According
to Canadian forensic psychologist Robert Hare, one percent of the general
population can be categorized as psychopathic.
That translates
into approximately 300,000 Canadians and 3,000,000 Americans.
While most
of us think of psychopaths as violent criminals and murderers hopefully behind
prison bars, the reality is more frightening. Psychopaths can be found almost anywhere—in
our neighborhoods, schools, corporate offices. After reading Doing Harm, I realize their special
“talents” could easily find a warm welcome in the operating rooms of our
hospitals.
Who
wouldn’t hire a fearless, confident and focused surgeon capable of performing
well under pressure?
At Boston’s
prestigious University Hospital, several top-notch surgeons possess elements of
that skill set, among them Chief Resident Steve Mitchell who is happily married
and in line for a coveted teaching position. But after two botched surgeries,
Steve’s confidence is shaken when he becomes the primary focus of a hospital
investigation. This nightmare takes a horrific twist when Steve finds himself
in a compromising position with a psychopath who is deliberately killing patients.
I was both
fascinated and repelled by the psychopath’s ability to effortlessly wear that
mask of sanity while plotting to kill. When confronted, she can even justify
her actions: “I might fall somewhere along the antisocial-personality-disorder
spectrum. But I want to fix things.
I’m one of the good guys.”
Author and
board-certified urologist Kelly Parsons has succeeded in crafting a well-placed
thriller that is almost impossible to put down.
After retiring from a
31-year teaching career, Joanne Guidoccio launched a second act as a writer.
Her articles, book reviews and short stories have appeared in newspapers,
magazines and online. In September 2013, Soul Mate Publishing released her
debut novel, Between Land and Sea, as an eBook on Amazon. You can visit her
website at www.joanneguidoccio.com
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