April 17, 2024
By Isabella Apple
Staff Writer
“The Surgeon” by Leslie Wolfe is a murder mystery like no other.
The plot focuses on protagonist Anne Wiley, a cardiothoracic surgeon who has a successful career until she loses her first patient, Caleb Donaghy, after 12 years in the profession. After Caleb dies on the operating table while Anne is performing a surgery for his aneurysm, her life changes forever.
Even though Anne had no intention of killing Caleb, she finds out after his death that he was the guy she has hated since she was a teenager. Anne does not feel guilty calling Caleb’s time of death, but she fears her colleagues regard her as a murderer.
Assistant State Attorney Paula Fuselier is assigned to the case and becomes suspicious because she believes Anne did not try hard enough to save Caleb.
Anne attempts to address the conflict by herself, avoiding others, including her husband of 14 years, Derreck, who is campaigning to become mayor. She and Derreck had a happy marriage, but for the past few months, she has suspected Derreck of having an affair because he has been coming home late smelling like perfume.
This novel shows how grief, stress and trauma can affect a person and put their career in jeopardy.
Anne tries to ignore the red flags pointing toward her husband’s infidelity, especially because she is overwhelmed with grief following the death of her younger sister, Melanie.
Anne is a strong person who tries to hold together her career and marriage while hiding her secrets. Although she sometimes comes off as selfish, she is keeping her guard up because of her family’s dark past. Being without her sister and knowing her marriage is in trouble, Anne has no choice but to put herself first.
This novel shows how grief, stress and trauma can affect a person and put their career in jeopardy. After Anne loses Caleb, she questions her integrity as a surgeon, but readers know she is in the right profession.
“The Surgeon” is a one-of-a-kind book because, while it focuses on adult characters, it appeals to teens. It also transcends the murder mystery genre by addressing betrayal, heartbreak and professional ethics.
Ultimately, the book reaches a surprising cliffhanger, but even more importantly, it delivers a meaningful message about moving forward despite immense loss that will surely enrich the lives of all its readers.
