Don't let the title fool you: Harvest is not about autumn and food. "Harvest", by Tess Gerritsen is a medical thriller along the same premise as "Coma" by Crichton. My first read by this author, who has a complete medical background (she was an internist turned author), but won't be my last. Harvest delves into harvesting hearts on the black market from defenseless, healthy boys to the highest bidder. The heroine, Abby, is a young resident surgeon in Boston who falls upon dark, deadly, suspicious secrets regarding organ donations, specifically hearts. She works at a Boston hospital where a web of secrets has been in place among a small group of incredibly wealthy doctors who have millions of $$ in their bank accounts, which doesn't make sense. The Russian Mafia is behind the murderous, criminal behavior. Young, orphaned boys are shipped across the ocean to America with dreams of a better life. They are misled into believing they will be adopted into warm, loving homes. One boy is smarter than the rest and is always suspicious. Turns out, these victims are murdered for their hearts which are in turn sold at astronomical prices for sick, dying people who are waiting for transplants. And who says money can't buy everything? In this story, those who have the financial resources (and lack character), but are willing to pay any price to save their loved one (to move the ill person to the top of the transplant list), will get the prize of life. Corrupt doctors at the hospital keep their secret hidden for years until our main character, Abby, uncovers the sickening, deadly plot of organs for sale to the highest bidder. It's a fast, easy read & is scary. Written in '96. Full of suspense. Learned much re medical terminology, surgical techniques. The Russian scandal is insane but justice is served in the end. If you like this subject, you'd like the film "Dirty Pretty Things" (from last year). Unfortunately, the fact that organs are for sale is true and does occur in this world. It's a must read!
