Tuesday, November 17, 2015

An Irish Country Doctor in Peace and at War

It is Kinky O'Hallaran's wedding and the local women are arguing over which flowers to use in the church.  Of course Dr. O'Reilly is able to settle the dispute.  Dr. Barry Laverty is now a partner and Dr. Jenny Bradley is operating wellness clinics for women.

Usual, author Patrick Taylor intersperses his 1960s Dr. O'Reilly with his past self.  In this case, it is 1939 and he has just become engaged to Deirdre Mawhinney, a newly qualified midwife.  Unfortunately Hitler's invasion of Poland changes their plans and O'Reilly is called up to serve as a surgeon aboard HMS Warspite.  His first operation is not for a war wound, but rather appendicitis.

It was that naval experience that helped O'Reilly diagnose an illness in the stepson of Kinky after they had helped her settle in with her new husband.

O'Reilly's war would take him back and forth across the Atlantic on convoy duty, a battle on the coast of Norway and to the Mediterranean.  It would also delay his marriage to Deirdre.  The horrors of war live and die with O'Reilly through his postings. However, he gains valuable knowledge and experience in short order.

Once again, author Patrick Taylor has written an engaging and at times amusing story about Irish country life.  Before the reader knows it, the book is done and you are looking forward to picking up the next in the series.  An excellent read.

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