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Death Before Time
‘If medical mysteries are what keep you glued to your fireside chair… then look no further. Puckett, something of a master of the genre, has penned a cracker.’ Western Daily Press
Dr Fraser Callan is recovering from his wife’s death.
In need of a change, he takes a job at the Wansborough Community Hospital in Wiltshire.
Previously known as St. James’, the hospital has made a miraculous recovery from a scandalous history, when it was described as “Death Wards” for the elderly by the national press.
But history sometimes comes back to haunt us…
At first, the hospital seems a model of excellence, but then Fraser realises that more patients are dying of pneumonia than should be the case.
When he raises the matter, he is ridiculed, threatened with the sack and finally beaten up by gangs of thugs.
Then, after the suspicious death of an old man with terminal cancer, Fraser realises he must act.
He reports his suspicions and is persuaded by Marcus Evans, a mysterious civil servant, to work undercover to find the killer.
But who is the culprit?
And can Fraser find him before he also meets his Death Before Time?
‘Death Before Time’ is a chilling medical thriller.
Praise for Andrew
‘a thoroughly well-worked mystery’ - Oxford Times
‘an interesting story with a very plausible plot and frightening overtones’ - Mystery News
‘A terrifying scenario made all the more chillingly believable by its similarities to real life situations’ - The Southern Daily Echo
‘the best thing about it is its remarkable feeling of authenticity’ - Birmingham Post
Andrew Puckett worked in the NHS for twenty one years, fifteen of them as microbiologist for the Oxford Blood Transfusion Centre, before turning to writing and teaching. This is his eleventh novel.
Dr Fraser Callan is recovering from his wife’s death.
In need of a change, he takes a job at the Wansborough Community Hospital in Wiltshire.
Previously known as St. James’, the hospital has made a miraculous recovery from a scandalous history, when it was described as “Death Wards” for the elderly by the national press.
But history sometimes comes back to haunt us…
At first, the hospital seems a model of excellence, but then Fraser realises that more patients are dying of pneumonia than should be the case.
When he raises the matter, he is ridiculed, threatened with the sack and finally beaten up by gangs of thugs.
Then, after the suspicious death of an old man with terminal cancer, Fraser realises he must act.
He reports his suspicions and is persuaded by Marcus Evans, a mysterious civil servant, to work undercover to find the killer.
But who is the culprit?
And can Fraser find him before he also meets his Death Before Time?
‘Death Before Time’ is a chilling medical thriller.
Praise for Andrew
‘a thoroughly well-worked mystery’ - Oxford Times
‘an interesting story with a very plausible plot and frightening overtones’ - Mystery News
‘A terrifying scenario made all the more chillingly believable by its similarities to real life situations’ - The Southern Daily Echo
‘the best thing about it is its remarkable feeling of authenticity’ - Birmingham Post
Andrew Puckett worked in the NHS for twenty one years, fifteen of them as microbiologist for the Oxford Blood Transfusion Centre, before turning to writing and teaching. This is his eleventh novel.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1993
11 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Puckett
27 books25 followersAndrew Puckett is a writer who feels he should experience for himself the trials imposed on his protagonists.
Examples are: Being locked in a freezer room at -40 degrees, Climbing a 1000 foot cliff from a rocky beach in the dark, Then encountering the Exmoor Beast (involuntary), Escaping from a prison ship (not actually incarcerated!), Falling into the sea from Durdle Dor (not quite), Escaping from a burning caravan etc.
Before that, he grew up on his parents' farms, the first in a remote part of Dorset, the second in the shadow of Salisbury cathedral.
He worked in a brewery, a chemical factory and Porton Germ Warfare Establishment, where he acquired a painful immunity to Plague, Anthrax and Smallpox (which did at least give him the idea for his novel Going Viral). He then worked in hospital labs in Taunton, London and finally Oxford, where he ran the microbiology department at Oxford Blood Transfusion Centre for fifteen years.
His first novel, Bloodstains, was derived from his experiences in the Blood Transfusion Service. He has subsequently published ten more, mostly on a medical theme. He now lives in Taunton with his wife and daughters.
Examples are: Being locked in a freezer room at -40 degrees, Climbing a 1000 foot cliff from a rocky beach in the dark, Then encountering the Exmoor Beast (involuntary), Escaping from a prison ship (not actually incarcerated!), Falling into the sea from Durdle Dor (not quite), Escaping from a burning caravan etc.
Before that, he grew up on his parents' farms, the first in a remote part of Dorset, the second in the shadow of Salisbury cathedral.
He worked in a brewery, a chemical factory and Porton Germ Warfare Establishment, where he acquired a painful immunity to Plague, Anthrax and Smallpox (which did at least give him the idea for his novel Going Viral). He then worked in hospital labs in Taunton, London and finally Oxford, where he ran the microbiology department at Oxford Blood Transfusion Centre for fifteen years.
His first novel, Bloodstains, was derived from his experiences in the Blood Transfusion Service. He has subsequently published ten more, mostly on a medical theme. He now lives in Taunton with his wife and daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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August 5, 2016Dr Fraser Callan is recovering from his wife’s death. In need of a change, he takes a job at the Wansborough Community Hospital in Wiltshire. Previously
known as St. James’, the hospital has made a miraculous recovery from a
scandalous history, when it was described as “Death Wards” for the
elderly by the national press. But history sometimes comes back to haunt us…
known as St. James’, the hospital has made a miraculous recovery from a
scandalous history, when it was described as “Death Wards” for the
elderly by the national press. But history sometimes comes back to haunt us…
At
first, the hospital seems a model of excellence, but then Fraser
realises that more patients are dying of pneumonia than should be the
case. When he raises the matter, he is ridiculed, threatened with the sack and finally beaten up by gangs of thugs. Then, after the suspicious death of an old man with terminal cancer, Fraser realises he must act. He reports his suspicions and is persuaded by Marcus Evans, a mysterious civil servant, to work undercover to find the killer.
first, the hospital seems a model of excellence, but then Fraser
realises that more patients are dying of pneumonia than should be the
case. When he raises the matter, he is ridiculed, threatened with the sack and finally beaten up by gangs of thugs. Then, after the suspicious death of an old man with terminal cancer, Fraser realises he must act. He reports his suspicions and is persuaded by Marcus Evans, a mysterious civil servant, to work undercover to find the killer.
October 21, 2016
A well-plotted mystery
I enjoyed reading this book about a facility for care of the elderly systematically killing terminally ill patients.
Dr. Fraser Callan is serving as a locum staff grade, filling in for someone on maternity leave, at Community Hospital in Wansborough. The patients are elderly people who are ill or injured. Some of them additionally have terminal illnesses.
Dr. Callan notices that some patients, too many in his opinion, suddenly develop pneumonia and die. He is certain that someone in the hospital is responsible but can't figure out how the pneumonia is being introduced.
The story is first-rate and the characters are well-developed. The mystery is well-plotted and moves along through research and deduction.
If I had proofread this book, I would have made 13 corrections.
I enjoyed reading this book about a facility for care of the elderly systematically killing terminally ill patients.
Dr. Fraser Callan is serving as a locum staff grade, filling in for someone on maternity leave, at Community Hospital in Wansborough. The patients are elderly people who are ill or injured. Some of them additionally have terminal illnesses.
Dr. Callan notices that some patients, too many in his opinion, suddenly develop pneumonia and die. He is certain that someone in the hospital is responsible but can't figure out how the pneumonia is being introduced.
The story is first-rate and the characters are well-developed. The mystery is well-plotted and moves along through research and deduction.
If I had proofread this book, I would have made 13 corrections.
January 19, 2016
Very good Medical mystery
This was a very good book and brought back Dr. Callan from "a life for a life" (which was an excellent book). I had to look up some medical terms but otherwise it was a very good read. Lots of twists that keep you reading long past bedtime.
This was a very good book and brought back Dr. Callan from "a life for a life" (which was an excellent book). I had to look up some medical terms but otherwise it was a very good read. Lots of twists that keep you reading long past bedtime.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews