Deliberate Malice

by Lois Curran

During her ten years as Director of Nursing at the health department in Parkdale, Missouri, Lacey Bookman thinks she has seen everything. That is until several cases of polio affecting children pop up in her community.Her nightmare begins with nerve-shattering swiftness the moment the case reports hit her desk. There hasn’t been a case of Type I Poliomyelitis reported in the United States since 1979. Now, not only has the eradicated disease mysteriously reappeared, it attacks children who are up-to-date on their polio immunizations.While the Centers for Disease Control is on red alert, Lacey and her three nurses’ dives into an investigation. When the number of cases increase, officials close the schools causing more panic in her town. Lacey tries to keep the community calm and informed while she plays a ‘beat-the-clock’ game with the monster illness.Too busy to dwell on random threats she’s getting, Lacey tries to dismiss them as pranks. However, when they fall into a sinister pattern, she realizes this isn’t just about an outbreak. It’s personal.Someone is out to get her and is willing to do whatever it takes to ruin her.

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2023

Reviews

[Xavier Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lois Curran delivers a fast paced, cozy mystery that left me guessing until the very end. Deliberate Malice is a blend of Robin Cook and Law & Order, delivering a procedural medical mystery that is filled with human drama without slowing the story to explain technical jargon.

As the conspiracy unravels, Curran throws several believable misdirects to keep the reader guessing on this fun roller coaster!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I love it when I find a new local author that blows me away with a book I can't put down.
The twists and turns had me thinking others were the culprit so I was shocked when she was revealed.
I love a good medical mystery and this was right up there with Robin Cook as far as I'm concerned. I can't wait to read more of her works.

[Shirley McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read from a great author. I've read all of her romance novels, but this was a great seque into the mystery genre. What makes this book so captivating is that this sort of thing COULD actually happen.

Always beware

[DeDe Ramey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great writing but the story creeped me out. It hit too close to home with all the vaccines and illnesses going on out there. I loved all the twist and turns the story took and it was a good story.