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The Health Club Mysteries #3
Denied: The Health Club Mysteries Trilogy (Volume 3) by Michael Rushnak
Imagine looking over your shoulder into the eyes of someone with no conscience--with no sense of guilt, wondering when they will strike! Joseph Gallagher, a charismatic Cardinal of the Church, suffers from an untreated mental illness that compels him to kill. Believing that he is on his deathbed, Gallagher confides in his long time friend, Dr. Jonathan Rogers, the ghastly murder of his son. While expecting forgiveness for his psychopathic act, the Cardinal asks Rogers to seek out the woman who once bore his son, out of wedlock; only to discover that she is hell bent on a path of personal revenge, threatening public disclosure of Gallagher’s darkest secrets. In Rome, Bishop Peter Shuls, a conniving insider who will stop at nothing to ensure the election of the Cardinal as the next Pope, pins Rogers against the ominous Door of Death, threatening that he must take to his grave anything that Gallagher might have confessed about his shadowy past. Will Rogers be able to stop the murderous rampage of those a heartbeat away from hijacking the Papacy?With every page you flip in reading in this medical mystery thriller, you will find yourself more and more looking over your shoulder, fearful of where evil is constantly lurking
Mass Market Paperback
First published July 17, 2012
3 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Michael Rushnak
5 books40 followersI'm a retired physician who returned to my passion for writing. Join me on BOOK BLOGS. http://bookblogs.ning.com/profile/DrM...
Fulfilling another bucket list passion, I've authored TERMINAL NEGLECT, THE SAVIOR VACCINE, and DENIED as THE HEALTH CLUB MYSTERIES trilogy.
My 4th medical mystery thriller-UNSEEN SHADOWS is also receiving rave reviews--Five married couples living in Princeton are a close knit group since their college days at Stanford. But if you dig deeper into their relationships, nothing is as it appears to be. Betrayal, seduction, espionage, surveillance & deception explode in the face of Dr. Brandon Kiefer, threatening the innocents and the survival of the secrets to project immortality.
TERMINAL NEGLECT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLUDx5...
THE SAVIOR VACCINE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDPvro...
DENIED
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaSMm5...
Fulfilling another bucket list passion, I've authored TERMINAL NEGLECT, THE SAVIOR VACCINE, and DENIED as THE HEALTH CLUB MYSTERIES trilogy.
My 4th medical mystery thriller-UNSEEN SHADOWS is also receiving rave reviews--Five married couples living in Princeton are a close knit group since their college days at Stanford. But if you dig deeper into their relationships, nothing is as it appears to be. Betrayal, seduction, espionage, surveillance & deception explode in the face of Dr. Brandon Kiefer, threatening the innocents and the survival of the secrets to project immortality.
TERMINAL NEGLECT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLUDx5...
THE SAVIOR VACCINE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDPvro...
DENIED
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaSMm5...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 24, 2013
Mental illness, murder, religion, and intrigue are all found in Denied. The blurb on the back of the book had me hooked.
I liked how the book examined the consequences, reasons, and thoughts that go through a pyromaniac’s mind when fires happen. This wasn’t just a literary ploy to advance a story. This book went through what the character Gallagher went through with lost lives and friendships. The reader can feel for Sarah Jo and what Gallagher did to her. This wasn't preachy about the illness nor was it just there. It was an important characteristic that defined the story.
Rogers and Ashley are well drawn out characters that try to help the characters and find themselves in the midst of the conspiracies. I wasn’t sure what to make of Andy, but even he has moments where the reader can empathize with him.
It took a talented writer to write about the treatment of mental illness while not being preachy or onerous. The story was exciting as it kept all the different strings of storyline together. Mental illness or religion have become literary props lately in work to sell books, but here, these were not props to sell a story, the writer cared about these serious subjects and it showed.
Even though the end was foreshadowed early, the development of the story wasn’t ruined. It became suspenseful to watch the characters find the end.
I thought this was a good read for anyone that wants a good story.
I liked how the book examined the consequences, reasons, and thoughts that go through a pyromaniac’s mind when fires happen. This wasn’t just a literary ploy to advance a story. This book went through what the character Gallagher went through with lost lives and friendships. The reader can feel for Sarah Jo and what Gallagher did to her. This wasn't preachy about the illness nor was it just there. It was an important characteristic that defined the story.
Rogers and Ashley are well drawn out characters that try to help the characters and find themselves in the midst of the conspiracies. I wasn’t sure what to make of Andy, but even he has moments where the reader can empathize with him.
It took a talented writer to write about the treatment of mental illness while not being preachy or onerous. The story was exciting as it kept all the different strings of storyline together. Mental illness or religion have become literary props lately in work to sell books, but here, these were not props to sell a story, the writer cared about these serious subjects and it showed.
Even though the end was foreshadowed early, the development of the story wasn’t ruined. It became suspenseful to watch the characters find the end.
I thought this was a good read for anyone that wants a good story.
March 30, 2013
DENIED, author Michael Rushnak's third installment in his Medical Mystery Trilogy (Terminal Neglect, The Savior Vaccine and DENIED) is a great read you don't want to put down! Greed, revenge, self inflated ego, undiscovered and untreated mental illness by people in leadership, scandalous behavior by ranking Vatican members, it's all there and results in a gripping mystery that leaves you wanting more. The story is full of twists and turns that make you question if you really know what is going on. Will good prevail and evil be exposed? Will the Health Club maintain its control? Will the hero be able to continue on his fight for justice as he faces great loss and danger? As I read the book I couldn't help thinking of the current real life scandals with the Catholic Church which left me with the feeling that this story is not really far-fetched. This compelling story is not only plausible, I believe it can & does happen!! Truth really is stranger than fiction!!
August 11, 2016
Of the three books in the Trilogy, I liked this one the best! Beth, Dr. Rogers, Panini and also Dr. Ashley Rogers have worked together against the ruthless and deadly “Health Club” to keep them from putting drugs on the market that could do more harm than good, sometimes at great personal loss.
In “Denied” Dr. Rogers and his daughter traveled to the Vatican to watch his very good friend, Archbishop Gallagher, accept the new position of Cardinal. Apparently though, Gallagher was the only person who was happy to see Dr. Rogers and his daughter.
It is very obvious that there was a lot of research regarding the Catholic Diocese and the history of the Vatican done while this book was being written. All information seemed very authentic and also a bit scary when it came to power! I recommend this trilogy to anyone who likes medical mysteries and murder!
Looking forward to reading any future novels Michael writes!
March 15, 2013
Having just completed the final Medical Thriller, DENIED, I could not be more enthusiastic to let all my friends know how fabulous this trilogy is. I'm very thankful for Michael's works of genius in creating the characters for all of the books in his trilogy. DENIED is currently ranked No.5 on Amazon amongst almost 1000 Medical Thrillers. What I,especially enjoyed aboult DENIED is the constant struggle between good and evil and I highly recommend DENIED so that you can discover the unbelievable climax.
October 20, 2012
Tess Gerritsen, NY Times best selling author of medical thrillers and the Rizzoli & Isles TV series have the following testimonial to Denied.
"A thriller that combines medicine and religion in a pulse pounding plot. Michael Rushnak knows how to keep the twists coming at you."
Denied is currently ranked 10th based on high customer reviews on Amazon on a list of over 900 medical thrillers.
"A thriller that combines medicine and religion in a pulse pounding plot. Michael Rushnak knows how to keep the twists coming at you."
Denied is currently ranked 10th based on high customer reviews on Amazon on a list of over 900 medical thrillers.
May 2, 2013
The last of the Health Club mysteries was just as good as the other two. Besides the suspense, I enjoyed
learning about the Vatican & the politics of the church, pyromania & mental illness. I am going to miss Dr
Jonathan Rogers. Very good read.
learning about the Vatican & the politics of the church, pyromania & mental illness. I am going to miss Dr
Jonathan Rogers. Very good read.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews