Ann Rule and true crime went together like babies and diapers, and she was an excellent writer, though not my favourite in the genre. This particular book sat on my shelf for about five years -- I have no idea where I got it from -- as I kept ignoring it while I bought or loaned other non-fiction titles.
When I finally got around to reading it, I was mesmerized. Why? Because in certain ways, it reminded me of my own family, obviously not exactly in a good way. Without getting too far off track, let me say that the similarities include the fathers (mine and Bitter Harvest's Dr. Michael Farrar) both being cardiologists, and there being three children in each family, one boy and two girls. Another similarity is the fact that both mothers (mine and the one in the book, Dr. Debora Green) had serious mental health issues. And like the Farrar-Green family, my family suffered fatally for that illness, though mine on a smaller scale through two suicides, not murders. One last similarity: Dr. Farrar had a strained relationship with his only son, just as my father did with his only son.
It is bad enough when young health care professionals -- specifically doctors and nurses -- die or leave the profession due to illness. Such untimely tragedies constitute an immediate and tremendous loss to the entire community. The health and well-being of ordinary individuals are abruptly diminished and threatened when young doctors die or stop practicing. In my mind, the hierarchy of useful beings goes like this: God, then doctors, then the rest of us. The world will not stop turning on its axis because another journalist dies, despite the inexorable, unyielding and obsequious obituaries by naval-gazing colleagues after a TV reporter or newspaper writer -- or even radio personality -- retires or expires. But human lives are affected instantly when young, expensively and highly trained doctors die or are forced to retire early.
For that reason, and because of the book's parallels with my own family, I read Bitter Harvest with a constant lump in my throat and an ache in my heart. (If you are interested in reading about my life and family, you can purchase my autobiography, which is reviewed on this website by Ottawa writer Brian Hanington).
Debora Green's intelligence and youthful ambitions could have propelled her to the top of her profession, but there were also early signs of a personality disorder. A brilliant emergency room doctor with a special talent for diagnosing, she also had an abrasive temperament and an irregular, uncontrolled anger. She made enemies virtually everywhere she went, though as a young woman, she was smart, shapely and incredibly witty when she tried to be.
After she divorced a PhD. engineer in the late seventies, Green somehow managed to snag the most eligible bachelor in both Kansas and Missouri. But Michael Farrar, whom she married in 1979, was quickly disillusioned when he realized his pretty but caustic bride -- who was older and initially more advanced in medical training -- was not at all affectionate and was downright rude, repeatedly, to his parents.
Debora's beauty faded as her figure widened, and her professional life fell apart gradually but thoroughly. Michael wanted to leave her -- even when the children were young -- but she managed to keep him for extra time through her dangerous scheming.
There is no point in giving anymore away, since it will spoil this intriguing and gut-wrenching story.
As with most books on Lynne Like's, you can get this on Amazon.ca.
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