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Single Minded
When Murphy Meyer arrives at Eden State Hospital on the first of January 2001, driven to solve a small, personal mystery, the young doctor has no idea she’s deposited herself into something larger and darker than she could ever have imagined; something that has a life of its own.
Few at Eden State Hospital can claim to be single minded where duplicity is standard operating procedure.
Few at Eden State Hospital can claim to be single minded where duplicity is standard operating procedure.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2024
3 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Marina Auer
3 books9 followersMarina Auer is a graduate of the University of Cape Town Medical School and spent several years working in state hospitals before moving into private practice.
Double Edged, her first novel, was published in 2023. Single Minded (Kwela, 2024), was shortlisted for the Island Prize for African Writers. Her third novel is due out mid-2025.
She lives with her family – two teenagers, two cats, one husband – in Durban, South Africa.
Double Edged, her first novel, was published in 2023. Single Minded (Kwela, 2024), was shortlisted for the Island Prize for African Writers. Her third novel is due out mid-2025.
She lives with her family – two teenagers, two cats, one husband – in Durban, South Africa.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 5, 2024
Marina's books are a credit to SA.
Well-written, authentic, and addictive. Brava, lady.
Well-written, authentic, and addictive. Brava, lady.
September 10, 2024
Local is Lekker. 🇿🇦
I really enjoyed reading this book, and it rates closer to a four than a three.
Accurate depiction of the state of our public hospitals sets the backdrop for a fast paced plot and the unraveling of a host of very interesting medics and their patients and colleagues.
Well researched and authentically written, it is definitively a Proudly South African read.
I really enjoyed reading this book, and it rates closer to a four than a three.
Accurate depiction of the state of our public hospitals sets the backdrop for a fast paced plot and the unraveling of a host of very interesting medics and their patients and colleagues.
Well researched and authentically written, it is definitively a Proudly South African read.
August 22, 2024
Marina’s books have gotten me back into the thriller genre. I loved Double Edged and Single Minded did not disappoint. Fast-paced. Keeps you guessing. A real page-turner.
The psychological medical theme throughout was excellent, and very poignant at times. I enjoy medical fiction based in fact. Especially having had a very similar experience myself as a young doctor in South Africa.
Looking forward to more books in the future. What’s next?!
The psychological medical theme throughout was excellent, and very poignant at times. I enjoy medical fiction based in fact. Especially having had a very similar experience myself as a young doctor in South Africa.
Looking forward to more books in the future. What’s next?!
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October 17, 2024#SingleMinded – Marina Auer
#Kwela
He is a short, naked, hairy, evil male creature with no eyes. His name is whispered. ‘Tokoloshe.’
State Hospitals in South Africa are often likened to haunted houses. Both are regarded as places to be avoided. In January 2001 the situation was exacerbated by the Aids pandemic that raged due to the then government policy denying access to ARV’s. When doctor Murphy Meyer assumed duty at Eden State Hospital in Pietermaritzburg of that fateful year, she did not disclose her true reasons for being there, but the hospital, far removed from the proverbial paradise, had additional secrets of its own. A murderer was roaming the wards, a rapist lurked on the grounds, a psychiatric patient was on the loose, and bodies were disappearing from the morgue.
Murphy grew up in Apartheid South Africa and went searching for redemption in the dilapidated corridors where superstition and ancient beliefs ran rife. The horror of the environment is revealed in the titles allocated to the three parts of the novel. Part 1, ‘Abandon all hope ye who enter here’ is loaned from Dante’s description of the sign above the gates of hell, part 2, ‘Here be monsters’, also known as ‘Here be dragons’, originated from the ancient cartographers’ habit to refer to unchartered territories as being occupied by monsters, and part 3, ‘This way madness lies’ is derived from the quote ‘That way madness lies’ from Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’.
The opening scene is chilling: An unidentified doctor disposes of a corpse in an inexplicably unorthodox manner. This sets the table for a thrill-a-minute medical whodunnit that moves along at a relentless pace and plays out over a mere three weeks, 1-21 January 2001, and concludes with a newspaper article dated 27 January 2001, and engineering memorandums ranging from 13 September to 4 December 2001.
Enter if you dare.
#Kwela
He is a short, naked, hairy, evil male creature with no eyes. His name is whispered. ‘Tokoloshe.’
State Hospitals in South Africa are often likened to haunted houses. Both are regarded as places to be avoided. In January 2001 the situation was exacerbated by the Aids pandemic that raged due to the then government policy denying access to ARV’s. When doctor Murphy Meyer assumed duty at Eden State Hospital in Pietermaritzburg of that fateful year, she did not disclose her true reasons for being there, but the hospital, far removed from the proverbial paradise, had additional secrets of its own. A murderer was roaming the wards, a rapist lurked on the grounds, a psychiatric patient was on the loose, and bodies were disappearing from the morgue.
Murphy grew up in Apartheid South Africa and went searching for redemption in the dilapidated corridors where superstition and ancient beliefs ran rife. The horror of the environment is revealed in the titles allocated to the three parts of the novel. Part 1, ‘Abandon all hope ye who enter here’ is loaned from Dante’s description of the sign above the gates of hell, part 2, ‘Here be monsters’, also known as ‘Here be dragons’, originated from the ancient cartographers’ habit to refer to unchartered territories as being occupied by monsters, and part 3, ‘This way madness lies’ is derived from the quote ‘That way madness lies’ from Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’.
The opening scene is chilling: An unidentified doctor disposes of a corpse in an inexplicably unorthodox manner. This sets the table for a thrill-a-minute medical whodunnit that moves along at a relentless pace and plays out over a mere three weeks, 1-21 January 2001, and concludes with a newspaper article dated 27 January 2001, and engineering memorandums ranging from 13 September to 4 December 2001.
Enter if you dare.
August 19, 2024
I enjoyed Marina's first book Double Edged, but this book I couldn't put down. It holds you firmly in a fast-paced grip from the start. Reading about the horrors of a third-world hospital from the safety of a comfortable sofa is chilling enough. Marina brings to life the real challenges of the professionals in the trenches, and the helplessness of the people who are served by a medical system in crisis.
November 10, 2024
A captivating medical thriller that instantly grabs your attention from the very first page!
Although some of the hospital-based descriptions might seem far-fetched, the author's notes at the end disclose that they are actually based on real events. The author's background as a medical doctor lends authenticity and depth to the narrative, making it an engrossing read.
The story revolves around Murphy Meyer, who joins the team at Eden State Hospital on January 1, 2001. It raises the question of why anyone would choose to work at this particular hospital and whether she has hidden motives for accepting the position.
The hospital is facing substantial challenges. It is understaffed, and some essential equipment is either broken or unavailable. To make matters worse, someone is attacking female patients, nurses, and doctors.
In addition to all the other challenges, the hospital is also experiencing an unusually high number of deaths. Could there be something suspicious behind these deaths?
I will certainly be on the lookout for more books by this author!
Although some of the hospital-based descriptions might seem far-fetched, the author's notes at the end disclose that they are actually based on real events. The author's background as a medical doctor lends authenticity and depth to the narrative, making it an engrossing read.
The story revolves around Murphy Meyer, who joins the team at Eden State Hospital on January 1, 2001. It raises the question of why anyone would choose to work at this particular hospital and whether she has hidden motives for accepting the position.
The hospital is facing substantial challenges. It is understaffed, and some essential equipment is either broken or unavailable. To make matters worse, someone is attacking female patients, nurses, and doctors.
In addition to all the other challenges, the hospital is also experiencing an unusually high number of deaths. Could there be something suspicious behind these deaths?
I will certainly be on the lookout for more books by this author!
August 21, 2024
Love me some medical drama. This book did not disappoint.
November 26, 2024
Well written medical thriller, couldn't put it down. Brilliant
July 31, 2025
Good concept and the writing is excellent but it took me a while to get into this book. I got lost in some of the medical jargon too.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews