What do you think?
Rate this book
W rytmie serca
When a brilliant surgeon undergoes a heart transplant, her life transforms as she begins experiencing memories of a murder she never witnessed. The residents worship her. Nurses step out of her way. Her colleagues respect and sometimes even fear her. But surgeon Tori Taylor never expected to end up on this side of the operating table. Now she has a new heart. This life that was formerly controlled and predictable is now chaotic. Dr. Taylor had famously protected herself from love or commitment, but her walls are beginning to crumble. And strangest of all, memories surface that will take her on a journey out of the operating room and into a murder investigation. Where there once was a heart of stone, there is a heart of flesh. And there is no going back.
Paperback
First published September 1, 2012
142 people are currently reading
1230 people want to read
About the author
Harry Kraus
20 books111 followersHarry Kraus, M.D. is a board-certified surgeon, medical missionary to East Africa, and accomplished writer of both non-fiction and fiction. Medical realism and gripping plotlines distinguish his writing, as he gets most of his ideas with a scalpel in hand. Dr. Kraus resides in Virginia with his wife Kris and the youngest of his three sons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
August 12, 2015
I really enjoyed this mystery about a surgeon who not only receives a heart from someone else but also some of their memories and emotions. I liked learning a bit about Transference Memories and cellular memories. This is a great mystery with a murder to be solved by the woman who is remembering thoughts that are not her own. This is a Christian Mystery.
June 17, 2020
I can't believe that this amazing medical thriller has been languishing on my Kindle since 2012. All I can say is too many books and too little time.
This book starts with a bang when young cancer surgeon Victoria "Tori" Taylor has heart failure and needs a transplant. Little does she know that the heart she receives will change her life in so many ways. When she wakes up from surgery with memories of a murder that continue to haunt her nightmares, she turns to her rehabilitation counselor, Phin. They both soon find themselves chasing down info and dodging potential danger. With twists and turns that feel like a switchback road, I never saw the ending coming but loved the conclusion. Kraus also weaves a wonderful spiritual message throughout the plot that just makes it even better. I will definitely be looking for more books from this just discovered author whose writing reminds me a lot of Richard Mabry's medical thrillers.
"God doesn't always deliver us from pain. God joined us in human suffering by coming as a man and experiencing pain and death for himself."
This book starts with a bang when young cancer surgeon Victoria "Tori" Taylor has heart failure and needs a transplant. Little does she know that the heart she receives will change her life in so many ways. When she wakes up from surgery with memories of a murder that continue to haunt her nightmares, she turns to her rehabilitation counselor, Phin. They both soon find themselves chasing down info and dodging potential danger. With twists and turns that feel like a switchback road, I never saw the ending coming but loved the conclusion. Kraus also weaves a wonderful spiritual message throughout the plot that just makes it even better. I will definitely be looking for more books from this just discovered author whose writing reminds me a lot of Richard Mabry's medical thrillers.
"God doesn't always deliver us from pain. God joined us in human suffering by coming as a man and experiencing pain and death for himself."
January 7, 2016
Stuck between one and two stars. The writing got worse as it went along, the main character, who is supposed to be this genius cancer surgeon, was so incredibly stupid and dense. I mean, come on, at some point she was asking simple medical questions that she should've known by heart. As for the Christian part of this novel - it really didn't work for me. It felt unnatural and preach-y. In fact, I felt like that regarding most of the novel. And the romance - oh, please stop. Blergh.
Now that I think about it, I can't think of anything I liked about this novel. One star it is.
What a great beginning of 2016!!!1!
Now that I think about it, I can't think of anything I liked about this novel. One star it is.
What a great beginning of 2016!!!1!
May 4, 2013
Don't usually read medical thrillers, but couldn't stop reading this one once I started. Loved it, and it had a fascinating premise.
April 30, 2021
This book has been a great source of comfort.
A paragraph from the book that has given me food for thought is:
“Temptation often hits when we are wallowing in sorrow. It’s almost like we feel we deserve to indulge in some secret delight because we’ve seen hard times.”
-Pastor Randy ( A fictional character)
A paragraph from the book that has given me food for thought is:
“Temptation often hits when we are wallowing in sorrow. It’s almost like we feel we deserve to indulge in some secret delight because we’ve seen hard times.”
-Pastor Randy ( A fictional character)
May 24, 2017
I haven't read many Christian suspense books, but I think I need to take it up. This was a wonderful change of pace.
Two stories going on at once...a present day story and a background story of two young people.
Present day story is of Dr. Tory Taylor, a surgeon who thinks she stands between people and the gods. She's an excellent doctor, but she lacks in empathy and civility with hospital staff. Consequently, she's disliked by nurses, and many colleagues. She begins to have shortness of breath until she learns her heart is failing and is put on an immediate heart transplant list.
The second story is of two teenagers who seem to be falling in love. The boy is a missionary's son, normally in Africa, but is in America for a while. The girl is someone who wants to be loved, and wants to get away from her parents. The story follows the kids until an interesting break up, year's passing, and they meet each other again. These are the two in the story that have to do with the heart transplant.
After Tory's surgery she begins to experience nightmares and "memories" she knows aren't hers. Her personality changes in profound ways, and her changes are baffling to herself and those around her. Putting two and two together about the nightmares and the cryptic message she knows came from her heart donor, she begins to question it all. She's sure the girl who gave her heart was murdered, and sets out to solve it, aided by a counselor assigned to help her. This is where she begins to find trouble, and it doesn't seem to stop until near the end.
This story kept my interest so much so that I used text-to-speech so I could continue "reading" it while driving today.
My first book by Harry Kraus, and definitely not my last!
Two stories going on at once...a present day story and a background story of two young people.
Present day story is of Dr. Tory Taylor, a surgeon who thinks she stands between people and the gods. She's an excellent doctor, but she lacks in empathy and civility with hospital staff. Consequently, she's disliked by nurses, and many colleagues. She begins to have shortness of breath until she learns her heart is failing and is put on an immediate heart transplant list.
The second story is of two teenagers who seem to be falling in love. The boy is a missionary's son, normally in Africa, but is in America for a while. The girl is someone who wants to be loved, and wants to get away from her parents. The story follows the kids until an interesting break up, year's passing, and they meet each other again. These are the two in the story that have to do with the heart transplant.
After Tory's surgery she begins to experience nightmares and "memories" she knows aren't hers. Her personality changes in profound ways, and her changes are baffling to herself and those around her. Putting two and two together about the nightmares and the cryptic message she knows came from her heart donor, she begins to question it all. She's sure the girl who gave her heart was murdered, and sets out to solve it, aided by a counselor assigned to help her. This is where she begins to find trouble, and it doesn't seem to stop until near the end.
This story kept my interest so much so that I used text-to-speech so I could continue "reading" it while driving today.
My first book by Harry Kraus, and definitely not my last!
February 11, 2013
Have you ever read Cecelia Ahern's book "Thanks for the Memories" in which it discussed about a women who had gotten a blood transfusion and then she started to develop memories of the man who had given her the blood? This is a case called Transference Memories where certain people recieve parts of others bodies and with that transference comes memories of the original owner. It is very rare but it has said to occur, how it happens or why it happens - nobody knows. In A Heartbeat Away , Harry has taken the idea and created his new novel surrounding it when Dr. Tori Taylor ends up almost dying and getting a new heart - she starts to develop nightmares of sorts - the nightmares though aren't like the monster hiding under your bed or in your closet type , but are vivid - almost like they are repressed memories. How is this possible ? Dr. Tori Taylor now with the assistance of her friend Charlotte and newfound friend hospital shrink and counsellor Phin must embark on a journey to discover where her heart came from as the memories are telling Tori, that something bad was the cause of the owner's death and not just a simple electrical fire. This novel is filled with intensity , christian aspects , medical terminology , action , adventure and of course MURDER. This novel also is told in two POV's and set in a Past/Present tense. E.g Before the Operation when the Donor was Young to After the Operation- the current time.
If you love Medical novels and also looking towards a Christian aspect , try any one of Dr. Harry Kraus's novels and you will find yourself impressed.
If you love Medical novels and also looking towards a Christian aspect , try any one of Dr. Harry Kraus's novels and you will find yourself impressed.
September 15, 2012
Started out innocuously enough, but turned into a Christianity sales pitch.
July 4, 2021
Wow! So many twists and turns! Great book!
February 28, 2015
Victoria “Tori” Anne Taylor, MD desperately needs a new heart and as a successful oncology surgeon, she knows what needs to be done but she’s never had the surgery performed on her before. As a doctor, she is adored by her residents and hated by her nurses as she demands perfection in every aspect of critical care. When her job security is threatened and she is forced to stop working and go to therapy, she begins a rocky relationship with Phin MacGrath, the transplant team’s social worker. Tori begins having memories that are not her own that she believes belonged to her heart donor. She begins her own investigation into the death of the woman who gave her heart and her new lease on life. Tori not only has horrific memories but she also has become more compassionate. She can sense what others are feeling and what they need. She is curious to find out more about whose heart she received.
Woven throughout the story is another story of Christian and his love for Emily. Christian’s family is on furlough from the African mission field and is falling in love for the first time.
As Tori and Phin investigate what happened, someone begins to stir up trouble for her and threaten her as she tries to investigate further into the fire that she dreams about but never personally experienced. She senses that her memories are evidence of foul play and has no idea what she is delving into.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Dr. Harry Kraus. The medical details greatly enhanced the story and brought an authenticity to the story that I enjoyed. The characters were so believable and their development was natural. My only critique would be that the story starts out a little slow but it was an exciting mystery that I ended up solving along with the heroine. I loved how the message of Christ’s grace and redemption was naturally woven into the story.
I would definitely recommend this book and will be looking into more books by this author. I received this book for free from NetGalley in return for an impartial review.
Woven throughout the story is another story of Christian and his love for Emily. Christian’s family is on furlough from the African mission field and is falling in love for the first time.
As Tori and Phin investigate what happened, someone begins to stir up trouble for her and threaten her as she tries to investigate further into the fire that she dreams about but never personally experienced. She senses that her memories are evidence of foul play and has no idea what she is delving into.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Dr. Harry Kraus. The medical details greatly enhanced the story and brought an authenticity to the story that I enjoyed. The characters were so believable and their development was natural. My only critique would be that the story starts out a little slow but it was an exciting mystery that I ended up solving along with the heroine. I loved how the message of Christ’s grace and redemption was naturally woven into the story.
I would definitely recommend this book and will be looking into more books by this author. I received this book for free from NetGalley in return for an impartial review.
November 18, 2024
Medicine, romance, faith, thriller, drugs, police—both good and bad. All brought together in an exciting story that I could not put down. Tori is a surgeon who gets a heart transplant and in addition to the heart, she gets memories from the donors life. Emily and Christian are teen sweethearts who break up and don’t see each other until a chance meeting many years later. The two stories alternate throughout the book until they collide. Some clues are given about parts of the mysteries but several are hidden until the end when many details are brought together. I found this book exciting and touching and inspiring. It would be a great book for a book club because there are lots of ideas to discuss and not everything is what it appears to be.
May 3, 2013
I'll start by saying that I will NEVER listens to another book read by Renee Ertl. She reminds me of small town high school theatre try-outs of my youth. Zero talent but trying really hard to get the part of Cinderella.
The book deserves being reviewed only because I cannot believe so many people gave it high marks. The plot is absurd, the characters moronic, the medical stuff ridiculous (I can't believe a surgeon actually wrote this) and the whole experience of even listening to the book while on a long run almost painful (not the run, the book!).
Goes to show you really need to be careful about Some of the Goodread reviews in certain genres.
The book deserves being reviewed only because I cannot believe so many people gave it high marks. The plot is absurd, the characters moronic, the medical stuff ridiculous (I can't believe a surgeon actually wrote this) and the whole experience of even listening to the book while on a long run almost painful (not the run, the book!).
Goes to show you really need to be careful about Some of the Goodread reviews in certain genres.
June 30, 2013
An intriguing mystery that includes medical, crime and romance. A well crafted novel that holds the reader's interest right to the end, and beyond. The story of a surgeon who finds herself on the other side of the operating table as a heart transplant patient. But when she begins to recover from the transplant operation, she finds that she has received more than just a physical heart from her donor, she has received memories and a new compassion for people that had been sadly lacking. But it is the memories that spark an investigation. She is sure that her heart donor didn't die because of an accident, but was murdered. I really enjoyed this story.
January 29, 2013
This was a surprise for me, as I had never ready any of Harry Kraus' books before "A Heartbeat Away." This one grabbed me on the first page and I found it to be a fast paced, suspenseful book with Christian messages thrown into it for good measure. After reading the author's bio, I better understand where he's coming from and applaud his work.
February 1, 2017
This was an entertaining book with interesting characters and situations. It's also a very Christian book. It skips between two story lines. That's not something I'm real thrilled with, but it is important to the story and wasn't especially annoying. It gets just a wee bit cheesy at the end, but not unforgivably so.
October 7, 2012
Loved it!
January 24, 2020
Didn't realize this was a Christian Fiction choice. As a former Christian and a scientist, I found this book so very annoying. To say that you cannot be a scientist and and a person of faith just galls me. The first time I was in my Human Anatomy lab, I had that spiritual connection with G-d. To see the soulless body of a human being on the table, to realize the mass of muscles and other matter on the table once danced and sang, loved and hated, cried and laughed was one of the deepest feelings of my life. The writer has written about a person who needs rules to connect with the Eternal One.
One of the reasons I am no longer a Christian was one of the main points in the book. Only Christians go to heaven.
As I listened to this book, I had to hold my irritation in check when it got preachy. You can be a good person and actually not be a sinner, you can go to heaven (if you believe in such a place) even if you haven't drunk the Christian Kool-Aid. While I find that people may need the community of believers around them, to help, to comfort, to support, you don't have to be a Christian (please define what a Christian is as there are soooo many variations that all think the others are wrong in their assumptions of what Jesus meant.)
Other than the obnoxious "I'm better because I'm a believer" attitude, it was a decent story.
One of the reasons I am no longer a Christian was one of the main points in the book. Only Christians go to heaven.
As I listened to this book, I had to hold my irritation in check when it got preachy. You can be a good person and actually not be a sinner, you can go to heaven (if you believe in such a place) even if you haven't drunk the Christian Kool-Aid. While I find that people may need the community of believers around them, to help, to comfort, to support, you don't have to be a Christian (please define what a Christian is as there are soooo many variations that all think the others are wrong in their assumptions of what Jesus meant.)
Other than the obnoxious "I'm better because I'm a believer" attitude, it was a decent story.
October 16, 2025
This book deserves more than a five star rating! Dr. Taylor is a heart transplant recipient. She received more than the heart, she also received the donor's memories.
Partway into the book Christian and Emily are introduced without any explanation as to how they fit into this story. It was a bit confusing at first, but by the end of the story it became clear.
I couldn't believe this was written by a man! It was so sensitive to Dr. Taylor's emotions as she found herself unable to return to her job as an oncology surgeon as she healed from her own surgery.
I was so engrossed in this story I found myself needing a tissue to wipe my eyes by the time it ended. It was that good!
I read this book because I love medical stories, but it was so much more than that! A touch of romance, quite a bit of mystery, and a peek into the world of organ donation and transplants.
Partway into the book Christian and Emily are introduced without any explanation as to how they fit into this story. It was a bit confusing at first, but by the end of the story it became clear.
I couldn't believe this was written by a man! It was so sensitive to Dr. Taylor's emotions as she found herself unable to return to her job as an oncology surgeon as she healed from her own surgery.
I was so engrossed in this story I found myself needing a tissue to wipe my eyes by the time it ended. It was that good!
I read this book because I love medical stories, but it was so much more than that! A touch of romance, quite a bit of mystery, and a peek into the world of organ donation and transplants.
October 19, 2024
I don’t scare easy. However, A Heartbeat Away kept me on the edge of my seat. Suspense was high and it was difficult to know what characters to trust. I loved the spiritual content and how the author dealt with the issue of a relationship between an atheist and a Christian.
There was a parallel storyline. One plot included the donor and the other was from Dr Taylor who received the heart. Both were gripping and so interesting to guess how they might intertwine. The medical information was written simple enough to easily understand. Overall it was just a compelling plot which made A Hearbeat Away impossible to put down. I can’t wait to check out other books by Harry Kraus.
There was a parallel storyline. One plot included the donor and the other was from Dr Taylor who received the heart. Both were gripping and so interesting to guess how they might intertwine. The medical information was written simple enough to easily understand. Overall it was just a compelling plot which made A Hearbeat Away impossible to put down. I can’t wait to check out other books by Harry Kraus.
October 23, 2024
As an avid reader of Christian Fiction such as Francine Rivers and Karen Kingsbury I decided to read this book. I high hopes for this book with the thrilling description when it started it seemed to be going in the right direction but it fell short. If I could describe this book in one sentence, “going to your favorite restaurant but they don’t have any food that you like”. It’s set up correctly but the story line feels jagged it doesn’t link very well and the descriptions he uses gives me the Ick🤢. To top it off I’m listening to the audible version and the reader is one of the worst I’ve heard. There’s no emotion , flat voice, and she tries to do a British accent and yuck. I wish I could say good things about this book loving Christian fiction but this is one of the worst.
June 28, 2018
This book is about a surgeon who receives a heart transplant along with memories that are terrifying, but are not hers. Tori is bent on finding answers to these flashes of memory while dealing with the time off of work for healing and making sure she has a job to go back to.
I was not sure how I would like it. The description on the back did not intrigue me very much. However, I did enjoy reading it as the story progressed.
The author jumps between Tori's story and point of view and a guy named Christian, there is a little but of frustration when you are getting to some answers and it switches. All in all it was an enjoyable read.
I was not sure how I would like it. The description on the back did not intrigue me very much. However, I did enjoy reading it as the story progressed.
The author jumps between Tori's story and point of view and a guy named Christian, there is a little but of frustration when you are getting to some answers and it switches. All in all it was an enjoyable read.
April 8, 2018
This book wasn't horrible (considering I finished it right to the end), but it was verging on it. An arrogant surgeon receives a heart donation, and with it new inherited memories and compassion. Breaching confidentiality repeatedly, Dr. Taylor discovers the identity of her heart's donor and "solves" a suspected murder.
This was basically the "Christian version" of Grey's Anatomy - all the unprofessional, breach of confidentiality, nose-in-other-people's-business DRAMA... without the sex. #BigGiantFacePalm
This was basically the "Christian version" of Grey's Anatomy - all the unprofessional, breach of confidentiality, nose-in-other-people's-business DRAMA... without the sex. #BigGiantFacePalm
July 1, 2024
A Heartbeat away
I was interested in reading this because it's written by a Christian doctor.
Tori Taylor, surgeon , with a heart of stone receives a heart transplant after an infection.
Soon after, she starts having recurring dreams about a fire & "316".
Christian Mitchell & Emily Greene were high school sweethearts & Christian had grown up in Africa as a missionary son.
All of these lives intersect with lots of drama & mystery.
I was interested in reading this because it's written by a Christian doctor.
Tori Taylor, surgeon , with a heart of stone receives a heart transplant after an infection.
Soon after, she starts having recurring dreams about a fire & "316".
Christian Mitchell & Emily Greene were high school sweethearts & Christian had grown up in Africa as a missionary son.
All of these lives intersect with lots of drama & mystery.
May 27, 2017
This is the first Harry Kraus book that I have read and I really enjoyed it. This is a Christian mystery about a female surgeon who undergoes a heart transplant. Along with the heart she also receives some of their memories and emotions. The book is very suspenseful and got my attention and kept it from the beginning. I'll look for more books by this author.
December 6, 2017
Not all what I suspected. Started off rather on a subject I have never read in a book prior, but very short in the reasoning behind what was happening to the top character after her transplant was figure out and the book became just the run of the mill crime story. It was a good book, but not deep enough to win me over totally. It was audio and I liked the Narrator.
July 13, 2021
Intriguing
I know nothing of the theory of memories coming from the donor to the recipient of organs. I never heard of a recipient's personality becoming more like the donor's. Two very Intriguing ideas to make a very intriguing murder mystery. I need to read more of Harry Kraus' books.
I know nothing of the theory of memories coming from the donor to the recipient of organs. I never heard of a recipient's personality becoming more like the donor's. Two very Intriguing ideas to make a very intriguing murder mystery. I need to read more of Harry Kraus' books.
May 31, 2023
Couldn't put the book down
I love medical thrillers, and this book is one of the best. I've always enjoyed Harry Kraus, and he didn't disappoint in this book. The characters are relatable. The plot is fresh and full of twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of the seat. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves medical thrillers
I love medical thrillers, and this book is one of the best. I've always enjoyed Harry Kraus, and he didn't disappoint in this book. The characters are relatable. The plot is fresh and full of twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of the seat. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves medical thrillers
September 4, 2025
This was an interesting book. A cancer doctor needs a heart transplant. But after her heart transplant she had memories that are not her own. She is having the memories of the heart donor. She realizes the memories she is having are the death of the heart donor. She suspects fowl play. The heart donor was murdered. Now she has to figure out who donated the heart and solve the murder.
June 30, 2018
Toni is a surgeon, this time she is the patient. Awakening to a new heart.
Within her now is memories, are they real. She couldn’t of gotten the heart of a murderer, yet,it was becoming clear, as the memories unfold.
Different, intriguing the way the author wrote this story.
Within her now is memories, are they real. She couldn’t of gotten the heart of a murderer, yet,it was becoming clear, as the memories unfold.
Different, intriguing the way the author wrote this story.
August 18, 2019
Fantastic read!
This is a medical thriller. A story I didn’t want tp put down. It centers around an oncology surgeon who needs a heart transplant. After she gets the heart is when the real story begins. I highly recommend this book and author
This is a medical thriller. A story I didn’t want tp put down. It centers around an oncology surgeon who needs a heart transplant. After she gets the heart is when the real story begins. I highly recommend this book and author
Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews