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People are dropping like flies in Dr. Emma Steele's ER. Nobody knows why. A new disease? Medication errors? Poisoned oxygen? She must find out, even though her job is in peril, her daughter disappeared, and she'd rather be home, drinking wine.
Is it a mercy killer? But why kill a healthy patient? Is somebody framing her nurses? Or framing her?
More strange things happen. A patient's death by stolen medications, her orders corrupted by lethal mistakes, her nurse killed. What happens to her daughter is worse than death.
Dr. Steele risks her career and her life to stop the murders. She gets closer and closer to the answers. Until she gets too close.
Is it a mercy killer? But why kill a healthy patient? Is somebody framing her nurses? Or framing her?
More strange things happen. A patient's death by stolen medications, her orders corrupted by lethal mistakes, her nurse killed. What happens to her daughter is worse than death.
Dr. Steele risks her career and her life to stop the murders. She gets closer and closer to the answers. Until she gets too close.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2019
642 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Rada Jones
21 books51 followersRada was born in Transylvania, ten miles away from Dracula's Castle. Growing up between communists and vampires taught her that humans are fickle, but one can always rely on dogs and books.
After she immigrated to join her husband, she went to medical school, then worked in the ER for years, but she still speaks like Dracula's cousin.
Her thrillers feature Dr. Emma Steele, a not-so-young ER doc with a moody teenage daughter and a fondness for wine. If blood, gore and serial killers turn you on, check out OVERDOSE, MERCY, and POISON. If you're into dark medical humor, check her STAY AWAY FROM MY ER. But if you're into dogs, the K-9 Heroes series is for you.
To celebrate Gypsy, Rada's beloved German Shepherd, Emma adopted a quirky, bacon-loving K-9 named Guinness who runs her life through Mercy and Poison.
After she immigrated to join her husband, she went to medical school, then worked in the ER for years, but she still speaks like Dracula's cousin.
Her thrillers feature Dr. Emma Steele, a not-so-young ER doc with a moody teenage daughter and a fondness for wine. If blood, gore and serial killers turn you on, check out OVERDOSE, MERCY, and POISON. If you're into dark medical humor, check her STAY AWAY FROM MY ER. But if you're into dogs, the K-9 Heroes series is for you.
To celebrate Gypsy, Rada's beloved German Shepherd, Emma adopted a quirky, bacon-loving K-9 named Guinness who runs her life through Mercy and Poison.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
April 10, 2020
The patients in Emma’s ER are dying, and she can’t figure out why. One minute they’re doing okay, and the next they’re flatlining. As she goes on a journey to figure out the cause, she’s quick to learn that there’s a mercy killer among her staff. But who could it be? And will Emma be next?
I liked the mystery elements of this story. At the beginning, it seems as if any of them could be the mercy killer. There’s Carlos, a street thug from a third world country who built himself up. Faith, a radiant blonde with a bit of a dark side, and then another nurse named Ben who is just shady all around.
Emma had a unique personality, and she was easy to relate to. Right down to her habit of finding her comfort at the bottom of a bottle.
I think the only thing I didn’t like about this book was how rapidly it shifted POVs. There weren’t really warnings so it would take me a minute to figure out exactly who’s POV I was in. The most confusing one was the POV of the dog.
Narration was well done.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
I liked the mystery elements of this story. At the beginning, it seems as if any of them could be the mercy killer. There’s Carlos, a street thug from a third world country who built himself up. Faith, a radiant blonde with a bit of a dark side, and then another nurse named Ben who is just shady all around.
Emma had a unique personality, and she was easy to relate to. Right down to her habit of finding her comfort at the bottom of a bottle.
I think the only thing I didn’t like about this book was how rapidly it shifted POVs. There weren’t really warnings so it would take me a minute to figure out exactly who’s POV I was in. The most confusing one was the POV of the dog.
Narration was well done.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
April 8, 2022
When looking over this book and reading the cover, there is no indication that it’s a second in a series. Although everything I looked up about it does not say you need to read them in order, and you don’t necessarily have to, you really should.
I was missing out a lot of information on these characters. The book references the “previous incident” (aka Overdose, book 1) and things that happened to the characters during that time too. Also, this book doesn’t flat out spoil the first book, but it references it so often that it becomes easy to piece the entire story together.
I enjoy when books read at once pace with a build up you almost don’t even notice at first. I enjoy when the pace changes as you get closer to the end, with a nice smooth transition into the intensity. This, however, was whiplash. It read at one pace and then abruptly gets out of control. The “angel” becomes utterly unhinged all in one swing. Granted their behavior isn’t that of normal to begin with, it’s just that they go to extreme, instantly. It piles too much on at once at the end, and leaves me with a bad taste from it.
Also, this book has an unnecessary amount about wine written throughout. It’s understood our main character likes wine after work, but every time she opens a bottle, it’s at the very least a paragraph of a description of the it. This adds absolutely nothing to the story. It’s a book about a homicidal health care worker; I don’t need a review from a wine critic every 3 pages.
I would’ve much preferred if the time she spent writing reviews was spent giving the dog her inner monologue- that was such a cute idea, that she did twice. (With a few little tiny lines of it here and there.)
All in all, I’m on the fence about the rest of the books. I almost want to read them, but I know it’s because now that I know it’s a trilogy, I don’t like leaving things unfinished, and really, no other driving force to read any more of this author.
I was missing out a lot of information on these characters. The book references the “previous incident” (aka Overdose, book 1) and things that happened to the characters during that time too. Also, this book doesn’t flat out spoil the first book, but it references it so often that it becomes easy to piece the entire story together.
I enjoy when books read at once pace with a build up you almost don’t even notice at first. I enjoy when the pace changes as you get closer to the end, with a nice smooth transition into the intensity. This, however, was whiplash. It read at one pace and then abruptly gets out of control. The “angel” becomes utterly unhinged all in one swing. Granted their behavior isn’t that of normal to begin with, it’s just that they go to extreme, instantly. It piles too much on at once at the end, and leaves me with a bad taste from it.
Also, this book has an unnecessary amount about wine written throughout. It’s understood our main character likes wine after work, but every time she opens a bottle, it’s at the very least a paragraph of a description of the it. This adds absolutely nothing to the story. It’s a book about a homicidal health care worker; I don’t need a review from a wine critic every 3 pages.
I would’ve much preferred if the time she spent writing reviews was spent giving the dog her inner monologue- that was such a cute idea, that she did twice. (With a few little tiny lines of it here and there.)
All in all, I’m on the fence about the rest of the books. I almost want to read them, but I know it’s because now that I know it’s a trilogy, I don’t like leaving things unfinished, and really, no other driving force to read any more of this author.
April 27, 2025
Taking off after I so enjoyed the first of the series, I thought this one was going to at least be an equal. But I am disappointed. There's a disconnect with real world medicine, nursing, communication and hospital practice-based medicine. I found it annoying, and as an example: a NON- CNA (The 'C' means CERTIFIED, so our obnoxious pregnant teen, Taylor, is NOT A CNA. I suppose best I can call her would be a gofer. There's no way she can learn anything in a day or so, other than maybe where the cafeteria and bathroom are. And in the real world, CNA's do not and never will draw blood for labs. Not going to happen. Huge disconnect. Word filling. Sorry, but you need a degree for that kind of work and this kid hasn't even finished high school. Probably never will. I don't care, she's entitled, obnoxious, angry and stupid. I hated her character. And IMO, her character simply exemplifies the type of adolescent arrogance our society is laden with; unemployable, uneducable, misfits who can't wipe their own tushies or feed themselves beyond fast food. Maybe. That's the real world cross-over in this book and probably, the remainder of the series, which I will not bother to read.
Next on my list of silly, the author found some phrases and processes that seemed to work well for book 1, so these same word-for-word sentences have been lifted, whole cloth, into the narrative of book 2. Please. Wine gets "chewed, to really catch all the taste buds". A happy-shot of a"5 & 2" (5 mg haldol and 2 mg ativan) are dispensed as frequently as coffee with cream. Soft restraints and spit masks are the call of the day for every patient. And really, does every single patient have to come from "THE nursing home? Aren't there more than a few such institutions? Just ONE? Why? Will Victor ever get his glasses clean, or does he need his shirt tail to think and clean the lens, each and every time? This MD constantly thinks of herself as "toast". Please find another descriptor.
The storyline is filled with made-up procedures. All conducted by made-up personages. If I were working in a hospital this poorly managed, I'd have quit. I have 40+ years to my resume, in this place, I would have walked out after 40 minutes. I think the author should put in a blanket apology for filching procedure and content and just handing out pseudo-job titles and responsibilities to her characters, to those readers who might have an hour of in-house patient care history. I'm insulted. CNA, indeed.
This stuff just screams of word-count publishing. Have to get enough words to make a finish line.
This is formula. It's lazy writing. It's block-editing and it slows the creative narrative, the cohesion of the story.
But there might still be some interesting points, to me. How long has it been since the first adventure? Why is Taylor, the despicable teen-aged daughter, still pregnant with her married lover's possibly birth-defected fetus, and seemingly always going to be 17? Shouldn't she have aged a bit, by now? And what on earth is meant by "Vincent"? Who is Vincent, memorialized by year 9? Eventually that's revealed, but it felt like a let down, a filler, not a plot device that worked well.
There's so much of a plot loss here, I can't do the math.
As a few other reviewers have stated, who cares about the wine? If I want wine, I open a bottle and pour a glass. When the bottle is empty, I can always open another. All the discussion about the personalities of wine(s) is pretentious, and adds nothing to the story, other than establishes beyond doubt that this MD is a lush. Big time.
But I did like the dog. The only one with any skill or personality, it seems.
I did finish this one but I rapidly lost the plot and my patience. I thought this was going to be a winner of a series, but it's dull, repetitive and overly trite. What the heck happened to the author's fictional armament? It seems like she's given up and just cut and pasted when and where she could. And viciously adding in some racism, some hate group speech and some worn out women's lib BS, I don't think there's much more for me to read here. I'm bored. For me, that's the kiss of death.
Next on my list of silly, the author found some phrases and processes that seemed to work well for book 1, so these same word-for-word sentences have been lifted, whole cloth, into the narrative of book 2. Please. Wine gets "chewed, to really catch all the taste buds". A happy-shot of a"5 & 2" (5 mg haldol and 2 mg ativan) are dispensed as frequently as coffee with cream. Soft restraints and spit masks are the call of the day for every patient. And really, does every single patient have to come from "THE nursing home? Aren't there more than a few such institutions? Just ONE? Why? Will Victor ever get his glasses clean, or does he need his shirt tail to think and clean the lens, each and every time? This MD constantly thinks of herself as "toast". Please find another descriptor.
The storyline is filled with made-up procedures. All conducted by made-up personages. If I were working in a hospital this poorly managed, I'd have quit. I have 40+ years to my resume, in this place, I would have walked out after 40 minutes. I think the author should put in a blanket apology for filching procedure and content and just handing out pseudo-job titles and responsibilities to her characters, to those readers who might have an hour of in-house patient care history. I'm insulted. CNA, indeed.
This stuff just screams of word-count publishing. Have to get enough words to make a finish line.
This is formula. It's lazy writing. It's block-editing and it slows the creative narrative, the cohesion of the story.
But there might still be some interesting points, to me. How long has it been since the first adventure? Why is Taylor, the despicable teen-aged daughter, still pregnant with her married lover's possibly birth-defected fetus, and seemingly always going to be 17? Shouldn't she have aged a bit, by now? And what on earth is meant by "Vincent"? Who is Vincent, memorialized by year 9? Eventually that's revealed, but it felt like a let down, a filler, not a plot device that worked well.
There's so much of a plot loss here, I can't do the math.
As a few other reviewers have stated, who cares about the wine? If I want wine, I open a bottle and pour a glass. When the bottle is empty, I can always open another. All the discussion about the personalities of wine(s) is pretentious, and adds nothing to the story, other than establishes beyond doubt that this MD is a lush. Big time.
But I did like the dog. The only one with any skill or personality, it seems.
I did finish this one but I rapidly lost the plot and my patience. I thought this was going to be a winner of a series, but it's dull, repetitive and overly trite. What the heck happened to the author's fictional armament? It seems like she's given up and just cut and pasted when and where she could. And viciously adding in some racism, some hate group speech and some worn out women's lib BS, I don't think there's much more for me to read here. I'm bored. For me, that's the kiss of death.
February 1, 2020
Talk about a thriller! Rada Jones is on fire with her books, this second story in the Steele Files. We first met Emma Steele in Overdose,and while this definitely stands alone, it helps to get some background reading the in order. Emma Steele is seeing her patients dying in the ER for unknown reasons. More and more, it's happening, and things are looking suspicious. But what is the cause? Not only is she having problems with work, but her daughter is in crisis, her ex-husband is sending mixed signals and Emma is enjoying her wine. Things are not going well! With life in turmoil, the untimely deaths are disturbing. But will Emma figure out the problem before it's too late? There are twists and turns in this I didn't see coming. It's a great whodunnit, with thrills and suspense. Adding in the family unit just makes the story more realistic for me. I couldn't stop listening. I loved it and hope Dr. Jones continues the saga of Emma Steele.
Meghan Kelly brings this story to life, like a movie in my mind. There is so much going on, such great characters and crazy antics that a lot of voices with distinction must be used. Kelly rises to the occasion and lets us hear all the different people, all the weariness, the frightfulness, the worry, the evil all with the incredible voices and inflections she has. It's a great listen sure to make your ear happy.
Meghan Kelly brings this story to life, like a movie in my mind. There is so much going on, such great characters and crazy antics that a lot of voices with distinction must be used. Kelly rises to the occasion and lets us hear all the different people, all the weariness, the frightfulness, the worry, the evil all with the incredible voices and inflections she has. It's a great listen sure to make your ear happy.
November 30, 2020
This is a fast paced, entertaining murder mystery that has lots of twists and turns. Patients in Dr. Emma Steel’s ER are dying unexpectedly. She recognizes there is a big problem but the powers that be in the hospital are unwilling to investigate and so Emma takes it upon herself to discover the truth of why people are dying. This is a thrilling story with lots of red herrings, tension, flawed characters and a really cute dog. Meghan Kelly did a great job of the narration in the audiobook. She made you feel the tension well and gave the characters individual voices, I especially like the voice she used for Guinness the dog. Though cute as the dog was, I am not sure that hearing the dog’s POV fit well with the rest of the story. This is an enjoyably story with some good mystery elements, nicely revealed character flaws and insight into the problems of medicine being run as a business.
February 16, 2020
Audio book review
Book 2 in the series . A sequel to Overdose Grab book 1 also . This is a fantastic thriller. The author knows how to get you hooked with a story that has many levels . Once you think you know where the story leads it throws you for a curve and you will be surprised. Great medical thriller. Not many medical thrillers out there . How do you react when you see people dropping like flies . The characters are strong and true to form . There is a new character in this story that you will enjoy. Grab it and see who is playing every one around.
Meghan Kelly performance was fantastic. Her voice is very strong and clear . She does all the characters perfect . I love her voice
Book 2 in the series . A sequel to Overdose Grab book 1 also . This is a fantastic thriller. The author knows how to get you hooked with a story that has many levels . Once you think you know where the story leads it throws you for a curve and you will be surprised. Great medical thriller. Not many medical thrillers out there . How do you react when you see people dropping like flies . The characters are strong and true to form . There is a new character in this story that you will enjoy. Grab it and see who is playing every one around.
Meghan Kelly performance was fantastic. Her voice is very strong and clear . She does all the characters perfect . I love her voice
September 17, 2025
Patients are dying one after another in Dr. Emma Steele’s ER and no one knows why. Is it a mysterious new illness, deadly mistakes, or something much darker? As bodies pile up, her career is threatened, her nurses are under suspicion, and her own daughter vanishes. What begins as medical chaos spirals into a deadly game of lies, cover-ups, and murder. Every clue Dr. Steele uncovers brings her closer to the truth but closer to danger. Because someone doesn’t just want patients dead… they want her silenced too.
•••••
This book is perfect for fans of medical thrillers with high stakes, sharp twists, and a heroine who refuses to back down. I also love that they use medical terminology throughout the book so you actually feel like you’re in the ER.
•••••
This book is perfect for fans of medical thrillers with high stakes, sharp twists, and a heroine who refuses to back down. I also love that they use medical terminology throughout the book so you actually feel like you’re in the ER.
September 27, 2022
Format: audiobook
Narrator: Meghan Kelly
I like Dr Emma Steele, she’s good at her job, is kind and compassionate, has a tough love approach to her waywood daughter but also has flaws, big ones which make her very relatable.
A good thriller with some tense moments, I won’t hesitate to pick up other books by this author.
Great narration from Meghan Kelly who expertly portrays the different charters and emotions the story calls for.
Narrator: Meghan Kelly
I like Dr Emma Steele, she’s good at her job, is kind and compassionate, has a tough love approach to her waywood daughter but also has flaws, big ones which make her very relatable.
A good thriller with some tense moments, I won’t hesitate to pick up other books by this author.
Great narration from Meghan Kelly who expertly portrays the different charters and emotions the story calls for.
August 29, 2024
This is the second in the series and must be read it order to make full sense of the story. The cover looks interesting and if I hadn't listened to book 1 it would have put me off.
Emma seriously loves her wine in this book. There is a new character, not going to spoil it, but she adds so much to the story absolutely fantastic.
The narration works well and she adds to the story and it is such a pleasure to listen to.
Emma seriously loves her wine in this book. There is a new character, not going to spoil it, but she adds so much to the story absolutely fantastic.
The narration works well and she adds to the story and it is such a pleasure to listen to.
January 20, 2025
Not as good as the first book, but still enjoyed. The sentient dog chapters got a little weird for me. Also didn't love how everyone randomly started referring to their parents as "Mother" and "Father." Weirdly formal - we know Victor called his mom that in the first book but EVERY parental reference, even Taylor to Emma was "Mother." I do feel like we got to understand Emma a bit more in this story.
I'll probably eventually continue the rest of the series still but breaking after this one!
I'll probably eventually continue the rest of the series still but breaking after this one!
October 1, 2022
This was a good short read. Dr Stone has patients dying in her ER that should not be dying. She has to deal with judgement from higher ups about hwo she is handling the situation.It is a crazy scene. Meghan Kelly was a fine narrator. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
November 9, 2022
entertaining, but….
This was entertaining, and a quick read. The plot is quite outrageous; reminds me a little bit of the short-lived tv drama “code black.” A little too soap-operish for me personally, and a little too “tv-ma.” (I prefer cleaner material.) still; I enjoyed it despite myself.
This was entertaining, and a quick read. The plot is quite outrageous; reminds me a little bit of the short-lived tv drama “code black.” A little too soap-operish for me personally, and a little too “tv-ma.” (I prefer cleaner material.) still; I enjoyed it despite myself.
December 31, 2024
The patients are stable, but suddenly, within moments, they are dropping dead. There is absolutely no reason for their sudden deaths. Dr. Steele and her medical team are bewildered. Most of the deaths are elderly nursing home patients, but not all. Dr. Steele is determined to find who out is doing the killing even if it costs her own career.
August 30, 2025
Medical dramas are one of my favorites to read because I have worked in the medical field in the past.
This time patients are dying for no apparent reason. Stable one minute, dead the next. The only clues left behind are medication vials that have nothing to do with that patient’s condition. Dr. Emma Steele has solved mysterious deaths before, she’ll do it again.
This is a good book, but obvious.
This time patients are dying for no apparent reason. Stable one minute, dead the next. The only clues left behind are medication vials that have nothing to do with that patient’s condition. Dr. Emma Steele has solved mysterious deaths before, she’ll do it again.
This is a good book, but obvious.
November 11, 2025
Mercy hit close to home. The way it showed the exhaustion, chaos, and heartbreak of the ER it felt so real. Like you could almost hear the monitors and feel the constant pressure to keep it together. It reminded me of why I do what I do, the mix of pain, purpose, and those small moments that make it all worth it.
December 4, 2025
I loved Overdose and was excited for this book. It jumps around so much that it is not easy to follow. It feels like all the last minute added in characters were introduced for fluff to hit the "word requirement" as if this were an English assignment. I made it a little over halfway and could not finish. Sadly, this series died with Mercy.
September 7, 2021
An Excellent medical Thriller
From the first page I was hooked. The characters are rich and real. They have problems and deal with them. It kept my interest through out the whole book. I highly recommend it.
From the first page I was hooked. The characters are rich and real. They have problems and deal with them. It kept my interest through out the whole book. I highly recommend it.
October 12, 2022
Great characters
Beautiful story,enjoyed the characters. I had read the stories about the K9 ,enjoyed those but this is more like books I prefer!! Recommend it to any who likes Mysteries.
Beautiful story,enjoyed the characters. I had read the stories about the K9 ,enjoyed those but this is more like books I prefer!! Recommend it to any who likes Mysteries.
Read
October 16, 2022Thrilling
Dr Emma is having another bad month . Deaths in the ER. Taylor being difficult and pregnant . Then there is Guinness . A trained former police dog . Very smart and the author includes dog speak . Hilarious .
Dr Emma is having another bad month . Deaths in the ER. Taylor being difficult and pregnant . Then there is Guinness . A trained former police dog . Very smart and the author includes dog speak . Hilarious .
November 17, 2022
not as good as the first book…..
I liked the story but can’t stand all the references to wine. Actually, sick of it. I guess the author wants to show off her knowledge of wine. Decreased my enjoyment of the story. Not sure I’ll even try the third book in the series.
I liked the story but can’t stand all the references to wine. Actually, sick of it. I guess the author wants to show off her knowledge of wine. Decreased my enjoyment of the story. Not sure I’ll even try the third book in the series.
March 4, 2023
As an ER nurse for 21 years, I found this book perhaps the most authentic description of working in an Emergency Department, I almost felt like I was back at work! Fast moving, very well written, I am on to the next in the series!! Thank you Rada Jones!
April 15, 2023
MERCY
This is the second book in this series and another has taken to killing in the emergency room. Emma has started to try and find out who the killer is and she finds out when she saves her daughter but her dog saves her A good story
This is the second book in this series and another has taken to killing in the emergency room. Emma has started to try and find out who the killer is and she finds out when she saves her daughter but her dog saves her A good story
January 13, 2024
The world needs Dr. Emma Steele!
I do hope Ms. Jones writes more Emma Steele books. What an interesting character! I fell in love with her during the first book. We need more devoted, caring doctors like Emma. Are you listening, Rada Jones? More Emma Steele, 🙏
I do hope Ms. Jones writes more Emma Steele books. What an interesting character! I fell in love with her during the first book. We need more devoted, caring doctors like Emma. Are you listening, Rada Jones? More Emma Steele, 🙏
January 27, 2024
Hospital Thriller
Hospital romance, drama and
corporate politics. The first book needs to be read first or quite a bit won't make sense. There were slow parts. Kinda predictable. But definitely worth the time.
Hospital romance, drama and
corporate politics. The first book needs to be read first or quite a bit won't make sense. There were slow parts. Kinda predictable. But definitely worth the time.
February 5, 2025
Nonstop read.
Great medical mystery. Interesting side stories. The curiosity never stops. You don't want to put it down. Highly recommend this book and the authors other books.
Great medical mystery. Interesting side stories. The curiosity never stops. You don't want to put it down. Highly recommend this book and the authors other books.
November 20, 2025
Decent Sequel
Another fast paced page turner. Dr. Emma returns and I just admire how this author writes this character so authentically. She's so imperfect that she is perfect lol! Looking forward to continuing on with this series.
Another fast paced page turner. Dr. Emma returns and I just admire how this author writes this character so authentically. She's so imperfect that she is perfect lol! Looking forward to continuing on with this series.
November 23, 2025
Love Genussis
Pets make it all good. Really a great book. Looking forward to reading more about Dr.Steele, good story,love,suspense and ?daughter and tears. What more would you want. Doggy kisses please.
Pets make it all good. Really a great book. Looking forward to reading more about Dr.Steele, good story,love,suspense and ?daughter and tears. What more would you want. Doggy kisses please.
September 1, 2020
Loving these series!
October 29, 2020
An excellent medical thriller
April 15, 2022
I, an upstate NY ICU nurse, really enjoyed this and can't wait to read the other two.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews