Downfall

Physician Rick Shepherd, the protagonist of this strong thriller set in 1983 New York City from Rubinstein (Assassin’s Lullaby), regrets having joined a Manhattan practice, because its orthopedic surgeon managing partner insists that his colleagues pack their schedules with nonstop patient appointments, even at the cost of providing lower-quality care, to maximize the bottom line. But those work concerns, which lead Rick to question his choice of profession, recede in importance when he returns to the office after a coffee break to find a man has been fatally shot just outside his door. Worse is to come. First, Rick, who was getting hang-up calls at home, learns that the dead man, elementary school teacher Robert Harper, looks enough like himself to be his twin, leading the police to wonder whether Rick was the intended target. Then, just two nights after Robert’s death, Rick learns that his physician father has been shot dead while making a house call. Rubinstein makes Rick a well-rounded and plausible lead, and the action builds to a satisfying ending. Lisa Unger readers will be pleased. (Apr.)