The Retired Country Doctor by Michael R. Brooks
A MUST READ - OUT NOW!
About the book
Barrister Finn Richter’s life is turned upside down when his 95-year-old father, Hans, a retired country doctor from the picturesque river-side town of Waikerie, is to be charged under the Commonwealth War Crimes Act for offences allegedly committed in Auschwitz during WWII.
When Hans Richter migrated to South Australia in the early 1950s, was he travelling under an alias? Is he the notorious Dr Klaus Speigel recognised by an Auschwitz survivor at the Waikerie Hotel?
Finn arranges for his childhood friend, Marjorie Davies QC, to represent Hans and refute the allegations. Together, they must prepare for a trial, while having to deal with an arrogant commonwealth prosecutor; manage the local, national and international press; avoid being distracted by social interest protest groups who have their own agendas to push; and respect the different interests of the town’s residents while confronting their own painful childhood memories.
Getting a verdict is not the end of the story—far from it.
The Retired Country Doctor is a must read for those who enjoy court room dramas and crime thrillers.
ISBN: 9781764341431 324pp 153 x 234mm
Born in Tanzania to an English father and north Italian (bordering Austria) mother, Michael R. Brooks’ family migrated to Waikerie, South Australia, in the late 1960s. Eventually his family moved to Mt Barker. Michael commenced his secondary education at Mt Barker High School, which he did not complete. In 1976 Michael remembers coming home from school and his father saying he found him a job working for an insurance company. He remained in insurance until the early 2020s when Parkinson’s Disease forced him into early retirement. On his employment journey, Michael gained mature entry to university where he graduated with a degree in Law. Michael has used the illness as motivation to begin writing novels of fiction. He has previously written four novels, and is currently working on a sequel to The Retired Country Doctor.
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5 Stars!
‘A thoroughly enjoyable, fluent, insightful and intriguing read. Love, trust, integrity and true friendship are all challenged in this impressive and authentic piece of writing. Well done Michael, I loved it! --Wendy H.
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5 Stars!
‘A thoroughly enjoyable, fluent ,insightful and intriguing read. Love, trust, integrity and true friendship are all challenged in this impressive and authentic piece of writing. Well done Michael, I loved it! Wendy H.
What a fantastic read, found it hard to put this one down from Chapter one right through to the end. So well written and thought through fictional story that could easily be believed as non fictional. Well recommended and well done to the Author on this one. I’ll be keeping an eye out for your next. Deserves the five stars. -- Maurice Behan
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5 Stars!
This book stayed with me long after I turned the final page. Not only was it beautifully written, but it explored a topic I’ve always been deeply interested in. The author has a remarkable ability to bring scenes to life, and I found myself vividly picturing every moment as it unfolded. What struck me most was the emotional impact the storyline had on me. That kind of lasting impression is rare, and it speaks to how powerfully the story was told. Even though the book reaches a clear ending, it leaves space for questions, for reflection, and for hope. I would absolutely welcome a sequel, not because anything was lacking, but because I’m not ready to let these characters go. - - Christine Brodie
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5 Stars!
There have not been many books in my life that have taken me away from all my duties and responsibilities. What a twist of an ending , and got three quarters the way through thinking about how all this was going to be tied together and it very satisfyingly did. Well done, loved it! - - Sally Tonkin
