A Dangerous Diagnosis: A Thriller

by Shantanu Rai

A jaded doctor for the ultrarich becomes entangled in this fast-paced medical thriller for fans of Robin Cook and HBO's The Pitt .

Brilliant diagnostician and renowned physician Dr. Sanjay Patel once dreamed of being a doctor at a free clinic, serving those in need. Now he treats billionaires by private jet and gets paid in Gucci totes packed with cash.

But when his estranged mentor, Dr. Tom Carpenter, scribbles “Page Dr. Sanjay” on a blank prescription moments before collapsing from a fatal stroke, Sanjay is pulled back to the hospital that nearly ended his medical career, Boston’s Mount Beacon Hospital.

There, he reunites with cancer researcher Emma Carpenter-Flores, Tom’s daughter—and the woman whose heart Sanjay broke a decade prior. Forced to team up, their search unearths a trail of disturbing cases, and as they dig deeper, they find themselves the target of a powerful medical-industrial complex that will stop at nothing to protect its secrets.

With patients’ lives at stake, Sanjay and Emma must risk everything to find the truth and expose it before the very foundation of medicine is destroyed in this timely medical thriller, perfect for fans of The Lincoln Lawyer and House.

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery, Audiobook

336 pages, Paperback

Published February 24, 2026

About the author

Shantanu Rai is a practicing physician and writer whose fiction reveals the hidden toll of America’s healthcare system. His stories draw on years spent caring for patients and witnessing the quiet struggles of those on both sides of the exam room. Raised on Bollywood films, whodunits, and puzzles, he now turns to storytelling to capture what medicine alone cannot. A Dangerous Diagnosis is his debut novel. When not practicing medicine or writing, he enjoys hiking, family movie nights, and a strong cup of chai.

Reviews

[Keri Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley. Many thanks!

This was a slow start for me, I guess settling into the characters and storyline. But then it started to grab my interest - still towards the beginning, not one of those books you struggle through and the last portion is good. It starts with Dr. Sanjay Patel hears that his mentor Dr. Carpenter has died, with a note saying “Page Dr. Sanjay”. While there he reunites with Dr. Carpenter’s daughter Emma. Something seems wrong, so they look into his cause of death, but also discover a stack of patient files. They don’t seem to be connected, but there are unusual things are finding.

I found this really interesting. I’m sure a little part of the appeal for me is that I work in a medical education office. But also I love figuring out a puzzle, and that’s what they are doing. How are these patients connected? And for whose benefit? I rated this 4 stars but its’s 4+.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

So…to start with I thought I would LOVE this book because…
It revolves around medicine and hospitals and MD’s and Nurses… and of course… patients!
And, according to the ‘blurb’ it’s for fans of ‘The Pitt’ which I love!

Newsflash: it does not hold a candle to The Pitt. That show was very well researched and the medical staff actually had to go through extensive training to ‘talk the talk’. It is on point in every way!
This book did a bit of research, yes… but it does not compare at all! And, the narrator sounds like a twelve year old boy reading in science class. Not realistic at all, and no idea what he’s saying while he’s saying it. I’d think that at least some training or research would be done by the narrator of a MEDICALLY based book… but that doesn’t seem to be the case…

Yes, this is very heavy on medical jargon/language in this book/story. For me, that’s a plus! I’m a nurse (RN) with many years of ICU/CCU/PACU/Open Heart experience.
I know what they are talking about. They did not.

And. It’s been years since I had patients involved in clinical trials… but, for them to get in is HUGE! The meds would not just be lying around for anyone to take a look at or use. That’s just nonsense!… and highly unbelievable.

So, sorry to say this was a total miss for me.
But, for those looking for a medical drama with no medical background…well, you might totally enjoy this one.

#ADangerousDiagnosis by Shantanu Rai and narrated by Shravan Amin.

2 1/2 stars for me, rounded up to 3. ⭐️⭐️💫
Being as this was not a hit for me, I’ll limit my posts to Goodreads, NetGalley and my personal book sites…

The book was released yesterday, so if it interests you, please look for it on shelves now!

Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @DreamscapeMedia for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!!

You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

[Nima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced and fascinating, this medical thriller kept me hooked from start to finish. If you enjoy medical-driven stories, this is definitely one to add to your list.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for the ARC.

[Sharnia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was written by a real doctor fed up with the American health care system being more about profits and bottom lines than genuinely helping patients. It was interesting and a good read, but had way too much going on and various plot lines that weren’t really coming together overly smoothly.

[Stacy40pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dangerous Diagnosis by Shantanu Rai. Thanks to @booksparks #WRC2026 for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dr Sanjay returns to Boston when his estranged mentor, Dr. Thomas Carpenter, dies of a stroke but scribbles his name before his last breath. He reunited with Dr. Carpenter’s daughter, and together they uncover an investigation left by her father that leads them against the medical-industry complex within the US.

I keep seeing this compared to the show The Pitt, but it’s a lot more than ER excitement and life saving actions. While there are some ER scenes, and yes they are similar to the Pitt, it’s deeper and gets into the issues with for profit medical industry in the states. Dr. Sanjay is a bit of a medical MacGyver, and it’s fun to watch him diagnosis, as well as lead the investigation.

“He’s back in America, all right. Home of the medical-industrial complex that puts profit before patients.”

Read if you like:
-Medical thrillers
-Doctors’ perspectives
-Amateur investigation

A Dangerous Diagnosis comes out 2/24.

[Penny Sherek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure I was going to like Dangerous Diagnosis at first and even considered not finishing it. I’m really glad I stuck with it. The beginning was a bit slow, but once the story picked up, it turned into a great read.

This wasn’t your typical medical mystery, which I really liked. The storyline took a different direction than I expected, and that twist made it stand out. One of my favorite parts was that I could never quite decide who the “bad” guy was. I went back and forth, especially suspecting Neil or even one of the other leaders, which kept me guessing the whole time.

I also really liked Emma and Sanjay together. They seemed perfect for each other. I think her dad saw that and, in his own way, helped them realize it. He knew Sanjay would get to the truth and that the two of them would end up working together to uncover it.

Overall, I ended up loving this book and am very glad I didn’t give up on it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. #NetGalley

[Kimmi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Dangerous Diagnosis by Shantanu Rai
Narrator : Shravan Amin 

I love myself a good thriller but unfortunately this one fell flat for me. It felt like a lot of medical terms being thrown at you and the main character Sanjay wasn't that interesting to me. I like the set up and plot but the twist was not twisting for me. 

Thank god for the ALC because I was only able to finish reading this book because Shravan read it. I personally liked his reading because he sounded stoic and authoritative with very little emotion. Which made me feel like I was inside Sanjay's mind when he was reading it. He did a great job narrating Sanjay. The female voice, meh, not that much but thankfully Emma wasn't going on long tangents. 

Thank you so much to Booksparks for the gifted copy to read and review.
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC.

[Maria Vickers - MysteryLFL · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up. This is my second medical/pharmaceutical thriller, and the sub-genre is growing in me. It definitely allows for some interesting plots and twists that keep you guessing. This specific book felt a bit too textbook-y for my taste, with lots of medical terminology that didn’t really add to the storyline, but it was still enjoyable!

[Lindsay Nixon · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 20%

Yawn 🥱

Definitely not fast-paced as described. At 20% alm’ost nothing has happened except a tiring amount of commentary that the medical system is shameful and corrupt.

Thanks netgalley

[Rachel Wamboldt · Rating 1 out of 5]

When a medical drama says, ‘Asystole. A shockable rhythm’. It’s a no for me.

[Victoria (storieswithtorie) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one had such a strong concept, and I wanted to love it more than I did. The plot itself is really interesting, especially with the medical research angle, which felt different from what I usually read and had me at first.

But the execution just didn’t fully land for me. It felt really jumpy and at times hard to follow, like I was trying to keep up instead of getting lost in the story. I kept waiting to feel more connected or fully immersed, and it just never quite got there.

I do appreciate stepping into a different genre like this, and I liked the ideas behind it, but the writing style wasn’t my favorite.

[aishareadsnrambles · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW- 4.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

STORYLINE :
I think this is my first medical thriller and I'm eager to read one! We have Dr Sanjay Patel, a brilliant concierge doctor of the rich who has a dead equally brilliant medical doctor mentor who died under mysterious circumstances. The mentor's daughter, Dr and Professor Emma is also involved in the investment. In addition to this, it turned out the doctor was running a clandestine investigation about what was going on in MBH, Mount Beacon Hospital (Man's Best Hospital) in America.
Plus, the hint of romance between Emma and Sanjay. It was okay at first, but turned disappointing. My least favourite part of the book. The ambiguity was annoying!
This book was amazing and a delightful read. The characters' emotions, personalities, medical terms, detective work and the reality of America's healthcare system were written perfectly and you won't be able to stop yourself from flipping the pages.

CHARACTERS:
The characters are amazing, starting with Dr Sanjay Patel, a genius first-generation Indian immigrant medical doctor. He can literally diagnose a patient just by looking at them and noticing signs not obvious to others. He's a good doctor and a good man. He had doubts in the beginning, but did the right thing in the end. I loved reading about him and his brilliance and detective skills.
Then we have Dr Emma Carpenter- Flores an amazing academician whose scientific background helped in solving her father's case. I liked how the relationship with her father was written, realistic and I'm satisfied with her growth. I also liked the racially and professionally diverse characters. The MCs were doctors (Emma has a medical background), but we still saw other Healthcare workers' characters.
The other characters too were essential and well written with big personalities.

WRITING STYLE:
Well written and well explained. This is a medical thriller, but a layman can read and enjoy. It was evenly paced and easy to read.

SETTINGS:
Perfection! Especially the clinical ones. It was as if I were in the hospital with the characters!

OVERALL:
The book was very good and unique. It felt really nice to read a book like this as a Healthcare Worker myself, a Nurse. I learnt a lot. Plus, all the elements in the book blended well together and were almost perfect. This is a book that can be enjoyed by all. I hope to see more of Sanjay and Emma's smart detective work and their relationship. I would definitely recommend it!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Authentic and fast paced medical thriller that demonstrates the extent of moral injury to physicians and patients through institutional corruption and clinical malfeasance.

Dr. Sanjay Patel is an elite concierge diagnostician operating an exclusive medical practice. His jet setting lifestyle and work are disrupted by the sudden, suspicious death of his former mentor, Dr. Tom Carpenter, who leaves a final message for Sanjay. The message indicates that Carpenter felt something was seriously wrong at Boston’s Mount Beacon Hospital. More or less willingly, Sanjay returns to the facility and reunites with Tom’s daughter, Emma Carpenter-Flores, who is a professor and researcher in her own right. What they find are logs that indicate potential data manipulation and irregularities with a clinical trial of a specific medication designed to prevent heart attacks. Sanjay and Emma work to discover who is behind this obvious profits scheme at MBH before too many other patients die.

This debut was a balanced combination of suspense along with a sharp critique of the current healthcare system. Since Rai is a physician, the medical aspect is real and accurate making the scenario plausible. It’s definitely an expose on the failures of the modern medical-industrial complex and its failure to take care of patients the way doctors know they should. It falls into a couple of the medical thriller tropes, but still manages to convey a sense of urgency that modern medicine is broken and changes need to be made for the good of both the providers and the people they try to help.

I liked the writing style and eagerly look forward to another book by this author. It’s so hard to find good medical thrillers beyond those written by familiar superstar writers that I already read.

I was able to listen to the audio book provided by the publisher while also following along in the hardcover book I worked really hard to borrow from the public library. The narrator, Shravan Amin, did a good job with some difficult pronunciations and managed to sound like the medical terminology was familiar despite a few slips. With so many characters, it would have been nice to have a full cast to include at least one female voice for balance. Audio books always enhance my enjoyment of a novel by creating a more immersive experience and this production was no exception.

If you like medical thrillers, this is a new author to add to your watch list. Recommended.

[Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to thank Shantanu Rai, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

OMG!! Fans of the medical drama The Pitt you need to read a Dangerous Diagnosis by Shantanu Rai!! It reads just like the TV show only better!! If you know me you know I love medical themed books!! I was craving one bad and Shantanu satisfied my craving!! Instantly I was totally addicted to Shantanu’s storylines and was glued to my Kindle!

This is my first time ever reading anything from Stantanu and I thank NetGalley for introducing us. He is an incredible writer and storyteller. Not only that he is knowledgeable and experienced on his medical terminology, tests, diseases, disorders and procedures. Back in the day used to be a Medical Assistant and Medical Office Assistant so familiar with some of what he was talking about.

They did an amazing job explaining everything that was going on in detail. In some cases I felt like I was a fly on the wall looking down.

There was a scene in the book that had put a patient in a very unique situation. Ironically, a similar situation just presented itself on the second season of The Pitt.

At the end of the book Shantanu gives you suggested reading and resources that you may enjoy reading.

Shantanu believes books can change the world and he wrote this book hoping that he could change medicine.

He wants to thank his fellow doctors and health care workers: As a kid, he dreamt of taking care of patients. What he never thought he would find is the inspiration and the friendship within the healers-in-arms.

Shantanu made me smile ear to ear when he dedicated the book to his patients. He thanked them for trusting them with their lives and stories. Your hugs, handshakes, cookies, and holiday cards. The patients have given him more meaning than ever given him possible! I wish more Dr.’s were like him!!!

If you like medical thrillers or tv shows like The Pitt you must check out A Dangerous Diagnosis by Shantanu Rai! It gets more than 5 stars from me! It is addicting, fast paced from start to finish, interesting medical cases, climatic twists and turns, etc. This is a must read.

[Mal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audiobook.

When Dr. Sanjay Patel learns that his former mentor, Dr. Tom Carpenter, has died and that his last message was to call Sanjay, he's surprised and reluctantly leaves his high paying concierge doctor practice to return to Boston, where he thought he would be living his best life but ultimately was let down by his mentor. Sanjay quickly realizes that Tom called him back to solve a medical mystery that he'd started to unravel--and likely caused his death. Unable to walk away from a puzzle, or from desperate patients being taken advantage of, Sanjay must navigate the political minefield that forced him out before, reconnect with Emma (his former love and Tom's daughter), and use his best medical sleuthing skills to figure out what Tom was up to--before his own life is in jeopardy.

This was a fairly typical medical thriller, with most of the tropes that readers interested in this genre would want. The addition of a main character of color (and several other characters of color as secondary) gave a nice verisimilitude to the medical world. The thing kept this from rating higher was the narrator. This book would've benefitted from having a cast of narrators as opposed to the one they did utilize. His expositional narration and the voice he did for Sanjay was fine, but this wasn't a voice actor who did other voices very well. All of the female character voices were grating and almost made me stop listening. For those interested in A DANGEROUS DIAGNOSIS, I would recommend reading in print.

A Dangerous Diagnosis is out February 24, 2026

[Sue - Recos and Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest pick from my hibernation mode stack from Booksparks delivered a high-stakes medical thriller that had my pulse pounding. Think the intensity of House, the moral tension of The Good Doctor, and the fast-paced drama of Chicago Med all rolled into one.

📘 INSIDE THE PAGES

The sudden death of Dr. Tom, a senior physician at MBH, reunites three previous colleagues with a turbulent history. Dr. Sanjay, now a concierge physician catering to the uber rich, joins forces with Emma, a medical researcher and Tom’s daughter, to unravel the meaning behind Tom’s final words: “Page Dr. Sanjay.” Rounding out the trio is Dr. Neil, now the hospital’s president. As Emma and Sanjay dig deeper, unsettling clues begin to surface that suggest Neil’s polished rise to the top may be entangled in something far more corrupt than anyone imagined.

🌟 MY THOUGHTS

Well this book had everything I love in a thriller. Not just a great central plot, but layered characters that were sometimes a little too believable for my comfort. A fast pace with short chapters and plenty of ethical dilemmas mixed with messy relationships that kept me turning the page.

The suggested reading at the end grounds the story in real-world issues and makes it clear this isn’t fiction pulled from thin air. And the parting words from the author:

“I believe books can change the world. I wrote this one hoping to change medicine.”

[N · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a medical thriller--kick back to my teen reading days I LOVED a good medical book. So when this one popped up I knew I had to request it. The helicopter view this book was quite entertaining, patients are dying including the famous doctor and Mentor to Sanjay Patel, Tom. But right before his suspicious death he sends a message to Sanjay enticing him to return to MBH Hospital requesting his help. As Sanjay teams up with Emma-Tom's daughter- and previous medical school friends he begins to uncover that the medical system here in America is rather corrupt.
A Dangerous Diagnosis felt like a debut novel, the writing was pretty dry--and "scientific" . There was a lot of medical mambo-jambo which I didn't mind-but sometimes it felt like he was mansplaining basic medical facts to the reader. Frankly I would be 100% concerned if some of the doctors in this book were my doctrs. They treated Sanjay like he was a medical genius when he made simple diagnosis. Like....a client had achy joints on rainy/cloudy days--everyone even living under a rock knows that is Arthritis. There were several examples like this---Anyway, I enjoyed Sanjay uncovering the truths behind what was going on....I will read more by Rai if the opportunity arises.

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this advanced copy of A Dangerous Diagnosis. I was not paid for this review or influenced in any way.

[Sneha · Rating 4 out of 5]

#ADangerousDiagnosis #ShantanuRai #ShravanAmin #DreamscapeMedia #NetGalley

This is an Advanced Listening Copy of the audiobook from Net Galley.

Shantanu Rai's debut follows Dr. Sanjay Patel, whose career has taken him from idealistic medical student to concierge physician for the ultra-wealthy. His days now involve private jets and payment in designer bags filled with cash, a far cry from the free clinic work he once envisioned. Everything shifts when his former mentor dies from a stroke after scribbling Sanjay's name on a prescription pad. Sanjay returns to Mount Beacon Hospital in Boston, the place that nearly ended his medical career years ago. There he faces Emma Carpenter-Flores, the dead man's daughter and the woman he walked away from a decade earlier. Together they start connecting dots between strange patient cases, uncovering a web of corruption that reaches into the highest levels of the healthcare industry. The investigation puts them squarely in the crosshairs of people willing to kill to keep their operation hidden. Rai writes about the collision between profit-driven medicine and actual patient care, asking hard questions about what doctors sacrifice when they chase money instead of their original mission. Reminded me of the medical thrillers by Robin Cook and Michael Palmer that I love. Shravan Amin delivers solid narration that maintains momentum. An impressive first novel for anyone who enjoys medical suspense.

This is a review of the audiobook.

[Ashley Matonis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Dangerous Diagnosis by Shantanu Rai is an absolutely gripping blend of medical suspense, sharp plotting, and emotional depth. From the very first chapter, Rai pulls you into a world where every decision carries life‑or‑death consequences, and every clue opens the door to an even more chilling truth.

What makes this book stand out is the realism. Rai’s medical background shines through in every scene. The hospital setting feels authentic without ever becoming overwhelming, and the clinical details are woven seamlessly into a fast‑paced, character‑driven storyline. The protagonist is compelling, flawed, and deeply human, and the supporting cast adds layers of tension, intrigue, and heart.

The mystery at the core of the novel is masterfully constructed. When you think you’ve figured it out, Rai drops another twist that makes you question everything. The pacing is perfect, urgent but not rushed, and the final reveal is both surprising and satisfying.

If you enjoy medical dramas, high‑stakes mysteries, or thrillers that keep you reading far past your bedtime, this book is a must‑read. Shantanu Rai has crafted a standout novel that lingers with you long after the last page.

Highly recommended. A true five‑star thriller.

[Martha van Zyl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Dangerous Diagnosis is the kind of medical thriller that grabs you by the collar and doesn’t let go. Sharp, fast-paced, and emotionally layered, it delivers both high-stakes suspense and meaningful character depth.

Dr Sanjay Patel is a fascinating protagonist: brilliant, conflicted, and living far from the ideals that once inspired him. Instead of serving patients at a free clinic, he now caters to billionaires, flying private and getting paid in designer bags stuffed with cash. It’s a glamorous but hollow existence, and when his former mentor, Dr Tom Carpenter, dies after urgently writing “Page Dr Sanjay” on a prescription pad, the past crashes back into his carefully curated present.

Returning to Boston’s Mount Beacon Hospital, the place that nearly derailed his career, forces Sanjay to confront unfinished business on multiple fronts. Reuniting with Emma Carpenter-Flores, Tom’s daughter and a formidable cancer researcher, adds both emotional tension and intellectual spark to the story. Their complicated history gives the thriller heart, grounding the conspiracy plot in very human stakes.

The mystery itself unfolds with precision. Rai skillfully peels back layers of corruption within a powerful medical-industrial complex, building tension as Sanjay and Emma uncover unsettling patterns in patient cases. The pacing is relentless without feeling rushed, and the medical details add authenticity without overwhelming the narrative. You feel the urgency, not just because reputations are on the line, but because lives are.

What makes this novel especially compelling is its moral core. Beneath the corporate intrigue and danger is a thoughtful exploration of integrity, ambition, and the true purpose of medicine. Sanjay’s journey back toward his original calling feels earned and resonant.

A Dangerous Diagnosis blends medical realism, conspiracy-driven suspense, and second-chance romance into a gripping, intelligent thriller. It’s both entertaining and thought-provoking; a page-turner with substance.

[Monsi A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book in almost a day! I really liked how this medical thriller, despite having a lot of mini medical cases, revolved more around the healthcare system and doctors. As someone who has had a parent in and out of hospitals since she was little, I’ve see the good, bad, and ugly of healthcare. I have witnessed great doctors, and I’ve seen those who are interested in profits.

So reading this book was really interesting to me, to read a story about doctors willing to go to lengths to get a drug on the market. I thought the pacing was done well, and the main characters were really likeable! There was a little bit of romance, but I will admit sometimes the miscommunication made it slightly cringy.

🎧 I immersive read this book, and I have to be complete honest. I loved the narrator for Sanjay, but his additional character voices were not good. It instantly took me out of the story. The accents felt over exaggerated, especially when he was trying to make differences for the females. I think the additional characters could have been recorded a lot better. BUT I did really like his narration for Sanjay.

Thank you so much to Booksparks for physical copy and Dreamscape Media for the accompanying audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a hard audiobook to review for me. This is quite obviously a political statement on the state of American healthcare, while being masked as a mystery/thriller. I have no problem with fiction being used to educate people. As I have mentioned in several reviews in the past, historically, stories have been used to teach people. My issue is the “facts” presented.

I have several family members that work in healthcare. I have family members that work in upper levels of insurance industry, including healthcare. I have also been affected (in a negative way) by healthcare deciding to “save money”. Several statements that Shantanu Rai states as fact are truly just opinion. Others are really facts. It would be unfortunate, and maybe dangerous, for someone to base their opinion on this work.

As far as the actual mystery/thriller side of the audiobook, it was pretty good. Not the best I have read, but good. It’s definitely worth the listen as a piece of fiction. The narrator, Shravan Amin does an exceptional job and makes the listen so enjoyable.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Sanjay Patel is living the dream life being a concierge doctor to the ultra wealthy, traveling the world and partying with some of the world’s most beautiful women. But when his med school girlfriend calls him to tell him her father and his mentor, Dr Tom Carpenter has died suddenly with a dying request to page him, he drops everything to go back to Boston, where his medical career began. Once back, he quickly realized that Dr. Carpenter was in the middle of uncovering some terrible secrets about his old employer, MBH, and Dr. Carpenter’s death may not have been natural after all.

This debut novel tackles some serious issues with the American Health Care System, with an overarching theme of putting profits over patients. This twisty thriller will keep you guessing, while also keeping you completely frustrated with just how much real life mirrors what these characters go through. While some of the medical jargon was over my head, it wasn’t too technical that I couldn’t follow or understand what was going on.

If you are a fan of medical dramas like Grey’s Anatomy or Chicago Med, I’d definitely recommend checking this book out!

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A Dangerous Diagnosis” was a sharp, satisfying return to medical drama genre for me after more or less abstaining since binging “ER” and “House” over two decades ago. I love thrillers, I love medicine and science and this book brings those together in a way that feels tense, smart and grounded in real possibilities. The medical details are solid without ever becoming dry, the clinical reasoning feels (mostly) real and the non-clinical aspects of healthcare plausible (allowing for some artistic heightening - it is fiction after all).

The pacing is good, the plot keeps moving and the characters have distinct careers and life paths which make them feel interesting. The narration by Shravan Amin is entertaining and easy to listen to; I ended up binge listening because it was so immersive.

I’d recommend it to fans of medical drama or to people living in countries with universal health care who complain—it all could be so much worse…

Thank you to Dreamscape Media, NetGalley and Shantanu Rai for an advance listening copy of this book.

[Megan Maradiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an early copy of A Dangerous Diagnosis from NetGalley and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

This isn’t my usual fantasy escape read, but it pulled me in fast. What I appreciated most was how it explored more than just hospital drama. The story digs into research politics, funding struggles, insurance headaches, and the behind-the-scenes frustrations of the medical world. It felt layered and realistic without ever becoming overwhelming.

I wouldn’t compare it to ER or The Pitt. The tone felt much closer to House MD — not because of similar characters, but because of the focus on complex diagnoses and the intellectual tension driving the cases.

The medical storylines were compelling, and the multiple perspectives added depth. I also listened to the audiobook, and the narrator did an excellent job conveying emotion and keeping the pacing strong.

Overall, this was smart, engaging, and immersive. Definitely recommend if you enjoy thoughtful medical dramas with substance.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

We start inside the world of the concierge doctor who travels from patient to patient for in-person visits. Unlike the olden days, traveling by horse and buggy, Dr. Sanjay Patel flies in his private jet. Yet despite his glamorous lifestyle, something is missing. This doctor is gifted at diagnosing illnesses and problems of all kinds, including those plaguing the hospital where he was trained. When his mentor, Tom Carpenter, is killed, his last words are to page Dr. Patel. The rest of the book is about uncovering the clues and following the trail to find out who killed Dr. Carpenter and why. Upon returning to Boston, Dr. Sanjay also reconnects with his colleagues from his past, adding another layer of intrigue. The story is engaging, including its deep dive into medical terminology and healthcare practices, with strong narration.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @DreamscapeMedia, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #ADangerousDiagnosis for review purposes. Publication date: 24 Feb 2026.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Audiobook

“Cardiac arrest due to corruption and greed.”

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for my gifted copy of this one.

It’s heavy on medical / health care jargon and technical lingo, so just know that going in. I enjoyed it. This book is very critical of the US’s terrible healthcare system. Which is such a relevant issue. Especially how it’s a money making business and NOT about helping people. It’s about how the rich want to get richer no matter the cost to humanity.

Make no mistake…healthcare is a BUSINESS first and a beacon of hope for the weary 2nd…but only if it’s in the budget…because money talks and the patients not receiving care eventually don’t.

If you enjoyed these, you might enjoy this one…

🩺𝙷𝙾𝚄𝚂𝙴
🩻𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙿𝙸𝚃𝚃
🩺𝙳𝙸𝙰𝙶𝙽𝙾𝚂𝙸𝚂 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙳𝙴𝚁
🩻𝙳𝚁. 𝙶 𝙼𝙴𝙳𝙸𝙲𝙰𝙻 𝙴𝚇𝙰𝙼𝙸𝙽𝙴𝚁
𝚘𝚛
🩺𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚑𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚠 💰

Lastly, Sanjay Patel should be put in charge of our healthcare system. Please and thank you.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing debut from Shantanu Rai!

I loved this so much! And it was so fun to read a thriller set in a healthcare setting, especially given I work in healthcare. It was fast-paced and engaging, with a crime mystery edge.

Sanjay is an amazing physician, wonderful friend, and a good amateur sleuth. His integrity shines through, as does his loyalty to mentor Tom and others. I both loved and sympathized with Emma, and enjoyed following her and Sanjay as they figure out what was happening and how to stop it.

This book leans heavily into the pitfalls of the broken US healthcare system. While I feel what happened in this story is embellished and melodramatic (and wouldn’t likely happen in real life given safety measures in place), the commentary on healthcare and its pressures and business changes as a whole unfortunately rings true.

Thank you BookSparks and Shantanu Rai for the gifted copy and for the opportunity to be a WRC2026 Ambassador!

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dangerous Diagnosis by Shantanu Rai is an intense and fast-paced medical thriller that kept me engaged. I especially appreciated how the story confronts real-world healthcare issues, including profits over patients, tensions between hospital management and medical professionals, the crushing weight of medical debt, medical trials, and the challenges faced by the uninsured.

The novel does an excellent job weaving together multiple facets of the medical field—from concierge doctors serving the ultra-wealthy to nonprofit hospitals, neighborhood clinics, and clinical trials—creating a layered and compelling narrative.

The audiobook narration by Shravan Amin was very well done and added to the overall intensity of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for letting me read this ARC.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to thank Shantanu Rai, Dreamscapes Media and NetGalley for providing me with this audiobook ARC for me to enjoy and review.

First, the book itself. WOW. If you are a fan of any medical tv show drama, this is 100% the book for you. Think: House, The Pitt etc all rolled into 330 pages of pure medical drama.

I think what makes this book so good, is the fact that sitting inside these pages are events that can actually happen inside U.S hospitals. It’s not something that is so far fetched. Our medical system is that corrupt and that line “I believe books can change the world, I wrote this one hoping to change medicine.”

Now for the audiobook. The narrator was incredible. They did an incredible job and made the listen enjoyable.