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Dr. David Ballineau and Carolyn Ross #1
Patient One
Leonard Goldberg, bestselling master of medical suspense, plunges into the nightmare scenario of terrorism in the ER
After poisoning a state dinner in Los Angeles, Chechen terrorists have infiltrated a prestigious medical center and taken several world dignitaries hostage, including the President of the United States. Undetected by the terrorists, David Ballineau—emergency room doctor and former Special Forces operative—keeps the patients alive with help from dauntless nurse Carolyn Ross. As the Vice President and top security officials plan a response in the Situation Room, the terrorists threaten to methodically kill the hostages until their demands are met. When hidden allegiances and political maneuvering undermine the rescue operation, it’s up to Ballineau and Ross to stop the terrorists before their violent actions create worldwide chaos.
After poisoning a state dinner in Los Angeles, Chechen terrorists have infiltrated a prestigious medical center and taken several world dignitaries hostage, including the President of the United States. Undetected by the terrorists, David Ballineau—emergency room doctor and former Special Forces operative—keeps the patients alive with help from dauntless nurse Carolyn Ross. As the Vice President and top security officials plan a response in the Situation Room, the terrorists threaten to methodically kill the hostages until their demands are met. When hidden allegiances and political maneuvering undermine the rescue operation, it’s up to Ballineau and Ross to stop the terrorists before their violent actions create worldwide chaos.
370 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
19 people are currently reading
291 people want to read
About the author
Leonard Goldberg
45 books415 followersLeonard Goldberg is an American physicist, professor of medicine, and the author of the Joanna Blalock series of medical thrillers.
His novels have been translated into a dozen languages and sold more than a million copies worldwide. Leonard Goldberg is himself a consulting physician affiliated with the UCLA Medical Center, where he holds an appointment as Clinical Professor of Medicine. A sought-after expert witness in medical malpractice trials, he is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and rheumatology, and has published over a hundred scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals.
Leonard Goldberg's writing career began with a clinical interest in blood disorders. While involved in a research project at UCLA, he encountered a most unusual blood type. The patient’s red blood cells were O-Rh null, indicating they were totally deficient in A, B and Rh factors and could be administered to virtually anyone without fear of a transfusion reaction. In essence, the patient was the proverbial "universal" blood donor. This finding spurred the idea for a story in which an individual was born without a tissue type, making that person’s organs transplantable into anyone without worry of rejection. His first novel, Transplant, revolved around a young woman who is discovered to be a universal organ donor and is hounded by a wealthy, powerful man in desperate need of a new kidney. The book quickly went through multiple printings and was optioned by a major Hollywood studio.
Dr. Goldberg is a native of Charleston and a long-time California resident. He currently divides his time between Los Angeles and an island off the coast of South Carolina.
His novels have been translated into a dozen languages and sold more than a million copies worldwide. Leonard Goldberg is himself a consulting physician affiliated with the UCLA Medical Center, where he holds an appointment as Clinical Professor of Medicine. A sought-after expert witness in medical malpractice trials, he is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and rheumatology, and has published over a hundred scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals.
Leonard Goldberg's writing career began with a clinical interest in blood disorders. While involved in a research project at UCLA, he encountered a most unusual blood type. The patient’s red blood cells were O-Rh null, indicating they were totally deficient in A, B and Rh factors and could be administered to virtually anyone without fear of a transfusion reaction. In essence, the patient was the proverbial "universal" blood donor. This finding spurred the idea for a story in which an individual was born without a tissue type, making that person’s organs transplantable into anyone without worry of rejection. His first novel, Transplant, revolved around a young woman who is discovered to be a universal organ donor and is hounded by a wealthy, powerful man in desperate need of a new kidney. The book quickly went through multiple printings and was optioned by a major Hollywood studio.
Dr. Goldberg is a native of Charleston and a long-time California resident. He currently divides his time between Los Angeles and an island off the coast of South Carolina.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 6, 2012
Might be a good beach read. But I was at home, and it sucked.
April 29, 2012
So much more than just a medical mystery - also an excellent political thriller.
Leonard Goldberg weaves a tale that opens with an extravagant party in LA, full of distinguished guests who are ingesting a toxin without knowing it. He reveals that the distinguished guests are the President of the United States, the first family, a Russian President and his wife, and many other high ranking members of the government. Goldberg transports the reader to the hospital where the ill party guests are taken. There we meet Carolyn Ross, a registered nurse, and David Ballineau, an ER physician. The pair are called upon to dig deep for strength and exhibit bravery that most people could only dream of possessing.
Goldberg created a plot that was entirely, and frighteningly, realistic. His medical knowledge lends absolute authenticity to the medical situations in this story. As an RN myself, I can usually spot errors made by authors who either haven't done sufficient research, or lack medical know how. I didn't spot any errors at all in the medical situations depicted and therefore was swept away into this harrowing tale. Also, Goldberg's plotting is evenly crafted without the sag that inhabits the middle of many stories. This was an amazing thriller.
Leonard Goldberg weaves a tale that opens with an extravagant party in LA, full of distinguished guests who are ingesting a toxin without knowing it. He reveals that the distinguished guests are the President of the United States, the first family, a Russian President and his wife, and many other high ranking members of the government. Goldberg transports the reader to the hospital where the ill party guests are taken. There we meet Carolyn Ross, a registered nurse, and David Ballineau, an ER physician. The pair are called upon to dig deep for strength and exhibit bravery that most people could only dream of possessing.
Goldberg created a plot that was entirely, and frighteningly, realistic. His medical knowledge lends absolute authenticity to the medical situations in this story. As an RN myself, I can usually spot errors made by authors who either haven't done sufficient research, or lack medical know how. I didn't spot any errors at all in the medical situations depicted and therefore was swept away into this harrowing tale. Also, Goldberg's plotting is evenly crafted without the sag that inhabits the middle of many stories. This was an amazing thriller.
September 16, 2012
Synopsis (from BN.com): U.S. President John Merrill is hosting Russian President Dimitri Suslev at a glittering state dinner to celebrate a new economic pact. As the after-dinner toasts begin, the two leaders, their wives, and scores of prominent guests become violently ill. Merrill and Suslev, along with the other stricken guests, are rushed to the nearest hospital. As Secret Service agents struggle to secure the hospital and locate Merrill’s daughter, the President’s personal physician — who’s been withholding critical medical information about the Commander-in- Chief — tries desperately to stabilize the President.
In the chaos, Chechen terrorists make their move, breaching the secured area and taking both presidents hostage. Emergency-room physician David Ballineau, a former commando struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, and trauma nurse Carolyn Ross may be the President Merrill’s only hope for survival.
My thoughts: This book was INCREDIBLE, AWESOME, AMAZING, 5 STARS, FANTASTIC! Ok, if you get my drift, you realize that I loved this book. Put it this way, you know a book is good when you are reading it by the pool at a resort on the beautiful beaches of Hawaii and you could give a care less what is happening at that pool and really have no idea what happened around you at all! I literally could not put this book down. I cruised through it in a day and wanted much, much more.
I became a huge fan of Leonard Goldberg’s medical dramas when he was writing his Joanna Blalock series. Then all of a sudden he stopped writing, and I feared he was done. Imagine my delight when I saw his new one Patient One had come out.
This book is fast-paced from the very beginning, it grabs you immediately and doesn’t let go until the very end. It is a nail biting story of bio-terrorism, hostages, and a heroic physician who himself is struggling with PTSD. I can’t describe how good it is any further, you just have to pick up a copy and get reading for yourself!
GET THIS BOOK!
And this book reminds me how long it has been since I have read a great medical drama. There doesn’t seem to be as many on the market as there were a couple years ago. Anyone know of any great new medical dramas?
In the chaos, Chechen terrorists make their move, breaching the secured area and taking both presidents hostage. Emergency-room physician David Ballineau, a former commando struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, and trauma nurse Carolyn Ross may be the President Merrill’s only hope for survival.
My thoughts: This book was INCREDIBLE, AWESOME, AMAZING, 5 STARS, FANTASTIC! Ok, if you get my drift, you realize that I loved this book. Put it this way, you know a book is good when you are reading it by the pool at a resort on the beautiful beaches of Hawaii and you could give a care less what is happening at that pool and really have no idea what happened around you at all! I literally could not put this book down. I cruised through it in a day and wanted much, much more.
I became a huge fan of Leonard Goldberg’s medical dramas when he was writing his Joanna Blalock series. Then all of a sudden he stopped writing, and I feared he was done. Imagine my delight when I saw his new one Patient One had come out.
This book is fast-paced from the very beginning, it grabs you immediately and doesn’t let go until the very end. It is a nail biting story of bio-terrorism, hostages, and a heroic physician who himself is struggling with PTSD. I can’t describe how good it is any further, you just have to pick up a copy and get reading for yourself!
GET THIS BOOK!
And this book reminds me how long it has been since I have read a great medical drama. There doesn’t seem to be as many on the market as there were a couple years ago. Anyone know of any great new medical dramas?
November 14, 2018
Leonard Goldberg is a very underrated author.
I've been reading his books for two decades now, and if you enjoy medical thrillers, his novels are an excellent choice. Unlike some well-known authors in this genre, Goldberg doesn't let the medical information bog down the story line. There is enough to make it interesting, but not so much it's confusing to readers without medical backgrounds.
Plus, his books are just fun...action packed from start to finish.
Patient One is very reminiscent of the film Air Force One, but with a medical spin. It's highly entertaining and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. Are some things a little far fetched? Probably so...but it's a fault I'm willing to overlook for the pure enjoyment these books give me.
If you haven't read it yet, the sequel to this book, Plague Ship, (I apologize for no link...that feature hasn't worked for me for awhile and Goodreads doesn't seem to care), is also very good.
I've been reading his books for two decades now, and if you enjoy medical thrillers, his novels are an excellent choice. Unlike some well-known authors in this genre, Goldberg doesn't let the medical information bog down the story line. There is enough to make it interesting, but not so much it's confusing to readers without medical backgrounds.
Plus, his books are just fun...action packed from start to finish.
Patient One is very reminiscent of the film Air Force One, but with a medical spin. It's highly entertaining and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. Are some things a little far fetched? Probably so...but it's a fault I'm willing to overlook for the pure enjoyment these books give me.
If you haven't read it yet, the sequel to this book, Plague Ship, (I apologize for no link...that feature hasn't worked for me for awhile and Goodreads doesn't seem to care), is also very good.
December 9, 2013
A bit predictable, and a bit non-realistic (yeah, right Former Spec Ops Operative turned Ace ER doctor who still has no problem with "Kill or be killed") BTW, HOW did he ever contemplate the Hippocratic Oath???? And of course the perfect leading lady... Ace ER nurse who happened to take an almost admin position in the posh boutique ward.... Sorry, a little too much, and a little over done.
October 8, 2013
Utterly ridiculous popcorn medical/terrorism thriller. Best thing I can say about it is the brisk pacing, as I read all 360 pages of it in a single day, mostly during a round-trip on the metro.
October 26, 2012
An okay thriller but character development was a little weak. A bit of a let down at the end.
January 20, 2014
Good adventure, fast-paced and fun to read.
April 14, 2014
Trashy implausible adventure. Lots of fun!
October 2, 2019
It's action packed, I'll give you that. Patient One is a "medical thriller", an odd blend of medicine and suspense put together in an easy-to-read beach novel. The text is clearly written by someone versed in medicine, and although it abounds with words like pneumothorax and nasogastric tube, the writing doesn't suffer from its over-technical explanations.
Rather, Patient One just suffers from a bad plot and even worse storytelling. It begins with such promise, opening up with an extravagant political dinner between Russian and American heads of state, and gives a lot of sub-themes and interesting minor themes along the way. Will the President die? How will the Vice President handle the crisis? What will become of the cabinet bickering with Vice President Halloway? Is Kate Kellerman a Chechen sympathizer? Will the Chechens bomb Los Angelos? The first 100 pages or so are interwoven with promising leads, and so many possibilities are opened up. But as the story drags on, it appears that the main plot is Dr. David Ballineau and Carolyn Ross, saving lives and knocking off their Chechen captors one-by-one.
And what captors these terrorists are? The author paints them as so cartoonish and inept it is laughable. There are five terrorists guarding the entire hospital, holding down the Presidents of the United States, Russia, other heads of state, and their families? From the moment the Chechen leader speaks with the VP, requesting all prisoners be released, I know this story is not going anywhere. Instead, we have David and Carolyn improvising MacGyver-style to keep their patients alive and use ingenious tactics to kill off the terrorists.
Patient One goes a step further in trashing the story by completely scrambling the tone. Take for instance, a typical exchange between Carolyn and Aliev, the head terrorist:
"What are you doing in here" he demanded.
"Sol is having a heart attack," Carolyn answered hastily.
"So what?"
"He'll die."
"Then let him die."
"We... we should try to save him," Carolyn said, desperately trying to think of a reason for the terrorist to allow her to treat Sol.
And inevitably, as much as Carolyn and David describe these terrorists as "cold-hearted bastards" and "heartless killers", she finds a way to save the lives of each and every patient. The constant badgering and ingenious excuse-making these terrorists put up with is nauseating. Repeatedly, Aliev and the other terrorists threaten to kill the pair, but never do, making this feel like a drawn-out Dr. Evil-type spoof of a thriller. How many times does a terrorist need to repeat "If I find out you are lying, you'll be dead", before the threat just dies? I personally looked at the entire hostage situation again and again as poorly-concocted joke. The terrorists do not muster any terror in their hostages, and without any intimidation or fear, David and Carolyn interact with them in as cerebral tacticians.
Even at the book's climax, if I can call it that, Aliev is begging for more nonsensical excuses and is ready to spill all his plans. He even asks, "So, doctor-who-pretends-to-be-a-soldier, can you give me one good reason why I should allow you to live?" (p. 359) This, mind you, from a killer who has a nuclear warhead on-route to Los Angelos and has jihadist motives. He even asks Carolyn which hostage he should kill next, for god's sake! Even when Carolyn defies him, asking how he could let someone die, or be so cruel, he shoots back with revelations about how his own wife or daughter were killed mercilessly. These subplots are never explored further, giving me the impression they were just mechanically inserted to give some superficial character development.
The story falls apart and becomes very unbelievable by the end, so much so that I felt myself plowing through an ending I could have entirely predicted. The heroes live. The world is saved. David comes across more like a superhero than a doctor, and he and Carolyn reveal the love they secretly had for each other all along. Not once was any of this ever in doubt. And for a terrorist plot that conceivably could have happened (it references a real-life Chechen attack in Moscow), the author seems hell-bent on reducing the story, and Aliev especially, into cartoon villains.
Rather, Patient One just suffers from a bad plot and even worse storytelling. It begins with such promise, opening up with an extravagant political dinner between Russian and American heads of state, and gives a lot of sub-themes and interesting minor themes along the way. Will the President die? How will the Vice President handle the crisis? What will become of the cabinet bickering with Vice President Halloway? Is Kate Kellerman a Chechen sympathizer? Will the Chechens bomb Los Angelos? The first 100 pages or so are interwoven with promising leads, and so many possibilities are opened up. But as the story drags on, it appears that the main plot is Dr. David Ballineau and Carolyn Ross, saving lives and knocking off their Chechen captors one-by-one.
And what captors these terrorists are? The author paints them as so cartoonish and inept it is laughable. There are five terrorists guarding the entire hospital, holding down the Presidents of the United States, Russia, other heads of state, and their families? From the moment the Chechen leader speaks with the VP, requesting all prisoners be released, I know this story is not going anywhere. Instead, we have David and Carolyn improvising MacGyver-style to keep their patients alive and use ingenious tactics to kill off the terrorists.
Patient One goes a step further in trashing the story by completely scrambling the tone. Take for instance, a typical exchange between Carolyn and Aliev, the head terrorist:
"What are you doing in here" he demanded.
"Sol is having a heart attack," Carolyn answered hastily.
"So what?"
"He'll die."
"Then let him die."
"We... we should try to save him," Carolyn said, desperately trying to think of a reason for the terrorist to allow her to treat Sol.
And inevitably, as much as Carolyn and David describe these terrorists as "cold-hearted bastards" and "heartless killers", she finds a way to save the lives of each and every patient. The constant badgering and ingenious excuse-making these terrorists put up with is nauseating. Repeatedly, Aliev and the other terrorists threaten to kill the pair, but never do, making this feel like a drawn-out Dr. Evil-type spoof of a thriller. How many times does a terrorist need to repeat "If I find out you are lying, you'll be dead", before the threat just dies? I personally looked at the entire hostage situation again and again as poorly-concocted joke. The terrorists do not muster any terror in their hostages, and without any intimidation or fear, David and Carolyn interact with them in as cerebral tacticians.
Even at the book's climax, if I can call it that, Aliev is begging for more nonsensical excuses and is ready to spill all his plans. He even asks, "So, doctor-who-pretends-to-be-a-soldier, can you give me one good reason why I should allow you to live?" (p. 359) This, mind you, from a killer who has a nuclear warhead on-route to Los Angelos and has jihadist motives. He even asks Carolyn which hostage he should kill next, for god's sake! Even when Carolyn defies him, asking how he could let someone die, or be so cruel, he shoots back with revelations about how his own wife or daughter were killed mercilessly. These subplots are never explored further, giving me the impression they were just mechanically inserted to give some superficial character development.
The story falls apart and becomes very unbelievable by the end, so much so that I felt myself plowing through an ending I could have entirely predicted. The heroes live. The world is saved. David comes across more like a superhero than a doctor, and he and Carolyn reveal the love they secretly had for each other all along. Not once was any of this ever in doubt. And for a terrorist plot that conceivably could have happened (it references a real-life Chechen attack in Moscow), the author seems hell-bent on reducing the story, and Aliev especially, into cartoon villains.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2017
It has been a while since I have read a good thriller, and I am glad I picked this one up. The author does a great job of getting you into the situation as well as what the main character is thinking, and the action is pretty much non-stop and believable from a layman's perspective: there were a few medical procedures that went over my head but I trust the author (who is a physician) got it right. This was one of those thrillers I couldn't put down, and stayed up really late in a successful effort to finish it. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
I originally picked this up during a Kindle promotion for $1.99 and, as I type this review I see the pricing has increased to $7.69. At $7.69 I might wait until the price gets down in the $3.99 range as it would be comparable to other thrillers with the same amount of entertainment value.
I originally picked this up during a Kindle promotion for $1.99 and, as I type this review I see the pricing has increased to $7.69. At $7.69 I might wait until the price gets down in the $3.99 range as it would be comparable to other thrillers with the same amount of entertainment value.
July 2, 2018
I loved this book. The reading flowed so easily, very much like Robert Dugoni's books. The suspense built up and then would ebb and build again. There is one more book in this series. I hope Mr. Goldberg writes many more!
September 26, 2021
I read Plague Ship the second book in the series first. I enjoyed it so much that I bought this book (autographed!!) at my local library book sale. I was not disappointed. An action packed medical thriller.
April 7, 2018
A top rate medical and political thriller.
December 12, 2021
Groan. Having been an ER nurse, double groan. This is a painfully awful predictable story that uses medical lingo in such awkward ways that every time I read another line my eyes would roll. Droll.
May 7, 2022
Loved this book! A fast paced nail biting adventure.
August 30, 2014
If you like Medical suspense and on top of that the kind of what I call "white house" suspense book, you're bound to like this book. It's a mix between Robin Cook or Michael Palmer, with the like of Vince Flynn or Kyle Mills. The hero in the book is never described as a super hero. On the contrary, things just happen to him, even mistakes. The story take place within 6 hours, so you can imagine the high intensity the author had to put in. Bottom line, It's the kind of book, that can't make you stop. While at work, you keep thinking that it's waiting for you at home. I am sure going to read all Leonard Goldberg's book. It's a pity I just discoed him recently.
March 28, 2012
This book started out so promising. I was 20% into it (on my Kindle) and could barely put it down and then it started to get a bit repetitious.
SPOILER ALERT
The blow by blow descriptions of medical issues and procedures, the in depth would be interesting but it was way too much. There was also a lot of omniscient point of view, pages of narrative with really long paragraphs. I didn't care very much for David, the hero.
SPOILER ALERT
The blow by blow descriptions of medical issues and procedures, the in depth would be interesting but it was way too much. There was also a lot of omniscient point of view, pages of narrative with really long paragraphs. I didn't care very much for David, the hero.
July 16, 2012
Although one has to accept that the main character a former Special Ops guy in the army is now a physican in a hospital in Los Angeles who just happens to be on call when the president of the US is brought in with acute food poisoning, this ia a well done medical thriller that has lots of medical info suitable for laymen, and a plausible terrorist plot that doesn't involve a tremendous amount of ploitics.
Read
May 3, 2014This book is really not that bad and some may like it but I just didn't want to invest any more time in it when there are so many better books to read and so little time. The premise is good but it quickly becomes too farfetched for my taste. I hope I got it on Amazon's Daily Deal and didn't pay too much for it.
February 1, 2015
Meh!
OK, I guess. No.... one-half step below OK. Too bad that the book lets the reader know all too well that the author is a physician and not a professional writer. Shame on his editor for not spotting some egregious errors of syntax. I'd say that the plot was 95% predictable. No surprises. I read it as a library e-book. I would not recommend that anyone actually BUY it.
OK, I guess. No.... one-half step below OK. Too bad that the book lets the reader know all too well that the author is a physician and not a professional writer. Shame on his editor for not spotting some egregious errors of syntax. I'd say that the plot was 95% predictable. No surprises. I read it as a library e-book. I would not recommend that anyone actually BUY it.
February 16, 2013
I'm a sucker for medical novels of all stripes, so what can I say? Writing a bit stilted, but -- OK. Too many coincidences, but -- hey, that's part of the fun, no? I will be looking for more books by this author if they are free for the Kindle.
September 28, 2013
This book kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen next. Some of the descriptions of the shoot out bothered me because they were too detailed. This author is okay to read once in awhile, but I don't think he will ever make my "TOP 20" list of favorites.
May 26, 2016
FOUR STARS
Very good thrill ride from this author. All the characters involved were well written and the plot was very fast paced. I also really liked how the author reminded all the readers that everything happened within six hours.
Very good thrill ride from this author. All the characters involved were well written and the plot was very fast paced. I also really liked how the author reminded all the readers that everything happened within six hours.
July 24, 2016
Bravery in the Medical Arena
Exciting all the way.... excellent story and interesting characters. Kept me enthralled all the way. Never dull or slow moving. I want to read more of this writer's works.
Exciting all the way.... excellent story and interesting characters. Kept me enthralled all the way. Never dull or slow moving. I want to read more of this writer's works.
June 21, 2012
A very good read I found it difficult to put down and read it in approx 5 nights.Even though there were parts that were totally predictable ie handsome Dr and pretty nurse.
September 9, 2013
Could not retain my attention.
September 1, 2012
I liked this one enough to check out some of his Johanna Blalock series of books!!!
August 1, 2012
A fast read; good thriller.
December 4, 2012
I enjoyed this book. It isn't the kind of book I normally read but would recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews