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Gina Mazzio Medical Thrillers #2
Sin & Bone
In this second appearnce for RN Gina Mazzio, this time it's the eve of her wedding to long-time boyfriend, travel nurse Harry Lucke. As she takes the week's final Ob/Gyn advice call, a deadly serious male voice says, "She's all cut up."
The police, the hospital administrator, and even Harry insist it was just a crank call, some sicko.
Gina doesn't buy it. She pursues the call, links the caller to a series of nurse disappearances.
Instread of a wedding, and a honeymoon with Harry, Gina is drawn into the illlicit and dangerous trade in human body parts.
The police, the hospital administrator, and even Harry insist it was just a crank call, some sicko.
Gina doesn't buy it. She pursues the call, links the caller to a series of nurse disappearances.
Instread of a wedding, and a honeymoon with Harry, Gina is drawn into the illlicit and dangerous trade in human body parts.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2012
322 people are currently reading
621 people want to read
About the author
Bette Golden Lamb
19 books26 followersBette was a nurse, a writer, and an artist. Her art work has appeared in numerous show and is held in many private collections.
Bette was from the Bronx, and she said that growing up in New York City coupled with being an RN was a clue as to why she loved to write dark and gritty medical thrillers. A Marin county writer and artist, she and JJ spent some time in the wilds of Virginia City, Nevada, an isolated throwback to the old West, where she was a trauma nurse while her husband was the editor of the The Territorial Enterprise, a newspaper Mark Twain once ran.
Bette and J. J. Lamb have written novels that include a female serial killer who thinks she’s on a noble mission to save barren women from a life of despair (Sisters in Silence) and the Gina Mazzio RN medical thriller “Bone” series (Bone Dry, Sin & Bone, Bone Pit, Bone of Contention, Bone Dust, Bone Crack, Bone Slice, Bone Point). She said that writing about Gina Mazzio and her boyfriend, Harry, also an RN, was a fun experience, as well as a privilege to write about people who dedicate their lives to helping others.
Bette's most recent novel The Russian Girl was based on a true story of a woman who escapes from a high security nursing home during the hottest day of the year. Her delirium reveals a harrowing story of a young immigrant Russian girl forced to come to America in the early 1900s. Her turbulent life is filled with upheaval, lost love, and activism in a crushing, brutal 20th century journey.
Bette was encouraging to and supportive of new writers and artists.
Bette was from the Bronx, and she said that growing up in New York City coupled with being an RN was a clue as to why she loved to write dark and gritty medical thrillers. A Marin county writer and artist, she and JJ spent some time in the wilds of Virginia City, Nevada, an isolated throwback to the old West, where she was a trauma nurse while her husband was the editor of the The Territorial Enterprise, a newspaper Mark Twain once ran.
Bette and J. J. Lamb have written novels that include a female serial killer who thinks she’s on a noble mission to save barren women from a life of despair (Sisters in Silence) and the Gina Mazzio RN medical thriller “Bone” series (Bone Dry, Sin & Bone, Bone Pit, Bone of Contention, Bone Dust, Bone Crack, Bone Slice, Bone Point). She said that writing about Gina Mazzio and her boyfriend, Harry, also an RN, was a fun experience, as well as a privilege to write about people who dedicate their lives to helping others.
Bette's most recent novel The Russian Girl was based on a true story of a woman who escapes from a high security nursing home during the hottest day of the year. Her delirium reveals a harrowing story of a young immigrant Russian girl forced to come to America in the early 1900s. Her turbulent life is filled with upheaval, lost love, and activism in a crushing, brutal 20th century journey.
Bette was encouraging to and supportive of new writers and artists.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
June 26, 2020
I bought all 3 books so I will read them because it goes against my grain not to.
I read then out of order, 1, 3, 2.
These are basically “Wah, poor me” women of abusive exes and there is always, exploitation if women, abuse of women and hatred of women as the major issue.
If you keep encountering the same thing from everyone..maybe its you!
I read then out of order, 1, 3, 2.
These are basically “Wah, poor me” women of abusive exes and there is always, exploitation if women, abuse of women and hatred of women as the major issue.
If you keep encountering the same thing from everyone..maybe its you!
December 3, 2016
I feel like theses authors decided on a marketable formula (one I don't love) and plugged in authentic details (the nursing) and the sorts of misadventures a nurse might stumble upon. This isn't great fiction, nor does it pretend to be. That formula is: broken women, evil misogynists and a frazzled protagonist going it alone because nobody takes her seriously.
Some things they got right: I'm sure the nursing details are accurate and police officers do not automatically jump into action because someone with a vague notion of a crime shows up. And, there's little to no fluff. The story trucks along at a pretty good pace, which I appreciate.
After two books I still don't have empathy for Gina. We get her (horribly graphic) backstory which includes - surprise - a cruel misogynist for an ex-husband and she's obviously frazzled but, still, I don't find myself worried about her. I know Harry or somebody will show up.
I may try a third in this series, just to see if the formula will allow for tension without sexual assault and hatred of females. Broken record here but I hate the star system. I'd give it a 3 because of the pacing and dialog but I've given better plots a 3... On the other hand, I couldn't write a book with a gun to my head so the fact there is a series of complete stories deserves a 3...except for the repeating plot devices of twisted sexual assault and hatred of females. If a man had written these two books I'd have given him a negative number and emailed him to seek help so...2 it is.
Some things they got right: I'm sure the nursing details are accurate and police officers do not automatically jump into action because someone with a vague notion of a crime shows up. And, there's little to no fluff. The story trucks along at a pretty good pace, which I appreciate.
After two books I still don't have empathy for Gina. We get her (horribly graphic) backstory which includes - surprise - a cruel misogynist for an ex-husband and she's obviously frazzled but, still, I don't find myself worried about her. I know Harry or somebody will show up.
I may try a third in this series, just to see if the formula will allow for tension without sexual assault and hatred of females. Broken record here but I hate the star system. I'd give it a 3 because of the pacing and dialog but I've given better plots a 3... On the other hand, I couldn't write a book with a gun to my head so the fact there is a series of complete stories deserves a 3...except for the repeating plot devices of twisted sexual assault and hatred of females. If a man had written these two books I'd have given him a negative number and emailed him to seek help so...2 it is.
September 1, 2016
Massimo character is different BUT needs to be improved
I am a retired RN with over 20 years experience. I hold a BSN and MSN degree. I'm not bragging, just providing my qualifications to write this review. The Mazzio series is well written but the character presentation is unbelievable, unrealistic and predictable. Mazzio becomes suspicious of some perceived wrong doing. She takes her suspicions to people she knows and, as usual, even her boy n
refuses to believe her and the employer threatens to fire although her suspicions have been correct in each book. As for being realistic I've never known a nurse that has enough time to do much except take care of his or her patients. It seems the author's profile of the main character as an RN trying to be a detective doesn't mesh with my knowledge of nursing. The character being presented as a private detective trained as a forensic certified nurse, working undercover in some medical facility would work better and be more believable. I'm not trying to be critical. I'm even looking forward to reading the next book. BUT please do something with Mazzio.
I am a retired RN with over 20 years experience. I hold a BSN and MSN degree. I'm not bragging, just providing my qualifications to write this review. The Mazzio series is well written but the character presentation is unbelievable, unrealistic and predictable. Mazzio becomes suspicious of some perceived wrong doing. She takes her suspicions to people she knows and, as usual, even her boy n
refuses to believe her and the employer threatens to fire although her suspicions have been correct in each book. As for being realistic I've never known a nurse that has enough time to do much except take care of his or her patients. It seems the author's profile of the main character as an RN trying to be a detective doesn't mesh with my knowledge of nursing. The character being presented as a private detective trained as a forensic certified nurse, working undercover in some medical facility would work better and be more believable. I'm not trying to be critical. I'm even looking forward to reading the next book. BUT please do something with Mazzio.
April 5, 2025
I thought I'd give the second book in the series a shot after barely making it through the 1st book. I stopped at the beginning of Ch 3 this time after yet another overly graphic, extremely violent domestic assault and rape of a main character by a person with zero redeeming qualities that adds little to the story. There's nothing in this series for me. I'm finished. Maybe I'm sensitive, yes, I agree, but I have no desire to finish another story that is chock full of sexual violence against women. These authors rely too heavily on that aspect as a plot point to interest me any further.
November 22, 2018
3.5 stars. It was hard to like Gina Mazzio, she is abrasive, passive aggressive and the author insisted on reminding us she is from the Bronx, as if that would forgive her actions. She has a man who adores her, they set dates to get married and she gets avoids carrying thru. The story premise was believable, a serial killer and an over worked cop, Det. Yee, with her own personal issues. The ending is semi satisfying, the mentally and and physically abused son vanished.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2020
Sin & Bone
Gina calls off the wedding again, and Harry has had it. Gina gets a prank call while at work and nobody believes her. They think she is a trouble maker, and gives her the only position left at the hospital. Going to the police, she even gets call at home, how did he have her number., they don’t buy it either. Scary of what her curiosity leads her into even to a being locked in a freezer and hopes she lives after what she had uncovered.
Gina calls off the wedding again, and Harry has had it. Gina gets a prank call while at work and nobody believes her. They think she is a trouble maker, and gives her the only position left at the hospital. Going to the police, she even gets call at home, how did he have her number., they don’t buy it either. Scary of what her curiosity leads her into even to a being locked in a freezer and hopes she lives after what she had uncovered.
August 18, 2017
I enjoyed this book and loved the plot although it was disappointing that Gina wasn't featured as much. There are many more point of views in this one and Gina didn't really feel like the main character. The book is more violent than the previous.
I was happy to see less issues with punctuation in this one.
I was happy to see less issues with punctuation in this one.
August 23, 2017
3.5 stars. I liked the first one in the series, Bone Dry a little better. Hard for me to review without giving anything away. I really didn't like some of the characters but you weren't suppose to like them. They went from pompous hospital administrators to insane killers. It was a little slow and repetitive in the middle, but once it got going it had me holding my breath.
December 19, 2017
I had difficulty believing that anyone could be so stupid as drug rep Eddie. This was the second volume in a trilogy. I was just not sold on this one and in retrospect, on reconsidering, I realised that I was not sold on the first one either. Neither of the two books seemed probable.
April 27, 2018
Great series!
Started with the first book and can't stop reading. Not a cozy mystery but not too graphic. Good characters and a plot that will keep your interest. Ready to start the next in the series.
Started with the first book and can't stop reading. Not a cozy mystery but not too graphic. Good characters and a plot that will keep your interest. Ready to start the next in the series.
November 4, 2018
A great thriller!
Enjoyed another thriller from the Mr and Mrs Lamb. And as usual Ms Mazzio got her self into another pickle of a mess because of her intuition about her fellow nurses who went missing. It was a great read and I again look forward to the next book.
Enjoyed another thriller from the Mr and Mrs Lamb. And as usual Ms Mazzio got her self into another pickle of a mess because of her intuition about her fellow nurses who went missing. It was a great read and I again look forward to the next book.
February 27, 2017
A great book ,l did not want it to end !!
Five star rating for this read ,l got so engrossed l didn't know what time it was,that is when I knew it's intriguing .
Five star rating for this read ,l got so engrossed l didn't know what time it was,that is when I knew it's intriguing .
February 24, 2018
It was ok, but I think this series is best read with other books in between. I found myself getting bored with repetitive info about the main character.
May 20, 2018
Great book!
I am looking forward to reading more books by this author. I highly recommend this book to those who like medical crime mysteries.
I am looking forward to reading more books by this author. I highly recommend this book to those who like medical crime mysteries.
July 16, 2018
5 stars
Sin and Bones, this is short, quick read that is great. A don't put me down book. Like every page!
Sin and Bones, this is short, quick read that is great. A don't put me down book. Like every page!
August 15, 2020
Enthralling. Quite a page turner.
May 5, 2021
This was okay for a free book. I didn't particularly care for any of the characters and found it to be more graphic than necessary.
May 27, 2021
This whole series is great. Cannot wait to read the next one.
March 23, 2017
Ok. Characters rather predictable. Not a fan of the main chcaractor.
June 25, 2024
I wasn't particularly impressed with the first Gina Mazzio novel. Unfortunately, I bought the boxset of the first three books and I hate leaving books unfinished on my Kindle. So out of sadomasochism, I continued. I wasn't any more impressed here. In fact, I was less impressed. It follows the same basic formula; excessive violence against women depicted graphically along with a medical setting being the only link to being a medical thriller this has going for it.
In honesty, this one doesn't even try. This is a 'kidnap/rape/torture nurses' novel, not anything that involves an actual medical issue. The tenuous link is that they all work in a hospital, I guess. And that our plucky research nurse from the last novel is the one to figure out that the women are going missing and once more goes it alone, heedless of the danger and nearly gets herself killed.
And once more, the bad guys are so bad it's laughable. The best villains of any story are those you can at least slightly empathise with. The violence - both physical and sexual - is over the top and in graphic detail.
Honestly, if you want to read horrifying crime thrillers, go buy a Karin Slaughter. If you want to read an actual medical thriller, then don't look here because this is nothing like one.
In honesty, this one doesn't even try. This is a 'kidnap/rape/torture nurses' novel, not anything that involves an actual medical issue. The tenuous link is that they all work in a hospital, I guess. And that our plucky research nurse from the last novel is the one to figure out that the women are going missing and once more goes it alone, heedless of the danger and nearly gets herself killed.
And once more, the bad guys are so bad it's laughable. The best villains of any story are those you can at least slightly empathise with. The violence - both physical and sexual - is over the top and in graphic detail.
Honestly, if you want to read horrifying crime thrillers, go buy a Karin Slaughter. If you want to read an actual medical thriller, then don't look here because this is nothing like one.
February 16, 2017
Another hit!
Gina Mazzio gets herself in trouble again in this book. She starts noticing nurses that she works with are quickly disappearing one by one. She asks Detective Yee for help in finding them only to be ignored. It isn't until the hospital administrator asks for Gina's help in locating his niece that Gina starts putting it together.
I was a little disappointed that this book is a little less about Gina's life and more about Eddie St. George and his father. But as always, Gina ends up in the middle of it all eventually. This book will leave you on the edge of you seat!
Gina Mazzio gets herself in trouble again in this book. She starts noticing nurses that she works with are quickly disappearing one by one. She asks Detective Yee for help in finding them only to be ignored. It isn't until the hospital administrator asks for Gina's help in locating his niece that Gina starts putting it together.
I was a little disappointed that this book is a little less about Gina's life and more about Eddie St. George and his father. But as always, Gina ends up in the middle of it all eventually. This book will leave you on the edge of you seat!
February 18, 2017
Intense
I had this book in my kindle library for quite a while (for me). Shame! It was amazing. I think I'm in love with the authors!
I had this book in my kindle library for quite a while (for me). Shame! It was amazing. I think I'm in love with the authors!
March 2, 2016
Sin & Bone is a fast paced medical thriller. Gina, the protagonist, is a gutsy woman who won't take no for an answer when issues arise. She wants to find the truth. The book gives a realist view of how work can be difficult and the people you have to deal with. I don't know hospitals and nursing but I do work in the corporate environment. The short staffed situation at the hospital is similar to what I have experienced in many places that I have worked. This situation for Gina in the book makes her more determined to find the truth when nurses start disappearing.
I would have liked to see more of Harry her fiance with more development of his character. Increased interaction between the two would have been nice with Harry assisting Gina with her investigation. The villains were well portrayed and developed. As the reader, I was rooting for their demise and getting their just reward. Bottom line, I think Sin & Bone was a good read. It kept me hooked as a reader with its squeamish details and Gina diligently searching for the truth. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Bone Pit.
I would have liked to see more of Harry her fiance with more development of his character. Increased interaction between the two would have been nice with Harry assisting Gina with her investigation. The villains were well portrayed and developed. As the reader, I was rooting for their demise and getting their just reward. Bottom line, I think Sin & Bone was a good read. It kept me hooked as a reader with its squeamish details and Gina diligently searching for the truth. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Bone Pit.
December 8, 2015
Another Mazzio Survives book
Mazzio, as usual, knows Something is up, but as usual, no one believes her... until she's almost murdered herself. The plot never really thickens since the formula for Lamb's series never has any new ingredients.
Good for an "I can't sleep" book but it won't win any awards. I really wish the author would add more "medical" to her stories because I do like the diamond-in-the-rough character of Mazzio. And, having worked around nurses of every degree, Lamb really does portray them accurately, though most I've known are lots funnier.
A good one-night read. Lamb is a good writer but I truly do believe she has the potential to be another Robin Cook - from a female nurses POV. All too often these women (and a few men) don't get the attention they deserve. If a hospital or clinic had ears, eyes, mouths and hearts .... they'd all be found in the nurses, not the doctors!
Mazzio, as usual, knows Something is up, but as usual, no one believes her... until she's almost murdered herself. The plot never really thickens since the formula for Lamb's series never has any new ingredients.
Good for an "I can't sleep" book but it won't win any awards. I really wish the author would add more "medical" to her stories because I do like the diamond-in-the-rough character of Mazzio. And, having worked around nurses of every degree, Lamb really does portray them accurately, though most I've known are lots funnier.
A good one-night read. Lamb is a good writer but I truly do believe she has the potential to be another Robin Cook - from a female nurses POV. All too often these women (and a few men) don't get the attention they deserve. If a hospital or clinic had ears, eyes, mouths and hearts .... they'd all be found in the nurses, not the doctors!
March 2, 2017
I enjoyed the medical side of this book a lot. I liked how the story played out and how the main character does not rest on her laurels. She is willing to fight and stand up for what she believes. I am not sure that I enjoyed it as much as I did the first one as there was less going on with the medical side of the story and that is what I enjoyed. I also find it interesting how much abuse the characters in these books seem to endure.
I would read more of this author and more in this series, but I am glad I am able to borrow them from the library. There is a lot to take in on these books.
I would read more of this author and more in this series, but I am glad I am able to borrow them from the library. There is a lot to take in on these books.
November 28, 2015
A strange tale of missing nurses, “packages”, an insane butcher and abused son. You know the cast of characters from almost the beginning, but how the tale will unfold is constantly surprising. I haven’t read anything by these authors previously, but as it was a “freebie” from Amazon, I gave it try. I wasn’t sorry. 4.5 stars.
November 29, 2015
A murder/disappearing nurse story starring Gina (this is the second in a series of stories in which Gina is the main character). She is intent on figuring out what is happening and it leads her into some scary places. Interwoven with the mystery is her romantic life with her fiancee and it is rocky.
January 11, 2016
Keeps you in suspense!!
First time I have read anything by this author and I really enjoyed it. I found the characters and storyline believable. I would have given it a 5 star except,for the profanity, it was my only fault I found with the book. I couldn't in good faith recommend this book to my family or friends as they would be offended by the profanity as well.
First time I have read anything by this author and I really enjoyed it. I found the characters and storyline believable. I would have given it a 5 star except,for the profanity, it was my only fault I found with the book. I couldn't in good faith recommend this book to my family or friends as they would be offended by the profanity as well.
October 22, 2016
Exhilarating
10 stars to Ms. Lamb! Excellent story and excellent author. Her characters seem real and eay to relate to and I can't wait to read the next book. I did notice that there were quite a few errors, missing words or words were transposed. The errors were distracting but it's still a great book.
10 stars to Ms. Lamb! Excellent story and excellent author. Her characters seem real and eay to relate to and I can't wait to read the next book. I did notice that there were quite a few errors, missing words or words were transposed. The errors were distracting but it's still a great book.
November 26, 2016
VERY INTENSE
This was not what I considered extremely graphic but graphic enough for those who love the blood and guts theme. Story was intense and very well written and paced. I don't think I can read but one book then go to a different gendre for a change because it is depressing. I would read their books again though because they were action packed.
This was not what I considered extremely graphic but graphic enough for those who love the blood and guts theme. Story was intense and very well written and paced. I don't think I can read but one book then go to a different gendre for a change because it is depressing. I would read their books again though because they were action packed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews