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Dr. Mark Lin Medical Thrillers #1
Doctor Lucifer
“I don’t know which is worse: disease of the human body or disease of humanity.”
In today’s digital world, no one is safe from cyberattacks. Not even medical doctors and hospitals. Can a hacker remotely kill a doctor’s patients, just by altering medical records?
Dr. Mark Lin, a proficient but cynical and disillusioned internist, is the target of such a hacker, known as Doctor Lucifer. Three of his patients at Ivory Memorial Hospital suffer from medication errors, created by the hacker, yet Mark is forced to take the blame. However, he knows that a computer worm is spreading worldwide and crippling network security everywhere. When Doctor Lucifer threatens more patient deaths, Mark vows to defend his honor.
Together with the hospital’s information technology team, Mark scrambles to outwit the hacker and avert one medical crisis after another. But the consequences of Doctor Lucifer’s actions still hurt Mark, who soon hits rock bottom at the hands of a vengeful widow and an egotistical surgeon. He has no choice but to hunt down and confront Doctor Lucifer, an enemy with a truly malicious purpose.
Doctor Lucifer, Anthony Lee’s debut novel that is the first of a series, is a new take on the medical thriller, featuring unusual life-and-death situations, an antihero doctor taking center stage, and hard-hitting commentary on the state of humanity itself.
In today’s digital world, no one is safe from cyberattacks. Not even medical doctors and hospitals. Can a hacker remotely kill a doctor’s patients, just by altering medical records?
Dr. Mark Lin, a proficient but cynical and disillusioned internist, is the target of such a hacker, known as Doctor Lucifer. Three of his patients at Ivory Memorial Hospital suffer from medication errors, created by the hacker, yet Mark is forced to take the blame. However, he knows that a computer worm is spreading worldwide and crippling network security everywhere. When Doctor Lucifer threatens more patient deaths, Mark vows to defend his honor.
Together with the hospital’s information technology team, Mark scrambles to outwit the hacker and avert one medical crisis after another. But the consequences of Doctor Lucifer’s actions still hurt Mark, who soon hits rock bottom at the hands of a vengeful widow and an egotistical surgeon. He has no choice but to hunt down and confront Doctor Lucifer, an enemy with a truly malicious purpose.
Doctor Lucifer, Anthony Lee’s debut novel that is the first of a series, is a new take on the medical thriller, featuring unusual life-and-death situations, an antihero doctor taking center stage, and hard-hitting commentary on the state of humanity itself.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 24, 2024
23 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Anthony Lee
2 books8 followersAnthony Lee has a unique background in medicine. After graduating from medical school, he switched from clinical medicine to health technology assessment, analyzing new medical tests and treatments in a career spanning over 15 years.
As a writer, he found inspiration in a variety of literary works, both contemporary and classic. He has especially discovered the excitement of thriller novels, including medical thrillers by authors like Robin Cook and Tess Gerritsen, crime fiction by Michael Connelly, and Ian Fleming's James Bond novels. After years of brainstorming his own story ideas, he finally wrote and self-published his first medical thriller novel, Doctor Lucifer, in 2024.
When he is not writing, he enjoys things like music, movies, video games, sports, and travel. He lives in Northern California.
As a writer, he found inspiration in a variety of literary works, both contemporary and classic. He has especially discovered the excitement of thriller novels, including medical thrillers by authors like Robin Cook and Tess Gerritsen, crime fiction by Michael Connelly, and Ian Fleming's James Bond novels. After years of brainstorming his own story ideas, he finally wrote and self-published his first medical thriller novel, Doctor Lucifer, in 2024.
When he is not writing, he enjoys things like music, movies, video games, sports, and travel. He lives in Northern California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
June 4, 2024
Congratulations!! This wins the award for worst book I've read in 2024 (and I've read 90 at the time of reading this!). In fact, this may be one of the worst books I've read in the last 5 years. It was just
couldn't cut it in residency puts out a vanity project to show that he COULD have been a physician if he wanted to but actually just proves he's clueless and not completing residency did all of his future patients a favor."
Per his bio, the author graduated from medical school, but I can't find any evidence that he completed residency--and it's QUITE obvious that he didn't, because anyone who has ever worked in a hospital for more than a week would have caught half of the errors. Even if they weren't working in a clinical setting. For example, the CONSTANT references to "COVID-19." Sure, use the full term once to explain it on the off chance someone lived under a rock from 2019-2022. But not a SINGLE person who has ever worked in healthcare calls it that--it's just "Covid." Yet every single conversation among doctors/medical staff uses the full term. And so much of the dialogue in general is stiff or just....weird. There's a conversation about drinking milk for two pages because the main character didn't have a rib fracture.
And don't get me started on the "treatments." The dosing was SO wrong it's clear that it was never proofread by an ACTUAL physician. But don't worry, he still wants you to know he went to medical school, so he's going to go into great detail about things he DOES actually know about and not explain them in terms folks who don't understand medicine will know (ACLS, ET tubes, etc).
There is also apparently no legal department in this ENTIRE hospital, because anyone who has worked in a hospital sees 25 plot holes MINIMUM just by embracing standard hospital procedures. Examples:
OBVIOUSLY spoilers below!!
1.) Three of his patients code at the same time, one doesn't make it, it's determined to be a medication error, and he's not placed on leave?? He's allowed to keep working?
2.) He and another doctor get into a physical altercation, and neither of them are even sent home for the day, let alone suspended.
3.) He is admitting fault in the medication errors TO THE PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. Again, NO WAY a legal department would have allowed that to happen! And any actual physician knows better than to do that.
4.) He gets assaulted and shoots two people in self-defense and isn't even required to spend the night at the hospital? He goes back to work the next day? And again WHERE IS LEGAL??
Oh and this all happens in the span of three days.
SPOILERS END
He also makes fun of multiple medical shows (House, Grey's Anatomy, ER) for being ridiculous and unrealistic, but my dude....you lifted an entire section of your plot DIRECTLY from an episode of house, and this is 80 times more insane than any plot on any of those shows. And I've watched every episode of Grey's and House.
We also don't get the main character's back story until 68% into the book when he's driving around aimlessly and we had some time to kill. Not only was it SO late in the book, it also...did nothing to further the story or explain anything in a meaningful way.
From there, the ending is just insane and stupid. It's not worth reading for that reason. I won't spoil it in case you're inspired to read the worst book I've read this year (and it's my 90th at the time of writing this!), but....yikes. This book is trying to do 20 different things, and doesn't do a single one of them well.
I wish I could say something redeeming about this book. I really do, because writing is difficult and takes courage to put a book out into the world. But all I can really say is that the author claims to have sent this out to over 170 agents, and when none of them picked him up, he had "no other choice" but to self-publish. I love my independent authors. I am ALL about supporting self-published work. But this is one of those times that 170 rejections should have been seen as a sign that this was just....not good. Sometimes, the problem is you.
It was absolutely awful, and I can't imagine how this is expected to be a series. Save your time and energy, don't read this one.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this one in exchange for an honest review!
couldn't cut it in residency puts out a vanity project to show that he COULD have been a physician if he wanted to but actually just proves he's clueless and not completing residency did all of his future patients a favor."
Per his bio, the author graduated from medical school, but I can't find any evidence that he completed residency--and it's QUITE obvious that he didn't, because anyone who has ever worked in a hospital for more than a week would have caught half of the errors. Even if they weren't working in a clinical setting. For example, the CONSTANT references to "COVID-19." Sure, use the full term once to explain it on the off chance someone lived under a rock from 2019-2022. But not a SINGLE person who has ever worked in healthcare calls it that--it's just "Covid." Yet every single conversation among doctors/medical staff uses the full term. And so much of the dialogue in general is stiff or just....weird. There's a conversation about drinking milk for two pages because the main character didn't have a rib fracture.
And don't get me started on the "treatments." The dosing was SO wrong it's clear that it was never proofread by an ACTUAL physician. But don't worry, he still wants you to know he went to medical school, so he's going to go into great detail about things he DOES actually know about and not explain them in terms folks who don't understand medicine will know (ACLS, ET tubes, etc).
There is also apparently no legal department in this ENTIRE hospital, because anyone who has worked in a hospital sees 25 plot holes MINIMUM just by embracing standard hospital procedures. Examples:
OBVIOUSLY spoilers below!!
1.) Three of his patients code at the same time, one doesn't make it, it's determined to be a medication error, and he's not placed on leave?? He's allowed to keep working?
2.) He and another doctor get into a physical altercation, and neither of them are even sent home for the day, let alone suspended.
3.) He is admitting fault in the medication errors TO THE PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. Again, NO WAY a legal department would have allowed that to happen! And any actual physician knows better than to do that.
4.) He gets assaulted and shoots two people in self-defense and isn't even required to spend the night at the hospital? He goes back to work the next day? And again WHERE IS LEGAL??
Oh and this all happens in the span of three days.
SPOILERS END
He also makes fun of multiple medical shows (House, Grey's Anatomy, ER) for being ridiculous and unrealistic, but my dude....you lifted an entire section of your plot DIRECTLY from an episode of house, and this is 80 times more insane than any plot on any of those shows. And I've watched every episode of Grey's and House.
We also don't get the main character's back story until 68% into the book when he's driving around aimlessly and we had some time to kill. Not only was it SO late in the book, it also...did nothing to further the story or explain anything in a meaningful way.
From there, the ending is just insane and stupid. It's not worth reading for that reason. I won't spoil it in case you're inspired to read the worst book I've read this year (and it's my 90th at the time of writing this!), but....yikes. This book is trying to do 20 different things, and doesn't do a single one of them well.
I wish I could say something redeeming about this book. I really do, because writing is difficult and takes courage to put a book out into the world. But all I can really say is that the author claims to have sent this out to over 170 agents, and when none of them picked him up, he had "no other choice" but to self-publish. I love my independent authors. I am ALL about supporting self-published work. But this is one of those times that 170 rejections should have been seen as a sign that this was just....not good. Sometimes, the problem is you.
It was absolutely awful, and I can't imagine how this is expected to be a series. Save your time and energy, don't read this one.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this one in exchange for an honest review!
October 21, 2024
A medical thriller that had me screaming in my seat! When Dr. Mark Lin finds himself and his patients a victim of medical hacking, you would think that him or the hospital may want to take an extended medical leave to put all the pieces together. Not Ivory Memorial or Dr. Mark Lin! While there were definitely aspects of this storyline that drove me crazy, overall, it was a thrilling and quick read.
May 23, 2024
This is a fascinating look at the medical field when Dr. Mark Lin, an internist who is wildly popular and successful discovers his hospital has been hit with "Lucifer's Worm," a cyber pandemic affecting all the computers. Now, not only have patients' charts been changed, but medications and doses have been doubled, causing death, cardiac arrest, and rampant panic among all who work there. Lin feels it's somehow personal as he is getting "666" on his personal cell and can't figure out who would be so bold as to deliberately cause harm to patients when some are ready to be discharged. He's personally attacked in the parking lot and gets in a fight with one of his own doctors, all while hoping their cybersecurity team can figure out why they're being targeted. It's a crazy race to keep people alive as tensions run high and the "worm" seems to elude them at every turn!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
July 6, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Anthony Lee for providing an e-ARC. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book
It was okay…
Long explanations of medical terminology, didn’t really like the main character
His qualities
- a bit self centered
- lacked empathy
- loves music (especially his Spotify playlists) *can’t forget this one*
mystery/thriller but didn’t start to get into the action part until about halfway through. By that point I was ready for what was next, more suspense and some plot twists but nope. Perfect book if you’re a doctor or in the medical field and understand the terminology that’s thrown out there.
It was okay…
Long explanations of medical terminology, didn’t really like the main character
His qualities
- a bit self centered
- lacked empathy
- loves music (especially his Spotify playlists) *can’t forget this one*
mystery/thriller but didn’t start to get into the action part until about halfway through. By that point I was ready for what was next, more suspense and some plot twists but nope. Perfect book if you’re a doctor or in the medical field and understand the terminology that’s thrown out there.
May 29, 2024
My thanks to Net Galley and Author Buzz for allowing me this arc.
Working in Healthcare and having an IT person in the family, this book checked all the right boxes and was very relatable to me. Though the plot was very far fetched and would never happen on my nursing unit, it was very entertaining.
A computer hacker releases a virus called Lucifers Worm and attempts to sabotage the care of Dr Mark Lin s patients as he tries to find this mystery hacker.
Working in Healthcare and having an IT person in the family, this book checked all the right boxes and was very relatable to me. Though the plot was very far fetched and would never happen on my nursing unit, it was very entertaining.
A computer hacker releases a virus called Lucifers Worm and attempts to sabotage the care of Dr Mark Lin s patients as he tries to find this mystery hacker.
July 12, 2024
Thank you AuthorBuzz for allowing me to read and review Doctor Lucifer on NetGalley.
Published: 05/24/24
Stars: 2.5 (The profanity prevented me from rounding up.)
Anyone with medical experience, particularly in a hospital on the weekends and nights will find fault in this book. The main character is an established resident and on the surface likeable. However, once the contact with patients and their families begins his behavior is ludicrous and would not be allowed. The author is not writing satire. The story lost momentum at 50%.
The book depicts a major teaching hospital and the author writes a middle grade story.
The genre legal thriller is incorrect; threatening suit by a patient and a family is all that takes place.
The ending was childish and stayed with the middle grade boy mind set.
You can't take it seriously; there are some funny moments.
Published: 05/24/24
Stars: 2.5 (The profanity prevented me from rounding up.)
Anyone with medical experience, particularly in a hospital on the weekends and nights will find fault in this book. The main character is an established resident and on the surface likeable. However, once the contact with patients and their families begins his behavior is ludicrous and would not be allowed. The author is not writing satire. The story lost momentum at 50%.
The book depicts a major teaching hospital and the author writes a middle grade story.
The genre legal thriller is incorrect; threatening suit by a patient and a family is all that takes place.
The ending was childish and stayed with the middle grade boy mind set.
You can't take it seriously; there are some funny moments.
May 17, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, Anthony Lee, and AuthorBuzz for the ARC to read and review.
I will preface this by saying this author has potential and for a first book, it wasn’t awful. There are some improvements needed but potential for future 4-5⭐️ books is there.
Writing:
It was fairly evident that this was a debut novel. The writing fell short for me. Many times I skimmed pages to just get through some sections. Often there was over explanations of medical diagnoses which came across as condescending. I have a background in healthcare so perhaps that’s why I interpreted as such. I’m sure non-healthcare readers would appreciate the in depth explanations. The writing felt more diary or journal entry to me. If it had been structured as such, it would have been great. I did not care for lengthy sections on song selection, his Spotify playlist or is navigation through town. That was all filler content that should have been cut. Ideally, 30-50 pages could have been cut out and the content wouldn’t have been missed.
Additionally, the author goes on about Covid-19 numerous times. I don’t know about other readers but I could do without mention of that dreaded time. The author’s opinions and stances shine through quite vividly. I got the sense that he may be jaded and bitter and it came out in his main character. While not necessarily a bad thing, I don’t think it really worked for this book. It seems like this book was his outlet for his own personal feelings. The main character also assaults several people by “kicking them in the balls”, kinda threw me off. Why is a ball kicking the go-to method of choice? Seems weird for a grown, professional man to do that.
Plot:
As for the plot, I loved the idea of having a cyberattack cause havoc in the hospital as a plot to a thriller. It is a very believable thing to happen and I was excited to read how this would play out. I feel like there was some twists and angles that could have been pushed more to give this book the wow factor. It was so close to gripping my attention but fell short. Some more development on how to catch him and what he did to cause mayhem would have been interesting. And if I had to read “Lucifer Worm” one more time…
Characters:
The main doctor, Dr. Lin was so beyond irritating. I could not stand this character. He was whiny, annoying, unprofessional, arrogant and just flat out stupid. He had numerous interactions with Dr. Lucifer but really did nothing about it? His patient e-charts were hacked and no one thought to switch to paper like the old days? The rest of the characters had little to no development.
Takeaway:
The book is okay, it’s not very fast paced and took me longer than usual to get through. I skimmed about 20 pages of just filler content. The plot was interesting but lacked any real thrill. The characters were weak and minimally developed. It’s a good way to kill some time but I wouldn’t say it’s the next best thing. The author has huge potential and I think could put out some big things in the future. As a debut, it’s not bad. I would likely read another book from this author.
⭐️⭐️
I will preface this by saying this author has potential and for a first book, it wasn’t awful. There are some improvements needed but potential for future 4-5⭐️ books is there.
Writing:
It was fairly evident that this was a debut novel. The writing fell short for me. Many times I skimmed pages to just get through some sections. Often there was over explanations of medical diagnoses which came across as condescending. I have a background in healthcare so perhaps that’s why I interpreted as such. I’m sure non-healthcare readers would appreciate the in depth explanations. The writing felt more diary or journal entry to me. If it had been structured as such, it would have been great. I did not care for lengthy sections on song selection, his Spotify playlist or is navigation through town. That was all filler content that should have been cut. Ideally, 30-50 pages could have been cut out and the content wouldn’t have been missed.
Additionally, the author goes on about Covid-19 numerous times. I don’t know about other readers but I could do without mention of that dreaded time. The author’s opinions and stances shine through quite vividly. I got the sense that he may be jaded and bitter and it came out in his main character. While not necessarily a bad thing, I don’t think it really worked for this book. It seems like this book was his outlet for his own personal feelings. The main character also assaults several people by “kicking them in the balls”, kinda threw me off. Why is a ball kicking the go-to method of choice? Seems weird for a grown, professional man to do that.
Plot:
As for the plot, I loved the idea of having a cyberattack cause havoc in the hospital as a plot to a thriller. It is a very believable thing to happen and I was excited to read how this would play out. I feel like there was some twists and angles that could have been pushed more to give this book the wow factor. It was so close to gripping my attention but fell short. Some more development on how to catch him and what he did to cause mayhem would have been interesting. And if I had to read “Lucifer Worm” one more time…
Characters:
The main doctor, Dr. Lin was so beyond irritating. I could not stand this character. He was whiny, annoying, unprofessional, arrogant and just flat out stupid. He had numerous interactions with Dr. Lucifer but really did nothing about it? His patient e-charts were hacked and no one thought to switch to paper like the old days? The rest of the characters had little to no development.
Takeaway:
The book is okay, it’s not very fast paced and took me longer than usual to get through. I skimmed about 20 pages of just filler content. The plot was interesting but lacked any real thrill. The characters were weak and minimally developed. It’s a good way to kill some time but I wouldn’t say it’s the next best thing. The author has huge potential and I think could put out some big things in the future. As a debut, it’s not bad. I would likely read another book from this author.
⭐️⭐️
June 24, 2024
Interesting premise, but the writing was off. It was pretty much 200+ pages of mansplaining and it seemed as if the author wanted to shout out "look how much I know about medicine". It just fell flat for me and was a little hard to believe. If what happened in these pages happened in real life, the very FIRST thing that would have been done would be to notify your superiors of the issue and they would launch an investigation, rather than you, as a doctor, not bringing it up until absolutely necessary and then trying to suss out what was really going on.
June 22, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, author Anthony Lee and publisher Authorbuzz for allowing me to review an ARC of this book.
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ but I have to say that I feel the author has a whole lot of potential with future books to be a 4 or 5 star writer.
I loved that this thriller had a medical aspect to it. The terminology and language used was easy for non medical readers to understand and follow along with. The writing was slighting more geared towards YA readers in my opinion. I found too much of the book to be dialogue among the characters without really developing those characters to their full potential.
It kept my attention and there was a couple spots where the twists had me surprised. It wasn’t fast paced and I feel like it could have had so many twists and more ‘thriller’ aspects. The actions of Dr Lin and some of the things he says in my opinion do not represent a true professional doctor. some of the violent scenes seemed to lack something. i just kept waiting for something to 'jump out at me' so to speak.
I would look forward to reading future books by this author as I feel he can grow into an amazing author in the medical/thriller genre. I would recommend this book to others with just a heads up that it isn’t really a fast paced thriller.
Overall, a good read.
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ but I have to say that I feel the author has a whole lot of potential with future books to be a 4 or 5 star writer.
I loved that this thriller had a medical aspect to it. The terminology and language used was easy for non medical readers to understand and follow along with. The writing was slighting more geared towards YA readers in my opinion. I found too much of the book to be dialogue among the characters without really developing those characters to their full potential.
It kept my attention and there was a couple spots where the twists had me surprised. It wasn’t fast paced and I feel like it could have had so many twists and more ‘thriller’ aspects. The actions of Dr Lin and some of the things he says in my opinion do not represent a true professional doctor. some of the violent scenes seemed to lack something. i just kept waiting for something to 'jump out at me' so to speak.
I would look forward to reading future books by this author as I feel he can grow into an amazing author in the medical/thriller genre. I would recommend this book to others with just a heads up that it isn’t really a fast paced thriller.
Overall, a good read.
June 11, 2024
had a hard time reading this and analyzing at the same time. I wanted to read this for fun since it’s a medical thriller but my background’s in the medical field. There were many things that did NOT add up especially if you’re in the medical field. Anyone who works in the hospital or medical field would totally get it. So how is it this author who had worked in the medical field for 15 years(I think) screw this up?
If I didn’t have knowledge in medical field, I would’ve enjoyed it and given it 3 1/2 stars.
I actually think the storyline/concept was a fantastic idea.
It’s not a bad way to start a debut. It needs some polishing and a lot of researches. Also needs a better editor.
2 1/2 stars from me
Thank you Anthony Lee and NetGalley for this copy of eARC.
As usual, all of my reviews are purely my own opinions without any influence from any publisher..
If I didn’t have knowledge in medical field, I would’ve enjoyed it and given it 3 1/2 stars.
I actually think the storyline/concept was a fantastic idea.
It’s not a bad way to start a debut. It needs some polishing and a lot of researches. Also needs a better editor.
2 1/2 stars from me
Thank you Anthony Lee and NetGalley for this copy of eARC.
As usual, all of my reviews are purely my own opinions without any influence from any publisher..
July 21, 2024
A medical thriller that follows Dr. Mark Lin who’s being taunted by a mysterious person who calls himself Dr.Lucifer. It starts off with three of his patients to all having a medical emergency simultaneously and him having to make a choice on who to prioritize first.
As someone who works in the medical field I was really excited to see where the book could go, especially since we just experienced some sort of cyber shut down which affected millions of people and companies worldwide really turned my conspiracy theorist brain into overdrive. But then I got into the book it was absolutely horrible. The portrayal of the doctors and how they would speak to each other and patients families would never happen. It threw jabs at made for TV medical dramas but it was just as bad.
Some of the medical terminology or procedures could’ve been dumbed down just a little bit. Dr. Lin and some of the other characters lacked depth so it was really hard to connect with them.
The plot had major issues, such as the IT department's unrealistic response to a cyber attack that endangered patients. I was pretty much over the book around 30% in.
Overall, the book failed to meet my expectations both as a medical professional and a reader.
I understand this is the authors first book and I wish him luck in his future writings.
As someone who works in the medical field I was really excited to see where the book could go, especially since we just experienced some sort of cyber shut down which affected millions of people and companies worldwide really turned my conspiracy theorist brain into overdrive. But then I got into the book it was absolutely horrible. The portrayal of the doctors and how they would speak to each other and patients families would never happen. It threw jabs at made for TV medical dramas but it was just as bad.
Some of the medical terminology or procedures could’ve been dumbed down just a little bit. Dr. Lin and some of the other characters lacked depth so it was really hard to connect with them.
The plot had major issues, such as the IT department's unrealistic response to a cyber attack that endangered patients. I was pretty much over the book around 30% in.
Overall, the book failed to meet my expectations both as a medical professional and a reader.
I understand this is the authors first book and I wish him luck in his future writings.
June 29, 2024
I liked Dr. Mark Lin right from the beginning. It’s easy to feel sorry for him as bad things start happening to him. The plot was intriguing but lost it’s way about half way through and became preachy, redundant, and frankly, boring. Thankfully, the author got off his soap box and the last quarter of the book kicked in. The middle is the reason for three stars as opposed to four stars.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
June 4, 2024
Thoughts while reading. Debut novel.
Tesla owner? Not a positive for me.
Sounds like he's justifying his behavior as a doctor throughout the first chapter.
This book is making me angry, the fact that a computer hacker is causing such devastation.
This book has a very interesting premise. I don't like to think about how vulnerable everyone has become with our online information. At times the writing felt a little flat to me. I wanted more excitement, but the tone came across as clinical. The book would benefit from a more engaging writing style.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Tesla owner? Not a positive for me.
Sounds like he's justifying his behavior as a doctor throughout the first chapter.
This book is making me angry, the fact that a computer hacker is causing such devastation.
This book has a very interesting premise. I don't like to think about how vulnerable everyone has become with our online information. At times the writing felt a little flat to me. I wanted more excitement, but the tone came across as clinical. The book would benefit from a more engaging writing style.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
July 27, 2024
Not an awful read, I stuck to it as I wanted to get to the bottom of who Doctor Lucifer was!
But it was a slow read, I felt the plot and ideas were there, a Doctor, a cyber attack and a crazy hacker behind it but it could have been pushed a lot more to make it much more thrilling, I felt like all he action happened at the end and was over in a chapter.
A lot of it is conversation between characters that don't really need to be there, unnecessary.
I got a bit bored by halfway through, a lot of the story was repeating itself, same thing over and over, Talk to IT guys... Do doctor stuff... argue with surgeon, something happens with patient... Talk to IT guys.... Do doctor stuff.....
There was a lot of filler stuff I felt that didn't bring anything to the story such as a lot of time goinf into song selections on Spotify and mentioning the tesla.
Same with some characters, the seemed a bit flat amd didn't really need to be included, It got to the point where I couldn't remember who was which character.
Dr Lin himself, wasn't too hot on either, I like a book that I can see and feel the characters, I couldn't with him therefore I couldn't build up a likable bond to him.
However, I did like the medical side of thing, think it may be because of my own background but it was pretty accurate compared to some books which was good. Probably because the author does have a medical background himself.
It wasn't a bad read in any way, just lacked bite and thrill.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the read
But it was a slow read, I felt the plot and ideas were there, a Doctor, a cyber attack and a crazy hacker behind it but it could have been pushed a lot more to make it much more thrilling, I felt like all he action happened at the end and was over in a chapter.
A lot of it is conversation between characters that don't really need to be there, unnecessary.
I got a bit bored by halfway through, a lot of the story was repeating itself, same thing over and over, Talk to IT guys... Do doctor stuff... argue with surgeon, something happens with patient... Talk to IT guys.... Do doctor stuff.....
There was a lot of filler stuff I felt that didn't bring anything to the story such as a lot of time goinf into song selections on Spotify and mentioning the tesla.
Same with some characters, the seemed a bit flat amd didn't really need to be included, It got to the point where I couldn't remember who was which character.
Dr Lin himself, wasn't too hot on either, I like a book that I can see and feel the characters, I couldn't with him therefore I couldn't build up a likable bond to him.
However, I did like the medical side of thing, think it may be because of my own background but it was pretty accurate compared to some books which was good. Probably because the author does have a medical background himself.
It wasn't a bad read in any way, just lacked bite and thrill.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the read
January 1, 2025
As a nurse working in a hospital, this book was beyond hard to read. The amount of information in the book that was not researched was astounding. The dialogue felt stiff, the frequent reference of “Covid-19” felt off. Anyone that works in the hospital just calls it “Covid”. The medical dosing was off, and some parts were over detailed for no reason. WHY IS HE ADMITTING MEDICATION ERROR TO PATIENTS AND FAMILY & HR IS NOT INVOLVED?! Don’t even get me started on how he gets assaulted, shoots two people and is at work the next day? If hospital security even tazes someone at a hospital in our system EVERYONE gets new education order sets. I highly reccomend having a medical professional & Dr. who is practicing proof reading the next book attempted. Could use a lot of work, and cross reference to TV shows to make sure it’s not a cross reference.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2024
I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The story begins with Dr. Mark Lin starting his workday in the hospital. After reviewing hi patient list with the patient list with the night-time doctor, his day begins with a code blue. Dashing to the patient's room to aid his patient, another code blue is called and once more it is one of his patients. He stays with the 1st one because the team was still working and getting no response. He remains there and finally has to call the effort to an end because the patient has been declared dead. He then leaves the room to proceed to the next code blue call, but in this case, the team is able to handle it. During this time, a rapid response call is made and once more for one of his patients.
After heading to the next patient, he finds this one too has also recovered. This is quite unusual for this to happen all at once. He hopes the rest of the day will go better. He now has to notify the wife of the patient who died and is not looking forward to it. The wife is very combative. The rest of his day goes well and he begins looking at the charts of the 3 patients that had an emergency. As he reads though them, he discovers that his medication orders have been tampered with. He notifies the IT department to look into it. He explains that the Lucifer Worm that affected the email system nay be involved.
The next day he follows up with the IT department since he hasn't heard anything. In addition, he contacted the surgeon that he had asked for a consult on finding that nothing had been done. He was later called into his boss's office and questioned about the events that happened the previous day. It seems that the wife of the patient that had died had filed a complaint against him and talked about a possible lawsuit. He explained what happened and his theory on the Lucifer Worm. Once more there was an event of one of his patients where information was deleted from a patient's medical record. This was important because the patient needed a blood transfusion, and they didn't have info on her blood type.
At the end of his shift as he was trying to leave, there was a protest outside created by the wife of the patient that died. During the day while talking with two of the IT members, the surgeon Mark had tried to reach calls and Mark gives him an earful. The surgeon is not happy later that Mark called the on-call surgeon to handle. That night he joins friends for dinner and meets Peter, Jane's fiance who is involved in IT. After arriving home and relaxing, he gets a call from Dr. Lucifer who threatens him that something will happen the next day.
The next day when he arrives, he learns that one of his patients had an issue regarding her pacemaker. Luckily it was handled. During the day nothing else happens and Mark has the IT guys with him explaining what they found. As their talk is concluding, Mark is confronted by the Surgeon that Mark had initially contacted for the consult. Then he was pushed and attacked. Luckily the IT guys were around and were able to stop it. As a result of the altercation, he is called once more to his boss's office where he explains the nature of the altercation. After leaving the office and later that day, he has another emergency with one of his patients, again a result of Dr. Lucifer.
Mark's shift finally ends and he leaves to head home. As he gets to his car, he is attacked and struggles with his assalant. A gun is pulled and Mark fights for his life. A shot is fired and then Mark fights for the gun and wins after shooting the assailant. Mark winds up being taken to ER to be checked out. He is cleared and he is now off work for 6 days. He later is called by his boss and told to take off more time. After arriving home, he gets a message from Dr. Lucifer threaten him once more. Mark then decides he was going to put an end to this. He would find Dr. Lucifer and stop him.
Follow along as Mark searches for Dr. Lucifer and discover what conclusion Mark develops that finally leads him to the confrontation. Read how Mark has to overcome a situation if he is to survive.
This is definitely a book that you will not want to put down. The ending answers all of the questions as to why this started in the first place.
The story begins with Dr. Mark Lin starting his workday in the hospital. After reviewing hi patient list with the patient list with the night-time doctor, his day begins with a code blue. Dashing to the patient's room to aid his patient, another code blue is called and once more it is one of his patients. He stays with the 1st one because the team was still working and getting no response. He remains there and finally has to call the effort to an end because the patient has been declared dead. He then leaves the room to proceed to the next code blue call, but in this case, the team is able to handle it. During this time, a rapid response call is made and once more for one of his patients.
After heading to the next patient, he finds this one too has also recovered. This is quite unusual for this to happen all at once. He hopes the rest of the day will go better. He now has to notify the wife of the patient who died and is not looking forward to it. The wife is very combative. The rest of his day goes well and he begins looking at the charts of the 3 patients that had an emergency. As he reads though them, he discovers that his medication orders have been tampered with. He notifies the IT department to look into it. He explains that the Lucifer Worm that affected the email system nay be involved.
The next day he follows up with the IT department since he hasn't heard anything. In addition, he contacted the surgeon that he had asked for a consult on finding that nothing had been done. He was later called into his boss's office and questioned about the events that happened the previous day. It seems that the wife of the patient that had died had filed a complaint against him and talked about a possible lawsuit. He explained what happened and his theory on the Lucifer Worm. Once more there was an event of one of his patients where information was deleted from a patient's medical record. This was important because the patient needed a blood transfusion, and they didn't have info on her blood type.
At the end of his shift as he was trying to leave, there was a protest outside created by the wife of the patient that died. During the day while talking with two of the IT members, the surgeon Mark had tried to reach calls and Mark gives him an earful. The surgeon is not happy later that Mark called the on-call surgeon to handle. That night he joins friends for dinner and meets Peter, Jane's fiance who is involved in IT. After arriving home and relaxing, he gets a call from Dr. Lucifer who threatens him that something will happen the next day.
The next day when he arrives, he learns that one of his patients had an issue regarding her pacemaker. Luckily it was handled. During the day nothing else happens and Mark has the IT guys with him explaining what they found. As their talk is concluding, Mark is confronted by the Surgeon that Mark had initially contacted for the consult. Then he was pushed and attacked. Luckily the IT guys were around and were able to stop it. As a result of the altercation, he is called once more to his boss's office where he explains the nature of the altercation. After leaving the office and later that day, he has another emergency with one of his patients, again a result of Dr. Lucifer.
Mark's shift finally ends and he leaves to head home. As he gets to his car, he is attacked and struggles with his assalant. A gun is pulled and Mark fights for his life. A shot is fired and then Mark fights for the gun and wins after shooting the assailant. Mark winds up being taken to ER to be checked out. He is cleared and he is now off work for 6 days. He later is called by his boss and told to take off more time. After arriving home, he gets a message from Dr. Lucifer threaten him once more. Mark then decides he was going to put an end to this. He would find Dr. Lucifer and stop him.
Follow along as Mark searches for Dr. Lucifer and discover what conclusion Mark develops that finally leads him to the confrontation. Read how Mark has to overcome a situation if he is to survive.
This is definitely a book that you will not want to put down. The ending answers all of the questions as to why this started in the first place.
May 30, 2024
The latest malware, Lucifer's worm, is causing havoc with computer systems all over the world. A resourceful hacker, calling themselves "Doctor Lucifer", will utilize the resulting chaos to get revenge on medical professionals. The hacker's target is Dr. Mark Lin, a hospitalist, which means he is assigned patients who have been admitted to the hospital and is responsible for overseeing their care, including coordinating with the necessary specialists, deciding on treatment plans, and keeping family members informed about the patients and their medical care. It is a hectic, difficult job, but Dr. Lin will experience a day that is much worse than normal. Shortly after arriving for his shift, there are two “code blue” calls and a rapid response (a step below code blue in seriousness) almost simultaneously, and all involving his patients. One patient will die, and another will be taken to the ICU in critical condition. All three patients were victims of medication errors, either given too much of a medication or a medication to which they were allergic. However, Dr. Lin knows he did not order the medications in those doses or order the wrong medication. When reviewing the patient charts, he does not see the orders he placed but instead sees later orders for the incorrect medications that allegedly came from him, including at least one that was allegedly issued after his shift was over. He also discovers that the medication allergy for the one patient had been deleted from all of her records. In addition to the changes to the medical records, Dr. Lin is receiving threatening phone calls, e-mails and texts from Doctor Lucifer.
Dr. Lin is puzzled by why he and his patients are the target. While by no means perfect, he is very conscientious about patient care and has repeatedly been named "Doctor of the Month." He is unaware of any recent patients or their families who are upset at him, especially so upset that they would resort to harming other patients. He gets along with his coworkers, other than Dr. Pierson, a surgeon who is rude and abrasive to everyone -- patients and staff. Working with the hospital IT department, Dr. Lin will have to figure out how to find and stop Doctor Lucifer before more patients are harmed or killed and before his career is ruined. There will be more close calls, as Doctor Lucifer continues to manipulate patient records, and even tamper with medical devices. Added to the chaos is the conflict with Dr. Pierson, as well as the very angry and activist widow of the deceased patient, whose behavior will expose Dr. Lin to physical harm.
Dr. Lin is puzzled by why he and his patients are the target. While by no means perfect, he is very conscientious about patient care and has repeatedly been named "Doctor of the Month." He is unaware of any recent patients or their families who are upset at him, especially so upset that they would resort to harming other patients. He gets along with his coworkers, other than Dr. Pierson, a surgeon who is rude and abrasive to everyone -- patients and staff. Working with the hospital IT department, Dr. Lin will have to figure out how to find and stop Doctor Lucifer before more patients are harmed or killed and before his career is ruined. There will be more close calls, as Doctor Lucifer continues to manipulate patient records, and even tamper with medical devices. Added to the chaos is the conflict with Dr. Pierson, as well as the very angry and activist widow of the deceased patient, whose behavior will expose Dr. Lin to physical harm.
May 23, 2024
Doctor Lucifer potently blends the dynamics of a medical thriller with the sheer hysteria involved in a brutal cyberattack. Written with the authority of an insider, Lee is one of the year’s most exciting new voices.
Minutes before Anaheim internist Dr. Mark Lin goes about his usual morning rounds, he receives an alarming text message from the hospital administrator warning of debilitating spam attacks. Soon after, he comes across a frightening headline: Lucifer’s Worm Cripples Computer Systems Worldwide. He absorbs the information with dispassionate interest, never dreaming that it might affect him personally.
What follows is a visceral, breathless series of medical emergencies that tests Dr. Lin’s skill, knowledge and sanity. One of his patients dies suddenly – defying Dr. Lin’s attempts to resuscitate him. Elsewhere in the hospital, two previously stable patients take sudden turns for the worse. His analysis finds critical dosage errors, and in one case, a patient who had been given a medicine she was allergic to. Despite the fact that networked technologies are a part of modern medicine, the idea that these errors might be due to Lucifer’s Worm only crosses his mind later.
But as consequences of the cyber pandemic continue to stack up at the hospital, he realizes that what he’s experiencing may not be simply part of a massive blunt-force attack. It is – pardon the pun – a surgical strike. As the first text message targeting him makes clear, this is decidedly personal.
Author Anthony Lee, a med school graduate who spent 15 years analyzing new medical tests and treatments, writes with the authority of a healthcare insider. Written from Dr. Lin’s point of view, Lee’s depiction of the required context-shifting as the doctor switches from patient to patient feels not only real but also overwhelming. So too does the hellacious mental toll of his daily grind, made all the harder by these relentless and malevolent attacks. But what really hits home is the emotional toll of even the prospect that lethal medical errors may have somehow been his fault.
One of the book’s high points is a plot device ripped straight out of real-life serial killer cases: a taunting message from the perpetrator. Examination of the poem, which is in fact a riddle, becomes one of Lee’s most enthralling story hooks. From cover-to-cover, Doctor Lucifer is a nonstop vehicle for suspense. More than that, it explores how vulnerable the state of the healthcare system is to malicious actors.
Minutes before Anaheim internist Dr. Mark Lin goes about his usual morning rounds, he receives an alarming text message from the hospital administrator warning of debilitating spam attacks. Soon after, he comes across a frightening headline: Lucifer’s Worm Cripples Computer Systems Worldwide. He absorbs the information with dispassionate interest, never dreaming that it might affect him personally.
What follows is a visceral, breathless series of medical emergencies that tests Dr. Lin’s skill, knowledge and sanity. One of his patients dies suddenly – defying Dr. Lin’s attempts to resuscitate him. Elsewhere in the hospital, two previously stable patients take sudden turns for the worse. His analysis finds critical dosage errors, and in one case, a patient who had been given a medicine she was allergic to. Despite the fact that networked technologies are a part of modern medicine, the idea that these errors might be due to Lucifer’s Worm only crosses his mind later.
But as consequences of the cyber pandemic continue to stack up at the hospital, he realizes that what he’s experiencing may not be simply part of a massive blunt-force attack. It is – pardon the pun – a surgical strike. As the first text message targeting him makes clear, this is decidedly personal.
Author Anthony Lee, a med school graduate who spent 15 years analyzing new medical tests and treatments, writes with the authority of a healthcare insider. Written from Dr. Lin’s point of view, Lee’s depiction of the required context-shifting as the doctor switches from patient to patient feels not only real but also overwhelming. So too does the hellacious mental toll of his daily grind, made all the harder by these relentless and malevolent attacks. But what really hits home is the emotional toll of even the prospect that lethal medical errors may have somehow been his fault.
One of the book’s high points is a plot device ripped straight out of real-life serial killer cases: a taunting message from the perpetrator. Examination of the poem, which is in fact a riddle, becomes one of Lee’s most enthralling story hooks. From cover-to-cover, Doctor Lucifer is a nonstop vehicle for suspense. More than that, it explores how vulnerable the state of the healthcare system is to malicious actors.
May 27, 2024
"Doctor Lucifer," the first installment in the Dr. Mark Lin Medical Thrillers series by Anthony Lee, is a gripping novel that adeptly melds the realms of cybercrime and medical drama. Set in an era where digital security is paramount, Lee's narrative explores the chilling possibility of a hacker manipulating medical records to fatal ends, creating a suspenseful and thought-provoking thriller.
Dr. Mark Lin, the protagonist, is a seasoned internist who finds himself in the crosshairs of a nefarious hacker known as Doctor Lucifer. The story kicks off with three of Mark's patients at Ivory Memorial Hospital falling victim to medication errors orchestrated by the hacker, casting a shadow of doubt and blame on him. This setup is not only intriguing but also terrifyingly plausible, reflecting our increasing dependence on technology in healthcare.
Lee's portrayal of Mark Lin as a cynical and disillusioned doctor adds depth to the character, making his journey compelling. The narrative gains momentum as Mark teams up with the hospital’s IT team to counter the hacker's threats. The ensuing battle against time and technology keeps readers on the edge of their seats, showcasing Lee's skill in building tension and suspense.
What sets "Doctor Lucifer" apart is its exploration of the human element amidst the technological chaos. Mark's struggles are not limited to the digital battlefield; he faces personal and professional upheavals, including the wrath of a vengeful widow and the antagonism of an egotistical surgeon. These subplots enrich the main narrative, providing a well-rounded view of the protagonist's life and challenges.
Anthony Lee’s writing is sharp and engaging, and his ability to create believable and high-stakes scenarios is commendable. The book also serves as a commentary on the vulnerabilities of modern medical systems, raising pertinent questions about cybersecurity in healthcare.
However, the novel is not without its flaws. At times, the technical jargon can be overwhelming for readers not well-versed in cybersecurity. Additionally, the pacing occasionally falters with some repetitive sequences, but these are minor quibbles in an otherwise compelling story.
"Doctor Lucifer" is a strong debut that promises more thrilling adventures in the series. It’s a must-read for fans of medical thrillers and cybercrime, offering a fresh take on both genres. Anthony Lee has successfully crafted a story that is not only a page-turner but also a stark reminder of the dark possibilities lurking in our digital world.
Dr. Mark Lin, the protagonist, is a seasoned internist who finds himself in the crosshairs of a nefarious hacker known as Doctor Lucifer. The story kicks off with three of Mark's patients at Ivory Memorial Hospital falling victim to medication errors orchestrated by the hacker, casting a shadow of doubt and blame on him. This setup is not only intriguing but also terrifyingly plausible, reflecting our increasing dependence on technology in healthcare.
Lee's portrayal of Mark Lin as a cynical and disillusioned doctor adds depth to the character, making his journey compelling. The narrative gains momentum as Mark teams up with the hospital’s IT team to counter the hacker's threats. The ensuing battle against time and technology keeps readers on the edge of their seats, showcasing Lee's skill in building tension and suspense.
What sets "Doctor Lucifer" apart is its exploration of the human element amidst the technological chaos. Mark's struggles are not limited to the digital battlefield; he faces personal and professional upheavals, including the wrath of a vengeful widow and the antagonism of an egotistical surgeon. These subplots enrich the main narrative, providing a well-rounded view of the protagonist's life and challenges.
Anthony Lee’s writing is sharp and engaging, and his ability to create believable and high-stakes scenarios is commendable. The book also serves as a commentary on the vulnerabilities of modern medical systems, raising pertinent questions about cybersecurity in healthcare.
However, the novel is not without its flaws. At times, the technical jargon can be overwhelming for readers not well-versed in cybersecurity. Additionally, the pacing occasionally falters with some repetitive sequences, but these are minor quibbles in an otherwise compelling story.
"Doctor Lucifer" is a strong debut that promises more thrilling adventures in the series. It’s a must-read for fans of medical thrillers and cybercrime, offering a fresh take on both genres. Anthony Lee has successfully crafted a story that is not only a page-turner but also a stark reminder of the dark possibilities lurking in our digital world.
October 8, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
“Doctor Lucifer” by Anthony Lee is a gripping medical thriller that delves into the dark intersections of healthcare and cybersecurity. This debut novel introduces readers to Dr. Mark Lin, a skilled but disillusioned internist at Ivory Memorial Hospital in Southern California. The story kicks off with a series of mysterious medication errors that put patients’ lives at risk, all seemingly orchestrated by a nefarious hacker known only as Doctor Lucifer.
The plot is a rollercoaster of suspense and intrigue. As Dr. Lin races against time to uncover the hacker’s identity and clear his name, readers are taken on a journey through the high-stakes world of modern medicine. The tension is palpable, with each chapter revealing new twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Lee masterfully blends medical knowledge with the thrill of a mystery, making the narrative both educational and entertaining.
Dr. Mark Lin is a complex protagonist, grappling with personal demons and professional challenges. His journey from cynicism to determination is compelling, and readers will find themselves rooting for him despite his flaws. The supporting characters, including hospital staff and patients, are well-drawn and add depth to the story.
The writing is crisp and engaging. Lee’s background in the medical field is evident in the detailed and accurate descriptions of hospital procedures and the ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare professionals. The dialogue is sharp, and the pacing is brisk, ensuring that there is never a dull moment.
“Doctor Lucifer” explores timely themes such as the vulnerabilities of healthcare systems to cyber attacks and the ethical implications of technology in medicine. These elements add a layer of realism to the story, making it not just a thriller but also a thought-provoking read.
“Doctor Lucifer” is a standout debut that combines the thrills of a mystery with the intricacies of medical drama. Anthony Lee has crafted a story that is both entertaining and enlightening, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. Whether you’re a medical professional or simply a lover of thrillers, this book is sure to keep you hooked from start to finish.
Personally, I enjoyed this book thoroughly. If you are a fan of Robin Cook's medical novels, this might be right up your alley.
“Doctor Lucifer” by Anthony Lee is a gripping medical thriller that delves into the dark intersections of healthcare and cybersecurity. This debut novel introduces readers to Dr. Mark Lin, a skilled but disillusioned internist at Ivory Memorial Hospital in Southern California. The story kicks off with a series of mysterious medication errors that put patients’ lives at risk, all seemingly orchestrated by a nefarious hacker known only as Doctor Lucifer.
The plot is a rollercoaster of suspense and intrigue. As Dr. Lin races against time to uncover the hacker’s identity and clear his name, readers are taken on a journey through the high-stakes world of modern medicine. The tension is palpable, with each chapter revealing new twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Lee masterfully blends medical knowledge with the thrill of a mystery, making the narrative both educational and entertaining.
Dr. Mark Lin is a complex protagonist, grappling with personal demons and professional challenges. His journey from cynicism to determination is compelling, and readers will find themselves rooting for him despite his flaws. The supporting characters, including hospital staff and patients, are well-drawn and add depth to the story.
The writing is crisp and engaging. Lee’s background in the medical field is evident in the detailed and accurate descriptions of hospital procedures and the ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare professionals. The dialogue is sharp, and the pacing is brisk, ensuring that there is never a dull moment.
“Doctor Lucifer” explores timely themes such as the vulnerabilities of healthcare systems to cyber attacks and the ethical implications of technology in medicine. These elements add a layer of realism to the story, making it not just a thriller but also a thought-provoking read.
“Doctor Lucifer” is a standout debut that combines the thrills of a mystery with the intricacies of medical drama. Anthony Lee has crafted a story that is both entertaining and enlightening, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. Whether you’re a medical professional or simply a lover of thrillers, this book is sure to keep you hooked from start to finish.
Personally, I enjoyed this book thoroughly. If you are a fan of Robin Cook's medical novels, this might be right up your alley.
May 22, 2024
Review of eBook
It isn’t turning out to be the best shift at the hospital for Doctor Mark Lin. He’s just finished consulting with Doctor Jay McKinnon, the nocturnist who cares for his patients when he is off-duty when the Code Blue alarm sounds.
Before he is able to finish caring for Christopher Flint, a Code Blue sounds for another of his patients. Then a Rapid Response call is issued for yet anther of his patients.
Three of his patients coding almost simultaneously? What is happening?
When all the patients have been cared for, Doctor Lin sits down to document the treatment and discovers that the treatment protocols listed in the patients’ charts are not at all what he’d prescribed.
Why are the treatment protocols different? Who changed them?
And who is trying to kill his patients?
=======
The clever and inventive plot in this medical thriller involves a cyberattack in which patients’ records are purposely altered, leading to catastrophic results. The strong sense of place, supported by instructive medical information, kept the story moving along. [One does wonder, however, why, after the initial computer issues, the hospital staff . . . including Doctor Lin . . . did not simply abandon the computer records and revert to “old-fashioned” handwritten charts.]
There’s a bit more explanation throughout the telling of this tale than readers might expect to find in a thriller, but providing the reader with the medical background seems appropriate. Ultimately, the unfolding story is quite twisted and not at all what the reader might have expected. But it does make for great escapist reading.
As readers hear more and more about computer hacking and Artificial Intelligence in the real world, this story acquires an added plausibility. As readers find unexpected revelations and long-held secrets are exposed, the story takes on an added sense of urgency in the need to find and stop the culprits.
Readers who enjoy medical stories, thrillers, and computer-generated mayhem are sure to enjoy this imaginative tale.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this book from AuthorBuzz and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
#DoctorLucifer #NetGalley
It isn’t turning out to be the best shift at the hospital for Doctor Mark Lin. He’s just finished consulting with Doctor Jay McKinnon, the nocturnist who cares for his patients when he is off-duty when the Code Blue alarm sounds.
Before he is able to finish caring for Christopher Flint, a Code Blue sounds for another of his patients. Then a Rapid Response call is issued for yet anther of his patients.
Three of his patients coding almost simultaneously? What is happening?
When all the patients have been cared for, Doctor Lin sits down to document the treatment and discovers that the treatment protocols listed in the patients’ charts are not at all what he’d prescribed.
Why are the treatment protocols different? Who changed them?
And who is trying to kill his patients?
=======
The clever and inventive plot in this medical thriller involves a cyberattack in which patients’ records are purposely altered, leading to catastrophic results. The strong sense of place, supported by instructive medical information, kept the story moving along. [One does wonder, however, why, after the initial computer issues, the hospital staff . . . including Doctor Lin . . . did not simply abandon the computer records and revert to “old-fashioned” handwritten charts.]
There’s a bit more explanation throughout the telling of this tale than readers might expect to find in a thriller, but providing the reader with the medical background seems appropriate. Ultimately, the unfolding story is quite twisted and not at all what the reader might have expected. But it does make for great escapist reading.
As readers hear more and more about computer hacking and Artificial Intelligence in the real world, this story acquires an added plausibility. As readers find unexpected revelations and long-held secrets are exposed, the story takes on an added sense of urgency in the need to find and stop the culprits.
Readers who enjoy medical stories, thrillers, and computer-generated mayhem are sure to enjoy this imaginative tale.
Recommended.
I received a free copy of this book from AuthorBuzz and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
#DoctorLucifer #NetGalley
September 9, 2024
ARC Review-- 3.5 ⭐
Publication Date- May 24, 2024
Let me start by saying--don't believe everything you read in reviews. I had read the previous reviews for this book, a lot of which were negative and low scoring. There were however very high reviews as well loaded with praise. Please as a reader of books--make your own decisions and come to your own conclusion and opinion. I do not let others reviews influence me one way or the other, however with this book I noticed a lot of negative reviews about things that didn't even matter once I sat down and read the book, so please give books their fair chance.
With that out of the way--Doctor Lucifer follows Dr. Mark Lin--an internist at Ivory Medical Center and the downfall of patients in his care alongside a cyber attack called Lucifer's Worm orchestrated by Dr. Lucifer himself. Dr Lin rushes to save his patients and clear his name all the while Lucifer's Worm is working its way through the world destroying everything in its path. Dr Lin knows something isn't quite right and will stop at nothing until he discovers who is behind the mysterious Dr. Lucifer.
I really liked the premise of this novel--it is built on the medical field without being too technical for my liking. I do work in the medical field, however I didn't find this to be too full of jargon or things I didn't understand--and I am not a clinical healthcare provider at all, I simply handle patient access/registration. I also enjoyed the thriller aspect of the cyber attack and the mystery of who would end up being unmasked as Dr. Lucifer. I found myself having a few guesses and changing them throughout the course of the book. The characterization of the characters is great, they didn't fall flat and I found them relatable. A few things within the book seemed far fetched--for instance the attack on the roof of the parking garage, but most of the book I could see happening given the circumstances.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and think it would be a great read for anyone whom is looking for a medical thriller.
✨Thank you to NetGalley, AuthorBuzz, and the author for an copy of this book in exchange for my honest review ✨
Publication Date- May 24, 2024
Let me start by saying--don't believe everything you read in reviews. I had read the previous reviews for this book, a lot of which were negative and low scoring. There were however very high reviews as well loaded with praise. Please as a reader of books--make your own decisions and come to your own conclusion and opinion. I do not let others reviews influence me one way or the other, however with this book I noticed a lot of negative reviews about things that didn't even matter once I sat down and read the book, so please give books their fair chance.
With that out of the way--Doctor Lucifer follows Dr. Mark Lin--an internist at Ivory Medical Center and the downfall of patients in his care alongside a cyber attack called Lucifer's Worm orchestrated by Dr. Lucifer himself. Dr Lin rushes to save his patients and clear his name all the while Lucifer's Worm is working its way through the world destroying everything in its path. Dr Lin knows something isn't quite right and will stop at nothing until he discovers who is behind the mysterious Dr. Lucifer.
I really liked the premise of this novel--it is built on the medical field without being too technical for my liking. I do work in the medical field, however I didn't find this to be too full of jargon or things I didn't understand--and I am not a clinical healthcare provider at all, I simply handle patient access/registration. I also enjoyed the thriller aspect of the cyber attack and the mystery of who would end up being unmasked as Dr. Lucifer. I found myself having a few guesses and changing them throughout the course of the book. The characterization of the characters is great, they didn't fall flat and I found them relatable. A few things within the book seemed far fetched--for instance the attack on the roof of the parking garage, but most of the book I could see happening given the circumstances.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and think it would be a great read for anyone whom is looking for a medical thriller.
✨Thank you to NetGalley, AuthorBuzz, and the author for an copy of this book in exchange for my honest review ✨
June 1, 2024
I’m unexpectedly surprised at how much I enjoyed Doctor Lucifer. I will say that originally the title sounded a bit “cheesy” to me and there were a few “cheesy” lines early on in the book but the overall quality and thrill factor were there.
Synopsis;
Imagine a cyber COVID-19 pandemic that rampages through a hospital threatening to kill any unlucky patient in it’s path. That’s what Dr. Mark Lin finds when he checks in at the start of his hospital shift. He is immediately plagued with two code blues and one rapid response all happening to his patients simultaneously.
In the aftermath, while combing through each patient’s chart, Dr. Lin stumbles across disturbing inaccuracies. But he is certain he didn’t make these entries or these mistakes that sent three patients into a tailspin. When the hospital administration sends an alert that hospital e mail has been hacked and the media news headlines are flooded with the threat of a new cyber attack, Lucifer’s Worm, Dr. Lin realizes something more sinister is going on. Along with the hospital’s IT team, he goes on a mission to put a stop to Lucifer’s Worm, and the person behind it, before it kills his patients and his career.
Thoughts:
I was easily drawn into the author’s syntax and writing style. The story flowed easily and seemlessly. The medical terminology was well explained and obviously from someone with medical knowledge. I wasn’t surprised to find that the author is also a doctor.
The plot line is unique and intriguing and easily pulls the reader into the story. I loved the addition of incidents and red herrings that pulled my thoughts towards other suspects.
All and all this is a great thriller debut. I will definitely watch out for more novels by author Anthony Lee.
One final comment: this book is published by the author. I’m not sure if that was by necessity or choice but I have a feeling the publishing doors will open if Mr. Lee is interested.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest review.
Synopsis;
Imagine a cyber COVID-19 pandemic that rampages through a hospital threatening to kill any unlucky patient in it’s path. That’s what Dr. Mark Lin finds when he checks in at the start of his hospital shift. He is immediately plagued with two code blues and one rapid response all happening to his patients simultaneously.
In the aftermath, while combing through each patient’s chart, Dr. Lin stumbles across disturbing inaccuracies. But he is certain he didn’t make these entries or these mistakes that sent three patients into a tailspin. When the hospital administration sends an alert that hospital e mail has been hacked and the media news headlines are flooded with the threat of a new cyber attack, Lucifer’s Worm, Dr. Lin realizes something more sinister is going on. Along with the hospital’s IT team, he goes on a mission to put a stop to Lucifer’s Worm, and the person behind it, before it kills his patients and his career.
Thoughts:
I was easily drawn into the author’s syntax and writing style. The story flowed easily and seemlessly. The medical terminology was well explained and obviously from someone with medical knowledge. I wasn’t surprised to find that the author is also a doctor.
The plot line is unique and intriguing and easily pulls the reader into the story. I loved the addition of incidents and red herrings that pulled my thoughts towards other suspects.
All and all this is a great thriller debut. I will definitely watch out for more novels by author Anthony Lee.
One final comment: this book is published by the author. I’m not sure if that was by necessity or choice but I have a feeling the publishing doors will open if Mr. Lee is interested.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 17, 2024
Doctor Lucifer by Anthony Lee is a compelling blend of medical drama and cyber warfare, delving into the sinister potential of our digital age. The story follows Dr. Mark Lin, a skilled yet skeptical internist at Ivory Memorial Hospital, who becomes ensnared in a deadly game with a malevolent hacker known as Doctor Lucifer. As medication errors orchestrated by the hacker lead to the deaths of three patients, Mark finds himself wrongly accused and must team up with the hospital's IT team to unmask the real perpetrator. The stakes are high as he battles to clear his name and avert further tragedies.
Anthony Lee’s narrative shines in its portrayal of the complex intersection between modern technology and medicine. Themes such as technological vulnerability, professional integrity, and the personal toll of cybercrime are explored with depth and nuance. The novel’s strength lies in its ability to weave suspense with a dramatic portrayal of contemporary challenges in the medical field. The diverse supporting cast, particularly the hospital's IT team and staff, enriches the story, creating a multifaceted world that adds layers to the main plot. The abundance of technical jargon related to cybersecurity may present a learning opportunity for readers new to these concepts. A more balanced integration of technical details could enhance the story’s accessibility, inviting a broader audience to appreciate its depth. Dr. Lin’s internal conflicts and introspections, essential for his character development, are richly portrayed; however, a more varied and succinct expression of his thoughts could refine the narrative’s pace, making it even more engaging.
Doctor Lucifer is a thought-provoking and exhilarating read that revitalizes the medical thriller genre. It promises a thrilling journey for fans of the Dr. Mark Lin Medical Thrillers series and leaves readers eager for more adventures.
Anthony Lee’s narrative shines in its portrayal of the complex intersection between modern technology and medicine. Themes such as technological vulnerability, professional integrity, and the personal toll of cybercrime are explored with depth and nuance. The novel’s strength lies in its ability to weave suspense with a dramatic portrayal of contemporary challenges in the medical field. The diverse supporting cast, particularly the hospital's IT team and staff, enriches the story, creating a multifaceted world that adds layers to the main plot. The abundance of technical jargon related to cybersecurity may present a learning opportunity for readers new to these concepts. A more balanced integration of technical details could enhance the story’s accessibility, inviting a broader audience to appreciate its depth. Dr. Lin’s internal conflicts and introspections, essential for his character development, are richly portrayed; however, a more varied and succinct expression of his thoughts could refine the narrative’s pace, making it even more engaging.
Doctor Lucifer is a thought-provoking and exhilarating read that revitalizes the medical thriller genre. It promises a thrilling journey for fans of the Dr. Mark Lin Medical Thrillers series and leaves readers eager for more adventures.
July 30, 2024
Medical thrillers are always exciting and this book had a great idea that lacked in execution. Cyber hacking is all over the news and this story about a doctor whose patient files are hacked had an interesting start. Dr. Mark Lin is an internist who works at Ivory Memorial Hospital in California. The hospital staff hears about a wide-spread computer attack and personnel are warned about not opening up suspicious emails. Then three of Dr Lin's patients receive the wrong medication, and it appears someone is changing his medical orders in the computer. After one patient dies and two others are badly hurt, the doctor starts receiving phone calls from someone calling himself Dr. Lucifer and saying he will destroy Dr. Lin's career. Can Dr. Lin find out who wants to harm him before anyone else dies?
The plot is good but the writing at times seems juvenile. After having patients die and become injured due to computer errors, Dr. Lin would have been required to take leave and he wouldn't be talking to the patient's families without meeting with the hospital legal department. Events such as a group of doctors "giggling" over a minor joke and constant talk about kicking people in the balls just seemed like teenage actions not those of an adult. Even after Dr. Lin is attacked and other people die in the hospital, he is never spoken to by hospital legal staff or forced to stay home. He also never notifies the legal department or the police about the phone calls he is receiving. The hospital IT department didn't seem overly concerned about the very big security breach nor did they notify the administrators.
The story also contained too much filler including endless lists of Spotify songs the doctor likes and too many descriptions of needless actions like sitting down, standing up etc. The ending was exciting and this could make a good novel with some update. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC to review.
The plot is good but the writing at times seems juvenile. After having patients die and become injured due to computer errors, Dr. Lin would have been required to take leave and he wouldn't be talking to the patient's families without meeting with the hospital legal department. Events such as a group of doctors "giggling" over a minor joke and constant talk about kicking people in the balls just seemed like teenage actions not those of an adult. Even after Dr. Lin is attacked and other people die in the hospital, he is never spoken to by hospital legal staff or forced to stay home. He also never notifies the legal department or the police about the phone calls he is receiving. The hospital IT department didn't seem overly concerned about the very big security breach nor did they notify the administrators.
The story also contained too much filler including endless lists of Spotify songs the doctor likes and too many descriptions of needless actions like sitting down, standing up etc. The ending was exciting and this could make a good novel with some update. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC to review.
June 11, 2024
Being a doctor post Covid is hard, and extremely under-appreciated. Feeling this stress is Dr. Mark Lin, a hard working and compassionate doctor who tries to always do what is right for his patients. But when not one but two patients die while on his watch, and by computer errors, Dr. Lin can’t help but wonder if it was his mistake or Dr. Lucifer’s.
There has been a recent crippling string of cyber attacks done by the elusive hacker known as Lucifer’s Worm. Who is targeting corporations that many people depended on such as banks, Amazon, and courthouses which lead to a cyber type pandemic. Lucifer hopes these attacks will bring the world to chaos. Soon Mike discovers that he is Lucifer’s newest target, or more like his patients, who end up dying due to the hacker changing their medical files or medications leading to their deaths. Can Mike outwit this cyber foe before more innocent people die or will Mike be the next to be deleted?
People tend to glorify doctors but don’t see all the stress of working in the medical field. And for the doctors that truly work ethically, what would happen if they made a mistake? It would most likely result in someone’s death. This book makes you think of all aspects of death and stresses that envelop those that are in this line of work. However, if you do not work in health care this book does seem to be a bit bogged down in medical jargon which I think takes away from the storyline. I also could do with a brief nod to Covid but I feel that the amount of context that it took up in this book versus what the book was about could have been edited back. I do like how it shows as a society how we rely on technology too much in our day to day decisions and how one person or cyber attack could take down countries.
*Thank you to Anthony Lee, Netgalley and AuthorBuzz for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.
There has been a recent crippling string of cyber attacks done by the elusive hacker known as Lucifer’s Worm. Who is targeting corporations that many people depended on such as banks, Amazon, and courthouses which lead to a cyber type pandemic. Lucifer hopes these attacks will bring the world to chaos. Soon Mike discovers that he is Lucifer’s newest target, or more like his patients, who end up dying due to the hacker changing their medical files or medications leading to their deaths. Can Mike outwit this cyber foe before more innocent people die or will Mike be the next to be deleted?
People tend to glorify doctors but don’t see all the stress of working in the medical field. And for the doctors that truly work ethically, what would happen if they made a mistake? It would most likely result in someone’s death. This book makes you think of all aspects of death and stresses that envelop those that are in this line of work. However, if you do not work in health care this book does seem to be a bit bogged down in medical jargon which I think takes away from the storyline. I also could do with a brief nod to Covid but I feel that the amount of context that it took up in this book versus what the book was about could have been edited back. I do like how it shows as a society how we rely on technology too much in our day to day decisions and how one person or cyber attack could take down countries.
*Thank you to Anthony Lee, Netgalley and AuthorBuzz for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.
July 12, 2024
Dr. Mark Lin, the son of immigrants, knew his entire life he was to become a doctor and to be a good doctor. He is a highly respected and thoughtful doctor who admits he can be judgmental and frustrated with his patients. He will work to save a life only to find that the patient does not follow his instructions and ends up back in the ER for additional treatment or sometimes even life-saving efforts are needed. Or, a patient he has repaired and sent home commits a violent crime against another. Dr. Lin took an oath to save lives, which he intends to do. One day while at the hospital for his shift, he is notified by the administration that all email and programs are shut down due to a cyber security threat. Shortly after he is called for three code blues almost simultaneously and rushes to assess and treat his patients, his orders in his patients' records are inaccurate which could mean deadly results. Dr. Lin enlists the assistance of the IT Department to understand how his medical records were changed and then gets a call from Doctor Lucifer bragging about targeting Dr. Lin and that he will never stop.
Many questions come to mind about Dr. Lin, why would he be a target, and who is Dr. Lucifer? There are several interesting relationships Dr. Lin must travel through to understand how Dr. Lucifer has access to and knowledge of his patients. His efforts are confounded by the increasing critical care needs of his patients. The pace of additional information and escalating patient needs quickly increases the tension and suspense. The twists and turns Dr. Lin must navigate to stay ahead of Dr. Lucifer keep the confusion and questions continuing. I found the story dramatic and believable as was Dr. Lin. He is a sympathetic character who garners your support throughout the maze of patients and cyber information. This is as exciting as it gets and difficult to put down.
Many questions come to mind about Dr. Lin, why would he be a target, and who is Dr. Lucifer? There are several interesting relationships Dr. Lin must travel through to understand how Dr. Lucifer has access to and knowledge of his patients. His efforts are confounded by the increasing critical care needs of his patients. The pace of additional information and escalating patient needs quickly increases the tension and suspense. The twists and turns Dr. Lin must navigate to stay ahead of Dr. Lucifer keep the confusion and questions continuing. I found the story dramatic and believable as was Dr. Lin. He is a sympathetic character who garners your support throughout the maze of patients and cyber information. This is as exciting as it gets and difficult to put down.
June 6, 2024
Doctor Lucifer is a gripping medical thriller that marks an excellent debut for author Anthony Lee. With a plot that weaves through the precarious intersections of medical practice and cyber threats, this audiobook is a compelling listen from start to finish.
The protagonist, Dr. Mark Lin, is a refreshing take on the antihero archetype, and his battle against the enigmatic Doctor Lucifer is both thrilling and thought-provoking.
The novel's exploration of the vulnerabilities in our digital age is timely and unsettling, posing questions about privacy, security, and the ethics of technology in healthcare.
Anthony Lee's writing is fast, vivid, engaging, entertaining and confident. His narration is excellent as well and not just a reading, but a performance that brings the story's tension and the characters' complexities to life with emotion and talent.
His extensive background in medicine enriches the narrative with an extra layer of authenticity that fans of the medical genre will assuredly appreciate.
Without me giving away any spoilers, I can tell you that listeners can expect a journey filled with suspense, unexpected turns, and a deep dive into the psyche of a doctor fighting against an unseen enemy, while at the same time battling his inner demons. I recommend that you check out the publisher’s summary if you want to learn more about the story and also listen to the audio sample in order to make a better impression of how Mr. Lee narrates.
Anthony Lee has indeed crafted a first-rate thriller with Doctor Lucifer, setting a high bar for his future novels and I eagerly anticipate his next work. If you're looking for an audiobook that offers both an adrenaline rush and a mirror to our modern world's challenges, look no further than Doctor Lucifer.
The protagonist, Dr. Mark Lin, is a refreshing take on the antihero archetype, and his battle against the enigmatic Doctor Lucifer is both thrilling and thought-provoking.
The novel's exploration of the vulnerabilities in our digital age is timely and unsettling, posing questions about privacy, security, and the ethics of technology in healthcare.
Anthony Lee's writing is fast, vivid, engaging, entertaining and confident. His narration is excellent as well and not just a reading, but a performance that brings the story's tension and the characters' complexities to life with emotion and talent.
His extensive background in medicine enriches the narrative with an extra layer of authenticity that fans of the medical genre will assuredly appreciate.
Without me giving away any spoilers, I can tell you that listeners can expect a journey filled with suspense, unexpected turns, and a deep dive into the psyche of a doctor fighting against an unseen enemy, while at the same time battling his inner demons. I recommend that you check out the publisher’s summary if you want to learn more about the story and also listen to the audio sample in order to make a better impression of how Mr. Lee narrates.
Anthony Lee has indeed crafted a first-rate thriller with Doctor Lucifer, setting a high bar for his future novels and I eagerly anticipate his next work. If you're looking for an audiobook that offers both an adrenaline rush and a mirror to our modern world's challenges, look no further than Doctor Lucifer.
September 24, 2024
DNF
I was excited to read this book but it just fell flat. There was something about the writing that seemed very forced. The conversations didn't have a natural flow; it was as if a child wrote them. I don't have an example from the book but they would go something like this: "I have to go to the bathroom" the boy told his mother. "OK, then you should go to the bathroom" the mother responded. "Then I will go to the bathroom" the boy said. Terrible example but, yeah, that... I kept reading with scrunched eyebrows wondering if I was making up the "ick" feeling for the writing but, when I DNF'd this book and started another, I immediately knew that the writing was just, well, bad.
The author is also very preachy and condescending about topics that are politically charged. "...think about the COVID-19 pandemic and the January 6th insurrection. Two shocking events showing us the absolute worst human impulses, right out in the open. How the hell could people be so damn selfish?" Come on, those are the worst examples of human behavior you can think of? Very condescending about things that, in hindsight, are perhaps not the worst things that humans have ever done...
I tried with this book. I made it to 75% before I just couldn't anymore. The forced writing was terrible. the condescending attitude was grating. The basic ineptitude and stupidity of the main character was beyond ridiculous (I mean, he is getting voicemails and texts from "Doctor Lucifer" while he is talking to his boss and he decides he can't tell anyone about it even though it would completely prove his case and his innocence?)
I was excited to read this book but it just fell flat. There was something about the writing that seemed very forced. The conversations didn't have a natural flow; it was as if a child wrote them. I don't have an example from the book but they would go something like this: "I have to go to the bathroom" the boy told his mother. "OK, then you should go to the bathroom" the mother responded. "Then I will go to the bathroom" the boy said. Terrible example but, yeah, that... I kept reading with scrunched eyebrows wondering if I was making up the "ick" feeling for the writing but, when I DNF'd this book and started another, I immediately knew that the writing was just, well, bad.
The author is also very preachy and condescending about topics that are politically charged. "...think about the COVID-19 pandemic and the January 6th insurrection. Two shocking events showing us the absolute worst human impulses, right out in the open. How the hell could people be so damn selfish?" Come on, those are the worst examples of human behavior you can think of? Very condescending about things that, in hindsight, are perhaps not the worst things that humans have ever done...
I tried with this book. I made it to 75% before I just couldn't anymore. The forced writing was terrible. the condescending attitude was grating. The basic ineptitude and stupidity of the main character was beyond ridiculous (I mean, he is getting voicemails and texts from "Doctor Lucifer" while he is talking to his boss and he decides he can't tell anyone about it even though it would completely prove his case and his innocence?)
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