New novel focuses on doctor with Asperger's

From a Swampscott Reporter feature on the author, Michael Palmer, who has a new novel called The Second Opinion:

The Second Opinion centers on gifted physician Thea Sperelakis, who has Asperger's syndrome. Thea, the main character, is close with brother Dimitri, who also has the syndrome.

Palmer chose the name "Althea" which translates to "truth" in Greek, because those with Asperger's are frequently unable to lie or manipulate: "I wanted to create a character who is incapable of lying, incapable of guile. All kids are devious, but Thea? She speaks the truth," he says.

Thea's character's Asperger's symptoms were treated from the time she was 10, whereas her older brother Dimitri was never diagnosed and therefore went untreated in the book.

"He's basically a shut-in with an IQ of 180. He sits with video games and his collection of Star Wars memorabilia." Palmer explains, illustrating how he juxtaposed treatment against giving up.

Thea discovers that her father, in a coma after becoming the victim of a hit-and-run accident, is being targeted. The plot's unexpected twists and the underlying conspiracy promise to keep readers guessing but also allow the reader an inside viewpoint on Asperger's.

Palmer, who pitches his stories to his publishers by asking "what if?" questions, asks the question, "What if someone who knows Internet technology and who knows medicine can use electronic medical records for murder? The next thing I wanted was to write a book about Asperger's syndrome — I've wanted to write about that for a while, so I began to put together a character with Asperger's syndrome."

In addition to Thea's and Dimitri's character development, the most enlightening art of the book — for those learning about Asperger's syndrome — may be Palmer's personal author's note at the end of the book.

His son Luke was diagnosed with this form of autism 14 years ago. Now 18, Luke plans to attend Emerson College this fall. Palmer shares his experience of when his son was first diagnosed.

Each of Palmer's books teaches the reader new medical information and will have the reader questioning exactly how Palmer meticulously ties up all those seemingly unrelated details.