Death of the Great Man

By: Peter D. Kramer

Narrated by: Alyssa Bresnahan, Richard Poe

In a novel that’s part comic mystery, part political satire, and part case vignette, a psychiatrist reviews his involvement with a narcissistic national leader who has turned up dead on the consulting room couch.

When Peter D. Kramer wrote about his work with psychiatric patients in books like Listening to Prozac and Should You Leave?, Joyce Carol Oates said, “To read his prose on virtually any subject is to be provoked, enthralled, illuminated.”

When Kramer switched to fiction, Publishers Weekly wrote, “The depth, quality, and ambition of Kramer’s prose will surprise those expecting a superficial crossover effort.”

In his new novel, Death of the Great Man, Kramer uses those literary skills to introduce listeners to an unforgettable character, Henry Farber, a well-meaning psychiatrist forced into hiding when the nation’s chief executive—a narcissistic autocrat in his disastrous second term—is found dead on the consulting room couch.

From an isolated bungalow, Farber sets out to clear his name while offering an intimate view of a flawed populist leader. What begins as comic mystery and political satire matures into a moving journey of self-exploration and a commentary on the fate of truth-telling in an era when lying has become a norm in public life.

©2023 Peter D. Kramer (P)2023 Recorded Books

Great book; disappointing ending

I found the psychiatrist character to be complex in the best sense of the word. I enjoyed learning about the therapeutic process. The author's depiction of The Great Man seemed on target. I couldn't suspend my disbelief about his wife, Naomi, though
. The author used her words in the last 40 minutes to preach his ideas, losing the human touch. I don't know if I would recommend it. The narrator was excellent.

Last 2 Hours Are Dull

I loved the book though it is very frightening. It is very well written albeit a bit on the too close to the truth side.