A very entertaining book, speaking of a series of difficult decisions to be taken in a split second and against a further series of negative circumstances surrounding the problematic birth of a baby, delivered by an experienced midwife during a snowy night in rural Vermont. When things deteriorate, Sibyl, the midwife, has to take a crucial decision which will then lead to a lawsuit.

This book certainly makes you think about how everything can go wrong if adverse fate interferes, but not only. It also gives rise to a crucial question regarding the choice between childbirth taking place in the serenity of a home or at a hospital, where everything would be "colder" but most risks could be kept at bay.
With all due respect, I must admit I was really impressed that the author of this book is a male, as everything is recounted with such feminine accuracy. Well done, truly well done. A book to be remembered. I still do and I've read it at least five years ago!

If you haven't read this book yet and are contemplating it--take the plunge and dive in this book.
I read it nearly ten years ago and still felt compelled to throw my hat in the ring in favor of this book.
It was an easy read and before you know it you're hooked and can't stop drinking until you pass out. Then you wake up the next day still hung over from the reading the night before and the only cure is "hair of the dog".

This is one of the better books I've read. It's a shocking story of a midwife who is forced to make a hard decision, which later is questioned -and how it impacts the lives of those around her. I found the book to be very well written, and told at a great pace, with a lot of facts, and a lot of story to balance the perfect novel. I recommended this to my sister.....as soon as she was no longer pregnant.
There is a lot of medical-speak in this novel- part of what makes it more realistic, deep and compelling.