Take Your Medicine

by Pamela Crane

A hilarious, empowering romp through 1970s medicine, media, and one woman's mission to rewrite the rules-prescription not required.

Samantha Stanton has had enough.

After her father dies from complications caused by a supposedly safe prescription, Sam isn't content to grieve quietly. Armed with little more than a greenhouse, a typewriter, and a fierce sense of justice, she reinvents herself as the first holistic health advice columnist in a world where men still wear the white coats-and women are told to stay in the kitchen.

But Sam's natural remedies and no-nonsense advice are shaking up more than just her readers' marriages. She's caught the attention of Thomas Cook, the powerful pharma exec whose charm is only rivaled by his ruthlessness.

And he's not the only one watching Sam.

When a former flame returns with a warning-and a secret about her father's death-Sam realizes she's not just fighting for justice. She's fighting for the truth. And maybe her life.

Hilarious, heartfelt, and unexpectedly twisty, Take Your Medicine is a bold tale of one woman's fight to heal a broken system-and herself-one wild remedy at a time.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

"If there's one book you absolutely must read, this is it. Hilarious, original, and page-turning feel-good entertainment, I laughed until I cried and cried until I laughed. Every woman (and man, if he knows what's good for him) must read this!" ★★★★★

"Superbly written, deliciously feminist, and darkly witty! It's a whole new genre of women's fiction blended with mystery that we've been waiting for." ★★★★★

Genres: Historical Fiction

360 pages, Paperback

Published July 10, 2024

About the author

To know PAMELA CRANE, you first need to know her husband. He sleeps with one eye open. He checks the knife block to make sure none are missing. Why? It could be because they have four kids and a farm full of mischievous animals. Or it could be because she writes murder mysteries, and about the occasional woman who has lost her marbles (not based on her real-life psyche, she swears!) Don't worry—her husband is safe...for now. Her books range from witty whodunnits to psychological suspense and even humorous women’s fiction thrown in for good measure. She’s a USA TODAY bestselling author of over a dozen novels (who’s counting?), but her biggest accomplishment is keeping her zoo of animals alive…and her husband in check. Grab a free book at www.pamelacrane.com.

Reviews

[ariel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oof. I don't know how many times the main character was referred to as "quirky" and "smart." It was kind of a tiring read.

The style wasn't for me. None of the characters could do anything without the author explaining why, whether by the character directly saying it, or the author directly writing it. You have to trust your readers more. For example, I understand why the misogynistic character said a misogynistic thing. You already explained it with their previous actions... I'm not going to misunderstand or feel confused.

The constant vague foreshadowing was annoying. I don't know how many times the author wrote an ominous "she would regret it in the future" type line. It was really overdone.

I didn't like the main character. I couldn't relate to her. It felt like she was going out of her way to be weird, not that it was just a natural part of her character. I thought it was distracting how everyone was constantly describing her as "smart" when everything good that happened to her was basically luck. I hated the "homeopathy" thing and how she completely ignored the negative consequences many "natural medicine" has. She seemed very naive and irresponsible to me. I didn't understand how she wasn't getting sued for some of her advice.

The author describes this as a comedy, but it wasn't really funny. I couldn't tell when the author was taking situations seriously, or trying to make it funny. I guess it just wasn't my thing.

Gave it a 3 because I did want to get through and see how it ended at least. I also liked some of the historical discussions about women's rights, though they didn't flow in the story very well sometimes (kind of like the author wrote them apart from the book and stuck them in somewhere).

It probably just needs better editing.

[Pamela Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. I don’t even know what to say. So I’ll just be bluntly honest with you.

As a mystery/thriller author, I never in a million years imagined I would write humorous women’s fiction (though I did throw in a mystery to stay on brand!). But sometimes as an author I need to step out of my comfort zone in order to challenge myself, and that’s exactly what this book did for me.

When Sam’s story first came to me, I decided to write it as a palate cleanser, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I even based Fido on my own mini-pony (he was thrilled to get his fifteen minutes of fame). I relished the research, characters, homeopathy (can you tell I love plants and horses?), and simply letting myself have fun writing without overthinking it (which is quite different from writing thrillers where everything is a clue or red herring or overly-thought-out plot point).

Still worried I was making a grave mistake venturing outside of my “thriller lane,” I turned it over to my amazing beta reader team, who convinced me that I had made the right choice. Thank you for letting me cut loose! I hope you enjoy my tangent from my typical literary fare, and if you do, let me know because I'd be thrilled to write more of them for you!

[amaya the cactus · Rating 1 out of 5]

i have always had a self-imposed rule about the practise of 'DNF':
it's not allowed.
with books, i *always* finish what i start – no matter how sodding badly i want to chuck it unceremoniously out of a very high window.

oh, that rule! that arbitrary rule which literally no-one but me cares about as regards my own reading history.

i am an adult – and an early-middle-aged one at that. i really should be able, at this point, to do what i want with a book.

a fellow reader friend told me, 'life's too short to waste with bad books', and he's right. so i'm officially saying 'screw my rule!'

plus, i only made it 15% into this book, but i just could not go any further; this one was not It for me, rules be damned.

i didn't like the characters, nor the constant, pseudo-profound foreshadowing; there were some glaring grammatical & spelling errors (he 'could' care less? carte 'blanch'? yikes); and the reader was often treated as ignorant (i think most of us know what misogyny is & what misogynistic behaviour looks like by now; & there's so much insistence upon we should believe about certain characters, but we are given the complete opposite context in the...story, for lack of a better term).

what WAS left out was context for the story itself.

i kept trying to plough through this, but it all just kept getting worse.


my review sucks, but i couldn't care less; life really is not long enough, and extending my misery isn't worth it.



[posted 20 Feb 2025]

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was full of history that is so needed right now but done in a fun way and with a dose of humor that leaves just the right balance. I loved every drop of the medicine contained in this book.

[Jamie Lindemulder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. I know that I would never have been able to survive 1970 with all of the racism and sexism. There are some funny parts, and there are some parts that are going to make you say "uh, what?" I like the main character, Sam. I don't like her mom or her boyfriend, Raul. I was disappointed that she forgave him for his BS he pulled near the end of the book. Thomas Cook is a strange character, and he will probably make anyone with my views really angry. There is a part in the book where Miss Posey says: "There was an actual law that allowed employers to fire women for wearing pants. It was only maybe a decade ago when they passed a new law that forbade employers from terminations related to wearing pants..." Hmmm...maybe when I worked at that tax office I should have boycotted their dress code for women, which included that we wear skirts or dresses AND pantyhose. I am not even kidding. And one of the most embarrassing things that ever happened to me at work was when it was summertime (like 95 degrees) and I had only been there a couple of weeks. I knew about the skirt/dress thing, but the boss didn't tell me pantyhose were required. The office manager called a staff meeting for women to remind us about the dress code, which included pantyhose. We were all standing in a circle, and I was wearing cute sandals and you could see my toes, so obviously you could see who this meeting was called for. I mean, come on. She could have taken me aside and told me that in private. So glad I don't work there anymore.

[Mel C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd Pamela Crane book I've read and I've thoroughly enjoyed both.

The first was a murder mystery/thriller, this one is classified as a humourous women's fiction book .....

It follows Sam Stanton and her quest to take down Thomas Cook - the man responsible for her father's death. Set in the 1970s in a newspaper company.

I won't go in to too much detail as it will spoil it.

This book had humour, it had a badass FMC, who was driven, strong, and stubborn in a good way.

I really enjoyed this - it's not often I'll read the remaining 70% of a book in a day - it had me hooked. Pamela's writing is great. Keeps you reading more and I never got bored.

It just lacked a wow moment for it to be a 5⭐ but still a great read.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Ms. Crane does a fantastic job of creating Sam Stanton, a very quirky, but fun character. We follow Sam through her trials and tribulations at work and with her supportive friend Raul. I'm sure that readers of a certain age will recognize many of the situations that Sam faces. A bit of a predictable ending, but an enjoyable read.

[Lynn Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good read...

Reading this book opened my eyes further to how far women have come and that we need to continue the fight to retain & further these rights.

[Keysa Rigney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminds me of current issues

This is the first book by Pamela Crane that I have read and I guarantee you that it will not be the last!

Samantha, Sam, reminds me so much of myself. Wanting things to change for the better (especially for women) and going the extra mile to make it happen.

The book is set in the early 70s (I wasn’t born until the late 70s) but some of the issues at hand stuck out to me. For example, women not being able to have a bank account without a “husbands” signature. Only being able to hold certain jobs, i.e. secretary or typists etc. From today’s current issues it seems that that’s how certain individuals would like things to be again. Women not having a say and having to depend on a “man!” Like Sam, I’m to determined and independent for that nonsense! Lol

This is a good read and it throws a lot of light on the dilemma that women had to face in the 70s.

[Susi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this historical fiction.
The writing is witty and fun, well developed characters and interesting storyline.

Sam is a journal column writer who wants to be taken serious in a world of male dominance and racial prejudice. Her female readers loving her advice. Sam finds her own way dealing with issues head-on and doesn't shy away from conflicts.

Everyone who lived through the 1970's will be able to identify with the characters. It was a step back in time for me. Sam's unusual choice of pet spoke directly to me as I own 6 mini ponies. Plant and homeopathy information was very interesting.
The book was easy to read, fun and witty, and I was hooked on Sam's story immediately as I could see some of myself in her and her fight to empower women.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent characters reside between the covers of this must-read book for anyone who grew up or was an adult in the 70s. As one of the above, this book completely hit home for me with the behaviors and mannerisms of everyone in this book. Sam is a trooper at the very least with the unbreakable spirit of a woman who knows what she wants and goes for it while trying to avenge her father's untimely death. Wealth, power, and discrimination all present front and center in this captivating story that will keep the reader's attention throughout. Lots of humor threaded throughout, including her house pet Fido (not a dog, but read to find out!), and plenty of spirited interaction which the reader will truly appreciate. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read!

[Tammi Pieczynski · Rating 5 out of 5]

So eloquently written and witty. This book was a completely different genre than what I typically read, but I am so glad I (and the author) stepped outside our comfort zone. I was laughing out loud reading the advice column letters and Sam’s pet horse shenanigans and was so impressed with the knowledge and intellect surrounding the herbal remedies………and perhaps how to use them to level the playing field a bit. I loved the dark and twisty turns of the murder mystery as well. All around superb read that I Found myself not wanting to put down.

[Nerdy Pingwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing and editing of this book were not great. The men were very one dimensional, as if the writer had never even spoken to one before so didn't know how to write for them. I was very excited for the concept of the story but we did not get much of the homeopathic medicinal article I was envisioning.

[Shelbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the first 75% of this book…the end got me though. It seemed like everything was wrapped up really quick, kind of like the author was over it and ready to be done. The characters just magically decided to work things out. I’m happy with the end I just feel like I missed something?

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book about a young feminist woman in the early '70s was kind of cute. There was a little mystery, and romance.

[Virginia Ingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this , a funny but serious book that shows how far women have come in today’s world!

[james author · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just left a 5 star review for Take Your Medicine! Pamela, your blend of humor and heart was spot on such a fun and refreshing read