Synopses & Reviews
Struggling to comprehend his new and sometimes cruel reality involving poverty, disease, drug addiction, and racial tension, the young intern, Thomas Spezia, is not prepared for the rigors of training and the gritty reality of St. Louis City Hospital. When his mentor, Dr. Skelton, assigns the case of Lori Raines, a terminally ill patient, Thomas becomes overwhelmed by her needs and the demands of her philandering husband and so he embarks on a treacherous road to self-discovery that indelibly transforms his life. Everyone has a dream, but every dream has a price. Thomas must answer the question that gnaws at him, day and night: Has the price become too high?
Review
"Claire Applewhite's new novel, The Doctor's Tale, is populated with a cast of compelling characters starting with a young intern, Dr. Thomas Anthony Spezia. Like all good characters, Spezia is at once unique and relatable, worth your time and attention as he tries to learn the ropes at a St. Louis public hospital that serves as a backdrop for mayhem and mystery." —Richard H. Weiss, editor, St. Louis Beacon
Synopsis
Dr. Frank Simmons works in the University of Edinburghs medical school. One of his PhD students, brilliant loner Gavin, announces his intention to find a cure for cancer and actually makes a major breakthrough. Oddly, no one seems to be interested, and a picture emerges of a cancer research industry caught in a desperate paradox: it can only justify its existence by not curing cancer. Disinterest soon turns to open warfare as Simmons and Gavins work is sabotaged. A truly compelling story, this fast-paced scientific thriller blends superb dialogue with thought-provoking ideas.
About the Author
Claire Applewhite is an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, a past president of the Missouri Writers Guild, and a former board member of the Mystery Writers of America. She is the author of Candy Cadillac, Crazy for You, St. Louis Hustle, Tennessee Plates, and The Wrong Side of Memphis. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri.