Wendell Black, MD: An International Medical Thriller of Murder, Disappearance, and National Conspiracy

by Gerald Imber

A New York City police surgeon finds himself in the middle of an international drug-smuggling ring—or is it an even more dangerous conspiracy? After a heart-thumping drop in altitude on a flight from London to New York, NYPD police surgeon Wendell Black is called on to try to save a woman who has gone into cardiac arrest. He's just carrying out his duty, but his aid places him at the center of an international drug-smuggling investigation. As Black, and his English girlfriend, Alice—a knockout beauty and a surgeon to boot—digs deeper into the activities of the drug ring, he begins to suspect that a number of British doctors are involved. And when one of Alice's colleagues is brutally murdered and Alice suddenly disappears, the NYPD starts looking to Black for answers. His search peels away rings of conspiracy that expose a shocking threat to the nation.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 22, 2013

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a spy thriller novel set in contemporary times. It's set around Wendell Black a MD in the NYPD. He isn't thrilled with his life as he knows it, but it is comfortable and he has a beautiful cosmetic surgeon girlfriend. He is on a flight from London when turbulence hits and suddenly there is an on-board emergency. The patient is lost, but even though Wendell is perplexed as to why the healthy, young patient died, he goes on with life. When questions arise after the ME examines the body, one strange coincidence builds upon another and suddenly he finds himself in the middle of a drug ring. Still more questions arise as more odd coincidences transpire. It starts looking less like a drug smuggling problem and more like terrorism. Now will anyone believe him.

I think the twists and turns as well as the way the book slowly builds the suspense and mystery would have made a great book. I enjoyed Wendell's character, but found the secondary characters lacking. I think it made the more suspenseful parts of the book weaker. I really didn't enjoy Alice's character. Someone who is supposed to be a surgeon and a spy should know what she is doing. Should be at least strong in mind. When she plays second fiddle to Wendell who has no prior experience with espionage in terms of skill, I had a problem with it. There were times when she suddenly had to capitulate to Wendell's greater observational skills or deductive reasoning, I rolled my eyes a bit. I needed her to be much stronger and even lead HIM by the hand a bit to make the story plausible. However, I totally admit that this might only bother me and it may not bother others at all.

There were also another great secondary character, Duce, who is his best friend. Again I would have liked him fleshed out more which would have brought more to the story. Also, a bad guy, Rodriguez who is part of the DEA could also have used more flesh. He had more time in the book, but still read a bit more like a one dimensional bad guy. Perhaps if there was more reasoning earlier, more nuance as to why he was a jerk to Wendell, it would have amped up the danger surrounding Rodriguez.

I give this book between 2 1/2 and 3 stars. I split it that way because the book is very readable and I did enjoy the twists to the plot. Despite the flaws and I think men in particular would enjoy it since Wendell is easily identifiable.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wendell Black MD by Gerald Imber is a 2014 Bourbon Street Books publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Wendell Black is a doctor working for the NYPD. He is in his early fifties, moonlights at a ER and is dating Alice, a woman he hopes to become serious with. His life is fairly predictable until he is on a return flight from London. A passenger on the plane begins showing signs of distress and the announcement is made that if a doctor is on board they are needed to assist. The passenger doesn't make it. Wendell gets a call from the M.E. to tie up some lose ends about the passenger and from that moment on, Wendell's predicatable life is turned upside down. What initially looks like a drug mule case begins to take on more sinister connotations as Wendell becomes more involved. A terrorist plot could be afoot and Wendell is at once a suspect and a consultant.
When reading a thriller I usually give a great deal of latitude to the author. Nearly always the plot goes outside the realm of possiblity no matter how realistic the author tries to make it. So, I keep in mind that this is a work of fiction and meant for entertainment -not education.
Having said that this one did a good job at spinning theories that were possible, but not probable. I do hope our agencies are more competent that they appeared in this book. Wendell, mild mannered and dull doctor foils a major terrorist plot with the help of MI6 and a great deal of luck. There were lots of twist and turns, but most readers in this genre would have seen them coming a mile away. While this was not the best of thrill rides, if you just want to escape for awhile without having to concentrate too hard to keep up, this one will suit your purposes and frankly it beats most action thriller movies or TV shows . Overall I will give this one a C or 3 stars.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gerald Imber's newest thriller, Wendell Black, MD, begins with a frightening incident when an airliner encounters turbulence on a flight from London to New York. New York police surgeon Wendell Black is called on to treat a young woman on the flight who has gone into cardiac arrest. His attempt to saves the woman's life draws him into a high priority drug smuggling investigation, which he wants nothing to do with. As a physician for the New York Police Department, Black believes he has done his duty for the young woman, but now the case is out of his hands. When a short time later Black's girl friend Alice, also a surgeon, goes missing, it seems there may be some connection between the two incidents.
The story returns to the incident on the plane when forensic examination makes it clear that the woman Black treated is not who she seems to be. After the murder of one of Alice's colleagues, and then the reappearance of Alice, the NYPD along with Wendell Black, are suddenly in the thick of the international investigation. As someone who wants to do nothing more than live day to day in his mundane job as an employee of the police department, Black is often in over his head. He was more used to dealing with police officers with the flu than multiple murders, but with Alice's help, he keeps his head above water. When Alice, or rather Alison, returns to Black's life, he finds out more than he has wanted to know about British and American intelligence and threats to security around the world. The FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security all become involved, as well as British Intelligence.
Author Gerald Imber, himself a plastic surgeon, does a masterful job combining the medical, legal and international law enforcement aspects of this case, which turns out to be much more than a drug smuggling operation involving millions of dollars. The tension builds as the story progresses to the heart-pounding conclusion. (As published in Suspense Magazine)

[V Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so if you know the lyrics to the Elvis song 'A little less conversation, a little more action' , then this describes this book perfectly. In this case the book is written in the first person so most of what is happening is from one person's point of view. Over all this book was written very well and was relatively easy to follow but it just did not have the punch I hoped for given the topic and assumed threat that was conveyed by the story.
So all in all I would say a 3 star is as good as it gets for me.

[Nita Wilkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've discovered a new author, Gerald Imber. Just finished Wendall Black, MD and it was an excellent read.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a terrible book, not a great book.

I will say that it does have some entertainment value and perhaps might make a decent movie if done right.

The basic story is that Dr. Black is coming back from a trip to England and is called upon to work on a dying patient. That is the starting point that takes a few twists and turns that ... well, I guess I cannot say anything without giving spoilers.

There is a mystery element, a thriller element, a crime element and a bit of a intrigue element.

One thing that Dr. Imber (the author) avoids is the trap many M.D.'s fall into when writing - he doesn't make it medically technical requiring you to have some medial background to understand.

[Cathy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. A very well written, excellent book! I enjoyed all the twists, clear to the end. I only suspected Allison right at the end. Kept you moving, and when Rodrigez was at the airport did I think something was going on there. Dr Black's dog made very warming atmosphere for the book also. Such a great book to read! I will definitely recommend this one.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder, drug smuggling, corrupt cops, international terrorism. New York police surgeon Wendell Black becomes involved in all when he attempts to aid a young woman having a cardiac attack on his flight back from a weekend in England. After a doctor friend of his girlfriend is murdered, she goes missing. Two drug cops start harassing Dr. Black. He can only trust one man. This was a free advance read copy.

[Caroline Mcphail-Lambert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a page-turning thriller as I thought it might be.

I found Wendell to be a bit of a tool and when he jumped on board with the terrorist plot, I wasn't convinced.

I didn't care for the loose ends left at the end, but I suppose I was supposed to work those out for myself, which, as a reader, I don't care to do.

[Glenda Bixler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and would be happy to have you check out my review at Book Readers Heaven where pics and excerpts are included. Thank you...
http://gabixlerpersonalopinion.blogsp...
http://gabixlerpersonalopinion.blogsp...

[Phylwil · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring and full of predictable male fantasies: sexy cohort, slender-but-shapely assistant who just lives to be of service to our hero, and the completely unqualified main character shows everyone up and saves the day. Waste of time.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

easy to figure out

[Cydnee · Rating 3 out of 5]

unbelievable plot. Didn't hang together.

[Allison Joy Martin]

Cant wait to read! I will edit my review as soon as I finish this book. (: