By Ann Patchet

I so disliked Patchet's first book, Bel Canto, that I have avoided all her work since. This was enthusiastically recommended to me though so I thought I'd at least give it a try and am so glad I did. It is excellent. Patchet's use of dialogue is exceptional and through it the characters are beautifully revealed. Dr. Annick Swenson is in the Amazon doing research for an American drug company. They send down another doctor to investigate the death of a colleague. It deals with medical research and ethics, cultural differences and how much interference should be allowed in the name of medical advancement. It is that and so much more.