Customer Reviews

The Silent Partner (Diagnosis Murder #1)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found the beginning of the book quite chilling. Lee goldberg can really set a scene and he does it in a way that gets the reader to 'see' it with own eyes.

This is the first book in the new line of Diagnosis Murder mysteries; it isn't as good as the second and third books are, but gives a great introduction to the series and the characters. If you watched the show it is easy to imagine each of the characters coming to life and to see the workings of Dr. Sloan as he solves yet another case. The humor from the series is here, as is the same light mystery. I read the first three books out of order and was very impressed by the second and third books too. I think this series has potential and hope to read many more.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit more than I had anticipated. I had watched the show a few times, but not religiously by any means. When I saw this book in the store, I thought it would be along the lines of the "Murder, She Wrote" books which I enjoy reading, so I picked it up.
Author Lee Goldberg does an excellent job so staying true to the series' characters and does a good job of describing the action that takes place.
There are two mysteries in this book: Someone is committing copycat murders following the m.o. of various serial killers and a man dies on the operating table undergoing a kidney transplant. The latter mystery itself is rather easy to figure out and is strictly a subplot to the serial killer. That mystery is more difficult and has a nice twist ending.
Some of the clues given would never be noted by anyone without a medical background, but that did not bother me too much; there were plenty of other clues to help me figure out whodunnit.
Looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Lee Goldberg wrote the best book ever it captures all the stuff from the tv show Good Job Lee please write

When LAPD chief John Masters approaches Mark Sloan about serving on a committee to look into unsolved crimes, Mark is surprised. Sure, he has a great reputation for solving homicides, but it's something of an embarrassment to the department. Still, Mark is eager to look into these old cases and try to find someone who got away with murder. A chance file misplaced in the room takes Mark on a different direction, however. He's convenienced that one victim of a serial killer was murdered by a copycat who's still free. Striking out on his own, he begins to gather more evidence.

Meanwhile, Jack Stewart is back to perform a kidney transplant on one of Mark's patience, stirring up old feelings of betrayal in the tight nit group. Why exactly did Jack vanish with hardly a goodbye? And Jesse, who was finally beginning to feel free of Jack's shadow, is threatened by his return.

I started watching this show part way through its run, but I've caught a number of reruns over the years. I always enjoyed it. This book, written by one of the writer/producers, is just like catching an extended episode I missed. As you'd expect from someone that closely related to the series, the characters are perfectly in character, and I got quite a kick out of some of the character moments. Mr. Goldberg also uses the format and opportunity to explore the characters a little more. While this part could have used a little more polish, I enjoyed it.

And the plot! I stayed up later then intended on more then one occasion to read "just one more chapter." Even though I figured things out a little earlier then I normally like, figuring out how Mark would make the connections certainly kept me glued to the pages.

If you were at all a fan of the TV show, run out and get this book today. You won't be sorry.

Lee Goldberg's "The Silent Partner" is the debut novel based on the "Diagnosis Murder" TV series, which Goldberg produced, which means that a) the DM world is accurately drawn, b) Goldberg can put the characters into situations that the show couldn't, and c) there's a potential fan base who would buy the books.

Given all that, Goldberg still has to d) deliver a good story that'll keep the fans coming back, and he does that here. Dr. Mark Sloan's reputation for solving crimes lands him on a cold-case squad, but he learns that its only going to be used as a PR screen. Nevertheless, his curiosity gets him involved in what appears to be a solved murder, only to deduce that it's not.

"The Silent Partner" delivers an interesting story, letting you spend some time with familiar, likeable characters. Sloan and his friends and co-workers come across as idealized, but real characters. While they're all decent people, they get upset, make mistakes, and Dr. Sloan can be a real pain in the tuchus. In one scene, he's trying to prove that a bottle cap found at the scene of several murders is a vital clue, and you can understand the chief of police's point of view: "Uh huh, right, don't you have any house calls, doctor?"

It may be faint praise to call "The Silent Partner" a competent mystery that appears to have been dashed off, but it takes a lot of work and experience to make something look so effortless.

I wish I could read the Diagnosis Murder novels once again as if it is the first time. Each novel is unique, has its own style, and is very easy to read, even if the reader hasn't heared about Diagnosis Murder before.
Mr. Goldberg knows perfectly how to facinate the reader, and how to lead him or her on the wrong way. It is really hard to put the novels aside before the end.
For those who know the show from TV, it is as if they are watching another episode.
Lee Goldberg has a loyal readership here in Germany, also in Switzerland and Austria, and we are very much looking forward for the next novels to come.

'The Silent Partner' helps the loyal TV series fan, to find answers to questions, which left unanswered in the show.

A wonderfully written and absolutely entertaining book. No other series of books is closer to the characters than those of Lee Goldberg. Thank you, Lee and all of those who helped creating and who are playing the characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! You don't have to be a big fan of Diagnosis Murder (which I am!) to enjoy this book though. The plot twists and turns were great and any murder mystery fan would enjoy this book.

The purpose of these remarks is not to reiterate the plot which has been ably done by both the Amazon.com/Publisher synopsis and by other reviewers. My purpose is to say whether or not I think a book is worth its asking price in exchange for the entertainment it provides. Silent Partner is worth the exchange for its entertainment value.

Dick Van Dyke is my Number One favorite actor. Because I had not seen a Diagnosis Murder (DM) episode on TV since 1999 because I moved outside of the PAX TV signal, when I saw Lee Goldberg's book, Silent Partner, I snatched it up with pleasure.

The book reads like a TV episode. I hoped for a more serious book, but the book is truly in keeping with the depth of its television counterpart, which, as fans know, is not exceedingly deep. Entertainment seems to be the main focus of the show and, consequently, the book.

B+: for the numerous references to celebrities and products that were popular when the book was being written. This practice locks a book into a particular era and is hard to read once the familiar people and objects are no longer familiar or popular.

Lee Goldberg made a "clever" reference to Dr. Jack Stewart (played by Scott Biao) looking like "Chachi" on "Happy Days." "Happy Days" was on TV when I was in high school, but I rarely watched it. Years later, during a dinner party, one of the other guests stared at a poster hanging on the wall behind me. "Ooooohhh," She said to our hostess, "I love your poster of Scott Biao!"

I glanced over my shoulder to see what the excitement was about. "Oh," I said, "I thought that was "Chachi." They all laughed and educated me by explaining that Scott Biao was Chachi. Ooookay-so much for face and name recognition. By the way, Scott Biao was my Number Two favorite actor on DM (just behind the Pro, Dick Van Dyke).

I found the characterizations in Silent Partner rather shallow and the solution very predictable, but whatever its literary shortcomings may, or may not, be, this book adds to the enjoyment of "Diagnosis Murder" in any format.

A+: Mr. Goldberg did a good job pacing the action and the humor. I enjoyed the conversations and witty remarks the characters made among themselves. Since the author wrote episodes of DM, the conversations in the book were remarkably like an episode.

With a little more practice, Mr. Goldberg's books may be as enjoyable as his TV scripts. Regardless, I was glad I bought Silent Partner and I plan to buy DM Book #2 in Feb 04.

Go ahead and put this book in your shopping basket.