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Madison Shaw and Jack Wyatt Medical Mysteries #1
Error in Diagnosis: A Medical Thriller
A mysterious illness with disturbing symptoms is plaguing pregnant women. With the nation on the brink of panic, two doctors must put their past aside to find a cure. But as the stakes get personal, can they uncover a treatment before it’s too late?Dr. Jack Wyatt is done sulking. When he’s called to help his frantic best friend, whose newly-pregnant wife has been hospitalized, it’s the distraction he needs to finally get over his divorce. But the search for a cure forces him to work with the brilliant and beautiful Dr. Madison Shaw, with whom he has a rocky past.
Confronted by a disease they’ve never seen before, Jack and Madison must put their differences aside as severe symptoms plague more and more women. With the numbers multiplying and the nation on the brink of an epidemic, finding a cure may mean risking innocent lives.
The disease is spreading. Patients are dying. And no one can guess what will happen next …
Error In Diagnosis is the thrilling start to the Madison Shaw and Jack Wyatt medical mystery series by Gary Birken, M.D. If you like races against time balanced with medical authenticity, then you’ll love this pulse-pounding thriller.
Read Error In Diagnosis today to unravel a breathtaking medical mystery.
* Previously published as Error in Diagnosis under the pen name Mason Lucas, M.D.
Confronted by a disease they’ve never seen before, Jack and Madison must put their differences aside as severe symptoms plague more and more women. With the numbers multiplying and the nation on the brink of an epidemic, finding a cure may mean risking innocent lives.
The disease is spreading. Patients are dying. And no one can guess what will happen next …
Error In Diagnosis is the thrilling start to the Madison Shaw and Jack Wyatt medical mystery series by Gary Birken, M.D. If you like races against time balanced with medical authenticity, then you’ll love this pulse-pounding thriller.
Read Error In Diagnosis today to unravel a breathtaking medical mystery.
* Previously published as Error in Diagnosis under the pen name Mason Lucas, M.D.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2023
2327 people are currently reading
1416 people want to read
About the author
Gary Birken
13 books124 followersGary Birken is a full-time pediatric surgeon, medical thriller author, husband, father, grandfather, and more.
Born and raised in New York, Birken completed his undergraduate studies in Ohio, spent two years studying in Paris, before returning to complete his general and pediatric surgery training at the Ohio State University Hospital and Columbus Children’s. Upon completion of his fellowship in pediatric surgery, Birken moved to Hollywood, Florida where he has spent his entire professional career. Presently, Birken serves as the Surgeon-In-Chief of the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
As an Author, Gary Birken approaches novel writing as a means not only to entertain, but to educate the reader in a particular area of medicine. Birken’s approach to each book is first selecting a timely or controversial topic in medicine and then, using it as a springboard, Birken weaves a story of suspense and conspiracy around it.
When Birken is not in the operating room or writing his next medical thriller, he plays tennis, basketball and holds a black belt in martial arts.
Born and raised in New York, Birken completed his undergraduate studies in Ohio, spent two years studying in Paris, before returning to complete his general and pediatric surgery training at the Ohio State University Hospital and Columbus Children’s. Upon completion of his fellowship in pediatric surgery, Birken moved to Hollywood, Florida where he has spent his entire professional career. Presently, Birken serves as the Surgeon-In-Chief of the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital.
As an Author, Gary Birken approaches novel writing as a means not only to entertain, but to educate the reader in a particular area of medicine. Birken’s approach to each book is first selecting a timely or controversial topic in medicine and then, using it as a springboard, Birken weaves a story of suspense and conspiracy around it.
When Birken is not in the operating room or writing his next medical thriller, he plays tennis, basketball and holds a black belt in martial arts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
July 15, 2024
Review of Error in Diagnosis
As a retired RN/BSN of 40 years I love a good medical mystery. I thought this one was very interesting and exciting. One of my very favorite assignments in hospital care was in a neurology/neurosurgery unit for several years and I found this story fascinating in that regard as well. I will now read other books by Dr. Birken.
As a retired RN/BSN of 40 years I love a good medical mystery. I thought this one was very interesting and exciting. One of my very favorite assignments in hospital care was in a neurology/neurosurgery unit for several years and I found this story fascinating in that regard as well. I will now read other books by Dr. Birken.
June 5, 2025
Too many errors in this book. Story would have been ok. First off, no neurologist from another hospital would be diagnosing a disease that was not neurological. He would not be involved in any other way once neurological diagnoses are dismissed. He would no way be on Air Firce one meeting with the president. No chief of Neurology would be diagnosing and treating a viral disease with medication. Treating a parvovirus that was not detected in testing would not happen by a neurologist. Infectious Disease would have been involved in this case. There’s absolutely NO way a chief of neurology would be performing a gynecological surgery!! Ob/gyn would be. Not neurology. It’s not the specialty he’s trained in. So unbelievable. Also so many errors, one Tess is 12 weeks when she goes into the hospital. Next she’s 28 weeks in 4 days in the hospital?? Impossible. Stating that it’s only affecting pregnant woman in their 3rd trimester then forgetting that you wrote she was 12 weeks??? Too many spelling errors also. Was there NO research, no fact finding or no editing in this book??? This was a horrible book. We are not idiots reading books!
December 26, 2024
An excellent medical thriller
Error In Diagnosis is about the national race to stop the spread of a mysterious affliction affecting only pregnant women. The book is beautifully composed with excellent characters, who have significant arcs during the book and the pacing is perfect. I can recommend this book not only to fans of medical thrillers, but fans of very complex problem solving. This is one of the best medical thrillers I've read. 5/5 stars!
Error In Diagnosis is about the national race to stop the spread of a mysterious affliction affecting only pregnant women. The book is beautifully composed with excellent characters, who have significant arcs during the book and the pacing is perfect. I can recommend this book not only to fans of medical thrillers, but fans of very complex problem solving. This is one of the best medical thrillers I've read. 5/5 stars!
November 26, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Minus half a star for the stuff that doesn't make sense/would never happen in the medical field, but I am still here for it.
Minus half a star for the stuff that doesn't make sense/would never happen in the medical field, but I am still here for it.
April 19, 2025
Medical treatment the hard way
Liked the story. Rooted for the characters to find the errors. Know several physicians like Hollis. In it for power, fame and money.
Liked the story. Rooted for the characters to find the errors. Know several physicians like Hollis. In it for power, fame and money.
August 24, 2025
A Medical Thriller
You will not only read a good story, but you will learn a lot of medicine while you’re doing it.
You will not only read a good story, but you will learn a lot of medicine while you’re doing it.
August 19, 2025
night owl reader
This is one of the best medical thrillers I have ever read. The complex medical procedures were extremely well written so that an average reader would never become distracted by any misunderstanding of the situation. The author's astute character descriptions were both caustic and humorous. The thrilling ending couldn't have been more creative. The author also took time to describe the physical setting to perfection. I was so engrossed in this book that I actually felt the characters stress and exhaustion.
This is one of the best medical thrillers I have ever read. The complex medical procedures were extremely well written so that an average reader would never become distracted by any misunderstanding of the situation. The author's astute character descriptions were both caustic and humorous. The thrilling ending couldn't have been more creative. The author also took time to describe the physical setting to perfection. I was so engrossed in this book that I actually felt the characters stress and exhaustion.
December 5, 2024
Fast paced informative medical thriller, for fans of "House".
A mysterious illness, GNS, is plaguing pregnant women and it is up to Dr. Jack Wyatt and Dr. Madison Shaw to negotiate the politics and egos of the hospital environment to find the underlying cause.
A mysterious illness, GNS, is plaguing pregnant women and it is up to Dr. Jack Wyatt and Dr. Madison Shaw to negotiate the politics and egos of the hospital environment to find the underlying cause.
October 31, 2025
3.5
Pacing was great. And I love short chapters. But the errors kept taking me out of the story. I’m a layperson, so I can’t speak to the medical aspects. However there were a lot of times the wording was either weird and I wasn’t sure if the author just used language that way or straight wrong due to clear mistakes in the type that should have been caught by an editor. I expected it to be a first novel, independently published. There is just no excuse otherwise.
To not belabor the point, I’ll move on to the rest. I rarely ever read books this fast for a variety of reasons. The story kept me interested even though the broad strokes were what I expected. I didn’t feel like there was a proper payoff or explanation for one of the main red herrings, but otherwise was happy with how things played out. The a**hat got what he deserved and everyone lived happily ever after.
There was a romantic relationship that was shoehorned in for no reason whatsoever, but it was mostly a very minor storyline. I know it continues into future volumes of the series, but even though I don’t think it was necessary it could have been pushed off further down the line to make it a bit more of a natural progression of the relationship.
I will add further that while I am layperson in terms of the medical field, I do have a background in biology. The science was all stuff I was familiar with beyond the name of one specific hormone, so I suspect there’s not any concept that will be so confusing as to make the story hard to understand. And it might help you to understand the way the book presents the two main viewpoints of the medical professionals. It’s basically the “we’ve ruled some stuff out so this is what I think” versus the “we haven’t ruled out enough to have much of an opinion yet” crowds. It’s usually a matter of hubris versus ego that drives people in one direction or another. Incredibly intelligent people will find success regardless of which camp they fall into. If your pregnant wife, sister, or daughter were in a coma with an unexplained illness, you’d be understandably frustrated and impatient. And if you’re the aggressive, group 1 type you might be very angry at the group 2 approach. But it’s scientifically valid and arguably prudent to not rush through diagnosis and treatment.
All that said, I’d try more of the series and consider other titles by the same author.
Pacing was great. And I love short chapters. But the errors kept taking me out of the story. I’m a layperson, so I can’t speak to the medical aspects. However there were a lot of times the wording was either weird and I wasn’t sure if the author just used language that way or straight wrong due to clear mistakes in the type that should have been caught by an editor. I expected it to be a first novel, independently published. There is just no excuse otherwise.
To not belabor the point, I’ll move on to the rest. I rarely ever read books this fast for a variety of reasons. The story kept me interested even though the broad strokes were what I expected. I didn’t feel like there was a proper payoff or explanation for one of the main red herrings, but otherwise was happy with how things played out. The a**hat got what he deserved and everyone lived happily ever after.
There was a romantic relationship that was shoehorned in for no reason whatsoever, but it was mostly a very minor storyline. I know it continues into future volumes of the series, but even though I don’t think it was necessary it could have been pushed off further down the line to make it a bit more of a natural progression of the relationship.
I will add further that while I am layperson in terms of the medical field, I do have a background in biology. The science was all stuff I was familiar with beyond the name of one specific hormone, so I suspect there’s not any concept that will be so confusing as to make the story hard to understand. And it might help you to understand the way the book presents the two main viewpoints of the medical professionals. It’s basically the “we’ve ruled some stuff out so this is what I think” versus the “we haven’t ruled out enough to have much of an opinion yet” crowds. It’s usually a matter of hubris versus ego that drives people in one direction or another. Incredibly intelligent people will find success regardless of which camp they fall into. If your pregnant wife, sister, or daughter were in a coma with an unexplained illness, you’d be understandably frustrated and impatient. And if you’re the aggressive, group 1 type you might be very angry at the group 2 approach. But it’s scientifically valid and arguably prudent to not rush through diagnosis and treatment.
All that said, I’d try more of the series and consider other titles by the same author.
August 21, 2025
Very interesting and original
I enjoyed reading this story. It is a mystery of medical research and treatment of a new disease killing young pregnant women.
I enjoyed reading this story. It is a mystery of medical research and treatment of a new disease killing young pregnant women.
July 25, 2025
I spent probably the first half of the book thinking that Jack was absolutely useless - so many people raved about how great of a doctor he is and how they had to have him there, but his only answer to anything was “I don’t know”. Then, in the second half, he did EVERYTHING. and I feel like that is probably a part of being a doctor that I just never thought about. How infuriating it must be to not have the answer!
July 23, 2025
I’m hooked.
“Error in Diagnosis” is my first Birken read. I just finished it and will purchase Book 2 of the series as soon as I finish writing this review. Birken is a masterful storyteller. He weaves plausible medical scenarios, suspenseful drama, and credible characters into an intriguing saga of life and death.
“Error in Diagnosis” is my first Birken read. I just finished it and will purchase Book 2 of the series as soon as I finish writing this review. Birken is a masterful storyteller. He weaves plausible medical scenarios, suspenseful drama, and credible characters into an intriguing saga of life and death.
August 18, 2025
dr Wyatt
This was an absolutely Great book to read. I’m sure things like this happen more often than not in the medical field. Like the Covid 19 scare. Something to think about. Glad Dr Wyatt stuck to his guns to overrule the other doctor that was not only rude but medically unethical. So glad the truth came out.
This was an absolutely Great book to read. I’m sure things like this happen more often than not in the medical field. Like the Covid 19 scare. Something to think about. Glad Dr Wyatt stuck to his guns to overrule the other doctor that was not only rude but medically unethical. So glad the truth came out.
August 13, 2025
ICU RN GIVES THUMBS UP TO THIS ONE!
A Medical puzzle, hostile hospital politics, government cooperation (well, that's a new twist), and a little romance thrown in - I have no idea how it could get any better!
I found very few medical treatments or references that lightly marred the whole thing - for instance, a staff member referring to a "respirator" rather than a
ventilator, and Code Blue sequence that ended with only epinephrine given. Anyhow, I enjoyed it immensely and highly recommend it for an hour or two's reading in the evening. Trouble is, you won't want to stop until it's finished!
A Medical puzzle, hostile hospital politics, government cooperation (well, that's a new twist), and a little romance thrown in - I have no idea how it could get any better!
I found very few medical treatments or references that lightly marred the whole thing - for instance, a staff member referring to a "respirator" rather than a
ventilator, and Code Blue sequence that ended with only epinephrine given. Anyhow, I enjoyed it immensely and highly recommend it for an hour or two's reading in the evening. Trouble is, you won't want to stop until it's finished!
July 11, 2025
2nd read for JFK book club! Enjoyed it but felt like there were a few plot holes
August 8, 2025
A great medical thriller with characters to root for. Pregnant women are coming down with an unknown disease, that is resisting all attempts at treatment. Can Madison Shaw and Jack Wyatt find out the cause and come up with a cure?
July 8, 2025
Wow!
5 stars. wow! For a first book its intense especially coming off of the civic pandemic. The book held my attention all the way to the end. I loved the characters. They were well developed and fleshed out. I'm looking forward in reading more books in this series. I give a round about review with no spoilers. Its not fair to the next reader. Each need to develop their own opinions about the book. I loved the storyline. Can't wait for another book.
5 stars. wow! For a first book its intense especially coming off of the civic pandemic. The book held my attention all the way to the end. I loved the characters. They were well developed and fleshed out. I'm looking forward in reading more books in this series. I give a round about review with no spoilers. Its not fair to the next reader. Each need to develop their own opinions about the book. I loved the storyline. Can't wait for another book.
July 31, 2025
RebelBob, age 88.
Exciting and very educational.
The hospital politics are just like
any organization, big or small,
very interesting.
Exciting and very educational.
The hospital politics are just like
any organization, big or small,
very interesting.
July 29, 2025
Wow!
Loved reading this book. Had me worrying about patients. I can't say much more about that! Had me reading into the early morning hours, I just couldn't put it down. One of the best I've read.
Loved reading this book. Had me worrying about patients. I can't say much more about that! Had me reading into the early morning hours, I just couldn't put it down. One of the best I've read.
July 28, 2025
Books involving the medical community have always been my weakness. Having worked with physicians/surgeons/researchers/CEOs, this book takes me back to the fascinating world of medicine. I highly recommend it.
July 24, 2025
Never Give Up
I loved the characters and their interactions, and best of all I liked the way a huge of professional Doctors worked together. Let’s pray that that if ever we need a miracle,God will work through some great Doctors.
I loved the characters and their interactions, and best of all I liked the way a huge of professional Doctors worked together. Let’s pray that that if ever we need a miracle,God will work through some great Doctors.
June 23, 2025
Really Enjoyable Medical Thriller
I loved this book! The characters were really well-written, and believable. I love science, especially medicine, and Dr. Birken provided the right amount of medical information, in order to explain things necessary for the storyline, but nothing to confuse the reader. I highly recommend Error in Diagnosis by Dr. Gary Birken, and look forward to reading more of his work.
I loved this book! The characters were really well-written, and believable. I love science, especially medicine, and Dr. Birken provided the right amount of medical information, in order to explain things necessary for the storyline, but nothing to confuse the reader. I highly recommend Error in Diagnosis by Dr. Gary Birken, and look forward to reading more of his work.
July 22, 2025
awsome book
I loved everything about this book - Characters and storyline and suspense. No dull parts, always moving on. I will definitely read more medical mysteries by Gary Birken !
I loved everything about this book - Characters and storyline and suspense. No dull parts, always moving on. I will definitely read more medical mysteries by Gary Birken !
June 20, 2025
3.0/5 Not sure how this book is under the genre of "Medical Thriller" because I'm in the medical field and this was not thrilling in any way. I've read books by Gary Birken before and enjoyed them and thought this one would be perfect for a nurse like me. It was heavy on medical terms and lots of boring hospital politics. Lacked twists, turns and thrills. I won't be reading the other books in this series.
January 21, 2025
Great read
The writer keeps the reader glued to the pages, informed and entertained. This book seems to have a glaring error insofar that it doesn’t seem likely that a drug with possible severe side effects would be used nation against an unproven virus without first testing the efficacy on a few patients. In other books by this author I thought his main character was a fictional superhero. After reading Gary’s biography I’m convinced that his works may be highly auto graphical. Even with flaws I love reading his books for both information and insights into the medical/political world.
The writer keeps the reader glued to the pages, informed and entertained. This book seems to have a glaring error insofar that it doesn’t seem likely that a drug with possible severe side effects would be used nation against an unproven virus without first testing the efficacy on a few patients. In other books by this author I thought his main character was a fictional superhero. After reading Gary’s biography I’m convinced that his works may be highly auto graphical. Even with flaws I love reading his books for both information and insights into the medical/political world.
July 14, 2025
Medical thriller, for sure
Medical thriller, for sure! Reads quickly with anticipation for the next tidbit! Hope to read more books by Gary Birkin!
Medical thriller, for sure! Reads quickly with anticipation for the next tidbit! Hope to read more books by Gary Birkin!
June 28, 2025
DIAGNOSIS DELIGHTFUL!
If you enjoy both science and sluething, Dr. Birkens books are a great fit. His description of the life & death drama; the commitment to discovery and both the political and personal relationship that take place in the corridors of a teaching hospital keep you so involved the reader tears through the book in one sitting. Thank goodness he is a prolific writer because his stories will turn you into a prolific reader.....I will be starting my next book now.
If you enjoy both science and sluething, Dr. Birkens books are a great fit. His description of the life & death drama; the commitment to discovery and both the political and personal relationship that take place in the corridors of a teaching hospital keep you so involved the reader tears through the book in one sitting. Thank goodness he is a prolific writer because his stories will turn you into a prolific reader.....I will be starting my next book now.
February 10, 2025
an unexplained disease
Jack Wyatt was called down to be a consultant at the floor of the hospital from his hospital in Ohio. There is a disease called GNS. that is affecting only certain pregnant woman. I found the story very thrilling and the characters were well written. I’d like a good medical thriller, and this certainly was it. There was danger, conspiracy, and tragedy. I recommend this book for all who like a good medical thriller.
Jack Wyatt was called down to be a consultant at the floor of the hospital from his hospital in Ohio. There is a disease called GNS. that is affecting only certain pregnant woman. I found the story very thrilling and the characters were well written. I’d like a good medical thriller, and this certainly was it. There was danger, conspiracy, and tragedy. I recommend this book for all who like a good medical thriller.
February 1, 2025
Great Medical Thrill Ride
I couldn't put this book down, no way,
From the first page, I was hooked, hooray!
Roller-coastering, turning each page,
Until the end, my heart engaged.
I couldn't stop, I had to know,
What happened next, I couldn't go.
And when it ended, I cried with glee,
What a ride, this book and me!
I couldn't put this book down, no way,
From the first page, I was hooked, hooray!
Roller-coastering, turning each page,
Until the end, my heart engaged.
I couldn't stop, I had to know,
What happened next, I couldn't go.
And when it ended, I cried with glee,
What a ride, this book and me!
February 3, 2025
Thoughts
I liked the book and will read the next in the series before deciding to continue. The plot was good, enough twists to keep me reading. There were a number (maybe too many) of characters which became confusing. Also, this needed a better proofreader as there were many errors within the story.
I liked the book and will read the next in the series before deciding to continue. The plot was good, enough twists to keep me reading. There were a number (maybe too many) of characters which became confusing. Also, this needed a better proofreader as there were many errors within the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews