Brian Holbrook, an MD barred from practicing medicine because of drug dependency, has decided to get his life back in order. He has joined AA and NA and has been free of drugs and alcohol long enough that he could practice medicine if he could get his license reinstated and find a job.

Brian's father, Jack, suffers from coronary artery disease. His condition is rapidly worsening, despite a bypass operation several years before. Jack collapses in a restaurant and is taken to White Memorial Hospital. Allied with Boston Heart Institute, it is touted as the best coronary care facility in the country.

While his father is being treated, Brian meets an old medical school friend who is on the staff at the hospital. The friend brings Brian in to consult on a case that has him baffled. Brian makes a diagnosis out of left field as it were, which turns out to be correct and saves a man's life. As a result, the management of the hospital offers Brian a job, contingent on him remaining drug free.

White Memorial/Boston Heart Institute is the site for the clinical trials of Vasclear. Brian would like to get his father admitted to the study. The premier cardiac surgeon, as well as a highly respected female cardiac specialist recommend surgery, but Jack's first bypass operation was such a nightmare that Jack refuses surgery. Vasclear seems to have little benefit for Jack and his condition worsens.

When his father dies, Brian wonders if he had forgone the Vasclear treatment and opted for surgery earlier if his father might have survived. Subsequent investigation by Brian into early Vasclear studies makes him question the so-called wonder drug.

Michael Palmer has written a number of action packed medical thrillers and Miracle Cure is no exception. All of the overworked phrases that regularly appear in cover blurbs are appropriate here. This is a page turner and one that should not be started late at night unless you want to stay up all night. It is very easy to get caught up following Brian in his quest to find out the truth about Vasclear as well as a few amorous side adventures.

For those that enjoy being educated while they are entertained, Miracle Cure is a good choice. Palmer provides a good layman's view of coronary artery disease and various alternatives for its treatment. While Vasclear is a fictional drug, Palmer does show some of the problems involved in developing a new drug. And one learns about the human side of working in a hospital, particularly the enormous strain that the practice of medicine puts on the practitioners. How they are able to cope (or not cope) is enlightening.

Miracle Cure has three elements which, while probably appropriate for a movie, lessened my appreciation for an otherwise outstanding book. It was a bit bizarre to have doctors with no knowledge of firearms running around the hospital with guns. And to me, the introduction of the Russian, or Chechen Mafia in the book reeked of Hollywood. Finally, there were extraordinary chase scenes in which Brian, trying to save valuable evidence, performed feats almost worthy of Superman.

But if these somewhat over the top elements don't bother you, I think you'll agree that Miracle Cure is a very entertaining read.

--Andy Plonka