DAN HAYS

"Lie Still" by David Farris (William Morrow, New York; 2003; hardbound; 374 pages; $24.95; ISBN 0-06-050554-0).

What is it with Oregon doctors? Emergency physician John Kitzhaber became our governor. Now Portland's Farris, a doctor who has been, in part, an emergency physician, is turning into a novelist. One could say he is following in the footsteps of Michael Crichton, but Farris has a voice all his own.

His first novel is "Lie Still," and while it is a medical thriller, its plotline is rather unique. Don't try to second-guess Farris.

Part of the strength of "Lie Still" is the authenticity of its material and the fact that at its heart it's not merely a "high concept" idea but a serious dilemma. The book deals, in large part, with medical ethics. And life-and-death matters.

Farris bypasses some of the problems first novels generally display. His characters are believable and strong and - and this is really important - the reader cares about them. He writes good dialogue, and that's a good thing because much of the book is dialogue. And the book isn't too long, a welcome in this age of bloated volumes. Farris' writing is lean and does just what it should.

That is, it pulls you in and delivers genuine suspense.