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Suicide Med
There's a reason Southside Medical School has been nicknamed "Suicide Med." For the last six years, every year one student has taken his own life.
Except for last year. Last year was a murder-suicide.
The press has pointed to the heavy workload as the culprit in the high suicide rate. Some students believe that the school is cursed. And others believe that the deaths may not be suicides at all--that it's no coincidence that Dr. Conlon, Southside's quirky but beloved anatomy professor, joined the staff on the very year that the suicides began.
Either way, the same question echoes through the minds of every first year student at Suicide Med: Who will be next to die?
Except for last year. Last year was a murder-suicide.
The press has pointed to the heavy workload as the culprit in the high suicide rate. Some students believe that the school is cursed. And others believe that the deaths may not be suicides at all--that it's no coincidence that Dr. Conlon, Southside's quirky but beloved anatomy professor, joined the staff on the very year that the suicides began.
Either way, the same question echoes through the minds of every first year student at Suicide Med: Who will be next to die?
522 pages, Paperback
First published July 4, 2014
7043 people are currently reading
57395 people want to read
About the author
Freida McFadden
64 books221k followers#1 New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publisher's Weekly, and Amazon Charts bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple Kindle bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. She lives with her family and possessed cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.
Note that I am maxed out on friends, so I apologize in advance that I can't friend anyone back!
Note that I am maxed out on friends, so I apologize in advance that I can't friend anyone back!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,597 reviews
November 15, 2022
This is the strangest book I've ever read.
March 18, 2024
Beyond ridiculous.
January 27, 2023
This is one weird ass book. Like wtf did I just read.
February 2, 2024
so are we going to talk about the eye orrrrrr
May 26, 2022
not her best
I was really disappointed with this book some of the storylines were just so bizarre and didn’t need to be in then book. I’ve now read 13 of her books and this was by far the worst. Lots of underdeveloped storylines, unfinished plot lines, mediocre at best characters and just kind of randomly thrown together
I was really disappointed with this book some of the storylines were just so bizarre and didn’t need to be in then book. I’ve now read 13 of her books and this was by far the worst. Lots of underdeveloped storylines, unfinished plot lines, mediocre at best characters and just kind of randomly thrown together
January 4, 2024
Freida I love you but cmon … wtf was this 😭😭😭😭😂
February 28, 2024
Okay so I know this one has mixed reviews and granted there were some VERY random parts! But…….. I loved that there were multiple people who narrated this and each part was the same event but from someone else’s viewpoint which added more and more to the original scene until the suspense was insane!!
Yes the characters weren’t as well rounded as her newer books, yes they were pretty stereotypical BUT I really enjoyed it and I needed to know what happened at the end! Did it deviate a bit at time absolutely, is this my favourite of her books….. well no. Did the ending wrap up satisfactorily like her newer books…… well no. But I still loved it haha 😂
Yes the characters weren’t as well rounded as her newer books, yes they were pretty stereotypical BUT I really enjoyed it and I needed to know what happened at the end! Did it deviate a bit at time absolutely, is this my favourite of her books….. well no. Did the ending wrap up satisfactorily like her newer books…… well no. But I still loved it haha 😂
September 5, 2014
This is a hard review: I'm goodreads friends with the author, so I'm hesitant about what I say here. But this book was...not good.
Let's start with the positive: this is a quick read. There are multiple narrators telling intertwining stories about the same period of time from their perspective, which is an interesting narrative device, filling in what seems like a subplot in the first narration. Each of the characters has different flaws, coloring their narrative slightly (although each seems to be a reliable narrator. I think unreliable narration would have added a lot here.)
And the negative:
For me, the most difficult was how flimsy the characters were. Each was a very classic stereotype, most to the extent that I have never seen in relief, despite having gone to medical school, residency and fellowship myself and having a facebook feed that is literally full of doctors: one character is girly, obsessed with her long distance boyfriend and not very smart; another is ultra-feminist, but just needs to be laid by a good guy; another is an ultra-gunner who will go out of their way to set back others in the class, even going so far as to . Another is an insanely rich child of doctors, looking to be a plastic surgeon. Another is A Nice Guy. I just...these aren't characters, they're archetypes. And the one we're supposed to feel the most sympathetic for is the ditzy dumb one, which didn't work out in my life.
The details are also lacking: The rich one? Has a doctor dad and a stay at home mom; the idea that someone could be so filthy rich from having one working parent who was a doctor is kind of hilarious.) The gunner? Wants to go into emergency medicine...at Yale...because you know, that ultra-competitive specialty where you get to focus on making hard diagnoses?
The next biggest problem is the pacing: just as I felt I was getting into each character's story, the narration would switch. And not in a way that built tension and was rising action, just in a way that was disruptive. Ultimately, the book led up to this huge climax, and then we had to hear about the climax from several characters points of view (although to be fair, some of them really helped flesh that part out) and a totally unnecessary epilogue
The pacing was a big deal from the mystery standpoint, too.
Finally, a big grief that I have with the book is the sci-fi plotline. It's kind of out of place in what's supposed to be a realistic thriller. It doesn't really relate to anything else going on, and it makes every narrative event including that character seem jarringly out of place and unrelated to the central narration.
So overall, a fast light read, without much there there.
Let's start with the positive: this is a quick read. There are multiple narrators telling intertwining stories about the same period of time from their perspective, which is an interesting narrative device, filling in what seems like a subplot in the first narration. Each of the characters has different flaws, coloring their narrative slightly (although each seems to be a reliable narrator. I think unreliable narration would have added a lot here.)
And the negative:
For me, the most difficult was how flimsy the characters were. Each was a very classic stereotype, most to the extent that I have never seen in relief, despite having gone to medical school, residency and fellowship myself and having a facebook feed that is literally full of doctors: one character is girly, obsessed with her long distance boyfriend and not very smart; another is ultra-feminist, but just needs to be laid by a good guy; another is an ultra-gunner who will go out of their way to set back others in the class, even going so far as to . Another is an insanely rich child of doctors, looking to be a plastic surgeon. Another is A Nice Guy. I just...these aren't characters, they're archetypes. And the one we're supposed to feel the most sympathetic for is the ditzy dumb one, which didn't work out in my life.
The details are also lacking: The rich one? Has a doctor dad and a stay at home mom; the idea that someone could be so filthy rich from having one working parent who was a doctor is kind of hilarious.) The gunner? Wants to go into emergency medicine...at Yale...because you know, that ultra-competitive specialty where you get to focus on making hard diagnoses?
The next biggest problem is the pacing: just as I felt I was getting into each character's story, the narration would switch. And not in a way that built tension and was rising action, just in a way that was disruptive. Ultimately, the book led up to this huge climax, and then we had to hear about the climax from several characters points of view (although to be fair, some of them really helped flesh that part out) and a totally unnecessary epilogue
The pacing was a big deal from the mystery standpoint, too.
Finally, a big grief that I have with the book is the sci-fi plotline. It's kind of out of place in what's supposed to be a realistic thriller. It doesn't really relate to anything else going on, and it makes every narrative event including that character seem jarringly out of place and unrelated to the central narration.
So overall, a fast light read, without much there there.
January 20, 2022
No great ending.
I liked the entire book until the end. The ending was disappointing. Felt like a waste of a good story.😵
I liked the entire book until the end. The ending was disappointing. Felt like a waste of a good story.😵
September 23, 2014
Overall impression: I liked it! It was fast-paced and mysterious. Kept me turning the pages.
Pros: Again, fast-paced, easy to read, mysteries that kept me engaged and wanting to find out what happened. I always like books about medicine or medical education that are written by doctors--the shared experience is like sharing a big inside joke with an author. I also tend to like stories told from different perspectives (this book gives each of five anatomy partners a turn narrating). I think it's a fun device and it worked here.
Cons: Way too much glorifying of surgeons as the smartest and most ambitious doctors :) Characters were pretty stereotyped but still fun. Some random weird science fiction elements in an otherwise not-sci-fi story. This is obviously more amateurly written than a lot of the books I read, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it.
4 stars because I really enjoyed myself reading this and I'd gladly read anything else the author writes in the future.
Pros: Again, fast-paced, easy to read, mysteries that kept me engaged and wanting to find out what happened. I always like books about medicine or medical education that are written by doctors--the shared experience is like sharing a big inside joke with an author. I also tend to like stories told from different perspectives (this book gives each of five anatomy partners a turn narrating). I think it's a fun device and it worked here.
Cons: Way too much glorifying of surgeons as the smartest and most ambitious doctors :) Characters were pretty stereotyped but still fun. Some random weird science fiction elements in an otherwise not-sci-fi story. This is obviously more amateurly written than a lot of the books I read, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it.
4 stars because I really enjoyed myself reading this and I'd gladly read anything else the author writes in the future.
February 26, 2024
An early Freida McFadden and omg. Really good.
Every character has a pov told separately in the same time line.
After the first pov, it gets really freaky. Young med students going to a school where there's been student suicides in the past.
What you think is happening isn't. Every time the pov changes, the story changes.
Excellent writing by FM.
This might be my favourite from her.
Every character has a pov told separately in the same time line.
After the first pov, it gets really freaky. Young med students going to a school where there's been student suicides in the past.
What you think is happening isn't. Every time the pov changes, the story changes.
Excellent writing by FM.
This might be my favourite from her.
February 14, 2023
Mehhhh….
I love Frieda but this book was all over the place and the ending 😑
I love Frieda but this book was all over the place and the ending 😑
March 12, 2024
SPOILERS***
Uhhh…
This one was a complete mess. What is the POINT???? VERY unsatisfying. All I took away was that the coffee machine is rigged? Delivering drugs to make ppl go psycho?? WHY? No one knows…
Uhhh…
This one was a complete mess. What is the POINT???? VERY unsatisfying. All I took away was that the coffee machine is rigged? Delivering drugs to make ppl go psycho?? WHY? No one knows…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2023
Great Read!
A group of of medical students are going to college at Suicide Med. Once every year for the past six years a suicide has occurred. Crazy things begin to happen and jealousy’s arise.
This was an excellent read that I quickly finished!
A group of of medical students are going to college at Suicide Med. Once every year for the past six years a suicide has occurred. Crazy things begin to happen and jealousy’s arise.
This was an excellent read that I quickly finished!
March 10, 2024
Given that I have now read too many Freida McFadden books that I have found are just way too similar to or much the same as other books published first that I've read, I have decided to reasses my ratings. I'll leave my original review for what I thought at the time, but don't want to support this.
Original review below.
This was my first ever re-attempt at a book I originally DNF in April 2022, and I am glad I finished it!
My original review: "This book just wasn't for me - medical thriller, with some sci fri elements. There was just a bit too much medical terminology for a lay person and I ended up too grossed out to finish the book at about 50%".
I came back to this book because I love McFadden's writing and it is simply the best way to turn off from a fast paced life and even if the story wasn't my jam, I knew I'd enjoy the writing.
That stuff I was grossed out by lasted maybe 5-10 more pages. Then I could not put the book down, similarily to all of McFadden's other books. So: keep reading!!
Original review below.
This was my first ever re-attempt at a book I originally DNF in April 2022, and I am glad I finished it!
My original review: "This book just wasn't for me - medical thriller, with some sci fri elements. There was just a bit too much medical terminology for a lay person and I ended up too grossed out to finish the book at about 50%".
I came back to this book because I love McFadden's writing and it is simply the best way to turn off from a fast paced life and even if the story wasn't my jam, I knew I'd enjoy the writing.
That stuff I was grossed out by lasted maybe 5-10 more pages. Then I could not put the book down, similarily to all of McFadden's other books. So: keep reading!!
January 19, 2019
Wow. And I thought my anatomy group had issues.
April 18, 2024
A suicide has happened yearly in this medical school for six straight years.
Who will die next at "Suicide Med" University?
Unfolding from six POVs of five medical school students and an anatomy professor, this fast-paced medical school drama was entertaining, unpredictable, and unputdownable.
WHAT I LOVED MOST ABOUT THIS BOOK:
The author's wit.
The dialogue of the two female medical students featured many LOL moments.
WHAT I DID NOT LIKE:
One of the male medical students had an OTT, far-fetched, weird, and unrealistic persona and medical diagnosis.
IMHO, his character easily could have been omitted.
This book was originally published in 2014 and recently re-released.
I listened to the audiobook read by Megan Tusing and Scott Merriman.
Both narrators gave Oscar-worthy performances.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
March 14, 2024
2.5
For the first time in my life, I am absolutely speechless. This was easily the most bizarre and crazy book. I’ve ever read in my entire life, but the thing is I actually couldn’t put it down either…
This book was told from six points of view, which gave you a great insight into each of the characters, and every section ended on a cliffhanger!!! However, some of these cliffhangers were beyond ridiculous… You can definitely tell this is some of Freida McFadden’s earlier work.
My main issue with this book (aside from Abe’s POV, if you know you know) was it opened as a whodunnit thriller surrounding the suicides, and then midway through the book, completely change direction….
It felt like this book just got to the climax then answered NONE of the questions, not even in the epilogue?
I think Rachel was my favourite, she was one of the only characters that showed growth!
For the first time in my life, I am absolutely speechless. This was easily the most bizarre and crazy book. I’ve ever read in my entire life, but the thing is I actually couldn’t put it down either…
This book was told from six points of view, which gave you a great insight into each of the characters, and every section ended on a cliffhanger!!! However, some of these cliffhangers were beyond ridiculous… You can definitely tell this is some of Freida McFadden’s earlier work.
My main issue with this book (aside from Abe’s POV, if you know you know) was it opened as a whodunnit thriller surrounding the suicides, and then midway through the book, completely change direction….
It felt like this book just got to the climax then answered NONE of the questions, not even in the epilogue?
I think Rachel was my favourite, she was one of the only characters that showed growth!
January 1, 2025
The book itself has little to do with the title, but the focused of several characters POV within the med school.
Without spoiling the story, this book was a long read with an ending with many plots holes. Many of the characters had a detailed backstories, but their ending was not explained properly. I came away very dissatisfied.
Without spoiling the story, this book was a long read with an ending with many plots holes. Many of the characters had a detailed backstories, but their ending was not explained properly. I came away very dissatisfied.
June 4, 2023
Another fantastic read by the great Freida McFadden. This is book #17 for me of hers I believe! One suicide a year occurs during medical school - at this medical school where students are studying to become doctors. Lots of twists and turns and it kept me guessing till the end.
April 1, 2024
This was definitely one of Freida’s wilder books, so many crazy things happened here it’s a lot to unpack 🤣
I really enjoyed the multiple POV of a select group of med students and their professor. Most of which had very unfortunate circumstances happen to them..
Abe’s storyline.. just wow 🤣 I have no idea where the idea for that plot came from 😆
I also kind of felt really sorry for Mason, anyone else?
As always, 10/10, 5⭐️, absolutely recommend
I really enjoyed the multiple POV of a select group of med students and their professor. Most of which had very unfortunate circumstances happen to them..
Abe’s storyline.. just wow 🤣 I have no idea where the idea for that plot came from 😆
I also kind of felt really sorry for Mason, anyone else?
As always, 10/10, 5⭐️, absolutely recommend
December 27, 2016
The type of medical book you want to read
Suicide Med is the type of medical book you WANT to read. It helps that the author actually attended med school and knows what she's talking about. The characters are all interesting and we'll developed and the storyline keeps you intrigued. I liked that the author has done a pov from each character.
Suicide Med is the type of medical book you WANT to read. It helps that the author actually attended med school and knows what she's talking about. The characters are all interesting and we'll developed and the storyline keeps you intrigued. I liked that the author has done a pov from each character.
September 2, 2025
Got a little confused when the POV changed. I usually enjoy Freida’s books, but this one wasn’t a favorite. I was hoping it picked up as it went along. It felt weird and a bit all over the place—too much going on and not very believable. I’m giving it 2.5 stars, rounded up, and hoping the revised version is stronger.
February 7, 2024
2.75-3 stars..
October 29, 2018
I must admit that I am not usually a fan of a story unfolding through several points of a view. However, this storyline gave me a fresh perspective of this type of telling. The mystery has a wonderful straightforward pace. Although at times repeating the same events through another characters eyes becomes somewhat tiring, overall the final reveal of the mystery was satisfying. The Author has an appealing way of making characters flawed, realistic,and believable. The reader cares about the fate of each character, and how even a small interchange between characters is integral to the overall mystery. Well done!
June 25, 2025
What can I say? This did not disappoint!!! Another incredible nail biting thriller, mystery that I could Not put down.
The story follows multiple POVs in separate parts. Let me tell you I did not want it to end, it was just that good! Between the Med students, the anatomy teacher, the mental states of each sleep deprived person is utter madness. Now throw in a mystery of what's wrong with the gentle giant will only put you even more on the edge of your seat as you wonder what in the world is going on or what's going to happen next.
I absolutely Loved every second of it. Bravo Freida!!!
The story follows multiple POVs in separate parts. Let me tell you I did not want it to end, it was just that good! Between the Med students, the anatomy teacher, the mental states of each sleep deprived person is utter madness. Now throw in a mystery of what's wrong with the gentle giant will only put you even more on the edge of your seat as you wonder what in the world is going on or what's going to happen next.
I absolutely Loved every second of it. Bravo Freida!!!
August 21, 2022
I have enjoyed every Freida book until this one. The mid book twist was so dumb I had to stop reading.
November 27, 2023
Worst book I've read by her 😖 when you think you're finally going to get some answers it starts over in ANOTHER pov that's drawn out unnecessarily. 0 stars if possible 😳
June 26, 2023
I love Freida’s books! She has a way of capturing your attention and keeping you up at night turning the pages!
While I enjoyed this book, I felt like the ending left me wanting a little more. I don’t mind being left on a cliffhanger with novels. In fact, I felt like for all the building of the book, I wanted a little more punch at the end. A little something more to make me reconsider the whole story.
However, I think what I love the most is that Freida can write thrillers and not have them all sound the same or have the same premise. I’ve read 6 of her books, and I haven’t felt like her books have had recycled material. They are all unique. Thanks for being an awesome author, Freida! I’ll be back soon for another!
While I enjoyed this book, I felt like the ending left me wanting a little more. I don’t mind being left on a cliffhanger with novels. In fact, I felt like for all the building of the book, I wanted a little more punch at the end. A little something more to make me reconsider the whole story.
However, I think what I love the most is that Freida can write thrillers and not have them all sound the same or have the same premise. I’ve read 6 of her books, and I haven’t felt like her books have had recycled material. They are all unique. Thanks for being an awesome author, Freida! I’ll be back soon for another!
April 6, 2023
Oh lordddd, Freida did it again!! This was my last (psychological thriller) to read by her and it definitely didn't disappoint. It seemed like a very accurate depiction of med school life and had really enjoyable characters and I enjoyed how we got to read from each characters point of view. I can't say much more without spoilers, but the whole Abe story?? OMG. I still can't get over it. Freida could write a whole book based about Abe's life and I'd read it in a heartbeat. Definitely the best section in the entire book, I am literally craving more!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,597 reviews