From frightening thrillers to poignant dramas, the following novels detail the stories of fictional doctors, patients and their families while tackling difficult topics such as illness, death and recovery. Pick up one of these titles from the Greene County Library if you’re a fan of medical fiction:
Inside the O’Briens by Lisa Genova – When a beloved Irish Catholic police officer is diagnosed with Huntington’s Disease, his grown children witness the progression of their father’s illness and consider whether they want to be tested to see if they have inherited the condition.
Before I Go to Sleep by S.J. Watson – An amnesiac attempts to reconstruct her past by keeping a journal and discovers the dangerous inconsistencies in the stories of her husband and her secret doctor.
Cell by Robin Cook – Entering a profession on the brink of radical transformation by a new smartphone technology capable of diagnosing and treating patients, radiology resident George Wilson is horrified when his fiancée and several patients die after beta testing the technology.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews – Seventeen-year-old Greg has managed to become part of every social group at his Pittsburgh high school without having any friends, but his life changes when his mother forces him to befriend Rachel, a girl he once knew in Hebrew school who has leukemia.
Summer House With Swimming Pool by Herman Koch – Concealing the medical mistake that caused the death of a famous actor, Dr. Marc Schlosser gradually reveals the personal reasons he sought the victim’s death, including an assault on the doctor’s daughter.
Doing Harm by Kelly Parsons – Botching a major surgery when his ambition for a prestigious job gets the better of him, Steve Mitchell learns that a patient who died under mysterious circumstances was targeted by a sociopath who holds information capable of destroying Steve’s family and career.
Before I Die by Jenny Downham – A terminally ill teen-aged girl makes and carries out a list of things to do before she dies.
Man Alive! by Mary Kay Zuravleff – After being struck by lightning, pediatric psychiatrist Dr. Owen Lerner only wants to barbecue and his patients and family, who rely on him to make sense of their world, must find a way to deal with this life-changing event.