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The Benjamin Oris Collection
A man of science faces otherworldly situations, a 3-book collection, almost 900 pages of reading!
“Rubin's winning lead is well-suited to sustain a series. This is just the ticket for Robin Cook fans.”—Publishers Weekly
BOOK 1: THE BONE CURSE
Western medicine clashes with Haitian Vodou when Ben Oris, a skeptical med student, must use the occult to protect his loved ones from a centuries-old curse.
BOOK 2: THE BONE HUNGER
When the severed limbs of his former patients start turning up in Philadelphia parks, Ben Oris, now an orthopedic surgery resident, must once again bury his skepticism and risk his career to uncover the monstrous force behind the murders—before someone close to him becomes the next victim.
BOOK 3: THE BONE ELIXIR
Ben Oris, a rational-minded orthopedic surgery resident, faces an otherworldly threat when a great aunt he’s never met leaves a haunted hotel to him in her will.
“Rubin's winning lead is well-suited to sustain a series. This is just the ticket for Robin Cook fans.”—Publishers Weekly
BOOK 1: THE BONE CURSE
Western medicine clashes with Haitian Vodou when Ben Oris, a skeptical med student, must use the occult to protect his loved ones from a centuries-old curse.
BOOK 2: THE BONE HUNGER
When the severed limbs of his former patients start turning up in Philadelphia parks, Ben Oris, now an orthopedic surgery resident, must once again bury his skepticism and risk his career to uncover the monstrous force behind the murders—before someone close to him becomes the next victim.
BOOK 3: THE BONE ELIXIR
Ben Oris, a rational-minded orthopedic surgery resident, faces an otherworldly threat when a great aunt he’s never met leaves a haunted hotel to him in her will.
- GenresThriller
1040 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 14, 2024
18 people are currently reading
2886 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Rubin
10 books295 followersCarrie Rubin is a physician-turned-novelist who writes thrillers. She enjoys exploring other genres as well, and has a cozy mystery published under the pen name Morgan Mayer and a novel of magical realism under the pen name Dannie Boyd.
To learn about new releases or promotions, follow Carrie on BookBub. Or, to receive a free ebook copy of The Seneca Scourge: A Medical Thriller, you're invited to sign up for the author's new-release alerts.
To learn about new releases or promotions, follow Carrie on BookBub. Or, to receive a free ebook copy of The Seneca Scourge: A Medical Thriller, you're invited to sign up for the author's new-release alerts.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 22, 2025
Poor Ben! Dude is just trying to finish Med School, be a good son, be a good dad, stay out of trouble … He should have listened to Bovo … Because all he did was get himself in a boatload of trouble and practically everyone around him pays in one way or another.
The writing in these 3 books is so descriptive and completely creepy!! I liked them!!
Thank you to the authors, publishers and Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read and review 😊
Disclaimer - I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway
The writing in these 3 books is so descriptive and completely creepy!! I liked them!!
Thank you to the authors, publishers and Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to read and review 😊
Disclaimer - I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway
June 16, 2025
Welp I'm writin this here book review on each book separate in this here series of reviews.
The Bone Curse Book 1
So you got this fella Ben Oris and he's a med student from Philly all smart and science y believin only what he can see with his own two eyes. He's over in Paris lookin at them old bones in the catacombs and he gets himself a little cut from one. Now his friend Laurette she's from Haiti and she gets a bad feelin bout that cut thinkin it's a curse. Ben he just laughs it off figures it's jes a cut that won't heal.
But then he gets back to his hospital job and things start gettin real spooky. Folks he knows start comin down with some grisly illness and a dark priest starts chasin after him. That's when Ben's smarty pants ideas start to wobble a bit. He starts wonderin if maybe jes maybe that old bone from way back in the 18th century really did put a curse on him.
So with Laurette's help he's gotta scramblin to find a cure and not the kind you find in a doctor's office. They're lookin to Vodou to fix things before more of his family and friends die. But first he's gotta deal with that mysterious priest who's lookin for vengance and wants Ben's blood. Sounds like a real mess don't it.
Now usually I like my stories plain and simple like a good ol glass of sweet tea. But this one it mixed up them doctors and their pills with all that Hoodoo stuff and it made my head spin in a good way. Ben he's gotta go from pokin folks with needles to tryin to stop some spooky ancient evil from hurtin his family. And let me tell ya when your loved ones are on the line you'll do jes bout anything even if it means dabblin in things you don't rightly understand.
There wuz parts that made me jump and parts that made me scratch my head wonderin what in tarnation wuz gonna happen next. And Ben he ain't perfect which I liked. He's scairt and confused jes like I reckon I'd be if some bone curse wuz chasin after me.
All in all if you're lookin for a story that's a little bit different with some doctors and some spirits and a whole lotta trouble then you might wanna pick up The Bone Curse Jes be warned it ain't for the faint of heart and you might find yerself lookin over yer shoulder a time or two after you read it. Good stuff though. Real good.
I give it 5 catfish outta 5.
The Bone Hunger Book 2
So we got Ben Oris again and it's been bout three and a half years since all that crazy stuff happened to him before. He's doin real good now a fancy surgeon resident got a boy he loves good friends and he's even tryin to win some big research money. Sounded like his life wuz smooth as gravy right Well hold your horses.
Then BAM Folks start findin severed limbs in them Philadelphia parks. And these ain't just any old limbs they got bite marks and them surgery implants lookin like they come from folks Ben used to treat. Now his coworkers are already on edge seein as how a bunch of em jes survived a plane crash up in Alaska. So you can imagine how they're feelin bout all these body parts turnin up. They start wonderin if one of their own might be a killer.
Ben he's a man of science remembers all that skepticis he had last time. But with his CDC friend Laurette and some smarty pants forensic psychiatrist he's gotta put that doubt aside. He's gotta risk his whole career to figure out what kind of monstrous force is behind these awful murders. And he's gotta do it quick before someone he cares bout becomes the next victim.
It's got that same mix of doctors and spooky other worldly stuff that gets your heart pumpin. Ben's still tryin to use his brain but he's bein pulled into things that ain't got no medical explanation. There wuz parts that made my skin crawl and I wuz on the edge of my seat tryin to figure out what in tarnation wuz goin on.
If you like a story that's got some real gross stuff some mystery and a whole lotta what the heck is happenin then you'll like The Bone Hunger. Jes be ready for some chills cuz this one delivers.
I give it 5 catfish outta 5.
The Bone Elixir Book 3
So we got Ben Oris again and he's a doctor up in Philly and he's lookin forward to his Christmas vacation. After all the crazy stuff he's been through he surely could use some peace and quiet jes some rest and relaxation you know. But then some lawyer shows up with some real strange news. Seems like some great aunt he never even knew existed went and willed him a whole hotel Now that ain't exactly what you call R&R is it.
So Ben he's all confused but he heads on up to Western Massachusetts where this old old hotel called The Abigael Inn is waitin for him. It's up on a lonely hill lookin over them mountains. He figures his girlfriend Laurette will come join him in a few days they'll have a little fun meet a realtor and then jes sell the place and get back to their lives. In out done. Simple right
Well let me tell ya this ain't no simple vacation. That Abigael Inn It's got other plans for Ben and Laurette. You can feel it in your bones that somethin ain't right with that old place. It ain't gonna be no easy sale no siree.
It's got that same mix of Ben the man of science gettin caught up in things that ain't got no science explanation. There wuz parts that made my hair stand on end and I wuz wonderin what kind of trouble that old inn wuz gonna stir up. It's a real page turner makes you wanna keep readin to see what kind of spooky stuff Ben's gonna face this time.
If you like a story that's got some mystery some old haunted places and a whole lotta what the heck is happenin then you'll like The Bone Elixilr. Jes be ready for some chills cuz this one delivers.
I give it 5 catfish outta 5.
The Bone Curse Book 1
So you got this fella Ben Oris and he's a med student from Philly all smart and science y believin only what he can see with his own two eyes. He's over in Paris lookin at them old bones in the catacombs and he gets himself a little cut from one. Now his friend Laurette she's from Haiti and she gets a bad feelin bout that cut thinkin it's a curse. Ben he just laughs it off figures it's jes a cut that won't heal.
But then he gets back to his hospital job and things start gettin real spooky. Folks he knows start comin down with some grisly illness and a dark priest starts chasin after him. That's when Ben's smarty pants ideas start to wobble a bit. He starts wonderin if maybe jes maybe that old bone from way back in the 18th century really did put a curse on him.
So with Laurette's help he's gotta scramblin to find a cure and not the kind you find in a doctor's office. They're lookin to Vodou to fix things before more of his family and friends die. But first he's gotta deal with that mysterious priest who's lookin for vengance and wants Ben's blood. Sounds like a real mess don't it.
Now usually I like my stories plain and simple like a good ol glass of sweet tea. But this one it mixed up them doctors and their pills with all that Hoodoo stuff and it made my head spin in a good way. Ben he's gotta go from pokin folks with needles to tryin to stop some spooky ancient evil from hurtin his family. And let me tell ya when your loved ones are on the line you'll do jes bout anything even if it means dabblin in things you don't rightly understand.
There wuz parts that made me jump and parts that made me scratch my head wonderin what in tarnation wuz gonna happen next. And Ben he ain't perfect which I liked. He's scairt and confused jes like I reckon I'd be if some bone curse wuz chasin after me.
All in all if you're lookin for a story that's a little bit different with some doctors and some spirits and a whole lotta trouble then you might wanna pick up The Bone Curse Jes be warned it ain't for the faint of heart and you might find yerself lookin over yer shoulder a time or two after you read it. Good stuff though. Real good.
I give it 5 catfish outta 5.
The Bone Hunger Book 2
So we got Ben Oris again and it's been bout three and a half years since all that crazy stuff happened to him before. He's doin real good now a fancy surgeon resident got a boy he loves good friends and he's even tryin to win some big research money. Sounded like his life wuz smooth as gravy right Well hold your horses.
Then BAM Folks start findin severed limbs in them Philadelphia parks. And these ain't just any old limbs they got bite marks and them surgery implants lookin like they come from folks Ben used to treat. Now his coworkers are already on edge seein as how a bunch of em jes survived a plane crash up in Alaska. So you can imagine how they're feelin bout all these body parts turnin up. They start wonderin if one of their own might be a killer.
Ben he's a man of science remembers all that skepticis he had last time. But with his CDC friend Laurette and some smarty pants forensic psychiatrist he's gotta put that doubt aside. He's gotta risk his whole career to figure out what kind of monstrous force is behind these awful murders. And he's gotta do it quick before someone he cares bout becomes the next victim.
It's got that same mix of doctors and spooky other worldly stuff that gets your heart pumpin. Ben's still tryin to use his brain but he's bein pulled into things that ain't got no medical explanation. There wuz parts that made my skin crawl and I wuz on the edge of my seat tryin to figure out what in tarnation wuz goin on.
If you like a story that's got some real gross stuff some mystery and a whole lotta what the heck is happenin then you'll like The Bone Hunger. Jes be ready for some chills cuz this one delivers.
I give it 5 catfish outta 5.
The Bone Elixir Book 3
So we got Ben Oris again and he's a doctor up in Philly and he's lookin forward to his Christmas vacation. After all the crazy stuff he's been through he surely could use some peace and quiet jes some rest and relaxation you know. But then some lawyer shows up with some real strange news. Seems like some great aunt he never even knew existed went and willed him a whole hotel Now that ain't exactly what you call R&R is it.
So Ben he's all confused but he heads on up to Western Massachusetts where this old old hotel called The Abigael Inn is waitin for him. It's up on a lonely hill lookin over them mountains. He figures his girlfriend Laurette will come join him in a few days they'll have a little fun meet a realtor and then jes sell the place and get back to their lives. In out done. Simple right
Well let me tell ya this ain't no simple vacation. That Abigael Inn It's got other plans for Ben and Laurette. You can feel it in your bones that somethin ain't right with that old place. It ain't gonna be no easy sale no siree.
It's got that same mix of Ben the man of science gettin caught up in things that ain't got no science explanation. There wuz parts that made my hair stand on end and I wuz wonderin what kind of trouble that old inn wuz gonna stir up. It's a real page turner makes you wanna keep readin to see what kind of spooky stuff Ben's gonna face this time.
If you like a story that's got some mystery some old haunted places and a whole lotta what the heck is happenin then you'll like The Bone Elixilr. Jes be ready for some chills cuz this one delivers.
I give it 5 catfish outta 5.
August 26, 2025
Uneven but Worth a Read During Spooky Season
Reading the Benjamin Oris Collection as a whole is a very complicated experience. Carrie Rubin delivers a blend of medical suspense, folklore, and supernatural horror with levity but the execution across the three books is uneven.
Book 1 (The Bone Curse) introduces Ben as a deeply flawed protagonist a skeptic so unwilling to accept what’s right in front of him that two women die and many are hurt as a result of his arrogance. His privilege and refusal to trust others makes him a hard character to root for, and the women in the story, Laurette and Sophia especially, are used too often as devices to further his arc.
Book 2 (The Bone Hunger) is the weakest of the trilogy. Overstuffed with characters and side plots, it skimps on meaningful development and continues to lean too heavily on the trope of women suffering to advance Ben’s journey. Sophia, who already endured illness and trauma, is dragged through further pain, and Laurette once again is forced into Ben’s orbit romantically in a way that feels both forced and unsettling.
Book 3 (The Bone Elixir) redeems the trilogy in many ways. It’s tighter, better paced, and gives more autonomy to its women characters. Harmony, Laurette, and Sophia are the ones who hold the story together, correcting Ben’s missteps and carrying the means for final resolution. Harmony and her brother’s subplot provides genuine warmth, and while Ben is still frustrating as always. Well at least he moves from reluctant skepticism toward cautious belief in the supernatural.
Overall, the trilogy is frustrating but fascinating. Rubin writing in Book 1 & 3 keep the pages turning, but her reliance on sidelining women as martyrs or props for Ben undermines the otherwise strong storytelling. If you want the essentials, you could read Book 3 on its own for the clearest and most rewarding story, then circle back to Book 1 as a “prequel” after the fact to fill in background. I’d recommend skipping Book 2 entirely, unless you don’t totally hate Ben after book 1 as it drags the series down, confused the reader, and hurts a truly amazing character. All in all i recommend it for spooky season reading especially book 3!
Reading the Benjamin Oris Collection as a whole is a very complicated experience. Carrie Rubin delivers a blend of medical suspense, folklore, and supernatural horror with levity but the execution across the three books is uneven.
Book 1 (The Bone Curse) introduces Ben as a deeply flawed protagonist a skeptic so unwilling to accept what’s right in front of him that two women die and many are hurt as a result of his arrogance. His privilege and refusal to trust others makes him a hard character to root for, and the women in the story, Laurette and Sophia especially, are used too often as devices to further his arc.
Book 2 (The Bone Hunger) is the weakest of the trilogy. Overstuffed with characters and side plots, it skimps on meaningful development and continues to lean too heavily on the trope of women suffering to advance Ben’s journey. Sophia, who already endured illness and trauma, is dragged through further pain, and Laurette once again is forced into Ben’s orbit romantically in a way that feels both forced and unsettling.
Book 3 (The Bone Elixir) redeems the trilogy in many ways. It’s tighter, better paced, and gives more autonomy to its women characters. Harmony, Laurette, and Sophia are the ones who hold the story together, correcting Ben’s missteps and carrying the means for final resolution. Harmony and her brother’s subplot provides genuine warmth, and while Ben is still frustrating as always. Well at least he moves from reluctant skepticism toward cautious belief in the supernatural.
Overall, the trilogy is frustrating but fascinating. Rubin writing in Book 1 & 3 keep the pages turning, but her reliance on sidelining women as martyrs or props for Ben undermines the otherwise strong storytelling. If you want the essentials, you could read Book 3 on its own for the clearest and most rewarding story, then circle back to Book 1 as a “prequel” after the fact to fill in background. I’d recommend skipping Book 2 entirely, unless you don’t totally hate Ben after book 1 as it drags the series down, confused the reader, and hurts a truly amazing character. All in all i recommend it for spooky season reading especially book 3!
June 15, 2024
I read the individual books in this series and enjoyed all three, especially the last two. A blend of medical thriller and supernatural with likable characters.
July 23, 2024
All 3 books are great. I would rate each individually 5 stars.
January 10, 2025
All three books were excellent. It was nice to have a different thriller theme than I was used to.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews