The Last Surgeon

The New York Times–bestselling author introduces “one of the most deadly villains to grace the pages of a novel since the introduction of Hannibal Lecter” (The Huffington Post).

Michael Palmer’s novel pits a flawed doctor against a ruthless psychopath, who has made murder his art form. Dr. Nick Garrity, a Gulf War vet suffering from PTSD, spends his days and nights dispensing medical treatment from a mobile clinic to the homeless and disenfranchised in D.C. and Baltimore. In addition, he is constantly on the lookout for his war buddy, who was plucked from the streets by the military four years ago for a secret mission and has not been seen since.

Psych nurse Gillian Coates wants to find her sister’s killer. She does not believe that the ICU nurse took her own life, even though every bit of evidence indicates that she did—every bit save one. Her sister has left Gillian a subtle clue that connects her with Nick Garrity.

Together, Nick and Gillian determine that one-by-one, each of those in the operating room for a fatally botched case is dying. Their discoveries pit them against genius Franz Koller—the highly-paid master of the “non-kill”—the art of murder that does not look like murder. As doctor and nurse move closer to finding the terrifying secret behind these killings, Koller has been given a new directive: his mission will not be complete until Gillian Coates and Garrity, the last surgeon, are dead.

“Prepare to burn some serious midnight oil.” —Boston Herald

“More twists and turns than a sociopath’s psyche . . . inventive and effective, an entertaining and engaging read.” —California Literary Review