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Will Borders: Cincinnati Casebook #1
The Pain Nurse
Cheryl Beth Wilson is an elite nurse at Cincinnati Memorial Hospital who finds a doctor brutally murdered in a secluded office. Wilson had been having an affair with the doctoras husband, a surgeon, and this makes her a aperson of interesta to the police, if not at outright suspect. But someone other than the cops is watching Cheryl Beth.
The killing comes as former homicide detective Will Borders is just hours out of surgery. But as his stretcher is wheeled past the crime scene, he knows this is no random act of violence. Instead, it has all the marks of a serial killer case he supposedly solved years before.
Rebuked by his former partner and unable even to walk, Borders starts to investigate. He teams up with Cheryl Beth, who is desperate to clear her name. But as the city teeters on the edge of violence and a killer grows closer, the two are running out of time to unlock the secrets of the murder and the brooding, old hospital.
The Pain Nurse begins a new series by the author of the award-winning David Mapstone series.
The killing comes as former homicide detective Will Borders is just hours out of surgery. But as his stretcher is wheeled past the crime scene, he knows this is no random act of violence. Instead, it has all the marks of a serial killer case he supposedly solved years before.
Rebuked by his former partner and unable even to walk, Borders starts to investigate. He teams up with Cheryl Beth, who is desperate to clear her name. But as the city teeters on the edge of violence and a killer grows closer, the two are running out of time to unlock the secrets of the murder and the brooding, old hospital.
The Pain Nurse begins a new series by the author of the award-winning David Mapstone series.
228 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
42 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Jon Talton
25 books93 followersJon Talton is the author of the David Mapstone novels, which follow the adventures of a historian-turned-deputy, working the mean streets of the urban West.
Jon's first novel, "Concrete Desert," was hailed by Kirkus as "an impressive debut." The Washington Post said it "is more intelligent and rewarding than most contemporary mysteries." The series has continued with "Camelback Falls," "Dry Heat," "Arizona Dreams" and "Cactus Heart." "Dry Heat" received Arizona Highways magazine's best fiction award in 2005.
Jon's first novel, "Concrete Desert," was hailed by Kirkus as "an impressive debut." The Washington Post said it "is more intelligent and rewarding than most contemporary mysteries." The series has continued with "Camelback Falls," "Dry Heat," "Arizona Dreams" and "Cactus Heart." "Dry Heat" received Arizona Highways magazine's best fiction award in 2005.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 8, 2019
This is a pretty dark book. it's not noir, but Will has had spinal surgery that's left him partially crippled & in a lot of pain that is described in detail. Many of the characters are fairly unlikable, if not grotesque. Very life-like in all ways. Perhaps a bit too much so. The mystery is a good one with a lot of twists & turns to keep the reader guessing. Well narrated & I'll definitely read another.
August 7, 2012
This is a better-than-page-turner mystery I picked up as summer reading. It's an unusual plot in that one of the central characters is in the hospital recovering from surgery and describing his extremes of pain and the rehab process in very real terms. The title refers to a hospital nurse who manages pain for patients. It deals with pain on an intellectual level, not gratuitously, and takes some very sharp jabs at the medical profession and traditional attitudes toward patients' pain.
November 29, 2017
A bit slow at the beginning, but hang in there it gets very exciting later.
The story is told in real time, but the back story is scattered throughout the book.
These are likable characters, and some very unlikable bad guys. The mystery is which bad guy did the current murder, and did they get the right guy for the older cases.
I am interested in reading on in this series, set in Cincinnati, a place I have never been to.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
The story is told in real time, but the back story is scattered throughout the book.
These are likable characters, and some very unlikable bad guys. The mystery is which bad guy did the current murder, and did they get the right guy for the older cases.
I am interested in reading on in this series, set in Cincinnati, a place I have never been to.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
August 6, 2016
Jon Talton's David Mapstone mystery series set in Phoenix is one of my favorites, and when I heard that his newest book was something different set in Ohio, I knew I would be giving it a try. I certainly wasn't disappointed. Good writing is good writing, and I like seeing an author branch out a bit and try something different.
One of the first things to impress me in The Pain Nurse is the inside look Talton gives us of the bureaucratic and political machinations within a hospital, and Cheryl Beth Wilson is the type of nurse we wish we could all have: she's a true advocate for her patients and thinks nothing of standing up to a doctor she believes is causing patients needless pain. Talton also seemed to know that I've always felt hospitals to be creepy places because during the scenes in the oldest, unused parts of the building, I was jumping at every little noise as I read. Killer on the loose? Old dark hospital basement? The faint glow of an EXIT sign far down a corridor? Yikes-- almost too much atmosphere for me!
The teaming of two very lonely people-- Will and Cheryl Beth-- add emotional depth to the story. Will has basically been abandoned and forced to stay in the hospital. He has little to do outside of his physical therapy and waiting until it's time to take more pain medication, so it's natural that he would want to conduct his own investigation into the murder. Will's struggle to adjust and to relearn basic skills is one of the strengths of the book. It's also interesting to watch Will and Cheryl Beth become closer as they put clues together in order to bring a killer to justice.
Even though the conclusion seemed a bit over the top, I still enjoyed reading The Pain Nurse, and I'm looking forward to reading another "Cincinnati Casebook."
One of the first things to impress me in The Pain Nurse is the inside look Talton gives us of the bureaucratic and political machinations within a hospital, and Cheryl Beth Wilson is the type of nurse we wish we could all have: she's a true advocate for her patients and thinks nothing of standing up to a doctor she believes is causing patients needless pain. Talton also seemed to know that I've always felt hospitals to be creepy places because during the scenes in the oldest, unused parts of the building, I was jumping at every little noise as I read. Killer on the loose? Old dark hospital basement? The faint glow of an EXIT sign far down a corridor? Yikes-- almost too much atmosphere for me!
The teaming of two very lonely people-- Will and Cheryl Beth-- add emotional depth to the story. Will has basically been abandoned and forced to stay in the hospital. He has little to do outside of his physical therapy and waiting until it's time to take more pain medication, so it's natural that he would want to conduct his own investigation into the murder. Will's struggle to adjust and to relearn basic skills is one of the strengths of the book. It's also interesting to watch Will and Cheryl Beth become closer as they put clues together in order to bring a killer to justice.
Even though the conclusion seemed a bit over the top, I still enjoyed reading The Pain Nurse, and I'm looking forward to reading another "Cincinnati Casebook."
October 1, 2010
Based on the title and the cover, I was expecting this book to be about either a sadistic nurse who uses her power with narcotics to get what she wants out of life, or a mercy-killer. Turns out, the main character's role as a pain nurse isn't that important to the storyline, it is just something that makes her fit the scene.
This book is your typical hospital soap opera, with doctors getting in bed with nurses, jilted lovers being suspected of murder, and a paralyzed cop who just happens to be in the right place at the right time to aid in the invstigation.
It is a very fast-paced book, with the whole story unfolding in a short period of time before Christmas. While the story of the murder itself seems far-fetched, I was reading it in my car during dinner breaks at the hospital where I work, and I'm pretty sure no one was paying any attention to my comings and goings those nights, so it could be plausable, but I don't want to think about that.
I found the book to be a fast read and the story line isn't terribly original, but it made for a good way to occupy my time before work and during dinner breaks this last week.
This book is your typical hospital soap opera, with doctors getting in bed with nurses, jilted lovers being suspected of murder, and a paralyzed cop who just happens to be in the right place at the right time to aid in the invstigation.
It is a very fast-paced book, with the whole story unfolding in a short period of time before Christmas. While the story of the murder itself seems far-fetched, I was reading it in my car during dinner breaks at the hospital where I work, and I'm pretty sure no one was paying any attention to my comings and goings those nights, so it could be plausable, but I don't want to think about that.
I found the book to be a fast read and the story line isn't terribly original, but it made for a good way to occupy my time before work and during dinner breaks this last week.
June 6, 2021
This is an average murder mystery. There are a lot of fairly plausible suspects, a lot of soap opera-level interpersonal relationships, and a decent if not overly inspiring writing style. There’s also weirdly specific driving directions for all over central and eastern portions of Cincinnati. 🤷🏻♀️
February 1, 2020
Really liked this book, got me hooked right away , very mysterious and intense. So much detail in everything. Kept me thinking the whole time and I kept wanting to read more and more.
March 6, 2017
The first in this character series, starring Will, a homicide detective that moved to the Internal Affairs dept in order to protect good cops and oust bad ones.....And Cheryl Beth, a Cincinnati nurse specializing in pain medications. They meet as Will recovers from removal of a spinal tumor that may end his career and a murder occurs in the hospital basement. Who done it? Cheryl Beth had had an affair with the dead doc's estranged hubby and had drinks with her earlier that night. Or is that a serial killer case wasn't really solved years earlier, was the killer just dormant? Or how about that male nurse that was having an affair with the dead doc? Or her crazed ex/estranged hubby?
Ending seemed a little abrupt, but a decent read.
Ending seemed a little abrupt, but a decent read.
February 28, 2013
I read this book on my iPhone. The number of times I had to flick to get through the pages?—I have a sore pointer finger on my right hand!! But this book is engaging. Talton loves Cincinnati, and it forms a terrific backdrop for a mystery that mostly occurs in an ageing hospital building. The pain nurse and her patient, a former detective with serious spinal damage that has him somewhat confined to a wheelchair, roam the hospital and briefly leave to visit areas of Cincinnati. It's a good entertainment for a few hours. I do not know if Talton plans other mysteries with these two characters. I liked them both and would like to know more about what happens in their lives.
May 19, 2013
This was a straight across the board murder mystery, by the numbers. The characters were likable, and the plot was paced correctly.
I bought the book because it was narrated by Lloyd James, but he only read the chapters that began with the male protagonist's POV. (The author occasionally changed POV mid-chapter, so occasionally this system didn't work so well.)
There were some interesting insights into the world of hospitals and pain management.
I bought the book because it was narrated by Lloyd James, but he only read the chapters that began with the male protagonist's POV. (The author occasionally changed POV mid-chapter, so occasionally this system didn't work so well.)
There were some interesting insights into the world of hospitals and pain management.
February 18, 2010
You don't find many books set in Cincinnati. This one involves a nurse whose speciality is relieving pain for people in terrible straits. She is a suspect in the gruesome murder of a doctor & her ally is a patient in the hospital, a detective who has been crippled by a tumor in his back. Very engrossing!
August 18, 2013
I really wanted to like this book - I really did! It was a recommendation by my local library. First, I find that the cover is very misleading. It makes Cheryl Beth seem evil. I also found the books attempt at racial issues to fall flat. He wanted to bring up a racially divided Cincinnati, but that wasn't the point of the book. I also feel that the ending fell flat.
April 3, 2010
Good plot and well developed characters. If you don't mind bloody scenes and bad language, the plot keeps you moving through this story. I was disappointed by the last scene which I found flawed because one man who should have participated, didn't.
June 7, 2015
Another enjoyable book by Talton. Only issues are re: physical evidence- a DNA sample is a day-plus old and would have obviously degraded also re: victims being clothed or not- fibers would have been in the wounds- both things easily discovered, so some elements of plot don't make sense.
November 30, 2020
Excellent characters, contains detailed medical & police procedural descriptions, and several storylines which keep the reader's attention. Extremely graphic, which I do not care for at all. Overall, the geographical travel descriptions enable the reader to visualize the setting. This book also lightly describes the city's racial tension.
April 27, 2024
Set in an older hospital in Cincinnati, a pain management nurse finds herself the prime suspect in the murder of another doctor (with whom she has been having an affair with the woman’s husband, a doctor in the same hospital. #1 in the Will borders series.
June 9, 2018
A good page turner. On to Book #2
November 15, 2018
A good book.
May 30, 2020
This is a very satisfying, mostly character driven mystery with a nice, tight plot to keep you turning pages.
January 17, 2021
did not enjoy - first book by this author - will try another before I give up on him.
July 29, 2013
I read this book after a co-worker recommended it. Since I am a nurse and born and raised in Cincinnati, which is where the story takes place, I thought it would be an interesting read. I liked the story and the author's sense of humor. I could tell he did his research on pain management nursing, neuro-rehab nursing and the history/geographics of Cincinnati.
At first, I was offended by the use of the N-word by this author and from looking at his picture in the back of the book, I believe he is white. It seems offensive at times when authors and movie producers (I.e. Quentin Tarrantino) use the N-word in their works just as an excuse to use the word especially when it serves no purpose in that particular work. But as a young, black woman born and raised in the city of Cincinnati as I mentioned previously, the reality is no matter how well the powers that be of this city try to make this place look like a happening and happy little town, it is a dingy little redneck town inhabited by generations of "good ol' boys" who I'm sure use the N- word regularly. If this author is gonna paint a picture of this city accurately, he has to tell it like it is in order for it to be believable. So I will give him a pass, this time.
Overall, it was a good book and I may be inclined to read other novels by Mr. Talton. I did have to keep in mind that this is fiction because I have worked in rehabilitation and no matter how busy a nursing unit is, a patient with Will's diagnosis would never be allowed to just roam all over the hospital, especially by himself, all the time and the nursing staff is aware and okay with it.
At first, I was offended by the use of the N-word by this author and from looking at his picture in the back of the book, I believe he is white. It seems offensive at times when authors and movie producers (I.e. Quentin Tarrantino) use the N-word in their works just as an excuse to use the word especially when it serves no purpose in that particular work. But as a young, black woman born and raised in the city of Cincinnati as I mentioned previously, the reality is no matter how well the powers that be of this city try to make this place look like a happening and happy little town, it is a dingy little redneck town inhabited by generations of "good ol' boys" who I'm sure use the N- word regularly. If this author is gonna paint a picture of this city accurately, he has to tell it like it is in order for it to be believable. So I will give him a pass, this time.
Overall, it was a good book and I may be inclined to read other novels by Mr. Talton. I did have to keep in mind that this is fiction because I have worked in rehabilitation and no matter how busy a nursing unit is, a patient with Will's diagnosis would never be allowed to just roam all over the hospital, especially by himself, all the time and the nursing staff is aware and okay with it.
June 4, 2016
I pretty much liked this book, but was alittle disappointed with the ending. Usually you get a short chapter wrapping up the ending, but this book didn't do that. They find the killer, capture him, and done, that's it.
June 13, 2009
it's ok. pretty well written, but you've met the characters a hundred times before. Plot a bit preposterous, but, hey, maybe after fifty years of reading mysteries I'm becoming jaded.
May 26, 2012
Good plot. Set in a large midwestern hospital, formerly a state of the art, but now suffering a number of financial woes and trying to get more on its feet. Starting of a new series.
February 9, 2011
Just ok. I thought I was getting the one that was second in a series, but I actually got a different title. I loved the first one I read, so I will give him another chance.
December 10, 2012
Good read, love a medical murder mystery. Some good twists and turns in the plot. Kindle freebie, the price was right!!
December 19, 2015
This book had some problems. The characters kept morphing and some things were overly complicated.
June 27, 2015
I would like to rate it two and half stars, but that currently isn't possible with goodreads.
April 11, 2016
A run of the mill mystery. Skip it.
June 16, 2019
Awful. Chick lit in Cincinnati. Abandoned.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews