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Dr. Schwartzman #1
Exhume
Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman has finally found a place to belong. As the medical examiner for the San Francisco Police Department, working alongside homicide detective Hal Harris, she uncovers the tales the dead can’t tell about their final moments. It is a job that gives her purpose—and a safe haven from her former life at the hands of an abusive husband. Although it’s been seven years since she escaped that ordeal, she still checks over her shoulder to make sure no one is behind her.
Schwartzman’s latest case is deeply troubling: the victim bears an eerie resemblance to herself. What’s more, a shocking piece of evidence suggests that the killer’s business is far from over—and that Schwartzman may be in danger. In this pulse-pounding thriller from award-winning writer Danielle Girard, a woman must face her worst nightmare to catch a killer.
Schwartzman’s latest case is deeply troubling: the victim bears an eerie resemblance to herself. What’s more, a shocking piece of evidence suggests that the killer’s business is far from over—and that Schwartzman may be in danger. In this pulse-pounding thriller from award-winning writer Danielle Girard, a woman must face her worst nightmare to catch a killer.
402 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 2016
6193 people are currently reading
7516 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Girard
23 books1,085 followersDanielle Girard is the USA Today and Amazon #1 bestselling author of sixteen novels, including the Annabelle Schwartzman Series, Chasing Darkness, and The Rookie Club series.
Her books have won the Barry Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and White Out was in the top 100 bestselling e-books of 2020. In addition, two of her titles have been optioned for screen. Her next thriller, Pinky Swear, will be out from the Emily Bestler Imprint of Atria books February 24, 2026.
Danielle is also the creator and host of the Killer Women Podcast where she interviews the women who write today’s best crime fiction. A graduate of Cornell University, Danielle received her MFA in Creative Writing at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. When she’s not traveling, Danielle lives in the mountains of Montana.
Her books have won the Barry Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and White Out was in the top 100 bestselling e-books of 2020. In addition, two of her titles have been optioned for screen. Her next thriller, Pinky Swear, will be out from the Emily Bestler Imprint of Atria books February 24, 2026.
Danielle is also the creator and host of the Killer Women Podcast where she interviews the women who write today’s best crime fiction. A graduate of Cornell University, Danielle received her MFA in Creative Writing at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. When she’s not traveling, Danielle lives in the mountains of Montana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,361 reviews
April 18, 2020
How is this supposed to be a psychological thriller when the main character, Anna, predicts every move her psycho ex-lover will do or have possibly done, and it usually ends up being accurate? Two of the major problems I had with this book: everything was too convenient and the characters were flat.
Spencer, her former abusive lover, plots, murders multiple people, and stalks so perfectly that it should be literally impossible to do all at once, especially since he’s doing this in TWO different states, CA and SC. The excuse for how it’s all possible is that he’s the most calculating, perfect sociopath—very convenient. Obstacles don’t really exist for him. Situations for Anna are also convenient as well. For example,
Anna was a flat character like the rest because they act like her, except they're not doctors so they don't think all medically like Anna. I was impressed by the author’s research but the medical terminology is overdone when it doesn't involve working on the job. We get a lengthy paragraph about the science of lungs and three hundred million alveoli just to describe Anna’s few deep breaths, and you'll be reading a lot of these textbook interruptions. I admire how much research the author put into this but we didn’t have to be constantly reminded of how educated Dr. Anna is, who lives and breathes anatomy. It's also unrealistic because not all doctors obsess over anatomy as much as Anna, who looks at clouds and thinks of organs. As for Spencer, he's the typical sneering bad guy. Though he is undeniably a threat in the story, he doesn't feel real because he's too perfect.
Actual rating: 1.5/5 stars.
Spencer, her former abusive lover, plots, murders multiple people, and stalks so perfectly that it should be literally impossible to do all at once, especially since he’s doing this in TWO different states, CA and SC. The excuse for how it’s all possible is that he’s the most calculating, perfect sociopath—very convenient. Obstacles don’t really exist for him. Situations for Anna are also convenient as well. For example,
Anna was a flat character like the rest because they act like her, except they're not doctors so they don't think all medically like Anna. I was impressed by the author’s research but the medical terminology is overdone when it doesn't involve working on the job. We get a lengthy paragraph about the science of lungs and three hundred million alveoli just to describe Anna’s few deep breaths, and you'll be reading a lot of these textbook interruptions. I admire how much research the author put into this but we didn’t have to be constantly reminded of how educated Dr. Anna is, who lives and breathes anatomy. It's also unrealistic because not all doctors obsess over anatomy as much as Anna, who looks at clouds and thinks of organs. As for Spencer, he's the typical sneering bad guy. Though he is undeniably a threat in the story, he doesn't feel real because he's too perfect.
Actual rating: 1.5/5 stars.
February 6, 2017
Exhumed BY Danielle Girard was a thriller that I got through I liked it but wouldn't say I was rushing to get back to.
The plot was easily worked out & the perp predictable, although Dr Annabelle Swartz men was a strong character, the author showed her weaknesses she has a psychopathic ex husband Spencer Macdonald who's character was well written he made the story as he was always chasing Annabelle making her life a total nightmare.
For Me Annabelle had too many issues involving her mother & sister which was drawn out tooo long, but while looking for the murders of 3 women including her aunt she was also struggling with her own health issues which made it interesting.
The ending was too predictable as you knew who did it right from the get go I will read the next in the series to see if Annabelle's character development evolves. 4 stars
The plot was easily worked out & the perp predictable, although Dr Annabelle Swartz men was a strong character, the author showed her weaknesses she has a psychopathic ex husband Spencer Macdonald who's character was well written he made the story as he was always chasing Annabelle making her life a total nightmare.
For Me Annabelle had too many issues involving her mother & sister which was drawn out tooo long, but while looking for the murders of 3 women including her aunt she was also struggling with her own health issues which made it interesting.
The ending was too predictable as you knew who did it right from the get go I will read the next in the series to see if Annabelle's character development evolves. 4 stars
October 10, 2016
This was my first book by Danielle Girard and I will say it will not be my last. Her Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman character is my new favorite strong female and a great read. She has left an abusive husband who always finds and stalks her wherever she may go and is so good at it there is never any clue as to the fact it is him. Her own mother would not even believe her. Now a dead ringer to her has turned up dead. She thought she could call this home until a cop she has become friends with turns up stabbed in her bed and she has no memory of it. Not only that her aunt who is the closest thing she has to a loving family has been murdered. Has he crossed the line this time and can she prove it is him once and for all and not lose her life in the process. Cannot wait for book #2. I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
September 5, 2023
Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman is a successful medical examiner for the San Francisco Police Department who is working a case that suddenly feels too familiar.
When it becomes clear to others that the victim looks like her, could it be that the killer is someone she knows?
And if it is, will parts of her past that she has been trying to carefully keep a part of her past have to be revealed in order to find this person?
To be honest, there were parts of this book that were difficult to read.
The bad guy, was truly psychotic, and I wanted Anna to be stronger.
Eventually, she pulls through, but it was painful at times waiting for those moments.
Still, it is a quick, tense read, and she is a good character.
I’d like to believe that she will make for a great continuing character in future books (which do exist), as typically medical examiners have interesting cases – especially if it isn’t all about them.
When it becomes clear to others that the victim looks like her, could it be that the killer is someone she knows?
And if it is, will parts of her past that she has been trying to carefully keep a part of her past have to be revealed in order to find this person?
To be honest, there were parts of this book that were difficult to read.
The bad guy, was truly psychotic, and I wanted Anna to be stronger.
Eventually, she pulls through, but it was painful at times waiting for those moments.
Still, it is a quick, tense read, and she is a good character.
I’d like to believe that she will make for a great continuing character in future books (which do exist), as typically medical examiners have interesting cases – especially if it isn’t all about them.
November 22, 2018
This review probably won't help anyone, but I couldn't stand it. Everything was too convenient, from how manipulative and sociopathic the antagonist is, to the extensive and rather drawn out panic attacks of the main character. There was simply nothing about this novel that makes it stand out from the hordes of generic crime books out there. Yawn....
August 6, 2023
I could not disagree more with some of my "esteemed" co-readers (that word is facetiously emphasized for those who have the audacity to complain that a book whose main character is a medical examiner has too much medical terminology). Let's examine how the novel might read without the "big words." Also, I understand that some of you took issue with the examiner being called "Schwartzman," as it is a "big word" (I'm going to briefly point the irony that many of the same people bemoaning the impossible pronunciation of "Schwartzman" have been pronouncing "Swarovski" since they were eight-years-old); therefore, Dr. Schwartzman shall be referred to as "Doc."
Inspector: "What do we have, Doc?"
Doc: "Dead female. Cause of death unknown, because I don't have any medical knowledge. This isn't a freaking Patricia Cornwell novel."
Inspector: "Whatever. I hope you never need any forensic knowledge to, say, frame a stalker. Ooh! Are those Swarovski-encrusted rib cutters?"
Doc: "That's not a Thighmaster?"
There you have it. Any less medical references and it would be a coloring book of bunnies.
Inspector: "What do we have, Doc?"
Doc: "Dead female. Cause of death unknown, because I don't have any medical knowledge. This isn't a freaking Patricia Cornwell novel."
Inspector: "Whatever. I hope you never need any forensic knowledge to, say, frame a stalker. Ooh! Are those Swarovski-encrusted rib cutters?"
Doc: "That's not a Thighmaster?"
There you have it. Any less medical references and it would be a coloring book of bunnies.
September 1, 2016
EXHUME
This is an exceptional read, once you get started it's hard to put down. I will tell you how I chose my Kindle First for September, first it was listed as a Psychological Thriller, one of my favorites. Second there were several of Danielle Girard books listed with reviews of 4.5 and higher, that made my decision easy.
Annabelle Swartzman is a good character (a little quirky, very likeable), she draws you into her story from the first few pages. This will be an excellent series, highly recommend.
This is an exceptional read, once you get started it's hard to put down. I will tell you how I chose my Kindle First for September, first it was listed as a Psychological Thriller, one of my favorites. Second there were several of Danielle Girard books listed with reviews of 4.5 and higher, that made my decision easy.
Annabelle Swartzman is a good character (a little quirky, very likeable), she draws you into her story from the first few pages. This will be an excellent series, highly recommend.
September 6, 2016
I truly wanted to like this book but the writing is so bad, the characters so flat and the medical terminology so forced that I only made it through the first two chapters. On a positive note, it was free with Amazon Prime so I didn't waste any $$ on it.
October 28, 2016
Evidently the book I downloaded entitled “Exhume” was not the same book others read. The book I read could have been a dependable mystery/suspense novel. Not great, but good. It had a tried and true plot line going - wife being stalked by her crazy husband that she ran away from years ago. The main character had an interesting profession - pathologist - and it took place in two cities that fiction loves - San Francisco and Charleston.
Instead this became almost a retelling of the story of Job. I kept waiting for a plague of locusts, a killer earthquake or a giant meteor. Isn’t it bad enough to be fleeing from an abusive husband? Do all these other bad things have to happen to her as well? I had no idea what to feel badly about, there was so much to choose from.
What also hurt the book was the whiney introspection that made up about 50-60% of the story. That time could have been spent developing characters or moving the plot along. Instead we got stuck in the main character’s head for pages and pages at a time as she obsessed over every single decision made, repeated herself continuously and accomplished very little. Because so much time was wasted rehashing the same internal thoughts, none of the characters were fully developed and it was hard to feel any emotion for what should have been a very sympathetic character.
I also think the book suffered in the editing. The same words were often used repeatedly in the same paragraph. That might not be so obvious if I was reading it. But it was obvious listening to it. I got that it was her “door” that the roses were beside, the first time it was said. And an editor should have discouraged using the name Schwartzman to refer to the main character. Perhaps it would not have been so annoying if I was reading. But it sounded affected every time the narrator said it. The character actually says she likes to be called Anna, so why not call her that? I gather that the use of her last name when everyone else was called by their first name was supposed to be meaningful. But I never got the meaning.
I had never heard of this author and was surprised to see this was not her first book. It read more like some of the self-published books I’ve read lately, that no editor ever laid a hand on.
And while I hate to pile it on, I don’t think the narrator was a good fit for the book. She wasn’t overly dramatic, but maybe a little too excited or perky. And frankly there was nothing in this book to be excited or perky about.
Instead this became almost a retelling of the story of Job. I kept waiting for a plague of locusts, a killer earthquake or a giant meteor. Isn’t it bad enough to be fleeing from an abusive husband? Do all these other bad things have to happen to her as well? I had no idea what to feel badly about, there was so much to choose from.
What also hurt the book was the whiney introspection that made up about 50-60% of the story. That time could have been spent developing characters or moving the plot along. Instead we got stuck in the main character’s head for pages and pages at a time as she obsessed over every single decision made, repeated herself continuously and accomplished very little. Because so much time was wasted rehashing the same internal thoughts, none of the characters were fully developed and it was hard to feel any emotion for what should have been a very sympathetic character.
I also think the book suffered in the editing. The same words were often used repeatedly in the same paragraph. That might not be so obvious if I was reading it. But it was obvious listening to it. I got that it was her “door” that the roses were beside, the first time it was said. And an editor should have discouraged using the name Schwartzman to refer to the main character. Perhaps it would not have been so annoying if I was reading. But it sounded affected every time the narrator said it. The character actually says she likes to be called Anna, so why not call her that? I gather that the use of her last name when everyone else was called by their first name was supposed to be meaningful. But I never got the meaning.
I had never heard of this author and was surprised to see this was not her first book. It read more like some of the self-published books I’ve read lately, that no editor ever laid a hand on.
And while I hate to pile it on, I don’t think the narrator was a good fit for the book. She wasn’t overly dramatic, but maybe a little too excited or perky. And frankly there was nothing in this book to be excited or perky about.
September 14, 2016
Disappointing Second Half
I totally agree with another reviewer - halfway through the book I would have still given it 5 stars, but it all went downhill from there and I started to skim through it just to get to the end. Although I wasn't overly sympathetic with Schwartzman's character (why aren't we calling her Anna by the way??) I still enjoyed the book in the beginning because it was suspenseful and I really wanted to know how everything would tie together at the end. But halfway through the book the story became just too fantastic and too unbelievable. In today's world with 21st century forensics, nobody can get away with crimes like the ones that start piling up in this story, especially get away without leaving a trace. The actions of "Schwartzman" become more and more erratic and unbelievable, as does the entire plot. The characters are only partially developed - yes, I get it -Harper's daughter plays volleyball, did we really have to hear about it over and over? Hal was an interesting character at the beginning but faded into the background. If the story's main purpose was to start a series, it failed, at least in my book because I am not interested in part 2. I am glad I didn't have to pay for this book - it was the most disappointing Kindle First in several months.
I totally agree with another reviewer - halfway through the book I would have still given it 5 stars, but it all went downhill from there and I started to skim through it just to get to the end. Although I wasn't overly sympathetic with Schwartzman's character (why aren't we calling her Anna by the way??) I still enjoyed the book in the beginning because it was suspenseful and I really wanted to know how everything would tie together at the end. But halfway through the book the story became just too fantastic and too unbelievable. In today's world with 21st century forensics, nobody can get away with crimes like the ones that start piling up in this story, especially get away without leaving a trace. The actions of "Schwartzman" become more and more erratic and unbelievable, as does the entire plot. The characters are only partially developed - yes, I get it -Harper's daughter plays volleyball, did we really have to hear about it over and over? Hal was an interesting character at the beginning but faded into the background. If the story's main purpose was to start a series, it failed, at least in my book because I am not interested in part 2. I am glad I didn't have to pay for this book - it was the most disappointing Kindle First in several months.
September 8, 2016
I usually enjoy this author's books and so when I saw one by her on this month's Kindle First list I grabbed it quick. However, I've packed it in at only 24%....it just isn't for me.
I wasn't liking the fact that Annabelle was always referred to as Schwartzman throughout. Seems odd. The main police personnel were called Hal and Hailey, again I found it odd she picked such similar names. It has a surfeit of medical terminology that had to keep being looked up and really wasn't neccessary in that much detail. For example, "...where her necklace normally lay, against the flat, bony surface of her manubrium, several inches below T2"........no need for it.
The way it's written it felt like I was reading two totally different stories at the same time and neither appeared to bear any relation to the other. Of course, they're bound to but usually you get some hint of a connection....
I doubt a pregnant woman would have swollen ankles at only 4 months, would she ? The story itself also seemed farfetched to me. She kept thinking to herself about things Spencer liked or disliked when there was no evidence whatsoever he was involved with any crime. It was just too bizarre for me, especially coming from an intelligent woman. Again, it seemed over-egged that she'd need a bandage for a papercut !!
It was well presented with no mistakes apart from in her bibliography at the beginning where one book is recorded as Everything to loser when it should be Everything To Lose !! Found that pretty careless.
I'll still probably read more by her but not of this particular series.
I wasn't liking the fact that Annabelle was always referred to as Schwartzman throughout. Seems odd. The main police personnel were called Hal and Hailey, again I found it odd she picked such similar names. It has a surfeit of medical terminology that had to keep being looked up and really wasn't neccessary in that much detail. For example, "...where her necklace normally lay, against the flat, bony surface of her manubrium, several inches below T2"........no need for it.
The way it's written it felt like I was reading two totally different stories at the same time and neither appeared to bear any relation to the other. Of course, they're bound to but usually you get some hint of a connection....
I doubt a pregnant woman would have swollen ankles at only 4 months, would she ? The story itself also seemed farfetched to me. She kept thinking to herself about things Spencer liked or disliked when there was no evidence whatsoever he was involved with any crime. It was just too bizarre for me, especially coming from an intelligent woman. Again, it seemed over-egged that she'd need a bandage for a papercut !!
It was well presented with no mistakes apart from in her bibliography at the beginning where one book is recorded as Everything to loser when it should be Everything To Lose !! Found that pretty careless.
I'll still probably read more by her but not of this particular series.
September 29, 2016
Very flat characters with a whiny protagonist. Everything that happens to her is a little too convenient, a little too easy for her to get out of. Some details are hammered over and over again, many not even pertinent to the plot. Did I really need to be told over and over how large Hal is? Even how scared Schwartman is gets explained over and over. While the past abuse she suffered and her present fear are an integral part of the story, after a while I wanted to scream 'yes, I get it; she's terrified and doesn't know who to trust!' And there are some details that are just downright nonsensical, like the things her murdered aunt left for her to find. Overall, I don't think this was woth my time.
August 27, 2021
She survived a nightmare's past.
Can she survive this killer's obsession?
*Trigger warnings- Emotional abuse, physical abuse, domestic abuse*
This was a gripping and extremely interesting story of a woman, Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman, who was the victim of an abusive marriage but still managed to fight her way out and get away from her horrifying past. But what happens when the dark past continues following her around? You'll have to read on to find out....
The way the book is written is very engaging. I really liked the plot and the twists throughout the book.
The investigation and crime scenes also low key reminded me of the show 'The Mentalist' (which I really liked), making me like this book even more. If you liked the show, you should definitely check out this book right away!!
Hence, if you're looking for a engaging crime novel, this is for you. Add it to your tbr now.
Can she survive this killer's obsession?
*Trigger warnings- Emotional abuse, physical abuse, domestic abuse*
This was a gripping and extremely interesting story of a woman, Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman, who was the victim of an abusive marriage but still managed to fight her way out and get away from her horrifying past. But what happens when the dark past continues following her around? You'll have to read on to find out....
The way the book is written is very engaging. I really liked the plot and the twists throughout the book.
The investigation and crime scenes also low key reminded me of the show 'The Mentalist' (which I really liked), making me like this book even more. If you liked the show, you should definitely check out this book right away!!
Hence, if you're looking for a engaging crime novel, this is for you. Add it to your tbr now.
October 2, 2016
Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman is called to the scene of a murder. As a medical examiner, she prepares to make an initial assessment of the body. But seeing the woman lay as if sleeping while clutching yellow flowers gives her pause. She was just sent yellow flowers (her least favorite) by her estranged husband. The victim has a passing resemblance to herself. She's even wearing a copy of the custom necklace the doctor never takes off. Is her ex escalating from his usual notes and occasional phone calls to murder? She spent their entire relationship under his thumb, an abused and broken woman. She escaped from his clutches years ago, but he hasn't given up... and now seems determined to get her back, by whatever means necessary.
I have to mention this: why do we always refer to the main character as Schwartzman? I can understand why some of her colleagues would call her that, but her last name is still used even when she's alone and we're given a description of what she's doing. She doesn't like to be called Annabelle, but surely Anna is appropriate when it's just her and the reader. That part drove me nuts and distracted me from what otherwise is primarily a really great read. I felt a bit emotionally exhausted when I finished, as she is emotionally exhausted herself the majority of the time, with her physical symptoms well described. It's really a very absorbing story that I read in one sitting. Some might be bothered by the medical speak, but I didn't mind it. The autopsy or examination parts might bother the super squeamish but weren't too graphic. The other characters, who are mostly cops, were very interesting and I hope to see more of them in the following novel. I really want to know more about Hal, the detective determined to protect the doctor. Maybe it'll change in the future, but there didn't seem to be a romantic element between the two. I love books that don't throw in an improbable romance. There is some chemistry between her and another character, but it doesn't take over the story.
I received this book from Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for my honest review, thank you!
I have to mention this: why do we always refer to the main character as Schwartzman? I can understand why some of her colleagues would call her that, but her last name is still used even when she's alone and we're given a description of what she's doing. She doesn't like to be called Annabelle, but surely Anna is appropriate when it's just her and the reader. That part drove me nuts and distracted me from what otherwise is primarily a really great read. I felt a bit emotionally exhausted when I finished, as she is emotionally exhausted herself the majority of the time, with her physical symptoms well described. It's really a very absorbing story that I read in one sitting. Some might be bothered by the medical speak, but I didn't mind it. The autopsy or examination parts might bother the super squeamish but weren't too graphic. The other characters, who are mostly cops, were very interesting and I hope to see more of them in the following novel. I really want to know more about Hal, the detective determined to protect the doctor. Maybe it'll change in the future, but there didn't seem to be a romantic element between the two. I love books that don't throw in an improbable romance. There is some chemistry between her and another character, but it doesn't take over the story.
I received this book from Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for my honest review, thank you!
February 5, 2017
3.5 stars
The book started off really well, definitely a page-turner with some cliff-hanger chapter endings that made it really hard to put down. After a while, the plot line started to get harder to swallow. The bad guy was just too smart and poor Anna kept having one bad thing happen to her after the next (give her a break already!). I still thought the second half of the book was quite entertaining. Overall it's a good read when you're looking for some brainless excitement. There's nothing wrong with a little brainless excitement, and I don't feel like I wasted my time by reading it.
I won the Kindle version of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher.
The book started off really well, definitely a page-turner with some cliff-hanger chapter endings that made it really hard to put down. After a while, the plot line started to get harder to swallow. The bad guy was just too smart and poor Anna kept having one bad thing happen to her after the next (give her a break already!). I still thought the second half of the book was quite entertaining. Overall it's a good read when you're looking for some brainless excitement. There's nothing wrong with a little brainless excitement, and I don't feel like I wasted my time by reading it.
I won the Kindle version of this book in a Goodreads giveaway. Thanks to Goodreads and the publisher.
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March 2, 2017I had a hard time buying the premise of this book, which is that an overachieving third-year med student went on a date with an older man who then raped her, and so of course she somehow got roped into marrying him because I guess rapists are just that controlling; anyway, she's in this abusive marriage for several years before she finally escapes, moves across the country to finish medical school and eventually becomes a coroner, all the while her ex (to whom she's technically still married) is stalking her. Okay. I don't think so, but okay, let's say that happened. So as coroner, she's called to a crime scene where she finds a corpse that looks just like her and blah blah reasons, it looks like her ex might be trying to send her a message or something (...with murder!) and she's in danger. Fine. Meanwhile, in her home town, unbeknownst to her, old ladies start getting murdered for mysterious reasons. There are a lot of characters in this book, and the story gets narrated from several points of view, including (eventually) the ex, who is apparently posing as an incarcerated convict so he can lure a prison-groupie type into doing criminal activity on his behalf. Or something. I don't know, that part was a little confusing. Meanwhile again, the coroner-in-danger randomly meets up with a police officer she knows casually and they have an impromptu dinner date. The next thing she knows, said police officer is incriminated by some crime scene evidence and the *next* thing she knows, she wakes up one morning with him next to her in bed; they've both been drugged and he's been stabbed in the chest. Because she's a doctor, she manages to a) stop him from dying and b) draw blood from both of them to be tested before the paramedics arrive and she passes out again. The NEXT thing she knows, she's waking up in the hospital, realizing that she must be the primary suspect in this dude's stabbing, and so she decides to leave town. Because despite the fact that the lead detective is her friend and willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, considering that she's the coroner and obviously being stalked and crap, running away like she's totally guilty is the only reasonable thing for her to do at this point. I have by no means given away the whole story. This is about half the story, and this is where I gave up because this woman is so stupid, I'd like to make up my own ending to the story where she ends up being killed.
May 20, 2021
Wow, what a thriller! I did so much reading during the pandemic that I came back to this incredible book and re-read it. Loved it more the second time and saw the clues and cleverness of the author that I had missed. Danielle Girard is so good.
Exhume is an astonishing thrill ride, a shocker that has left me thinking about it long after this second read. You’ll find yourself cheering this brave, intelligent woman who has managed to escape an abusive marriage – only to have her twisted, controlling ex continue to come after her and stop at nothing, including murder. This was a thrill ride for me – again, after the second read! A very exciting book – five stars!
Exhume is an astonishing thrill ride, a shocker that has left me thinking about it long after this second read. You’ll find yourself cheering this brave, intelligent woman who has managed to escape an abusive marriage – only to have her twisted, controlling ex continue to come after her and stop at nothing, including murder. This was a thrill ride for me – again, after the second read! A very exciting book – five stars!
November 4, 2016
This is a long book so I decided to keep track of my thoughts as I went along because I knew I would forget stuff. It turned out to be a lot of thoughts, but it makes sense—long book = long review. Fasten your seatbelts, friends.
About 35%
This is going to be a long book.
Okay, looks like we’ve got two different storylines going on here—but as this isn’t an episode of CSI, they’ve got to converge at some point. I’ll wait.
Oooh, alternating POVs. If I really felt invested in Schwartzman as a character, I might mind. But I don’t.
Man, what is it with Schwartzman’s POV and only using last names? It must be annoying having to write “Schwartzman” so many times. I’m already tired of it. I dunno, it’s kind of weird. (Note: later I realize that actually only a couple of names in this POV are last-name-only, but Schwartzman continues to always be last-name in the narration. Other people call her various things.)
I forgot how much I liked crime novels. I love all these missing or disparate pieces that will eventually click. I also love the mystery surrounding Spencer and the fact that stalkers are not usually murderers. Two very separate things with undeniable connections/coincidences.
About 65%
Okay like Schwartzman is so weak. She’s doing everything wrong. This guy’s clearly a psychopath and she falls to pieces wherever he’s concerned. She’s just egging him on like that. Anyway, I wouldn’t leave her alone if I knew the threat was getting larger—she needs a bodyguard at this point UGH. Everyone’s an idiot.
Why in hell would she go back to SC? Like does she not even take herself seriously? She’s walking into a trap and she knows it and she’s not even taking the proper precautions. Does she want to f— her life over even more? And why is her mother such a b—? God, just forget about her, she’s not going to be of any use here…
Thank god at least Hal is being helpful to the SC investigation, since Schwartzman is being, like, a negative help. Anti-help. A hindrance. She’s keeping too much to herself. Like, she was keeping everything about Spencer to herself before, for obvious reasons, but once that cat was out of the bag she continued to clam up about stuff that would actually be super helpful for people to know. Like what, does she want them to nail this guy or what? Does she really want to keep living this life of silent fear and terror of Spencer just so she doesn’t have to talk about it and face her past and her present issues? Or does she want to finally face it and help them put him behind bars? Jesus, grow up, woman. It’s been too long for it to be that painful to think about. Hell, I might not know what I’m talking about, but I know what the rational decision would be, and she’s letting her emotions rule her. I agree with Harper, it’s funny how such a strong woman could be so easily under his thumb, even still. Did I say funny? I meant frustrating as hell.
But like, back to her being the pure opposite of helpful—she’s basically like I’m probably being incredibly unfair because I do understand how a victim is manipulated by a psychopath but it continues to boggle my brain how it’s possible.
End:
Have I ranted enough? Probably. Maybe not though. So let’s look at what happened…
Spoiler version:
Hm, what can I say that will give you an adequate idea of what happened without spoiling…Well, I can say that I was unpleasantly surprised by what happened, and it wasn’t because the ending was obviously unhappy, but rather because the ending seemed too convenient and ridiculous. But hopefully it’s not as convenient as it appears to be because the series continues. That’s my hope.
(That wasn’t a rant, but the spoiler version definitely was.)
Overall, I did like the book. I loved the crime-mystery aspect of it. It was detailed and intriguing. Kept me on my toes. I’m all for that, really. I love CSI and such. The other characters were all right; even Spencer was realistic and appropriately hate-able and subtly terrifying. But Schwartzman…man, that woman frustrated me no end. Literally. Until the end (and I’m sure beyond), she did not improve even a fraction in my eyes. I liked it when she finally took control of her situation, until she used that control to make some really stupid decisions. Nothing in the book gave me the tools or the reasons to understand and possibly forgive her, and unfortunately, even my seemingly endless empathy has its limits.
See the full review on my website, Awesome Book Assessment.
About 35%
This is going to be a long book.
Okay, looks like we’ve got two different storylines going on here—but as this isn’t an episode of CSI, they’ve got to converge at some point. I’ll wait.
Oooh, alternating POVs. If I really felt invested in Schwartzman as a character, I might mind. But I don’t.
Man, what is it with Schwartzman’s POV and only using last names? It must be annoying having to write “Schwartzman” so many times. I’m already tired of it. I dunno, it’s kind of weird. (Note: later I realize that actually only a couple of names in this POV are last-name-only, but Schwartzman continues to always be last-name in the narration. Other people call her various things.)
I forgot how much I liked crime novels. I love all these missing or disparate pieces that will eventually click. I also love the mystery surrounding Spencer and the fact that stalkers are not usually murderers. Two very separate things with undeniable connections/coincidences.
About 65%
Okay like Schwartzman is so weak. She’s doing everything wrong. This guy’s clearly a psychopath and she falls to pieces wherever he’s concerned. She’s just egging him on like that. Anyway, I wouldn’t leave her alone if I knew the threat was getting larger—she needs a bodyguard at this point UGH. Everyone’s an idiot.
Why in hell would she go back to SC? Like does she not even take herself seriously? She’s walking into a trap and she knows it and she’s not even taking the proper precautions. Does she want to f— her life over even more? And why is her mother such a b—? God, just forget about her, she’s not going to be of any use here…
Thank god at least Hal is being helpful to the SC investigation, since Schwartzman is being, like, a negative help. Anti-help. A hindrance. She’s keeping too much to herself. Like, she was keeping everything about Spencer to herself before, for obvious reasons, but once that cat was out of the bag she continued to clam up about stuff that would actually be super helpful for people to know. Like what, does she want them to nail this guy or what? Does she really want to keep living this life of silent fear and terror of Spencer just so she doesn’t have to talk about it and face her past and her present issues? Or does she want to finally face it and help them put him behind bars? Jesus, grow up, woman. It’s been too long for it to be that painful to think about. Hell, I might not know what I’m talking about, but I know what the rational decision would be, and she’s letting her emotions rule her. I agree with Harper, it’s funny how such a strong woman could be so easily under his thumb, even still. Did I say funny? I meant frustrating as hell.
But like, back to her being the pure opposite of helpful—she’s basically like I’m probably being incredibly unfair because I do understand how a victim is manipulated by a psychopath but it continues to boggle my brain how it’s possible.
End:
Have I ranted enough? Probably. Maybe not though. So let’s look at what happened…
Spoiler version:
Hm, what can I say that will give you an adequate idea of what happened without spoiling…Well, I can say that I was unpleasantly surprised by what happened, and it wasn’t because the ending was obviously unhappy, but rather because the ending seemed too convenient and ridiculous. But hopefully it’s not as convenient as it appears to be because the series continues. That’s my hope.
(That wasn’t a rant, but the spoiler version definitely was.)
Overall, I did like the book. I loved the crime-mystery aspect of it. It was detailed and intriguing. Kept me on my toes. I’m all for that, really. I love CSI and such. The other characters were all right; even Spencer was realistic and appropriately hate-able and subtly terrifying. But Schwartzman…man, that woman frustrated me no end. Literally. Until the end (and I’m sure beyond), she did not improve even a fraction in my eyes. I liked it when she finally took control of her situation, until she used that control to make some really stupid decisions. Nothing in the book gave me the tools or the reasons to understand and possibly forgive her, and unfortunately, even my seemingly endless empathy has its limits.
See the full review on my website, Awesome Book Assessment.
October 11, 2016
Danielle Girard's Exhume is the story of a frightened, damaged, abused woman, Dr. Annabelle Schwartman, whose (almost) ex-husband, Spencer, has been stalking her for seven years--since she left him for severe emotional abuse and the murder of her unborn child. While hiding from him, trying to avoid anything that would allow him to re-capture her, she builds a life as an accomplished and well-regarded San Francisco Medical Examiner, hoping to have a quiet and normal life--
"Schwartzman preferred sutures. Staples were effective but seemed too industrial. The sutures were slower, and she enjoyed these last minutes with the victim, the time to fully process the death before contacting the investigator."
"The dead did not spook her. Skin slippage, blistering, the blackness of putrefaction—those were all natural parts of death."
Until he finds her, and this time, he's not just stalking. As a string of murders develop, she knows he is behind them and becomes both more desperate and more hardened until she accepts that hiding and running will not solve her problem: There's really only one way out.
This could be a typical-though-heartwrenching story of a woman whose abusive husband would rather destroy her than allow her to escape his grasp, but the author doesn't let that happen. Girard is a gifted storyteller who knows just when to add an unexpected twist and a gut-wrenching plot point. She masterfully weaves in quite a bit of backstory to explain how both Schwartzman and her husband got to the point where something must explode. There are times, I admit, when revisiting Schwartzman's past slowed the plot down, but ultimately, it provided a deep understanding of how this damaged woman could do what she must do to escape. I cheered when I felt her morph from victim to vanquisher.
Overall, a good read that will keep you turning pages no matter the hour.
"Schwartzman preferred sutures. Staples were effective but seemed too industrial. The sutures were slower, and she enjoyed these last minutes with the victim, the time to fully process the death before contacting the investigator."
"The dead did not spook her. Skin slippage, blistering, the blackness of putrefaction—those were all natural parts of death."
Until he finds her, and this time, he's not just stalking. As a string of murders develop, she knows he is behind them and becomes both more desperate and more hardened until she accepts that hiding and running will not solve her problem: There's really only one way out.
This could be a typical-though-heartwrenching story of a woman whose abusive husband would rather destroy her than allow her to escape his grasp, but the author doesn't let that happen. Girard is a gifted storyteller who knows just when to add an unexpected twist and a gut-wrenching plot point. She masterfully weaves in quite a bit of backstory to explain how both Schwartzman and her husband got to the point where something must explode. There are times, I admit, when revisiting Schwartzman's past slowed the plot down, but ultimately, it provided a deep understanding of how this damaged woman could do what she must do to escape. I cheered when I felt her morph from victim to vanquisher.
Overall, a good read that will keep you turning pages no matter the hour.
November 30, 2016
The story is tedious and far-fetched. So is the main character, a super-smart but emotionally fragile medical examiner . Huh? This book was a Kindle First choice for September and 2 stars is extremely generous. The series could improve, I suppose, if Dr. Schwartzman got her act together.
February 27, 2018
4.5 stars, rounded up!! This was such a great story!
November 12, 2016
This was a free Kindle First book for me. Normally, I don't read murder mysteries, but Kindle First has been great for trying out genres and books that are outside my comfort zone. This was one of the better ones.
This is the kind of book I imagine Richard Castle of the TV show Castle writes: a suspenseful murder mystery/thriller that is both competently written and kind of dumb at the same time.
It features several tropes of the genre that normally turn me off:
1) the protagonist carries deep psychological scars that may or may not have anything to do with the case, but she's still a bit of a Mary Sue in that she's basically successful in everything she does;
2) the villain is a generic criminal mastermind with intense but poorly developed motivations who's capable of committing extremely complex yet flawlessly executed murders (and other crimes) in multiple states at once;
3) the supporting characters, including the police, are borderline incompetent and exist mostly to sit around and worry about how dangerous the villain is while the protagonist hitches up her panties and takes care of business.
While these may or may not be actual flaws, there are some real problems, such as the ending is wrapped up a bit messily and the villain's plan makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. But if you can get past all that (I personally found most of it charming), it's an enjoyable read. The narration if not the dialog is well-written, the story is fast and thrilling, and the protagonist is interesting, engaging, and sympathetic.
The protagonist and her psychological journey were interesting enough for me to ignore the flaws and enjoy the book. I look forward to reading more in this series.
This is the kind of book I imagine Richard Castle of the TV show Castle writes: a suspenseful murder mystery/thriller that is both competently written and kind of dumb at the same time.
It features several tropes of the genre that normally turn me off:
1) the protagonist carries deep psychological scars that may or may not have anything to do with the case, but she's still a bit of a Mary Sue in that she's basically successful in everything she does;
2) the villain is a generic criminal mastermind with intense but poorly developed motivations who's capable of committing extremely complex yet flawlessly executed murders (and other crimes) in multiple states at once;
3) the supporting characters, including the police, are borderline incompetent and exist mostly to sit around and worry about how dangerous the villain is while the protagonist hitches up her panties and takes care of business.
While these may or may not be actual flaws, there are some real problems, such as the ending is wrapped up a bit messily and the villain's plan makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. But if you can get past all that (I personally found most of it charming), it's an enjoyable read. The narration if not the dialog is well-written, the story is fast and thrilling, and the protagonist is interesting, engaging, and sympathetic.
The protagonist and her psychological journey were interesting enough for me to ignore the flaws and enjoy the book. I look forward to reading more in this series.
November 19, 2016
I am not sure why this book was entitled "Exhume." No dead bodies were dug up that I recall. The story started out with some great prose from the main character's POV at work as a medical examiner in San Francisco. Then it deteriorated into totally implausible plot twists. My huge pet peeve is when a smart person does incredibly stupid things, which Anna Schwartzman, the medical examiner does. How does someone make it through pre-med and med school in 6 years, then marry a guy who The 2nd half of the story was full of more examples of this. Her antagonist was her increasingly evil and unrealistically and inexplicably remarkably successful villainous and abusive estranged husband. The plot just did not make sense.
May other reviewers on GR point out many other annoying idiosyncrasies in the writing and incredulous plot twists that I agree with and won't repeat here.
Exhume started out strong enough to get me invested as a reader, and then gradually wobbled increasingly in various directions, finally ending incredulously, leaving me frustrated and let down.
May other reviewers on GR point out many other annoying idiosyncrasies in the writing and incredulous plot twists that I agree with and won't repeat here.
Exhume started out strong enough to get me invested as a reader, and then gradually wobbled increasingly in various directions, finally ending incredulously, leaving me frustrated and let down.
October 6, 2016
I got this book through Kindle First. It's not amazing by any stretch, but it's full of suspense and keeps you reading to the end. I also liked that the main character is a medical examiner. There should be more books about medical examiners. They're always kind of quirky, because you'd have to be to pick working with dead bodies over working with alive ones, right?
The descriptions of the abusive ex-husband made my skin crawl and had me looking over my shoulder for nighttime attackers. I have no trouble believing a man would do the things he did. He calls the main character Bella, which, I have to wonder if that's a little dig at Twilight and/or 50 Shades. Possessive stalkers who ignore consent are VILLAINS, not romantic heroes.
Content note: Lots of stalking, abuse, and rape, but the latter isn't explicitly described. Some gore since there are dead bodies involved, but nothing too gross.
Things Googled:
- Burking
- South Carolina earthquake 1886
- Lick Fork Lake
- Evan Williams whiskey
The descriptions of the abusive ex-husband made my skin crawl and had me looking over my shoulder for nighttime attackers. I have no trouble believing a man would do the things he did. He calls the main character Bella, which, I have to wonder if that's a little dig at Twilight and/or 50 Shades. Possessive stalkers who ignore consent are VILLAINS, not romantic heroes.
Content note: Lots of stalking, abuse, and rape, but the latter isn't explicitly described. Some gore since there are dead bodies involved, but nothing too gross.
Things Googled:
- Burking
- South Carolina earthquake 1886
- Lick Fork Lake
- Evan Williams whiskey
March 6, 2022
Exhume by Danielle Girard is the first book in the Dr. Schwartzman Mystery series. Medical examiner, Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman attends a crime scene where the victim bears a resemblance to her with other evidence pointing to involvement by her abusive exhusband. There was a lot going on in this book but I found it rather too drawn out and repetitive. We pretty well know the perpetrator right from the start and a lot of the book is him getting away with multiple murders and stalking Annabelle. I found Annabelle a rather weak character even to the extent of her needing to plant evidence rather than using her skills to help the police and I found her thoughts rather tiring and whiny. Overall the book was okay and the mystery interesting, but spoilt by a weak main character.
September 4, 2016
Unbelievable
I did not like the character Annabelle. She was so whiny, dull and boring. The storyline line was totally unbelievable and far fetched.
I did not like the character Annabelle. She was so whiny, dull and boring. The storyline line was totally unbelievable and far fetched.
February 6, 2017
Very predictable, with lots of plot holes and a cartoonish villain
February 7, 2021
Originally published on my book blog, TheBibliophage.com.
Danielle Girard introduces readers to Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman, Medical Examiner in a new series. This first book is called Exhume and it includes a variety of themes. First, of course is the world of morgues and autopsies. Second, is the way her role of gathering evidence helps the San Francisco PD solve crimes. The third theme is a little more complicated, and truly is the heart of the book.
Schwartzman is a former abused—physically and psychologically—spouse with arguably the most vindictive ex I’ve ever read about. He stalks her in incredibly personal and extreme ways. And now she’s trying to dig up or exhume an actual, normal life from the depths without having to worry about him constantly. Until now, she’s kept her colleagues in the dark about her past. But her current life and past life careen towards each other as a murder case hits entirely too close to home.
Girard writes with dark and gritty intensity and balances the exposition of her characters with plenty of suspense. Reading Exhume right before bed is a bad idea. It gets gruesome sometimes.
My conclusions
Although Exhume includes plenty of medical details, at its core it’s a suspense thriller. The “escaping a nasty spouse” trope is much stronger here than the life of a medical examiner. However, I like Schwartzman enough to commit to continuing the series. Hopefully books later in the series will be more focused on her role as Medical Examiner.
I also couldn’t help but compare this character to Gwen Proctor from the Stillhouse Lake series by Rachel Caine. Both women work hard to create normal lives after being involved with controlling and dangerous men. Schwartzman is on her own, where Proctor has two kids. But both of them are new in town and must determine who is trustworthy. I like them both equally. Their grit and determination are admirable, and I like to think I’d be just as tough in their situation.
I noticed a couple of questionable medical details in Exhume. Nothing that affected my ability to believe the plot. Just sideline moments that were less than logical, based on my own experiences and knowledge.
I recommend Danielle Girard and the Dr. Schwartzman series to anyone who likes taut and tense thrillers. Watch here for more reviews of this series in the coming months.
Pair with the Stillhouse Lake series or Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA and More Tell Us About Crime by Val McDermid.
Danielle Girard introduces readers to Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman, Medical Examiner in a new series. This first book is called Exhume and it includes a variety of themes. First, of course is the world of morgues and autopsies. Second, is the way her role of gathering evidence helps the San Francisco PD solve crimes. The third theme is a little more complicated, and truly is the heart of the book.
Schwartzman is a former abused—physically and psychologically—spouse with arguably the most vindictive ex I’ve ever read about. He stalks her in incredibly personal and extreme ways. And now she’s trying to dig up or exhume an actual, normal life from the depths without having to worry about him constantly. Until now, she’s kept her colleagues in the dark about her past. But her current life and past life careen towards each other as a murder case hits entirely too close to home.
Girard writes with dark and gritty intensity and balances the exposition of her characters with plenty of suspense. Reading Exhume right before bed is a bad idea. It gets gruesome sometimes.
My conclusions
Although Exhume includes plenty of medical details, at its core it’s a suspense thriller. The “escaping a nasty spouse” trope is much stronger here than the life of a medical examiner. However, I like Schwartzman enough to commit to continuing the series. Hopefully books later in the series will be more focused on her role as Medical Examiner.
I also couldn’t help but compare this character to Gwen Proctor from the Stillhouse Lake series by Rachel Caine. Both women work hard to create normal lives after being involved with controlling and dangerous men. Schwartzman is on her own, where Proctor has two kids. But both of them are new in town and must determine who is trustworthy. I like them both equally. Their grit and determination are admirable, and I like to think I’d be just as tough in their situation.
I noticed a couple of questionable medical details in Exhume. Nothing that affected my ability to believe the plot. Just sideline moments that were less than logical, based on my own experiences and knowledge.
I recommend Danielle Girard and the Dr. Schwartzman series to anyone who likes taut and tense thrillers. Watch here for more reviews of this series in the coming months.
Pair with the Stillhouse Lake series or Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA and More Tell Us About Crime by Val McDermid.
August 5, 2022
The past few months as it's been summer in the States, Kindle started an Epic Summer Reading challenge where you can earn ribbons. One of the latest ones called TopShelf had you reading a book from their list. As I was scrolling through, I had most of the ones I was interested in already on my Kindle or read, and then Exhume caught my attention with the blue cover and the yellow flowers. As a thriller, it also sounded like something that I would enjoy. I was in two minds about the book as it started great with us meeting the new coroner Anna and learning that she is on the run/ in hiding from her ex-husband Spencer who has been stalking her and tracking her down. We learn that he is a narcissistic monster and mentally and physically abused Anna. When Anna rocks up to a crime scene, she is shocked as the victim looks like her, was holding yellow flowers, and to make matters worse has the same necklace as her. Is this part of her ex-husband's elaborate plan to get her back? Is he killing to trap Anna and will she be next? The book continues with several murders and all in one way or another relating to Anna. I have to admit, some of the storylines felt realistic and other parts felt a little OTT. I also had the feeling that some of the storylines left the readers hanging and needed a little bit more to round them off nicely. Exhume overall was a good mystery read and a slow-burn tale of abuse, murder, and revenge. A twisted read indeed.
July 28, 2020
After reading Girard's new 2020 Novel WHITE OUT, I had to immediately read more by this author. As a psychological thriller and crime/police procedural addict this book gives all the thrills and chills. I love the MC Dr. Annabelle Swartzman who is a coroner and quite comfortable in the lab. I loved the pace and twists and the scenes between San Francisco and South Carolina.
The research was spot on and detailed - realistic and believeable. Twisted, complex and riveting. I immediately bought the series! Loved it.
The research was spot on and detailed - realistic and believeable. Twisted, complex and riveting. I immediately bought the series! Loved it.
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