Under the knife - Tess Gerritsen

“Even five years after her death, Jenny Brook’s magic had somehow affected the lives of four: the one who had loved her and the three who’d watched her die. She was the one tragic thread weaving through the tapestry of their deaths.”

 Retired physician turned novelist, Tess Gerritsen’s medical thriller, “Under the Knife” is no short of what can be called as a poetic aggregation and mixture of thrill and deep study of human behaviour when at its most vulnerable point. And not to miss is also the added blending of absolute romanticism.

“ Under the Knife” starts with a chilling murder followed by a freaky death on an operating table that with all the evidences and back-ups is considered as a negligence and malpractice by one of the main team mates around the operating table. Dr Kate Chesne is at the middle of a nightmare when her life is overturned by what appears to be a negligence on her part leading to a death on an operating table inside a prime hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Her only option is to prove herself not guilty and in the turn and events of the same, she discovers what she hardly could ever imagine.

Giving her company is an attorney, David Ransom, a beautifully crafted character with a very engaging background. David is everything that a story like this should have. Though it is all about Kate and the related murders, but it can’t be ignored that David is the backbone of the story telling. In addition to the mystery and all the medical thrills, the highlight of this thriller is the chemistry in between the character of Kate and David. The reader will perhaps connect beautifully with both their stories and their philosophies about each other’s life. The chemistry is no short of being the back bone of this thrilling ride.

The Romanticism in the story comes as no surprise as the author was earlier a romantic thriller specialist before jumping on to the genre of Medical thrillers. It has been beautifully and sensibly drafted into the story.

There is extreme use of metaphors in the story telling that makes it even more pleasurable for reading. One cannot imagine the combination of beautiful literature, medical thrills, murder, great characterizations and who done it, all together in one narrative. But “Under the Knife” fulfils the reader’s expectation in all of the above.  

Also the finale is a double disclosure festival. Just when one thinks that they have got the killer, knock- knock there is more surprise. Medical thriller can be tricky and very technical, but Tess explains it’s beautifully and its sticks out very well. The layman will be able to connect with everything medical in this.

There are some great characters in the narrative and the most laudable aspect is the fact that everyone is so human and relatable. One could imagine them standing all around.

“Under the knife” was first published in the year 1990 and then in 1995. It is everything a narrative is the nineties use to be. Nostalgic of the good old days of writing.

A beautiful line in the book sums up the narratives to perfect: “In remembrance there are no endings.”

In all a great read.