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Laura Nelson Mystery #4
After the Fall (4)
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author An action-packed medical thriller A tragic accident ends Laura Nelson's career as a surgeon. After accepting a position as Vice President for Research in a large pharmaceutical company, Laura works to finalize the imminent approval of the company's groundbreaking new drug. But Jake Harter, a malicious Food and Drug Administration employee, cannot let that happen. He is obsessed with Adawia Abdul, the beautiful Iraqi scientist who discovered the drug. As soon as the drug is approved, Adawia will collect a substantial bonus and reluctantly return to replace her dying father, the lead scientist in Saddam Hussein's bioweapon program. As Hussein's henchmen apply brutal pressure to assure Dr. Abdul's speedy return to Iraq, Harter uses his influence to stall the drug's approval. If Laura gets in his way, he will eliminate her as he has her predecessor and his own wife.
378 pages, Hardcover
First published January 6, 2015
32 people are currently reading
733 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Gussin
15 books95 followersNew York Times and USA Today best-selling author Patricia Gussin is a physician who grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, practiced in Philadelphia, and now lives in Longboat Key, Florida and Amagansett, NY. She is the author of seven novels including Shadow of Death, nominated Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers Association, and After the Fall, Gold Medal winner of the Florida Book Award for Popular Fiction in 2015, and second-time Gold Medal Winner for Popular Fiction in 2017 for Come Home. Patricia’s novels are classified as mystery/thrillers and fall within the sub-genre of domestic suspense. Her novels are inspired by her medical expertise and her experience as a mother of six, trying to balance family and career.
She and her husband Robert Gussin are also vineyards owners in New Zealand, growing grapes for Villa Maria Estates Winery.
She and her husband Robert Gussin are also vineyards owners in New Zealand, growing grapes for Villa Maria Estates Winery.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 11, 2016
Somewhat entertaining.
This was the first book I read from this series, one day I might read more about Laura Nelson. Only suspense was how they were going to catch the killer. FBI, CIA, NSA and police in 1992. Just after Desert Storm, Iraq and U.S. relationship, looking for Saddam's nuclear weapons and WMD is part of the plot. A lot of skeletons in some of the characters closets.
This was the first book I read from this series, one day I might read more about Laura Nelson. Only suspense was how they were going to catch the killer. FBI, CIA, NSA and police in 1992. Just after Desert Storm, Iraq and U.S. relationship, looking for Saddam's nuclear weapons and WMD is part of the plot. A lot of skeletons in some of the characters closets.
October 26, 2019
[Note: I won this book from the author in February 2016 and I am just now reviewing it]
In this, the conclusion of the Laura Nelson series by Patricia Gussin, we are shown in minute detail at times, 10 days in early 1992 around the life changing situations involving Dr. Laura Nelson, and how one fall the “wrong way” on the ice can change your whole future. Laura Nelson’s terrible accident forces the end of her stunning career as a pulmonary surgeon and opens a door into the world of “Big Pharma” beginning to ramp up to what it is today. It is also the story of Jake Harter, former Marine, FDA drudge and unhappy husband. Wrap it up with Middle Eastern connections to the days of Saddam Hussein and George W. Bush, and this becomes a thriller on many personal and professional levels with these characters,
Dr. Patricia Gussin writes wonderful books. I’m just wishing I hadn’t waited 3+ years to open this one. Highly Recommended 5/5
In this, the conclusion of the Laura Nelson series by Patricia Gussin, we are shown in minute detail at times, 10 days in early 1992 around the life changing situations involving Dr. Laura Nelson, and how one fall the “wrong way” on the ice can change your whole future. Laura Nelson’s terrible accident forces the end of her stunning career as a pulmonary surgeon and opens a door into the world of “Big Pharma” beginning to ramp up to what it is today. It is also the story of Jake Harter, former Marine, FDA drudge and unhappy husband. Wrap it up with Middle Eastern connections to the days of Saddam Hussein and George W. Bush, and this becomes a thriller on many personal and professional levels with these characters,
Dr. Patricia Gussin writes wonderful books. I’m just wishing I hadn’t waited 3+ years to open this one. Highly Recommended 5/5
February 8, 2017
I am embarrassed to admit that when I picked up this book at the library I mistakenly believed it was "Before the Fall" which has been on my To Read list! Turns out "After the Fall" is one of a series of Dr Laura Nelson mysteries. In this one she falls on black ice severely injuring her right arm and effectively ending her career as a thoracic surgeon. She takes a job with a pharmaceutical company just as they are rolling out a new medication that will treat rejections following transplant surgeries. In the course of obtaining FDA approval she becomes friends with a beautiful young Iraqi woman who discovered and developed the drug. She also becomes reacquainted with a pediatric heart surgeon who proposes to her and helps her come to terms with a secret from her past.
August 14, 2025
This was my favourite of all the Laura Nelson Series. The characters were the best and the story was awesome. It never skipped a beat from the previous books in the series. Hopefully this series goes on forever.
May 29, 2017
Way too many irrelevant sub-plots.
August 31, 2017
For being a quick read mystery, it was actually pretty good, if a little predictable. The writing was great and moved the story along at a fast pace.
June 24, 2019
Great read . Keep me interested enough to find the book in the library when my ebook expired.
October 8, 2016
Fast paced and exciting!
From start to finish, this author kept me focused, trying to figure out the plot. Just when I thought I had it figured, she'd twist it into another direction.
From start to finish, this author kept me focused, trying to figure out the plot. Just when I thought I had it figured, she'd twist it into another direction.
October 23, 2016
Crazy! But I don't mean that in a bad way, the book just went in a vastly different direction that I expected. I don't read much the blurbs on the back when I start a book because I don't want a preconceived notion of what the book is about. So all I know is that this book is a thriller.
It starts off fairly innocently as the antagonist character mows down someone in his car. As I read on, I find that this book is the 4th in a series (Laura Nelson mysteries). You don't really have to read the first 3 books but it seems to be best as this book refers to some of the past events.
Spoilers here:
And actually the tie in is marginal as the book is really about a FDA (Food and Drug Administration) employee (Jake Harter) who starts killing people in order to keep his Iraqi scientist lover (Addie) in the States. Partway though the book I have to decide whether Harter is crazy or the plot is terrible. Harter kills the first guy to delay approval of a drug (but was that really necessary since he was able to do so by himself already). And Harter is married but he decides to kill his wife instead of getting a divorce (and that seemed very unnecessary as well based on the circumstances). So ether Harter is crazy or this is very bad writing.
Gussin (the author) also decides to throw in a subplot about Addie being forced back to Iraq to develop bioterror weapons and getting the NSA involved but that is very much a subplot because not much happens (maybe more in the next book). So what is the Laura Nelson tie in? Because of a slip and fall, she becomes the administrator of a company that makes an immuno-suppressant drug that Addie developed. And this part is important because approval means a $7.5M payout to Addie.
So the plot escalates from a single kill to a spy plot involving the Iraqi government as well as two local murders involving 2 separate police departments as well as a personal storyline involving Laura Nelson. Yea, just like my long run-on sentence.
I finally decide that Harter is crazy when he starts to kill everyone he doesn't like and thinks he can get away with it but other parts of the plot are far fetched as well. I would like this book more if the events tied in better together but they don't.
Having said that, I wouldn't mind reading the first book to find out how the series starts and the next one to see if anything more happens with Addie. For any prospective readers, I'd probably recommend reading the first book first. I got this book free as a review copy.
It starts off fairly innocently as the antagonist character mows down someone in his car. As I read on, I find that this book is the 4th in a series (Laura Nelson mysteries). You don't really have to read the first 3 books but it seems to be best as this book refers to some of the past events.
Spoilers here:
And actually the tie in is marginal as the book is really about a FDA (Food and Drug Administration) employee (Jake Harter) who starts killing people in order to keep his Iraqi scientist lover (Addie) in the States. Partway though the book I have to decide whether Harter is crazy or the plot is terrible. Harter kills the first guy to delay approval of a drug (but was that really necessary since he was able to do so by himself already). And Harter is married but he decides to kill his wife instead of getting a divorce (and that seemed very unnecessary as well based on the circumstances). So ether Harter is crazy or this is very bad writing.
Gussin (the author) also decides to throw in a subplot about Addie being forced back to Iraq to develop bioterror weapons and getting the NSA involved but that is very much a subplot because not much happens (maybe more in the next book). So what is the Laura Nelson tie in? Because of a slip and fall, she becomes the administrator of a company that makes an immuno-suppressant drug that Addie developed. And this part is important because approval means a $7.5M payout to Addie.
So the plot escalates from a single kill to a spy plot involving the Iraqi government as well as two local murders involving 2 separate police departments as well as a personal storyline involving Laura Nelson. Yea, just like my long run-on sentence.
I finally decide that Harter is crazy when he starts to kill everyone he doesn't like and thinks he can get away with it but other parts of the plot are far fetched as well. I would like this book more if the events tied in better together but they don't.
Having said that, I wouldn't mind reading the first book to find out how the series starts and the next one to see if anything more happens with Addie. For any prospective readers, I'd probably recommend reading the first book first. I got this book free as a review copy.
January 17, 2015
Originally published in booksandspoons.weebly.com/book-blog
I had a hard time deciding what category I should put this book, since there are many murders, but the only mystery is, will the police ever catch up with the killers. And there was suspense, but not with the murders, since the reader is constantly aware who did and what. And there's marriage proposals, relationships, but not really 'romance' as in romance novels.
Yes, I feel a bit overwhelmed at the moment, there were so many plot lines in the book, I don't know where should I start.
It was interesting to see Jake's deteriorating mental capacity. It was never brought up, if the war in Vietnam had any influence to his mental capacity, even though he did have a desk job there. The delusional behavior towards the end just made me wonder, how far would he have taken it, if possibility for that would have risen.
Adawia was stuck between two cultures. As smart as she was, after 12 years in the States, one would think she had a better grasp of US government, and the laws, that surprised me. She seems immature emotionally, something I put on her upbringing. The destiny of those two left lots of questions in my mind, 'what if' - going on long after I finished the story.
Tim, what an upright, solid, good guy he is! No one would doubt his love and devotion to Laura, his emotions and intentions came very sincere and clear.
Laura had lived with so many lies, with so many secrets, for most of her adult life, did she self know anymore what was true?
Very interesting, intriguing storyline, so many of them in this one book, and in the end, somehow all come to twine together, if loosely, but together anyway. The build up is great, and you can feel the stage is set up for a big crescendo, but after all the built up, it seemed a little anticlimactic. There was a bit repetition in the story, but with 70 chapters, and multiple story lines, some of it was warranted.
Interesting to end five book series into a sort of a cliffhanger.
Mixed feelings with this one,
~ Three spoons
I had a hard time deciding what category I should put this book, since there are many murders, but the only mystery is, will the police ever catch up with the killers. And there was suspense, but not with the murders, since the reader is constantly aware who did and what. And there's marriage proposals, relationships, but not really 'romance' as in romance novels.
Yes, I feel a bit overwhelmed at the moment, there were so many plot lines in the book, I don't know where should I start.
It was interesting to see Jake's deteriorating mental capacity. It was never brought up, if the war in Vietnam had any influence to his mental capacity, even though he did have a desk job there. The delusional behavior towards the end just made me wonder, how far would he have taken it, if possibility for that would have risen.
Adawia was stuck between two cultures. As smart as she was, after 12 years in the States, one would think she had a better grasp of US government, and the laws, that surprised me. She seems immature emotionally, something I put on her upbringing. The destiny of those two left lots of questions in my mind, 'what if' - going on long after I finished the story.
Tim, what an upright, solid, good guy he is! No one would doubt his love and devotion to Laura, his emotions and intentions came very sincere and clear.
Laura had lived with so many lies, with so many secrets, for most of her adult life, did she self know anymore what was true?
Very interesting, intriguing storyline, so many of them in this one book, and in the end, somehow all come to twine together, if loosely, but together anyway. The build up is great, and you can feel the stage is set up for a big crescendo, but after all the built up, it seemed a little anticlimactic. There was a bit repetition in the story, but with 70 chapters, and multiple story lines, some of it was warranted.
Interesting to end five book series into a sort of a cliffhanger.
Mixed feelings with this one,
~ Three spoons
May 3, 2015
“After the Fall” is the first book I have read by author Patricia Gussin. The book has several subplots that do eventually come together in support of the main plot of dirty dealings going on during the approval process of a new drug that could help save lives. Laura Nelson is the main character who after a tragic accident is forced to change careers and gets caught in the drama of those who want the drug approved and someone who would do anything to delay that process.
The suspense throughout the book is wonderful and once I started, I didn’t want to put it down. Laura is intelligent and determined and I enjoyed reading about her. Some of the male characters didn’t have a much depth and were clearly the “good guy” or the “bad guy”. The “bad guy” was a jerk without many redeeming qualities, but Laura’s love interest seemed too good to be true. At one point in the book, Laura confides to him that she had been keeping a major secret from her deceased husband, one that could speak to her integrity and he barely blinks and says it’s okay with him. I would have expected a little bit of a dilemma on his part. I also found some of the dialogue to be unnatural which made some of the scene awkward. However, the plot grabbed me enough that I was able to ignore the flaws and still kept reading, eager to find out what would happen next in Laura’s life and in the fate of the new drug going up for approval. Although it doesn’t have all of the elements of conspiracy, I think fans of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers would enjoy this book.
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Oceanview Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.
The suspense throughout the book is wonderful and once I started, I didn’t want to put it down. Laura is intelligent and determined and I enjoyed reading about her. Some of the male characters didn’t have a much depth and were clearly the “good guy” or the “bad guy”. The “bad guy” was a jerk without many redeeming qualities, but Laura’s love interest seemed too good to be true. At one point in the book, Laura confides to him that she had been keeping a major secret from her deceased husband, one that could speak to her integrity and he barely blinks and says it’s okay with him. I would have expected a little bit of a dilemma on his part. I also found some of the dialogue to be unnatural which made some of the scene awkward. However, the plot grabbed me enough that I was able to ignore the flaws and still kept reading, eager to find out what would happen next in Laura’s life and in the fate of the new drug going up for approval. Although it doesn’t have all of the elements of conspiracy, I think fans of Robin Cook’s medical thrillers would enjoy this book.
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Oceanview Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.
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March 21, 2015Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of After the Fall via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for posting my honest review.
The fourth book in the Dr. Laura Nelson series, After the Fall is the first book I’ve read by author Patricia Gussin. It’s categorized as a thriller, with which I would agree. Although I’d obviously missed the major happenings in the previous Laura Nelson books, I’d call this a standalone novel. I’m intrigued enough that I might go back and read the first three, but After the Fall is a complete story in and of itself. Some references to the past sum up events very succinctly because it would be patronizing to completely rehash everything for those who have read the previous books.
With a straightforward, fast-paced plot, no jumps back-and-forth-and-back in time, and lots of short chapters, this book was enjoyable for me except when it came to the Jake Harter character. He used the most profanity, had the most sexual scenes (I did some skipping of pages, reader’s prerogative), and he could have easily been painted a bad guy without the accompanying trashy details.
I found that the family scenes concerning Laura and her five adult children felt somewhat contrived.
It doesn’t take any special medical or scientific knowledge to enjoy this story.
The fourth book in the Dr. Laura Nelson series, After the Fall is the first book I’ve read by author Patricia Gussin. It’s categorized as a thriller, with which I would agree. Although I’d obviously missed the major happenings in the previous Laura Nelson books, I’d call this a standalone novel. I’m intrigued enough that I might go back and read the first three, but After the Fall is a complete story in and of itself. Some references to the past sum up events very succinctly because it would be patronizing to completely rehash everything for those who have read the previous books.
With a straightforward, fast-paced plot, no jumps back-and-forth-and-back in time, and lots of short chapters, this book was enjoyable for me except when it came to the Jake Harter character. He used the most profanity, had the most sexual scenes (I did some skipping of pages, reader’s prerogative), and he could have easily been painted a bad guy without the accompanying trashy details.
I found that the family scenes concerning Laura and her five adult children felt somewhat contrived.
It doesn’t take any special medical or scientific knowledge to enjoy this story.
April 4, 2016
I won this book through Goodreads and this is my review of After the Fall by Patricia Gussin. This is the fourth novel in the series of Dr. Laura Nelson medical thrillers. I have read and enjoyed all of them. This book has two major evolving story lines: the first is about Dr. Laura Nelson and the other concerns Dr. Adawai Abdul. Their paths cross in Philadelphia where Laura is now living with Dr. Tim Robinson. Due to certain circumstances she has been forced to change careers. She now works as VP for Research in a large pharmaceutical company. Adawai is an Iraqi Scientist, living in America, who has just developed a new drug, Immunone. She will receive a very large bonus once the drug is approved by the FDA. Adawai has fallen in love with ex- Marine, Jake Harter, who works for the FDA. Jake has an obsession with Adawai and has been after her love for sometime. In fact he'll do anything to keep her in America. Meanwhile, the Iraqis want her home to work in their biochemical weapons department. Laura is working hard to push Immunone approval when she realizes that some of the research files are missing! Who is behind the missing files and why? How will Jake keep Adawai from going home after she gets her bonus? This is an exciting medical thriller and I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book!
October 19, 2015
This fourth book, After the Fall appears to be the end of the series, but can be read without having read the others. The Fall of the title, at least initially, refers to Laura Nelson slipping on the ice in high heels and breaking her hand, the hand that she needs as a surgeon. In one quick moment her career as a surgeon is over.
The Fall also refers to Jake Harter's, FDA employee, descending character arc. Harter is in love with an Iranian scientist; she will go back to Iran if a certain drug is approved and he doesn't want her to leave. So he does what he can to block the drug approval. That includes killing people who can get it passed. Eventually he targets Laura herself.
This is a vivid inside look to the research and drug approval process. The story also sounds a warning knell about biochemical weapons. And it brings Laura Nelson's story to a satisfying conclusion.
The Fall also refers to Jake Harter's, FDA employee, descending character arc. Harter is in love with an Iranian scientist; she will go back to Iran if a certain drug is approved and he doesn't want her to leave. So he does what he can to block the drug approval. That includes killing people who can get it passed. Eventually he targets Laura herself.
This is a vivid inside look to the research and drug approval process. The story also sounds a warning knell about biochemical weapons. And it brings Laura Nelson's story to a satisfying conclusion.
January 13, 2015
storyline is quite good.
unfortunately has some sensitive issue regarding a religion that i am not fond of. so the one star is for that.
ARC is kindly provided by Author/Publisher via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you for the chance to review the book.
full review to be posted on my GoodReads and TUMBLR blog.
http://madamtyrianpurple.tumblr.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2...
unfortunately has some sensitive issue regarding a religion that i am not fond of. so the one star is for that.
ARC is kindly provided by Author/Publisher via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you for the chance to review the book.
full review to be posted on my GoodReads and TUMBLR blog.
http://madamtyrianpurple.tumblr.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2...
May 19, 2015
I received this book as a giveaway. I enjoyed it and it was easy to get through. The only part I had issue with was the ending. I felt that the death of Addie was a cop out rather than closing out the story and tying it together. And how is it that there are so many bad shooters that have missed Laura?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2016
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway winner. As a nurse, I thoroughly enjoyed the subject matter. Patricia Gussin provides for the perfect combination of drama, suspense, greed, secrecy, and love in After the Fall. Bravo!
April 22, 2015
Excellent characters up to a point, needed a little more insight on middle eastern but very good plot
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews