Here, a widowed prosecuting attorney, Leland Fowler, the single parent of a young child, is living in a rural town in Vermont. Not having felt well for months, he visits the town's resident homeopath and finds himself feeling better, both physically and emotionally, because the homeopath, Clarissa Lake, is just what the doctor ordered.

Shortly after Clarissa and Leland connect, a patient of hers goes into anaphylactic shock, digresses into a coma and dies, ostensibly after eating cashews to which he was allergic, after a casual conversation with Clarissa and a belief in the homeopathic law of similars that like cures like. Leland, emotionally involved with Clarissa, becomes embroiled in a covert attempt to shield her from the legal repercussions that he knows could follow such a tragedy, even though it might not have been entirely of her making. It is here that the book unravels a bit.

This ethical digression on the part of Leland is somewhat difficult to believe, as he had had a very brief relationship with Clarissa. It is almost inconceivable that he would chance losing his entire professional future and the security that his profession provides his small daughter in order to engage in a major ethical breach. A breach so serious, that were it to come to light, would almost certainly result in his probable disbarment from the practice of law. Needless to say, this decision by him ultimately affects their relationship in a way not foreseen by Leland.

Nonetheless, the book is somewhat absorbing and well worth reading.


Excellent great understanding of homeopathic remedies   September 7, 1999
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I stayed up all night to finish this book, great understanding of characters and of nature medicine and the commuity lack of understanding

Well done


An engrossing read   August 30, 1999
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I thorougly enjoyed this book. It was very well written and I enjoyed the story from a male perspective. I also have to agree with the reader from Ohio that, from a female perspective, the sex scene was rather refreshing, in comparison to most offered from male authors. The ending perhaps wasn't as expected. However, this again was a pleasant change!


Starts off well, but overall weak.   August 28, 1999
Did not read Midwives. This was my first Chris Bohjalian book. I was looking forward to it because I had read good things about Midwives, I live in Vermont and I know some homeopathy. I found the protagonist very likable in the beginning, although subtly suffering from a not-so-well-hidden "poor me" complex. But that was still understandable after all the poor man had been through... Things deteriorated for me when he started salivated at every skirt, young or old, that twitched in front of him. The foot fetish thing was not anything I could relate to in a positive way either. And, to top things off, the plot crumbled altogether with unbelievable issues, even more unbelievable denouements of same issues, pilfered homeopathic remedies that can be purchased for a few dollars in any health food store, unrealistic reactions to "overdoses" of arsenicum (please!...), an unreachable, unlikable, underdescribed, overall unhashed-out character of a homeopath/girlfriend. The main character lapsing back into his veiled "poor me" role at the unsatisfactory ending. On a more positive note, I found the basic writing style to be very good. Nice structure, well-turned phrases.


Engaging story but weak ending   August 28, 1999
Very interesting premise that had me turning pages. I thought I had figured out the ending but was disappointed by what I thought was a weaking ending to a captivating story.