What do you think?
Rate this book
Brad Parker and Karen Richmond #4
Ill Intent
Brad Parker and Karen Richmond Book 4.
A terminally ill scientist leaves a letter to be delivered to his niece upon his death. A letter revealing a forty-year-old secret so damning that she’s killed to keep it from seeing the light of day. As Brad Parker, director of the Maine Translational Research Institute, and his partner, FBI agent Karen Richmond, investigate, the death toll mounts. And their own lives and careers are threatened.
A terminally ill scientist leaves a letter to be delivered to his niece upon his death. A letter revealing a forty-year-old secret so damning that she’s killed to keep it from seeing the light of day. As Brad Parker, director of the Maine Translational Research Institute, and his partner, FBI agent Karen Richmond, investigate, the death toll mounts. And their own lives and careers are threatened.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2021
215 people are currently reading
666 people want to read
About the author
Geoffrey M. Cooper
29 books139 followersGeoffrey M. Cooper is an award-winning author of medical thrillers and a 2023 Maine Literary Award Finalist in Crime Fiction. His experience as a former cancer researcher and scientific administrator, having held positions at Harvard Medical School and Boston University as professor, department chair, and associate dean, now provides extensive background for his novels. He lives in Ogunquit, Maine.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 19, 2022
I read the book before this one in this series and was hooked. I was excited to find this one available to read and couldn't put it down. I love a good mystery book, and this book delivers handily. It also makes you think while you're reading, but is also entertaining without being frivolous. I can't wait to see if there are other books in this series to read.
November 6, 2021
Another excellent entry in the Brad Parker and Karen Richmond series of medical thrillers. This one begins with a post-doctoral researcher receiving a note at her late uncle’s funeral, which contains shocking information from the deceased. But before she can act on it, she is murdered, and the note taken from her.
From there, it’s up to Brad and Karen to once again unravel a tangled web, and they gradually find a scandal that goes back decades, and that someone will stop at nothing to keep buried.
As in previous books, Brad and Karen are likable protagonists, and this book gives us a chance to see new aspects of them. There’s one scene where Brad is forced to use a gun to defend himself and Karen. It’s something that does not come easily to a lifelong academic, and I really liked how this haunts him afterwards.
I highly recommend this book, and the series as a whole.
Oh, and one other thing… the food in this book! Cooper’s descriptions of the delicious New England fare that Brad and Karen dine on while they’re working never fail to get my mouth watering. 🙂
From there, it’s up to Brad and Karen to once again unravel a tangled web, and they gradually find a scandal that goes back decades, and that someone will stop at nothing to keep buried.
As in previous books, Brad and Karen are likable protagonists, and this book gives us a chance to see new aspects of them. There’s one scene where Brad is forced to use a gun to defend himself and Karen. It’s something that does not come easily to a lifelong academic, and I really liked how this haunts him afterwards.
I highly recommend this book, and the series as a whole.
Oh, and one other thing… the food in this book! Cooper’s descriptions of the delicious New England fare that Brad and Karen dine on while they’re working never fail to get my mouth watering. 🙂
November 5, 2021
Ill Intent is the fourth book in the Brad Parker and Karen Richmond thriller series, and as with the first three, it’s a fluidly written and highly entertaining read.
This one starts with a letter that leads to a woman’s death, a letter that threatens to spill a secret and shake things up in the academic world. Enter Brad and Karen, he with his scientific reasoning and professional connections and she with her FBI investigative skills. Together they work to uncover the letter’s contents and ultimately, the killer’s identity.
As always, Cooper effortlessly weaves Brad’s personal life and every-man issues into the story, so that the reader feels like they’re spending time with an old friend. As such, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and found it to be a terrific escape!
This one starts with a letter that leads to a woman’s death, a letter that threatens to spill a secret and shake things up in the academic world. Enter Brad and Karen, he with his scientific reasoning and professional connections and she with her FBI investigative skills. Together they work to uncover the letter’s contents and ultimately, the killer’s identity.
As always, Cooper effortlessly weaves Brad’s personal life and every-man issues into the story, so that the reader feels like they’re spending time with an old friend. As such, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and found it to be a terrific escape!
January 9, 2022
Book Review of Ill Intent: A Medical Thriller by Nicole Harmon
Title: Ill Intent: A Medical Thriller-Brad Parker and Karen Richmond Book 4
Author: Geoffrey M. Cooper
Publish Date: November 15, 2021
Publisher: Maine Authors Publishing
Book Blurb: "Carolyn, Something very strange has happened concerning my uncle, John Lowell…Can we meet tomorrow morning to discuss? It will be easier when you can read his letter. It is an apology for something that happened forty years ago, but I’m afraid it could really disrupt our field, and I need your help to decide how to deal with it. Ellen.” P 17
Summary
This fourth installment of the Brad Parker and Karen Richmond series takes you into the world of academia in a different way. Brad Parker is now the acting director of the MTRI program which also researches cancer treatments. One of the esteemed members of the tenured has recently passed away and his niece Ellen Turner knows his co-worker, Carolyn. She has requested Carolyn's help with a task her deceased uncle has left her with. Ellen however was murdered before the two could meet. This murder starts an investigation into the causes and motives behind the murder of a graduate student by Brad Parker and Karen Richmond, FBI.
Following the trail, the two start with the body of the deceased and what they know about her. In doing so they find that her uncle Professor Lowell has left her a letter that he wished for her to give to another professor, Professor Carlisle. Wondering what it was she had opened it and immediately requested assistance in finding the named party. This led Brad and Karen back to his college to find out from Carolyn what she knew as she originally requested the look into the death of Ellen.
It turns out through their investigation that Professor Lowell may have derailed a colleague's career-that of Professor Carlisle. In keeping with that theory, they went to visit Professor Carlisle but found him also deceased but this time, definitely the scene of a murder. His death turned up more questions. Why would both Ellen Turner a graduate student and Professor Carlisle be murdered?
Delving further into the investigation and as you read this book you find out several important pieces of information:
1. Tenure ship depends on publications and Nobel Prize all but assures you of a tenure ship.
2. A peer review by someone in your field-one of the best minds can either assure you of the position or it will derail you.
3. Someone stole the work of a promising professor Carlisle a long time ago.
4. Professor Pruitt is the one who benefited from the stolen paper but how did he get it?
The last question was answered by some particularly good investigative work and also as a character says in this novel "following the science." It may become your new favorite phrase for some. That is exactly how they solved the murder of Ellen Turner and Professor Carlisle. By the end of the novel this conspiracy started years ago with the stealing of Professor Carlisle's paper only to be re-entered as the work of Professor Pruitt, two professorships later, no one was the wiser until that letter.
That letter threw Dede Taylor into a tailspin wondering what would happen to her. Her marriage in Dede's own words was over. All she had was her job as a professor. It was all to her.
Did she risk all to protect the career she got by crook in the first place?
Read this novel in its entirety to find out. I dare not give out the ending.
Analysis
I give this book 5 stars. I love medical thrillers. They follow a formula when you read them. All points of information are hit upon and explained to everyone's satisfaction. It is like a primer novel. Think Sue Grafton.
But what I liked about this novel was the pairing of the professor and the FBI agent as "life partners."
What I also liked about this novel was how following the science-meaning the submission of the paper with the breakthrough cancer treatment led them to other suspects and people with information. In the end, it was the piece that clinched the reason for all of the deaths described in this novel.
I thought it was wrapped up very neatly by the end of the novel. How your career becomes the be all of your existence is definitely discussed here in the sense that sometimes our paths diverge into a different life than expected. Had the actual murder or person who wanted the murders to happen not originally blocked the submission piece this whole novel would not have happened. We would have missed an incredibly delightful read.
This is definitely worth a read by any who likes medical thrillers. Particularly those who like to read about mysteries dealing with schools and students.
I highly recommend this novel for you to all read. Great writing to the author!
Title: Ill Intent: A Medical Thriller-Brad Parker and Karen Richmond Book 4
Author: Geoffrey M. Cooper
Publish Date: November 15, 2021
Publisher: Maine Authors Publishing
Book Blurb: "Carolyn, Something very strange has happened concerning my uncle, John Lowell…Can we meet tomorrow morning to discuss? It will be easier when you can read his letter. It is an apology for something that happened forty years ago, but I’m afraid it could really disrupt our field, and I need your help to decide how to deal with it. Ellen.” P 17
Summary
This fourth installment of the Brad Parker and Karen Richmond series takes you into the world of academia in a different way. Brad Parker is now the acting director of the MTRI program which also researches cancer treatments. One of the esteemed members of the tenured has recently passed away and his niece Ellen Turner knows his co-worker, Carolyn. She has requested Carolyn's help with a task her deceased uncle has left her with. Ellen however was murdered before the two could meet. This murder starts an investigation into the causes and motives behind the murder of a graduate student by Brad Parker and Karen Richmond, FBI.
Following the trail, the two start with the body of the deceased and what they know about her. In doing so they find that her uncle Professor Lowell has left her a letter that he wished for her to give to another professor, Professor Carlisle. Wondering what it was she had opened it and immediately requested assistance in finding the named party. This led Brad and Karen back to his college to find out from Carolyn what she knew as she originally requested the look into the death of Ellen.
It turns out through their investigation that Professor Lowell may have derailed a colleague's career-that of Professor Carlisle. In keeping with that theory, they went to visit Professor Carlisle but found him also deceased but this time, definitely the scene of a murder. His death turned up more questions. Why would both Ellen Turner a graduate student and Professor Carlisle be murdered?
Delving further into the investigation and as you read this book you find out several important pieces of information:
1. Tenure ship depends on publications and Nobel Prize all but assures you of a tenure ship.
2. A peer review by someone in your field-one of the best minds can either assure you of the position or it will derail you.
