Promise Me Eternity - Ian Fox

Official Blurb

Dr. Simon Patterson is a successful and well-respected neurosurgeon at Central Hospital in the town of Medford. Married, though without children, he keeps himself so busy that one day is not much different from another. Until, that is, he saves the life of the powerful mobster Carlo Vucci.  At a dinner in honor of Dr. Patterson, Carlo Vucci introduces him to his alluring wife Christine. Simon is entranced by her beauty.

Three weeks later, Christine shows up at the hospital, complaining of terrible headaches. Dr. Patterson offers to help her, but Christine did not come to see him just because of her headaches. A series of shocking events follow that turn Dr. Patterson’s life into a nightmare. Among other things, he finds himself in court being accused of murder in the first degree …

My Review

This is the kind of review I hoped I would not have to write but I’m afraid this novel defeated me.  Giving the author the benefit of the doubt, English is not his first language, something has been lost in translation.  I tried very hard to find rhythm and depth in the writing but was unsuccessful and the dialogue was stilted and naïve (but not in a good way).  I’m afraid I couldn’t warm to the characters either as they were unbelievable and verging on caricatures’, particularly the women.  There may be a premise of a solid story in there but I couldn’t wade through to the end to discover it and I really did try.

* I received a copy free in exchange for an honest review and to be honest I cannot recommend it.