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Angelo Perrotta Mysteries #1
Perfect Flaw
When newly-minted Dr. Angelo Perrotta joins an exclusive concierge medical practice, he believes he has found success. His charismatic colleague, Demetre Kostas only adds to the promise of the new job. But when a series of tragic events transform his dream job into a nightmare, Angelo is confronted by disturbing accusations and the even more troubling cop, Jason Murphy. Now Angelo must unravel the secret entanglements surrounding him not just to save his career, but his life.
ebook
Published February 15, 2022
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About the author
Frank Spinelli
7 books38 followersFrank Spinelli, MD is an American born physician living in New York.
He has contributed articles for the Advocate and The Huffington Post. Writing credits include: The Advocate Guide to Gay Men’s Health and Wellness (Alyson Books), Pee-Shy: A Memoir (Kensington Books), which has been optioned to be developed into a limited series and contributing author – Our Naked Lives (Bordighera Press) and Understanding the Sexual Betrayal of Boys and Men (Routledge).
He has made appearances on Sirius Radio’s Morning Jolt with Larry Flick and co-hosted Speak Out: Real Talk about AIDS.
Documentary credits include, 30 Years from Here (Emmy-nominated), Positive Youth and I’m a Porn Star.
Television credits include ABC News, NBC Nightly News, MTV, a national commercial and Sesame Street. In 2015, he hosted a season of Dueling Doctors.
Frank Spinelli is an advocate for child sexual abuse survivors and has given frequent interviews about his experience as a victim of child sexual abuse while in the Boy Scouts.
Perfect Flaw is his first novel.
He has contributed articles for the Advocate and The Huffington Post. Writing credits include: The Advocate Guide to Gay Men’s Health and Wellness (Alyson Books), Pee-Shy: A Memoir (Kensington Books), which has been optioned to be developed into a limited series and contributing author – Our Naked Lives (Bordighera Press) and Understanding the Sexual Betrayal of Boys and Men (Routledge).
He has made appearances on Sirius Radio’s Morning Jolt with Larry Flick and co-hosted Speak Out: Real Talk about AIDS.
Documentary credits include, 30 Years from Here (Emmy-nominated), Positive Youth and I’m a Porn Star.
Television credits include ABC News, NBC Nightly News, MTV, a national commercial and Sesame Street. In 2015, he hosted a season of Dueling Doctors.
Frank Spinelli is an advocate for child sexual abuse survivors and has given frequent interviews about his experience as a victim of child sexual abuse while in the Boy Scouts.
Perfect Flaw is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 3, 2022
Out today, 15 Feb 2022!
I love getting lost in an engaging story, and Frank Spinelli had my guts churning with his new medical mystery thriller, Perfect Flaw. The main character, Angelo, makes one mistake after another, and has the worst luck in the history of forever! What should have been his dream job turns out to be a nightmare; and the future he worked so hard to secure, is irreparably destroyed. No doubt, if he could do it all again, Angelo would make some very different choices.
From the moment Angelo appears on the page, Frank Spinelli lays the groundwork to explain how anyone could possibly have such poor common sense. Step by step, Angelo’s decisions grow increasingly questionable, and the fallout mounts to catastrophic levels. As we gradually learn his family history, meet his ex-boyfriend, and spend time with his friends and family, Angelo’s actions and reactions start to make sense.
The rest of the cast of characters are just as gritty and unerringly real. Whether they’re wearing their flaws right out in the open, or if Angelo (as the storyteller) is just really good at seeing - and telling us - what’s under their masks, these folks are authentic in their humanity.
One of the highlights for me, in reading Perfect Flaw, is the way Frank Spinelli builds the suspense. The persistent thrum of foreboding gains momentum as the story unfolds, and Angelo’s naivete and poor judgment leads him down a slippery slope. The twists and turns along the way are perfectly crafted to pull us deeper into Angelo’s expanding nightmare.
Frank Spinelli’s writing is completely engaging. Smart and very subtle, there’s a lot of information to be gleaned when we read between the lines. The dialogue is quick and clever, and serves to establish the unique relationship Angelo shares with each person he meets. Plus this story is so creative, I never knew what might happen next!
There are some gruesome and macabre scenes in Perfect Flaw, and the vivid descriptions heighten the sensation that all of this could actually happen. I love the down to earth, realness of this story, and it’s a testament to this talented author that he successfully keeps this up through the whole novel. I’m thoroughly impressed with Frank Spinelli, and I’ve got my fingers crossed this is the first of many thrillers we see from him!
I love getting lost in an engaging story, and Frank Spinelli had my guts churning with his new medical mystery thriller, Perfect Flaw. The main character, Angelo, makes one mistake after another, and has the worst luck in the history of forever! What should have been his dream job turns out to be a nightmare; and the future he worked so hard to secure, is irreparably destroyed. No doubt, if he could do it all again, Angelo would make some very different choices.
From the moment Angelo appears on the page, Frank Spinelli lays the groundwork to explain how anyone could possibly have such poor common sense. Step by step, Angelo’s decisions grow increasingly questionable, and the fallout mounts to catastrophic levels. As we gradually learn his family history, meet his ex-boyfriend, and spend time with his friends and family, Angelo’s actions and reactions start to make sense.
The rest of the cast of characters are just as gritty and unerringly real. Whether they’re wearing their flaws right out in the open, or if Angelo (as the storyteller) is just really good at seeing - and telling us - what’s under their masks, these folks are authentic in their humanity.
One of the highlights for me, in reading Perfect Flaw, is the way Frank Spinelli builds the suspense. The persistent thrum of foreboding gains momentum as the story unfolds, and Angelo’s naivete and poor judgment leads him down a slippery slope. The twists and turns along the way are perfectly crafted to pull us deeper into Angelo’s expanding nightmare.
Frank Spinelli’s writing is completely engaging. Smart and very subtle, there’s a lot of information to be gleaned when we read between the lines. The dialogue is quick and clever, and serves to establish the unique relationship Angelo shares with each person he meets. Plus this story is so creative, I never knew what might happen next!
There are some gruesome and macabre scenes in Perfect Flaw, and the vivid descriptions heighten the sensation that all of this could actually happen. I love the down to earth, realness of this story, and it’s a testament to this talented author that he successfully keeps this up through the whole novel. I’m thoroughly impressed with Frank Spinelli, and I’ve got my fingers crossed this is the first of many thrillers we see from him!
March 26, 2022
When newly-minted Dr. Angelo Perrotta joins an exclusive concierge medical practice, he believes he has found success. His charismatic colleague, Demetre Kostas only adds to the promise of the new job. But when a series of tragic events transform his dream job into a nightmare, Angelo is confronted by disturbing accusations and the even more troubling cop, Jason Murphy. Now Angelo must unravel the secret entanglements surrounding him not just to save his career, but his life.
Review:
I am going to trust the author where the description of medical practice is concerned. The author is a physician according to his bio, so I am going to trust that the descriptions were true to reality ( or generalized just enough to remind reality). Unfortunately after I finished this book, I was absolutely confused as to what genre this book is supposed to be? The quote from review in the blurb of the book promised "twisty, suspenseful, sensual thriller". Sensual? Opinions may differ on that, but what I want to know is how the book can be characterized as thriller . Oh there were two suspenseful moments in the last quarter of the book and by suspenseful moments I mean that the main character was in the fear for his life. That is enough to call it thriller? In my opinion probably not. Twisty? Oh no, not at all, one plot twist is not enough for me, I am sorry. Everything else was. a little boring and predictable.
The main character's life unravels pretty much almost from the beginning till probably the last quarter of the book ( thats when he stops making stupid decisions and starts accepting and dealing with the consequences of his actions), but once again is it a thriller? I don't know, I would probably call it a medical drama with the strange character arc for the main character. Someone who wants to be rich because of the tough childhood?
Okay, but I felt like I was supposed to feel that working in the successful medical practice that can help you make a lot of money is not a good thing even if you are not doing anything shady ( plenty of shady things happening at this specific practice don't get me wrong, but because of some character choices I got this feeling that this is what I was supposed to walk away with.
Also most importantly I am still not sure what was appealing about the main character. It is not that I thought he was a horrible person , even if he made plenty of terrible decisions. You could see he cared about the patients in the best way, so that was lovely, but he was just so stupid oh my god. And in order to care about him facing consequences ( and he did, he certainly did not escape unscathed, I was glad for that), I had to care for him from the beginning, and I just did not. I want to be rich, so anything and everything counts? I may come back to this, because I feel that this review is not very clear and contradictory, but I do know that I did not enjoy this book all that much. It was competently written, but very much not my cup of tea.
PS. There is a murder too, but I highly recommend not to think of this book as a mystery either.
Review:
I am going to trust the author where the description of medical practice is concerned. The author is a physician according to his bio, so I am going to trust that the descriptions were true to reality ( or generalized just enough to remind reality). Unfortunately after I finished this book, I was absolutely confused as to what genre this book is supposed to be? The quote from review in the blurb of the book promised "twisty, suspenseful, sensual thriller". Sensual? Opinions may differ on that, but what I want to know is how the book can be characterized as thriller . Oh there were two suspenseful moments in the last quarter of the book and by suspenseful moments I mean that the main character was in the fear for his life. That is enough to call it thriller? In my opinion probably not. Twisty? Oh no, not at all, one plot twist is not enough for me, I am sorry. Everything else was. a little boring and predictable.
The main character's life unravels pretty much almost from the beginning till probably the last quarter of the book ( thats when he stops making stupid decisions and starts accepting and dealing with the consequences of his actions), but once again is it a thriller? I don't know, I would probably call it a medical drama with the strange character arc for the main character. Someone who wants to be rich because of the tough childhood?
Okay, but I felt like I was supposed to feel that working in the successful medical practice that can help you make a lot of money is not a good thing even if you are not doing anything shady ( plenty of shady things happening at this specific practice don't get me wrong, but because of some character choices I got this feeling that this is what I was supposed to walk away with.
Also most importantly I am still not sure what was appealing about the main character. It is not that I thought he was a horrible person , even if he made plenty of terrible decisions. You could see he cared about the patients in the best way, so that was lovely, but he was just so stupid oh my god. And in order to care about him facing consequences ( and he did, he certainly did not escape unscathed, I was glad for that), I had to care for him from the beginning, and I just did not. I want to be rich, so anything and everything counts? I may come back to this, because I feel that this review is not very clear and contradictory, but I do know that I did not enjoy this book all that much. It was competently written, but very much not my cup of tea.
PS. There is a murder too, but I highly recommend not to think of this book as a mystery either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2021
Perfect Flaw
By Frank Spinelli
One Block Empire/Blind Eye Books, February 2022
Five Stars
As soon as I saw that the author is an MD, I realized he brought an insider’s understanding to the angst-ridden story of Angelo Perrotta, a young doctor, fresh out of his residency, lured by the siren call of a private medical practice with a big-name physician.
What’s striking about this book is that everybody is flawed. There are, nominally, good guys and bad guys, but really it’s just a many-layered study in how some folks’ flaws push them over the edge into evil, while others, by luck or pluck (or both), keep from going into the abyss.
Angelo comes from a background of poverty and fatherlessness, which has left him scarred, literally and figuratively. He describes himself as pathetically aspirational, but he also has (as you might expect) daddy issues. Angelo is dazzled by Anthony Stanzione, a high-profile private doctor specializing in HIV treatment from his Park Avenue office. Stanzione is the archetype of the successful, powerful gay man. He’s the doctor Angelo wants to be and the father Angelo never had. Angelo thinks that he’s captured the brass ring; but right away things begin to feel off at Dr. Stanzione’s practice.
What Angelo doesn’t realize is that his shiny new boss is flawed, too, with a drive for celebrity and profit. Angelo doesn’t see it immediately, but that’s because he’s susceptible to it himself, given his background—which is revealed in flashbacks and conversations over the course of the narrative. It is Angelo’s susceptibility to the lure of money and power that brings him into contact with his boss’s former patient turned potential business partner, Demetre Kostas. Demetre not only looks and acts with the kind of confidence Angelo wishes for, but he’s older and very good looking.
Even the most obvious good guys in the book, policeman Jason Murphy and Angelo’s best friend from medical school Tamara—called Tammy—are flawed. This keeps Angelo from seeing them as clearly as he should, making him a less good friend that he should be, but also leaving him vulnerable to the darker influences around him. Angelo is so desperate for some fantasy notion of “success” that he’s dangerously blinkered, morally and emotionally.
It is frustrating to watch Angelo fumble with bad choices and crippling insecurity when it’s clear that he’s meant to be a bright light in this cast of characters. You want to shake him and tell him to wise up. But the author insists on exploring every possible frailty that drives his gentle soul. It takes multiple disasters, including near estrangement from his beloved sister Camille, before Angelo finally finds himself on the brink, wondering if he’ll be able to save himself and the people he loves.
This isn’t a romance, but it’s a multi-faceted love story. It’s a nailbiter, too, and kept me caught up in its drama right to the end.
By Frank Spinelli
One Block Empire/Blind Eye Books, February 2022
Five Stars
As soon as I saw that the author is an MD, I realized he brought an insider’s understanding to the angst-ridden story of Angelo Perrotta, a young doctor, fresh out of his residency, lured by the siren call of a private medical practice with a big-name physician.
What’s striking about this book is that everybody is flawed. There are, nominally, good guys and bad guys, but really it’s just a many-layered study in how some folks’ flaws push them over the edge into evil, while others, by luck or pluck (or both), keep from going into the abyss.
Angelo comes from a background of poverty and fatherlessness, which has left him scarred, literally and figuratively. He describes himself as pathetically aspirational, but he also has (as you might expect) daddy issues. Angelo is dazzled by Anthony Stanzione, a high-profile private doctor specializing in HIV treatment from his Park Avenue office. Stanzione is the archetype of the successful, powerful gay man. He’s the doctor Angelo wants to be and the father Angelo never had. Angelo thinks that he’s captured the brass ring; but right away things begin to feel off at Dr. Stanzione’s practice.
What Angelo doesn’t realize is that his shiny new boss is flawed, too, with a drive for celebrity and profit. Angelo doesn’t see it immediately, but that’s because he’s susceptible to it himself, given his background—which is revealed in flashbacks and conversations over the course of the narrative. It is Angelo’s susceptibility to the lure of money and power that brings him into contact with his boss’s former patient turned potential business partner, Demetre Kostas. Demetre not only looks and acts with the kind of confidence Angelo wishes for, but he’s older and very good looking.
Even the most obvious good guys in the book, policeman Jason Murphy and Angelo’s best friend from medical school Tamara—called Tammy—are flawed. This keeps Angelo from seeing them as clearly as he should, making him a less good friend that he should be, but also leaving him vulnerable to the darker influences around him. Angelo is so desperate for some fantasy notion of “success” that he’s dangerously blinkered, morally and emotionally.
It is frustrating to watch Angelo fumble with bad choices and crippling insecurity when it’s clear that he’s meant to be a bright light in this cast of characters. You want to shake him and tell him to wise up. But the author insists on exploring every possible frailty that drives his gentle soul. It takes multiple disasters, including near estrangement from his beloved sister Camille, before Angelo finally finds himself on the brink, wondering if he’ll be able to save himself and the people he loves.
This isn’t a romance, but it’s a multi-faceted love story. It’s a nailbiter, too, and kept me caught up in its drama right to the end.
October 16, 2022
I really wanted to like this given all the high star ratings I'd seen but this barely rated a 3 for me. I struggled to like much less warm to MC Angelo - his self-defeating inner dialogue got a little too much after a while despite the eventual growth and self-understanding by book's end. I was a little put off by one or two descriptive passages e.g. . Also a couple of niggling editing issues such as
December 16, 2021
5+ stars 💞I'll start of by saying this had me glued from first to last pages as the story as out. A new debut author with this brilliantly written book and I hope to see more.
A great start is one staff member leaves the Doctors practice and another starts ie Angelo.
Angelo was the new head of clinical trials of HIV for Doctor Stanzoine.
umm it's fast comes clear that Angelo is lowest doctor that Stanzione himself takes over patients. yah I didn't like Stanzoine at all in this he seemed like a player even having his hubby Steven by his side, yah you get the feels with these guys as secondary characters.
Angelo has an abusive Ex that comes back to humiliate him being submissive and turns his day into a bad one.
A fast feeling develops for Angelo for the surgeries neighbor, Demetre and sizzles under the surface, but there’s more to Demetre. A another man is interested in Angelo, Jack who's the police officer making an interesting part of the book.
A comprehensive storyline with things happening which gets deeper with Cal's death which I won't spoil for readers. But in saying that Angelo needs to find his way to success on his own rather than being lead. This is a story with lots of feels that I wanted to shout at Angelo for doing something stupid..
Told with Angelo POV and includes domestic abuse, drug usage, alcohol rehab, and a murder described. A great ending with suspense filled scenes happen which concludes for a HEA.
Angelo had done his training to earn being a new doctor and now starts in a share in a private practice.
also reviewed on mmbookwormreviews.com
A great start is one staff member leaves the Doctors practice and another starts ie Angelo.
Angelo was the new head of clinical trials of HIV for Doctor Stanzoine.
umm it's fast comes clear that Angelo is lowest doctor that Stanzione himself takes over patients. yah I didn't like Stanzoine at all in this he seemed like a player even having his hubby Steven by his side, yah you get the feels with these guys as secondary characters.
Angelo has an abusive Ex that comes back to humiliate him being submissive and turns his day into a bad one.
A fast feeling develops for Angelo for the surgeries neighbor, Demetre and sizzles under the surface, but there’s more to Demetre. A another man is interested in Angelo, Jack who's the police officer making an interesting part of the book.
A comprehensive storyline with things happening which gets deeper with Cal's death which I won't spoil for readers. But in saying that Angelo needs to find his way to success on his own rather than being lead. This is a story with lots of feels that I wanted to shout at Angelo for doing something stupid..
Told with Angelo POV and includes domestic abuse, drug usage, alcohol rehab, and a murder described. A great ending with suspense filled scenes happen which concludes for a HEA.
Angelo had done his training to earn being a new doctor and now starts in a share in a private practice.
also reviewed on mmbookwormreviews.com
October 9, 2023
I've given this an A for narration and a B+ for content at AudioGals
Frank Spinelli’s Perfect Flaw is hard to categorise. It’s a compelling character-driven story told from the perspective of a young, newly-qualified doctor whose dream job quickly turns into a nightmare that jeopardises the future he’s worked so hard to build. It has a bit of everything – mystery, romance, murder, suspense – and a very flawed, somewhat naïve, yet endearing protagonist I couldn’t help rooting for even as I was facepalming at his mistakes! It also has Cooper North at the microphone; it’ll come as no surprise when I say that was a big draw!
Dr. Angelo Perotta has joined the elite Park Avenue medical practice run by his former mentor, Dr. Anthony Stanzione, a top HIV specialist. Angelo’s best friend Tammy, who is working at a local ER, isn’t impressed and clearly thinks he’s sold out, but he’s sure it’s where he’s meant to be. Stanzione is a great doctor, the kind of doctor Angelo wants to be, and the kind of father figure Angelo – who grew up poor and fatherless – is constantly searching for. His hero worship and belief that Stanzione is infallible blinds him to the man’s flaws, especially as his own background – which the author skilfully drip-feeds through conversations and flashbacks throughout the story – makes him equally as susceptible to the lure of money and the high-life.
From the start, there’s the sense that something isn’t quite right at the practice; Angelo is given a lot of responsibility from day one and is quickly introduced to the ways in which pharmaceutical companies do business with medical professionals (basically amounting to expensive lunches, holidays and other bribes). It makes him uncomfortable, but he’s not going to rock the boat. It’s just the way things are done.
Angelo hasn’t been at the practice long when he meets Demetre Kostas, a former patient of Stanzione’s who is leasing the lower floor of the building to house his aesthetic (cosmetic) practice. Demetre is a charismatic and attractive older man who exudes the sort of confidence Angelo longs for. Angelo is immediately smitten – so when Stanzione asks him to learn more about what Demetre does and to be a kind of liaison between the two practices, he can’t believe his luck.
Demetre draws Angelo like a moth to a flame; he’s charming and flirtatious with an air of danger about him and his willingness to help Angelo and spend time with him both satisfies Angelo’s craving for attention and bolsters his always shaky self-esteem. It also causes him to dismiss the attentions of a good-looking cop he meets while at the local hospital – he’s so infatuated with Demetre, that Jason Murphy barely registers on his radar. Eager to succeed and for Demetre to see him as someone desirable and worth wanting, Angelo can’t – or won’t – see, and then deliberately ignores, the red flags raised by Demetre’s behaviour. After making a series of increasingly disastrous decisions, there comes a turning point – thankfully – but by this time, Angelo is so far enmeshed in what is turning into a total shitshow that it could be too late for him to save his career – or his life.
I admit there were times I wanted to yell at Angelo to get his head out of his arse, see how he was being used by the people around him and stop making such terrible decisions – but despite that I couldn’t stop listening to this story, even when he was plunging from one disaster into another. Once we learn about Angelo’s past, that he’s ashamed of and looks down on his humble beginnings and even views himself the same way, identifying as “poor white trash”, it’s easy to understand why he’s so focused on the belief that wealth and status will give him everything he’s been missing, and why he allows himself to make such poor choices. It takes a big wake-up call – a succession of them really – to force him to realise what he’s been doing, to reassess his priorities and to learn to value the things that really matter, like love and friendship. Fortunately, he has good people around supporting him; his sister, who has finally left her abusive spouse, and Jason, who Angelo just about managed NOT to totally screw things up with!
The author – himself a doctor – tackles a number of difficult subjects in this book and doesn’t shy away from showing just how some in the health care business (and it IS a business in the US – once again, I am thankful for the NHS!) have become divorced from the caring side of it and are motivated far more by ambition, money and prestige. He builds the suspense slowly but steadily, right from the beginning, injecting a growing sense of unease that turns to dread as Angelo blindly stumbles from one poor decision to the next.
There’s a lot going on in this story, but while it felt a little slow to start, I was hooked from the beginning – even though sometimes I wanted to do the listening equivalent of watching it through my fingers! It’s hard to hear Angelo getting things so wrong, struggling with massive insecurities (Imposter Syndrome, perhaps?) and losing himself and his essential decency – but it makes for a fascinating and gripping story, with an ending that is all the more satisfying for being so hard won.
I’d had my eye on the print release of Perfect Flaw (but couldn’t get to it; as usual – too many books, too little time) so I was delighted to be able to catch up with it in audio, doubly so because Cooper North is narrating. I can’t think of a single thing about his performance that didn’t work for me; his pacing, characterisation and differentiation are all excellent and his portrayal of Angelo – the book’s sole narrator – is superb. An upbeat manner and a lighter tone convey his relative youth, and his eagerness to please and his need for acceptance come through strongly. Mr. North injects a genuine sense of fear and bewilderment in the scenes where Angelo is slowly unravelling, and he really delivers when it comes to the emotional content of the story in general. There’s a fairly large secondary cast, and all are portrayed in ways that make it easier for the listener to visualise them; Demetre’s deep voice and casual manner depict him as a large and imposing man while the higher pitch with a gravelly note given to Stanzione reveal him to be older and perhaps not as stable as he would like to appear. The only real criticism I can make is that there are a couple of female characters who sound a bit similar, but because they never appear together it’s easy to work out who is who in context. It’s a wonderful performance by a talented voice actor who clearly gets the story and the characters. As I said at the beginning, Perfect Flaw doesn’t fit neatly into one particular category; if I had to label it, I’d call it a character-driven mystery or maybe a psychological thriller with romantic elements. (Yes, there is a romance that ends happily, but it’s low key and not the main focus. Also – the use of the word “tumescence” in sex scenes should be banned!) But whatever you want to call it, it’s nail-biting, angsty and thoroughly entertaining, and I’m more than happy to recommend it.
You can read the rest of this review at AudioGals
Frank Spinelli’s Perfect Flaw is hard to categorise. It’s a compelling character-driven story told from the perspective of a young, newly-qualified doctor whose dream job quickly turns into a nightmare that jeopardises the future he’s worked so hard to build. It has a bit of everything – mystery, romance, murder, suspense – and a very flawed, somewhat naïve, yet endearing protagonist I couldn’t help rooting for even as I was facepalming at his mistakes! It also has Cooper North at the microphone; it’ll come as no surprise when I say that was a big draw!
Dr. Angelo Perotta has joined the elite Park Avenue medical practice run by his former mentor, Dr. Anthony Stanzione, a top HIV specialist. Angelo’s best friend Tammy, who is working at a local ER, isn’t impressed and clearly thinks he’s sold out, but he’s sure it’s where he’s meant to be. Stanzione is a great doctor, the kind of doctor Angelo wants to be, and the kind of father figure Angelo – who grew up poor and fatherless – is constantly searching for. His hero worship and belief that Stanzione is infallible blinds him to the man’s flaws, especially as his own background – which the author skilfully drip-feeds through conversations and flashbacks throughout the story – makes him equally as susceptible to the lure of money and the high-life.
From the start, there’s the sense that something isn’t quite right at the practice; Angelo is given a lot of responsibility from day one and is quickly introduced to the ways in which pharmaceutical companies do business with medical professionals (basically amounting to expensive lunches, holidays and other bribes). It makes him uncomfortable, but he’s not going to rock the boat. It’s just the way things are done.
Angelo hasn’t been at the practice long when he meets Demetre Kostas, a former patient of Stanzione’s who is leasing the lower floor of the building to house his aesthetic (cosmetic) practice. Demetre is a charismatic and attractive older man who exudes the sort of confidence Angelo longs for. Angelo is immediately smitten – so when Stanzione asks him to learn more about what Demetre does and to be a kind of liaison between the two practices, he can’t believe his luck.
Demetre draws Angelo like a moth to a flame; he’s charming and flirtatious with an air of danger about him and his willingness to help Angelo and spend time with him both satisfies Angelo’s craving for attention and bolsters his always shaky self-esteem. It also causes him to dismiss the attentions of a good-looking cop he meets while at the local hospital – he’s so infatuated with Demetre, that Jason Murphy barely registers on his radar. Eager to succeed and for Demetre to see him as someone desirable and worth wanting, Angelo can’t – or won’t – see, and then deliberately ignores, the red flags raised by Demetre’s behaviour. After making a series of increasingly disastrous decisions, there comes a turning point – thankfully – but by this time, Angelo is so far enmeshed in what is turning into a total shitshow that it could be too late for him to save his career – or his life.
I admit there were times I wanted to yell at Angelo to get his head out of his arse, see how he was being used by the people around him and stop making such terrible decisions – but despite that I couldn’t stop listening to this story, even when he was plunging from one disaster into another. Once we learn about Angelo’s past, that he’s ashamed of and looks down on his humble beginnings and even views himself the same way, identifying as “poor white trash”, it’s easy to understand why he’s so focused on the belief that wealth and status will give him everything he’s been missing, and why he allows himself to make such poor choices. It takes a big wake-up call – a succession of them really – to force him to realise what he’s been doing, to reassess his priorities and to learn to value the things that really matter, like love and friendship. Fortunately, he has good people around supporting him; his sister, who has finally left her abusive spouse, and Jason, who Angelo just about managed NOT to totally screw things up with!
The author – himself a doctor – tackles a number of difficult subjects in this book and doesn’t shy away from showing just how some in the health care business (and it IS a business in the US – once again, I am thankful for the NHS!) have become divorced from the caring side of it and are motivated far more by ambition, money and prestige. He builds the suspense slowly but steadily, right from the beginning, injecting a growing sense of unease that turns to dread as Angelo blindly stumbles from one poor decision to the next.
There’s a lot going on in this story, but while it felt a little slow to start, I was hooked from the beginning – even though sometimes I wanted to do the listening equivalent of watching it through my fingers! It’s hard to hear Angelo getting things so wrong, struggling with massive insecurities (Imposter Syndrome, perhaps?) and losing himself and his essential decency – but it makes for a fascinating and gripping story, with an ending that is all the more satisfying for being so hard won.
I’d had my eye on the print release of Perfect Flaw (but couldn’t get to it; as usual – too many books, too little time) so I was delighted to be able to catch up with it in audio, doubly so because Cooper North is narrating. I can’t think of a single thing about his performance that didn’t work for me; his pacing, characterisation and differentiation are all excellent and his portrayal of Angelo – the book’s sole narrator – is superb. An upbeat manner and a lighter tone convey his relative youth, and his eagerness to please and his need for acceptance come through strongly. Mr. North injects a genuine sense of fear and bewilderment in the scenes where Angelo is slowly unravelling, and he really delivers when it comes to the emotional content of the story in general. There’s a fairly large secondary cast, and all are portrayed in ways that make it easier for the listener to visualise them; Demetre’s deep voice and casual manner depict him as a large and imposing man while the higher pitch with a gravelly note given to Stanzione reveal him to be older and perhaps not as stable as he would like to appear. The only real criticism I can make is that there are a couple of female characters who sound a bit similar, but because they never appear together it’s easy to work out who is who in context. It’s a wonderful performance by a talented voice actor who clearly gets the story and the characters. As I said at the beginning, Perfect Flaw doesn’t fit neatly into one particular category; if I had to label it, I’d call it a character-driven mystery or maybe a psychological thriller with romantic elements. (Yes, there is a romance that ends happily, but it’s low key and not the main focus. Also – the use of the word “tumescence” in sex scenes should be banned!) But whatever you want to call it, it’s nail-biting, angsty and thoroughly entertaining, and I’m more than happy to recommend it.
You can read the rest of this review at AudioGals
June 14, 2024
I really have difficulty rating and shelving this book. Is it a love story? Well, sure there is a love story, but it is rather a side dish. Is it a crime novel then? Well, no, while there is plenty of crime in the story, I just don't feel it is a really a mystery. It's a bit of everything, and still a bit of nothing really.
"Perfect Flaw" tells the story of a young doctor joining a well-known practice. He is feeling attraction for someone who half-tugs him into a world of fraught, drugs and sex. Only half, mind, Angelo, our young aspiring hero, is more of an innocent bystander who just can't say no.
Actually Angelo was probably the biggest problem for me. He grew up poor and now he is graving the lifestyle of money, refinement and sex that he feels is the pinnacle of life. I didn't find him likeable. Sure as the story unfolds and Angelo tumbles from mishap to mishap he changes and finally sees the light, but still, I was at best feeling indifferent towards him.
The crime story is really not much of a crime story. The love story is not much of a love story - at least I didn't see those supposed feelings of love.
Yet there was someting about the story that made me finish the story. It wasn't very good, sure, but it was original and there were moments when I was reminded of Thomas Mann's Felix Krull. I believe this story could have been so much more than it is.
"Perfect Flaw" tells the story of a young doctor joining a well-known practice. He is feeling attraction for someone who half-tugs him into a world of fraught, drugs and sex. Only half, mind, Angelo, our young aspiring hero, is more of an innocent bystander who just can't say no.
Actually Angelo was probably the biggest problem for me. He grew up poor and now he is graving the lifestyle of money, refinement and sex that he feels is the pinnacle of life. I didn't find him likeable. Sure as the story unfolds and Angelo tumbles from mishap to mishap he changes and finally sees the light, but still, I was at best feeling indifferent towards him.
The crime story is really not much of a crime story. The love story is not much of a love story - at least I didn't see those supposed feelings of love.
Yet there was someting about the story that made me finish the story. It wasn't very good, sure, but it was original and there were moments when I was reminded of Thomas Mann's Felix Krull. I believe this story could have been so much more than it is.
February 3, 2022
Great book. Could not put it down.
May 18, 2024
3.5 stars
This is a very weird book. It’s really interesting to read a mystery/thriller that doesn’t have a murder as its focus until the second half of the book and even then it’s only part of the hell that Angelo goes through. This isn’t really a mystery despite being billed as such. This is one man’s horror story as his world collapses around him based on just a couple of really poor choices he made and a few more clueless things he did in good faith.
I do think this was a good thriller either way. There was a lot of suspense; I didn’t know what was going to happen next and was worried about what would happen to Antonio right to the end. It was unclear who were the bad guys and who did what, who would help Antonio if anyone.
It was weird that I didn’t really like any of the characters until Jason appeared. Demetre was awful from the beginning. I have no idea what the pull was he had on Antonio. All the characters were kind of assholes and not really in touch with their feelings but not in a purposeful way. It felt more like the author wasn’t either and that’s why he was writing them that way. But then they cried really easily. All the time. Even in gay romances written by women the men don’t cry this much. I’m not exaggerating when I think it was at least twenty times someone cried, almost always the men.
I really liked Jason but I didn’t really feel chemistry between them. At the end I was rooting for them but it only was in the last few chapters that I felt they had a real relationship. The other characters were inconsistent. Angelo didn’t always act like a doctor in circumstances such as the mole issue. And when he thought he might have a blister and demitri had to verify that’s what it was. Angelo was way too innocent and naive for a doctor who had to do rotations everywhere, including the ER. Steven was grossly inconsistent, sometimes behaving as a robot, other times being emotional or acting like a schoolboy.
I didn’t understand why they only had four office staff in such a large practice. Where were the med techs and nurses? They spend as much time with the patient as the doctors do. You can’t run a money-making office that also deals in clinical trials without nurses. And no doctor would be refilling drawers with swabs and bandages.
There were odd metaphors that didn’t make sense: “lips plump, as shiny as labias.” Are labias shiny? “Black hair so slick and straight it shone like asphalt.” Asphalt is only shiny right when it’s laid. So it’s a weird thing to use in a metaphor. I think the author was trying too hard to not use trite sayings but he wasn’t successful in changing them.
I think there was a lot of potential here and the book got better as it progressed. I am interested in reading the next book in the series.
This is a very weird book. It’s really interesting to read a mystery/thriller that doesn’t have a murder as its focus until the second half of the book and even then it’s only part of the hell that Angelo goes through. This isn’t really a mystery despite being billed as such. This is one man’s horror story as his world collapses around him based on just a couple of really poor choices he made and a few more clueless things he did in good faith.
I do think this was a good thriller either way. There was a lot of suspense; I didn’t know what was going to happen next and was worried about what would happen to Antonio right to the end. It was unclear who were the bad guys and who did what, who would help Antonio if anyone.
It was weird that I didn’t really like any of the characters until Jason appeared. Demetre was awful from the beginning. I have no idea what the pull was he had on Antonio. All the characters were kind of assholes and not really in touch with their feelings but not in a purposeful way. It felt more like the author wasn’t either and that’s why he was writing them that way. But then they cried really easily. All the time. Even in gay romances written by women the men don’t cry this much. I’m not exaggerating when I think it was at least twenty times someone cried, almost always the men.
I really liked Jason but I didn’t really feel chemistry between them. At the end I was rooting for them but it only was in the last few chapters that I felt they had a real relationship. The other characters were inconsistent. Angelo didn’t always act like a doctor in circumstances such as the mole issue. And when he thought he might have a blister and demitri had to verify that’s what it was. Angelo was way too innocent and naive for a doctor who had to do rotations everywhere, including the ER. Steven was grossly inconsistent, sometimes behaving as a robot, other times being emotional or acting like a schoolboy.
I didn’t understand why they only had four office staff in such a large practice. Where were the med techs and nurses? They spend as much time with the patient as the doctors do. You can’t run a money-making office that also deals in clinical trials without nurses. And no doctor would be refilling drawers with swabs and bandages.
There were odd metaphors that didn’t make sense: “lips plump, as shiny as labias.” Are labias shiny? “Black hair so slick and straight it shone like asphalt.” Asphalt is only shiny right when it’s laid. So it’s a weird thing to use in a metaphor. I think the author was trying too hard to not use trite sayings but he wasn’t successful in changing them.
I think there was a lot of potential here and the book got better as it progressed. I am interested in reading the next book in the series.
January 17, 2022
I bought this for a coworker, she's a real fan of the genre and she loved it!
She said as soon as she started reading it she couldn’t put it down.
So of course, I ordered a copy for myself and it's simply delicious!
Can't wait for Mr. Spinelli's next one.
Enjoy :-)
July 5, 2022
4.5 stars
Full disclosure: Frank Spinelli was my PCP for several years and is an awesome person.
I loved this book. I read it in two sittings (finishing it within 24 hours.) The plot is compelling and the characters completely relatable. The main character is naive to a fault, but his growth over the course of the book made me cheer him on as he realized that he was making some stunningly bad decisions. I get it. I came into my own as a gay man in Manhattan since the early 80s and empathized with him completely. The story starts out ordinarily enough: a young, newly minted doctor lands his dream job and gets caught up with some unsavory (read: terrible) people without realizing how awful they truly are. Influenced by these people, his life spirals out of control in a plot worthy of a Carl Hiaasen novel. But out of a professional Hellscape, some truth and beauty emerges as he finds real love and comes to grips with his painful family history, The novel has a comforting cathartic conclusion.
Full disclosure: Frank Spinelli was my PCP for several years and is an awesome person.
I loved this book. I read it in two sittings (finishing it within 24 hours.) The plot is compelling and the characters completely relatable. The main character is naive to a fault, but his growth over the course of the book made me cheer him on as he realized that he was making some stunningly bad decisions. I get it. I came into my own as a gay man in Manhattan since the early 80s and empathized with him completely. The story starts out ordinarily enough: a young, newly minted doctor lands his dream job and gets caught up with some unsavory (read: terrible) people without realizing how awful they truly are. Influenced by these people, his life spirals out of control in a plot worthy of a Carl Hiaasen novel. But out of a professional Hellscape, some truth and beauty emerges as he finds real love and comes to grips with his painful family history, The novel has a comforting cathartic conclusion.
March 23, 2022
This - nearly - true story, a queer thriller, will keep you on the balls of your feet as you run through the streets of mid-town Manhattan. Written by a renowned physician this medical murder mystery provides details only a real life - murderer - or Doctor would plan, execute and recall.
The action occurs inside an active medical practice where vendors, patients and staff find success, failures and passion. The characters leap off the page . . . I can barely wait for the next in this evolving series of murder mysteries from the unique vantage of a physician.
The action occurs inside an active medical practice where vendors, patients and staff find success, failures and passion. The characters leap off the page . . . I can barely wait for the next in this evolving series of murder mysteries from the unique vantage of a physician.
April 15, 2022
Suspenseful, page turner medical mystery and yet….not too far fetched…..
Spinelli has a ways with words….this story is a particularly fun and entertaining one. The book gives you mystery, suspense, fun, romance and a glimpse at the medical field and pharmaceutical industry. You can’t help but cheer for Dr Perrota as he navigates through finding love fresh out of residency and stumbles after each and every single mistake he makes. Ambition is not always good..or is it?
Spinelli has a ways with words….this story is a particularly fun and entertaining one. The book gives you mystery, suspense, fun, romance and a glimpse at the medical field and pharmaceutical industry. You can’t help but cheer for Dr Perrota as he navigates through finding love fresh out of residency and stumbles after each and every single mistake he makes. Ambition is not always good..or is it?
December 12, 2021
What a debut novel!
When a fledgling doctor nabs his dream job, he is lured into a world of greed, betrayal and murder.
When a fledgling doctor nabs his dream job, he is lured into a world of greed, betrayal and murder.
November 15, 2025
2.5⭐️
A Joyfully Jay review.
A Joyfully Jay review.
April 18, 2022
Highly recommend adding this book to your reading list!! I couldn’t put it down. Run, don’t walk to get Perfect Flaw.
May 6, 2024
"Perfect Flaw" is like a rollercoaster ride through a twisted maze of ambition and bad decisions. You start off thinking it's a mystery, but it quickly morphs into this intense psychological thriller with a side of action thrown in at the last minute.
The story follows Angelo, this clueless doctor who gets sucked into a whirlwind of scandal and drugs, all because he can't see past his own dreams. As he digs himself deeper into trouble, you can't help but wonder how he's going to claw his way out.
What's interesting is that even though the characters aren't exactly role models - they're more like a group of flawed individuals making a mess of things - you can't stop reading. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion; you know it's going to end badly, but you just can't look away.
By the end, Angelo does grow a bit and starts to realize the mess he's made. However, if he hadn't wised up, things would've gone from bad to worse. The whole point seems to be about facing the music and owning up to your mistakes, even if it's a little too late.
Overall, "Perfect Flaw" is a wild ride. It keeps you on the edge of your seat with its fast-paced plot and messed-up characters. It might not be the kind of book you rave about to your friends, but it sure does make for a thrilling read.
The story follows Angelo, this clueless doctor who gets sucked into a whirlwind of scandal and drugs, all because he can't see past his own dreams. As he digs himself deeper into trouble, you can't help but wonder how he's going to claw his way out.
What's interesting is that even though the characters aren't exactly role models - they're more like a group of flawed individuals making a mess of things - you can't stop reading. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion; you know it's going to end badly, but you just can't look away.
By the end, Angelo does grow a bit and starts to realize the mess he's made. However, if he hadn't wised up, things would've gone from bad to worse. The whole point seems to be about facing the music and owning up to your mistakes, even if it's a little too late.
Overall, "Perfect Flaw" is a wild ride. It keeps you on the edge of your seat with its fast-paced plot and messed-up characters. It might not be the kind of book you rave about to your friends, but it sure does make for a thrilling read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2022
Compelling medical thriller with a love story. This debut novel by Frank Spinelli tells a story about an ambitious young doctor who is naive and fascinated with success and wealth. Perfect Flaw is a cautionary tale, but it’s told in such a way I could not put it down.
January 8, 2024
I wasn't sure about this book from just the blurb. I did end up enjoying it, and my interest is peaked for the second in this series.
Thank you to GRR for the opportunity to read this book.
Thank you to GRR for the opportunity to read this book.
June 11, 2022
Highly recommend. Great suspense, twists and grip. Read on audio and hated having to pause. Would've finished in one sitting, if I could.
February 15, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Perfect Flaw is more a character-driven, coming-of-age cautionary tale than mystery. Angelo may be in his late twenties, but he’s extremely naïve about people and quick to trust those with a silver tongue, especially older men. He’s very much like Pip from Great Expectations—he considers himself poor white trash, believes that being rich and moving up the social ladder will give him everything he needs/wants, and is blinded by that desire; he is also quick to spin pipe dreams of love from thin air. Growing up poor and then attending institutions where so many of his peers come from families with means makes Angelo crave the privilege and esteem these people are automatically given (whether they deserve it or not). Unfortunately, he’s ashamed of his humble roots and views himself (and in turn his upbringing and sister) with the same disdain that some have shown him.
Despite being billed as a mystery, I don’t think Perfect Flaw is one; at best, it’s a psychological thriller that tacks on an action/suspense element at the last minute. The blurb seems to mention a character to prime the reader to be suspicious, but there is little suspense in the narrative for me; at most, he gets some side-eye because of his likability as most of the people Angelo associates with are sus in one way or another.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Perfect Flaw is more a character-driven, coming-of-age cautionary tale than mystery. Angelo may be in his late twenties, but he’s extremely naïve about people and quick to trust those with a silver tongue, especially older men. He’s very much like Pip from Great Expectations—he considers himself poor white trash, believes that being rich and moving up the social ladder will give him everything he needs/wants, and is blinded by that desire; he is also quick to spin pipe dreams of love from thin air. Growing up poor and then attending institutions where so many of his peers come from families with means makes Angelo crave the privilege and esteem these people are automatically given (whether they deserve it or not). Unfortunately, he’s ashamed of his humble roots and views himself (and in turn his upbringing and sister) with the same disdain that some have shown him.
Despite being billed as a mystery, I don’t think Perfect Flaw is one; at best, it’s a psychological thriller that tacks on an action/suspense element at the last minute. The blurb seems to mention a character to prime the reader to be suspicious, but there is little suspense in the narrative for me; at most, he gets some side-eye because of his likability as most of the people Angelo associates with are sus in one way or another.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
June 13, 2025
This one didn't impress me at first. It was fine.
Then it gradually started to reel me in. I found myself wanting to know what would happen next, what kind of weird discovery would be made and how things would go wrong this time around.
It touches on a lot of heavy subjects, like mental health, drug abuse, domestic abuse, bullying and psychological abuse. I find it did so in a believable way. It didn't excuse bad behavior by slapping a label on it, and it didn't sugar coat how much effort goes in to fighting with these issues.
Narrator did a good job making the story come to life.
Then it gradually started to reel me in. I found myself wanting to know what would happen next, what kind of weird discovery would be made and how things would go wrong this time around.
It touches on a lot of heavy subjects, like mental health, drug abuse, domestic abuse, bullying and psychological abuse. I find it did so in a believable way. It didn't excuse bad behavior by slapping a label on it, and it didn't sugar coat how much effort goes in to fighting with these issues.
Narrator did a good job making the story come to life.
January 23, 2024
This book was not what I expected. It's a heavy medically based story, wrapping around a complex web of characters that, if I'm being honest, aren't even that good of people. But like any car crash there's something that makes you keep looking, even if it's macabre.
The main lead is a naive and easily coerced doctor, so wrapped up in himself and the life he envisioned for himself he ends up in well over his head in scandal, drugs, and eventually a death. As they start tugging on the threads to understand what's happening, it spirals wider and starts pulling at his career and potentially his life.
By the end of the book, Angelo does seem to show some significant growth from the frankly idiotic choices he made at the beginning - and I think that's the point here. If he'd kept going, willfully ignorant to his choices actions and didn't make any changes (even if they were too late in some cases) it would have ended far worse for him- and he appreciates that.
Overall, this book feels like a "it's enjoyable enough" for me. It's a compelling read and the pacing is tense, and I obviously was interested enough to finish, but I don't know that it's one I'll be raving about in the future.
The main lead is a naive and easily coerced doctor, so wrapped up in himself and the life he envisioned for himself he ends up in well over his head in scandal, drugs, and eventually a death. As they start tugging on the threads to understand what's happening, it spirals wider and starts pulling at his career and potentially his life.
By the end of the book, Angelo does seem to show some significant growth from the frankly idiotic choices he made at the beginning - and I think that's the point here. If he'd kept going, willfully ignorant to his choices actions and didn't make any changes (even if they were too late in some cases) it would have ended far worse for him- and he appreciates that.
Overall, this book feels like a "it's enjoyable enough" for me. It's a compelling read and the pacing is tense, and I obviously was interested enough to finish, but I don't know that it's one I'll be raving about in the future.
January 20, 2024
Seedier side of the medical practice?
Although this book is considered a mystery, I categorized it as fiction which included a mystery with gay overtones. The beginning was a little slow as the author laid out the particulars of the many characters but once we got into the real story, it began to fly. When I was forced to leave the book for chores or errands, I could not wait to get back to see what would happen to Dr. Angelo Perrotta, naïve and unfamiliar with how things worked.
Dr. Perrotta has landed the dream job of his new career, working for one of the most renowned doctors on Park Avenue in NYC. What he discovers is much different from his first impressions. Then he meets the charismatic Demetre Kostas; Angelo has a huge crush. In the meantime, he has met a very nice and handsome young cop, Jason Murphy. But can Angelo even see Jason with Demetre so prominent in his thoughts? When Angelo and Jason untangle the events leading to Angelo’s possible downfall, the reader will be very surprised. If you like a well-plotted story with main characters for whom you will be cheering and supporting, read this book. I volunteered to review an ARC of it through Gay Romance Reviews.
Although this book is considered a mystery, I categorized it as fiction which included a mystery with gay overtones. The beginning was a little slow as the author laid out the particulars of the many characters but once we got into the real story, it began to fly. When I was forced to leave the book for chores or errands, I could not wait to get back to see what would happen to Dr. Angelo Perrotta, naïve and unfamiliar with how things worked.
Dr. Perrotta has landed the dream job of his new career, working for one of the most renowned doctors on Park Avenue in NYC. What he discovers is much different from his first impressions. Then he meets the charismatic Demetre Kostas; Angelo has a huge crush. In the meantime, he has met a very nice and handsome young cop, Jason Murphy. But can Angelo even see Jason with Demetre so prominent in his thoughts? When Angelo and Jason untangle the events leading to Angelo’s possible downfall, the reader will be very surprised. If you like a well-plotted story with main characters for whom you will be cheering and supporting, read this book. I volunteered to review an ARC of it through Gay Romance Reviews.
January 11, 2024
If I could give this book more than five stars I would. It is a ten star book for me. It is a suspenseful, mysterious, on the edge of you seat story that had me from first page till the last page. I read in one sitting as I had to know how it was gonna end. Be prepared for more ups and downs than a roller coaster, and be prepared for one heck of a story. Seems new doctor Angelo has the perfect job, but suddenly things are not as perfect as they appeared on the surface. A great book about your average decent guy who suddenly finds himself having his own ethics (and more) questioned and his efforts to restore his good name. A great reminder that sometimes we only see what we want to see not what is actually in front of us and from that we make seemingly bad decisions with a cost. I loved this book. It is one of the few books I will reread again even thought I know the ending. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.
January 17, 2024
Pharmaceutical mystery involving reps pushing drugs, unethical professionals, a mixture of personality types and some intense physical attraction add up to a tense office and mistrust.
Angelo is a newly licensed physician who is willing to do almost anything to put himself in the presence of money.
Jason is a police officer who is attracted to Angelo and tries his best to keep him on the 'straight and narrow.'
Dr. Stanxione is Angelo's boss...a highly respected physician who works in the field of HIV treatment.
Steven is his husband/office manager.
Add in Tammy and Demetre, a high strung colleague who bring drugs in to the practice and there is more than enough stress to set everyone on edge.
Things only heat up when physical attraction comes into play.
This is the first book I've read by Mr. Spinelli and there is a second installment to follow. I hope Angelo and Jason appear again! Hopefully Angelo will make better decisions in it!
I received an ARC from GRR.
Angelo is a newly licensed physician who is willing to do almost anything to put himself in the presence of money.
Jason is a police officer who is attracted to Angelo and tries his best to keep him on the 'straight and narrow.'
Dr. Stanxione is Angelo's boss...a highly respected physician who works in the field of HIV treatment.
Steven is his husband/office manager.
Add in Tammy and Demetre, a high strung colleague who bring drugs in to the practice and there is more than enough stress to set everyone on edge.
Things only heat up when physical attraction comes into play.
This is the first book I've read by Mr. Spinelli and there is a second installment to follow. I hope Angelo and Jason appear again! Hopefully Angelo will make better decisions in it!
I received an ARC from GRR.
January 12, 2024
This book was like reading a soap opera. There was doctors, intrigue, drugs, sex, and of course, murder. The secondary characters didn't really bother me with their drama and drugs and general craziness. I expected that from them because of the soap opera-ness of the story. Angelo, the main character, was just so naive. And melodramatic. There were times I was surprised that he was supposed to be a doctor. This is especially true during the first half of the book. After that he does start catching a clue and starts to smarten up...to a point. Then he suddenly becomes a sleuth and is doing some rather harebrained things.
Overall, it was an entertaining read. Kinda made me think of Jacqueline Susann's books and Soap Operas.
Overall, it was an entertaining read. Kinda made me think of Jacqueline Susann's books and Soap Operas.
January 20, 2024
Angelo is a fascinating character: deeply flawed, capable of making some breathtakingly bad decisions (an ability he really leans into over the course of the story) and yet he’s portrayed in such a way that he’s deeply relatable even in his most questionable moments. In fact, flawed is a good way to describe most of the characters here, and the ways in which that drives the development of the narrative and shapes the events that take place in it make this a deeply interesting read. This is a hard story to categorize and an easy one to get sucked into– there are elements of romance and suspense and mystery, but at the heart, there’s the question of character.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
January 22, 2024
3.5 Stars ⭐️
I guess the theme to this review is going to be: So far so good. That's pretty much all I've got for now. With that being said there was so much to unpack out of this book to write an accurate review IMO. It gave the vibe of psychological thriller with mysterious elements, Angelo was a very hard character to fall for right from the start but as the book progressed he became more likable, I felt the same about Jason. I think that I need more of the story to form an opinion because I was expecting something very different. I will recommend, I think the story is quite intriguing and thriller lovers will appreciate this one.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
I guess the theme to this review is going to be: So far so good. That's pretty much all I've got for now. With that being said there was so much to unpack out of this book to write an accurate review IMO. It gave the vibe of psychological thriller with mysterious elements, Angelo was a very hard character to fall for right from the start but as the book progressed he became more likable, I felt the same about Jason. I think that I need more of the story to form an opinion because I was expecting something very different. I will recommend, I think the story is quite intriguing and thriller lovers will appreciate this one.
* I received an ARC from GRR, this is my open and honest review *
January 22, 2024
Angelo's upbringing is marked by poverty and the absence of a father figure. When he meets Anthony Stanzione, he sees him as a role model of the man he wants to become. However, the doctor is not exempt from flaws as he may appear. Dr. Stanzione wants fame and money, both things Angelo is also attracted to.
Angelo's quest for success at any cost makes him blind to the moral and emotional consequences of his choices. Angelo makes a series of bad decisions that hinder his relationships. Throughout the book, Angelo experiences multiple disasters, which force him to face the consequences of his actions.
The writing of this author is vivid and captivating, making it impossible for the reader to stop reading.
Angelo's quest for success at any cost makes him blind to the moral and emotional consequences of his choices. Angelo makes a series of bad decisions that hinder his relationships. Throughout the book, Angelo experiences multiple disasters, which force him to face the consequences of his actions.
The writing of this author is vivid and captivating, making it impossible for the reader to stop reading.
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