Turning Point

Realistic characters, gritty settings and compelling drama! It's rare not to be drawn into a Danielle Steel novel within a few paragraphs of the first chapter and her latest release is no exception! With well-crafted words, we're transported quickly into the minds of four doctors, all working in trauma departments at different hospitals around San Francisco. Descriptive settings take us into a day in the life of each doctor without portraying it in a gruesome fashion that might detract from your enjoyment of the book.  They are all drawn together to be part of a dual-city mass injury training venture with four doctors in Paris. The romance is light since there are multiple characters to center around, but the drama is spot on to carry you throughout the book. Really enjoyed it! 

Bill Browning heads up the trauma unit at San Francisco's most volatile emergency room. With his ex-wife raising his daughters in London, he throws himself into working around the clock and dreams of those moments when he gets to visit with his girls. This trip will bring him to their side of the world for a few weeks and he's beside himself with happiness about that. Stephanie Lawrence is on the fast track as a trauma doc at Mission Bay. She has two young sons and a work-from-home husband who grows more frustrated with the time she spends at the hospital every day. All she's ever dreamed of is so close she can taste it, she just needs to stay on track to lead it all one day. This training trip is going to be a sore point for her family. Wendy Jones is a leading trauma doctor at Stanford but her personal life is in a rut that she doesn't seem to be able to overcome. She's boxed herself into a corner as the mistress to a cardiac surgeon who seems to have gotten comfortable having his lady on the side while having his wife at home instead of following through on all that he promised her in the beginning. Tom Wylie is a love 'em and leave 'em player of a doc at Alta Bates, but he's the type of guy that everyone loves. Upbeat and always smiling, Tom is the life of the party. He has no plans to settle down and isn't ashamed of the parade of women he has marching through his bed.

These four doctors are chosen as the top of the city to travel to Paris to train with a team of their counter-parts in mass-casualty situations. It's fashioned to be a huge learning experience for both cities, and along the way they learn more about themselves and each other. When a severe attack happens, they find themselves thrust full force into the terror they are training for, making decisions that will change lives!

Turning Point by Danielle Steel has us heading to San Francisco, California. Bill Browning is head of the trauma unit at San Francisco General Hospital. Since his divorce, Bill has thrown himself into his work. His ex-wife, Athena lives in London along with their two daughters. Bill looks forward to his rare visits with his two girls. Stephanie Lawrence is married to freelance writer, Andy who stays at home and takes care of their two boys. Stephanie is a trauma doctor at UCSF where she works long hours in her goal to become head of trauma. Andy resents her long hours and their bickering has been escalating. Tom Wylie is the charming emergency room doctor at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland and is popular with the female staff. Tom spends his free time at the local hot spots and has no interest in a long term relationship or marriage. Wendy Jones works in the trauma/surgical critical care center at Stanford and has had a six year relationship with the married Jeffrey Hunter. Wendy looks forward to their Wednesday evenings, but holidays are a lonely time for her. On Christmas, a fire breaks out in a major hotel flooding all their hospitals with victims. In Paris, which is San Francisco’s sister city, terrorists bomb luxury stores and a movie theater causing a massive number of causalities. In the New Year, these four doctors are given the opportunity to journey to Paris to participate in a four week mass-casualty training program. Four physicians from Paris will then come to San Francisco so the two countries can learn from each other. The four San Franciscan doctors bond immediately and look forward to their time in Paris. When a tragedy strikes a Paris school, it causes the doctors to re-evaluate their lives and the choices they have made.

Turning Point is a realistic story that lets us see tragic events from the point of trauma doctors and emergency services. I thought Turning Point was well-written with a steady flow. I found Turning Point to be a compelling novel. I was drawn into the story wanting to see what choices the doctors would make. Going to Paris is a wonderful opportunity for each doctor, but two of them must make a sacrifice. Stephanie is leaving behind an angry husband and two distraught children. However, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and it is an honor to be picked to participate. Wendy is giving up her Wednesday nights with her lover. She has made great sacrifices to be with him, but she is beginning to wonder if he feels the same way about her. I will admit that her whining did grate on me after a while. I could have done with less of Wendy waxing on about Jeffrey and their relationship. Tom is looking forward to the Paris nightlife while Bill will be able to see his girls every weekend. Tom is a charmer and his character provided levity to the book. Tragedy has a way of making people evaluate their lives as we see in Turning Point. It was interesting to learn more about the roll of trauma doctors and how emergency services operates in another country. I did find some of the medical information presented to be intricate and I would find myself skimming through that paragraph. Other medical knowledge imparted was straightforward and easy to understand. There is, of course, romance in the story but it is light. I liked the Parisian medical professionals and how their stories mixed with the doctors from San Francisco. It is amazing how chaos can bring about change. I am giving Turning Point 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). Those readers who are addicted to Grey’s Anatomy will enjoy reading Turning Point. I look forward to Ms. Steel’s next book which is Silent Night.

ALERT: SPOILER Too many characters so they don’t all get the attention that each character deserves. The real issue is the school shooting is horrific and I’m writing this 2023 too close to reality. Read her early books they were entertaining sometimes tragic but well done. There’s always something missing from the more recent book not so much depth.