Title: Betrayals of Hippocrates: Crimes Against Innocence
Author: Harry J. Saranchak
Publisher: Xlibris
ISBN: 9781441542335
Pages: 150, Paperback
Genre: Mystery
Reviewed by: Gary Sorkin, Pacific Book Review
Book Review
Dr. Harry J. Saranchak laces his acumen of medical enlightenment into a tightly bound story of intrigue, manipulation and suspense within the plot of his superbly original novel, Betrayals of Hippocrates: Crimes Against Innocence.The story is narrated through the eyes of a young fledgling doctor just graduating medical school and half heartily seeking a future in the medical world. More interested in female anatomy for its sexual pleasures then osteology, Alston Crowley finds his future unraveling before him as if he won a game show. Whisked down to Haiti and adorned with the embellishment of a luxury condo he embarks upon a medical research project of immeasurable potential. Based on a serum extracted from a rare tropical tree frog, his research shows the capability to enlarge the growth of organs, thus providing a benefit to humanity of Nobel Prize proportions. Professionally inveigled by the prestige of his colleagues, Alston keeps to the straight and narrow amidst the unraveling of twisted events beyond his belief.
Dr. Harry J. Saranchak has a message in his novel and in delivering it he quotes another famous author, Geoffrey Chaucer. In Canterbury Tales, Chaucer writes, “If gold rusts, then what will iron do?” Dr. Saranchak continues through the voice of one of his characters, Dr. Bonner, “If those who are supposed to be healers can stray so egregiously and get away with murder – just because their names are in lights and cameras flash whenever they open their mouths to make one pronouncement or another, then they’re not fit to serve the public.” The betrayal is against Hippocrates. As translated from the original Greek, Hippocrates’ oath states, “I will prescribe regiments for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.” The plot, sub-plot, protagonist and antagonist are all mere details of storytelling for such an important lesson, and as “God lives in the details,” so does this unforgettable novel.
Each paragraph of Betrayals of Hippocrates is written with such a convincing and informative narration, and the use of dialogue is interlaced so tightly, resulting with an economy of words. A mere 150 pages in length to reveal such a vivid and complex story is astounding. The book flaunts an original and provocative cover depicting a Dante’s Inferno image of children in hell guarded by a physician. Incorporating a galley text of larger than normal size type and an easily readable font, this book will save its readers from a trip to the ophthalmologist. A pleasure to the senses as well as the mind, along with the sociological message, this book ranks among the most enjoyable books I have read. The next time I am asked by a doctor to roll up my sleeve for an injection, I just hope my mind doesn’t think about a small brightly colored tree frog with big eyes staring at me from atop a leaf in a rainforest.
