Customer Reviews

The Fourth Procedure

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This solid debut novel from the lawyer once named one of Time magazine's "Future Leaders of America" focuses on the highly personal, highly controversial issue of abortion. It is billed as a story of medical suspense, but it also combines political and legal elements into a fascinating, thought-provoking, and gripping plot.

Several characters share center stage in "The Fourth Procedure." The most interesting of them is Congressman Jack MacLeod, a pro-choice politician who finds himself the center of attention when anti-abortionist protesters focus their efforts on his home turf of Syracuse, New York. There the pro-life leader Eli Graves, a rather unsympathetic character, digs up the dirt from Jack's past, threatening to expose his dark past.

The medical aspects of "The Fourth Procedure" appear to be well-researched and accurate, a definite plus. In addition to providing a well-crafted and exciting story, Pottinger does an excellent job of showing both sides of the abortion issue, placing his characters in soul-searching situations that prompt the reader to wonder, "what if it were me?" 

If you like a book that challenges you to think a little while it entertains you, then you should enjoy this remarkable debut from a very promising writer. I look forward to what he does next.

I like novels that keep me in suspense until the end. and that's exactly what "The Fourth Procedure" did! I loved that it gave both sides of the issue that was discussed throughout the book:abortion. It also introduced characters that you want to hate, like Eli Graves, characters you sympathize with, like Jack, and characters that are a complete mystery, like Dr. Rachel Redpath. The book includes several mysteries, including three men involved in blowing up abortion clinics suddenly disappear, then turn up dead with their livers removed and plastic baby dolls in their abdomens with a note inside each of them that reads, "Keep It." The whole book is a puzzle, but when the pieces finally come together near the end, prepare for the ultimate shock! I believe that Stanley Pottinger did a great job coming through with this novel, especially since it's his first. Job well done!

A good work developing the principle of empathy. (the ability to share another person feelings and emotions). Outstanding, breakneck pace, mindboggling, suspense never ever ends until the last page. The unveiling of the fourth procedure is utterly chilling. The author have got what it takes to be an excellent writer When is his next one ?

I read this book with a little skeptism at first becaue it said it was a feminist view. I was very impressed with how the story laid out. It was kind of weird that those doctors were doing those experiments. A must read for any medical thriller reader.

For those who love major thrillers, this is truly one with an outlandish premise that is easily believable. If you're too wrapped up in abortion politics, pass it by, but this novel is truly creative and easily believable. Don't miss it. Could be one of the top ten thrillers of this decade.

I love books that keep me thinking after I've read them and this was one of those books.

Although it is tagged as a suspense novel (and there is suspense and mystery), I thought it was more on the lines of giving us insight into a subject we all have an opinion on...abortion.

The book gave me positive insight into both the pro-life movement and pro-choice, although...I think ends up being much more sensitive to the pro-choice side.

The book also has some great stuff about women's right...a beautiful speech at the end. Makes me wonder if the author wrote the speech first and then wrote a novel around it so he could get the speech published.

I disagree with previous reviewers in that this is not propoganda either for or against abortion; it is merely a book with a plot that happens to center around abortion. Like some books that happen to surround drugs, mafia, guns, etc. It's a crime novel! I never got the feeling the author was trying to make a statement nor did I feel that he was trying to influence me.

The book itself was suspenseful but predictable in parts. It was definitely captivating though unbelievable story; and I have to say that it wasn't necessarily the scientific part that I found hard to accept. It was actually the characters...particularly the way he portrayed politicians. Though I do have to say that even though there were too many characters (I had to flip back to remind myself who some were), the author did a nice job of tying up all the loose ends and unanswered questions in the final pages. It was a lot to keep track of!

Also, the dialog was a bit wordy and I found myself skipping passages that contributed nothing to the outcome of the "fourth procedure". Most of us know what a writer means when he describes a character as being "messy" and don't need to have every sock or pair of dirty underwear described for us.

I'd recommend this as a good weekend read, or on a long flight, purely for entertainment purposes...

Pottinger takes us into the steamy political and religious debate of abortion verses antiabortion and people's individual rights against the rules of government and churches. All the pros and cons are brought out in a mystery plot of life and death on all levels.
The author incorporates quite a few twists and turns as well as some off the wall surprises. Many of the sub-plots keeps your head spinning. Combining the medical world with the legal world and adding a dash of politcal seasoning and you've got quite a story.

This is a great story by an author who has done an incredible amount of research prior to his writing. I am waiting for a new release but have yet to see it. Sort of sci-fi but could happen.

This novel is exciting and inspiring. I feel it expresses the view of the pro-choice female well and without being too preachy. The story itself is also complex and interesting enough to hold any readers intrest. I especially enjoyed Rachel's speech to the court. I recommend this book to any reader, and look forward to more of Pottinger's work.