Review by Choice Review
Some think that the work of a physician is like that of a scientist--based on careful observation leading to a hypothesis that is then tested to determine its veracity. The job of an emergency room physician, however, is more like that of a detective than a scientist. As an ER physician, Edlow (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center) does a lot of sleuthing: working back from symptom clues to determine a diagnosis. He exemplifies this methodology in the form of medical mystery thrillers in this new collection of 15 true stories. It reminds readers that many known clinical entities started out as a vague class of symptoms; an example is Lyme disease, which Edlow has also written about (in Bull's-Eye: Unraveling the Medical Mystery of Lyme Disease, CH, Jan'04, 41-2836). The genre of the medical detective story was established through the prolific work of Berton Roueche, to whom Edlow pays homage. It is presently found in television form in the popular series House. Edlow presents cases of mass food poisoning, lung cancer, hyperthyroidism, and more, under fun titles (e.g., "The Case of the Overly Hot Honeymoon") and in an engaging narrative full of twists and turns. It is an entertaining read. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates and general readers. M. M. Gillis University of Nevada School of Medicine
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
There is more mystery and suspense in this nifty tome than in an entire season of House TV programs, enhanced by the added punch real-life drama delivers. From the titular dinner party to the young man diagnosed with now-you-see-it-now-you-don't lung cancer to the nearly lethal bacteria that mystifyingly attacked a handful of toddlers in the Boston area, Edlow also tells these tales of medical detection with wit and elegance. As in the case of the woman whose identity-defying skin rash stumped her physician and the lab, the perp of the physical assault that is disease is, all too often, someone or something known and trusted. And Edlow can be trusted to weave a medical mystery out of the yarn of baffling symptoms, one guaranteed to be informative and entertaining, every time. Much more of such stuff, and Edlow could easily become the dean, the Dr. Watson, as it were, of doctors who solve medical mysteries.--Chavez, Donna Copyright 2009 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Mimicking the style of his favorite genre, the detective story, author and doctor Edlow (Bull's Eye: Unraveling the Medical Mystery of Lyme Disease) retells 15 stories of "shoe-leather epidemiology" that delve into the complex world of diagnostic medicine. In the title story, three cases of botulism are traced, with the work of physicians, local health department officials, and CDC representatives, to a jar of oil-packed garlic. Other chapters cover typhoid fever in restaurant orange juice, gastrointestinal infestation via fish tank water, and illnesses caused by excess vitamins A and D. Readers, especially those already alarmed over everyday pathogens, will find plenty to worry about, including herbal teas grandfathered out of FDA regulations; sudden changes in diets that may, literally, plug up your pipes; and all-natural, fresh-pressed cider that may harbor dangerous e. coli. Readers will also find that every medical diagnosis is a puzzle to be solved, often by gathering and analyzing data with the help of a team. Much like a true-life version of television's House M.D., these fast-paced, detail-heavy stories will prove compelling for fans of mystery and medicine. (Sept.) Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
