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Fatal Score
Joe Mayfield’s happy, ordinary life comes apart when his wife’s HealthScore is slashed and she is denied cancer treatment. Frantic to save her, Joe hacks into the Yak -- the national database the US created after CyberWar I. Joe’s discovery makes him the target of Phoenix, one man’s plot to skim billions in medical payments at the cost of thousands of lives. Joe goes off the grid, living on cash in out-of-the-way places. Weezy, a brilliant Yak tracker runs him down, assuming he’s a black hat hacker. She becomes Joe’s ally when Phoenix targets her. Finally, in a single wide trailer in Panacea, Florida, Joe and Weezy work to destroy Phoenix before Phoenix destroys them.
Fatal Score is a debut novel about big data, the future of medicine, the pain of loss, and the power of redemption.
Fatal Score is a debut novel about big data, the future of medicine, the pain of loss, and the power of redemption.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2018
About the author
John Baird Rogers
8 books9 followersI have always been a story teller. My plots are built on knowledge gained in a career that has spanned finance, technology and biotech, but my focus is the story … the people, the places they live, their language, the music that animates them. Fatal Score is the first of three novels (so far) featuring Joe Mayfield and Louise (Weezy) Napolitani. I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota with my wife, Beverly.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 2, 2021
I read this in 2018, when it was first released, but for some reason did not post my review. I was reminded when I was contacted by the author, announcing the release of the next in the series. Anyone who's interested can find the author on Facebook and grab this debut free.
And my review, two and a half years delayed.
A fantastic debut thriller. In the near future, patients are assigned health ‘scores’ so care providers can apply limited resources efficiently, that is, do everything possible for those patients likely to recover and skip expensive treatments for those upon whom the treatments would be wasted. It’s a chilling vision and darned close to becoming reality. Today, hospitals allocate precious organ transplants to the patients most likely to survive long term. Edit: and ICUs overloaded with CoViD patients restrict beds to those most likely to survive.
In Fatal Score, Joe’s wife dies of a treatable cancer and he wants to know why. When he asks one awkward question too many, invisible but powerful forces move to silence him. He meets Weezy, a smart, sarcastic, intolerant, and charming government investigator who makes it her mission to keep Joe alive, at least long enough to find out who’s been tampering with health scores.
Weezy alone makes this book worth reading: she’s Lisbeth (from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) turned up to eleven.
And my review, two and a half years delayed.
A fantastic debut thriller. In the near future, patients are assigned health ‘scores’ so care providers can apply limited resources efficiently, that is, do everything possible for those patients likely to recover and skip expensive treatments for those upon whom the treatments would be wasted. It’s a chilling vision and darned close to becoming reality. Today, hospitals allocate precious organ transplants to the patients most likely to survive long term. Edit: and ICUs overloaded with CoViD patients restrict beds to those most likely to survive.
In Fatal Score, Joe’s wife dies of a treatable cancer and he wants to know why. When he asks one awkward question too many, invisible but powerful forces move to silence him. He meets Weezy, a smart, sarcastic, intolerant, and charming government investigator who makes it her mission to keep Joe alive, at least long enough to find out who’s been tampering with health scores.
Weezy alone makes this book worth reading: she’s Lisbeth (from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) turned up to eleven.
April 27, 2021
National Cyber Security System denied his wife car. That didn't go well. They think he is moving money toward his own benefit, but he maintains his innocence.
What are his motives and what exactly is in his recent past? What did he do, and what will he do now?
Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer, and remain aware...
John Baird Rogers novel, Fatal Score is a fast-moving thriller. The characters are
well-defined, and make an impression from the beginning. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but sometimes they are one and the same.
The action is rapid-fire and exciting. Mr Rogers has written a fast-paced, interesting book, that feels very possible.
Book Two is on the way, and I can't wait.
What are his motives and what exactly is in his recent past? What did he do, and what will he do now?
Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer, and remain aware...
John Baird Rogers novel, Fatal Score is a fast-moving thriller. The characters are
well-defined, and make an impression from the beginning. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but sometimes they are one and the same.
The action is rapid-fire and exciting. Mr Rogers has written a fast-paced, interesting book, that feels very possible.
Book Two is on the way, and I can't wait.
November 17, 2018
“So, you’re the dumbass!” With those first four words of his newest novel, Author and West HS (Rockford, IL) Class of 1961 Classmate, John Baird Rogers, grabs you. Your stomach tightens before Joe Maxwell moves his fork from his mouth. You sense he’s vulnerable and wary but doggedly committed to something you want to know a lot more about.
Classmates, trust me, one day you’ll be shamelessly clearing your throat and raising your voice as you “casually” brag, “Oh, sure, I actually know the Author. He was my ‘good friend’ in high school!”
Enjoy!
Eleanor SAUNDERS Towns, West (Rockford, IL) HS, Class of 1961
Classmates, trust me, one day you’ll be shamelessly clearing your throat and raising your voice as you “casually” brag, “Oh, sure, I actually know the Author. He was my ‘good friend’ in high school!”
Enjoy!
Eleanor SAUNDERS Towns, West (Rockford, IL) HS, Class of 1961
December 21, 2021
Quite enjoyable. Rogers uses fresh prose and characters and a unique story idea set in the near future that seems entirely plausible, given our government's (and Big Business's) penchant for collecting our data and watching our every move.
The pace moves nicely most of the time, and Mayfield and Napolitani are set up to become a good partnership with just enough sexual tension between them to make it interesting.
Some of the technical stuff was confusing to me, but it was explained well enough that it didn't bog down the storyline too much for me.
The pace moves nicely most of the time, and Mayfield and Napolitani are set up to become a good partnership with just enough sexual tension between them to make it interesting.
Some of the technical stuff was confusing to me, but it was explained well enough that it didn't bog down the storyline too much for me.
October 9, 2018
Fatal Score, John Baird Rogers
A first novel with a compelling plot. The characters are well developed and drew me in almost immediately. Believable character development made for compelling reading. Was anxious to see how storyline played out. Interesting and thought-provoking. Could this be the future of our health care system??? Some of the technical descriptions, though necessary were a bit confusing, however, it all tied together. Will look forward to a second novel !
A first novel with a compelling plot. The characters are well developed and drew me in almost immediately. Believable character development made for compelling reading. Was anxious to see how storyline played out. Interesting and thought-provoking. Could this be the future of our health care system??? Some of the technical descriptions, though necessary were a bit confusing, however, it all tied together. Will look forward to a second novel !
June 12, 2023
this was a great start to the Mayfield - Napolitani Thrillers series, it does everything that I was hoping for. The characters were what I was expecting and enjoyed how suspenseful this was. I was engaged with the story going on and was glad I got to read this I can't wait for more in this series and from the author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 25, 2021
Absolutely a great read that just kept getting better all the way through!
The best part is that there isn't that letdown feeling on reaching the end of the book, since Mr. Rogers has already published a sequel, and he is an author well worth following!
The best part is that there isn't that letdown feeling on reaching the end of the book, since Mr. Rogers has already published a sequel, and he is an author well worth following!
May 8, 2026
I thought that this was a good read. Well-paced with lots of intrigue, conspiracy, and corruption. This tale set in the not-too-distant future contained some disturbing what ifs and highlighted the weakest links in any computer security system or human endeavour.
December 23, 2024
Enjoyed it!
November 13, 2018
Fatal Score is a great and compelling page-turner. Joe Mayfield is the quintessential oxymoron; the honorable, devoted husband and outlaw. His lawless trek to find the answers he needs, Joe stumbles onto something bigger and more heinous than he could have imagined. Living on the run and hiding in plain sight, all while trying to score information makes for an apprehensive, cautious and suspenseful trail. When Weezy hones in on her target,(Joe) something changes with her and she becomes a great ally to Joe instead of chasing him. Now Weezy has become a target.
This book is hard to put down. John Baird Rogers has captured a real sense of action; heart-raising drama parallel with great characters that evoke emotion from the reader.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
This book is hard to put down. John Baird Rogers has captured a real sense of action; heart-raising drama parallel with great characters that evoke emotion from the reader.
I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews