Addiction [Paperback]

G. H. Ephron (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 16, 2002

Amnesia, G.H. Ephron's acclaimed debut, introduced forensic neuropsychologist and expert defense witness Dr. Peter Zak. Returning in Addiction, Peter is back in the thick of things at the Pearce Psychiatric Center, coping with patients as well as everyday average administrative nightmares at the hospital, like budgetary concerns, construction, and colleagues' drug trials. And then the worst nightmare of all-the murder of a colleague.

Such an event, if it weren't devastating enough, rekindles Peter's memories of the murder of his wife, which left Peter emotionally shattered and isolated; he's only recently begun to emerge. But he can't retreat this time; he must use his expertise to help reconstruct this baffling and intensely personal killing.

Peter discovers his friend and former lover, Pearce psychiatrist Channing Temple, dead from a gunshot wound on hospital grounds. Her 16-year-old daughter Olivia is standing over the body, holding a gun. Did Olivia, who has been abusing Ritalin and other drugs, kill her mother? Peter thinks not, but she is quickly arraigned for murder, and he has only two weeks to find the killer before Olivia is sent to prison. In this tense and compelling second installment in a highly lauded series, the talented writing team known as G.H. Ephron tackles the dangers and misconceptions surrounding addiction...and the chaos of murder.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Some books grow on you. They start off in a leisurely style that just barely holds your interest but never quite gives you an excuse to quit entirely when, inexplicably, you find yourself increasingly interested in who and what's going on. If it's a good book, like Ephron's second Peter Zaks mystery (after 2000's Amnesia), you wind up thoroughly satisfied. Zaks, a forensic psychologist, works at the Pearce Psychiatric Institute, a place of many secrets and much intrigue involving drug research. Fame and fortune await the researcher who publishes first, and some will do anything to avoid being nice guys. In this case, there are two drugs designed to alleviate chronic addiction: one, the hope of a rich pharmaceutical company, the other, the work of an independent researcher, Channing Temple, a former lover of Zaks. When Temple is murdered, her 16-year-old, Ritalin-addicted daughter, Olivia, is caught standing by the body with a gun in her hand. Did Olivia kill her mother? The police would like to think so. Zaks doubts it, and wants to save the kid from both the police and her own bent for self-destruction. A low-key style, a large cast of well-drawn characters, comprehensible medical jargon, as well as a credible solution intelligently arrived at all add up to a fine novel that should entertain both mystery and medical thriller fans. (Sept. 17)forensic psychologist Don Davidoff.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Forensic psychologist Peter Zak, recovering from the murder of his wife, agrees to treat the troubled, possibly suicidal teenaged daughter of longtime friend and colleague Channing Temple. When he arrives for their meeting, he discovers Channing dead and her daughter holding a gun. He believes the girl incapable of murder but also refutes the theory that Channing committed suicide, so he looks into motives for murder: competition for research money, allegations of personal misconduct, and staff conflicts at the Pearce Psychiatric Institute. This second in a series (after Amnesia) is a pleasurable read with stylish prose, a swift-moving plot, and strong characterizations. [G.H. Ephron is the pseudonym for journalist Hallie Ephron, a sister of Nora, Delia, and Amy Ephron, and Don Davidoff, a practicing forensic psychologist. Ed.]
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (September 16, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312982410
• ISBN-13: 978-0312982416
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,800,982 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So you want a new drug??, August 27, 2001

By 

Terri Miller (Cordova, TN, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Addiction (Hardcover)

The setting is Boston, where Dr. Peter Zak is a forensic neuropsychologist at the Pearce Psychiatric Institute. Dr. Zak's longtime college friend and fellow psychologist at The Pearce, Temple Channing, is found dead. Soon afterwards, Temple's drug-addicted daughter, Olivia, is charged with her murder. Through a vivid portrayal of words and scenarios the reader can feel the plot thicken and see the dastardly deeds unfold. How can a drug addicted individual defend an action they don't recollect? Weaving through the web of suspects are a teenager abusing Ritalin; doctors self-treating with Ativan; and pharmaceutical researchers competing to make the "best" new drug. "Addiction" is a novel worthy of reading not only because it's a great mystery, but more importantly because it intertwines the facts of today's newspaper headlines with fiction in an easy to understand and heartstopping manner.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dynamite read, August 23, 2001

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Addiction (Hardcover)

It has been a couple of years since the psychopath killed his wife as an act of revenge for Dr. Peter Zak's testimony against him. The forensic psychologist and teacher is regaining control of his life and is even seeing someone, albeit a bit sporadically.

After Peter and a peer give a lecture to students at the Massachusetts Pearce Psychiatric Institute, psychiatrist Dr. Channing Temple asks for a favor. She wants Peter to help her teenage daughter Olivia, who is withdrawing from the world. Channing already sees a psychiatrist, her mother's mentor Dr. Daphne Smythe-Gooding, but Peter reluctantly agrees to help for old time's sake, as Chaining was his college lover. However, instead of a patient, Peter finds Olivia holding a discharged gun with a dead Channing nearby. Daphne insists suicide occurred because of the pressure on Channing due to her research and her clinic work being challenged. Peter takes Olivia under his care even as he begins to apply his investigative skills as a forensic expert to learn what really happened.

The superb second Zak novel allows readers to observe an intriguing type of mental illness while providing a cleverly designed mystery. The story line is filled with action and a few twists to keep the audience alert. Peter is a wonderful character struggling with his guilt while resolving to move on in life and the support cast further hones his personality. With novels like this one and AMNESIA, readers will quickly forget other sub-genre authors as this writing team turns into an ADDICTION.

Harriet Klausner

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Addicted to Ephron, September 30, 2001

By 

Patricia kennedy (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Addiction (Hardcover)

Peter Zak, the hero of Addicted, the second in a series of mysteries set in Boston, is my kind of guy -- compassionate yet slightly cynical, willing to rush headlong into an obviously dangerous situation to protect those whom he loves, and smart!

I couldn't figure out who done it, kept turning the pages as fast as I could read because I wanted to know "what happens next," and rushed to a very satisfying end.

But come on, Pete, stop neglecting Annie's obvious interest in you and get on with life!

A great and satisfying mystery read. Five stars, easily.