Brain Storm: A Angela Richman, Death Investigator Novel by Elaine Viets

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Brain Storm', A Angela Richman, Death Investigator Novel by Elaine Viets.

Brain Storm by Elaine Viets is a medical and forensics thriller with a twist. Angela Richman is a Death Investigator and the person who is called in when a death occurs, one of the first there to view the scene and decipher all the clues. Her expertise makes her one of the top in her field and she is relied on to help find the truth.

When she is called in to work on a car crash that kills a teenager, she is just getting into the investigation and suddenly her own life takes a strange turn. In the middle of her investigation she suffers a bizarre series of strokes and as she is rushed to the hospital where she is initially misdiagnosed, putting her life and career at risk. Dr. Gravois is the resident neurologist who fist attends her, with his diagnosis causing further possible damage. When she is finally attended by another neurosurgeon, Dr. Jeb Travis Tritt, she is finally diagnosed correctly, but faces a long and painful recovery. The drugs she takes are strong and hinder much of her thinking, but finally there is at least the possibility of recovery.

Yet while she is under the influence of many lifesaving drugs, she is also addled and hallucinating, making her question everything she sees and hears. When Dr. Gravois is murdered, she finds out the chief suspect is the surgeon who saved her life. While she can't be sure, she just does not believe that he would kill anyone. But there are none standing for him, he is not a person who generates friends or closeness, and he has also had many serious disagreements with Dr. Gravois in the past about his work. She feels like she may be his only hope, but her brain trauma makes her question her own instincts and she is not sure she will ever recover her investigative skills. However, she knows she must take a chance, she may be the only one who can find the truth and save Dr. Tritt from death-row.

Yet even as she looks for clues, there are those who make everything she thinks and says suspect. They question her thoughts and feelings, creating doubt even in those that know her the best. Is her mind still able to offer the skill-set to find the answers to what really happened? She must find a way to trust herself and fine tune her arsenal of knowledge before it is too late. Can she get her own team to back her, and get her bosses to buy into her investigation, when they too worry about her mental status.

Viets has brought us a protagonist who goes from the top of her game, to a darkness all her own. She is unwilling to allow her own problems to stand in the way of rightness, and while she may never be back to who she was before the strokes, she is willing to put it all on the line for truth and justice. Her flaws and strength make her very human, and her belief in justice at all costs makes her a strong fighter and someone you want very much to believe in.

If you enjoy crime drama, forensics and even medical drama this work holds just enough of each to keep you riveted. Angela Richman is a great character, one we may be looking forward to in future editions.

This would be a great work for a book club, creating a great deal of discussion.

Rating 4/5

Saving Abby by Steena Holmes

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Saving Abby', A Novel by Steena Holmes.

In Saving Abby by Steena Homes, we meet a couple, Claire Turner and her husband, Josh. He is a celebrated author of children’s books and she is the illustrator. While they seem to have it all, there is that one thing that they have always dreamed of, a child of their own. After trying for years, Claire has finally accepted the fact that fulfillment of their dream will never be realized.

Yet it is finally when all hope is gone, she finds that miracles do exist.  She has become pregnant. The first few months are like a cloud, happiness and excitement abound.

When debilitating headaches begin disrupting her life and sleep, her roller-coaster begins. Her doctor finds a tumor, and Claire must make a decision. Any treatment could put her pregnancy at risk. After trying for so long, she is firm in her decision that she must hold off on treatment until the baby is far enough along to be born. Yet if Claire’s treatment isn’t started in time, she risks certain death.

Can this span of tightrope work in both directions, with a miracle on both sides.

Holmes gives us characters that are strong yet vulnerable. Love and strength is essential to the story, and both happiness and grief vie for the win. She takes you to the highs and lows of life with the flick of a pen, and yet she holds that hope as an enchanting chain, daring cancer to break it. She holds you in thrall to the very end.  She brings into play a life for a life, with the hope for a double win. The tension keeps you reading far into the night.

If you enjoy romance and family, woman’s literature, and contemporary drama, you will find this to be the perfect work for your library. Holmes takes you through the list of emotions without ever giving it away.

This would be a great book for both a reading group and book club with a myriad of discussions generated off the questions and decisions generated within the pages.

Rating 4/5

True Medical Detective Stories by Clifton K. Meador, M.D.

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'True Medical Detective Stories,' a compilation of true-life medical cases presented by Clifton K. Meador, M.D.

We often hear of medical miracles, but are they really miracles at all. Or was there perchance a special Doctor in charge that took more than a cursory look, more of a medical investigator, someone that looked further then the obvious to find the root of the situation.

