this subject and have a wonderful day. Jackie