Alex returns to Wyndley Farm, her childhood home in Virginia, to await the birth of her baby. An urgent call from Crescent City Medical Center compels her to return to New Orleans to investigate cruel, questionable incidents and heinous patient deaths. Digger Stildove returns from Yemen where he has searched for Jacob Stark. Michaela McPherson travels from Richmond with police dog Angel to consult with Commander Francoise in his search for St. Germaine. Events unfold as the evil continues and the hospital attempts to safeguard patients and staff.Updated 10.9.2020
Dr. Judith Lucci is an Amazon bestselling author who writes what she knows. She is the author of the Alex Destephano Medical Thriller Series and the soon to be released Michaela McPherson, Private Eye, a series centered on a retired homicide detective from Richmond, Virginia who really can’t retire.
“Before I wrote fiction, I was an academic writer who published research, theoretical works, text books and just about anything a nurse or college professor needed to publish to survive. The differences in academic writing and writing fiction are dramatic. Writing what I know propels me to pull from my clinical experiences, some good, some not and use popular fiction as a means to teach and advocate for others. My books have three purposes, to engage the reader, to entertain them and to educate about healthcare and perhaps, the darker side of hospital life.
I am a nurse and hold graduate and doctoral degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia. I have always been a reader and a writer and I love it. I am a member of the Virginia Writers Club, The Shenandoah Valley Writers and Sisters in Crime.
When I’m not writing I am probably teaching, paining on silk as I am a multi-media artist or playing with my many dogs. Please feel free to contact me at judithlucciwrites@gmail.com. I am excited about meeting you!
As most of Judith Lucci 's stories unfold, the reader has many situations and characters that seem to be apart from the main storyline, but they always resolve, usually in the final few pages. There is usually a loose string that can reappear later in another book. I have now read 8 of her books since the beginning of 2018 and hope for more to come. Last August I met the author and had to admit that I didn't read fiction, but since having a stroke in September, I have modified my reading habits. Since starting to read her books, I find it difficult to stop. I think you will, too!
Evil is the fifth book in Judith Lucci’s Alex Destephano series and is an intricately woven tale with lots of action, suspense, and surprising twists and turns. The storyline is well plotted and the well-rounded characters are well developed, colorful, and affable. Ms. Lucci has incorporated her extensive medical and administrative knowledge and experiences into this page-turning thriller. Ms. Lucci is very talented in creating suspense and tension with her written words and her descriptive writing makes the reader feel they are participating in the action as events unfold. From the first page, the reader is drawn into a complex page-turner that switches back and forth to provide the reader with the points of view of the good guys as well as the bad ones. In this installment, we see the return of delightful family and wonderful friends of the protagonist, familiar terrorists, a sympathetic traitor, and a tormented murderer. I’m already anxiously awaiting the next book in this series. I highly recommend this book those who enjoy reading books in the thriller/suspense genre.
Alexandra ‘Alex’ Lee Destephano is currently on leave from Crescent City Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana where she’s in-house legal counsel. Her unexpected pregnancy threw her for a loop but she’s come to terms with her pregnancy and is looking forward to the birth of her first child. She’s staying at her childhood home, Wyndley Farm, which is located in Virginia, with her grandparents, Congressman Adam Patrick and Kathryn Roseau Lee, and is contemplating a trip to New York to visit the father she recently met. Alex receives a call from her dear friend and co-worker, Dr. Monique Desmonde, telling her that someone very skillful and creative is terrorizing the hospital again and asking if it would be possible for her to return to New Orleans to help sort out the terrible things that are happening at CCMC. The hospital administration and NOPD Commander Jack Françoise believe it’s either a staff member or a disgruntled patient or family member and that this person must have a medical or chemistry background. Alex suffers some agonizing leg pains and Dr. Christine Overmeyer, CCMC’s renowned OB doctor, admits her to the hospital with possible blood clots. While there, Alex takes a turn for the worse, quickly placing both her and her baby’s life in jeopardy. Alex convinces Jack to bring in a family friend, Michaela ‘Mic’ McPherson, a retired Richmond, Virginia homicide detective, to help try to solve the tragic events happening at CCMC. And, as if this isn’t enough, it appears St. Germaine is killing again.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Evil: Finding St. Germaine has it all. Action, romance, murder, birth, death terrorism and everything in between. Love, guilt, revenge, madness play a huge part of this story whether we are in Virginia, Yemen or New Orleans. A must read!!
Book Five in the New Orleans-based Alex Destephano medical thrillers by Judith Lucci brings the reader face-to-face with one of the story arcs major villains, the elusive serial killer St. Germaine. In “Evil”, Lucci gives us a double dose of her book heroines by introducing the ex-Richmond Police Department Detective Mic Michaela McPherson into the world of Destephano, along with her trusty canine partner Angel. Together with irascible NOLA cop Jack Françoise and a pregnant Alex, they set out to capture the famed Nawlins assassin while trying to solve a series of deadly incidents at the Crescent City Hospital. Alex also has to deal with some far-reaching personal matters as she encounters her ex, while the search for the father of her child continues. Things are set up for a bloody finale, which puts the lives of her beloved characters in peril.
Fans of the ‘Queen of New Orleans Medical Thrillers’ will not be disappointed by this new excursion into the happenings at the Crescent City Medical Center. A great summer read and highly recommended.
This is the first book I've read by Judith Lucci and I'm hooked! The settings are in the beautiful Virginia countryside, New Orleans and Yemen. The characters are well written and, for the most part, very likeable. Alex has been on leave as a lawyer for CCMC hospital in New Orleans, but she's asked to go back for a short time to help deal with some terrible things going on. People are being injured or killed inside the hospital in ways that seem like accidents at first. This killer is very creative and intelligent about many things while leaving no evidence behind. I don't like spoilers in a review, so I'll just say that this is an excellent mystery/thriller with a great storyline. I loved it!
Judith Lucci gives us another hit with this medical thriller set in New Orleans at the Crescent City Hospital. Her vivid characters and captivating prose with heart stopping action keep your eyes glued to the page. I loved seeing Mic from her other series coming to help. This book should be read as a part of the series because it adds dimension to the characters and the story line. This book is for those who love medical thrillers.
Judith has written another page turner!! Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Alex was in Virginia at her childhood home. She planned to stay there until the birth of her baby. However, she must go back to New Orleans as patient deaths are happening again. Patients and staff must be protected. They need her help. Alex is admitted to the hospital. It may be blood clots. Now what? Come along on this roller coaster ride and find out what is happening. You'll be glad you did.
The last of the Destephano medical thrillers gives readers some hope that author Judith lucci might have reigned in her overly maudlin and sentimental prose, but the introduction of michaela McPherson suggests the next generation of lucci’s fiction may be written with a more sober, less overwrought prose. In short, I’m glad Alex didn’t die, I’m glad she didn’t marry Robert bonnet, and I’m relieved she will no longer be the center of kucci’s fictive focus.
Evil: Finding St. Germaine (Alexandra Destephano Novel #5)
Lots of action, thrills, and suspense in this novel. Jack, Mic, and her police dog, 👼, are very close to capturing the killer, St. Germaine, who is hiding in plain sight. This was a great series of 📚. Again, another well-deserved five 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 rating.
I received an advanced copy for an honest review. This was the first book that starred Alexandra Destephano. I was glad that Micheala the retired police officer and her dog were included in this book. I enjoyed it and I will read more books written by Judith Lucci.
This tightly woven story just sucks you in and holds you tight! Jacob is a man I'd love to love and Alex is a woman I'd love to be. Ms Lucci has written a thrilling love story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I literally could not put it down!!!
Judith Lucci makes these characters come to life! You'll find yourself rooting for them like they are your friends! The story will keep you turning pages late into the night! You will not be disappointed!!
I found this book to be as enjoyable and full of suspense as the other books in this series. The characters are great and the story line is really good, keeps your interest.
Alex is back at wyndley farm her family home awaiting the birth of her baby, it should be a happy time but Alex has never felt so alone, she is battling depression and wondering if therereally had been anything between her and Jacob... Her best friend Monique calls with trouble at the hospital and New Orleans in general the St Germaine killer is back at his evil best and she wants Alex to come help sort things out as most of the deaths this time are at the hospital... Alex heads to New Orleans thinking this could help take her mind of Jacob but in the end it may just cost Alex her life and the life of her baby.
As much as I liked the characters in this book, the story seemed to drag on. There were a lot of places where things were described on and on... Other than that this was a good story, full of suspense and love. Yeah for Alex and Jacob!
The further life of Alex Destephano. Nurse and Attorney comes back to New Orleans to help in determining who is killing people at the Medical Center. There is a moment where ya go, "Ah, so he's the killer". Very good book, 5th in the series. Full of suspense and intrigue.