PICCADILLY PICKS

THE LAST ORPHAN

Gregg Hurwitz Penguin, $37

Evan Smoak, (Orphan X), has come a long way in the seven previous books in this series. He is a governmenttrained assassin, has been regarded as the best, and has survived every attempt to stop, capture or kill him. Has he met his match after the government has failed to eliminate him?

The government has him cornered and the President and Special Agent in Charge Naomi Templeton give him no choice but to assassinate one of the most politically and economically powerful people in the United States. First, he must convince himself that this is within the principles he has adopted since escaping his previous duties and becoming determined to start using his formidable skills for betterment.

Tons of action, intelligent reaction and forward planning, as he protects those dearest to him and makes his decision. Will this be “The Last Orphan”?

– Neville Templeton

BLOOD AND BONE

Russell Tregonning

Atuanui Press, $40

Recently retired, after 50 years as one of New Zealand’s leading orthopaedic surgeons, Russell Tregonning has written an absorbing memoir.

From his early days as a student at Otago, he takes the reader through his medical training and life experiences. Finally deciding to make orthopaedics his specialty, Russell shares the high and lows of his career. It’s an honest, no holds barred tale of his struggles with mental health, workplace conflict and standing up for his ideals in the hospital situation.

His time in Canada and England saw him learning new techniques, especially in knee injuries, surgery and treatment. Upon returning to New Zealand he was able to introduce these new ideas, and the latest improved methods of knee replacements.

Graphic colour photographs of knee surgery are not for the fainthearted, but the x-ray images, anatomy diagrams and instrumentation pictures are educational.

In retirement, Russell speaks to doctors and sports medicine specialists, as well as being an activist for the environment.

A book which will appeal to those with medical knowledge, those who have had knee surgery, and those who are about to.

– Helen Templeton