3. Someone stole the work of a promising professor Carlisle a long time ago.
4. Professor Pruitt is the one who benefited from the stolen paper but how did he get it?
The last question was answered by some particularly good investigative work and also as a character says in this novel "following the science." It may become your new favorite phrase for some. That is exactly how they solved the murder of Ellen Turner and Professor Carlisle. By the end of the novel this conspiracy started years ago with the stealing of Professor Carlisle's paper only to be re-entered as the work of Professor Pruitt, two professorships later, no one was the wiser until that letter.
That letter threw Dede Taylor into a tailspin wondering what would happen to her. Her marriage in Dede's own words was over. All she had was her job as a professor. It was all to her.
Did she risk all to protect the career she got by crook in the first place?
Read this novel in its entirety to find out. I dare not give out the ending.
Analysis
I give this book 5 stars. I love medical thrillers. They follow a formula when you read them. All points of information are hit upon and explained to everyone's satisfaction. It is like a primer novel. Think Sue Grafton.
But what I liked about this novel was the pairing of the professor and the FBI agent as "life partners."
What I also liked about this novel was how following the science-meaning the submission of the paper with the breakthrough cancer treatment led them to other suspects and people with information. In the end, it was the piece that clinched the reason for all of the deaths described in this novel.
I thought it was wrapped up very neatly by the end of the novel. How your career becomes the be all of your existence is definitely discussed here in the sense that sometimes our paths diverge into a different life than expected. Had the actual murder or person who wanted the murders to happen not originally blocked the submission piece this whole novel would not have happened. We would have missed an incredibly delightful read.
This is definitely worth a read by any who likes medical thrillers. Particularly those who like to read about mysteries dealing with schools and students.
I highly recommend this novel for you to all read. Great writing to the author!
November 22, 2021
There’s something to be said for a writer who walks the proverbial walk. Not only has Geoffrey M. Cooper penned a handful of well-received medical thrillers, the former cancer-researcher and current author has done a tremendous job infusing his work with an authentic touch. Case in point being Cooper’s latest offering, ‘Ill Intent,’ another thought-provoking mystery set against a medical industry backdrop.
‘Ill Intent’ opens with a fascinating premise that sets an ominous tone from the very first page. Following her uncle’s passing, Ellen receives a letter disclosing a secret so earth-shattering, it ultimately costs her life. When FBI Agent Karen Richmond and her proverbial partner in crime, Brad Parker are brought in to investigate the murder, the duo quickly realize that Ellen’s death was simply the latest step in a decade’s-long cover-up. To make matters worse, their efforts are met with some unforeseen resistance, ultimately placing Karen and Brad in the killer’s crosshairs.
For fans of Cooper’s previous work, ‘Ill Intent’ is likely to deliver more of what they’ve come to expect from the ‘Brad Parker and Karen Richmond Medical Thrillers’ series: a hint of danger, loads of suspense, a trim plot with a handful of twists, and, of course, Brad and Karen’s ever-colorful banter. Despite the grim artwork adorning the cover (featuring a blood-soaked gun), ‘Ill Intent’ features a brisk pace and a surprisingly healthy dose of humor. And while there’s an obvious sexual tension brewing between the protagonists, the romance is largely kept on the backburner. Cooper clearly enjoys writing for both characters—from the personal quirks to their differing approaches to, well, just about everything, both Parker and Richmond are fully-fleshed out.
To that point, as the fourth installment in an ongoing series featuring Parker and Richmond, there’s an earned familiarity between both characters that may be lost upon those unfamiliar with Cooper’s other releases. Still, ‘Ill Intent’ more than works as a standalone title, and an argument could be made that this is Cooper’s most polished offering to date.
‘Ill Intent’ opens with a fascinating premise that sets an ominous tone from the very first page. Following her uncle’s passing, Ellen receives a letter disclosing a secret so earth-shattering, it ultimately costs her life. When FBI Agent Karen Richmond and her proverbial partner in crime, Brad Parker are brought in to investigate the murder, the duo quickly realize that Ellen’s death was simply the latest step in a decade’s-long cover-up. To make matters worse, their efforts are met with some unforeseen resistance, ultimately placing Karen and Brad in the killer’s crosshairs.
For fans of Cooper’s previous work, ‘Ill Intent’ is likely to deliver more of what they’ve come to expect from the ‘Brad Parker and Karen Richmond Medical Thrillers’ series: a hint of danger, loads of suspense, a trim plot with a handful of twists, and, of course, Brad and Karen’s ever-colorful banter. Despite the grim artwork adorning the cover (featuring a blood-soaked gun), ‘Ill Intent’ features a brisk pace and a surprisingly healthy dose of humor. And while there’s an obvious sexual tension brewing between the protagonists, the romance is largely kept on the backburner. Cooper clearly enjoys writing for both characters—from the personal quirks to their differing approaches to, well, just about everything, both Parker and Richmond are fully-fleshed out.
To that point, as the fourth installment in an ongoing series featuring Parker and Richmond, there’s an earned familiarity between both characters that may be lost upon those unfamiliar with Cooper’s other releases. Still, ‘Ill Intent’ more than works as a standalone title, and an argument could be made that this is Cooper’s most polished offering to date.
December 28, 2021
“Ill Intent” by Geoffery M. Cooper is a lightning-fast-paced medical thriller that I enjoyed very much. Mr. Cooper’s descriptions of the locations in the story are so vivid that I felt as if I was there because they are actual places in Massachusetts and Maine where he lives (I checked). His descriptions of the world of academia are spot on too as he is a professor of biology who has served as department head and dean. Our author is writing what he knows and it shows. Our protagonists Professor Brad Parker and FBI Special Agent Karen Richmond are quite an in-tune and loving couple. For Cooper's sake, I am hoping that he is writing from first-hand experience, meaning he is involved in a relationship similar to the one he portrays.
Our story begins with Ellen Turner returning home from the funeral of her uncle John Lowell who was a medical researcher. At the reception, a colleague of the late professor gives her an envelope that he was instructed to hand-deliver upon Lowell’s death. She reads the letter and is troubled by its contents, so much so that she immediately leaves the funeral feigning an illness. The letter is an apology to another scientist and to the scientific community in general for something done 40 years earlier. On the way home, she calls a colleague to describe the basics of the letter and sets up a meeting to discuss it the next morning. Upon her arrival home, she is accosted by armed men looking for the letter. They take it and her too.
Ellen Turner was a postdoctoral student at the same research institute where Brad Parker is interim director. Upon hearing of her murder, Brad and Karen Richmond were on the case to solve the murder with almost no clues. Their one lead was a missing letter about something that happened 40 years earlier. For the rest of the investigation, you will have to read it on your own, and you will be happy that you did. This is the third Geoffery M. Cooper novel that I have read and he is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Enjoy!
Our story begins with Ellen Turner returning home from the funeral of her uncle John Lowell who was a medical researcher. At the reception, a colleague of the late professor gives her an envelope that he was instructed to hand-deliver upon Lowell’s death. She reads the letter and is troubled by its contents, so much so that she immediately leaves the funeral feigning an illness. The letter is an apology to another scientist and to the scientific community in general for something done 40 years earlier. On the way home, she calls a colleague to describe the basics of the letter and sets up a meeting to discuss it the next morning. Upon her arrival home, she is accosted by armed men looking for the letter. They take it and her too.
Ellen Turner was a postdoctoral student at the same research institute where Brad Parker is interim director. Upon hearing of her murder, Brad and Karen Richmond were on the case to solve the murder with almost no clues. Their one lead was a missing letter about something that happened 40 years earlier. For the rest of the investigation, you will have to read it on your own, and you will be happy that you did. This is the third Geoffery M. Cooper novel that I have read and he is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Enjoy!
January 9, 2022
A Medical thriller, with enigmatic plots, shocking revelations, and a story that invites its reader's conjectures about whodunit, Ill Intents takes its readers on a journey through the eyes of Brad Parker, a cancer researcher, who soon finds himself involved in the investigations of a murder case stemming from a case of scientific misconduct that took place some 40 years ago.
An apology letter is received by the niece of a scientist guilty of a crime committed 40 years ago, asking for the truth to be revealed, requesting her to disclose a 'sin against science and truth' by presenting the truth in front of the world. After receiving the letter, the niece's life is lost, soon followed by other murders, in an effort to maintain the history buried in the past. A cancer researcher and the interim director at the Maine Translational Research Institute, Brad Parker, along with his lover FBI agent Karen Richmond, are determined to capture the mastermind of the crime, who is finding Brad's involvement a serious threat. With Brad's scientific knowledge, could he be a major player and help to FBI? Will they make it through this case, which involves not just the discovery of foul conduct, the outcome of insatiable ambition, but also the development or contraction of the lovers' relationship?
With the author's background as a former cancer researcher and a scientific administrator, Brad Parker, the narrator and main character of the thriller, takes on a genuine and relatable quality as a scientist. A man in his fifties, Brad is affectionate and smart; he is somewhat a mirror image of Karen, a strong, savvy woman who's determined and a passionate lover. The love angle between the two is a great aspect of the somewhat intense and harrowing crime investigations.
Ill Intent turns out to be a page-turner for mystery and crime thriller lovers, with its romance element, and the storyline that keeps one guessing.
An apology letter is received by the niece of a scientist guilty of a crime committed 40 years ago, asking for the truth to be revealed, requesting her to disclose a 'sin against science and truth' by presenting the truth in front of the world. After receiving the letter, the niece's life is lost, soon followed by other murders, in an effort to maintain the history buried in the past. A cancer researcher and the interim director at the Maine Translational Research Institute, Brad Parker, along with his lover FBI agent Karen Richmond, are determined to capture the mastermind of the crime, who is finding Brad's involvement a serious threat. With Brad's scientific knowledge, could he be a major player and help to FBI? Will they make it through this case, which involves not just the discovery of foul conduct, the outcome of insatiable ambition, but also the development or contraction of the lovers' relationship?
With the author's background as a former cancer researcher and a scientific administrator, Brad Parker, the narrator and main character of the thriller, takes on a genuine and relatable quality as a scientist. A man in his fifties, Brad is affectionate and smart; he is somewhat a mirror image of Karen, a strong, savvy woman who's determined and a passionate lover. The love angle between the two is a great aspect of the somewhat intense and harrowing crime investigations.
Ill Intent turns out to be a page-turner for mystery and crime thriller lovers, with its romance element, and the storyline that keeps one guessing.
January 16, 2022
I had forgotten how much I enjoy thrillers. I don’t read them often but when I do, I always get sucked into the story and with Ill Intent, it was exactly the same.
From the very first page we are thrust into the beginning of a case, I mean a few pages in and you already get a murder, which makes you sit up and go okay, we’re starting big. A murder is always intriguing right? Especially over a letter that doesn’t seem like too big of a deal but clearly holds more weight than the reader realizes.
From there the book propels forward at a fast pace. Every chapter is interesting and moves the plot forward and you get caught up in trying to solve the case too. I was pleasantly surprised by who the killer turned out to be and I loved how the two main main characters were able to get to that point, from multiple interviews to reviewing old files.
I’ve not read Cooper’s other books involving Brad Parker and Karen Richmond, in Ill Intent there are clear references to previous cases they worked on, but that doesn’t derail from this story. This does work as a stand along piece.
I loved that the book focused on solving a murder but also delves into the lives of the two main characters, as they navigate the next stage of their relationship. I also enjoyed their partnership and teamwork…and also every meal they ate in this book sounded amazing! And the description of their home in Maine sounded lovely too.
In terms of the plot, I thought everything moved forward in a clean way and I enjoyed how Cooper used his background in cancer research and academia work to fuel aspects of this story. He obviously knows what he’s talking about and the plot felt credible…though I did question whether the murderer would have really gone to that extent just to protect their career…
Overall I would highly recommend this book and now need to check out his other works because Brad and Karen are just fun characters that I want to see more of.
From the very first page we are thrust into the beginning of a case, I mean a few pages in and you already get a murder, which makes you sit up and go okay, we’re starting big. A murder is always intriguing right? Especially over a letter that doesn’t seem like too big of a deal but clearly holds more weight than the reader realizes.
From there the book propels forward at a fast pace. Every chapter is interesting and moves the plot forward and you get caught up in trying to solve the case too. I was pleasantly surprised by who the killer turned out to be and I loved how the two main main characters were able to get to that point, from multiple interviews to reviewing old files.
I’ve not read Cooper’s other books involving Brad Parker and Karen Richmond, in Ill Intent there are clear references to previous cases they worked on, but that doesn’t derail from this story. This does work as a stand along piece.
I loved that the book focused on solving a murder but also delves into the lives of the two main characters, as they navigate the next stage of their relationship. I also enjoyed their partnership and teamwork…and also every meal they ate in this book sounded amazing! And the description of their home in Maine sounded lovely too.
In terms of the plot, I thought everything moved forward in a clean way and I enjoyed how Cooper used his background in cancer research and academia work to fuel aspects of this story. He obviously knows what he’s talking about and the plot felt credible…though I did question whether the murderer would have really gone to that extent just to protect their career…
Overall I would highly recommend this book and now need to check out his other works because Brad and Karen are just fun characters that I want to see more of.
December 12, 2021
John Lowell is a scientist but terminally ill, and upon his death, leaves a letter for his niece. It contains a 40-year-old secret that is so awful his niece is killed to keep it quiet. With the secret seemingly grounded in science, Brad Parker, director of MTRI, and Karen Richmond, FBI agent, investigate.
Ill Intent: A Medical Thriller is the next book in the series. It is a thriller and detective book that can be read as part of the series or as a standalone. Although there are previous books, the reader doesn't necessarily need to have read them to enjoy this book as it is a new plot and the characters are well-founded. I recommend checking out the previous books if you want the bigger picture. But Ill Intent is an easily enjoyable read on its own.
The writing is comparable to the previous books, if not better. I thought the plot was engaging and well-paced. It also wasn't obvious where the story was going, and the author does well to throw you off the scent. I liked this because I was guessing till the end. There are a lot of plot twists that keep the story fresh, and I was happy to see that the book was in no way repetitive from the earlier books in the series. I also thought the ending was strong with everything tied up and dealt with but leaving space for the story of Brad Parker and Karen Richmond to continue.
The author did a great job on this installment, and I recommend reading it, especially if you are a fan of the series as it is a quality sequel. I look forward to the next book!
Ill Intent: A Medical Thriller is the next book in the series. It is a thriller and detective book that can be read as part of the series or as a standalone. Although there are previous books, the reader doesn't necessarily need to have read them to enjoy this book as it is a new plot and the characters are well-founded. I recommend checking out the previous books if you want the bigger picture. But Ill Intent is an easily enjoyable read on its own.
The writing is comparable to the previous books, if not better. I thought the plot was engaging and well-paced. It also wasn't obvious where the story was going, and the author does well to throw you off the scent. I liked this because I was guessing till the end. There are a lot of plot twists that keep the story fresh, and I was happy to see that the book was in no way repetitive from the earlier books in the series. I also thought the ending was strong with everything tied up and dealt with but leaving space for the story of Brad Parker and Karen Richmond to continue.
The author did a great job on this installment, and I recommend reading it, especially if you are a fan of the series as it is a quality sequel. I look forward to the next book!
December 17, 2021
An exciting murder mystery taking place in the medical/science field. Ill Intent is another in the Brad Parker and Karen Richmond thriller series that had me hooked from the prologue. This installment of the series starts when Ellen receives a letter at her late uncle's funeral, which includes a confession from the deceased. Ellen is killed before she can do anything about the contents of the letter. With little to go on Brad and Karen begin their investigation into a decades old secret.
I have not actually read the other books in the series, but this one stands on its own. There are references to what happens in the other books but reading them was not necessary to enjoy this. If anything, this installment has made me want to read the rest of the series. The book is a page turner - full of suspense, a little danger and twists and turns that I was not expecting. I definitely did not anticipate the ending and was kept guessing right up until the reveal. Cooper also does a great job writing Brad and Karen's relationship - the characters have a natural chemistry and good banter. The intersection between the main investigation/mystery and the romance subplot was also well-done. The romance didn't take away from the main plot but added another layer to the story.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to potentially more Brad & Karen stories!
I have not actually read the other books in the series, but this one stands on its own. There are references to what happens in the other books but reading them was not necessary to enjoy this. If anything, this installment has made me want to read the rest of the series. The book is a page turner - full of suspense, a little danger and twists and turns that I was not expecting. I definitely did not anticipate the ending and was kept guessing right up until the reveal. Cooper also does a great job writing Brad and Karen's relationship - the characters have a natural chemistry and good banter. The intersection between the main investigation/mystery and the romance subplot was also well-done. The romance didn't take away from the main plot but added another layer to the story.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to potentially more Brad & Karen stories!
December 26, 2021
"Ill Intent: A Medical Thriller" is the latest installment of Cooper's Brad Parker and Karen Richmond Medical Thrillers series. Research Assistant Ellen receives a final letter from her uncle, a well known scientist suffering from a terminal illness. But what was thought to be a heartfull farewell letter turns to something much more sinister when Ellen is murdered and the letter goes missing. Within the letter lies a secret that's "a sin against science and truth" and threatens to rock the entire science community, leaving countless people to face the consequences. When a second person is murdered, Brad Parker and his FBI agent girlfriend, Karen Richmond step in to investigate. The further the pair investigate, they realize the killer has set his eyes on them, putting not only their careers in danger, but their lives as well. Cooper does an excellent job at balancing a thrilling investigation and character development. The story's suspense and action will keep readers engaged from the start, while Brad and Karen's familiar banter keeps the story lighthearted despite the grisly backdrop.
December 1, 2021
I must say that Geoffrey M. Cooper made Ill Intent: A Medical Thriller a fun book to read. I couldn't stop reading this book until I was finished. I'm not the type to read quickly since I like to pace myself. However, I couldn't do it with this book. This book took me on this mystery ride and I didn’t want to stop reading. I also like the fact that the two characters' romance in the book wasn't something that took away from the story. Usually, when there's sexual or romantic tension between the main characters, it will take away from the actual plot of the book. Geoffrey was able to make it so that didn't happened in this book and I'm so thankful for that. It made me love the story even more. Not to mention, this book was unpredictable and I couldn't guess what would happened next. I recommend this book to adults that love mystery that has a medical twist to it. Those who shows like Diagnosis Murder or Murder She Wrote will love this. I give this book a 5 out of 5 rating.
December 8, 2021
You don't need to read books 1-3 to enjoy this Brad Parker & Karen Richmond mystery/medical thriller. I wasn't sure what a "medical thriller" was - but it's basically a mystery that takes place in the medical field. I'm not sure how books 1-3 approach that concept, but I really enjoyed this take on it. Brad & Karen must find intent & motive for 2 murders. I liked the pacing between thrilling investigation and slower personal/character development. It's clear these characters are developed and settled (boyfriend-girlfriend/long-time partners?) but there is still growth taking place. The actual mystery was very well written too. The reader is kept in the dark and is one the adventure with Brad (the medical expert) and Karen (the FBI agent) as they interview leads and have run-ins with bad guys. And I liked how it all shakes out - you think you know the answer/"who-done-it" but, as usual, the culprit isn't who you expect. 5/5 stars
December 13, 2021
As a huge fan of murder mysteries, I’ve read my fair share. I often pick up on all the clues dotted throughout, have a few potential scenarios and then guess the correct one by three quarters of the way through at the latest. Having never read any Geoffrey M. Cooper Thrillers, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was completely clueless by the end. This is a truly suspenseful novel which left me guessing right up to the very end when the unexpected truth was unravelled. Full of dark secrets, lies, danger, unexpected twists and turns and just a dash of romantic tension between Brad and Karen, this one has it all. As a thriller it doesn’t mould to the usual blueprint, instead it makes its own path and that is what keeps it so suspenseful throughout. The lead characters are smart, fast and deeply constructed.
This is a great standalone read, but I will definitely be going back and reading the other books in this series. Cooper has himself a new fan.
This is a great standalone read, but I will definitely be going back and reading the other books in this series. Cooper has himself a new fan.
January 7, 2022
Another enthralling scientific murder mystery from Geoffrey Cooper, “Ill Intent” follows a medical professor, Brad, and FBI agent, Karen, as they work to unravel a secret from 40 years ago that someone feels is worth killing for to keep the truth hidden. Taking them on a weaving path between Boston and Maine, these life partners perfectly balance each other utilizing Brad’s scientific academia knowledge with Karen’s crime solving expertise to bring the mystery to a close. While the book provides enough background to be read as a standalone, you can get more enjoyment out of their relationship and storyline if you’ve read the previous installments in the series. The science isn’t too overpowering in this story, the narrative is fast-paced, and I always enjoy the details he brings in regarding the surrounding areas. Overall, a well written novel for fans of murder mystery and scientific research alike.
December 6, 2021
Ill Intent by Geoffrey M. Cooper is a medical thriller that will keep you glued to the pages. Brad Parker's postdoc assistant is upset about a letter she received from her deceased uncle. Ellen planned to meet Brad the next day, but her murder prevented that meeting from ever happening. Police say it was a burglary gone wrong. Without the letter, Brad and his FBI girlfriend, Karen Richmond, begin to think something cynical was going on.
Geoffrey M. Cooper skillfully entices his audience with medical mishaps and murder entwined. Ill Intent hooks you with the mystery of what was so important to the letter that was stolen. Brad and Karen make a good team and bring this story to life. The intensity grows as murders begin to pile up. It all hinges on the content of that letter; can they find it?
Geoffrey M. Cooper skillfully entices his audience with medical mishaps and murder entwined. Ill Intent hooks you with the mystery of what was so important to the letter that was stolen. Brad and Karen make a good team and bring this story to life. The intensity grows as murders begin to pile up. It all hinges on the content of that letter; can they find it?
December 20, 2021
Another riveting and wholly engaging installment into Geoffery M. Cooper's medical thriller series. This is book 4 of the series, and while it would definitely help readers with context to have read the previous three books, there are many good things about this book that make a stand-alone success. Cooper's ability to thread his real-life medical experience into these thrilling novels is endlessly impressive and makes for the most exciting and captivating read.
I would say that Cooper has truly mastered the art of the medical thriller and this book won't let his readers down. Bringing back character favorites (Parker and Richmond!) and surprising his readers with a new, ominous plot to figure out, set within the twisting depth of the medical-industrial complex --anyone will be impressed and in awe of Cooper's newest and latest masterpiece.
I would say that Cooper has truly mastered the art of the medical thriller and this book won't let his readers down. Bringing back character favorites (Parker and Richmond!) and surprising his readers with a new, ominous plot to figure out, set within the twisting depth of the medical-industrial complex --anyone will be impressed and in awe of Cooper's newest and latest masterpiece.
December 21, 2021
Geoffrey M. Cooper has penned a polished medical thriller that showcases a combination of talent and medical expertise. He presents readers with a plot full of high-octane suspense, action, and thoughtful characterization.
I loved how he developed an ominous tone from the instance Ellen Turner opens her late uncle's letter and finds a chilling revelation that cannot stay hidden. Cooper leaves very few clues along the way making readers devour the narrative to find out how the mystery was solved. The ending was nothing like I imagined making the reading experience all the more rewarding.
"Ill Intent: A Medical Thriller" by Geoffrey Cooper is a well-contrived story. Fans of Imbalance and Requital will find this fascinating novel a welcoming read.
I loved how he developed an ominous tone from the instance Ellen Turner opens her late uncle's letter and finds a chilling revelation that cannot stay hidden. Cooper leaves very few clues along the way making readers devour the narrative to find out how the mystery was solved. The ending was nothing like I imagined making the reading experience all the more rewarding.
"Ill Intent: A Medical Thriller" by Geoffrey Cooper is a well-contrived story. Fans of Imbalance and Requital will find this fascinating novel a welcoming read.
December 1, 2021
Ill Intent: A Medical Thriller by Geoffrey M. Cooper is a great read and one that grabs your attention from the beginning pages. The author having been in the medical field gives this book its authenticity and clarity. As the fourth in a series, this one features Brad Parker and Karen Richmond who work to solve a medical mystery. The writing itself is precise yet engaging, while the plot develops well and pulls the reader along. The characters are well defined yet highly relatable; they seem like real people with very real problems. The perfect book for a reading escape and one that is immensely entertaining. Highly recommend it.
December 13, 2021
Ill Intent: A Medical Thriller is the first book I've read in this series and also my first medical mystery. As a fan of murder mysteries, this was certainly a good one.
I'm used to reading more cozy mysteries, so there were times where I felt this one was a little harsh, but it's the genre. Overall, the book was written well and wove quite the mystery.
I enjoyed the characters enough and the mystery certainly kept me guessing until the end. Not to mention that it's a fairly quick read and the mystery will have you turning the pages. If you love murder mysteries and are looking for something a little different, this is a great book. I'll be picking up the others in the series soon.
I'm used to reading more cozy mysteries, so there were times where I felt this one was a little harsh, but it's the genre. Overall, the book was written well and wove quite the mystery.
I enjoyed the characters enough and the mystery certainly kept me guessing until the end. Not to mention that it's a fairly quick read and the mystery will have you turning the pages. If you love murder mysteries and are looking for something a little different, this is a great book. I'll be picking up the others in the series soon.
December 21, 2021
This was a very well told thriller. The pacing was just right and the flow of the story made it easy to read without getting too hung up in areas. It also had a great balance of tension and setting to further induce emotions the author wanted the reader to feel. I was drawn to this book bc it is a medical thriller (Robin Cook is one of my all time favorite authors). The characters were well written and I liked them, though I feel character development could have been stronger. This is definitely more plot driven than character driven. While part of a series, this can be read as a standalone which is quite nice.
April 1, 2023
I received this in a Giveaway. This was another great book in this series. The characters are great and the story continued from the last book. Brad and Karen have some decisions to make about their future and end up working on another murder case. This time, they are trying to link two murders with something that happened forty years ago. Who could be behind the murders and what are they trying to hide? How far will they go to hide something? This book was well-written and put you in the story. There was a lot going on, which made the book interesting and drew me in at the beginning and kept me reading until the end. This was an enjoyable book and series that I recommend reading.
December 13, 2021
This is the second medical thriller I’ve read in this series and I must say my appreciation of Cooper’s style is increasing. His pleasing blend of mystery, romance, personal greed, pet care and gourmet/ fast food dining gives credibility to the characters and the situations in which they find themselves. Cooper controls the plot pace beautifully, making us turn pages quickly in short event-filled chapters, but then slowing us down just enough while his characters’ enjoy food, pets or love-making. Ill Intent is realistic and entertaining. Great, quick read.
January 18, 2022
A page turner! Cooper's background shines throughout this well-researched read. Fans of medical thrillers will be delighted to find twists and turns around every plot corner. Loved the sexual tension amidst the imminent danger and heightened suspense. A keeper for fans of conspiracy theories mixed with mystery and a hint of colorful banter between characters. This can work as a standalone title, but after reading Cooper and Richmond's work, I think many will flock to his other similar titles. And the whole letter that got the ball rolling -- outstanding!
December 6, 2021
A scientist pens a letter to his niece, one that will kickstart a murderous spree. FBI Agent Karen Richmond and Brad Parker return in the third book of the series to take on this case. The author spins another murder mystery heavily set in the medical genre. The duo is able to bring back the banter and high level of intelligence that drew you I in the first 2 books, but I felt like the story followed the same formula and was hoping for something new. Other than that, it was still a good book and still worth reading.
August 7, 2025
Ill intent
A really great read. Love how comfortable Mr. Cooper makes me feel like I am actually in the room with the characters. I can smell the lobster rolls, and the single malt scotch. Just the right amount of intimacy where one can use their own mind without reading gaudy descriptions. I also appreciate minimal use of four letter words. Great reading, wonderful plot. And best of all the ending
A really great read. Love how comfortable Mr. Cooper makes me feel like I am actually in the room with the characters. I can smell the lobster rolls, and the single malt scotch. Just the right amount of intimacy where one can use their own mind without reading gaudy descriptions. I also appreciate minimal use of four letter words. Great reading, wonderful plot. And best of all the ending
Read
November 11, 2022Great story
Academia sure has its share of greedy scientists . This story starts with the murder of a young scientist , neice of a well known scientist who had just dird. His history is the actual story , a wrong he did to a good friend . Lots of searching for clues by Brad Parker .
One typo that I found .
Academia sure has its share of greedy scientists . This story starts with the murder of a young scientist , neice of a well known scientist who had just dird. His history is the actual story , a wrong he did to a good friend . Lots of searching for clues by Brad Parker .
One typo that I found .
December 22, 2021
Lack of excitement
I was bored with this book and had trouble finishing it. Confusing when the chapters were written by two different people so it took a paragraph or two to figure out it was about. Not engaged with the main characters either.
I was bored with this book and had trouble finishing it. Confusing when the chapters were written by two different people so it took a paragraph or two to figure out it was about. Not engaged with the main characters either.
January 22, 2023
Ok read
Nothing really earth shattering. Just a nice quick read. Always appreciate the science but I wish the author would stop writing scenes for Brad to act "cop like". That should be the job for Karen.
Nothing really earth shattering. Just a nice quick read. Always appreciate the science but I wish the author would stop writing scenes for Brad to act "cop like". That should be the job for Karen.
February 22, 2023
Dry
You need to be an academic to enjoy this story. Too technical and boring for me. My condolences to the author as I am sure you have an audience for your work. This is just my opinion.
You need to be an academic to enjoy this story. Too technical and boring for me. My condolences to the author as I am sure you have an audience for your work. This is just my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews