Sometimes People Die: A Novel

by srbek lbchri

*A New York Times Editors' Choice Pick?**The Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month**A CrimeReads Most Anticipated Book of Fall*When too many patients die under his watch, a troubled young doctor suspects murder. But are his instincts to be trusted?Returning to practice after a suspension for stealing opioids, a young doctor takes the only job he can a post as a physician at the struggling St. Luke's Hospital in east London. Amid the maelstrom of sick patients, overworked staff and underfunded wards, a more insidious secret soon declares too many patients are dying. And a murderer may be lurking in plain sight.Drawing on his experiences as a physician, Simon Stephenson takes readers into the dark heart of life as a hospitalist to ask the Who are the people we gift the power of life and death, and what does it do to them?As beautifully written and witty as it is propulsive, Sometimes People Die is an unforgettable thriller that will haunt you long after you turn the last page.

Genres: Mystery

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 7, 2022

Reviews

[Aleta Jeanine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The medical provider in me really enjoyed this book! I had the identity of The Angel of the Death figured out from early on. I just wish we had more info as to why and not the narrator’s thoughts as to why.

[Heather Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m surprised at the low ratings, it was a great read!

[Jeannine Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book seems to have mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed it. It’s written from the perspective of a Doctor Who struggles with opioid addiction. It is very dark, but deals with the subject matter of being human.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I particularly liked the alternating chapters on the history of medical driven murders but the storyline was so, so slow that it took me forever to read. It should've wrapped up in about half the time.

[Suzanne Nesbitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A doctor recovering from opioid addiction, medicine in an inner city and underfunded hospital and the toll it takes on staff, people dying under questionable circumstances, several possible suspects. The story is supported by a look at medical mass murders throughout history.

[Casey Lyons · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've known many an addict of opiods. I've seen and witnessed the withdrawal symptoms. For some reason, this author decided to downplay the very real, and often deadly, outcomes of said withdrawal. Very poor or lazy research? Either way, it distracted from the narrative.

[Melanie Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

It fell a little flat for me. The main character was just ho hum and the story was quite long in the middle where it floundered. Picked up again at the end trying to wrap it up but I already knew who done it.

[Kylee Dalton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good especially if you’re in the medical field. The accent was very thick and hard to listen to at first. And a little hard to follow at times. But I loved trying to figure out who the murderer was!! Makes you wonder the whole book.

[Gloria Hehemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many great twists! Quick read!

[Anne Mundt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark theme with implausible aspects at the end.

[Rebecca Rozman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story line, but I thought it was slow.

[Serenity Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

New type of fiction for me (set in a rundown British hospital). The narrator was sympathetic without being whiny.

[Laurie Schillinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Addicted resident in a hospital where people are dying - mystery

[Karen.Books.Cats.Travel.Food. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is written from a DR who struggles with opioid addiction. I appreciated the openness and vulnerability in this one.

thanks to the publisher for my copy.

[Martha Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very witty. About a Doctor who is a recovering opiod addict and has been sent to a Scottish hospital in a poor area. Patients begin to die unexpectedly and investigators are suspicious of one of the doctors poisoning them. This Doctor becomes a suspect as well ( because of his past addiction charge). Another nurse accidentally kills a patient with insulin because her chart was tampered with. She goes to prison for all the mysterious deaths. The Doctor doesn’t believe she is the serial killer. His house mate commits suicide so he begins to search for clues. Finally he tracks down Emily ( doctor and fiancé if his dead housemate), who moved to Zambia. He figures out it’s her but when he travels there to confront her, they are conducting her funeral! Twist is he sees her photo in a different country so she faked her death and got away with all the killings!