Addiction (Peter Zak Mysteries) - Hardcover

Ephron, G. H.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312266774 ISBN 13: 9780312266776

Publisher: Minotaur Books, 2001

Synopsis

Amnesia, G.H. Ephron's acclaimed debut, introduced forensic neuropsychologist and expert defense witness Dr. Peter Zak. Returning in Addiction, Peter is back in the thick of things at the Pearce Psychiatric Center, coping with patients as well as everyday average administrative nightmares at the hospital, like budgetary concerns, construction, and colleagues' drug trials. And then the worst nightmare of all-the murder of a colleague.

Such an event, if it weren't devastating enough, rekindles Peter's memories of the murder of his wife, which left Peter emotionally shattered and isolated; he's only recently begun to emerge. But he can't retreat this time; he must use his expertise to help reconstruct this baffling and intensely personal killing.

Peter discovers his friend and former lover, Pearce psychiatrist Channing Temple, dead from a gunshot wound on hospital grounds. Her 16-year-old daughter Olivia is standing over the body, holding a gun. Did Olivia, who has been abusing Ritalin and other drugs, kill her mother? Peter thinks not, but she is quickly arraigned for murder, and he has only two weeks to find the killer before Olivia is sent to prison. In this tense and compelling second installment in a highly lauded series, the talented writing team known as G.H. Ephron tackles the dangers and misconceptions surrounding addiction...and the chaos of murder.

About this title

About the Author

G. H. Ephron is actually a two-person team - writer Hallie Ephron, and practicing forensic neuropsychologist Donald A. Davidoff, Ph.D. Both live in Massachusetts. Visit their Web site at www.peterzak.com.

Reviews

Some books grow on you. They start off in a leisurely style that just barely holds your interest but never quite gives you an excuse to quit entirely when, inexplicably, you find yourself increasingly interested in who and what's going on. If it's a good book, like Ephron's second Peter Zaks mystery (after 2000's Amnesia), you wind up thoroughly satisfied. Zaks, a forensic psychologist, works at the Pearce Psychiatric Institute, a place of many secrets and much intrigue involving drug research. Fame and fortune await the researcher who publishes first, and some will do anything to avoid being nice guys. In this case, there are two drugs designed to alleviate chronic addiction: one, the hope of a rich pharmaceutical company, the other, the work of an independent researcher, Channing Temple, a former lover of Zaks. When Temple is murdered, her 16-year-old, Ritalin-addicted daughter, Olivia, is caught standing by the body with a gun in her hand. Did Olivia kill her mother? The police would like to think so. Zaks doubts it, and wants to save the kid from both the police and her own bent for self-destruction. A low-key style, a large cast of well-drawn characters, comprehensible medical jargon, as well as a credible solution intelligently arrived at all add up to a fine novel that should entertain both mystery and medical thriller fans. (Sept. 17)forensic psychologist Don Davidoff.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Forensic psychologist Peter Zak, recovering from the murder of his wife, agrees to treat the troubled, possibly suicidal teenaged daughter of longtime friend and colleague Channing Temple. When he arrives for their meeting, he discovers Channing dead and her daughter holding a gun. He believes the girl incapable of murder but also refutes the theory that Channing committed suicide, so he looks into motives for murder: competition for research money, allegations of personal misconduct, and staff conflicts at the Pearce Psychiatric Institute. This second in a series (after Amnesia) is a pleasurable read with stylish prose, a swift-moving plot, and strong characterizations. [G.H. Ephron is the pseudonym for journalist Hallie Ephron, a sister of Nora, Delia, and Amy Ephron, and Don Davidoff, a practicing forensic psychologist. Ed.]
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Psychologist Peter Zak of Boston's Pearce Psychiatric Institute returns in his second adventure. An old friend, psychiatrist Channing Temple, asks Peter to meet with her 16yearold daughter, Olivia, to see if he can determine what is troubling the confused adolescent. When Peter arrives for the appointment, he finds Channing shot through the head and Olivia standing over the body, gun in hand. Despite the circumstances, Peter doesn't believe Olivia capable of matricide and sets out to determine what really happened. The trail leads him to a controversial drug study Channing had completed before her death. Soon he finds out more than he would like to know about his own institution's reliance on funds from drug companies for research and the sometimes dubious ethics of those managing the projects. Ephron--pseudonym for the writing team of Hallie Ephron (sister of Nora, Amy, and Delia) and Don Davidoff, a forensic psychologist--has produced an intricately plotted story, well supported by details of clinical drug trials. A fine second installment in a promising series. Stuart Miller
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0312266774
• ISBN 13: 9780312266776
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304