The First Patient

The First Patient (2008) by Michael Palmer — St. Martin’s Paperbacks

ISBN: 031293775X
Condition: Used (gloriously, unapologetically used)
Offered with affectionate resignation by Crappy Old Books

Have you ever wondered what would happen if your best friend became President and then immediately started behaving weirdly? No, not that kind of weird — more the “Is he dying, delusional, or just suffering the side effects of democracy?” kind of weird. Enter The First Patient, Michael Palmer’s medical-political thriller that bravely asks: What if the White House had a chief of staff, a press secretary, and a medical mystery worthy of its own daytime TV spin-off?

Our hero, Dr. Gabe Singleton, is peacefully living his life as a small-town doctor until the President of the United States — yes, that President — summons him to Washington. Suddenly he’s thrust into a world of conspiracy, secret diagnoses, moral quandaries, and the sort of urgent corridor-striding normally reserved for people late to their own wedding. Soon enough, Dr. Singleton must determine whether the Commander-in-Chief is suffering from a mysterious illness, a sinister plot, or simply the accumulated stress of pretending to enjoy state dinners.

Michael Palmer, maestro of medical suspense, mixes politics, pathology, and panic into a story that never forgets one essential truth: when it comes to diagnosing the most powerful man in the world, the waiting room is enormous and everyone thinks they’re qualified to give an opinion.

This particular copy, offered by Crappy Old Books, fully embraces its life experience. It may have a crease or three, a whisper of former ownership, or the faint scent of a long bus journey in 2011 — but rest assured, all pages are present, accounted for, and ready to deliver their dose of presidential peril. Call it “Used,” call it “Pre-loved,” call it “A veteran of many bedside tables.” We simply call it available.

If you’re looking for a thriller with political intrigue, medical mystery, and the occasional moment of “Well that escalated quickly,” this well-travelled paperback is exactly the specimen you’ve been searching for. Take it home, treat it gently (or don’t), and enjoy diagnosing the First Patient yourself.

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