The title led me to believe this book would be about the medical profession—and it was, sort of—but it was more about a group of quirky characters and their sex lives. Some individuals were nobler than others, but there was undoubtedly a lot of depravity in the small English town of Plume. Stanley Winchester (born Sam Youd) wrote mostly YA science fiction novels under the synonym John Christopher, but this very adult novel packed a punch. The writing was good, the story moved at a good pace, and the plot twists were often shocking and humorous at the same time. ( )