Time of Death

A Stillwater General Mystery #1

by Lucy Kerr

It's been twelve years since ER nurse Frankie Stapleton fled the quiet banks of Stillwater, but with her sister's pregnancy taking a dangerous turn and a string of failed relationships in Chicago hanging over her, Frankie is back-and hoping to put the past behind her. Within minutes of arriving at Stillwater General Hospital however, she ends up saving a man's life, only to have him turn up dead hours later—and the hospital blames Frankie.

Her instincts say Clem Jensen didn't die of natural causes, but the more she digs, the more she discovers too many suspects, a few surprising allies, and some hard truths about the first man she ever loved-and left. Now the boy she once knew is a skeptical sheriff's deputy, her family's hardware store is in jeopardy, and the rift between Frankie and her loved ones is deeper than ever.

With her career-and future-on life support, Frankie must catch a killer, clear her name, and heal the wounds of the past in Lucy Kerr's enthralling mystery debut, Time of Death .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Suspense, Cozy Mystery

336 pages, Hardcover

First published December 13, 2016

Reviews

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun little mystery! I'm so glad the cover called out to me initially; I'd hate to know I'd overlooked such a delightful read. I'm hesitant to call this a cozy, but it does have that feel mixed with a tinge of romantic suspense (in the smallest way possible).

The author did a fantastic job of drawing me in with the setting. I loved getting lost in the quaint town of Stillwater and it was such a pleasure falling into a medical themed mystery after not reading one in such a long time. The mystery itself was very straight forward and ok, but I really was drawn into the characters and their personal stories more. I'm looking forward to the next in the series and can't wait to see where this feisty, red-headed family takes us next!

*thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via Goodreads Giveaway

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why This Book
I've read several books published by Crooked Lane, which led to chatting with their marketing department a few times. I was offered an opportunity to read the second book in this series, but since I'm a bit too Type-A, I had to go back and read the first book. It's a great publisher, I love book series and the plot sounded interesting. I am clearing ARCs by 12/31 so I have a blank reading slate in 2018. I jumped on this one over the weekend in preparation for reading the second book in another week.

Plot, Characters & Setting
ER nurse Frankie Stapleton, 32, ends her third engagement in Chicago, then rushes home to assist her sister who's having her second baby. Though she only plans to stay the weekend, as the family hasn't been very close since Frankie left town more than a decade ago, she stumbles into a few too many problems. First of which is finding a man about to have a heart attack in the hospital where her sister is giving birth six weeks early. Frankie steps in, helps get the doctors to save the man and goes off to see her sister. Unfortunately, someone else with an ax to grind, steps in and kills the heart attack victim. Frankie looks guilty of doing something wrong and must fight to prove her innocence. Along the path, she runs into ex-fiance number one, as well as a few old friends, and some financial issues with her family's hardware store.

Approach & Style
The 323-page book is told in first-person POV (except the Prologue) and focuses on Frankie. There are 35 chapters, which makes each relatively short at nine pages. I read the paperback in 4 hours throughout 1 day when I had some free time. It's clear, direct and focuses almost entirely on the main story, while building the world of Stillwater General and the town Frankie will undoubtedly move back to if the series continues.

Strengths
Frankie is a fantastic character. She has flaws, but you like her. She pushes your buttons just enough and then pulls back. She's smart, but also has a lot to learn about herself and life. She is methodical and independent, yet she asks for help from others. The plot is also very intriguing. It's clear from the Prologue that someone is going to kill the heart attack victim, but we have no idea when. The victim knows something's wrong with him, but even he's unsure who did it, at first.

You'll be pulled in right away when this story takes off. It's rare I have a strong emotional connection, but this one made me focus immediately. Once Frankie arrives in the ER at Stillwater, she is a dynamo and you can't decide whether you're hurting more for the heart attack victim, Frankie's third failed engagement or her sister who may lose her baby. I very much enjoy the author's style, which balances detail and dialogue quite well. A clear recommended read from me.

Concerns
Very little. For the most part, everything flowed quite nicely. There's a few areas of suspended disbelief, but not anything big. I struggled with the victim's daughter so willingly connecting to the nurse who is named in the lawsuit, but it is a small town. I couldn't quite tell what the family drama was in the past, but something felt like it was a little too rushed. I suspect that's due to it being a potential plot in a future book (which is OK with me!). I also thought too many people were willing to sneak information to Frankie as she worked on the case, but in a small town, perhaps that's just how it is. Nothing that alarmed me nor should it worry you. It's good to push readers sometimes, at least I like when that happens. Boundaries are limitless in books.

Final Thoughts
For a debut in a mystery somewhere between a cozy and a thriller, it's intriguing. It's not quite a medical drama, but it's got enough sophistication to push readers beyond normal laymen's terms (which is a good thing). I will definitely read book number two and am quite interested in how this story will evolve. Thanks to the publisher for keeping me in mind for this and future ones.

About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon. I write A LOT. I read A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll find the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge – words and humor. You can also find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

ER Nurse Frankie Stapleton returns to Stillwater after 12 years to help assist the medical care of her sister whose pregnancy has taken a dangerous turn.

A few minutes after arriving at Stillwater General Hospital she saves a man's life. Later on the man dies and Frankie is blamed for his death. Frankie's instincts tell her that Clem Jensen did not die of natural causes. As Frankie tries to discover the truth she finds there are many suspects. Will Frankie unravel the truth? Will she still have her career by the end of the investigation?

This well written fast paced novel is great for reading on these long winter nights.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author Lucy Kerr for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ellie Oberth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story. This book was entertaining. The mystery was well thought out and the characters were interesting. What a fun read.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting, authentic, addictive! I absolutely loved this debut and can't wait to read more about Frankie and her small-town sleuthing.

[Rissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like i was reading an episode of Greys anatomy meets how to get away with murder meets any cop show ever. All the drama, doctors and disasters.

It was wonderful! And kept me guessing till the end.

[Kathy Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent I read it in one afternoon.. can't wait for the next one..

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I have to say I went back and forth with this book. It was interesting and held my attention. There were times I thought it was a little unrealistic and I thought the ending had wrapped up way too quickly. The story revolves around Frankie, an ER Nurse who has called off another engagement. To get away from it all Frankie goes back home to be with her sister who’s about to give birth very soon. While at the hospital Frankie helps an elderly gentleman who looks to be in distress. Unfortunately, the man passes away and Frankie is being accused of killing him.

The story was not the only thing I went back and forth with. I did the same with the heroine, Frankie. While I did like her, I found her to be a little narcissistic. Yes, she’s good at her job but there were times her smugness was a turn off. She’s strong, opinionated, and loving and her personal life of having three engagements called off always makes her feel guilty and that there’s something wrong with her, that maybe she’s just not the marrying type.

While the story was intriguing, I had a hard time liking many of the characters. Holy shit! Her mother did everything she could to make Frankie feel guilty and telling her that breaking off another engagement was ridiculous that she should go back and get reengaged. If that wasn’t enough, mostly everyone she came in contact with were upset that she left town to live her dream. Unbelievable! So she didn’t want to run the family store. So what? She had a different calling, one that she’s very good at. The way her mother, her sister and ex-boyfriend Noah always guilt her for leaving was selfish and asinine. Her sister was the worst. Such a bitch because that’s what she was. Makes me wonder if she really wanted to run the store herself or did so out of obligation because Frankie left town. I mean does she expect her children to run the business and not pursue their own dreams? Also, everyone acted as though what was going on with Frankie and the investigation was her fault, that she brought it all upon herself. Unreal.

With respect to the investigation, I thought it was ridiculous how she was quickly blamed for the death of Clem. Just because some jerkoff husband wants to sue for cash? You would think the hospital would do a proper investigation, not just throw idle threats at Frankie. That’s another thing, I thought it strange that not once did Frankie think she’d need a lawyer. Being great at your job is one thing, knowing you didn’t cause a death too, but when your livelihood is threatened the first thought should be get a lawyer. But not her.

Also, is she the only one with brains working at the hospital? No one else from upper management thought there was something going on. Deciding to take action against a nurse on the say-so of another doctor? Even if he’s the best at the hospital an investigation would be called for. In the end where Frankie was able to piece together and identify the murderer, she put everyone at the hospital to shame not to mention the police department since no one had a clue.

Holy crap! Deputy Noah is so not over Frankie leaving town over a decade ago to live her life. He clearly resents it and can’t see past it which affects the way he interacts with her, personally and professionally. Honestly, I thought he was an idiot.

The people in Stillwater need to realize that not everyone who grew up there wants to stay. But heaven forbid if someone does, talk about guilt trips. This is a town that loves to kill dreams of anyone who hopes for more outside of this small, narrow-minded town. Glad I didn’t grow up in such a town. Sheesh!

In the end, it was an okay read. I’m not sure if I’ll even take a gander at book 2 in this series.

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story. This was a quick and easy read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes mysteries. I am planning on reading the next book in this series.

[Michelle (FabBookReviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy Kerr, pen name of YA novelist Erica O'Rourke, debuts on the adult fiction scene with the mystery Time of Death. The first entry in the Stillwater General mystery series Time of Death reads like a most intriguing mash-up of the TV shows ER and Hart of Dixie (with a dash of St. Elsewhere for good measure)...think a mixture of suspense, real-life medical drama, and small-town secrets. With sharp and astute ER nurse Frankie Stapleton as our narrator and protagonist, readers are taken into the world of small-town hospital politics, suspected patient murder, and family drama.

When we meet thirty-something Frankie, she is on route to her small hometown of Stillwater, Illinois- the place she had essentially run away from twelve years before, leaving her family and old boyfriend behind. Frankie is on her way from Chicago where she works (and excels) as an emergency room nurse, back to Stillwater, to help care for her younger sister Charlie who is having unexpected complications with her second pregnancy. As Frankie comes in to town and Stillwater General hospital to see her sister and family, readers get an inside look into a bit of the tenuous history that Frankie has with her hometown and how complicated and uncomfortable her being back actually is. On top of everything else, as Frankie makes her way to the hospital, she comes to the rescue of an elderly man named Clem, who is struggling outside of the building, experiencing what appears to be a heart attack. As Frankie bursts her way into the security-lax Stillwater General, attempting to save Clem's life, she soon finds herself heavily involved in an anomalous and possibly homicidal medical mishap that threatens her career and life.

There are two major plot lines, if you will, running in tandem over the course of Time of Death. One is that of Frankie's return to Stillwater and the ramifications that has on her relationship with her mom, her sister, her niece, and the Stapleton family business- not to mention the implications her return has on her ex-boyfriend (currently Stillwater police officer) Noah. The second and overarching storyline is that of the mystery surrounding Clem's sudden and ill-explained death. Clem's death leads into Frankie's involvement in investigating the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, and the frosty relationship that forms between her and Stillwater General's hospital administration. Kerr weaves the back and forth between the two lines very well and easily, making for irresistible reading, though I would argue that certain elements come across as the more compelling. Without spoilers here, I will say that the reveal surrounding Clem's death is relatively uncomplicated; while the medical explications and examinations on Frankie's part are fascinating, I did find the wind-ups to the climax had a tendency to drag just a bit and rehash material already covered. I do think, however, that the core elements involving Frankie's tangled ties to her parents and sister, and past relationship (and now present re-acquaintanceship) with Noah to be consistently absorbing and thoughtfully done; these factors definitely upped the intensity and caliber of the story as a whole.

Overall, Time of Death is a solid, entertaining mystery that does a very good job of mixing character development and back story with an overarching medical mystery. Kerr does well in not only setting up Frankie as a character readers will want to follow, but also in laying the groundwork of Stillwater General hospital, the town, Frankie's family, and relationship with Noah. There are a number of exciting places that Kerr can take Frankie and Stillwater General; I was hooked into Frankie's voice and story from early on, and do hope to see and read more titles in this series.

I received a copy of this title courtesy of Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frankie Stapleton has come back to her hometown after twelve years as an ER nurse in Chicago. She wouldn't be back at all except that her sister Charlie needs her because of her high risk pregnancy. When Frankie first arrives at the hospital to see her sister, she spots a man sitting on a bench outside the ER in some distress. The ER is already preoccupied with a school bus crash which leaves Frankie to treat the man until she can attract someone's attention in the ER.

Once she gets help for Clem Jensen, she goes on to see her sister but is surprised to learn that Clem died during the night. Frankie is sure that it wasn't natural causes despite what the hospital wants her to believe. In fact, the hospital is facing a lawsuit from Clem's estranged son-in-law and is determined to pass the blame onto Frankie. She's in danger of losing her nursing license.

Frankie begins to investigate, first to save her license, but also because Clem shouldn't have died. Her investigation leads her to all sorts of things the hospital would rather have covered up. The administrator doesn't want any sort of scandal to interfere with his attempt to sell the hospital. They are running a clinical trial of a new drug and neither the doctor spearheading the trial nor the drug companies rep want Frankie looking too closely at what they are doing.

Then there is the estranged son-in-law who hated Clem because he saw him as the person who destroyed his marriage. Frankie gets to know Clem's daughter Laura and his grandson CJ who is on an expensive medicine to deal with his epilepsy.

Also investigating is Sheriff's Deputy Noah MacLean who was the boy she left behind when she fled to the bright lights of Chicago. She has never dealt with that relationship breakup and neither has Noah. They have a lot to do to rebuild the trust that was shattered.

This was a fast-paced, engaging mystery with a sympathetic main character who has to decide what she wants out of life and who has to confront some of the choices she made.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the copy of Time of Death by Lucy Kerr that I was able to read and review.
This was the first book in a new series that I found pretty good and interesting and if the rest of the books are as good as this book this series will be a good series to read.
Frankie is a nurse who goes home after being away for a long time to help her sister who is having a difficult pregnancy. While she is walking into the hospital to go see her sister she finds a man sitting on a bench who is having a heart attack and she uses her training as a nurse to save the man's life but for some reason he dies the next day and the hospital wants to slap her with a malpractice suit because she did not work at that hospital even though she saved the man's life. Frankie feels something is not right with the gentleman's death and now she must prove she did nothing wrong.
If you are looking for a book with medical drama this the book for you. I was impressed with the author and how she explained what was going so well medically. It was kind of neat to hear things from that stand point. They mystery was also well written. I was not sure who the killer was or what was going to happen with Frankie. I am interested to see what she will do in the next book because she is such an interesting character.
Time of Death gets four out of five stars.

[Holly's Little Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderfully perfect cozy read! I was thrilled when I found out one of my favorite YA authors, Erica O'Rourke, was taking on a new project of writing adult mysteries under the pen name Lucy Kerr. Time of Death is the perfect amount of who-dunnit meets small town family drama. I loved Frankie's strong, independent character and am excited that Time of Death is the first in a series so I can see her character and the hospital drama unfold through multiple storylines!

Highly recommend this book for mystery and suspense readers alike.

[Loretta Nyhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic--a page-turner!

[Salliewt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent medical mystery with very believable characters.

[Amanda A · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kirsten · Rating 1 out of 5]

Holy crow I hate books like this, and it's reason number 4 or 5 why I don't read romance (although I thought this was supposed to be a mystery). The absolute whole point of this book is to tell you the main character is an asshole for leaving home and pursuing a career. #1 when you choose a different life path than your high school partner, you're not at fault, or if you want to view it that way, you're equally at fault. #2 a family member whose only concern about real trouble in your life is how it affects their image, and takes extra time to tell you that this makes you a terrible person, is not someone you need in your life. I don't know how many people are dealing with that to the point where y'all like this story, but take control of your own health and cut some ties. At least hold people accountable for the damage they cause, ffs. #3 your job as a child is not to supply your parents with grandchildren or workers in their business. If you want to, great, but if not, you're not a terrible person. You don't owe anyone your life choices.
Oh yeah it's also a murder mystery, which has a remarkably ridiculous resolution.

[Elizabeth Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this fast-moving medical mystery. It featured emergency room nurse Francesca "Frankie" Stapleton who is back in her hometown of Stillwater to help her sister Charlotte "Charlie" with her high-risk pregnancy birth. Upon arriving at Charlie's hospital, she encounters a patient, Clem Jensen, who is having a cardiac episode. She attempts to save his life while others in the ER are attending to a bus crash with multiple victims. It turns out that things are not what they seem with Clem who dies shortly after Frankie's courageous lifesaving efforts. There is something very rotten going on at Stillwater General Hospital. Frankie is threatened with losing her medical license and moves mountains to find the guilty parties responsible for Clem's death and her subsequent accusal.

[Sandra Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Nurse I loved this book. Frankie is what ever nurse strives for and becomes. Her keen attention to detail, her intuition, her unrelenting desire to help in a crisis while juggling her own family. She advocated for her “patient “ and their family. A true hero who follows her gut and stands tall in the face of administration and anyone who stands in her way to advocate for the voiceless and right wrongs.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Time of Death by Lucy Kerr is a perplexing mystery with a refreshing and unexpected setting and a multi-layered protagonist. This first installment in the Stillwater General Mystery series is a fast-paced and engrossing novel that fans of the genre do not want to miss!

Emergency room nurse Frankie Stapleton's return to her small hometown is already fraught with tension as she deals with her complicated relationship with her family. The last thing she needs after her sister, Charlie, delivers her baby six weeks early is a threat to her career. However, after heart attack victim, Clem Jensen, dies, the man's estranged son-in-law Jimmy Madigan threatens to sue the hospital. In an effort to deflect attention away from the hospital, slimy hospital vice president Walter Strack is determined to ensure Frankie takes the blame for his death. Certain Clem's death was murder, Frankie starts poking around into his life to try to figure out who would want to kill the devoted grandfather and well-liked handyman.

Frankie's relationship with her mom and Charlie has been strained since she chose to move away twelve years earlier instead of remaining in town to work in the family owned hardware store. She loves the diversity of working in the ER and in her downtime, she enjoys traveling. Despite the slight estrangement with her family, Frankie does not hesitate to return to help out while Charlie is in the hospital. However, her interactions with her sister and mother are quite tense and quickly deteriorate into bitter exchanges over her decision to pursue her career in nursing instead of working in the hardware store.

Frankie's investigation into Clem's death is another source of friction with her family and her former fiancé, Noah McLean, who is now a sheriff's deputy. With little evidence to back up her theory that Clem was murdered, she has no choice but to try to find proof his death was not from natural causes. She finds very troubling information about the current medications he was taking but she is stonewalled by Strack every time she tries to convince him Clem's death was the result of foul play. Frankie makes progress in gaining help from McLean but when the person she is convinced killed Clem is murdered, suspicion falls on her. Frankie then completely loses Noah's support after her wild accusations are disproven so she becomes more determined than ever to unmask the killer.

An absolutely phenomenal beginning to the Stillwater General Mystery series, Time of Death is a well-written and riveting debut by Lucy Kerr. Frankie is a fascinating and well-developed heroine who is finally forced to take a hard look at the choices she has made over the years. The mystery surrounding Clem's death is quite interesting and although it takes time to make sense of the incongruous clues, Frankie tenaciously follows every lead she unearths. Will Frankie uncover the truth about the murders before it is too late? Or will she fall victim to a murderer who is willing to kill anyone who gets in their way?

[Brittany S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initial Impressions 5/28/19 & mini-review posted on The Book Addict's Guide 2/17/20: I'm so glad I finally read this book! It was a fun mystery that had more of a contemporary focus than a lot of mystery/thrillers do. The main character is back in town to help her family and runs into her old first-love/ex-fiance so there's a lot of family stuff going on as well as a little hint of a potential romance. I love how the romance wasn't rushed and there's still plenty of time to explore that option in the rest of the series!

The mystery was also really well-put together. There were clues laid about so things were still constantly coming to light but the ending was a bit of a mystery until the reveal.

I'm usually reading some darker thrillers or mysteries so this was a fun change of pace! It was somewhere in between a silly/fluffy cozy mystery and that dark thriller. A very happy middle!

[Amy Thorleifson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A promising debut featuring ER nurse Frankie, who is back in her old home town only to help her pregnant sister. Broken engagements behind her, Frankie assists an older man into the ER only to have her Good Samaritan deed backfire. When Clem dies, Frankie is blamed for the death. Of course our heroine must investigate what only appeared to be a heart attack. With little assistance from her former boyfriend Noah, now a policeman, Frankie succeeds in upsetting the hospital administrator, her family, and her old beau- but she perseveres. This will appeal to those who like a feisty but impulsive heroine with a promise of romance in future books.

[Nancy Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good start to what I hope will be a long series. Frankie, an ER nurse who has been working in a busy Chicago hospital, is forced to return to her small hometown to help her sister who's pregnancy is at risk. Frankie reluctantly returns after having left her family and her ex-fiancé less than gracefully years earlier. From the first moment she arrives, she gets into trouble and has to struggle to resolve a murder and the family issues she left behind years ago. Written with humor and including a good plot, it leaves me waiting for her next in the series.

[Melissa Cohee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this cute mystery. It had enough suspense to keep me reading almost to the point of not wanting to put it down. Didn't realize it was a series until I finished. It must say I'm looking forward to the next one. I love the main character's strength and need for a rush. This was very entertaining. Would recommend it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were times when I wanted to scream at the protagonist for her senseless actions, but notwithstanding that, I liked the book. I'm just sorry it's the first in a series, because now I have to wait a year for the next one.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this mystery. Coming from the viewpoint of a nurse, it throws in scientific jargon (my bread and butter) so that made me happy. Perfect beach read. I can't wait to read more in the series.

[Makenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This mystery thriller has kept my attention until the end. Lucy Kerr has made the details and characters of this book so realistic, that I felt as if I was part of the story itself. I recommend this book to anyone who loves small town mysteries.

[Robbrandow · Rating 5 out of 5]

i enjoyed the book very much.it sort of read like a hallmark mystery movie.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent mystery debut. I didn't like Noah or Charlie during parts of it, but overall this was wonderful. Recommend!

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

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