A Deadly Practice

Joanna Blalock #2

by Leonard Goldberg

A serial killer with a grudge against doctors at an L.A. hospital and the expertise to imitate each of his victims' medical specialties stalks the hospital halls, and forensic pathologist Joanna Blalock must stop him before she becomes the next victim

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1994

About the author

Leonard Goldberg is an American physicist, professor of medicine, and the author of the Joanna Blalock series of medical thrillers.

His novels have been translated into a dozen languages and sold more than a million copies worldwide. Leonard Goldberg is himself a consulting physician affiliated with the UCLA Medical Center, where he holds an appointment as Clinical Professor of Medicine. A sought-after expert witness in medical malpractice trials, he is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and rheumatology, and has published over a hundred scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals.

Leonard Goldberg's writing career began with a clinical interest in blood disorders. While involved in a research project at UCLA, he encountered a most unusual blood type. The patient’s red blood cells were O-Rh null, indicating they were totally deficient in A, B and Rh factors and could be administered to virtually anyone without fear of a transfusion reaction. In essence, the patient was the proverbial "universal" blood donor. This finding spurred the idea for a story in which an individual was born without a tissue type, making that person’s organs transplantable into anyone without worry of rejection. His first novel, Transplant, revolved around a young woman who is discovered to be a universal organ donor and is hounded by a wealthy, powerful man in desperate need of a new kidney. The book quickly went through multiple printings and was optioned by a major Hollywood studio.

Dr. Goldberg is a native of Charleston and a long-time California resident. He currently divides his time between Los Angeles and an island off the coast of South Carolina.

Reviews

[Charles Vrooman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader and author of medical thrillers, I was impressed with Leonard Goldberg’s thriller – “A Deadly Practice”. I’ve read a couple of his novels and have to say that this was one of his best. This was truly a thriller with the touch of a mystery novel. The plot was well developed and the characters were believable. Goldberg has captured the essence of both Robin Cook and Patricia Cornwell together in this fantastic novel.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was the 3rd or 4th book of Goldberg's I've read featuring his protagonist, Joanna Blalock, a pathologist who specializes in forensics and often assists the police in investigations, and I would definitely like to read more. In this one, Blalock is currently on trial with 3 other doctors, after she interpreted biopsy slides on a pregnant woman as malignant which resulted in her aborting the fetus to undergo chemotherapy. A second opinion the woman sought indicated that the need for abortion was uncalled for, though Blalock's slides mysteriously disappeared before they could be shared with the other hospital. The book opens with one of the other 3 doctors, the anesthesiologist who treated the woman, being murdered in his own OR by a mysterious person, and when more people Blalock works with turn up dead at the hospital, she wonders if there is some tie-in with the case, and fears for her own life. Her unwillingness to admit guilt by settling the case when she was certain of what the slides showed could cost her her life, but she knows settling will cost her her career.
I found the book very well written and it kept me guessing until the end, perhaps not a literary masterpiece, but up there in quality with the best of Michael Palmer and Robin Cook in the medical thriller genre. At points it was predictable, and I noticed a certain pattern earlier than the investigators did, but it ended up being largely irrelevant. I don't think there were a ton of clues about who the killer was, unless the character appears in an earlier book I didn't read, but not being able to figure it out affected my enjoyment of it. Definitely looking forward to reading more in this series.

[Anya N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly I’ve always had a hard time enjoying medical thrillers and dramas but Leonard Goldberg’s ‘A Deadly Practice’ has definitely changed that. I had a hard time putting it down even though I originally picked it up with a lot of hesitation. I do wish there was a bit more detail in some aspects of the story such as the killers background and motivations. It was mentioned briefly but I think I’d have loved to know more about the ‘nut’ as Lieutenant Jake would call them. Also for the booking being the second in the series I think that Goldberg did a good job to make in separate enough that I could still be enjoying and understood without having read ‘Deadly Medicine’. Anyways, all in all if definitely recommend this book to both avid readers and those just getting into it and want to take a medical thriller for a spin.

[Lynette Lark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this because I like reading about medicine. However, this doctor/author wrote a page-turning piece of crap. It was a waste of my time.

[Edgar Salazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buen drama que juega con el miedo a las epidemias

[Peggy Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows Deadly Medicine in the Joanna Blalock series. This story follows a series of murders at the hospital where Dr. Blalock works. It again pairs her with Jake Sinclair. Dr. Goldberg does not have a lot of imagination when it comes to describing a romance/relationship. Some of the transitions are fairly jarring. It becomes apparent that the murders are related, but hard to figure motive. Deadly medicine was better written, but this still makes a good airplane read.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

JoAnn Blalock #2

[Gilbert G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always enjoyable!!