Gina Rae Mitchell

A Surgeon’s Knot by William Lynes, MD | Book Review | #MedicalThriller #Mystery

This is a fascinating fictional look at the life of a first-year resident doctor. The author pulls no punches. We see the underbelly of the beast as it preys on the doctor’s physical and mental well-being. They live through incredible highs in saving a life and devastating lows when their efforts fail.

A Surgeon's Knot Published by Black Rose Writing on April 23, 2020
Genres: Fiction, Medical, Romance, Thriller, Suspense
Format: Audiobook, eBook, Paperback
Pages: 192

A Surgeon’s Knot is a fiction novel of the medical genre, published by Black Rose Writing with a release date of 4/23/2020.
A surgeon’s knot is used in surgery, a tie that the protagonist practices obsessively. It refers as well to the difficult and challenging, or knotty, world of medical practice.

Jackson Cooper, MD, is a new medical school graduated surgery intern, practicing at the renowned University Medical Center in Northern California. The pressure begins on his very first internship day when a tragic patient event christens his entry into the world of medicine. The horror of the event and the responsibility of dealing with the consequences begins a year-long journey into the encumbrances of academic patient care.

Memorable characters and cases ranging from humorous to tragic, fill the story. From the despotic department chairman, the alcoholic urologist, the sadistic psychiatric chair, and to the sexually abusive surgeon, the
fascinating story of medical maneuvering unfolds in a harrowing manner. Bariatric, HIV, neoplastic, traumatic, among other disease states, are examined.

The novel is a story of responsibility, and tragedy, with flashes of terror, as a young physician deals with the pressure-filled world of today’s surgery. Destructive behavior lead him to catastrophic consequences. It is a story of the nobility of medicine, the difficult, overwhelming duty to man, and eventual redemption and recovery.

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My thoughts on A Surgeon’s Knot by William Lynes, MD

A Surgeon’s Knot by William Lynes, MD, is a fascinating fictional look at the life of a medical resident in a busy hospital. It presents the astonishing highs and devastating lows.

The main character is Jackson Cooper, a first-year resident. His life’s ups & downs are portrayed honestly, even though often brutal. Through stories of his residency rotations, we learn of the extreme pressures and inhuman demands made upon these doctors in their early years. It’s no wonder the suicide rate is high among these professionals.

The secondary characters present their own unique situations. Whether these are glass ceilings, sexual harassment, drug, and alcohol abuse, no one is spared in the telling of their stories.

The sometimes graphic descriptions of the medical situations and emergencies are not for the squeamish. There is definitely blood, death, and heartache in this story. How could it be told any differently? The life of a surgeon is brutal. 

There is also a surprising amount of humor. It’s a common way to deal with such a pressure-packed life. Those little nuggets keep the story from becoming weighed down by the heavier themes.

If I had one complaint about the storyline, it’s that the medical jargon seems a little overdone & repetitive at times. As an example, The reader doesn’t need the term “Trendelenburg” explained quite so many times in one book. But, this is a minor complaint and while it may add to taking away a rating star, it’s never enough for you to consider putting the book down.

I believe fans of medical drama will love this story. Any reader interested in medical fiction, storytelling, human interest, and the 1980’s social and medical scene will also adore this storyline.

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A Surgeon’s Knot by William Lynes, MD | Book Review

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