Bitter Medicine Audiobook By Carlton Smith cover art

Bitter Medicine

Two Doctors, Two Deaths, and a Small Town's Search for Justice

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

Bitter Medicine

By: Carlton Smith
Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.49

Buy for $21.49

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

Two deaths

Port Angeles, Washington, is a small town of pretty houses and smiling people, surrounded by acres of pristine wilderness. Everyone thought it was the perfect place to live . . . until two local doctors made headlines.

Two doctors

On a chilly January night, Dr. Eugene Turner hastened the death of a three-day-old baby boy who had been pronounced brain-dead. Six weeks later, ER physician Dr. Bruce Rowan hacked his wife to death with an axe, then tried to kill himself - claiming he snapped after witnessing Dr. Turner's euthanasia.

A small town rocked by a shocking fatality

What really happened? What drove Dr. Bruce Rowan - a man who was entrusted to heal the sick - to so savagely take the life of his own wife? Acquitted by reason of insanity, Dr. Rowan was committed to a mental institution. And thought the trial is over, some fascinating ethical and legal questions have been raised by its outcome.

Now, best-selling true crime writer Carlton Smith reveals the never-before-told facts and the stunning truth behind two doctors, two deaths, a surprising trial, and the picturesque town standing in the shadow of a ghastly killing.

©2000 Carlton Smith (P)2018 Tantor Crime Murder True Crime Marriage
All stars
Most relevant  
I found this book fascinating. But it isn’t for everyone. I personally think Dr. Turner was innocent but if I was a young nurse and saw his actions I would have acted just like the two nurses did.
I didn’t like the cover up. I worked in big Seattle Hospital and I wonder how it would have

Retired Seattle RN

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Sadly, on several occasions, the author refers to “the rubber room” at the jail where the doctor was being held. Not only is that a misconception but is also very cruel to those who suffer from mental illness. I half expected the author to describe the hospital where the doctor was sent to be “the funny farm.”

Poor choices of words by the author

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Highly recommend this book. Excellent narration, well written and researched. Very great listen enjoyed it

Excellent Book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
If you want to murder someone, do it in Port Angeles, Washington. Especially if you’re a doctor.

Excellent documentation of justice miscarried

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Interesting cases but they are told from the medical/legal point of concern. Would have liked to know more about "victims'" point of view. Good, clear narration!

Interesting cases

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a great book, I only wish I hadn’t looked at the description on audible while reading the book. It told me everything that would happen. Still it was fascinating!
If you are reading this review, just try it! You won’t regret it. But the book is even better if you don’t know what’s going to happen.
This narrator is exceptional!!

Don’t read summary, just but it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I personally think both doctors were guilty, but then, my opinion really doesn't count.

very sad

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
at first, I was disappointed because there was so much medical jargon (I want expecting that kind of detail) but then the story moved along & it was extremely interesting. loved the narrator's slight gravelly voice & how he inflected certain words/statements.

Very medical but great story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The author used first name and last names I got confused over who he was talking about. It is a little boring but was an ok listen, it isn't a book I would want to listen to again. I found my mind wondering a lot.

The narrator did a good job, has a nice voice, there was one repeat, character voices were ok, no background noise, it was a pretty clear audio.

It is interesting but confusing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.