Coded to Kill: A Techno-Medical Thriller

by Marschall Runge

Is medicine’s greatest breakthrough also the world’s most efficient killing machine?

After a decade of development, Drexel Hospital’s cutting-edge Electronic Health Records system is about to become the national standard and revolutionize health care. Housing the real-time medical records of every American, the EHR system will enable doctors to access records with a keystroke and issue life-or-death medical orders with a finger swipe.

No one wants the EHR to succeed more than Hugh Torrence, a former NSA honcho who sees the system as a tool for unimaginable and unaccountable power. The only thing standing in his way is a loose-knit group of Drexel employees with conflicting agendas and questionable loyalties—including Dr. Mason Fischer, a physician with a taste for intrigue and a shadowy past; a street-wise techie named RT; and an internal medicine resident, Dr. Carrie Mumsford, the daughter of the hospital’s president.

While they search for answers, the suspicious patient deaths keep mounting as the target on their back grows larger.

“A beautifully written, complex mix of medical drama, espionage story, and hi-tech skulduggery, Coded to Kill is a thrilling read under the guidance of someone who knows what he is talking about, and never fails to enthrall with its detail and deft plotting.”
–Iain Pears, author of An Instance of the Fingerpost and The Dream of Scipio

“Dr. Marschall Runge gives us both a heart-stopping thriller and a searing indictment of the degree to which technology has sapped the soul of medicine and handed it to the technocracy.”
–Holden Thorp, Editor-in-Chief, Science Family of Journals

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Medical

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2023

About the author

Marschall S. Runge, M.D., Ph.D., is the executive vice president for Medical Affairs at the University of Michigan, dean of the Medical School, and CEO of Michigan Medicine. He earned his doctorate in molecular biology at Vanderbilt University and his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where he also completed a residency in internal medicine. He was a cardiology fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He is the author of over 250 publications and holds five patents for novel approaches to health care. As a Texas native who spent fifteen years in North Carolina and an avid thriller reader, Runge has experienced so many you-can’t-make-this-up events that his transition to fiction was inevitable.

Reviews

[Randell Carlton Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

With great technology comes great responsibility. AI will alter the course of many professions, perhaps none as profound as medical. Coded To Kill is a thrilling glimpse into a world of those who use deceitfully use the new technology. Action-packed from the jump, this was a thriller I flew threw in three days. Highly intelligent writing.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coded to Kill by Marschall Runge M.D. is a techno-medical thriller that explores the idea of a single system housing all Electronic Health Records (EHRs) for every American. While this idea may seem revolutionary and efficient, it begs the question of whether it could lead to abuse and misuse.

The use of technology in healthcare is becoming increasingly prevalent, and it's important to consider the potential benefits and drawbacks that come with it. On one hand, technology can improve efficiency, accuracy, and access to healthcare services. For example, telemedicine allows patients to receive medical care remotely, which can be especially helpful for those in rural or remote areas. On the other hand, technology can also raise concerns about privacy, security, and the potential for errors or glitches in the system. It is important for healthcare providers to carefully weigh the benefits and risks of implementing new technologies and to ensure that patient safety and privacy are always the top priority.

M.D., Marschall Runge brings a thought-provoking twist to this fictional story. While EHRs could potentially improve healthcare efficiency and accuracy, it also raises red flags for security and ethical concerns. Who would have access to the system, and how would they be monitored to prevent abuse? What happens in the event of a security breach or a glitch in the system?

Suspicious patient deaths add an extra layer of suspense to this thriller.

My Concerns
Some aspects of the book may be distracting. The inner dialogue of each character is written in italics, which may take some getting used to.
Additionally, the dialogue didn’t always feel natural.

Final Thoughts
Despite my concerns, the intriguing plot makes this worth a read for fans of medical thrillers and technology. And though the book didn't always feel on par with those of other authors, the longer I read, the more it grabbed my attention and pulled me in.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and Books Forward for a gifted copy.

[William Bentrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially difficult to get into for me but the wait was worthwhile. There is a wealth of jargon in this book that will necessitate some wading for many. I’m a computer geek and I found some of it tiresome. The plot however is certainly up to date on the realistic fears of data mining and collection. Who knows how much about you is certainly a concern today.

Mason is a bit of a Renaissance man, perhaps more than is realistic. The despicable characters seem to get the most play in the book's first half. Alphabetical agencies are painted as highly questionable.

The ability to change any aspect of the internet of things is somewhat daunting. It gives one pause.

I enjoyed the book but it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coded to Kill is a fun read. The chapters are short and enjoyable and I often found myself reading more in one sitting than I had planned. The idea that an Electronic Health Records system, similar to the one described in the story, could one day be a reality is frightening.

I do think it's best to go with the flow when reading this book as some of the characters have backstories that seem to be a bit of a stretch. As I was reading about one in particular I couldn't help but wonder how anyone in the hospital could possibly not know the entire history of this person. Overall, I'm glad I got to read this book and I would enjoy reading a second book from this author one day down the road.

Thanks to Books Forward and Goodreads for the free copy. The opinions above are my own.

[Matt Bloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Coded to Kill, by Marschall Runge, MD, and thoroughly enjoyed this gripping techno-medical thriller. Not only are the narrative, writing, and dialogue tight, realistic and spot-on, but the story had me effortlessly turning pages to find out what the heck was going to happen next. No spoilers, here! And the premise and topic couldn’t be more relevant in the age of big data and AI. This novel was not only highly entertaining, but incredibly timely and thought-provoking. I strongly recommend Coded to Kill and look forward to Runge’s next one.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of medical thrillers. It's a go to genre for me when I'm not sure what to pick up as a mood reader. This book will be enjoyed by those who like a good medical thriller or who have a background in medicine.

The author was really cool and joined our book club on Zoom. There are some interesting concepts in this book and it made for great talking points for our bookclub.

I will say it was a bit hard to follow all of the characters and who was what bad guy. There are a lot of bad guys. I also didn't love the start of the book but was glad I hung in there.

[Patricia Gussin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super medical thriller from an author who knows all the ins and outs.
Unique, twisted, compelling, riveting.
A new voice has arrived on the scene. A fascinating read. A scary theme that will grab your attention. Only problem: will you ever look at medical records without recalling this twisted plot?

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thriller centered around a new nationwide Electronic Health Records system and some mysterious group is planning to use it for evil purposes.A great cast of characters and a plot that will keep your attention Perhaps a direction misused technology could lead us. I won this book in a GoodReads Giveaway.

[Travelmaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whew! Make sure you're set for a few hours because this one is un-put-down-able! What a ride. So many thoughts - about information and access and technology and control. Well done!! Can't wait to read more by this author.

[Frances Dykstra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could be an interesting topic. Too many characters. Poorly written. Don’t waste your time.

[Christina Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fast-paced with an intricate plot and well-developed characters. I'd highly recommend it.

[Alok Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting thriller about EMR and hospital as the place where good and evil collide.

[♥ Mariam ♥ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Genuinely just couldn’t understand the writing, it was so confusing dnf

[Cheryl Cusmano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting medical thriller written by a U of M doctor. Highly recommend it!

[Cameron Moy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read and definitely had good potential. The author is the UM hospital CEO and bases the book on a new medical electronic health records system. The plot was interesting but I would have appreciated more of a critique on technology/government surveillance state. That’s just me tho..