A Case of Need: A Novel Kindle Edition

First, let me say I was a Michael Crichton fan and an avid reader of his later works. Second, I'm glad I never encountered this early work because it might have put me off reading his later and much better works. The constant use of footnotes explaining the medical jargon that permeated the first part of the book was jarring. Fortunately, the footnotes disappeared in the last part of the book. The last of the book was the kind of the writing that made me a fan in the first place.If you're not familiar with Crichton's works, don't let this one discourage you from reading his later works. You'll be missing out on a great writer if you do that.

I always loved Michael Crichton and thought I had read all of his novels. Surprise! There are some that were written under an alias, mostly while he was in medical school. This one was written in the mid-sixties, when abortion, for the most part, was illegal. I was in high school in New Jersey in the mid-sixties, and there were a few stories of girls who were sent by their parents to Mexico and other countries for abortions. But, although it includes some some deep discussions, the story isn't really a pro-con thing about a woman's right to choose. It is, first and foremost, a mystery revolving around an abortion that ended in death - and it certainly is a good mystery! Whodunit? I didn't guess it, and so the ending was a "reveal" for me. All of Crichton's novels seem to have an educational aspect, and this one certainly did, even containing footnotes, but I found them easily checked or just as easily ignored on my Kindle. The story's the thing, but for the curious the book is also filled with information. It was written when Critchton was a beginning writer, and so maybe not as polished as his later works, but I thought it was great.

A Case of Need is the story of Dr. John Berry’s efforts to clear his fellow doctor and friend, Dr. Arthur Lee, after a teenager in his care dies from an illegal abortion. My first thought for a title for this review was, ‘You’ll need a scorecard to follow all the characters in this somewhat preachy, meandering plot involving an obstinate doctor who wants to play detective but has no idea how the criminal justice system works.’ But that seemed a bit long.As mentioned above, the story deals with abortion and the need to broaden/relax the laws. So, depending on your political and religious leanings, you may find the story anywhere between contemporary and thought-provoking to depraved and immoral. Be advised.Beyond the ethical position it takes, there is a story here with some suspense and good pacing. The suspense is provided by assembling a myriad of suspects and digging into the background of several witnesses, many of whom have their own secrets – drug use, infidelity, self-destructive behavior, deceitfulness. And surprisingly, Berry, with no authority and only some vague background in the Military Police, unearths all of this information singlehandedly. But after doing so, he doesn’t understand he has more than enough to raise reasonable doubt; then he doesn’t want to use this information because it’s too “dirty;” finally, he complains that the lawyer didn’t use it aggressively enough. The only consistency I could find in Berry was that he always wanted to play it alone and as a result, the circumstances that pitted him against the world were of his own making. That behavior doesn’t gain my empathy and tends to make my mind wander to other books I could be reading.As a long-time Crichton fan, I thought I’d always be able to recommend one of his stories. I was wrong. My advice, look elsewhere for your reading entertainment.

I have read many of Michael Crichton's books in the past, but missed this one somehow. I decided to rectify that--I do love medical mysteries. As an aside--I also loved the TV series ER which he created.Back in the 50's-even into the late 50's early 60's abortion was illegal. However at that point in time there were some doctors who would perform the operation. Mostly it was a reaction to all the women who died after going to hacks. Right or wrong they were much safer having the procedure done in a medical office or hospital. Back then the hospitals and probably the doctors listed the abortions as D&Cs. Whether the doctors back then agreed with the procedure or not--they all knew which doctors would. Doctors stick together--their world is insular.This novel, based in my opinion, in truth-is what could happen if a doctor was accused of performing an abortion back then and how all the other doctors may have reacted. Only a pathologist was bound and determined to get to the truth and exonerate his friend!The ending will make you gasp at what he ultimately uncovered and who was to blame for the death of this woman.Michael Crichton added footnotes explaining some if not all of the medical jargon! At the end of this book is his biography and pictures. When Michael Crichton died in 2008 the world lost one of it's greatest writers!

What an unpleasant book! I realize that it was written in an earlier age (1968) and when he was young, but the casual racism and the casual sexism (actually that was worse than the racism; it was constant) were very hard to take. The medical part of the plot was, of course, very out of date and the references to drug use were idiotically ignorant. Don’t waste your time.

I have not yet finished the book, but it is interesting and holds my attention. Although this was an early novel of Crichton's, it is refreshing to encounter footnotes explaining mnemonics and medical details. Footnotes are particularly easy to bring up while reading on a Kindle - there is no need to flip pages to get to the end of the chapter and flip back. The primary draw for me is the protagonist fighting to break through the barriers to his investigation and the personal threats to himself set up by political powers of the medical establishment.

An engaging story, full of detail (as you’d expect). For me I’d say not his best, but that said still well worth a read.

Very good and promptly delivered.

I am a big fan of Crichton's novels and this one does not disappoint. As ever, the level of fine detail is balanced perfectly by the action and suspense.

Good

alright