Fatal Trauma
by Richard Mabry
Christian Fiction / Suspense
Available May 2015
Abingdon Press
300 pages
About the Book
A gunman who has nothing to lose faces a doctor who could lose it all to prove his innocence.
When Dr. Mark Baker and Nurse Kelly Atkinson are held at the mercy of a dangerous gunman, the lives of every emergency room patient are at stake. At the end of the evening three men are dead. One of them is a police officer who couldn’t be saved despite Mark’s best efforts. The other two are members of the feared Zeta drug cartel.
Though the standoff is over, the killing is not, because when the drug cartel loses its members, revenge is not far behind. Facing an adversary whose desires are dark and efforts are ruthless, Mark finds himself under suspicion as a killer, yet still a potential victim. When he turns to his high school sweetheart, attorney Gwen Woodruff, for help, Kelly helplessly looks on, as she hides her own feelings for the good doctor.
At the height of the conflict, three questions remain: Who is the shooter? Who will the next victim be? And can Mark prove his innocence before the gun turns on him?
My Thoughts
I have really enjoyed Richard Mabry's books in the past. Unfortunately, however, this one wasn't my favorite. The book definitely started off with a bang—a gunman walking into the ER, threatening to kill everyone in sight if they don't try to save his brother's life. After the initial burst of action, the pace slowed down a good bit. There was lots of discussion about what had happened, potential consequences, and telling about suspenseful things that happened "off page," but not a lot of actual suspense. During the times when the suspense did pick up, it wasn't as suspenseful as I've come to expect from this author. There were also a few times when the characters' actions just didn't make sense to me, especially regarding their relationship.
The redeeming factor of the book, though, was the spiritual journey that Mark takes throughout the book. Kelly is an influential Christian in his life, and it was neat to read how she talked to him about Christ. I actually found some of this dialogue helpful and a great reminder to take opportunities to point people to Jesus in various circumstances—and especially during tragedy.
My "mixed" review is certainly in the minority, as many people gave this book 4- and 5-star reviews. Fans of Mabry's previous books or those who enjoy suspense/medical dramas should definitely check out some other reviews of this book. [2.5 stars]
I received a free copy of this book from the author through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.
I have really enjoyed Richard Mabry's books in the past. Unfortunately, however, this one wasn't my favorite. The book definitely started off with a bang—a gunman walking into the ER, threatening to kill everyone in sight if they don't try to save his brother's life. After the initial burst of action, the pace slowed down a good bit. There was lots of discussion about what had happened, potential consequences, and telling about suspenseful things that happened "off page," but not a lot of actual suspense. During the times when the suspense did pick up, it wasn't as suspenseful as I've come to expect from this author. There were also a few times when the characters' actions just didn't make sense to me, especially regarding their relationship.
The redeeming factor of the book, though, was the spiritual journey that Mark takes throughout the book. Kelly is an influential Christian in his life, and it was neat to read how she talked to him about Christ. I actually found some of this dialogue helpful and a great reminder to take opportunities to point people to Jesus in various circumstances—and especially during tragedy.
My "mixed" review is certainly in the minority, as many people gave this book 4- and 5-star reviews. Fans of Mabry's previous books or those who enjoy suspense/medical dramas should definitely check out some other reviews of this book. [2.5 stars]
I received a free copy of this book from the author through Litfuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.
About the Author
A retired physician, Dr. Richard Mabry is the author of seven
critically acclaimed novels of medical suspense. His previous works have
been finalists for the Carol Award and Romantic Times Reader’s Choice
Award, and have won the Selah Award. He is a past Vice-President of
American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the International
Thriller Writers. He and his wife live in North Texas.
Richard Mabry Online
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