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Dr. Death: Life of Serial Killer Michael Swango

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Under the appearance of a caring doctor, Michael Swango planned and killed... Wherever he went, death followed… Download FREE with Kindle Unlimited The story of Michael Swango is perhaps not quite as well-known as that of other prolific killers such as Ted Bundy and Richard Ramirez, but this diabolical doctor may have killed more people than these two murderers combined. And, what makes the story of Michael Swango even more sinister is that he committed his crimes under the guise of medicine. He put up a facade that he was healing the sick when in reality he was purposefully making his patients sick. He was, in fact, killing them. Swango would approach his victims with a calm, perfectly crafted bedside manner before injecting them with his lethal dose of murder. Swango broke the sacred Hippocratic Oath that all physicians take, proclaiming that they will do no harm. What made this man break such a sacred trust in such a deplorable manner? Just what made this certified medical professional feel that he had a license to kill? Read on your favorite devices such as Kindle, iPhone, iPad, Android cellular phone, tablet, laptop, or computer with Amazon's free reading Kindle App. Scroll back up and click the BUY NOW button at the top right side of this page for an immediate download!

85 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2017

122 people are currently reading
103 people want to read

About the author

Jack Smith

51 books26 followers
Biographer and recorder of the history of serial killers

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5 stars
36 (26%)
4 stars
43 (32%)
3 stars
40 (29%)
2 stars
12 (8%)
1 star
3 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Carlton Phelps.
552 reviews10 followers
January 3, 2024
I had watched a season of Dr. Death and thought why in the heck didn't the hospitals stop this guy?
The same with Michael Swango why hadn't hospitals, schools, etc.. stopped him.
Always listen to the nurses. They know what's going on with patients.
And this guy was about to take this killing to another country.
He just seemed to have had a fascination with watching people die or get close to death. As if he was honing his skill.
The book was well written but it would have been nice to have more about his childhood.
Profile Image for Bettye McKee.
2,189 reviews157 followers
February 25, 2018
This is a scary story

When you read about someone like Michael Swango, your skin starts to crawl. Not only was a serial killer recognized as a respected and competent doctor, but the hospital administration tended to let him get away with murder, cover up his sins, terminate his employment but not warn other hospitals, and enable him to be employed elsewhere and murder more people.

Just imagine you or a loved one were hospitalized with some minor ailment and had Dr. Swango as your treating physician. He killed people when they were most vulnerable, trusting their doctor to help them.

The capital of South Dakota is Pierre, not Sioux Falls. Just sayin'.

12
Profile Image for Anastasiya M.
1,237 reviews13 followers
November 5, 2023
I hadn't heard of Michael Swango before so this was interesting to read.

Not as well-known as other serial killers, after this book, I'm wary about seeing a doctor again. I think the scariest part about this was how the hospital administration decided to cover the deaths up and just moved him on to the next place without reporting their findings and concerns, if they had done so, how many lives would've been scared?

The writing would've made it better had it been reviewed and edited better.

Read more here: https://sincerelyyoursannie.wordpress...
23 reviews
December 1, 2017
Excellent read

This is one of the best true crime reads I have read to date. I like the thorough information without all the rambling like some authors do. An example , I have read books in the past by authors who will insert irrelevant material not associated with the novel to ensure the book is long enough or give the reader every note & detail that drags out a story . I don't mind reading the history , childhood etc about the particular serial killer , but I don't care about every second of his trial, for example .
Mr Smith writes a direct , detailed , literate account of this man I had not heard about until I read this book. The fact that this Swango was able to keep practicing medicine without a license , false documentation, and convincing nature is terrifying. He is one of my worst nightmares . People seek out drs for a reason & the fact that someone like him was able to conceive so many & have partners /girlfriends who was right by his side through all this monstrosity is beyond a doubt a fear undescribable. And in some cases , inject these innocent people right in front of family, coworkers, etc. There is no telling how many people he actually murdered or those who survived ( suffered ) before he was brought to justice .
Great book by an author who indeed wrote an excellent novel about a despicable person.
Profile Image for Tony Parsons.
4,156 reviews101 followers
November 18, 2019
The life & times of Dr. Joseph Michael Swango (aka Dr. Death, Daniel J. Adams, serial killer).

Warning: This book contains graphic adult content, or violence which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written serial killer book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great serial killer movie, PP presentation, or better yet a mini TV series or even a documentary (True Crime; American Crime Story). There are no references, works cited, or endnotes so I will only rate it at 3/5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; Maplewood Publishing; 1 edition; BookAdrenaline; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Profile Image for Dan.
3,622 reviews622 followers
August 10, 2023
“He put up a façade that he was healing the sick, when in reality he was purposefully making his patients sick.”


Joseph Michael Swango grew up in idyllic Quincy, Illinois. Over the years, he left at least 60 people dead.

Michael was the class valedictorian. Class president, popular, and seemingly well-adjusted.

Joined the Marines after his sophomore year in college. Excelled in his military service, and earned numerous awards.

Michael did show an early fascination with chemistry—and assassinations.

After Michael took his spot as a resident in neurosurgery at the Ohio State University Medical Center in 1983, the unusual amount of deaths around Swango began.

And the patients weren’t Michael’s only victims. He also poisoned KFC, donuts, soft drinks, and pitchers of iced tea for his coworkers. Ricin and arsenic were favorites.

The feds catch on while Michael is working at SUNY Stony Brook on Long Island, but he’s already in Zimbabwe.

The Mnene Mission, Mpilo Hospital. Fleeing to various African countries in attempts to avoid the authorities. Returns to the US to get his work visa for a new position in Saudi Arabia, and is promptly apprehended at O’Hare Airport in Chicago.


“There was no explanation, no reason; just a family who saw their loved one laughing and smiling one second, and then, after Dr. Swango left his side, dying a horrible death the next.”
6 reviews
November 14, 2019
Dr Death Michael Swango

I had settled down to read a horror story about a serial killer. I had a nice cup of tea and a biscuit and was enjoying every bit of a fantastic story when suddenly I realised that something wasn't quite right. I stopped and went back to the beginning and discovered this wasn't a horror story in the conventional sense of the word!
This is when the real horror story began.
This is a true story about a real life serial killer! I couldn't put this book down until the story had been told to it's unbelievable conclusion.
Would I recommend this book? You bet! I gave it five stars because I couldn't give it more.
I will be following Jack Smith and look forward to reading another of his book's I purchased.
Profile Image for Gooogleion.
207 reviews1 follower
August 20, 2023
My new fav genre is crime

I always wonder what makes someone do crime.
And what i believe is each one of us fear oblivion. To die is to be forgotten and we want to be remembered somehow.

Someone who was deprived of attention during their early years fear abandonment. Unfortunately with the healing mechanism of mind this category of people build ego walls around them which are triggered by slightest hint of abandonment. Even when you’re not abandonment, their fears are surfaced and….
They do crime!
Profile Image for Susan.
498 reviews26 followers
December 29, 2023
Poster Child for Credentialing

This book really gave me chills. I spent 20 plus years credentialing in both healthcare and hospital Medical Staff Services. Dr. Swango is the reason that all healthcare professionals need to have thorough credentialing and recredentialing. It would be so easy to accept the documents submitted by the applicant as authentic but it's important to always verify at the primary source.

I recommend this book as well as the book "Blind Faith" by James Stewart.
Profile Image for MoDonasChridhe.
334 reviews4 followers
August 21, 2018
Another great true crime read!

Jack Smith again does not disappoint! Gathering bits and pieces to give us a detailed and chilling story about a man in a position to be trusted that breaks that trust in the worst way possible leaving a trail of death across continents. Chilling thoughts for the next time you don a gown for examination and sit on a cold table.
Profile Image for Jennifer Sanders.
134 reviews
September 8, 2024
O M G

This was about a man who was almost impossible to stop! The book really makes a person think about who one of the most trusted people in their lives is. I have a great relationship with my doctor and I am glad I trust him... I mean it's crazy to think about who your doctor could really be!
Profile Image for Hari Brandl.
515 reviews1 follower
November 20, 2019
Short, to the point, without extraneous information like a history of the town he grew up in, trial testimony, biographies of his parents, etc. Just the bare facts, and cogently presented. Great chronology.
Profile Image for Vicki.
21 reviews
April 13, 2022
⁹As an RN I was appalled at this true story of a Serial Murderer. The most chilling was him practicing as an MD. He got away with killing so many people. Too much blind faith. I really wish that he had been stopped sooner. So Sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Judy Kirkbride.
11 reviews
October 4, 2022
love his writing

Very easy to understand, good skills to understand the subject of his books, love this author, I like how it was a short read but still I know jack gave me all the facts
Profile Image for Beth Irving.
10 reviews5 followers
May 5, 2021
Good read

Like his other books, Jack Smith tells the story of Michael Swango and his victims with as much detail as is necessary but not to excess. A good read.
11 reviews
January 19, 2022
Interesting story, but it’s written more like a report and not so much a non-fiction novel.
Profile Image for SheedaBest07.
11 reviews3 followers
June 23, 2022
Insufferable

I thought the book was poorly written and put together. It felt like it was written for children, rather than adults.
Profile Image for Mariana Escobar.
57 reviews1 follower
June 26, 2023
Interesting

Interesting short read, good point to start learning the very basics about these killers, especially if you haven't heard about them before.
6 reviews
July 9, 2024
Joy

Interesting book and a easy read. You never know about the person next to you. Especially scary since it involves a physician.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews

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