-
A Heartbeat Away
- Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
- Length: 11 hrs and 38 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $27.99
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The First Family
- By: Michael Palmer, Daniel Palmer
- Narrated by: Fred Berman
- Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When President Geoffrey Hilliard’s son Cam, a 16-year-old chess champion, experiences extreme fatigue, moodiness, and an uncharacteristic violent outburst, doctors are quick to dismiss his troubles as teen angst. But Secret Service agent Karen Ray summons her physician ex-husband for a second opinion. Dr. Lee Blackwood’s concerns are dismissed by the president's team - until Cam gets sicker. Lee must make a diagnosis from a puzzling array of symptoms he's never seen before. His only clue is a patient named Susie Banks, a young musical prodigy who seems to be suffering from the same baffling condition as Cam.
-
-
Great Medical/PoliticalThriller
- By Lia on 09-06-18
By: Michael Palmer, and others
-
Resistant
- By: Michael Palmer
- Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They fight without conscience or remorse. Their only job is to kill. They are the most ruthless enemy we have ever faced. And they are one millionth our size. When Dr. Lou Welcome fills in last minute for his boss at a national conference in Atlanta he brings along his best friend, Cap Duncan. But an accident turns tragic when Cap injures his leg while running. Surgeons manage to save the leg, but the open wound is the perfect breeding ground for a deadly microbial invader committed to eating Cap alive from the inside out.
-
-
Almost Gave Up On This Book in the First Hour But
- By Carol L. Riegel on 05-26-14
By: Michael Palmer
-
The Patient
- By: Michael Palmer
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
His name is ARTIE, a miracle of bio-engineering that is about to transform the field of neurosurgery. Dr. Jessie Copeland knows him better than anyone else at Eastern Mass Medical Center- and knows it's too soon to be using the tiny robot on a living patient's brain. But, Jessie's department chief is too busy to worry about such ethics. And neither of them has any idea that ARTIE will attract a patient from their worst nightmares.
-
-
Good Medical Read
- By Lady Rider on 05-08-18
By: Michael Palmer
-
The First Patient
- A Novel
- By: Michael Palmer
- Narrated by: Phil Gigante
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gabe Singleton and Andrew Stoddard were roommates at the Naval Academy in Annapolis years ago. Today, Gabe is a country doctor and his friend Andrew has gone from war hero to governor to President of the United States. One day, Marine One lands on Gabe's Wyoming ranch, and President Stoddard delivers a disturbing revelation and a startling request.
-
-
OK airplane novel. Excellent narration
- By Audiophile on 08-15-09
By: Michael Palmer
-
Fatal
- By: Michael Palmer
- Narrated by: Michael Palmer
- Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The master of medical suspense brings us another novel of controversy, biology, and human greed. Internist Matt Rutledge has spent the last five years trying to find links between the deaths of his wife and his father. He suspects the Belinda Coke and Coal Company has released toxic chemicals into the environment that have caused the "Belinda Syndrome," a miasma of symptoms that include violent and deadly paranoia in some, Ebola-like hemorrhaging in others. But he lacks proof.
-
-
A great audiobook by my favortie medical author!
- By Barry S. Sharpnack on 01-19-08
By: Michael Palmer
-
Mercy
- A Novel
- By: Michael Palmer, Daniel Palmer
- Narrated by: Hillary Huber
- Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dr. Julie Devereux is an outspoken advocate for the right to die - until a motorcycle accident leaves her fiancé, Sam Talbot, a quadriplegic. Sam begs to end his life, but Julie sees hope in a life together. With the help of an organization that opposes physician-assisted suicide, Julie has Sam coming around to her point of view when he suddenly dies from an unexpected heart attack.
-
-
Narrator needs to learn proper pronunciations!
- By Kelly Tennille Grooms on 01-14-17
By: Michael Palmer, and others
-
The First Family
- By: Michael Palmer, Daniel Palmer
- Narrated by: Fred Berman
- Length: 11 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When President Geoffrey Hilliard’s son Cam, a 16-year-old chess champion, experiences extreme fatigue, moodiness, and an uncharacteristic violent outburst, doctors are quick to dismiss his troubles as teen angst. But Secret Service agent Karen Ray summons her physician ex-husband for a second opinion. Dr. Lee Blackwood’s concerns are dismissed by the president's team - until Cam gets sicker. Lee must make a diagnosis from a puzzling array of symptoms he's never seen before. His only clue is a patient named Susie Banks, a young musical prodigy who seems to be suffering from the same baffling condition as Cam.
-
-
Great Medical/PoliticalThriller
- By Lia on 09-06-18
By: Michael Palmer, and others
-
Resistant
- By: Michael Palmer
- Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
They fight without conscience or remorse. Their only job is to kill. They are the most ruthless enemy we have ever faced. And they are one millionth our size. When Dr. Lou Welcome fills in last minute for his boss at a national conference in Atlanta he brings along his best friend, Cap Duncan. But an accident turns tragic when Cap injures his leg while running. Surgeons manage to save the leg, but the open wound is the perfect breeding ground for a deadly microbial invader committed to eating Cap alive from the inside out.
-
-
Almost Gave Up On This Book in the First Hour But
- By Carol L. Riegel on 05-26-14
By: Michael Palmer
-
The Patient
- By: Michael Palmer
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
His name is ARTIE, a miracle of bio-engineering that is about to transform the field of neurosurgery. Dr. Jessie Copeland knows him better than anyone else at Eastern Mass Medical Center- and knows it's too soon to be using the tiny robot on a living patient's brain. But, Jessie's department chief is too busy to worry about such ethics. And neither of them has any idea that ARTIE will attract a patient from their worst nightmares.
-
-
Good Medical Read
- By Lady Rider on 05-08-18
By: Michael Palmer
-
The First Patient
- A Novel
- By: Michael Palmer
- Narrated by: Phil Gigante
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gabe Singleton and Andrew Stoddard were roommates at the Naval Academy in Annapolis years ago. Today, Gabe is a country doctor and his friend Andrew has gone from war hero to governor to President of the United States. One day, Marine One lands on Gabe's Wyoming ranch, and President Stoddard delivers a disturbing revelation and a startling request.
-
-
OK airplane novel. Excellent narration
- By Audiophile on 08-15-09
By: Michael Palmer
-
Fatal
- By: Michael Palmer
- Narrated by: Michael Palmer
- Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The master of medical suspense brings us another novel of controversy, biology, and human greed. Internist Matt Rutledge has spent the last five years trying to find links between the deaths of his wife and his father. He suspects the Belinda Coke and Coal Company has released toxic chemicals into the environment that have caused the "Belinda Syndrome," a miasma of symptoms that include violent and deadly paranoia in some, Ebola-like hemorrhaging in others. But he lacks proof.
-
-
A great audiobook by my favortie medical author!
- By Barry S. Sharpnack on 01-19-08
By: Michael Palmer
-
Mercy
- A Novel
- By: Michael Palmer, Daniel Palmer
- Narrated by: Hillary Huber
- Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dr. Julie Devereux is an outspoken advocate for the right to die - until a motorcycle accident leaves her fiancé, Sam Talbot, a quadriplegic. Sam begs to end his life, but Julie sees hope in a life together. With the help of an organization that opposes physician-assisted suicide, Julie has Sam coming around to her point of view when he suddenly dies from an unexpected heart attack.
-
-
Narrator needs to learn proper pronunciations!
- By Kelly Tennille Grooms on 01-14-17
By: Michael Palmer, and others
-
Trauma
- A Novel
- By: Michael Palmer, Daniel Palmer
- Narrated by: Xe Sands
- Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dr. Carrie Bryant's four years as a neurosurgical resident at White Memorial Hospital have earned her the respect and admiration from peers and staff alike. When given the chance of performing her first unsupervised brain surgery, Carrie jumps at the opportunity. What should have been a routine, hours-long operation turns horribly wrong and jeopardizes her patient's life. Emotionally and physically drained, Carrie is rushed back to the OR to assist in a second surgery.
-
-
The best Michael Palmer ever
- By lauren outland on 07-15-15
By: Michael Palmer, and others
-
Miracle Cure
- By: Michael Palmer
- Narrated by: Ron McLarty
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dr. Brian Holbrook - former football star and disgraced chief of cardiology - is given the chance of a lifetime when he gets a call from the prestigious Boston Heart Institute. They need him to join an elite team testing the new miracle drug Vasclear. With his father suffering from a dangerous heart condition, Holbrook seizes the opportunity to save his reputation, and also his father's life. However, when patients start dying mysteriously, and colleagues begin to disappear, it's up to Holbrook to find the truth before it's too late.
-
-
Excellent medical mystery novel!
- By Wayne on 11-15-15
By: Michael Palmer
-
Silent Treatment
- By: Michael Palmer
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 14 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Silent Treatment, best-selling author Dr. Michael Palmer crosses the line between medicine and murder with a heart-pounding thriller guaranteed to satisfy fans of medical suspense.
When his wife mysteriously dies the night before she is scheduled for surgery, Dr. Harry Corbett realizes a killer is moving through the wards of Good Samaritan Hospital - a killer so sophisticated and silent that he can only be a doctor.
-
-
A cautionary tale for healthcare reform
- By Jim Hebert on 01-10-13
By: Michael Palmer
-
The Sisterhood
- By: Michael Palmer
- Narrated by: Renée Raudman
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Inside Boston Doctors Hospital, patients are dying. In the glare of the operating room, they survive the surgeon's knife. But in the dark, hollow silence of the night, they die. Suddenly, inexplicably, horribly. A tough, bright doctor will risk his very life for a dedicated young nurse who unknowingly holds the answers.
-
-
Michael Palmer fans won't be dissapointed
- By Dana on 04-14-11
By: Michael Palmer
-
Side Effects
- By: Michael Palmer
- Narrated by: Angela Dawe
- Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Kate Bennett - a bright hospital pathologist with a loving husband and a solid future. Until one day her world turns dark. A strange, puzzling illness has killed two women. Now it endangers Kate's closest friend. Soon it will threaten Kate's marriage. Her sanity. Her life. Kate has uncovered a horrifying secret. Important people will stop at nothing to protect it. It is a terrifying medical discovery. And its roots lie in one of the greatest evils in the history of humankind.
-
-
Wow
- By J. D. Chesley on 02-10-10
By: Michael Palmer
-
Crisis
- By: Robin Cook
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Dr. Craig Bowman is served with a summons for medical malpractice, he's shocked, enraged, and more than a little humiliated. A devoted physician who works continuously in the service of others, he endured grueling years of training and is now a partner in an exclusive concierge medical practice. No longer forced to see more and more patients while spending less and less time with each one just to keep his office door open, he now provides the kind of medical care he is trained to do.
-
-
Not disappointed!!!
- By Edward on 09-19-06
By: Robin Cook
-
Cell
- By: Robin Cook
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 10 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
George Wilson, M.D., a radiology resident in Los Angeles, is about to enter a profession on the brink of an enormous paradigm shift, foreshadowing a vastly different role for doctors everywhere. The smartphone is poised to take on a new role in medicine, no longer as a mere medical app but rather as a fully customizable personal physician capable of diagnosing and treating even better than the real thing. It is called iDoc. George's initial collision with this incredible innovation is devastating.
-
-
Wow!!!
- By Paul T. on 02-16-14
By: Robin Cook
-
Charlatans
- By: Robin Cook
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 12 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Newly minted chief resident at Boston Memorial Hospital Noah Rothauser is swamped in his new position, from managing the surgical schedules to dealing with the fallouts from patient deaths. Known for its medical advances, the famed teaching hospital has fitted several ORs as "hybrid operating rooms of the future" - an improvement that seems positive until an anesthesia error during a routine procedure results in the death of an otherwise healthy man.
-
-
Social engineering at its best
- By donna on 08-30-17
By: Robin Cook
-
Life Support
- By: Tess Gerritsen
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dr. Toby Harper works the night shift in an emergency room. She spends her daytime hours alone with her mother who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. When elderly Alzheimer's patients from the same retirement home start dying mysteriously, Toby is the only one suspicious enough to investigate. As a result she finds herself, her mother, and her own sanity at risk.
-
-
Wonderful book. It kept me glued the entire book.
- By vickie evans on 08-13-18
By: Tess Gerritsen
-
The Dark Tower I
- The Gunslinger
- By: Stephen King
- Narrated by: George Guidall
- Length: 7 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the first book of this brilliant series, Stephen King introduces listeners to one of his most powerful creations: Roland of Gilead, The Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil. In his desolate world, which frighteningly mirrors our own, Roland tracks The Man in Black, encounters an enticing woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the boy from New York named Jake.
-
-
Abrupt Ending...
- By avoidthelloyd on 06-09-17
By: Stephen King
-
14
- By: Peter Clines
- Narrated by: Ray Porter
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
There are some odd things about Nate’s new apartment. Of course, he has other things on his mind. He hates his job. He has no money in the bank. No girlfriend. No plans for the future. So while his new home isn’t perfect, it’s livable. The rent is low, the property managers are friendly, and the odd little mysteries don’t nag at him too much. At least, not until he meets Mandy, his neighbor across the hall, and notices something unusual about her apartment. And Xela’s apartment. And Tim’s. And Veek’s.
-
-
Not smart sci-fi
- By John on 06-29-17
By: Peter Clines
-
The Chemist
- By: Stephenie Meyer
- Narrated by: Ellen Archer
- Length: 17 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
She used to work for the US government, but very few people ever knew that. An expert in her field, she was one of the darkest secrets of an agency so clandestine it doesn't even have a name. And when they decided she was a liability, they came for her without warning. Now she rarely stays in the same place or uses the same name for long. They've killed the only other person she trusted, but something she knows still poses a threat. They want her dead, and soon.
-
-
Great premise
- By OhHappyDay on 07-14-17
By: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher's Summary
The New York Times best-selling author and master of suspense delivers another novel at the crossroads of politics and medicine in this shocker of a thriller.
On the night of the State of the Union address, President James Allaire expects to give the speech of his career. But no one anticipates the terrifying turn of events that forces him to quarantine everyone in the Capitol building. A terrorist group calling itself “Genesis” has unleashed WRX3883, a deadly, highly contagious virus, into the building. No one fully knows the deadly effect of the germ except for the team responsible for its development - a team headed by Allaire, himself.
The only one who might be able to help is virologist Griffin Rhodes, currently in solitary confinement in a maximum security federal prison for alleged terrorist acts, including the attempted theft of WRX3883 from the lab where he worked. Rhodes has no idea why he has been arrested, but when Allaire offers to free him in exchange for his help combating the virus, he reluctantly agrees to do what he can to support the government that has imprisoned him without apparent cause.
Meanwhile, every single person in line for presidential succession is trapped inside the Capitol - every person except one: the Director of Homeland Security, who is safely at home in Minnesota, having been selected as the “Designated Survivor” for this event. With enemies both named and unnamed closing in, and the security of the nation at stake, Griff must unravel the mysteries of WRX3883 without violating his pledge as a scientist to use no animal testing in his experiments...and time is running out.
Tense, thrilling, and entirely plausible, A Heartbeat Away will make you reflect, wonder, and be truly afraid.
More from the same
Narrator
What listeners say about A Heartbeat Away
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
- nancy
- 03-01-11
A HEARTBEAT AWAY
As a critical care RN, I can see this being an easy reality. Americans need to realize how easily this could happen anywhere and anytime. As a work of fiction -- excellant
9 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Sherto
- 04-08-12
Well worth the cost and time. Great Story.
If you could sum up A Heartbeat Away in three words, what would they be?
Entertaining, interesting, and exciting.
What was one of the most memorable moments of A Heartbeat Away?
When they discovered the living person from the research trials. It gave hope and continued excitement to the story.
What about Robert Petkoff’s performance did you like?
He was clear, consistent, and showed emotion / excitement without over doing it.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
Scientific thriller that could actually happen anytime and anywhere in our present world.
Any additional comments?
Great story line and plenty of excitement.
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Gabrielle
- 10-27-11
Interesting Story - Good Narration
Even though this book has a totally absurd story line, I enjoyed listening to it mostly because of Robert Petkoff's narration. He is very skilled at doing different voices and accents and made it very easy to discern who is speaking. Though his portrayal of the President was way too stern and harsh and I loved when he had the main female character scream! As for the book itself, this was my first Michael Palmer book and I can't say I'm dying to read him again. The idea was a good one but there were many holes in the story and the plot is so ridiculous and outlandish that it is hard to commit to. I had hoped that Palmer would resolve it in a way that was semi-believable - but no luck!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Laurie
- 10-23-11
What's happened to Michael Palmer?
I could always count on Palmer to write a decent medical thriller. Granted, some of his previous story lines were a stretch, but they were good for a fast paced, decent listen. This book, however, borders on the ridiculous. It's as if he watched one too many episodes of "24", and decided to one up that idea with bad dialog and uninteresting characters. Really, I would skip this one.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Terry
- 06-10-11
Good Listen
First listen of Michael Palmer, the story at times seemed a liitle far fetched but kept my attention the narration was great, love Robert Petkoff.
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- William R.
- 05-27-11
Far too many holes and a bad love story
Robert Petkoff reads the book quite well, which I enjoyed. He was able to provide some very distinct voices for each character that did not feel forced or too heavy-handed. The book itself is a fantastic idea that I loved at first but the more this book goes on the more giant - gaping - holes in the overall story. I do not want to spoil anything but will say there are times when I just shook my head and thought "Really? Did he really just write that?". The two main characters in the book are great separately but there is a very obvious love story that just was just plain silly and thinking back on it just makes me whince. I am giving this book two stars because I liked the narrotor, pacing and some of the characters but really cannot recommend it.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Anonymous User
- 03-31-11
Heartbeat Away
Good reading and will enjoy it. I recommend it to you - it is worth your time and money.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
- Zan
- 03-12-11
Barely kept my attention.
This is more of a "medical" adventure with a out of control plague threatening everyone. I guessed the ending way before I should have.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
- Jan
- 02-24-11
completely unbelievable
I hate to write a lukewarm review, but I'm sorry to say that I liked this book about as much as coming down with the flu. I don't mind suspending reality here and there, but this book was almost completely unbelievable. I've liked Michael Palmer in the past, so maybe it was just my impatience with the far-fetched details, but I have to admit that long before Part 2 I started skipping from segment to segment just to see if it "grabbed" me somewhere before the end....unfortunately I "skimmed" my way to the gratuitously happy ending. I wish I hadn't used a credit for it....
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- C. Cox
- 06-26-22
Exciting, never a lull in the story.
Loved it! Exciting, never a lull in the story, very appropriate for present time in 2022.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Nowak
- 07-08-14
Heart skips a bit... and never stops
What did you like most about A Heartbeat Away?
Story is really compicated and absorbing. Michael Palmer creates interesting and expressive characters and they all have their own hidden agenda. But at the and every plot is nicely straighten out and there is nothing left unfinnished.
What other book might you compare A Heartbeat Away to, and why?
I would compare it to another Michale Palmer book Extreme Measures becouse it has same kind of confusion.
Which character – as performed by Robert Petkoff – was your favourite?
Yes he does. He creates coplicated story there is a lot of plots so if you don't listen carefuly you may get confused sometimes. But with time acction is accelerating but you have to be patient becouse you need about three hours of listening to really get into it.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Nothing I actually really enjoyed it.
-
Overall

- Lars
- 02-02-13
Michael Palmer does it again
I am a huge Michael Palmer fan, the king of medical thrillers , so I very pleased to see AudibleUK has now got some more of his books.
Although I'm not at all a big fan of political books, I loved this one. As typical with all michael Palmer , it is a fast paced suspence novel that keeps you guessing throughout.