Deadly Care

Joanna Blalock #3

by Leonard Goldberg

On her third case, forensic pathologist Joanna Blalock struggles to identify a man whose face and fingerprints have been destroyed, the latest victim of a serial killer stalking Memorial Hospital. Reprint.

Genres: Medical, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery

96 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

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

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going back to the beginning of the Joanna Blalock series to catch the early ones I haven't read yet, although my library doesn't have #1 in the series. 'Deadly Care', #3 in the series, features Forensic Medical Examiner Blalock challenged by a mystery corpse, a man whose face was destroyed by assault such that the largest bone fragment left is barely larger than a quarter and whose fingertips were amputated, a clear case of the killer not wanting the victim identified. Meanwhile, Joanna's boss, Simon Murdock, is pressuring her to investigate the sudden deaths of 2 patients who were admitted to Memorial Hospital for bone marrow transplants but died within hours of walking in the doors. Because they are both patients of the newest HMO, which has a lucrative partnership with Memorial Hospital, Murdock wants Joanna to find a clear cut cause of death for them that proves it wasn't the hospital's fault, thus protecting the partnership. When nothing obvious shows up on autopsy, Joanna is left to await test results, and turns her attention back to 'mystery man', which doesn't sit too well with Murdock or Robert Mariner, the CEO of the HMO.
Like Goldberg's previous books, the plotlines wind around for a while and eventually converge. Here, readers know they are going to converge, because the murderer of 'mystery man' is revealed early and he has ties to that HMO, it's just a matter of how, and settling the who and why of 'mystery man' and how and why of the 2 HMO patients. I didn't feel like this one had as much hospital medicine as others, probably because the 2 hospital patients died right away, so the focus was generally away from the lab. Still a good book, but not my favorite in the series so far.

[Ophélie Regat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un thriller lié au milieu médical écrit par un médecin.

Le récit est très bien documenté (plutôt logique vu la profession de l'auteur) mais compréhensible pour les profanes. L'enquête aborde la question du système de santé américain (ou plutôt ce qu'il pourrait devenir en de mauvaises mains).

Toutefois, j'ai parfois eu l'impression que la traduction était inexacte (cela concerne que quelques phrases ponctuelles).

[Jacob Peled · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Medical genre is unique, meaning either you like it or you do not . I personally love this type of medical suspense , which is why I loved this suspense book, that is full of twists . The only downside is the reason why all the events occur. A reason that is not clear and logical enough.

[Sister · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Joanna Blalock better as the daughter of Sherlock Holmes. For me that’s different. This is a by-the-books thriller, like something you’d see in Law & Order.

[Cloé St · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complètement fou ! Une histoire dingue de trafique d'organes basé sur un fait qui s'est déroulée en Californie ! Wouah !

[Silvia Torelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buffo leggere un thriller medico-legale di 12 anni fa, dopo aver visto non so piu' quante puntate di CSI, ed aver letto non so quanti altri libri, più recenti, dello stesso genere. Fa sorridere leggere dei tentativi di ricostruzione di un teschio malamente danneggiato e che l'esame del DNA venga in mente solo nel finale del romanzo (e poi non venga fatto perche' troppo lungo).
In certi campi le scoperte si susseguono a velocità impressionante, le tecniche migliorano ed evolvono, le cose cambiano velocemente.
Quindi cosa rimane di questo romanzo? Una trama ben costruita, personaggi credibili, un po' di sbrodolamento nel finale come in tanti libri americani (che vorrebbero tenere col fiato sospeso fino all'ultimo, a me fanno incazzare e basta). Ed alla fine la cosa piu' datata non e' la tecnologia forense, ma il discorso sul sistema sanitario americano. Ditelo ad Obama ed alla sua riforma, soprattutto ditelo ai milioni di americani che non hanno assistenza sanitaria, che il sistema inglese e' cosi' mediocre.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When bone marrow transplant candidates start to die mysteriously, forensic pathologist Joanna Blalock suspects that the Health First medical insurance corporation may be controlling costs by eliminating patients who need organ transplants.

Fast-moving. Similar to Patricia Cornwell's first book. Third in a series featuring Joanna Blalock. You might also enjoy Michael Palmer or Robin Cook.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. Fast paced medical thriller. I read this book in 3 days time. It was hard to put down.

[Linda]

Good tale about HMOs evil side

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic, read it in one day. Exciting ending. Overall: great.

[Gail]

Loved this book! Just started reading this author's works, and love his books!

[Carolyn Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in 1997, seemed that the HMO part was not relevant now, but it was still a great book.

[KMT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book was thrilling, intense till the last moment! Wonderful!

[Carlyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a nice read.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

JoAnn Blalock #3

[Denisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another rating: 9/10