Needle Work

by Wick Welker

As a seasoned trauma anesthesiologist in Seattle, Doctor Jude Rosen takes his coffee black with gangland shootouts and vehicular dismemberment. When his best friend, Farrah Abdi, suffers from breast cancer, Jude sheds the carefully cultivated safeguards of a family man to help his dying friend. After being slapped with a malpractice suit and having no recourse to provide for his daughters, Jude embraces what he thought he’d abandoned: his haunted past. Once the criminal underground catches up to him, Jude realizes he can no longer play the game, he can only change the rules—on the operating table.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Medical

244 pages, Paperback

First published August 17, 2020

About the author

Wick Welker is the the winner of the Self Published Science Fiction Contest SPSFC4 with Saint Elspeth and a two time finalist of the competition as well. Start with either Dark Theory or Saint Elspeth for an intro into his writing.

https://wickwelker.com/

Reviews

[carol. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reading a lot these days, and when I'm going through a book every couple of days, I like to mix my genres up. I hesitated a long time on this one, mostly because I know Welker, and it's extremely awkward for me when I don't care for a GR friend's book, but jade's review sold me. In Welker's forward, he writes, "I've always been fascinated with how otherwise well-meaning people can become something different than they intended... Taking it a step further--under the wrong circumstances, can anyone become a Macbeth?" I found myself diving in with interest that never flagged, although I did have to take a break once, as I was feeling a kind of ickily intense apprehension that was impacting my vacation mood. Take that for what you will.

"And the absolute hilarious thing about tolerance is that it makes you tolerant to all of opiate effects except the ones that will actually kill you."

Needless to say, it's not 'hilarious' so much as 'ironic.' The main character, Jude, is an anesthesiologist in a hospital. Jude and his bestie, Farrah, who also went to medical school, got into trouble with addiction in college. They kicked the habit and went on to graduate from medical school and prestigious residencies. A lot of this story takes place in the hospital setting, and I appreciated the insight into the medical profession and ability to weave that into the story. I had heard about med school debt and residency wages, but Wick lays it out clearly, creating little moments of sympathy for Jude. Honestly, I had some PTSD moments reading it, mostly in relation to hospital administration. It felt very well explained to me, without excessive detail, but I might not be the best one to judge this, given my own twenty-one years in the hospital.

"I also learned the sometimes total and complete futility of all our medical efforts when someone is dying. That can decentivize you."

Plotting felt solid and just believable enough to me. You can probably get the set-up already, knowing that doctors have access to addictive substances. Nonetheless, Welke  surprised me. From the start, Jude a bit of an ass. Wick makes his history pre-college a bit of a black box, and glosses over immediate past history. I found it an interesting choice, because although it may have limited some sympathy, it also prevented opportunities to judge or excuse him. I found myself wondering what Jude's childhood and high school years were like, searching for more information to explain the imposter syndrome. I felt the imposter syndrome may not have worked with the ego, but what do I know?

"A painfully awkward pause cropped up. Good. I wanted it there."

Thankfully, Welker wrote a good, fast-paced story so that I don't have to wrestle with my own ethics and contextual decisions. Read it if you are interested in a thriller about a mostly ordinary person who makes a series of increasingly bad decisions. A cross between a character study and thriller, which eliminates the pesky normal thriller tropes of increasing violence and escalating conflict. This reminds me of an old black and white movie whose name I've completely spaced. Don't wait; it'll come to me.

"I tell you all this for context. Context is a helpful thing. Sometimes it’s important, other times it is crucial to understanding. Context can turn villains into heroes."

[jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

“when death becomes so routine, the boundaries between who is doing good and who is doing evil don’t just blur -- the distinction is ablated.”

an anesthesiologist’s life slowly starts to unwind when his best friend slips away from him due to cancer. add a malpractice suit, a huge debt, easy access to drugs, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

this is a quick, entertaining medical thriller!

in this, we follow the life of jude rosen, a critical care anesthesiologist working in an academic hospital. jude’s got his life pretty much together: he’s got an exciting job, a sweet wife and two daughters, and a loving BFF from his college years. and yet somehow, he’s always felt like a fraud; like he isn’t really worthy of any of it.

as if he didn’t work hard enough to get through med school and merely did so on luck and circumstance; as if his wife only fell in love with him ‘cause she doesn’t know who he really is.

and that nagging insecurity tips jude over when the big anchor of his life starts to crumble: farrah abdi. his tough, no-nonsense best friend and partner in crime, who’s now suffering from cancer and slowly wasting away in a cabin nearby. so he finds himself travelling there more and more often, trying to take care of her and making her impending passing easier.

look, i’m not gonna lie: i love a solid corruption arc, and there’s a really good one at the heart of this novel.

before i dive into that, let’s get the breaking bad comparisons out of the way: yes, we have a regular joe here who’s making increasingly questionable choices while there are drugs involved, but the thematic similarities end there.

the most fascinating part about this aspect of the book to me is how jude starts out believing he’s got a terrible capacity for doing bad things. he seems to have a big case of imposter syndrome, which i found very relatable. but even so, we do see glimpses of questionable matters through his shared past with farrah -- and through how he truly feels about his job.

desensitized by working in critical care for such a long time, jude’s become jaded about life and death; even the fate of his own patients. only in medical emergencies of the all-hope-is-lost variety do we see him come alive and rise to the occasion, getting the kick and excitement that makes him so good at what he does -- as if he simply just needs a bigger fix to get back into it.

and that parallel pops up everywhere: just how slippery that slope is, whether it’s stealing, addiction or lying. once you’ve done one small thing, it becomes easier to do the next -- until low morality is your new normal, and only a bigger breach will get you your new fix.

i won’t spoil the plot, but suffice to say that jude starts sliding down that slippery slope in full once he gets slapped with a malpractice suit, and discovers that a lot of his colleagues don’t truly like him that much, either.

what follows is a balancing act: keeping it together for his family and farrah, while figuring out how to deal with all the shit in his life. this is also where antagonists start popping up that are a bit more tangible than the darkness inside oneself.

despite these antagonists being more comic book-esque, the story is very much grounded in reality, which i appreciated. at the forefront is jude’s job, and you can tell that welker, being a physician himself, knows what he’s talking about. his descriptions of medical procedures and practices are thoroughly detailed, providing a fascinating glimpse into the world of the anesthesiologist.

as an aside: in general, this book gave me an unwitting glimpse into united states healthcare, including its various policies, as well as court procedures. who would’ve thought!

it was also particularly helpful to include in a tale that’s all about constant escalation; things can get cartoonish or too out there pretty fast. holding onto procedural -- whether that was in court or in the hospital -- helped jude’s story feel more believable to me as a reader. especially in the last third, when it starts veering more into over-the-top territory.

i wasn’t a huge fan of either van or the chameleon, but i do understand the need for a more devastating antagonist than jude’s colleagues and the malpractice suit. luckily, the finale of how jude wiped the floor with the chameleon more than made up for it. that shit was awesome.

anyway, one of the best things about this book is just how cleanly and tightly it’s written. that might sound odd, but i felt like it had the perfect amount of words and pace for the story it wanted to tell. its themes are given to you upfront by welker in the foreword, and having such a singular goal and thematic exploration driving the story forward lends itself well to a thriller.

it’s very much full circle, often repeating passages from the first few chapters to illustrate the message at the very end. this can be tricky, because the author’s hand can get too noticeable within the narrative of the protagonist, but as someone who appreciates the Inherent Drama Of It All i can’t get too mad about it.

also, farrah and jude’s relationship was amazing. i almost wish we had more scenes illustrating all the shit they got up to together. so flawed, yet so loving.

read this if you like corruption arcs and/or breaking bad, and enjoy a medical setting. you probably won’t regret it.

✎ 4.0 stars.

★ i received a free e-copy from author wick welker in exchange for an honest review ★

[Wick Welker]

This book was way different from other stuff I've written. Think Walter White with a medical degree. If you like crime or medical thrillers, this is up your alley.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

We think of doctors as godlike, but what happens when one trauma anesthesiologist’s flawed humanity finds him in an ethical chokehold from the entanglements of his past, the terminal pain of a dear friend and his own bad judgement?

NEEDLE WORK by Wick Welker, is a tale of crimes committed in the medical world, the repercussions of medical malpractice and proof that even the greatest of physicians are mere mortals. Razor-taut tension, emotionally charged turmoil, the madness and mayhem one man creates for himself is like watching a train wreck happen in painfully slow motion and clarity.

Brilliantly written, these characters come to life, friendships share soul-deep connections and one cannot help but cheer for Doctor Jude Rosen, even as he swan dives off a steep cliff into a glass of water. If you are like me and love a good medical thriller, this read has all the grit one could want! A quick read that wastes no words, we are invited to plunge through a private gauntlet in one of the most elevated professions there is.

I received a complimentary copy from Wick Welker! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Publication Date : August 17, 2020
Publisher : Demodocus Publishing LLC (August 17, 2020)
Genre: Medical Thriller
Print Length : 246 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
This was an entertaining medical thriller. Written by a doctor, I appreciated the insights and accuracy of the medical information explored in this novel. The author was very clear that this is NOT autobiographical, but he was still able to provide an informative narrative using his background

As far as thrillers go, this was more interesting than suspenseful. There were not many twists and turns until the end. Instead was more of a character focused story  centering around the downward spiral of the protagonist. The main character is (purposely) not a likeable man. Instead he is flawed, dealing with addiction and claims of malpractice 

My favourite aspects were definitely learning more about the doctor profession and inner workings of the American medical system. I personally would not recommend reading this book right before undergoing a medical procedure if you have any medical anxiety. It might freak you out a bit!

Overall, I enjoyed this one and would recommend this to fans of thrillers looking for insight into the underbelly of the American medical system.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the audiobook from the author. I highly recommend the audio version because the first person narration fit the format well. The narrator did an excellent job, matching the tone of the story, with a strong, even performance. 

[Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is tons of nihilistic fun. The medical stuff, including the mechanistic approach to the human body of anesthesiology, rings very true. It has great pacing and a terrific unsympathetic first-person narration.

[DC Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needle Work is an expertly written medical thriller. I found the author's description of such things as hospital narcotics protocol, medical malfeasance, and a malpractice trial to be very captivating. Anyone can write a story about a flawed genius on a downward path of self-destruction, but you have to go to medical school to write a book like this. Recommended especially if you are a fan of gritty hospital dramas, like ER or Nurse Jackie. I also got a strong Breaking Bad vibe.

[JustYourPal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needle Work explores the darker side of medicine through the eyes of Jude, a trauma anesthesiologist in the gloomy pacific northwest. The demons of Jude's past resurface in his attempt to return to normalcy. Jude's only hope is that his demons and medical know-how might save him. Needle Work was much more than a medical thriller, but a gripping drama about a flawed man hoping to make things right.

I hope this isn't the last we hear of Jude.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthwhile read and genuine entertainment

This story is told from the viewpoint of an anesthesiologist who has had, and recovered from a drug problem. When his best friend and fellow physician is dying from cancer and can’t get enough pain meds, he’s slammed into an ethical quandry. This character is fully formed and his decisions kept me speeding through the pages. A worthwhile read and genuine entertainment.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well-written medical adventure that got me engrossed from page one. I really liked the 'behind the scenes' information, the quick pace of the plot, the sense that this could actually happen and Jude, the protagonist. This made a really enjoyable read for me.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I acquired this book for an honest review from the author and Book Sirens somewhat late it seems as it was published a year ago. Anyway, as a medical thriller, this is a good one, very underrated, a real nail biter with a good storyline and well-developed characters. Sadly, the author, who I believe is a doctor, has decided that he prefers to write SF and (gag me!) zombie crap, more's the pity.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I read it in 24 hours! I won’t précis the plot, you can get that from the cover of the book or from other reviewers.

Firstly, I would say that there is a lot of medical terminology although to be honest, it is explained as it’s used so don’t let that put you off. I am an ex- nurse and midwife and worked in the Operating Theatre for five years so it was especially interesting to me as the main character is an anaesthetist (to us in the UK)/ anaesthesiologist (in other places) and a lot of the book is set in the hospital operating theatre/room. Without spoiling anything - I thought long and hard about whether what happens was feasible and definitely 30 years ago when I worked as an anaesthetic nurse, it probably could have been done, the only unlikely part was the bit about the pharmacy door. That’s all I’ll say about that.

The book is really about one character Dr Jude Rosen, and his immediate family, his wife Zella, his little girl and his best friend Farrah (also an anaesthetist and his ex-girlfriend). We only get to know Jude in depth and I couldn’t decide if I liked him or not. He is a great doctor, but not as good a husband or father (although without a doubt he loves his family and best friend) and it seems not particularly personable or popular at work. The question is how far will he go to protect himself and his family?

It’s an interesting and highly unusual plot, it’s thought provoking and I like books that leave me thinking long after I’ve finished reading. People make choices in their lives and the circumstances that surround them at that time influence whether or not they take one route or another. This is summed up beautifully in this quote from the book that will stick with me for a long time:

“You look out over the horizon of your life and you see hundreds-thousands of domino lines have been set up. Each domino sits upright, waiting for you to make a choice. You pick a line and knock down a single domino. You’ve made your choice. And then you watch - as a spectator you witness the cascade of events that ensue from your single choice. You can’t control where the domino line goes, you can only control the line that you pick.”

That’s what happens to Jude in this book, he picks a line and then has to deal with the consequences as each domino knocks down the next one.

Wick Welker writes well and I would definitely recommend this book. It is quite unlike any other book that I have read. I love that the characters are flawed and life doesn’t always go exactly as you want it too. And when you choose the domino line you may or may not choose the right one!

My thanks to the author, the publishers and to BookSirens for an advance e-reader copy in return for an honest review.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author’s style of storytelling was direct, yet involving. He had a tale to share and while a bit different, it was told well. A satisfying but quick recommendable read. 4 stars

My thanks to goodreads and the giveaway sponsors for the opportunity to obtain and read a copy of this book.

[Christi M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, oh, man. The tangled webs we weave!! What a ride! EXCELLENT read!!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one amazing read! I didn’t know exactly what to expect but one thing is for sure, I wasn’t disappointed!

The story itself is very different and unlike anything I have ever read before. There are tons of medical terms used in this book and that could be off putting for some people, however, each term is explained in layman's terms so it makes it easy for the reader to understand, you might even learn something - I certainly did!

I absolutely loved the medical procedures, the descriptions were vivid and made me feel like I was there beside Jude, part of the intense action!

We follow Doctor Jude Rosen, quite a strange character in many respects. An all round good doctor but a dreadful husband and father. He clearly cares deeply for them and for his best mate Farrah - who has cancer.

Jude himself is in recovery from drug addiction and the story is told solely from his point of view, it might have been interesting to get the viewpoints of some of the other characters, especially Farrah.

The story was believable from start to finish and I loved the whole hospital theme that went on throughout the book. I imagine that something like this could easily happen in real life! I did find a few parts a little far fetched but done very well.

The story makes you think about the people around you, it makes you realise that even you yourself are capable of anything - given the right situation and circumstances we can all be pushed way beyond our limits. The story highlights that nothing is black and white, there is only organised confusion, consequences and choices.

Highly recommended read with strong scenes of emotion, fast paced action and totally thought provoking paragraphs! This story will stay with you and may even make you question yourself.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Randi Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would not call this book a medical thriller. It is definitely medical, going into such detail that you feel you are in an episode of ER. It is actually a memoir of an anesthesiologist Dr Jude Rosen told in the first person. It is a story of life decisions, some good and some bad, and their consequences. As one of the characters explains, your life is thousand of lines of dominos lined up and waiting to fall. You can't control where the dominos fall. All you can choose is which line to knock over. A bad decision made for a good reason can still have far reaching bad consequences but sometimes good can still come out of it. I found this book fascinating. I was rooting for Jude even though he wasn't always a good person. I kept reading because I didn't see any way his life could possibly have a good ending. I read the book in one sitting. If you like medical stories, read this book. If you like books about why we do the things we do and the consequences of our actions read this book. If you like first person narratives told as a memoir read this book. Just don't read it looking for a feel good story. Thanks to Book Sirens for allowing me to read and review this book. I enjoyed it and found it worthwhile.

[Debbie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Just Wow! I could not put this book down.
This story is so real for many medical professionals. We need more real life stories about the working people inside of the medical field.

Wick Welker give us more medical dilemma!!! I hope this is just the beginning of your medical fiction writing. I will be waiting for your next book.

I worked at a hospital in the 80’s when alphanumeric pagers first came out paging physicians. I learned anesthesiologist and radiologist did not have in person patient office visits nor after hours patient calls. And...they were the highest paid field of medicine. What a cool job!!!
Not...not without of course a lot of risk.

I heard a lot of medical nightmares in that after hour world of paging physicians. I also found out doctors are just like any normal person who has to go to work, some days you just don’t want to. Work is also a 4 letter word when your life is falling apart.

Dr. Jude Rosen your world is falling apart! Thank you for the ride along.

I also want to thank GoodReads for the Kindle giveaway!

[Annemarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Van was right. Life is like a line of dominoes. You let one fall and follow your destiny to the end. Or do you? If you can see where this path is taking you, can you stop and start again?

Made to take the fall for a superior's monumental stuff up, Dr. Rosen did the only thing he knew would bring in the dollars to avoid bankruptcy. Little did he know he was jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

Do I condone what he did? Not on your nellie! Do I understand why he did it? You betcha! But here's the rub. Had he of taken the call that he kept avoiding, his dominoes would have fallen in a different direction and he wouldn't have lost everything he held dear.

This story has been very well written with believable characters and scenarios. I hope to read more from this author.

I have received a free copy of Needlework through BookSirens and have chosen to leave a review.

[DeeDeeWReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needle Work is about an anesthesiologist named Jude Rosen. This work of fiction is written in a memoir first person style that I really enjoyed. Jude has his past demons and sometimes you can't just escape them, or use them as an excuse for your present actions.

I liked the style this was written in, like reading someone diary, feeling what they feel, hearing what they hear. It was gripping, not knowing where the story would lead us, and how it would conclude. I definitely I didn't see where the last few pages took us. I DID see where one of the loose ends that came to their conclusion towards the end was going.

I recommend you read it and see where Jude's life takes him in Needle Work.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[J.R. Alcyone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this medical thriller -- the pacing was spot-on, the prose was very solid, and the anti-hero main character was superbly written. (I loved the choice of first person here and the voice.) There were not a ton of twists and turns like I often see in this genre, but I'm very much a character-based reader, and since the author succeeded in making me care about Jude, I was invested in seeing what would happen and that made the story suspenseful for me. And I loved the medical details and how they were seamlessly woven into the narrative.

Highly recommended to those who enjoy medical thrillers or stories with main characters who are compelling albeit not necessarily sympathetic.

[Teresa Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the story enough to stick with it to the end, it was not what I was expecting. Instead of being a mystery as I thought (maybe through my own misunderstanding), it was simply the story of a broken and beleaguered anesthesiologist.

The characters were believable and relatable for me as a retired nurse except that sometimes Zella appeared too good to be true. And I think with the ending she proved that assessment to be correct. There is the normal "wide-open" action of an ER that one would expect in this type of story and I enjoyed that. The story was a good read but nothing outstanding.

I received a review copy from BookSirens and this is my honest opinion.

[Chanelle Gruca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing medical thriller I won in a Goodreads giveaway!

Dr Jude Rosen is a pro at his anesthesiologist position. He knows EXACTLY what medications and how much to give to help patients, some in critical condition. But is this always a good thing? Access to unlimited drugs?

Jude faces challenge after challenge in this tangled web of a plot. Everything from family issues, financial issues, legal issues, and some sketchy characters thrown into the mix.

Make sure you have some free time once you start this book, because I found it so hard to put down!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An anesthesiologist at a Seattle hospital, Jude is a cocky adrenaline junky. Jude is a recovering addict from the meds he dispenses daily. The temptation is always present.

When his best friend is in an incredible amount of pain from cancer, Jude has meds that can help her within his reach. Taking them would be a crime but can he let his friend suffer? Answering this moral dilemma carries us through the remainder of the book.

At one point Jude says that if his life was a book things would just magically work out. In the end, this is exactly what happens. I adore the villain, he is an incredibly smart and terrifying individual. I wish things hadn't been so fortuitous for Jude in the end. I did appreciate his dilemma during the surgery.

If we could give half stars, this would be a 3.5. I will be looking for more from this author.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping thriller!

Troubled anesthesiologist Jude Rosen gets in way over his head in this gripping thriller.

Good intentions don't always turn out well.
I loved the psychological motivations in this story.
I also learned a lot of interesting medical information.

I'm not going to go into plot other than it leads to places to won't see coming.

The ending is heartbreakingly beautiful.

This was an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, what a read! The plot was intense, powerful and thrilling and held me captive all the way through! The characters fairly leaped off the page, and the tension was palpable. If you are looking for a book that you just CAN’T put down, then this is DEFINITELY the book for you!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

[Jayne Burnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Book Sirens for an ARC of this book which I thoroughly enjoyed. A long time since I read a medical drama/thriller and I was not disappointed.
I liked the character Dr Jude Rosen, a 1st class doctor but not rated so highly as a husband, nor did he seem to engage well with his colleagues.
How far will the good Dr Rosen go to protect his family and himself.
A fast paced read, well written even if a little far fetched.

[Silver_Neurotic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy through Goodreads, opinions are my own.

Needle Work wasn’t the type of novel I usually read, but the medical aspect of this appealed to me. It was fast paced and fun to read, in the same way as any other similar thriller is. There were enough twists that I was able to stay engaged but aside from the plot…the rest of it was kind of meh. The characters weren’t very interesting or just downright unlikable. It was fast paced, and I think that in some ways it was too fast paced so there wasn’t enough time to really set up the story in the way to fully buy into the story.

[Layla Lasfar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it in two days. Loved it both as a nurse getting to delve in the world of anesthesia and medicine from a different perspective than the one I get at work. Also loved the suspense aspect of the story, but mostly the human drama and reflection. Looking forward to another medical novel from Wick Welker!

[Kristen Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Rosen, a skilled anesthesiologist, bends the rules to prescribe some palliative opioids for his dying best friend ... and then he bends the rules a little more, and then a little more, until he realizes he’s dug himself into a labyrinth he can’t find his way out of.

[Jessica Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading Needle Work. The story and characters were intriguing and I was pleasantly surprised by some of the twists and turns.