Review: Powerful
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 1, 2013
"Cry of the Needle" by Roger Radford is a powerful medical thriller about an epidural-gone-wrong during a childbirth and the long wound consequences for the victims and the institutions trying to cover it up.Knowing that the story was inspired by real events and actual malpractice (use of toxic dye in spinal cord procedures) gave the plot a powerful authenticity and made this a very compelling and emotional read.I usually stay clear of medical thrillers or politically motivated stories but Radford's skilfull writing  managed to distinguish this novel from simplistic or cliched helpings of the genre.The victim in the book is Teresa Kelly, wife of London based IRA hitman Kieran which adds an extra layer of interest to the story. Politics come into play and governmental corruption; the pharmaceutical companies with their payrolls and cover-ups serve as the backdrop of a tale of love, rage, revenge and the fight for justice.Radford introduces several very interesting characters, such as an Austro-Hungarian Countess, Magda von Esterhazy, who helps Kelly in his quest for justice and who introduces a more moral and warm approach. In a separate plot-line one of Kelly's targets, scientist Jonathan Tring struggles with the corruption of the pharmaceutical company he works for but has personal motives that steer his actions.Character development and suspense are strong points in this excellent thriller. Radford has written a story that is entertaining as it is educational. But in any case, I urge you to read the Author's Note to find out more about the actual background for the book.