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Gina Mazzio Medical Thrillers #4
Bone of Contention
Murder, mayhem, medicine, and Mazzio.
That's the thread that stitches together each of the Gina Mazzio, RN medical thrillers, including the fourth in the series, BONE OF CONTENTION.
RN Gina Mazzio returns to San Francisco’s Ridgewood Hospital after a near-death experience in Nevada’s desolate gold country.
On her first day in the Ob/Gyn Women’s Health Clinic, a co-worker suffers a mystifying post-abortion death due to sepsis.
Two days later, the same thing happens to a clinic patient.
Gina thinks it’s an inside job, but gets no support for her theory. Convinced she’s right, she risks everything to dig into the who and why of the deaths. She wants to know if someone is deliberately causing clinic patients to suffer horrible deaths.
Fiancé Harry Lucke, who was with Gina in Nevada, is worried about her and postpones taking another travel nurse assignment. Instead, he signs on as an on-call ICU nurse at Ridgewood.
To Gina’s delight, and distress, her younger brother, Vinnie, shows up, back from his second tour of duty in the Middle East. He’s received a medial discharge and is deeply depressed and suicidal.
Vinnie brings news that Gina’s ex-husband, Dominick, is out of prison and still enraged that she helped put him away for three years -- for almost killing her. Word is that he broke parole and is on his way from New York to San Francisco.
Gina sticks with her daring and danger-filled investigation. Her efforts bring her closer and closer to solving the sepsis deaths, but also make her the target of anti-abortion fanatics.
As she closes in on the murderer, her ex-spouse arrives in San Francisco, hell-bent on killing her. Gina is faced with having to outmaneuver Dominick while racing to expose the murderer before either can trap and kill her.
That's the thread that stitches together each of the Gina Mazzio, RN medical thrillers, including the fourth in the series, BONE OF CONTENTION.
RN Gina Mazzio returns to San Francisco’s Ridgewood Hospital after a near-death experience in Nevada’s desolate gold country.
On her first day in the Ob/Gyn Women’s Health Clinic, a co-worker suffers a mystifying post-abortion death due to sepsis.
Two days later, the same thing happens to a clinic patient.
Gina thinks it’s an inside job, but gets no support for her theory. Convinced she’s right, she risks everything to dig into the who and why of the deaths. She wants to know if someone is deliberately causing clinic patients to suffer horrible deaths.
Fiancé Harry Lucke, who was with Gina in Nevada, is worried about her and postpones taking another travel nurse assignment. Instead, he signs on as an on-call ICU nurse at Ridgewood.
To Gina’s delight, and distress, her younger brother, Vinnie, shows up, back from his second tour of duty in the Middle East. He’s received a medial discharge and is deeply depressed and suicidal.
Vinnie brings news that Gina’s ex-husband, Dominick, is out of prison and still enraged that she helped put him away for three years -- for almost killing her. Word is that he broke parole and is on his way from New York to San Francisco.
Gina sticks with her daring and danger-filled investigation. Her efforts bring her closer and closer to solving the sepsis deaths, but also make her the target of anti-abortion fanatics.
As she closes in on the murderer, her ex-spouse arrives in San Francisco, hell-bent on killing her. Gina is faced with having to outmaneuver Dominick while racing to expose the murderer before either can trap and kill her.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2014
332 people are currently reading
477 people want to read
About the author
Bette Golden Lamb
19 books26 followersBette was a nurse, a writer, and an artist. Her art work has appeared in numerous show and is held in many private collections.
Bette was from the Bronx, and she said that growing up in New York City coupled with being an RN was a clue as to why she loved to write dark and gritty medical thrillers. A Marin county writer and artist, she and JJ spent some time in the wilds of Virginia City, Nevada, an isolated throwback to the old West, where she was a trauma nurse while her husband was the editor of the The Territorial Enterprise, a newspaper Mark Twain once ran.
Bette and J. J. Lamb have written novels that include a female serial killer who thinks she’s on a noble mission to save barren women from a life of despair (Sisters in Silence) and the Gina Mazzio RN medical thriller “Bone” series (Bone Dry, Sin & Bone, Bone Pit, Bone of Contention, Bone Dust, Bone Crack, Bone Slice, Bone Point). She said that writing about Gina Mazzio and her boyfriend, Harry, also an RN, was a fun experience, as well as a privilege to write about people who dedicate their lives to helping others.
Bette's most recent novel The Russian Girl was based on a true story of a woman who escapes from a high security nursing home during the hottest day of the year. Her delirium reveals a harrowing story of a young immigrant Russian girl forced to come to America in the early 1900s. Her turbulent life is filled with upheaval, lost love, and activism in a crushing, brutal 20th century journey.
Bette was encouraging to and supportive of new writers and artists.
Bette was from the Bronx, and she said that growing up in New York City coupled with being an RN was a clue as to why she loved to write dark and gritty medical thrillers. A Marin county writer and artist, she and JJ spent some time in the wilds of Virginia City, Nevada, an isolated throwback to the old West, where she was a trauma nurse while her husband was the editor of the The Territorial Enterprise, a newspaper Mark Twain once ran.
Bette and J. J. Lamb have written novels that include a female serial killer who thinks she’s on a noble mission to save barren women from a life of despair (Sisters in Silence) and the Gina Mazzio RN medical thriller “Bone” series (Bone Dry, Sin & Bone, Bone Pit, Bone of Contention, Bone Dust, Bone Crack, Bone Slice, Bone Point). She said that writing about Gina Mazzio and her boyfriend, Harry, also an RN, was a fun experience, as well as a privilege to write about people who dedicate their lives to helping others.
Bette's most recent novel The Russian Girl was based on a true story of a woman who escapes from a high security nursing home during the hottest day of the year. Her delirium reveals a harrowing story of a young immigrant Russian girl forced to come to America in the early 1900s. Her turbulent life is filled with upheaval, lost love, and activism in a crushing, brutal 20th century journey.
Bette was encouraging to and supportive of new writers and artists.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 2, 2017
I am in love with this book series but there are some glaring editing issues. I understand that typos happen but there are times where entire parts of sentences are missing (or repeated) and key details are not consistent. For example in this particular book, one girl's name was spelled as Jody and Jodie and another character's name switched from Sally to Sarah.
October 24, 2014
Gina Mazzio, nurse extraordinaire, is back in the lasted installment by indie authors Bette Golden Lamb and her coauthor and husband, JJ Lamb. Mazzio is a nurse at Ridgewood Hospital in San Francisco, California and has a knack of getting herself in trouble, meaning that she has a way of attracting sociopathic killers. In Bone of Contention, Mazzio has a lot on her plate, with a vengeful ex-husband seeking payback for sending him to jail, overly zealous Pro-lifers seeking lethal justice and if that wasn’t enough, her baby brother Vinnie, recently discharged from the military with PTSD, is visiting.
There is no mystery in Bone of Contention as the bad guys are known right from the start but the fun is observing how Mazzio figures it out and then more importantly how she eventually nabs the bad guys. Even though Mazzio is a warrior in scrubs, she is not alone in her quest for justice. She has her fiancé, Harry Lucke, faithfully at her side along with her bother Vinnie and Inspector Mulzini from the San Francisco police department. There is no question that Bone of Contention is a fun medical thriller to spend a lazy weekend reading.
The Lambs, however, are not satisfied in just entertaining us thrill seekers, but they are also tackling the very sensitive subjects of abortion, cyber-bullying and PTSD. Three women are being portrayed in the story as facing the highly emotional issue of an unexpected pregnancy and the difficult decision between having the child versus having an abortion. These women do not make their decision lightly, and face guilt, persecution, and even death once they make their decision to pursue the abortion. Women in desperate situations will pursue desperate means to solve their problems and the Lambs give an example of this with a back-alley abortion gone very badly which in reality may be an unfortunate consequence if Roe vs. Wade is reversed.
I read my version of this novel on my Kindle and there are some formatting issues (lack of separation between paragraphs, and gaps within words). At first they were annoying but don’t give up eventually you get used to it.
I would like to wrap up my review by thanking our unsung heroines in white and their dedication to the care of the sick and injured. I think that the latest matters relating to the threat of Ebola only reflects their selflessness and bravery as the battle goes on to stop this epidemic. I would also like to wish a speedy recovery for nurses, Nina Pham and Amber Vinson from their bout with this nasty virus.
If you are interested in learning more about the Gina Mazzio Series check it out on my blog A-Thrill-A-Week
There is no mystery in Bone of Contention as the bad guys are known right from the start but the fun is observing how Mazzio figures it out and then more importantly how she eventually nabs the bad guys. Even though Mazzio is a warrior in scrubs, she is not alone in her quest for justice. She has her fiancé, Harry Lucke, faithfully at her side along with her bother Vinnie and Inspector Mulzini from the San Francisco police department. There is no question that Bone of Contention is a fun medical thriller to spend a lazy weekend reading.
The Lambs, however, are not satisfied in just entertaining us thrill seekers, but they are also tackling the very sensitive subjects of abortion, cyber-bullying and PTSD. Three women are being portrayed in the story as facing the highly emotional issue of an unexpected pregnancy and the difficult decision between having the child versus having an abortion. These women do not make their decision lightly, and face guilt, persecution, and even death once they make their decision to pursue the abortion. Women in desperate situations will pursue desperate means to solve their problems and the Lambs give an example of this with a back-alley abortion gone very badly which in reality may be an unfortunate consequence if Roe vs. Wade is reversed.
I read my version of this novel on my Kindle and there are some formatting issues (lack of separation between paragraphs, and gaps within words). At first they were annoying but don’t give up eventually you get used to it.
I would like to wrap up my review by thanking our unsung heroines in white and their dedication to the care of the sick and injured. I think that the latest matters relating to the threat of Ebola only reflects their selflessness and bravery as the battle goes on to stop this epidemic. I would also like to wish a speedy recovery for nurses, Nina Pham and Amber Vinson from their bout with this nasty virus.
If you are interested in learning more about the Gina Mazzio Series check it out on my blog A-Thrill-A-Week
April 20, 2017
Somewhat Less Compelling
This installment was less enjoyable than the others I've read. Somehow the setting and the topic left me cold. Gina's predicaments both were over the top and predictable at the same time.
This installment was less enjoyable than the others I've read. Somehow the setting and the topic left me cold. Gina's predicaments both were over the top and predictable at the same time.
June 20, 2018
This isn’t a medical mystery the likes of Cook. It’s not even a medical thriller. In fact, it’s barely a thriller at all. The book is set in a hospital, and that’s as far as it gets with the medical component. An easy book to put down, this one was a dud.
February 6, 2019
Great medical thriller
This was my first encounter with nurse Gina Mazzio and although it’s the fourth book in the series, I didn’t feel like I missed out too much by not having read the first three. I liked the pace of the story although I found the rescues a little convenient. Gina’s gut instinct felt somewhat reminiscent of Scooby Doo when it came to putting suspects and events together but again, it was a niggle rather than a major problem. The typos were a little off-putting but overall it was a book that kept my attention easily. If you find the topic of abortion offensive or upsetting you may prefer a different book in the series as there are quite a few details about what happens in the clinics. Other than that though I’d recommend this to anyone who likes a fast paced thriller that isn’t too in depth or heavy on procedural law enforcement.
This was my first encounter with nurse Gina Mazzio and although it’s the fourth book in the series, I didn’t feel like I missed out too much by not having read the first three. I liked the pace of the story although I found the rescues a little convenient. Gina’s gut instinct felt somewhat reminiscent of Scooby Doo when it came to putting suspects and events together but again, it was a niggle rather than a major problem. The typos were a little off-putting but overall it was a book that kept my attention easily. If you find the topic of abortion offensive or upsetting you may prefer a different book in the series as there are quite a few details about what happens in the clinics. Other than that though I’d recommend this to anyone who likes a fast paced thriller that isn’t too in depth or heavy on procedural law enforcement.
June 21, 2017
Gina Mazzio is a dedicated nurse who trouble always finds. In this case, there patients who got abortions are being targeted and her ex-husband has been released from prison and maybe stalking her.
The characters are well-developed, the story is interesting and there are a number of twists to keep you guessing.
The characters are well-developed, the story is interesting and there are a number of twists to keep you guessing.
March 14, 2018
A real thriller that will keep you breathless. The theme revolves around women going to the hospital for assisted abortions. Mysterious deaths bring the RN to investigate and she finds herself involved up to the point that her life is in danger. I can't note all the details of the plot because it could ruin it
for the readers. I assure you, however, that this fast-paced book is a winner!
for the readers. I assure you, however, that this fast-paced book is a winner!
March 25, 2018
Another great book from this author! I love the Gina Mazzio series. I recommend this series to all. Gina is a strong personality that does not let anyone stand in her way Guess I need to continue this series
Bone of Contention
Great series
Looking forward to next one in the series
Need to get more of this series
Bone of Contention
Great series
Looking forward to next one in the series
Need to get more of this series
May 21, 2018
Wow!
This is the fourth. Gina Mazzio book I’ve read and the author is still going strong. I still love the characters and really enjoyed meeting Gina’s baby brother in this book. I love that the author still has strong reasons to have characters continue to murder. I know that is phrased awkwardly but true none the less. Please keep writing Mrs. Lamb so I can keep reading.
This is the fourth. Gina Mazzio book I’ve read and the author is still going strong. I still love the characters and really enjoyed meeting Gina’s baby brother in this book. I love that the author still has strong reasons to have characters continue to murder. I know that is phrased awkwardly but true none the less. Please keep writing Mrs. Lamb so I can keep reading.
July 25, 2018
Another messy death avoided- barely
Gina gets herself caught up in another mess. An abortion gone wrong, three times, two deliberately by murder. Anti-abortion nuts murdering...right from the headlines. And Gina Mazzini, RN who is too nosy and caring. Believable yet over the top. Entertaining.
Gina gets herself caught up in another mess. An abortion gone wrong, three times, two deliberately by murder. Anti-abortion nuts murdering...right from the headlines. And Gina Mazzini, RN who is too nosy and caring. Believable yet over the top. Entertaining.
March 1, 2022
Well it’s clear in this book which side of the abortion debate the author is on and how she views people on the pro-life side as deranged psychopaths, which I am not. That aside, I have enjoyed this author’s light writing in other books but the unlucky, murder-attracting heroine is wearing a little thin now. Like a cat with 9 lives, how many times can she be almost killed? I think this was my last in this series.
June 8, 2017
I love this series!
Gina Mazzio is a modern day Nancy Drew! I love her spunk and nose for bad finding bad things! A must read series for the long hot summers, or the cold winter nights!
Gina Mazzio is a modern day Nancy Drew! I love her spunk and nose for bad finding bad things! A must read series for the long hot summers, or the cold winter nights!
January 10, 2018
The book started as a fast paced thriller and a definite page turner but somewhere in the middle it lost the speed, and the last 20% seemed forced. There were a lot of typos which even I noticed( I usually miss them). The story was interesting but it could have been written better.
February 10, 2018
Page Turner
Never a dull moment for nurse Gina and her fiance. You'd think working in an outpatient clinic,even one that does abortions would be safe. But not for Gina, who seems to attract trouble like a magnet.
Never a dull moment for nurse Gina and her fiance. You'd think working in an outpatient clinic,even one that does abortions would be safe. But not for Gina, who seems to attract trouble like a magnet.
March 23, 2018
Pro life versus Planned parenthood
Pro life activists that have two very bad members that have caused the death of several women post abortion. Our heroine knows something is wrong and the book is about solving the case.
Pro life activists that have two very bad members that have caused the death of several women post abortion. Our heroine knows something is wrong and the book is about solving the case.
October 23, 2018
Rose
Troubling times are here for Gina. While noticing upsetting things happening during her nursing careers Gina does her best to protect those who need her. There are those who don't want her interference. Read this story to find out what happens.
Troubling times are here for Gina. While noticing upsetting things happening during her nursing careers Gina does her best to protect those who need her. There are those who don't want her interference. Read this story to find out what happens.
October 25, 2018
Great Read
Anti abortion couple take their protests to a new level. Between the cops and co workers this soon becomes a high stakes game of life and death. Great cast of characters, enough action and intrigue for everyone and a great story line make this a real gem.
Anti abortion couple take their protests to a new level. Between the cops and co workers this soon becomes a high stakes game of life and death. Great cast of characters, enough action and intrigue for everyone and a great story line make this a real gem.
November 20, 2018
A Medical Mystery
This is part of a series about a nurse who always finds murderers . Trying to live a sane life while being stalked by a crazy person. I like medical themed mysteries and the people in this series grows on you.
This is part of a series about a nurse who always finds murderers . Trying to live a sane life while being stalked by a crazy person. I like medical themed mysteries and the people in this series grows on you.
August 14, 2025
First time reading this authors work, I did enjoy it but they're was a lot going on with multiple story lines and story arcs that are likely to go into the next books, fun but maybe not the series for me.
May 4, 2017
Another Gina thriller and just as good :) That nurse gets herself into sooooooooooooo much trouble!!!
August 18, 2017
It is the 4th book in a series, except I didn't know that when I started reading it. I was still able to follow along and over all it is a pretty good book.
November 4, 2017
Medical thriller
A "can't put down" book with one thrill after another. But we still don't know when the heroine's ex-husband will show up next.
A "can't put down" book with one thrill after another. But we still don't know when the heroine's ex-husband will show up next.
December 12, 2018
Sorry, I worked in health care for over 40 years. This book is just too much out there to be believable. I finished it but I struggled to do so.
May 27, 2021
This whole series is great. Cannot wait to read the next one.
February 24, 2015
The author gave me a copy of this novel in exchange for my review.
“Bone of Contention” is a novel with a social consciousness taking stands on the topics of abortion, the impact of war and the inability of the system to protect the victim in domestic violence cases. Set in San Francisco, the novel takes a solid swing at the establishment and its tendency to damage when it dictates.
RN Gina Mazzio fits well into a piece that is in turns heated and driven by conviction. Having not read the previous three novels, this reader comes into the series at a place where the authors clearly know their character and what drives her. Gina is not a character that asks the hard questions about the things we, as humans, would rather not consider. She’s a Bronx girl, tough and savvy and never willing to give up and able to think and act quickly in a crisis.
There are moments of dialogue that feel somewhat forced in “Bone of Contention” but overall the story is fast moving and interesting. The ex-husband’s storyline is the most interesting and most original. The psychology of Dominick’s character and that he feels trapped by his ex-wife and as though he can’t move on with his life until she’s gone is something that was a stroke of genius on the part of the authors.
I’m not usually a fan of medical thrillers but found “Bone of Contention” interesting in that while we got to see some of the medical procedures and characters at work, overall the mystery aspect stood independently. We know what the characters don’t which was a clever way for the story to play out in allowing us to get a clear view of motivations without being weighed down in exposition that could perhaps be a bit too scientifically alienating for the average reader.
“Bone of Contention” is a solidly interesting medical thriller. If you’re a fan of the thrillers written by Sandra Brown or Phillip Hawley, you will enjoy following Gina Mazzio in her quest for justice.
July 20, 2015
Full of twists
I wish I had realized this book was part of a series before I read it. Now I have to backtrack and read the first 3. I love books with strong, smart, realistic female characters.
Gina is all those. Another plus was that the Lambs provided complex minor characters. There was no mystery about who the villains were, the mystery was how Gina would put all the pieces together before it was too late.
Fans of Dana Stabanaw's Kate Shugak series and Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series will like this series.
I wish I had realized this book was part of a series before I read it. Now I have to backtrack and read the first 3. I love books with strong, smart, realistic female characters.
Gina is all those. Another plus was that the Lambs provided complex minor characters. There was no mystery about who the villains were, the mystery was how Gina would put all the pieces together before it was too late.
Fans of Dana Stabanaw's Kate Shugak series and Linda Castillo's Kate Burkholder series will like this series.
January 31, 2017
Outstanding
Deserves 10 stars. As I've come to expect, Ms. Golden-Lamb has written another exciting piece of work. Her novels are so well-written and thrilling, I recommend her to all my reader-friends. I am always anxious when I start reading another book of her's. I do have one suggestion though. The proofreader needs to be more diligent and observant. Throughout the book, there were numerous words missing or phrases repeated. In spite of the book being so good, mistakes like these can be very distracting
Deserves 10 stars. As I've come to expect, Ms. Golden-Lamb has written another exciting piece of work. Her novels are so well-written and thrilling, I recommend her to all my reader-friends. I am always anxious when I start reading another book of her's. I do have one suggestion though. The proofreader needs to be more diligent and observant. Throughout the book, there were numerous words missing or phrases repeated. In spite of the book being so good, mistakes like these can be very distracting
April 25, 2020
Gina is back at the Women’s Clinic when post abortion women are dying suddenly. She is the only new one there, and with her history of having trouble with killers. Add her ex who is set on getting revenge for sending him to prison. Her brother is back in her life with his PSTP . She has her hands full and determined to find evidence that it is an inside job being done of killing healthy women. Good mystery and characters.
December 5, 2015
Keeps your attention. Simple enough to either read through quickly or pick up and put down often without losing the characters or plot. .
Keeps your attention. Simple enough to either read through fairly quickly or pick up and put down often without losing track of the characters or the plot.
Keeps your attention. Simple enough to either read through fairly quickly or pick up and put down often without losing track of the characters or the plot.
April 26, 2016
The fifth great book...as good as Tess Gerritsen books
Good Book. I had to laugh.....I had a Blue Fiat Roadster Convertible when I was in my 20's and loved it, even tho it was also very temperamental. I would recommend this book. I'm now going to read the next book in this series.
Good Book. I had to laugh.....I had a Blue Fiat Roadster Convertible when I was in my 20's and loved it, even tho it was also very temperamental. I would recommend this book. I'm now going to read the next book in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews