Deadly Undertakings

by Gregg Luke

Being an assistant to the state midical examiner in Salt Lake City might sound like a dead-end job, but Rebekah Smith loves the mystery and challenge of determining the cause of death in the bodies delivered to their morgue. Tutored by her friend and boss, Dr. Sandeep Mahesh, she gains understanding not only for her job but also for how to mask her own troubled past.

While analyzing the corpse of a 100 year old woman, Rebekah discovers some disturbing elements: not only was the deceased woman a healthy centenarain, but she was also embalmed before anyone discovered she'd passed away. When two identical cases surface, Rebekah enlists the help of her boyfriend, special investigations officer, Josh Logan. Together they uncover shocking truths about the bizarre deaths, which eventually lead them to the nightmarish revelation they weren't prepared for. Yet, unknowingly, the more they reveal, the closer they come to being the killer's next guinea pigs.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Fiction, Audiobook, Adult Fiction, Lds

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Gregg Luke is a practicing pharmacist. He received his medical training at the University of Utah. He has been writing since he could put pen to paper. He enjoys medical thrillers and is one of the first to work this genre into the LDS market.

Reviews

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good mystery/suspense story and this one was great!! It was so creepy, but not over the top. I thought things flowed well and tied together. The reasoning behind the whole storyline was very fascinating and...twisted...but it worked very well.

Rebekah is so independent and strong and I kept thinking that I'm glad there are people out there who don't mind doing autopsies because I sure couldn't stomach it!! She seemed to me to be the type of woman who doesn't really need a man in her life, yet when it really came down to it, she did. I don't think she realized the full extent of her feelings until she was put in a life or death situation. One little pet peeve about her: she was constantly calling her boyfriend, Josh, "Clouseau" (like the detective from the Pink Panther), but he didn't like it. He would tell her he didn't like it, yet she still did it anyway. She often treated him like he was kind of stupid.

Josh, the detective boyfriend, was great, yet sometimes rushed into things without thinking it through first. He was also quite reserved in his feelings, which in understandable, since his first wife died while they were still newlyweds. Everyone kept wondering what he was waiting for, even he thought that, yet he held back. But he was great towards the end!!

The villain was perfectly creepy and insane!!

I think this is Gregg Luke's best novel to date!!

Content: some violence, but nothing graphic.

Katie's Clean Book Collection blog

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written with short chapters that make for a quick read. However, during the intense climax the chapters almost double in length creating awesome tension, giving the reader gut wrenching intensity. Great LDS thriller!

[Lexie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit that I am usually not a fan of the horror or "scary" genre. Yes, I admit that I am a chicken but I also don't like how many of these stories have overly graphic images. Fortunately, Deadly Undertakings had just the right amount of "creepiness" without crossing the line to horror. And that is what I liked so much about it! I also liked the fact that this book was completely unique and creative in the LDS fiction genre.

Deadly Undertakings had such a good villain! He definitely creeped me out and was completely crazy. But I love how the author humanized hin just enough to also make me feel sorry for him because bad guys that you can sympathize with are the creepiest of all!

As with all Gregg Luke medical mysteries, I am impressed with the level of knowledge and research that went in to making this book realistic. Some of the descriptions of autoposies and dead bodies were definitely cringe-worthy but they helped give the book an authentic feel.

And of course, I appreciated the underlying romance. I liked how even though Rebekah and Josh were already dating when the story began, the focus was on the growth of their relationship instead of on the "getting together" part. It was a nice change of pace from most books.

In my opinion, Deadly Undertakings is definitely Gregg Luke's best novel to date! If you like mystery and crime thrillers, then put this one next on your to-be-read pile (and don't forget to read it under the covers with a flashlight!)

[Julie Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved!! this book. I've never read anything by Gregg Luke but I'm sure that I will again. I really like the way Luke writes. It's literary but not drowning in unnecessary verbiage. His characters are vivid and relatable, likable, creepy, diabolical--all the things I love about book characters. The dialogue was snappy and realistic. The plot was compelling with just enough grit to have my spine tingling but not feeling the need to turn away. Normally, I find books published by Covenant a little too watered down for my taste, roll my eyes every now and then, but this one was just the right mix of LDS fiction and the real-world.

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing, intriguing, and intense novel!
Rebekah, with the help of detective Josh, is trying to find out why people over the age of 100 keep showing up on her morgue table.
Filled with so many twists and turns you have to keep thinking..and..reading, to keep up with the plot.
Loved every minute of this book!

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing. Mr. Luke has outdone himself with this book. It was so well-written and page turning. Had me guessing until the very end. Full review October 24. www.minreadsansreviews.blogspot.com www.ldswbr.com

[Darci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was suspenseful and creepy. I enjoyed this one. There were a few annoying things and some of the parts with then ending scene seemed drawn out and forced but all in all another good suspense novel by Luke.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first one of the book I read, I couldn't put it down! It was such an amazing book! When I finished I had to read all Gregg Luke books!

[Drew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story was interesting but the writing was too "local" for my taste.

[J.D. Robison · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's ok I guess. Very blatant Mormon Utah though. Like. Almost in your face about it. Most all references would not be understood unless you were LDS living in Utah, or even in Salt Lake City. Also, as an ACTUAL assistant to the medical examiner in Utah, the autopsy facts we're very fictionalized. This is the reason I can't stand to watch CSI or NCIS or whatever. It's way too fake. If Gregg Luke had consulted with an actual forensic pathologist instead of a clinical pathologist who spends all his time looking under a microscope all day, It would have been loads better.

[Jill · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has good potential, but has some really bizarre parts. The author clearly completed some research on medical procedures and statistics. His understanding of psychology, however, seems poor. Furthermore, he perpetuates inaccurate and ill-informed stereotypes regarding persons who stutter. He then uses those stereotypes to explain the actions of the killer.

[Kody Schvaneveldt · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as grabbing a random book at the library goes it was good, but I doubt I'll read his others.

PROS
Good plot and pacing, did a pretty good job drawing me in. The story was well thought out and didn't leave any loose ends.

CONS
The character development was good enough but nothing to write home about and the dialog left something to be desired.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. It’s just not my kind of personal preference. No swearing or sex so that is a plus. It’s somewhat preachy and definitely for the Mormon reader. I just don’t like the creepiness of the transferring blood types to different people. As the story went on I guessed who the bad guy was. Because he was the one you would least expect

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these LDS books published by Covenant. It's nice to read a clean story without profanity and or sex. I also enjoy the references to our beliefs and lifestyle.
This specific novel is a blend of medical/police mystery. Set in the Salt Lake Valley. Good plot and is a definite page turner!

[Susan Forsgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a classic, or complex, but an interesting read.

[E Brent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense.

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the story line. I’m not sure I like the love story part. Never rang true. But the mystery twisted just how you hope!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very intense book. Good read, but creepy.

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite, but a good story. I would never have guessed the actual mastermind with the murders. I did like knowing the places the characters went personally.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I almost gave up, but because at really like all the other books by Luke I continued. It turned into quite the page turner about 1/2 through.

[Laramee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic read by Gregg! A fast paced suspense you won't want to miss!

[Lydia Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the mystery in this book! It kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page! My favorite part was when both Rebekah and Josh were kidnapped and tortured, you could really see how much they cared for one another, and that they would die for the other person.I thought that it showed me what love can look like and how it effects that person. They were already a perfect couple in the begining of the book but I could see how much they grew by the end of the book. The author really has a way with words and getting how the charecters are feeling onto the page. I felt like, in a way, I was feeling all the anguish that Rebekah was when Josh was on that operating table. Also in my brain Josh was super duper hot and he is a police man so dang he is just perfect.😉

[Beth Pearson · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a bonafide NCIS junkie, the idea for this story was great! Dead people that don't have blood in their veins anymore---it's been taken out and replaced with some other kind of fluid---and the Medical Examiner Assistant (Rebekah) is sucked in to figure out why. Who is killing them and why do they drain the blood? And why is it healthy, old people, that are the victims?

I liked the creativity of the plot in this LDS fiction and was interested to see what happened. Alas! I cannot give it more then 3 stars because of the editing issues.

#1 annoying thing: Rebekah's boyfriend, Josh, notices that Rebekah seems really interested in the case--like she has a personal interest in it. Josh is saying Rebekah seems obsessed, but the reader is not shown this at all. So, I'm annoyed when he keeps thinking about how obsessed Rebekah is; he is the only one thinking so. The rest of us haven't seen any obsession at all--just an interest in an unusual case.

#2 annoying thing: Page 92---a drunk doctor threatens Rebekah by slamming a big knife into the desk. Rebekah "tried to pull the knife free from her desk, but the tip was securely embedded." And yet, on the SAME PAGE, Luke writes "Thankfully she'd had the presence of mind to remove the knife before the police arrived." What the heck? I thought the knife was too imbedded into the desk?

#3 annoying thing: There are several conversations about Rebekah's lisence plate saying "Diener" and how most people don't know what that word means, but the serial killer does. And yet, no one ever tells us what the word means. Ever! Why make a big deal about it if the significance of it is never explained. I think that is a mistake that an editor (or the friend) or someone should have caught.

Gregg Luke as written several other novels so I'm thinking this means he has a "real" editor. Not just some self published wanna be. I thought an editor's job is to make weak writing better (like #1) and catch the oops factor (like #2 &3).

These kind of editing issues would pull me out from enjoying this story as much as I wanted to. Maybe NCIS will steal this idea for one of their episodes. Ducky and Abby would play the parts better. : )

[Angela Whiteley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like it so much. I guess I am more into mysteries that aren't horrors. I also really didn't like the main characters, especially Rebekah. The text claims she loves Josh, but she is very mean to him. He takes the abuse, but is in love with her despite it. It seems a very unhealthy relationship. Their relationship finally becomes a little kinder and real when they almost die.

[Alice Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gregg Luke has delivered once again. This creepy whodunit mystery about a serial killer who drains his 100+ year old healthy victims (yes plural)of their blood and the boyfriend/girlfriend police detective/assistant medical examiner duo who are trying to catch him is a perfectly blended half suspense and half love story. I love a good mystery especially when I can't figure it out until the very end, but even more I am a big sucker for a good love story. Why does it always surprise me when a man can write romance? Nice job Mr. Luke.

Gregg is a fantastic author who knows how to pace a story just right to keep the reader engaged, masters in-depth characters, and draws us into his awesome imaginary worlds: even though you know they are fiction, Gregg Luke has a knack at making them seem very real.

I always love reading books that are set in Utah, but this one was so creepy it almost made me wish it was set somewhere else. The bad guy(s)were oh so bad and the good guy(s) were not just perfectly good but perfectly flawed as well. This story is a great reminder that even broken people can be brave and they especially need to stay vulnerable. I love when there are subliminal messages towards mental health hidden inside the pages of fiction.

I am torn between a 3 and 4 star rating, I think this books lies perfectly safe at 3.5.

[Jared · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book in the realm of LDS fiction. Anyone with any kind of interest in concepts of medicine/anatomy/pathology will probably enjoy this book on some level. The first half of the book is somewhat descriptive bordering on graphic where autopsies are concerned, while the second half tends to focus more on the law enforcement angle.
It's fairly straightforward with the story. The perpetrator of the various embalmings is discovered fairly early in the story, which somewhat destroyed any kind of climax there may have been. Also, it's easy to guess who is ultimately pulling the strings and mentoring the weasel doing the embalming.
Overall, I give it an extra star because the author manages to infuse religious tones into the story without it being in-your-face. The stuff he writes is kept mostly in the background, but the message is still there. I like that, and kudos to him for being able to do what so many others seemingly cannot. It's worth reading once, but the lack of intensity would cause me to avoid returning to it.

[Tonya Bryner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad for a Mormon novel, but I'm not really fond of Mormon novels. It contained too much churchy stuff and too many descriptions of local places that were totally irrelevant to the plot and just annoyed me.

A lot of people commented on the goriness level. I've read all the Kay Scarpetta books, so that part didn't bug me at all. The plot was a little weak. It was obvious to me the bad guy would either be the total jerk that you most suspect or the total hero that you least expect. It was also obvious that the main characters would live happily ever after, though I admit that there were a few twists that surprised me.

I thought the last 1/4 of the book was the best, but in general it was a book I could put down at any time. Which isn't always bad...helps when I need to get to sleep at night :-) It wasn't a waste of time but I can't in good conscience give it more than two stars when comparing to all books and authors. Compared to other Mormon books, I'd give it more of a 3 or 4.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. I loved the characters and their interaction with each other. Rebekah Smith is the assistant state medical examiner. While doing the autopsy on a healthy, 100 year old woman who had been embalmed (in her own home) before anyone even knew she had died, she found several other oddities. She and her boyfriend Josh, who just happens to be a special investigations officer, find two more identical cases turn up. The author lets you know early in the book who is doing the murders, but he leaves out a lot. You know that there is more going on than meets the eye. I was quite surprised to find out who the Mentor was. Never even gave this person a thought! It is not very often that I haven't figured out the "who done it" person is by the time I am about 2/3 of the way through, not page 256 out of 288. The Fountain of Youth plays a part in this story, but how it is involved will get you.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where to start??? As a whole the book probably wouldn't have been bad but I found the idea of an assistant medical examiner independently investigating crime scenes and taking evidence far fetched. On top of that the condescension and patronizing way the main character speaks to her boyfriend is ridiculous. I also found the constant LDS and Utah references annoying. I felt like for the most part they had no bearing on the story whatsoever and we're put in strictly to score points with "Mormon" readers and classify the book in the LDS genre. Once I was able to overlook those obvious flaws I found I could somewhat enjoy the storyline, but mostly I found myself irritated by the stupidity of the main character and her boyfriend (a police investigator who managed to come off as a complete bumbling idiot!).

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebekah is a prodigy assistant in the medical examiner's office in Salt Lake. When they investigate the death of a 100 year-old woman, it's because she's already been embalmed while in her home. Soon, it happens again, and there's a mystery to solve. She works together with her detective boyfriend, Josh, to solve the mystery, but of course things become awfully dangerous.

I enjoyed this book. Even though the author reveals fairly quickly who's behind it, there's still some mystery and surprises. A few red herrings also help. What I didn't like, though, is the end seemed to go on too long. It seemed just a little too many near escapes.