Pamela Hansford Johnson's distinguished body of work is characterized by the range and diversity of her subjects and treatment. Alike in a high, and developing, quality of workmanship and human feeling, they are immensely varied otherwise. She does not repeat; she is always trying the unexpected. "The Unspeakable Skipton," "The Humbler Creation," and this novel ["An Error of Judgement"] suffice to demonstrate the point.

Here she examines the complex nature and abruptly terminated career of a successful Harley street consulting physician, William Setter. He is drawn in depth, and one of the adroit aspects of the portrayal is that he is seen wholly thru the eyes of a narrator, Victor Hendrey, who is likable but not notably discerning. The author makes us see Setter thru a combination of what Hendrey sees and a realization, from the bare facts, of aspects that he does not see….

The core of the book is Setter's abrupt decision to abandon his practice. It is a shock to everyone and undermines his own already weakened marriage. He takes the drastic step because of his conviction that there is an ineradicable streak of sadism in him to which the practice of medicine offers too many subtle temptations; he has become a consultant to get away from the simpler physical ones of inflicting pain legitimately. In his newer role the temptations are more complex and psychological.

Is Setter right? That is the enigma which makes the book's fascination. He is an honorable, self-judging man, but how to judge ourselves is a universal problem….

There are memorable scenes, even peripheral to the main thread, such as a week-end at Setter's. Well-realized secondary characters include Jenny's mother and the Anglican priest, Malpass, also involved in the problem of Sammy. This is a remarkable and disturbing book with broad applications.