Kimetszett igazság

Dr. Schwartzman #2

by Danielle Girard

Életeket ​mentett. Miért oltották hát ki az övét?

A halottkém dr. Annabelle Schwartzmannak nem szokása tétlenül ücsörögni, éppen ezért egy újabb gyilkosság helyszínére tart, pedig még lábadozik a kemoterápia után. Mindkét mellének eltávolítását követően szeretne a munkájába temetkezni, ami nem éppen leányálom, ám Schwartzmant megnyugtatja az alapos és aprólékos munka.

Csakhogy a gyilkosság megoldásához vissza kell térnie a rákos betegek közé: a daganatsebészét találták holtan, ráadásul azzal a gyógyszerrel ölték meg, amivel Schwartzman betegségét is gyógyították. Schwartzman és a Hal Harris nyomozó mindent bevet, hogy kiderítse a gyilkosság okát, és elkapja a tettest, mielőtt az újra lecsapna.

Schwartzman számára igencsak személyessé válik az ügy. Bár az őt bántalmazó volt férje börtönben van, és a jelek szerint nem lehet köze a gyilkosságokhoz, újra és újra beférkőzik Annabelle gondolatai közé. Ám ahhoz, hogy Schwartzman kiderítse, ki gyilkolta meg az életét megmentő orvost, kénytelen minden személyes ügyet félretenni.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense

432 pages, Paperback

First published August 22, 2017

About the author

Danielle Girard is the USA Today and Amazon #1 bestselling author of sixteen novels, including the Annabelle Schwartzman Series, Chasing Darkness, and The Rookie Club series.

Her books have won the Barry Award, the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and White Out was in the top 100 bestselling e-books of 2020. In addition, two of her titles have been optioned for screen. Her next thriller, Pinky Swear, will be out from the Emily Bestler Imprint of Atria books February 24, 2026.


Danielle is also the creator and host of the Killer Women Podcast where she interviews the women who write today’s best crime fiction. A graduate of Cornell University, Danielle received her MFA in Creative Writing at Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. When she’s not traveling, Danielle lives in the mountains of Montana.

Reviews

[Rohit Enghakat · Rating 3 out of 5]

A giveaway from Netgalley. I liked the book. At places I found it tedious and the plot drags. The killings do not tie in. There is another subplot of the medical examiner's (our heroine) husband in jail and due for release. The protagonist fears he would come after her for his revenge and suspects his involvement in the murders. This thread also is incomplete. The climax is good and the twist in the story is great. However, the book lacks in building up the suspense and the excitement of reading it for the what-happens-next moment is missing.

[Malina Skrobosinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow build up, but well written.

I'm not sure what it was for me, but I just found my mind wandering at times, and to be honest, this happened with Danielle Girard's first in the series, Exhume. It's almost as if the characters are so fully developed that I lose interest in the storyline. Don't get me wrong, you definitely find yourself completely consumed with empathy for Schwartzman and her current situation of having just undergone a double mastectomy and going through chemotherapy. And Hal, his overwhelming need to protect and nurture her in a fatherly or even brotherly way is very endearing.

What it lacks is anticipation. I didn't feel that anticipation of what was going to happen next and this is why I decided to change my rating from 4 stars to 3 stars. Yeah, we know that Spencer still looms about even though he's in prison... for now. The storyline however, the case that Schwartzman and Hal are currently working on, lacked the excitement I like in a good mystery/thriller. The killer is somewhat calculated, and we get to see things from his point of view, which I do like. The problem with the killer is that we're lead to believe early on that his motives for killing are in part for pleasure, but also in part to protect his brother. As the story further develops, the killing for pleasure becomes almost non-existent and this is where it all falls flat. Call me twisted, but there's something about a psychotic killer that makes for a good story. I also think I would have rather preferred the storyline to of had that cat and mouse game with the police. One where the police are getting close and almost catch the killer, but somehow he eludes the police, but only to later be caught. This might have taken the excitement up a notch. Maybe it would have been a bit predictable, or "been there done that"... but then again, the way this story unfolded was also "been there done that".

All that aside, let's keep in the mind that at the center of this all is the real story, the one of Schwartzman and Spencer. While in this one, Spencer is currently in prison, we learn there is a risk he might get out. For those that read the first in the series you know that Schwartzman planted evidence to help tie Spencer to the murders of her Aunt Ava and Ava's best friend Frances Pickney. This evidence is now being called into question... something that Schwartzman feared could happen at some point. What does this all mean for the fate of Schwartzman and Spencer? Well I guess that's something we'll have to wait and see as we're left with a cliffhanger. Which I will likely read the next in the series because I do enjoy the characters, though I do hope for more excitement.

I want to thank NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Danielle Girard for an opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my review.

[Colten · Rating 2 out of 5]

As should be no surprise to anyone, Dr. Schwartzman's stupidity in the first book has caught up to her.

While the mystery portion of the book is okay, I just can't bring myself to care about the main character. She's a pathetic fool who has allowed fear to dictate her actions, but rather than change, she just waits to be saved by one of the smarter characters. Additionally, the poor detective that tries and tries to show his affection for Dr. S. is a bit sad. In my opinion, Schartzman is too messed up to be appealing for the detective (even if he has some sort of savior complex, which seems probable).

I've given two books in this series a try and I may or may not continue. Some of the secondary characters seem interesting, but I just can't help but be disgusted with the pathetic doctor.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG... what a book!! I loved the first book in this series Exhumed and this one picked right up where that one ended. Anna is in treatment for breast cancer and at the same time she is trying to carry on her role as medical examiner all the while staying safe from her ex husband who is in jail... got all that?? this is a great book, fast paced and a page turner and I can't wait to read more. a big thanks to netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for an advance copy of this book to read and review

[Yellagirlgc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a double mastectomy, undergoing chemotherapy while still working as a medical examiner is how Annabelle Schwartzman perseveres. Her soon to be ex husband is a psychopath that she refuses to let win. While doing her job, worrying about her health and keeping him in the back of her mind is difficult she does it. She's definitely one of my she-roes after reading this book. I felt sorry for her fear but admired her for holding it in & putting her best foot forward.

Her latest case begins with the doctor that performed her mastectomy being killed with the same cancer fighting drugs she's receiving during chemotherapy. Does her ex have something to do with this is always a worry. I hope it doesn't take long for book 3.

I received this book from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

[Brenda I McLean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Schwartzman Series

Picked these books because of the amazon review. I was looking for the next Kathy Reichs or Tess Gerritson. This was not it. I found the characters to be flat and the plot contrived. I hope the main character, Annabelle Schwartzman, is eventually able to break away from her abusive ex and have her HEA, but I won't be reading that book.

[Chrissie Whitley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girard strikes a great balance here with in-depth detail for the work of medical examiner, Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman, without overwhelming the reader with too much information, and the police detective work with homicide inspector Hal Harris.

Also on balance is the book's divided plot. We have the mystery and crime that serves as the main focus of this book: a murder case. But we also have the overall characters' story arcs: namely Schwartzman's dealing with her abusive and murderous ex-husband. Recovering from a double mastectomy, and still currently undergoing chemotherapy treatments, Schwartzman's own surgeon is the first body to be found, setting in motion the rest of the story.

Fast and fun to read, I found Excise to be even more enjoyable than the first in the series, Exhume. There's a red herring, a solid and quite shocking twist, and interesting spins on the typical shared narration. I find these to be as enjoyable as I first found Patricia Cornwell's own medical examiner books to be, and I feel hopeful that Girard wouldn't allow such nonsense to sprout within her own world (let's just say something like, for instance, an age gap closing). A totally enjoyable and engaging book, and I look forward to the continuing series.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. It's weird that I don't actually remembering entering the giveaway drawing, nevertheless I'm glad I won because I very much enjoyed the book. Thank you to Goodreads, Thomas & Mercer, and Danielle Girard.

I found the first book, Exhume, very suspenseful, but it ultimately fell flat with me because the villain was just too smart. Well, the omniscient villain was back and he still bothered me, but thankfully he played a much smaller role in the second book. With him more in the background, I was able to fully appreciate Ms. Girard's ability to build a suspenseful plot. The recurring characters were likeable, mostly the lead character Annabelle Schwartzman but also Inspector Hal Harris and officer Ken Macy, and easy to root for.

I'm afraid my problems with the main bad guy will cause me to dislike the final book in this series, but I'm hooked so I have to read it regardless.

[Wanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I prefer the books I read to have an ending. When are we going to be finished with Spencer? Guess I won't know because I don't plan on reading any more of this series.

[Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a well-written book. Throughout, you are given enough detail to really feel that you are not only a part of the story, but that you can actually feel what the characters are experiencing, yet, the author found a way to maintain a sense of unknown, insecurity about what was happening behind the scenes. It created a deep sense of connection and apprehension, as the closer I got to Schwartzmann, the more I feared for her life and those round her.

Girard did an excellent job to really create characters with depth and enough personality to pull me in to the story. I felt there was a great balance between those I loved, those I wanted to get to know and those I hated/didn’t trust. It left me with a sense of the real world, which made the story all the more real.

The author brilliantly made the story one that filled you with fear, apprehension and that feeling that something was just round the corner. I loved this, as it really kept me on my toes, and the connection between the coexisting stories, really kept you wondering just what was going to happen and who was behind all her fears.

The ending. WOW! I am so caught in this story, and after a brilliant ending like this had, I seriously cannot wait to see what happens next. I need to know!

Honestly, I loved this book and feel it is perfect for a lot of suspense, thriller lovers.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy Girard's characters and their development and relationships make sense to me. But excluding that factor, this book was really only meh. From about a quarter of the way through on, it read like little more than a bridge to the next book in the series, as if Girard needed a case for Schwartzman and Harris to work together while the storyline with Spencer percolated in the background. The whole thing could have been condensed to a prologue to the third book in the series. The case did include a nice little twist at the end, but it wasn't so nice that it justified a 350-page book.

[Vanessa Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I preferred this book to the first one. It was a very quick read and leaves you wanting to read the next one.

[Stephanie Hobbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m about halfway through this book and I am now realizing it’s a sequel? There’s not really any indication of that on it. Regardless, I’m struggling to read this. It’s tedious. The constant switch between perspectives kind of takes me out of it, which is maybe a “me” issue, but I still find myself not enjoying this story. Maybe I’ll start with the first one and come back.

[myreadingescapism · Rating 3 out of 5]

This definitely didn’t hold my interest like the first one. I found myself not caring what was going on.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Schwartzman has more trouble with Spencer, and some local problems as well. Her love life becomes tangled. I guess I like coroners.

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman wants to keep busy while she undergoes chemotherapy treatments and recovers from her double mastectomy so she continues her work as a medical examiner. When she arrives at a crime scene she is shocked to learn the murder victim was her surgical oncologist. With her friend and homicide inspector, Hal Harris, on the case, it becomes apparent that the list of suspects is very long. And despite her abusive soon to be ex-husband in prison, Annabelle can't help but wonder if Spencer had something to do with the murder.

This is a really solid mystery with two characters, Schwartzman and Hal, that are so easy to root for in the book. What I liked most was there were a few interesting storylines going on, the crimes that were occurring in San Francisco, Schwartzman fighting through the effects of her chemo and how it affected her job, and things that happened in the past with Schwartzman and her ex. I haven't read the first book in the series and although doing so would have added more context to this book, I still think this book can be easily read as a standalone novel. Highly recommend to anyone who likes a good mystery with a strong female character.

I received a free ebook from Amazon Publishing but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinions.

[Ingo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of it this book is a fast page-turner, a little dragging for me when the therapy of the MC is described.
A few deaths and a twist from the last book, where a bad decision bites back in this book.
Serial killers and some brutal scenes, but not enough to warrant a trigger warning.
And for once, also turn toward the right and the wrong way to bring someone to trial (see above...) and no vigilante or going alone into dangerous situations. Also tech is up-to-date playing some little role, without being embellished or unrealistic: things take time, not everything is recorded by traffic-cams, mobile phone tracking in a big city is not precise enough, etc .

The two decisions of the MC later in the book regarding her private life are great stuff, just my kind of woman, strong and willful, even with all her problems independent and headstrong. Wow! These two turns alone are worth 1 star for me.

Have the next book lent with a KU trial and will read that next before I pay for Kindle Unlimited (which I consider not worth the amount it costs, but as long as it is a free-trial it is ok).
Might be a 4 star for some but, I feel good about it, and it was a fast 3 days read, and with the strong MC, so 5 stars it is and highly recommended.

[Shaina (ssmbookreview) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite my enjoyment of the first book, this one was just too slow for me. I actually read another book before I finished this one b/c I needed a break. Dr. Schwartzman is just written as such a so/so character and there is not character development of her, Hal, or Ken in this book at all. It was almost as if this book could have been a stand alone. The story with Spencer added nothing to the book except to open the door to book 3. He could have been un-named in this book beyond "abusive ex-husband" and no reader would know different.

The actual murders, the story with Roy, and the home buying were so lost in the book, the reader loses the plot. They're supposed to be investigating murders, but the clues are so few and disconnected the "twist" at the end was a non-event.

[Ray Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

San Francisco Medical Examiner Battles Chemotherapy, Entanglements with Her Ex-Husband, and a Close-To-Home Murder

This novel starts exactly where you would expect when the heroine is a Medical Examiner and the other main character is an Inspector for the San Francisco Police — at a crime scene. Anna Schwartzman, the medical examiner, just returned from medical leave after her double mastectomy but still is in her chemotherapy regimen. As she enters the crime scene, Hal Harris, the usual police inspector, with whom she normally works, tells her the name of the victim. It was the surgeon that performed her mastectomy. Most noticeable on the victim was a terrible apparent chemical burn on most of his chin and in his mouth. The novel takes off from here.

There are three threads in the main storyline. The first and major thread is the murder of her surgeon with the investigation starting in the practice of her oncologist, Dr. Fraser. More deaths occur that seem related but the modi operandi have significant differences. The second and parallel thread provides the events from the murder’s point of view. The third thread is a continuation from the first novel in the series and deals with the situation with her stalking ex-husband, Spencer MacDonald, who currently in jail awaiting trial for murder. Even from jail, Anna believes that Spencer is directly or indirectly responsible for many of the bad events happening in her life. Now, there is a question about the evidence against Spencer, and he may go free. The author weaves these threads into a very captivating novel with many twists, turns, and misdirections that quickly grabbed my attention. In finishing this novel, I continued to read when I should have been up and doing other things.

The B-storyline is equally as rich. The relationship between Anna and Hal continues to develop. Anna’s relationship with Ken Macy, a patrolman, who was stabbed 18 times and dumped on her bed in the first novel, deepens. Anna’s desire to have a home and move out of the apartment with all of its bad memory starts and builds. Again, the author weaves the B-storyline threads seamlessly into the main storylines and enriched the reading pleasure for me.

Some readers object to foul language, and graphic sex scenes. This novel should be acceptable to most readers in these categories. Vulgar language, mostly minor in nature, occurs about one every ten pages. There are not any graphic sex scenes. The same is not true about violent scenes. Several of the murders are described in what I call in the first person, that is, described by the murderer as it happens. This does add some edginess, but not excessive. The most gruesome murder, the first, is described during the autopsy and in discussions that reduces the edginess of these murders.

When this novel was published, I missed it. Subsequently, I have read the third and fourth novels in this series. I purchased this novel and read it last. Since I knew how things turned out, I found it interesting how the author dropped subtle hints of what was going to occur in those follow-on novels. I do not have think that I would have noticed them and probably never remember them when reading those novels later but the author was thinking ahead.

The main reason that I gave the first book with four stars was due to the actions of Anna that I felt were inconsistent with her characters. Well, those actions came back to bite her in this novel. This begs the question as whether you need to read the first novel not to understand some aspects in this novel. My answer is that I do not believe so. The author provides adequate background to understand the actions in this novel.

I definitely do not regret going back to purchase and read this novel. I do recommend reading it. I rate this novel with five stars.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been under the weather lately and I’ve been bemoaning about getting out of bed and dragging my sorry butt to work. After thinking about Danielle Girard’s leading character, medical examiner Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman, from the latest novel in the series, Excise, I feel I have no excuse to complain. Schwarzman starts off Excise recovering from a double mastectomy and enduring the after-effects from her third dose of chemotherapy. On top of that she is constantly looking over her shoulder for anything that might come her way in relation to her psychopathic husband who is now sitting in a South Carolina jail awaiting trial on kidnapping and murder. Between bouts of hurling abdominal contents, she is working on a puzzling murder of a victim that happens to be her surgical oncologist. The paranoid individual that she has become immediately concerns herself on whether this is the work of the abomination known as her husband. Fortunately for Schwartzman it quickly becomes clear that this is the work of a serial killer.

For the more geeky fans of CSI related novels, Girard has introduced an interesting murder weapon to the scene of the crime; Adriamycin, a chemotherapy drug. Adriamycin has the nickname ‘Red Death’ namely because of its color and also because of its numerous serious side effects which includes corrosive properties and its effect on the skin. As you could guess, the scene of the crime is rather gruesome.

I found Excise to be a fun as well as an educational read and highly recommend it to the crime thriller aficionado. This is the second book in the series and even though it could be read without reading the first in the series, Exhume, it would be beneficial to read Exhume before reading Excise to get an understanding of why Schwartzman is paranoid about her husband Spencer.

The next book in the series is Expose with a tentative release date of July 2018.

I would like to thank NetGalley for my Advance Reader Copy of Excise.

If you are interested in learning more about the Dr. Schwartzman Series check it out on my blog A-Thrill-A-Week

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

353 pages

4 stars

I first have to confess that I have read Ms. Girard's Schwartzman books out of order. It makes for a rather disorienting experience, knowing what happens in the next book, or the next makes it interesting to read the backstory.

This is the second book in the series and it is a good one. Dr. Todd Pozner has been horribly murdered. He was a surgeon and he performed Schwartzman's mastectomy. What a horrible coincidence.

Meanwhile, Dr. Schwartzman is recovering from her latest round of chemotherapy. I recall when my mother was undergoing chemo, and the book describes the post-chemo reactions very well. It was truly awful. Schwartzman is feeling weak and nauseated, but determined to continue with her work and examines Pozner.

What follows is a twisty story as Detective Hal and Schwartzman investigate the mysterious death. The reader also gets a first hand view from the point of view of the killer, although we don't know yet who they are.

Schwartzman's ex-husband Spencer also makes a return (the creep), and has plans of his own. Schwartzman's boyfriend Ken is doing better and makes a few cameo appearances.

This is both and interesting and action-tended novel. In it, Schwartzman remains introspective and fearful of Spencer's possible involvement. But, no, that's impossible...right?

An exciting and very well written conclusion brings the story all together in a surprise ending. I didn't suspect that person at all.

Ms. Girard writes a very good story. Her ability is well-proven and consistent. I like Dr. Schwartzman and as a character she is very good. She is competent and works well with her cohorts, such as Hal.

[(Grace) Kentucky Bohemian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough, Brave, Intelligent, but Often Not So Smart.
Dr. Annabelle Schwartzmann is a bit of an enigma. Considering her history as a victim of severe abuse, it's not too surprising. But it is a bit frustrating when such an intelligent character acts with incredible idiocy. Once? Sure, we all have our days. Twice? Yeah, throw her a bone. But repeatedly? Really? It's time for a good counselor and some time off, I'm thinking.

She's pretty much an anti-heroine. She does great things, but her methods are a tad suspect. Okay, that was euphemistic. They're more than suspect. They're wrong. It gets into that gray area of thinking that the good of the outcome outweighs the sin of the method. It's easy to understand how people come to terms with this concept. But Schwartzmann has gotten herself into a huge mess and she doesn't really have anyone to turn to now. She's got to hold this secret close.

There's a lot to like in this story and this series. It's very well written and keeps the reader on the edge throughout. I realized I was enjoying this second book in the series even better than the first, because I was finally growing to understand the good doctor better. I guess I just need to see some signs that she's overcoming her situation better than she currently has. But that is a pretty tall order for one who has been so damaged. That's why I'll come back for more. Maybe I would enjoy the story better if I enjoyed the narration better. I'm not really crazy about the way the narrative sections seem like they're being read by artificial intelligence. But she does well on the dialogues.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very timely book. Annabelle Schwartzman discovered she had breast cancer at the end of the first book, Exhume. She also thought that she had put her ex-husband Spencer Macdonald in jail forever. But, he is in jail but struggling to get out and get to her again. She did have breast cancer and this book opens with her undergoing chemo for a double mastectomy. It is an honest story and she continues to work while undergoing the treatment. Hal, her dependable Inspector, is there for her but she as usual thinks she can do everything herself. She thinks that to let anyone into her life will just make them vulnerable to Spencer. The murders in this story center around a cancer treatment center, and involve her own oncologist and surgeon. A very good book and moves at a fast pace. I did get tired of having her constantly beat herself up over it being her fault that her ex got to everyone in her life. The one twist that is not explained is why her own mother is under Spencer’s influence and visits him in jail. More will be revealed in Book 3 but I’d love to find out sooner than a year from now. But, good things take time. If you like murder mysteries with lots of interesting characters you’ll love this series. The books do stand alone but like all series, it is better to begin with Book 1 so you can totally understand the evil of Spencer MacDonald. I listened on audible and read on Kindle. Love the fact that with Kindle Unlimited you get access to both book types. The narrator Shannon McManus was excellent.

[Ivory Castle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Annabelle Schwartzman is a medical examiner recovering from a mastectomy and chemotherapy. Back at work and struggling to manage the side effects of her treatment, she finds her own doctor is one of the victims she has to investigate.
What did she do in the past that will jeopardise her future and possibly the life of anyone who gets close to her?
Spencer is her ex husband currently in prison for committing cruel and sadistic crimes. He schemes to get Annabelle back and nothing will stop him.
Hal is the homicide detective who looks out for her even when she thinks she doesnt need anyone’s help.
Trent and his brother are twins with more than one secret.
This doctor is one tough cookie and I certainly admired her for it. I dont know if someone could manage work and treatment in real life as she did.
Hal frustrated me a little, as I felt he just needed to take one-step to get closer to Annabelle and form a closer relationship.
If you enjoy mystery/thrillers then I recommend trying this. Your reward will be a gripping tale, a fantastic mix of characters and an ending, which keeps you on your toes and leaves you pleading for more. Note this is book two in the series and in my opinion okay to read as a stand-alone.
The publisher via Netgalley kindly provided a copy of the digital version of this book and this review is solely mine.

[StylesPlenty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took a day to finish reading Exhume - Dr. Schwartzman Series Book 1, which was a gift from a friend, because I was able to receive Excise - Dr. Schwartzman Series Book 2 for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I do not want to give away too much but everyone needs to know about medical examiner Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman, patrol officer Ken Macy, homicide inspectors Hal Harris and Hailey Watt. This takes place in San Francisco and South Carolina.
Quick summary: Dr. Schwartzman is haunted by her estranged husband, Spencer Henry McDonald, who had a hidden dark secret, who caused her to lose their unborn child and refuses to grant her a divorce.
This book is different because it not only has so many twist and turns but mainly seeing that the Dr. Schwartzman has to assist in finding out who was the murderer after she underwent a double mastectomy and getting chemotherapy treatments. She ends up back to the cancer ward because the first victim is her oncologist. He was killed by ingesting the chemical that is used to treat her disease.
This series is a must read and I cannot wait for the 3rd and hopefully not the last book of Dr. Schwartzman series.

[Randi Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annabelle Schwartzman is a troubled woman. Undergoing Chemotherapy for breast cancer with thoughts of psychopathic estranged husband Spencer always in the back of her mind, she turns to her job as medical examiner in San Francisco to keep her mind and body occupied. Had I read the first book in this series, Exhume, I might have understood the details of the relationship between Schwartzman (she doesn’t like to be called Anna or Bella) and Spencer better but most was eventually explained in this book. A prominent doctor, the oncologist who did her surgery, is murdered in a gruesome way. She wonders if somehow Spencer is reaching out from his jail cell to her. Then there are other murders that are apparently connected but no one knows how or why. There are lots of twists and turns in this book but I had no idea who did it until it was revealed in the book and it was a total surprise. The ending indicates that there will be at least one more book in this series. I enjoyed Ms. Girard’s style of writing and look forward to reading more of her work. I thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book about Anabelle Schwartzman and having read the first is essential to understand what's going on. In some ways, this book follows on from the first.... Spencer McDonald is in custody but the case is far from a done deal. However, we also see much more of Schwartzman in her professional role as Medical Examiner investigating murders which are so unusual they have to be related, and yet have no apparent connection.

I found Schwartzman more relatable in this book than the first, although I still don't really feel like I know her. We see much more of her through the eyes of Inspector Hal Harris and I think this helps her seem more human.

At times I found I enjoyed this book immensely, at other times it was the stupidest book I've ever read. I think if you take the book as it's intended, it's quite good. If you question it too much, it is ridiculous. Spencer and his behaviour is beyond belief.... but I will just ignore that. Schwartzman is inconsistent as a character and I still don't know if I like her. But I just love some of the other characters. Ken Macey and Hal Harris are fantastic. I will now be moving on to the third instalment!

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** As much as I enjoyed the first, the second in the series was even better. The author seemed to dive a bit more into character development which I like. It was a bit weird having a case strike so close to home with Anna regarding her doctors but I understand it was to make her paranoid that Spencer was looming closer than they realized. It saddened me that she will be pushing Ken away. I really adore his character but I understand why and it's a realistic reason after a traumatic event. I also seem to be growing fond of Hal being more than a friend to her. He's so protective but not in a overbearing way. The only other disappointing thing is how passive they are with spencer regarding the video of the baby and her being tied up. I understand how the other appeared sketchy but they dont wonder why he had that footage available to play in a creepy room? They arent concerned that she had to bust through glass to escape him? They seem too easy to let him go without questions. Though all-in-all I really enjoyed this book. I'm looking forward to more!

[Nickie Sale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but found it a bit confusing. The book picks up from book 1, with Dr Schwartzman and naturally she is paranoid that everything around her is somehow being organised by her ex-husband who is in prison waiting trial for the events in the last book. When a series of murders occur, they link back to charity organisation and to Dr Schwartzman, but who and why is proving difficult to find out. Is her ex-husband involved? If so how is he doing this? Then her ex-husband's defence lawyers find video footage, which shows Dr Schwartzman with a bag going into her ex-husbands home. We know from book 1 that the bag contains evidence that she planted on her ex-husband and she knows if this comes out, the case against her ex-husband will collapse. Dr Schwartzman has to try and explain whats in the bag and why she didn't have it when she left the house, without jeopardizing the case. The finale of book, is not one you would expect, when the murderer is revealed and the outcome of the case against Dr Schwartzman ex-husband. I would love to see a book 3 in this series.

[Melissa Ammons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excise is book two in the Dr. Schwartzman Series. If you have not read Exhume, I highly recommend you do, otherwise Excise won't make any sense to you.

SPOILER ALERT!

In Excise, we pick up where we left off in Exhume. Dr. Schwartzman has had her surgery and has returned to work as the medical examiner. Four unexplained, yet seemingly connected deaths occur. Strangely enough, these deaths all appear to be related to the chemotherapy drug, Adriamycin, on some level. Who had access to the pharmacy to get this drug? Who would benefit from these deaths? Is Spencer (Dr. Schwartzman's currently incarcerated husband, soon to be ex) to blame, even from behind his cell? Join Hal Harris, San Francisco police inspector, and Dr. Anna Schwartzman as they pursue the killer and a few other twists and turns along the way.

Looking forward to the third book in this series, Exposed, followed by the fourth to be released in July 2019, Expire.

Well done, Mrs. Girard, well done!