On The Bookshelf

character gives Rontal a chance to say
what's on his mind rather than explain
that in a roundabout way.
"The criteria by which people judge
medicine are not always fair and accurate,"
Rontal says about the situations he brings
to attention through his books. "Medicine
is not just a doctor and patient.
"Doctors are constantly buffeted
among
insurance companies, referring
SUZANNE CHESSLER
physicians, hospital administrators and
Special to the Jewish News
lawyers, so they're kind of tossed in a
sea of political unrest. Sometimes,
hey're both head and
unless they're very strong, they can get
neck surgeons in
swallowed
up in this morass. When
Michigan, and in their
something goes wrong with the patient,
50s. They've both been
the doctor is always the one to blame."
affected by their medical residencies
As the fictional Ben Dailey does his
at a penitentiary in Minnesota, and
hospital
sleuthing, he gains access to
enjoyed boating as a way to relax.
confidential
records with relative ease,
But that's where the apparent
and
that's
another
point of contention
similarities end.
for
Rontal.
One is Ben Dailey, a fictional
"When you go to a hospital and feel
doctor and sleuth in a series of
that your medical records are private
medical thrillers. The other is
and only yours, that's only partially
Gene Rontal, the author of the
true," he says. "There are all kinds of
series but best known to many
people who have access to informa-
Detroiters as the Farmington Hills
tion, and not all of them [are acting]
physician who cleared up their ear
in the interests of the patients.
infections or removed their tonsils.
"People can impersonate physicians.
Rontal's new book, Sterile
All
they need is a badge and a jacket
Justice (SterlingHouse; $11.95), is
to go anywhere in a hospital. Once in
just hitting local bookstores,
that inner sanctum, all that informa-
where he has scheduled some
Gene Rontal: "It was like somebody turned on
tion is accessible."
signings next month. The mys-
a light bulb, and I suddenly realized that it
Rontal markets his books through a
tery involves an uncommon bac-
was something I wanted to do."
New
York literary agent introduced by
teria linked to the deaths of
a
friend.
patients and doctors.
"I'm lucky I'm married to a very understanding woman
Although the novel is the second in the series, the first,
because
writing takes a tremendous amount of time," says
Death Wire, has not been distributed because of unrelated
Rontal,
whose
books take a year and a half to write.
legal problems faced by its publisher.
"Sometimes ideas come to me riding in the car, and I [stop
"I like the idea that I could take things that happened in
to jot] them down. I remember one time being awake in
real life and make them into a mystery," says Rontal, who
the middle of the night and coming up with a quip, so I
gets up early and stays up late to find quiet time for writing
went
to the computer to write."
at a home computer. "I'm not dealing with could-have-
Rontal,
who maintains a full medical practice, no longer
beens or would-have-beens; I'm dealing with things that are
has
to
make
time for coaching baseball or attending school
really happening to people."
activities.
Daughter
Sara manages an Internet company in
Until 10 years ago, Rontal never thought of writing fic-
New York, and son David is a sophomore at the University
tion. Although he had completed some 50 medical journal
of Michigan, where political science is his academic interest.
articles, they had to do with voice research and were strictly
Rontal, who had his bar mitzvah at Ahavas Achim in
factual and scientific.
Detroit, attends services at Temple Shir Shalom and enjoys
"My wife, Ellen, and I were with some people telling sto-
mountain biking, skiing and golfing. He and his wife, an
ries about things that had happened, and somebody sug-
owner of Mesa Arts in Birmingham, like going to movies.
gested I write a novel about [the subject]," recalls Rontal,
"I have a book, Blood Games, out for review now, and
who graduated from Detroit's Cooley High School when he
I've
got a new novel that I've started writing," Rontal says.
was 15 and the University of Michigan Medical School
"It's
going to require a fair amount of [genetic] research.
when he was 22.
Going from medicine to writing keeps my mind focused
"It was like somebody turned on a light bulb, and I sud-
and active." ❑
denly realized that it was something I wanted to do and
that I really enjoyed. It gave me a tremendous amount of
satisfaction to express myself on a piece of paper."
Dr. Gene Rontal will sign books at 4 p.m. Saturday,
Rontal, who had been a fan of mysteries, decided to keep
Dec. 9, at Barnes & Noble, 6800 Orchard Lake Road,
with one main character to develop that personality and
West Bloomfield. (248) 626-6804. He also will do a
present an ongoing chronicle about the way that person
signing at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Barnes &
lives. He uses the doctor as a malpractice defense specialist
Noble located at 2800 S. Rochester Road, in
because it brings him into the world of law, which Rontal
Rochester. (248) 853-9855.
considers an easy step into crime ancl_murder.
Telling stories through the point of view of the main

111111111111111111111111

`Sterile Justice'

Farmington Hills physician Dr. Gene Rontal writes
a medical thriller based on real-life experiences.

T

Buy
one dinner
entrée at
regular price,
get the
second for

1/2
OFF

Equal or lesser value.

Monday through Thursday
4 p.m. - 9 p.m. only.

Not valid with any other offer.

Must present ad when ordering dinner.

Southfield location only.

29244 Northwestern Highway

(248) 351-2925

If111111T1M111111f1111

t7N

DETROrr JEWISH IlL'WS

ALPE

FRIvAit'S AT:

INTERNATIONAL
NEWS PLUS

372 Oullette Avenue • Windsor, Canada I