Gemini: A Novel
The third outing by the author of Oxygen (2008) and Healer (2010) is a compelling look at the collision of a physician’s professional and personal lives. Charlotte Reese takes an immediate interest in a seriously injured Jane Doe who shows up one night in the Seattle ICU where she works. The victim of an apparent hit-and-run, Jane Doe is in critical condition, and Charlotte must work hard to keep her alive even as she wonders if the damage to Jane’s brain will make her efforts futile. Cassella alternates between Charlotte’s story and that of Raney, whose childhood in the small Washington town of Quentin was shaped by her friendship with Bo, a thoughtful boy who worked his way into Raney’s life and eventually her heart despite the vast differences in their families’ social standings. A devastating medical condition ripped Bo from Raney’s arms. Readers will quickly perceive the connection between Raney and the Jane Doe in Charlotte’s ICU, but they’ll be surprised to discover that the women share another link. A uniquely involving read. --Kristine Huntley