In True Medical Detective Stories by Clifton K. Meador, M.D., he takes us into the examination rooms and gives us case by case notes of some of the most interesting of true-life medical cases. Not only does he give us the play by play of the studies and bedside looks, but he does it in such a way as to make this truly a page turning set of mysteries.

He also pays homage to Berton Roueche, staff writer at the New Yorker from 1944-1994, the man who popularized medical detective stories.  The interesting thing about these true life stories is that the doctor was the one who took the steps to dig deeper, often planting the bug of an idea with the patient or their family that then bore fruit, taking him in direction that was necessary to find the cure.

It is important to note that without this communication from both sides many of these cases could well have ended in tragedy.

Doctor Meador takes the cases and with his twist on wording and descriptions of the facts takes us into the sometimes mysterious causes of illness.  Doctors often have to become detectives in order to find the root of the issue, and it is these cases that strike the pose of mystery, for without this investigation there would have been no story.  Some death often seems without cause, which makes this work so fascinating.

If you enjoy true mystery as well as medical miracles you will find this to be a work that is difficult to put down.  Doctor Meador takes us on a journey into the detective work of those dedicated professionals who wanted a more concise understanding of the cause of their patient’s maladies, and gives us a depth of understanding into the necessity of thorough communication between the doctor and his patients.

A book group or reading club would find this a great work and challenge to create both questions and answers.

Rating 4/5

The Alchemist's Daughter by Mary Lawrence

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review:'The Alchemist's Daughter', A Bianca Goddard Mystery by Mary Lawrence.

Forensics is an important part of crime scenes, necessary in the investigation of what, where, and why a crime occurred, as well as the possible who-dun-it. Long before the science of forensics there were those whose life revolved around alchemy, an earlier science involving herbs and medicinal plants, more in the form of remedies, but nevertheless often helpful in both the creating and solving of crimes.

In The Alchemist’s Daughter by Mary Lawrence we are introduced to Bianca Goddard, a young woman who lives and breathes the practice of Alchemy. Known for her remedies and discoveries, she finds herself digging even deeper as she saves her father from the gallows by proving he had not tried to poison the King.  Yet with all that past, life has settled and she is now affianced to her love, and busy trying to find a remedy for the diseases that strike the poor in the Southwark slums of London.

Unconventional and beautiful, Bianca is smart and daring. She has concocted a form of rat poison that is in demand, for rats have begun over running the area. Death and disease come along with them, and she is not going to allow them to continue their plague.

When a dear friend dies while visiting her shop she finds herself immediately a suspect, especially with her father’s background. She must use her skills in medicine to find the poison used as well as the actual murderer. Yet to do that she must stay ahead of the police. As she bobs in and out of the tenements, one step ahead, she stumbles on an even bigger plot, one that will take down the entire city if not stopped. Can she save herself from the goal and hanging, and help solve the mystery of the rats, before it is too late for them all? As the deaths pile up, Bianca finds herself one step ahead of danger.  When the police are after her, who does she turn to for help?

Bianca and her group of friends and misfits are brought to stark relief through the descriptions engendered by the author. You find yourself drawn to them, and even amused at the antics in the strangely creepy and suspenseful mystery.

Bianca is her won woman, and as such she does not follow the norms of the times. She stands out and becomes a hero to those who believe in her. She is smart and brave, sometimes to her detriment.

If you enjoy history and mystery with fun and romance, as well as a creep appeal you will find this a truly amazing addition to your library. Bianca makes a great sleuth, and the back drop of 16th century London takes you back to a time before forensics and medicine become as we know them today.

This would be a great work for a reading or discussion group. The appeal and nuances would create a great deal of debate and interest.


Rating 5/5

Cookie's Case, A Tug Wyler Mystery by Andy Siegel

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Cookie's Case,' A Tug Wyler Mystery by Andy Siegel.

Many things bring people together, common goals, interests and attraction. However sometimes it is basic need that is the culprit. Need is not the greatest of ties for when need dissipates so does the attachment in many cases.

Tug Wyler returns in Andy Siegel’s, Cookie’s Case.  With Tug’s background in getting his clients insurance settlements he is intrigued when he meets Cookie, a young dancer that wears a metal head brace. The fact that she is still dancing disturbs him and yet, it seems to be a part of who she is. Her beauty and grace, especially with such an unattractive device attached is amazing and he finds himself a bit smitten.

When he is introduced to her friend, an elderly Doctor, he finds the relationship a bit odd. The Doctor provides a medical procedure called a spinal tap to help her with pain, and the symbiotic relationship seems to work for them in a strange and unnatural way. When he discovers a conflict of interest with her attorney, her boyfriend, and the doctor and hospital where her surgery was done he offers to take over the case. He has no idea of the depths of cover-up he is soon to be involved with.

There is something that worries him about the case, and as his investigation begins in earnest, he begins to untangle a web of deceit full of holes. Yet even as he finds evidence of possible neglect during surgery, even his own specialists have doubts, for all the evidence points in conflicting direction. Can he get his client the money to help her regain her prior life, before she hurts herself any further?

When he is fired from the case it only tweaks his curiosity further. What nerve has he touched and how can he save his client from her on decisions. He knows there is more to what is going on in her life, and many of the leads seem to tie to her protector. Can he find the answers before it is too late. L

Siegel’s characters are a great mix of needy and diabolical. His protagonist in the form of Tug Wyler is a fun and energetic man, always looking out for the money, but hiding a heart that is not necessarily in his best interests. He really cares about his clients, and is like a bulldog when he gets hold of a case.

Cookie is a fun and brave character, and her protector is just a bit creepy, but it is hard to decipher why he creates that feeling for he has nothing but care for Cookie.  To create that type of character and to have you questioning yourself takes skill.

If you enjoy a fun and slightly bizarre mystery you will find Tug Wyler the guy to follow. His investigations are both interesting and often funny, but he delivers the goods. The medical drama is also well written and you will find yourself immersed in a strange and fascinating story of need.

This would be a great book for a reading group or book club with lots of questions and decisions that would keep the dialogue going for some time.


Rating 4/5

New Orleans Requiem by D. J. Donaldson

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'New Orleans Requiem' by D. J. Donaldson.

We are often guilty of judging by appearances. The look of ones clothes, their demeanor and often their size lead us to make assumptions that are often grossly incorrect.

In New Orleans Requiem by D. J. Donaldson, we are introduced to a wonderful medical examiner, Andy Broussard. Plump and proud, he loves his food. His looks deceive even the most wary of fiends, for he is not only one of the best in his field, but he hates murderers. To top it off his helper is psychologist Kit Franklyn and together they are unstoppable.

When a man is found stabbed with one eyelid removed and four Scrabble tiles on his chest they are both appalled and intrigued. What is the killer trying to tell them? As the killings continue the pattern is obvious, and it does not appear as though he will go away. Can they figure out the clues before he can continue with his macabre game?

Donaldson has given us a wonderful character in Broussard. He is very human and full of fun. He enjoys his food, but he is spot on in his dislike of those who take the lives of others. He is witty and charming, yet also has the degree of toughness to get him through some of the worst of killings. You will find him to be an unlikely hero, yet champion for the dead all the same.

Kit too is an interesting character, and her strength lends solidity to Broussard in a very uncanny way. Together they are as two parts of a whole and they can bend and twist the bizarre evidence into contortions that make sense.

If you enjoy mysteries and the inner workings of medical examiners, you will find this a great read. If you enjoy the whodunit type of mystery, overseen by very human characters then you have found a new type of hero.

Donaldson has given us a grisly killer playing a sick game, and as his characters move forward, we are surprised to find who the killer really is, there is a twist of surprise that keeps you guessing to the very end.

Rating 4/5

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding the material.

Obstacles...Bring Em by Maria Federici (Doyle)

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review;'Obstacles...Bring Em' by Maria Federici (Doyle).

As humans, we often feel invincible and yet every day we see and hear of death, atrocities, dismemberment and other terrible things that happen within people’s lives.  It takes just a moment, and an unlikely or just unlucky happenstance to change someone’s life forever.

In Obstacles…Bring Em by Maria Federici (Doyle), we are given a look at how just such an unlikely accident changed Maria’s own life, and in doing so changed the path she had mapped out for herself. In her own words and using the memories of her friends and family members, she details her life as it transformed after a fateful day in February of 2004. The life she knew changed drastically when a piece of unsecured furniture fell off a vehicle ahead of her and broke apart, sending a large piece of particle board through her windshield and into her head creating massive brain and facial injuries as well as blindness.

This is not a story of sadness and despair, but one of bravery and courage, and an unstoppable will. Maria may have perished that night from massive injuries and yet due to the courage of the EMTs and those surrounding her, she fought her way back to life and has continued not just surviving but living again. She has overcome many challenges and obstacles and yet perseveres.  Never one to give up she continues to work on overcoming her trials including that of her memory.  

By deposing her friends, family and many of the medical staff involved in her recovery she pieces together her time of darkness, the circumstances of that one fateful night and the following day, months and years as she fought to not just live but to move forward. There is a grittiness and gutsiness to her story that makes you want to cheer her on and get to know her even better.

She does not expect sympathy nor does she want it. She wants to live her life much like she had planned. There is a quality of freedom and goodness in her fight and she finds a way to voice her feeling through her words and those who have gone through much of the recreation of her new life with her.

If you like stories of courage and survival you will enjoy this work.  To have not just survived this ordeal but to have pushed forth and continued the fight with all the things working against her, helps to bring home how determination is what makes things happen.  Here is how in real life we begin to see how ‘attitude creates altitude’.

This would be a great book for a reading and or discussion group. There is a great deal of information and a depth of emotion which always seems to create fodder for conversation.

Rating 3/5

This book was received free from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based on my reading and understanding of the material.

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review:'The Fault in our Stars' by John Green.

Cancer is such a dreadful disease, indiscriminate in its choice of victim, choosing with aplomb regardless of age, gender or status.  There are a myriad of stories behind the tragedy and many of them remain untold.

In The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, he builds a story out of darkness and despair.  He takes the tragedy of cancer and immerses us in the lives of characters that could very well be real. Many know of the heartaches in dealing with those who fight the fight, and many of those scars last a lifetime.  He brings his story in the form of a teen girl, Hazel Lancaster.  Stricken with cancer from a young age, she believes she has come to terms with what her life has become. Then she meets a young man, Augustus Waters, a survivor of cancer. He is drawn to her in a way that is initially uncomfortable, and as she tries to push him away in her sarcastic vein, he finds her to be exactly the type of girl he has been looking for.  Throughout the story there is a beauty and humor, a ‘candle in the wind’ for each of those whose lives have been touched by such an uncaring disease. For cancer touches not just the victim but all those who love and are in anyway touched by them.

Be prepared for a story of romance and anger, excitement and humor, and friendship and bravery for that is the direction we are led as Green develops the personality of a group of teens that have the courage to bring both laughter and tears.  The story’s that encircle each individual gives you a glimpse of the character and daring as well as the abiding hope.  Hidden within that strength they also hide the depression and hopelessness as they try hard to protect their family and friends by showing only the smiles and strength whenever possible.

Written so beautifully your heart and emotions melt, you come to be a part of this group as well as their families, their triumphs and their losses. The friendships as well as the depths the families go through preparing for the worst while holding out hope is like a beacon of light.

The courage and humor, the energy and despair all keep you on a roller coaster of emotion.  Green takes you on a journey both terrible and beautiful.

While a difficult book to categorize I found it to be one of the most important finds of the last few years. Green shines a light on cancer in a way that sends a tremor of intent awareness, an incandescent monument to those that have both won and lost the fight, as well as the damage done to those closest.  The story blasts away the veil of secrecy and hooks you from the very beginning.    

Rating 5/5

The Disease Delusion by Dr. Jeffrey S. Bland

Posted First on Blog Critics as Book Review: 'The Disease Delusion' by Dr. Jeffrey S. Bland.

With incidents of diseases escalating and chronic illnesses careening out of control, it is time we took back the charge of our own health and lives. Yet with so much at stake and numerous information overloads where can we look for answers?

The Disease Delusion by Dr. Jeffrey S. Bland, is a treasure trove of information in looking for the root cause of so many plaguing issues.  With precise information on the most common of illnesses he takes you on a journey of possible recovery. Unlocking the secrets and myths behind many of the illnesses that plague us today, we find many directions in which to improve both our health and life. Lessons and suggestions, as well as examples of incredible transformations give you hope and understanding of the dilemmas we face.  Can we stave off many of the common issues as suggested? 

This is a comprehensive look at many of the issues that continue to grow by leaps and bounds, and yet it is also a work of answers to questions you may not have even realized. From the root causes and onward, the solutions and suggestions help you to take charge of many things that were once in our own control. The work and insight is amazingly intricate and interesting, from case studies and fact-finding to zeroing in on the real culprits sabotaging your health.  While there are medications for everything from A-Z, here we find that we can do so many things to correct the things that impede our health long before the illnesses begin.  Our body is an amazing thing, telling us time after time that something is wrong, yet for some reason we often miss the message.  

Dr. Bland gives us insight into those messages and how to decipher their meaning and drill down to the very essence in order to get to the real truth. With so much of our health depending on our environment, it is important to listen to the message our bodies are sending, they often know before we do of the toxicity of the surroundings, helping us to move and avoid those thing harmful to us.  Dr. Bland also offers insight to using supplements and natural remedies to strengthen our defenses.

This was an extremely interesting book, and while you may look at the title and be daunted, you will not be sorry when you chose to read on. The data is amazing and you can relate to so much of the content.  As an average citizen this is informative and gives you back some control of your health and as a health professional the cutting edge research and the furthering of integrative medicine is exciting and resourceful.  

Not necessarily one of those works that would make a reading list, I would still recommend it. The information included would also be great for a discussion group, I know everyone is always interested in bettering their health, and this work is extraordinary. This is a powerful look at taking charge of our own lives.

Rating 5/5

This book was received free from the Authors publisher. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.