cover image Oath of Office

Oath of Office

Michael Palmer, read by Robert Petkoff. Macmillan Audio, unabridged, eight CDs, 10.5 hrs., $39.99 ISBN 978-1-4272-0995-5

Robert Petkoff delivers solid narration in this audio edition of the latest medical thriller from Palmer. When Dr. John Meacham, whose medical license was once suspended for alcohol abuse and anger issues, loses control and murders seven people before turning the gun on himself, much of the blame falls on Meacham’s counselor, Dr. Lou Welcome, who approved his return to practice. But when Welcome begins to look into the incident, he unearths a dark conspiracy whose twisted roots stretch toward the highest office in the land and the fruits of which could grow into a deadly threat of global proportions. Petkoff’s pacing is spot on and his reading often chilling. He infuses his performance with just enough melodrama to maintain suspense while keeping the novel grounded in reality. Petkoff deftly delivers Palmer’s complex story, while providing unique voices for all the characters. The result is an enjoyable listen. A St. Martin’s hardcover. (Feb.)