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Rage: A Forensic Mystery and Suspense Thriller
Strange things are happening in Hillsborough, the affluent suburb of San normal people without a hint of psychiatric problems suddenly become violent. None have motive for assault or murder, and being residents of Hillsborough is the only factor they have in common. While they remember nothing of their violence, observers describe their behavior as strange—like an automaton. Michael Rose, a forensic psychiatrist and his associate, Karen Scott, a clinical psychologist, study the subjects and these episodes. They suspect that this behavior is more than psychiatric, but fail to come up with a credible explanation. The legal and medical establishments scratch their collective heads about how to assign responsibility for these acts as advocates make their cases while Michael and Karen pursue the truth. Finally, Michael and Karen discover what happened, but we must await the climax and dénouement to understand. Rage, a mystery, crime thriller, is not only a ‘who done it’, it’s a ‘why and how done-it.’ REVISED SINCE EARLY I took early critiques to heart in this revision. FROM FIVE STAR REVIEWER 6/29/2014: This book gripped me and would not let go! I have read almost every single book Lawrence Gold has written. I have yet to find one I didn't absolutely enjoy! Rage does have medical components but is a stand alone novel apart from his hospital series.
439 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2012
16 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
About the author
Lawrence W. Gold
28 books38 followersLawrence W. Gold, MD is a retired physician. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War where he served in an evacuation hospital, ran an emergency room and was a Battalion Surgeon. He completed his training in internal medicine and diseases of the kidney in 1968.
He retired in 1995 after 23 years in a hospital-based practice caring for patients with complicated illnesses and served as Chief of Medicine. After retirement he and his wife, Doris, spent time sailing at sea. He has written three screenplays based on his novels. His screenplay for Rage won honorable mention at the 80th annual Writer's Digest contest. He lives in Grass Valley, CA with his wife.
He retired in 1995 after 23 years in a hospital-based practice caring for patients with complicated illnesses and served as Chief of Medicine. After retirement he and his wife, Doris, spent time sailing at sea. He has written three screenplays based on his novels. His screenplay for Rage won honorable mention at the 80th annual Writer's Digest contest. He lives in Grass Valley, CA with his wife.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 18, 2018
Lawrence Gold has done it again, by mainly using dialogue to convey an interesting story. I’ve only read one other novel by this author, in which he used the same technique. Somehow, it works for me as a reader.
This was a mystery in which ordinary people become murderers because they’ve been given a drug. One of the side affects of this drug is they also can’t remember committing these horrendous crimes. Therefore, the DA has to ask the court to dismiss the cases. The villain who gave the drug makes this a mystery with a surprise ending. I have to say I enjoyed this novel.
This was a mystery in which ordinary people become murderers because they’ve been given a drug. One of the side affects of this drug is they also can’t remember committing these horrendous crimes. Therefore, the DA has to ask the court to dismiss the cases. The villain who gave the drug makes this a mystery with a surprise ending. I have to say I enjoyed this novel.
February 23, 2018
I enjoyed several things about this book. First, the two lead characters, Michael and Karen, are nice people. It's a pleasure to have nice people take the lead in a story these days. Second, there is a lot of interesting detail involving psychology, psychiatry and the law. Third, the who-dun-it is sustained for a major portion of the book. However, while the first two-thirds of the book is the setup for the last third thrill ride, the reveal of the killer seems rushed and incomplete as if the author wanted to button it up and get it over with.
March 17, 2017
Rage
I enjoyed this book, although I must say I enjoy the Brier Hospital series better. Michael, Karen, Al, and Charlie were familiar characters from Brier Hospital's State of Mind. It's amazing the evilness of humanity especially a priest. All in all a great story.
I enjoyed this book, although I must say I enjoy the Brier Hospital series better. Michael, Karen, Al, and Charlie were familiar characters from Brier Hospital's State of Mind. It's amazing the evilness of humanity especially a priest. All in all a great story.
February 23, 2019
A PAGE TURNING THRILL RIDE
This novel was terrific! It held my interest through every word. The plot and characterization were spot on. For those readers who enjoy mystery, thriller & suspense novels, this is a recommended read.
This novel was terrific! It held my interest through every word. The plot and characterization were spot on. For those readers who enjoy mystery, thriller & suspense novels, this is a recommended read.
September 13, 2017
I enjoyed this book very much it was very suspenseful.
This was the second book that I read by author Lawrence gold and I plan to read more buy him
This was the second book that I read by author Lawrence gold and I plan to read more buy him
February 4, 2019
Past rage
Be careful what you say and where you get it from. It could be tainted. Who would have thought such things could happen
Be careful what you say and where you get it from. It could be tainted. Who would have thought such things could happen
March 5, 2017
omg! Omg! Omg literally speaking! I just can't believe the conclusion! This story was so well written and very intuitive. I kept wondering the whole time who did it, because the main characters did their jobs well I was wondering how and why! What a suspenseful mystery thriller! I was so hyped by Denny's actions, and I thought justice was served in the eyes of the victims and God. God don't like ugly, and some people need reassuring that God is a forgiving entity, but in reality he is just in his rights to his creations. I can't give anymore details without spoilers because I don't want to hide my review. But if any of my followers and friends on Goodreads want a thorough full length novel on drama and suspense"Rage" is your goto novel!
March 5, 2013
A tense and terrifying examination of the False Memory Syndrome
Lawrence W. Gold, MD is a physician/author who takes risks with his books: his previous four books - FIRST, DO NO HARM, NO CURE FOR MURDER, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, and THE SIXTH SENSE - are stories that revealed some rather grim aspects of the medical profession. Now in his fifth novel - RAGE - he ventures into even more controversial territory. Gold has retired from medicine (he was a Nephrologist, having served as a Battalion Surgeon in Vietnam at the same time as this reviewer) and it is understandable that he wishes to uses his patently obvious skills as a writer as his post-medical career. One wonders why he continues to use the MD after his name in this successful second career, but perhaps the intent is to add validity to his writing.
This novel was first released to the public in a different format - the type font was very small and the spacing between the lines so dense that visually making it through the novel produced optical fatigue, a factor that may account for some of the original negative review of this book. Now the book has been re-formatted and is easier to read as a book - but what happens now is that the mesmerizing aspects of the grisly crimes of this story are now more apparent and instead of optical fatigue, the reader is faced with sleep deprivation, as it is difficult to put this book down until completed!
Rose opens his drama in 1992 with a ghastly murder: Michael Rose, before attending medical school, is working as a cop and his partner, an older lesbian veteran, is murdered as they stop to inspect a suspicious scene. Jump forward to present day and a couple is driving for a skiing outing when a leak in the radiator hose makes them pull over. A friendly hulk of a man pulls up to help - and pow!, another heinous murder occurs. Next chapter we meet an anxious mother driving her late kids to school when a Hummer blocks her way and the mother goes into road rage and murders the driver with a tire iron.
Enter our now Dr. Michael Rose (having finished med school, tried Internal Medicine, turned to Pathology, and finally to Psychiatry and now is a Forensic Psychiatrist who loses a patient to self mutilation (she cuts off her hand) and it is Dr. Rose, ably assisted by his associate Karen Scott, who must recover sufficiently to continue his testimony in courtrooms concerning some of the cast members we have already met. The diagnosis concerns rage and how rage can cause False Memory Syndrome - an alteration of memory of events that apparently normal people can suffer when facing extraordinary loss of control of anger. And this is only the opening of a book that unfolds like a morgue sheet covering mutilated victims and the mysteries that tie them together. In the end we are shifted back to the opening of the book as far as implications are concerned. It is a mystery as only Lawrence W. Gold, MD can write - and it makes us wonder where all of these twisted tales originated...
Lawrence W. Gold, MD is a physician/author who takes risks with his books: his previous four books - FIRST, DO NO HARM, NO CURE FOR MURDER, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, and THE SIXTH SENSE - are stories that revealed some rather grim aspects of the medical profession. Now in his fifth novel - RAGE - he ventures into even more controversial territory. Gold has retired from medicine (he was a Nephrologist, having served as a Battalion Surgeon in Vietnam at the same time as this reviewer) and it is understandable that he wishes to uses his patently obvious skills as a writer as his post-medical career. One wonders why he continues to use the MD after his name in this successful second career, but perhaps the intent is to add validity to his writing.
This novel was first released to the public in a different format - the type font was very small and the spacing between the lines so dense that visually making it through the novel produced optical fatigue, a factor that may account for some of the original negative review of this book. Now the book has been re-formatted and is easier to read as a book - but what happens now is that the mesmerizing aspects of the grisly crimes of this story are now more apparent and instead of optical fatigue, the reader is faced with sleep deprivation, as it is difficult to put this book down until completed!
Rose opens his drama in 1992 with a ghastly murder: Michael Rose, before attending medical school, is working as a cop and his partner, an older lesbian veteran, is murdered as they stop to inspect a suspicious scene. Jump forward to present day and a couple is driving for a skiing outing when a leak in the radiator hose makes them pull over. A friendly hulk of a man pulls up to help - and pow!, another heinous murder occurs. Next chapter we meet an anxious mother driving her late kids to school when a Hummer blocks her way and the mother goes into road rage and murders the driver with a tire iron.
Enter our now Dr. Michael Rose (having finished med school, tried Internal Medicine, turned to Pathology, and finally to Psychiatry and now is a Forensic Psychiatrist who loses a patient to self mutilation (she cuts off her hand) and it is Dr. Rose, ably assisted by his associate Karen Scott, who must recover sufficiently to continue his testimony in courtrooms concerning some of the cast members we have already met. The diagnosis concerns rage and how rage can cause False Memory Syndrome - an alteration of memory of events that apparently normal people can suffer when facing extraordinary loss of control of anger. And this is only the opening of a book that unfolds like a morgue sheet covering mutilated victims and the mysteries that tie them together. In the end we are shifted back to the opening of the book as far as implications are concerned. It is a mystery as only Lawrence W. Gold, MD can write - and it makes us wonder where all of these twisted tales originated...
January 10, 2013
This book is about seemingly random people committing violent crimes and then having no recollection of doing so. It follows the investigations into the reasons for the crimes, mostly from a medical point of view with profiles and discussions with the suspects (but doesn’t get too technical). Later there are police and investigative journalism angles as well.
The book starts with a short back story about the main character which, although it wasn’t out of place at the time, having finished the book I wondered where it fitted in. The story would have worked just as well without it or it could have been introduced as a flashback later in the book.
What I did really like about the book was the suspense created around the reasons for the crimes and how this is discovered. I never guessed the ending and it did tie up all the loose ends for me.
For the most part this was a well written story, but I was aware of a few confusing typos towards the end. Normally I can get past these but in one case the author mixed up who was talking about whom and used the same name twice. I had to reread it as it did throw me a little. It didn’t put me off the overall enjoyment of the story though.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it.
The book starts with a short back story about the main character which, although it wasn’t out of place at the time, having finished the book I wondered where it fitted in. The story would have worked just as well without it or it could have been introduced as a flashback later in the book.
What I did really like about the book was the suspense created around the reasons for the crimes and how this is discovered. I never guessed the ending and it did tie up all the loose ends for me.
For the most part this was a well written story, but I was aware of a few confusing typos towards the end. Normally I can get past these but in one case the author mixed up who was talking about whom and used the same name twice. I had to reread it as it did throw me a little. It didn’t put me off the overall enjoyment of the story though.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to review it.
August 8, 2016
I find myself reading more and more thrillers lately and this is just another one. Yet it is NOT JUST another one. When I first started I was concerned that they would be all full of descriptions of the act of the bloody crime. I am glad to say they are not. Many are more of the mind. Such as this one was.
Now no you will not get the story out of me. Any that follow my critiques know that is not the way I do things. That just takes the fun of you reading the book. This is just to help you decide if you want to read it. Personally I would say..."Go for it cause it was just great"
The timing was great in the story arch as for the who done it, why, how, when, and all those important matters. Every character was real, even those you wanted to hate. The story grabbed me within the first chapter and there were nights I did not want to put it down. One of the other reasons I enjoyed this book was it was not full of tripe. The common who done it with the common characterization to make it fit. This was a unique story line with a wonderful group of characters that played well with and sometimes against each other.
Enjoy!!
Now no you will not get the story out of me. Any that follow my critiques know that is not the way I do things. That just takes the fun of you reading the book. This is just to help you decide if you want to read it. Personally I would say..."Go for it cause it was just great"
The timing was great in the story arch as for the who done it, why, how, when, and all those important matters. Every character was real, even those you wanted to hate. The story grabbed me within the first chapter and there were nights I did not want to put it down. One of the other reasons I enjoyed this book was it was not full of tripe. The common who done it with the common characterization to make it fit. This was a unique story line with a wonderful group of characters that played well with and sometimes against each other.
Enjoy!!
June 30, 2014
I have read almost every single book Lawrence Gold has written. I have yet to find one I didn't absolutely enjoy! Rage does have medical components but is a stand alone novel apart from his hospital series.
Perfectly normal people are committing horrendous murders and then don't remember a thing. And it keeps happening--the only thing tying it together is the approximate location where they live. The defense lawyers run to grab forensic psychiatrist Michael Rose and his assistant before the prosecution lawyers do.
This is truly another book I did not put down--3 hours later and I finished it! Another 5 for Dr. Gold!
Rage
Perfectly normal people are committing horrendous murders and then don't remember a thing. And it keeps happening--the only thing tying it together is the approximate location where they live. The defense lawyers run to grab forensic psychiatrist Michael Rose and his assistant before the prosecution lawyers do.
This is truly another book I did not put down--3 hours later and I finished it! Another 5 for Dr. Gold!
Rage
August 16, 2016
A Real Thriller
I love it when you stumble upon a book that turns out to be a real jewel. The author, Lawrence Gold, provided a well written book with well developed characters. I know it's said a lot but it's true about this book when they say it's a real page turner. I especially liked the climatic ending. Thanks Mr. Gold for a job well done.
I love it when you stumble upon a book that turns out to be a real jewel. The author, Lawrence Gold, provided a well written book with well developed characters. I know it's said a lot but it's true about this book when they say it's a real page turner. I especially liked the climatic ending. Thanks Mr. Gold for a job well done.
March 20, 2015
A real whodunit!
While it was not the butler,it was the last one you would have expected. In a cast full of crazed killers and twisted motives, the ending just may catch you off balance.
While it was not the butler,it was the last one you would have expected. In a cast full of crazed killers and twisted motives, the ending just may catch you off balance.
August 19, 2013
Good book that shows the conflict between good and evil on earth.
August 2, 2016
This book read just like a Lifetime suspense movie sounds. It was quick. It was easy. Meh.
July 21, 2016
Interesting read
I enjoyed this book and rate it 4.8. Interesting to the finish for mystery lovers involving police, attorneys and doctors.
I enjoyed this book and rate it 4.8. Interesting to the finish for mystery lovers involving police, attorneys and doctors.
July 30, 2016
diabolical
September 28, 2013
It was ok.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews