Physician releases second suspense novel

It’s not unusual in a novel or movie for a CIA operative like Jason Bourne, Ethan Hunt or Jack Ryan to be the story’s action hero, rooting out corruption and sinister megalomaniacs and ultimately saving the day. It’s rather expected, actually, owing to their flat abs, intensive combat training and electrifying missions.

While it might not be unusual for an expectant mom during delivery to think of her OB-GYN as her personal hero, these specialized  doctors rarely, if ever, come to mind when considering the role of action hero in books or on screen.

“There’s actually only one OB-GYN action hero that we know of,” said Roger Newman, M.D., professor and Maas Chair for Reproductive Sciences, proudly, “and that’s Dr. Declan Murphy.” Newman is the author of the recently released book, “Two Drifters,” that continues to follow the exploits of MUSC’s Murphy. 

Newman’s highly-anticipated sequel, published 18 months after the release of his first book, picks up where “Occam’s Razor” left off. “Two Drifters” is set in the early 90s, and it’s been nearly seven years since the last time readers caught up with Murphy, who had just reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Helene, the abused daughter of the governor, who was under investigation for running with the Operation Jackpot gentlemen drug smugglers. Now it seems those reckless days hanging out with drug smugglers would yield grave consequences for her.

Readers learn the two are now married and living the good life on the Wappoo Cut, a picturesque stretch of water that runs between the James Island and West Ashley areas of Charleston, connecting the Stono and Ashley rivers. As Newman described it – they were enjoying “the salad days,” referring to the many carefree pleasures their idyllic life had come to offer.

The plot quickly thickens, however, and their happiness is disrupted when Helene, the love of his life, is diagnosed with HIV. With her death, Murphy is plunged into a deep depression. Distraught beyond words, he struggles to cope with her death and get through life. Depression affects his work to the point that his clinical performance deteriorates, and he finds himself at odds with his superiors and colleagues. The once popular attending physician is now labeled moody and angry, and staff must tiptoe around him.

The story becomes further complicated when two unrelated events on the same night conspire to destroy his career.

Murphy is taking call on July 4, trying to manage staff and a service full of new residents on call for the first time. When a delivery goes wrong, it results in a battle between him and the anesthesia department. That same night, he encounters a couple with no prenatal care visiting his triage room, who believe that she has had a premature rupture of her membranes and is at risk for early labor. Upon examination, Murphy and the resident find no evidence that her water had broken, and she is discharged. He can’t put his finger on it, but his instincts tell him there is something sketchy about these two drifters.

Several days later, she is admitted to a different hospital diagnosed with ruptured membranes and experiences a premature delivery. The baby dies. They blame Murphy. He soon finds himself embroiled in a malpractice lawsuit.

Things go from bad to worse when Murphy is put on suspension as a result of a peer-review complaint by the Anesthesia Department. His career, it seems, is in a downward spiral.

While his negligence seems undeniable – he’s not willing to accept that. He can’t stop thinking that something isn’t right about these drifters. Despite what seemed like a total lack of sophistication, they were surprisingly knowledgeable about certain aspects of OB-GYN – especially as they related to the standard of care for their evaluation and treatment.

Murphy becomes suspicious this might have been something they’ve done before. He uses his contacts, including his friend, Laurence Nodeen, in the Department of Justice, who helps him track down the true identities of this couple.

Murphy’s adventure takes him from tiny coal mining towns of West Virginia, to dangerous biker bars outside Lake Charles, Louisiana, and the voodoo culture of South Louisiana. Murphy ends up in a small-town hospital in Sulphur, Louisiana, after being nearly beaten to death. He returns to Charleston in search of both personal and professional redemption.

After reading “Two Drifters,” Steve Brigman, author of “The Orphan Train,” said, “The path ahead is clear as mud in this gripping medical thriller, but Dr. Declan Murphy must find answers that could save his career. As the author skillfully peels back the layers, we find only darkness, and danger, but Murphy pushes through the barricades. It almost costs him his life. Newman nailed this one, a page-turner throughout, crafted by a natural storyteller.”

Newman took stock of how his life has changed since writing “Occam’s Razor,” his first novel. “Writing the first book was extremely gratifying, but I had been shaping that story in my head for literally 20 years. I was gratified that I got it written, published and that people liked it, but the real question was, ‘Do I have any more to write?’ I was extremely excited that this second book essentially flowed out of me. I wrote it in less than a year – maybe even six months,” he said.

Newman is staying busy. He is currently working on his third book in the series, working part-time in his medical practice and coaching girls’ basketball at Academic Magnet High School. He has also started a new blog that can be found at rogerbnewman.com/post-scripts/.

The MUSC Bookstore, located at 158 Ashley Avenue across from the MUSC Storm Eye Institute, now carries signed copies of both “Occam's Razor” and “Two Drifters.”

You can also inquire about getting a personally signed hard copy. Both books can also be ordered at Amazon.com or rogerbnewman.com/books.