Night Shift by Robin Cook is the thirteenth book in the Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery medical thriller series. Jack is a medical examiner aNight Shift by Robin Cook is the thirteenth book in the Jack Stapleton and Laurie Montgomery medical thriller series. Jack is a medical examiner and Laurie is the newly appointed chief medical examiner in New York City. While this book is said to be a thriller, for most of the novel it is a mystery and the investigation of a death of a family friend. When Dr. Sue Passero dies in the hospital parking garage, an autopsy is required and Jack takes the case. Unable to determine a cause of death, he starts an investigation while waiting on lab results.
Cook’s description of Jack and several other characters came through extremely well. Jack is thorough, efficient, has a sarcastic sense of humor, and tends to function by pure reflex without thinking about the consequences. Laurie plays a much smaller role in this tale and mainly shows up in the last 25 percent of the book. Both Jack and Laurie are having trouble balancing work and family commitments. Beyond this, readers get a sense that Laurie is controlling, impatient, and feeling the stresses and strains of her new job.
This story focuses more on the investigation side of deaths versus action until the last 20 percent or so of the book. I wanted the suspense level to be higher than it was in the early part of the book. Additionally, this book takes place during the COVID pandemic and certain topics such as vaccines and masks were somewhat repetitive. However, these discussions were extremely common during the pandemic making it feel realistic.
After a slow start, the ending brings the suspense, danger, and foreboding that one expects from a medical crime thriller. Additionally, it looks at the levels of hospital staffing and the effects of a lost colleague on other staff members. The plot has plenty of twists and turns, but is unbelievable at times. My main quibble is that the antagonist was too easy to identify and it’s confirmed about half-way through the book. Despite this, I enjoyed the investigation part of the story which kept me intrigued.
Overall, this novel was well-written, thought-provoking, entertaining, and kept my interest. The tension, stakes, and action build up to an exciting ending that is over-the-top. The author’s ability to combine strong characters and complex plots kept me turning the pages.
I recommend this book to those that enjoy medical mysteries. This is the fourth book I’ve read by this author, but the second in this series. It worked fine as a standalone novel for me. I’m looking forward to reading the next one as well as previous books in the series.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was December 06, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
------------------------------------------ My 3.84 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon....more
A Simple Choice by David Pepper is a political thriller that is very believable. It has plenty of suspense, some action, lots of investigation, anA Simple Choice by David Pepper is a political thriller that is very believable. It has plenty of suspense, some action, lots of investigation, and an intensity that kept me fully engaged throughout the novel. The setting moves frequently and includes stops in Maine, Ohio, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, Florida, Maryland, and Virginia.
One of the nation’s oldest and most respected senators jumps from a cliff in his hometown in Maine. Politicians and the media inundate the town, determined to find out if foul play played a role. Palmer Knight, a television news correspondent covers the death and eventually uncovers a plot that goes beyond the Senate. Meanwhile, Army veteran and former Supreme Court clerk Amity Jones moved to Ohio to care for her cancer-afflicted mother. Her investigation into a local medical mystery brings her back into the political world. Eventually, she and Palmer connect and, working together, find a political conspiracy that places their lives and others in danger.
Palmer comes from a family with political connections. This has helped him get scoops in the past, but it also causes others to underestimate his investigative skills. Amity has been the caregiver in her family for much of her life. It started when her father died when she was eleven and her mother did not cope well for years. Now that her mother has cancer, she is once again taking on the role of caregiver and works for a boutique appellate law firm in Columbus, Ohio. Readers slowly get a feeling for both of their personalities, and both are likeable. Both show character growth as the story unfolds.
A gripping storyline will grab readers’ attention in the first chapter and continues throughout the book. Plenty of suspense interspersed with exciting scenes pulled this reader into the conflicts in the novel. The author captures the characters, as well as the political situation, and brings them to life. Fluid writing and an excellent, fast-paced plot will keep readers engaged. The well-plotted story stays at a high level of intensity throughout most of the novel. Despite frequent changes in points of view and settings, this story flowed well. Danger, assaults, deaths, teamwork, politics, grief, family, medical conditions, and much more are woven into the story line.
Overall, this was an intense novel with suspense and intrigue. This story felt very realistic and like it could occur at any time in several countries. If you enjoy political thrillers, then I recommend that you check out this one. Will this be the start of a series featuring Amity and/or Palmer? Whatever it is, I am looking forward to reading this author’s next political thriller.
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and David Pepper provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 02, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine. ...more
What do you get when you mix a legal thriller with a medical thriller and add a bit of romance and subtle Christian overtones? You get a fantastic novWhat do you get when you mix a legal thriller with a medical thriller and add a bit of romance and subtle Christian overtones? You get a fantastic novel, LETHAL INTENT, by Cara C. Putman that is set in northern Virginia.
Caroline Bragg feels her life is moving forward as she and Brandon Lancaster transition from friendship to courtship. She has also just landed a new job as legal counsel for Praecursoria, a research lab that is on the cutting edge with genetic therapies for leukemia treatments for young children. Brandon operates a group foster home for sibling family groups waiting for adoption. One of those children has leukemia and is a candidate for an experimental trial with Praecursoria. Unfortunately, the laws governing group foster homes have recently changed and he may lose the group home he has worked so hard to build.
The characters came to life for me in this book. They were compelling, had great depth, and faced real-world situations that tugged at the heart strings. Caroline and Brandon’s backstories made them feel real and made their actions and dynamics believable. The stakes were high for so many in this novel that it was definitely a page turner. I felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster with the characters, experiencing highs and lows just as they did as events hurtled at them.
The writing style quickly pulled me into the novel and I connected with Caroline and Brandon as well as several other characters. The plot was suspenseful, but also heartbreaking, thought-provoking, and insightful at times. As the two story lines became entangled, it also showed the ethical dilemmas many face in the course of their lives. My only quibbles are that the antagonist was a little too easy to determine and I wish that there had been an epilogue that wrapped up a couple of items more cleanly.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading her Hidden Justice Series as well as her standalone novels. The author’s legal experience and her significant medical research into cutting edge scientific trials and FDA approval processes gave this book an authenticity and depth that many lack. It was also filled with lots of hope, warmth, love, friendship and romance against a backdrop of treachery, crimes, ethical dilemmas, arrogance, secrets and more. If you enjoy suspenseful legal and medical thrillers with a bit of romance, then I recommend that you check out this novel and see if you enjoy it as much as I did.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson—FICTION and Cara C. Putman via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for January 12, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine....more
THE BONE HUNGER by Carrie Rubin is the second book in the Benjamin Oris mystery series and the first book that I have read by this author. I have seenTHE BONE HUNGER by Carrie Rubin is the second book in the Benjamin Oris mystery series and the first book that I have read by this author. I have seen this book classified as a medical thriller, but (to me), only the last quarter of the book was really a medical thriller with the rest being more of a mystery and medical drama. The story is set in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While there were references back to events that occurred in book one of the series, this book worked well as a standalone novel.
The protagonist, Benjamin (Ben) Oris, is a second-year orthopedic surgery resident. Ben is a kind person and a great father, but he seemed to act immaturely in certain work and relationship situations. When severed limbs of his former patients start turning up in a nearby park, Ben is drawn into the investigation. Who is cutting off limbs of surgical patients? Why? There are some disturbing macabre scenes in the book. It seemed to take me a long time to get into the flow of the book. The first 75% of the book was interesting, but seemed to drag. On the other hand, the last 25% was fantastic, if gruesome, disturbing and heartrending. 3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.
Overall, this was an interesting novel that starts out slowly, but ends strong. It has quite a few characters that are significant and a ‘Wow’ ending. If you enjoy medical dramas, then this may be a series you would enjoy.
I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks go to Goodreads, Indigo Dot Press and Carrie Rubin for the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
THE ANNIHILATION PROTOCOL by Michael Laurence is a thriller with a conspiracy angle. It is the second book in the Extinction Agenda series and picks uTHE ANNIHILATION PROTOCOL by Michael Laurence is a thriller with a conspiracy angle. It is the second book in the Extinction Agenda series and picks up immediately after the end of book one: THE EXTINCTION AGENDA. This series should be read in order. FBI Special Agent James Mason and a multi-jurisdictional team are after someone with enough nerve gas to kill millions. Who can be trusted? Who is behind the threat? Where is the nerve gas? Who will survive?
This book has a bit of historical fiction in it that adds to its appeal to me. Additionally, the story line was very complex with several sub-plots and some very graphic, horrifying scenes. James Mason was a fascinating character and we saw little more depth and insight into his personality. The supporting characters were an odd assortment that enhanced the story line and the addition of a new FBI partner with a larger role added a new dimension to the book. There was enough at stake to keep me engaged throughout the book. The world-building was absolutely fantastic and gave a clear sense of time and place. While the main mystery and issues were resolved in the book, there are several open threads for future books in the series.
Overall, the plot was absorbing and well-paced with lots of action and a twist at the end. I would recommend it to those that enjoy complex conspiracy-driven thrillers. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Michael Laurence for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
Lawrence Wright’s political and medical thriller The End of October was published early in 2020 and written slightly before the recent pandemic. DLawrence Wright’s political and medical thriller The End of October was published early in 2020 and written slightly before the recent pandemic. Dr. Henry Parsons is the deputy director for infectious diseases at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. After attending a conference in Geneva, Switzerland, he is sent to Indonesia where forty-seven people have died with acute hemorrhagic fever. What he finds is horrifying in multiple ways. When an infected man leaves the country to join the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Henry joins forces with a Saudi Arabian price and doctor to quarantine those that have been exposed. What caused the virus? Is it a form of biowarfare, an accidental escape from a laboratory, or something natural that is new?
Henry is sincere, frugal, intelligent, compassionate, curious, and radiates confidence. However, he can also be reticent and steely. He also feels guilt and shame for actions early in his career. The other characters have varying degrees of depth. While most of the book is from Henry’s point of view, readers also get the occasional point of view from his wife Jill, his daughter Helen, a reporter, and a deputy director for homeland security.
I thought this book was well-researched. Be prepared for in-depth discussions of the history and nature of viruses and prior pandemics as well as discussions around the science of combatting them. Additionally, many of the things we recently experienced with the coronavirus pandemic occurred in this novel. Examples include how unprepared the world was for it from a public health standpoint. This included things like the lack of ventilators and personal protective equipment and the understaffing at hospitals to handle the workload. It also shows how scientists worked tirelessly to develop a vaccine. However, the book also shows the breakdown of trust, economic impact, fear, hatred, and much more. The difficulty of quarantines and the run on store supplies and groceries also found its way into the novel. One big difference is that this novel goes even further to include some geopolitical actions that take the story to another level.
Overall, this is a heartbreaking, riveting, and frightening novel that kept me engaged throughout. If you enjoy medical and political thrillers as well as science and history of viruses and pandemics, then I highly recommend this novel.
I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was April 28, 2020. ---------------------------------------- My 3.84 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon....more
THE LAST HIGH by Daniel Kalla is a medical thriller and a romantic suspense story set in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Julie Rees is a toxicologist and emergTHE LAST HIGH by Daniel Kalla is a medical thriller and a romantic suspense story set in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Julie Rees is a toxicologist and emergency room doctor. One night the ER is filled with overdosed teenagers from the same party. While she initially suspects fentanyl, she doesn’t yet understand why it affected them so quickly. With deaths mounting up, she teams up with Detective Anson Chen to track down the supplier of the deadly drugs.
The author is an ER physician in a teaching hospital in Vancouver and his expertise gave this novel a realistic feel. As a reader, I felt like I was in the ER with the doctors and nurses trying to save lives. The characters were compelling and well developed. They felt real and had distinct voices, flaws and virtues. Their motivations seemed believable and well-drawn. The internal and external conflicts were well defined for each main character. The main characters were bold, spirited, and unswerving in their pursuit of the opioids and their supplier. The stakes and tension were high and made this book a page turner. The descriptions were vivid and gave a clear sense of urgency and place.
Overall, this was a complex, compelling, thought-provoking and suspenseful read. Themes include emergency medicine, drug use, drug overdose, second chances, torture, murder and much more. This is only the second book that I have read by this author, but I am looking forward to reading more of his books.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and Daniel Kalla for a complimentary ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way....more
THE EXTINCTION AGENDA by Michael Laurence is a thriller that has been classified as both a medical thriller and a techno-thriller with a conspiracy anTHE EXTINCTION AGENDA by Michael Laurence is a thriller that has been classified as both a medical thriller and a techno-thriller with a conspiracy angle. It is the first book in the Extinction Agenda series and I rated it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. FBI Special Agent James Mason and a multi-jurisdictional team discover a group experimenting with a virus and launch a night raid. However, the group knows they are coming and many of Mason’s team are killed. Who leaked the raid? What are the full extent of the plans for the virus?
This book is somewhat reminiscent of James Rollins’ and Steve Berry’s books, but lacked some of their originality and character depth and warmth. It has a bit of historical fiction in it that adds to its appeal to me. Additionally, it had multiple conspiracy levels and was very complex with several sub-plots and some very graphic, horrifying scenes.
James Mason was a fascinating character, but I wanted a little more depth and insight. The supporting characters were an odd assortment that enhanced the story line. Additionally, there was enough at stake to keep me engaged throughout the book. The world-building was absolutely fantastic and gave a clear sense of place. While the main mystery and issues were resolved in the book, there are several open threads for future books in the series.
Overall, the plot was absorbing and well-paced. I would recommend it to those that enjoy complex conspiracy-driven thrillers. I look forward to reading the next book in this series....more
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