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I took a chance on <b>The Revenge of Radioactive Lady</b>, it's not my usual read, but the cover and synopsis caught my eye and decided to give it a try. I was rewarded by a quirky story with neurotic, yet realistic, characters that was compulsively readable. Each chapter is told by a different person, Marylou/Nance and everyone in the Witherspoon family.

Though not as humorous as led to believe by the various quotes on the cover, the most amusing of it happened in the first chapter and nearer the end, the rest of the book is filled with many dramas that had unusual, and not quite so grim, outlooks to them. The book flows nicely and the descriptions were easy to visualize, so I could clearly picture the settings. The characters each have their individual voices that make it easy to separate each of them from the others; I found everyone to be interesting in how they acted, reacted and dealt with the situations that popped up in the story. I both sympathized and hoped they could better themselves by the end. The author tackles some tough subjects (pedophilia, murder, adultery, creating a model nuclear reactor) in a light, yet respectful manner, and who also incorporates some Cold War history into the story too. I had no idea that around 800 unsuspecting pregnant women were given radioactive 'cocktails' (iron) to see how it would effect their fetus. Further information can be found in [b:The Plutonium Files: America's Secret Medical Experiments in the Cold War|212087|The Plutonium Files America's Secret Medical Experiments in the Cold War|Eileen Welsome|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172741136s/212087.jpg|205297], which I am now interested in finding out more about this and other unethical testing, thanks to the author. Overall, the book is a quick and easy read, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it.
  
VR
Voodoo River (Elvis Cole, #5)
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Actress Jodie Taylor wants to find out about her birth parents, so she hires Elvis Cole to go to Louisiana and track them down. She just wants medical history, so she is trying to keep the search quiet. Cole is trying to keep his inquiries a secret, but he’s hardly started when someone starts following him. What has he stumbled into?

Unfortunately, what he has stumbled into is a rather weak entry in the series. The plot rambles all over the place before finally introducing us to a crime that Cole seems to care about. By the time that happens, the book just has time for a rush to climax, and the climax is yet another weak dues ex machina. The characters are interesting and save the book, although I can’t help but roll my eyes at the way women fall all over Cole.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2016/06/book-review-voodoo-river-by-robert.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
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Resurrectionist (Matthew Hawkwood, #2)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
The sequel to 2006's <i>Ratcatcher</i>, <i>Resurrectionist</i> again follows the exploits of Matthew Hawkwood: a former army officer now working as a Bow Street Runner.

While <i>Ratcatcher</i>, in many respects, was a straight-forward action/adventure set in Regency London, this novel is more of a mystery/crime novel. This time, Captain Hawkwood is on the trail of body-snatchers - colloquially known as 'Resurrection men' - and of an escaped convict from Bedlam Hospital. Initially believing the two cases to be distinct, this later proves to be far from the case ...

Body-snatching was - and is - a pretty gruesome business, and McGee doesn't shy away from the full import of what the grave-diggers were involved in, with some of the scenes described not for the squeamish! Similarly, the early years of medical science are also touched upon - again, some of those scenes are not for the squeamish.
  
Live Without You
Live Without You
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Even though this is a novella I think it was laid out very well and not rushed. Sarah Grace Grzy took the time to give background on the characters that really helped me feel like I had a vested interest in the outcome of the characters. It was a well-researched book in that facts were legitimate regarding the medical scenes and flashbacks that took place. I liked how both characters in this book were realistically flawed and that they acknowledged it and strove to do better. I also appreciated how Sarah Grace Grzy presented the gospel in this book.
I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars for the great story layout, relatable characters, and for the realistic dilemmas that the characters faced. This novella did not read like an author’s first work, but that of a seasoned veteran. I am looking forward to reading more by Sarah Grace Grzy.
  
If I Can’t Have You
If I Can’t Have You
Charlotte Levin | 2020 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
9
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
108 of 220
Kindle
If I Can’t Have You
By Charlotte Levin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After fleeing Manchester for London, Constance Little attempts to put past tragedies behind her and make a fresh start. When she embarks on a relationship with the new doctor at the medical practice where she works, she’s convinced she’s finally found the love and security she craves.

Then he ends it.

But if life has taught her anything, it’s that if you love someone, you should never let them go.

That's why for Constance Little, her obsession is only just beginning . . .

This was a really really good read. I mean from that first chapter you are hooked and need to know how she ended up in the situation, you will not be disappointed! This is a tragic story of loss and obsession it leaves you feeling uneasy and unsure of who to feel bad for. Really good read.
  
40x40

BethZ (6 KP) rated Oxygen in Books

Dec 30, 2017  
Oxygen
Oxygen
Carol Cassella | 2008 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
well written, keeps you guessing, characters are likeable (0 more)
too much unnecessary details into medical procedures, no climatic dialogue between Marie and dad that aired out their differences. (0 more)
Fast Read!
I really enjoyed reading this book. I haven’t read anything in 2 days time in a very long time!

Dr. Marie Heaton is a successful anesthesiologist at First Lutheran Hospital in Seattle. In the seven years she’s been working there she has never made one mistake nor lost a patient. She prided herself on her meticulous organization skills, her neat charting, and her clean record. Until the day 8 year old Jolene stepped foot into her OR and passed away in the middle of a routine procedure she should have survived! Now Marie finds herself in the middle of a malpractice suit and on top of that, having to take care of her elderly father with whom her relationship with has been rocky.

This is a gripping story that tells us what doctors go through when fatal mistakes are made. I couldn’t put it down.

What I did not like about it:

1. too much medical detail. Some of it was necessary for us to understand what is going on in the story but most of it just felt like filler to me.

2. I expected the part where taking care of dad to come in a lot earlier than it did. And it wasn’t much caring for in the end. I was expecting her dad to be more belligerent to her about losing his independence and having to be taken care of. And since there has been unspoken animosity between them since Marie was a teenager, I expected there would be a climatic dialogue between them that airs out their problems and they get to move on from it. Never happened.

Other than those two things, there was so much to like about this book. The twist at the end had me on me on my seat! I did not expect it and I love when a story can surprise me! This was a great read!
  
GO
Genocide of One: A Thriller
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Genocide of One completely blew my mind, multiple times. The plot twists just kept happening, new characters kept being introduced and then turning out to be totally different characters than I thought they’d be, and the adrenalin was pumping almost immediately. There were so many little things that became big later, so many details, so many connections, that I feel like if I read it again, it would be just as exciting, maybe more exciting the second time, because I might actually understand it on a deeper level. The ending was fulfilling but left opportunity and excitement. I definitely didn’t want it to end and I would read a sequel or another book by Takano in a heartbeat.

The book switches from one side of the world to the other every chapter. Initially I wasn’t sure how the two totally different stories were connected, but one connection at a time the two sides became one. There was a war thriller and a medical mystery happening at the same time and they were two different aspects of the same problem.

The hardest part of the book was the technical lingo and jargon in the medical chapters. I won’t say it was unnecessary because I’m not sure how else the author could have described the specifics of what went on, and being vague just wouldn’t have worked for this kind of story, but the jargon was a little hard to follow. I got won’t say I understand genetics now, but I do have a pretty good idea of what happened (medically speaking) in the story and I think it added to the book rather than taking away from it, so I’m okay with it.

The narration was excellent and not in any way distracting from the story. Joe Knezevich did an excellent job with all the different voices and accents, American and Japanese.

The bottom line is I loved this story and recommend it to anyone who likes thrillers or adventure stories. There was some violence during the war scenes, but it wasn’t gruesome or grotesque.
  
Saving Meghan
Saving Meghan
D.J. Palmer | 2019 | Mystery, Thriller
8
7.7 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
Although this is billed as a thriller, I personally saw it as more of a family/medical drama/mystery. That said, it was still an excellent read, and all I wanted to know was WHAT IS WRONG WITH MEGHAN?

**WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD**
If you don’t want certain things ruined for you, please read no further.

First things first: I figured out pretty early on that, if indeed Meghan was being poisoned – though I wasn’t yet convinced of that – the poison was obviously in the chicken soup. Every time the soup was mentioned, I’d say out loud “It’s in the soup!” and not once did I doubt myself. ? It’s not revealed until very close to the end of the story, but it was definitely my “I knew it!” moment.

As for whether or not I chose to #BelieveBecky or #ProtectMeghan, I’d say it was equal parts both throughout the story. I pretty much believed Becky right from the beginning, while simultaneously wanting to protect Meghan. I honestly thought Becky’s father Carl was the one poisoning her. Aside from the fact that he’s a total dick, he just seemed to jump on the “her mother must be hurting her” train pretty quickly for someone who’s Becky’s HUSBAND. We find out later that he was cheating on her anyway – and with one of Meghan’s doctors – so, douchebaggery confirmed.

What did surprise me was who the perpetrator turned out to be: Dr. Amanda Nash, the GI doctor who began the whole process of removing Meghan from her home because she suspected “medical child abuse,” or Munchausen Syndrome by proxy. ? I mean, I knew something was off about her, but I couldn’t figure out what. Turns out she was banging Carl and wanted both Becky and Meghan out of the way. I was not sad when Carl got what he absolutely deserved, nor when Dr. Nash got hers.

Saving Meghan kept me engaged, and was topped off with a pretty satisfying ending, which is something that has been missing from some of my more recent reads.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARE, and the awesome holographic bookmark!
  
A great indepth look in a pathologists life
I picked this one up cause I had seen it around a lot and thought it was similar to This Is Going To Hurt by Adam Kay. Same genre (medical), TOTALLY DIFFERENT!

This is a non fiction book with an indepth look in to the life/work of a Pathologist and I when I say indepth I mean it. Parts are very descriptive, Stomach turning. It will take you on a real life journey to many post mortems from babies to the elderly and all in between. Which may be an unpleasant and an unsuitable read for some readers.

However, it is an eye opening read, I learnt a lot from this book. It contains some of the worlds biggest terror attacks and devastating incidents. We get a good glimpse into what happens after death, how they reach verdicts and how pathologists conduct their work. It is brutally honest and fascinating. A real page turner and brilliantly written.

I awarded a well deserved four stars and would highly recommend to you all.
  
Deadpool 2 (2018)
Deadpool 2 (2018)
2018 | Action, Comedy
When Wade met Cable aka deadpool 2: Judgment day
Ryan Reynolds returns as the foul mouthed, gun toting, wise cracking, fourth wall breaking merc with a mouth known as deadpool, this time around wade finds himself lumped with a kid, an angry muntant kid named Russell aka firefist. After failing to calm Russell and killing a bunch of dodgey looking "medical professionals" (deadpool? Kill? Never.....) they are both arrested and locked up in the ice box, mutant prison.
Things escalate quicky for the two as the prison is broken into by a time travelling bio-organic mutant known as Cable, whose objective is to kill a future terrorist and stop millions from dying - so naturally, wade find himself on the wrong side of Cable.

This genius masterpiece is hilarious from start to finish and does not tone down and features cameos from, Terry crews, Matt Damon, brad Pitt and more.

Starring pikachu....I mean Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, Julian Dennison, Zazie Beetz, T.J. Miller, Brianna Hildebrand, and Jack Kesy.