Crime: The hero of Paul Carson's latest medical thriller is Dr Frank Ryan, an Australian who is chief medical officer at Harmon Prison, Europe's most dangerous gaol, which, believe it or not, is situated near Dublin.
He is the kind of doctor who, along with his medical apparatus, stuffs a nine-millimetre Beretta into his Gladstone bag, a stun grenade into his right pocket and a can of Mace into his left - talk about making business for yourself!
Abducted, tortured and interrogated by a mysterious crew of men, he is then set free, only to discover that his ordeal is denied by the security forces in general. He also finds that his girlfriend has disappeared.
Determined to rehabilitate himself, he goes back to the prison, the place he believes is responsible for his dilemma. He also enlists the help of an investigative reporter called Conor Mason, who believes him as long as he provides him with inside information about the strange doings within the prison.
As he delves deeper into the mystery, Ryan uncovers a conspiracy that has tentacles reaching into the highest realms of government, and the more he wades in, the harder things get for him.
The story moves at a breakneck pace and, although one needs to take it all with a grain of salt, it makes for a terrific read.
Ryan is a well-drawn character and one is completely behind him as he claws his way through the mire. And to Carson's credit, he doesn't give his readers the conventional happy ending.
• Vincent Banville is an author and critic
Betrayal By Paul Carson Heinemann, 352pp. £10.99