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Lethal Mercy
Was it medicine? Mercy? Or murder? For the sake of his conscience, and the community in which he practices, he has to find out. When pregnant Sarah Hampton dies suddenly at an alternative cancer treatment facility, an enraged community demands to know whether her physician-husband assisted her death. Suffering from traumatic amnesia, Jake would like to know too. He is strongly against assisted suicide, and yet his wife was suffering such agony--is it possible... ? Barely avoiding a trial for her murder, hoping to unravel the questions he's not sure he wants answered, Jake joins a medical practice in his former hometown. Once there, he not only continues to encounter public suspicion, but is getting subtle and ever more threatening clues from an unidentified stalker. Are his wife's death and the stalker's appearance mere coincidence? Or is a sinister someone trying to destroy him completely?
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 3, 1997
9 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Harry Kraus
20 books111 followersHarry Kraus, M.D. is a board-certified surgeon, medical missionary to East Africa, and accomplished writer of both non-fiction and fiction. Medical realism and gripping plotlines distinguish his writing, as he gets most of his ideas with a scalpel in hand. Dr. Kraus resides in Virginia with his wife Kris and the youngest of his three sons.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 25, 2024
Synopsis: Jake Hampton's wife Sarah was expecting, and the two of them couldn't have been happier...until she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Out of desperation, she went to Ocean Sands, an alternative care facility, even though Jake was a licensed M.D. with his own practice. During delivery, Sarah dies, and the evidence makes it look like Jake performed a "physician-assisted suicide" out of mercy. Jake isn't a fan of such a practice, and he would be willing to prove his innocence...if only he hadn't blacked out when it happened! Did Jake really kill his wife, or is someone trying to frame him? If so, who--or what--could be behind such a thing?
Review: I'll be honest: Dr. Kraus' books are usually absorbing medical thrillers, but this one is definitely the worst of his that I've read. Not only is the novel overly long, but the out-of-order chronology goes from tolerable to annoying as the book progresses. If you are new to the works of Dr. Harry Kraus, I would suggest starting with The Stain, which blew me away in many ways. It's still passable; I've read much worse, but this isn't what I've come to expect from Christian fiction's resident M.D.
Score: 2.5/5
EDIT: I had forgotten that I had read this, and I liked it better the second time around; therefore, I am upgrading my score to four stars.
Review: I'll be honest: Dr. Kraus' books are usually absorbing medical thrillers, but this one is definitely the worst of his that I've read. Not only is the novel overly long, but the out-of-order chronology goes from tolerable to annoying as the book progresses. If you are new to the works of Dr. Harry Kraus, I would suggest starting with The Stain, which blew me away in many ways. It's still passable; I've read much worse, but this isn't what I've come to expect from Christian fiction's resident M.D.
Score: 2.5/5
EDIT: I had forgotten that I had read this, and I liked it better the second time around; therefore, I am upgrading my score to four stars.
November 13, 2015
This very well-written book had a little bit of everything in it, and I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed how many of the sections were short and I would just decide to read one more section and then just one more, always wanting to know what was going to happen next.
In the earlier section of the book two of the the main characters, Dr. Jake Hampton and his wife Sarah, are expecting a baby, only to discover shortly into the pregnancy that Sarah has breast cancer. While Jake and Sarah disagree on how best to approach treatment for the cancer, and to also protect the baby, the story leads us into the lives of a number of other doctors and professionals in a few hospitals, clinics and schools, along with a number of patients.
The story had medical information, both typical and alternative medical treatments, mystery and romance and it will keep you guessing right to the end.
I have read a lot of testimonials on alternative medicine from flyers coming in the mail and on the internet, and I often thought they were way to far-fetched to be true. After reading this book, I am even more convinced that most of them are not true. Don't get me wrong, I do believe that it is very important to eat healthy and to do take proper care of the body, including fasting and cleansing from time to time, when needed, but we also need to take advantage of the medical expertise that is provided to us and to also fervently ask for God's guidance and healing.
The story will break your heart in places, but it also has some happy events that will make you smile.
Thanks Dr. Kraus for an excellent read.
In the earlier section of the book two of the the main characters, Dr. Jake Hampton and his wife Sarah, are expecting a baby, only to discover shortly into the pregnancy that Sarah has breast cancer. While Jake and Sarah disagree on how best to approach treatment for the cancer, and to also protect the baby, the story leads us into the lives of a number of other doctors and professionals in a few hospitals, clinics and schools, along with a number of patients.
The story had medical information, both typical and alternative medical treatments, mystery and romance and it will keep you guessing right to the end.
I have read a lot of testimonials on alternative medicine from flyers coming in the mail and on the internet, and I often thought they were way to far-fetched to be true. After reading this book, I am even more convinced that most of them are not true. Don't get me wrong, I do believe that it is very important to eat healthy and to do take proper care of the body, including fasting and cleansing from time to time, when needed, but we also need to take advantage of the medical expertise that is provided to us and to also fervently ask for God's guidance and healing.
The story will break your heart in places, but it also has some happy events that will make you smile.
Thanks Dr. Kraus for an excellent read.
July 4, 2013
This was pretty good for a Christian novel. Though the characters at times prayed, it wasn't "in-your-face" Christianity.
I had thought that something was up with a certain someone but didn't put it together until much later.
The story jumped around a lot between characters and time frames making it at times difficult to follow. I was a bit amused that it was always the same two detectives who showed up for everything as though they worked 24/7.
I had thought that something was up with a certain someone but didn't put it together until much later.
The story jumped around a lot between characters and time frames making it at times difficult to follow. I was a bit amused that it was always the same two detectives who showed up for everything as though they worked 24/7.
November 29, 2017
Have mercy !
It took me until almost the end to figure this one out . It was well worth the wait . Mystery, murder, intrigue are all mixed together in a Christian perspective. Dr. Kraus gets to the heart of things . I hope that there is another book that goes along with the first three. If not, I hope he writes one .
It took me until almost the end to figure this one out . It was well worth the wait . Mystery, murder, intrigue are all mixed together in a Christian perspective. Dr. Kraus gets to the heart of things . I hope that there is another book that goes along with the first three. If not, I hope he writes one .
July 30, 2021
A great novel that slowly unveils the truth of what and who was responsible for the death of the main characters wife.
March 22, 2017
Will keep you wondering
I am usually and to figure mysteries out pretty early in the book but this one kept me guessing. The only thing I disliked was the form it was written in. Sometimes had to reread things to figure out who was speaking.
I am usually and to figure mysteries out pretty early in the book but this one kept me guessing. The only thing I disliked was the form it was written in. Sometimes had to reread things to figure out who was speaking.
February 26, 2008
Enjoyed reading this one...many twists...some expected, some werent.
June 15, 2012
i really enjoyed this book and it had many twists an turns i wasnt expecting
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June 19, 2016I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14038237
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14038237
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews