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The Dr Sinclair Investigations #1
Isolation
A bacterium resisting all treatment. A specialist battling to save patients. When a sadistic killer returns, will her last hope flatline?
Perth, Western Australia. Dr Julia Sinclair craves an escape from grief. Yet even a relentless drive to defeat infectious diseases can’t help the heartsore redhead forget that it’s been a year since her sister’s mysterious disappearance. And when her best friend shockingly vanishes on the anniversary of that dreadful day, she’s tormented by a stream of gruesome thoughts.
Distracted by a lethal outbreak of an antibiotic-resistant illness, Julia scrambles to maintain her focus and prevent more deaths. But as the strain spreads like wildfire and she digs further into its origin, she fears the loss of her loved ones is linked to a greater danger circling.
Can she follow the trail of bodies without ending up in her own morgue?
Isolation is the gritty first book in the Dr Sinclair Investigations medical thriller series. If you like determined heroines, dark humor, and a spattering of gore, then you’ll adore SJ Gardiner’s scalpel-sharp wit.
Buy Isolation to be trapped with the grim reaper today!
This is a second edition. The first edition was revised and updated. Some short scenes were removed to build suspense.
Perth, Western Australia. Dr Julia Sinclair craves an escape from grief. Yet even a relentless drive to defeat infectious diseases can’t help the heartsore redhead forget that it’s been a year since her sister’s mysterious disappearance. And when her best friend shockingly vanishes on the anniversary of that dreadful day, she’s tormented by a stream of gruesome thoughts.
Distracted by a lethal outbreak of an antibiotic-resistant illness, Julia scrambles to maintain her focus and prevent more deaths. But as the strain spreads like wildfire and she digs further into its origin, she fears the loss of her loved ones is linked to a greater danger circling.
Can she follow the trail of bodies without ending up in her own morgue?
Isolation is the gritty first book in the Dr Sinclair Investigations medical thriller series. If you like determined heroines, dark humor, and a spattering of gore, then you’ll adore SJ Gardiner’s scalpel-sharp wit.
Buy Isolation to be trapped with the grim reaper today!
This is a second edition. The first edition was revised and updated. Some short scenes were removed to build suspense.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2023
About the author
S.J. Gardiner
3 books18 followersSJ Gardiner is a clinical microbiologist by day - that's a pathologist specialising in the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases. Not the kind of pathologist who hangs around crime scenes and cuts up dead bodies. In TV terms, she's more like Dr Greg House, but without the limp or the drug habit and with a better bedside manner ... she hopes.
After hours, she has a fatal weakness for crime fiction - always buried in a book. One day, she decided to combine this passion with her medical background and started writing. Her first book, ISOLATION was published by Fahrenheit Press in 2016.
After hours, she has a fatal weakness for crime fiction - always buried in a book. One day, she decided to combine this passion with her medical background and started writing. Her first book, ISOLATION was published by Fahrenheit Press in 2016.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 9, 2026
A fast paced but implausible story. I shall not read more in the series.
February 14, 2026
kept me up way past my bed time
And I do not go to bed early. The tension of wanting to know who did it kept me reading. I guessed wrong a few times. I loved the main character of the female doctor. Liked the cop Nick as well. Will they get together in the next book? I have just purchased it. Only a few aspects of the characters behaviour that did not ring true, even on a fictional basis. Hence the 4 stars. But please read and enjoy this book. I hope there will be a third book. Even before I have read the second book!
And I do not go to bed early. The tension of wanting to know who did it kept me reading. I guessed wrong a few times. I loved the main character of the female doctor. Liked the cop Nick as well. Will they get together in the next book? I have just purchased it. Only a few aspects of the characters behaviour that did not ring true, even on a fictional basis. Hence the 4 stars. But please read and enjoy this book. I hope there will be a third book. Even before I have read the second book!
August 23, 2017
Current and you can feel the apprehension and terror as well as the spirit of the heroine. Did not care for the number oh expletives used when they definitely were not needed to express deep emotions.
Very current biometrics. Felt the many emotions and terror and grief. However the repeated same expletive was detrimental to the flow of the story.
Very current biometrics. Felt the many emotions and terror and grief. However the repeated same expletive was detrimental to the flow of the story.
June 22, 2017
First rate medical mystery
This is a first novel and I can't wait to read more from this author! Impeccable timing and protagonists I really felt for. I do hope a second novel includes them again.
This is a first novel and I can't wait to read more from this author! Impeccable timing and protagonists I really felt for. I do hope a second novel includes them again.
July 28, 2017
Had me working ,hard
There are very few books that keep me on a tightrope like this one! I can usually figure out who the killer is before halftime but not here. My mind didn't start flipping to Simon until about 87%. Great writing!
I want more!
There are very few books that keep me on a tightrope like this one! I can usually figure out who the killer is before halftime but not here. My mind didn't start flipping to Simon until about 87%. Great writing!
I want more!
February 17, 2019
Fantastic from the 1st page
A heart stopping non stop thriller from start to finish. It was gruesome and well written. Unputdownable and read it in one sitting. Turn off the TV, it's like a Silent Witness episode with a few twists. Enjoy.
A heart stopping non stop thriller from start to finish. It was gruesome and well written. Unputdownable and read it in one sitting. Turn off the TV, it's like a Silent Witness episode with a few twists. Enjoy.
May 29, 2026
With a plot that was supposed to focus on a medical mystery, but which is very tangentially related only, and bad dialogues, parts that did not really make sense, and so much unnecessary details..
I don't recommend.
I don't recommend.
June 9, 2017
Not too bad but a lot of medical jargon breaks the flow, certainly for me as a non medical person.
January 29, 2018
Isolation
This was a great read. There is romance and a lot of suspense. Please read this great book. I recommend this book to everyone.
This was a great read. There is romance and a lot of suspense. Please read this great book. I recommend this book to everyone.
January 31, 2018
Suspense Book
Great book,loved it from the first to last page.Hard to put down,trying to figure out who the killer was.Great characters.
Great book,loved it from the first to last page.Hard to put down,trying to figure out who the killer was.Great characters.
September 12, 2016
Loved this fast-paced mystery. Especially loved the fact it was set in Perth, Western Australia and I could easily identify icons and landmarks in the story. Heroine is strong and gutsy and I was glued to the book right until the end.
April 23, 2017
Read in one sitting.
Good suspense and well written all round. Didn't guess the bad guy until right before it was revealed. Really enjoyed the book.
Good suspense and well written all round. Didn't guess the bad guy until right before it was revealed. Really enjoyed the book.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews