Death Unexpected

by G.L. Barbour

Patricia Harding is a young paralegal with aspirations for law school. When she passes out and nearly dies at work, the medical staff at New City Hospital are at a loss for the cause of the otherwise healthy woman's conditions. Soon after, the staff are stunned by a well-respected cardiologist's sudden death while he is on the job. These two seemingly unrelated events lead the Chief of Staff to call on homicide detective Ron Looney to investigate. Death Unexpected is a hospital-based murder mystery that provides an intimate glimpse into the minds and daily lives of medical staff. As Detective Looney and others seek to crack the case, the narrative reveals author G.L. Barbour's expertise and experience in the medical field. For readers hoping for a suspense-filled novel that will also enlighten, Death Unexpected does not disappoint. About the Author G.L. Barbour is a retired professor of medicine with experience in small and large academic institutions both federal and private. He has lived in the Midwest, South, and Mid-Atlantic regions. He taught clinical decision-making in medicine and performance improvement in public health and healthcare administration graduate programs. He has published several scientific articles, books, and book chapters. This is his first work of fiction. He and his wife, Carolyn, live in Virginia.

Genres: Suspense

344 pages, Hardcover

First published February 5, 2020

Reviews

[Denise Worley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read!! Couldn’t put it down!

[Shreya Vijay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death Unexpected
G.L. Barbour

Death Unexpected is an intricately woven medical thriller which addresses the theme of medical negligence & fosters a cleverly penned murder mystery. The cover of the book justifies the theme & makes you want to pick it up and give it a read.

I have read my fair share of thriller novels & hence, I can confidently say that this book comes under my top 5 thriller reads. The flow of the plot was smooth and the story line was building up throughout the course of the novel. Since the very start, I felt drawn to the book just like a moth drawn to a flame.

The plot was fast paced since the beginning and the readers get an in depth view into the lives and minds of medical staff. The storyline was full of suspense, unique and utterly unpredictable. The author sure knows how to keep the readers hooked. The world building was beyond perfection. I could feel my heart beating a little faster every time a new twist came into existence.

Despite the fact that the author introduces a lot of different characters, all of them were well penned. The story is actually 'shown' to the readers rather than just being 'told.' The climax of the novel had me blown. It couldn't have been better! The language of the book was comprehensive & vivid. The author painted a clear picture of the story.

Considering the fact that this book was a Medical thriller, it had a lot of Medical jargon in it. It didn't settle well with me since I do not have a background in medicine. Other than those instances where the medical details became too much for me, the book had me under its spell.

"𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘."

[Carol Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

When an autopsy reveals insulin in a patient who doesn’t have diabetes, hospital administrator Tom Bolling calls on his friend, Homicide Detective Looney to help him determine how to proceed. Then the unthinkable happens, another death occurs in the hospital, this time it’s the chief cardiologist. His autopsy also reveals a medication in his system that should not be there. Is there a serial killer on the loose? Or is there another explanation?

I found this to be an extremely interesting and enjoyable read. As this is a medical murder mystery, there is quite a bit of medical jargon in the story. I didn’t find this bothersome, but I have a medical background. The plot is good and it kept me guessing. There are not sex scenes. There is a fair amount of cursing. There is also violence, but it is not graphic or overdone. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good murder mystery.

[Allison Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death Unexpected is a masterfully crafted medical murder mystery that stands out in a crowded genre. Dr. G.L. Barbour's unique blend of personal experience, medical expertise, and a passion for storytelling results in a page-turner that not only entertains but also prompts reflection on the intricacies of the healthcare system. Whether you're a fan of mysteries or simply appreciate a well-crafted narrative, Death Unexpected is a must-read that will leave you eagerly anticipating Dr. Barbour's next literary venture.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you GL Barbour for the copy of this book.
This was a different style of book for me to read, with a lot of medical terminology. The flow of the plot was smooth and not confusing. It was very fast paced yet unpredictable, it kept me guessing until the very end.

[Cindelu · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book on Goodreads. It was an interesting story line however I felt the story moved between tenses in an odd manner. There were way too many characters to keep track of and very, very detailed bits of their lives that were rather boring. It did have a clever ending.