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Contrived: A Dr. Sean Nolan Mystery
The official police report has declared it an accidental death caused by black ice and excessive speed. After a three day search by fire-rescue, community volunteers, and dive teams, no body has been recovered from the fast-moving river. The widow and teenage daughter of the victim have had their lives shattered.
What Dr. Nolan knows is that one of his patients is suddenly gone. But beyond the shock and grieving process there is a growing uneasiness that refuses to go away. The first faint whispers of doubt are becoming louder by the minute. Something doesn't seem right.
What Dr. Nolan knows is that one of his patients is suddenly gone. But beyond the shock and grieving process there is a growing uneasiness that refuses to go away. The first faint whispers of doubt are becoming louder by the minute. Something doesn't seem right.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 27, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 11, 2022
E.W. Johnson M.D. is a great, captivating writer who uses attention - grabbing metaphors and descriptions that are poetic and rare, like the one he opens this book with: "The winter solstice had successfully committed the ultimate theft of daylight from the face of the earth." This book isn't a fast-paced page-turner, but this leaves more room for strong character development and meaningful dialogue than that which is featured in many other books in the mystery / thriller genre, and it still hooks the reader throughout. I really enjoyed the fact that the book begins at a point that is towards the end of the plot and leaves that point on a cliffhanger, then backtracks in the timeline of the plot and circles back to that cliffhanger towards the end of the book. This was different from many other books in the mystery / thriller genre, and it offset the slower buildup of the rest of the book.
This book has well - developed characters that are relatable and diverse. I strongly admired and related to Dr. Nolan's tendency to always find and help people who are in trouble, as the book refers to them, and not letting cases go or shying away from complicated things. I also really loved the fact that Johnson, the author, inserted lots of relatable and genuine dry humor into the dialogue without it ever sounding forced or inappropriate. This humor offset the grief and heaviness of the plot and the pandemic background. Speaking of the book's pandemic-era setting, one of the things I loved most about this book is that it didn't shy away from the truth about the Covid-19 pandemic or the intense divisiveness of the 2020 - 2021 political and social climate. Dr. Nolan, the main character, reflects on, and dialogues about, the horrors of the death toll, case numbers, and uncertainty of the Covid-19 virus' future mutations and the vaccines' ability to protect against those mutations, as well as the difficulties of soft quarantining. The strengthening of white supremacist groups in recent years is also brought into the plot a little bit, as well as the difficulties of fleeing a dangerous country to seek asylum and rebuild one's life in a new country.
This book has well - developed characters that are relatable and diverse. I strongly admired and related to Dr. Nolan's tendency to always find and help people who are in trouble, as the book refers to them, and not letting cases go or shying away from complicated things. I also really loved the fact that Johnson, the author, inserted lots of relatable and genuine dry humor into the dialogue without it ever sounding forced or inappropriate. This humor offset the grief and heaviness of the plot and the pandemic background. Speaking of the book's pandemic-era setting, one of the things I loved most about this book is that it didn't shy away from the truth about the Covid-19 pandemic or the intense divisiveness of the 2020 - 2021 political and social climate. Dr. Nolan, the main character, reflects on, and dialogues about, the horrors of the death toll, case numbers, and uncertainty of the Covid-19 virus' future mutations and the vaccines' ability to protect against those mutations, as well as the difficulties of soft quarantining. The strengthening of white supremacist groups in recent years is also brought into the plot a little bit, as well as the difficulties of fleeing a dangerous country to seek asylum and rebuild one's life in a new country.
October 12, 2022
Dr. Sean Nolan loves solving a great mystery aside from a good cup of coffee. When the body of one of his patients does not surface from an unexpected tragedy, he becomes suspicious. Police reports the car accident to have occurred because of driver error and wintery conditions, however, Dr Nolan isn’t in agreement. With the investigation ongoing, Dr Nolan follows a few unsettling leads that could land him in bigger trouble. However, fortunate for him, he has a few trustworthy colleagues to watch his back. It is astounding how the author has begun the book with a bit of suspense. It makes readers wonder what sort of trouble Dr. Nolan has come across. I liked the interaction and humor present in the book brought about by Sean and his friends. The fact that there was a relationship with Dr Nolan as they were all connected to previous mysteries they solved was entertaining. Each person’s skill set was interesting and necessary to collect all the needed clues. For instance, ABCDE was a reporter who had other connections to a computer expert. Jed was part of the late-night surveillance; Eileen did essential research alongside other characters clue gathering. The Sheriff kept Dr. Nolan on the right side of the law, and he even received support from the nursing staff and Sean’s daughters. The book was well crafted with authentic medical descriptions given the authors background. The fact that current events like racial issues, COVID was brought up by the author made the book a fantastic and relatable read.
October 3, 2022
Contrived is the latest installment in the Dr. Sean Nolan mystery series. This book follows the latest exploits of Dr. Nolan, a private medical practitioner in a small fictional town located in the Pacific Northwest. In this novel, Dr. Nolan is baffled by the sudden death of patient-turned-friend, Cherno. How did his friend’s car end up in the Columbia River late one freezing night? And what happened to his body?
As Dr. Nolan tries to shift his focus to supporting his friend’s widow and daughter, he can’t resist looking more into the events of that deadly night. Aided by his longtime friends in law enforcement, he starts to uncover clues to a deeper mystery. The truth behind what really happened to his friend and the lengths that he goes to find out the answers were deftly woven in this thriller.
I appreciated the author’s personal insights into the medical profession and the sense of humor in his characters. As someone familiar with this area of the Pacific Northwest, the location descriptions were perfectly wrought. I did feel as though I was dropped into the middle of Dr. Nolan’s story, though, and will return to his earlier works to fill in the gaps.
As Dr. Nolan tries to shift his focus to supporting his friend’s widow and daughter, he can’t resist looking more into the events of that deadly night. Aided by his longtime friends in law enforcement, he starts to uncover clues to a deeper mystery. The truth behind what really happened to his friend and the lengths that he goes to find out the answers were deftly woven in this thriller.
I appreciated the author’s personal insights into the medical profession and the sense of humor in his characters. As someone familiar with this area of the Pacific Northwest, the location descriptions were perfectly wrought. I did feel as though I was dropped into the middle of Dr. Nolan’s story, though, and will return to his earlier works to fill in the gaps.
October 25, 2022
Contrived: A Doctor Sean Nolan Mystery by E. W. Johnson M.D is a book that had me captivated and eager to know how the story would unfold. This is a medical thriller that began with one of Doctor Sean’s patients going missing. It was mistakenly thought that he had drowned in a river which was not the case. A search team was sent out to look for him with no success. Doctor Sean thought that something was sinister with the disappearance of his friend. Just as he had always done before, he decided to try and unravel the truth. Unraveling mysteries appeared to be something that he loved which some of his friends did not find amusing at all. As the plot thickened, he found out that his friend was alive but in a terrible state. He treated him and he got better. As the story progressed, it was a relief that the doctor’s efforts eventually paid off since everyone that was behind this heinous act was arrested.
October 3, 2022
Contrived: A Dr. Sean Nolan Mystery is another story that revolves around Dr. Sean Nolan solving another mystery. It starts off slow in the beginning. So slow in fact, that one would think that nothing is going to happen. Then, when you start to relax, that's when everything comes at you. I love how E. W. Johnson M. D. starts the story off that way. I just find it interesting that even when you think you know what's going to happen, it takes another turn. Also, the supporting characters have a way of making readers laugh or feel sympathy for them. The main protagonist is unforgettable and makes you wish you could find a doctor like him in real life. Overall, this story was fun and interesting to read. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves mystery stories. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.
October 5, 2022
I think this is the third or fourth Dr Sean Nolan book I've read and they still hold up. The action starts right on the first page. No long slow lead up.
Once again, Dr Nolan stumbles upon trouble that he can't stay out of. We meet a few new characters and our old favorites are back. Dr Nolan is always a little corny. Heavy on the sarcasm and dad jokes but you can appreciate why everyone likes him so much. The rest of the characters are well written, I particularly liked Shay and would love for her to make an appearance in another book. Maybe working at Dr Nolan's clinic!
I honestly didn't expect the twist at the end but really liked how everything came together.
Is it realistic for a small town Dr to get into all these crazy adventures? No. But are they fun and entertaining? Definitely!
Once again, Dr Nolan stumbles upon trouble that he can't stay out of. We meet a few new characters and our old favorites are back. Dr Nolan is always a little corny. Heavy on the sarcasm and dad jokes but you can appreciate why everyone likes him so much. The rest of the characters are well written, I particularly liked Shay and would love for her to make an appearance in another book. Maybe working at Dr Nolan's clinic!
I honestly didn't expect the twist at the end but really liked how everything came together.
Is it realistic for a small town Dr to get into all these crazy adventures? No. But are they fun and entertaining? Definitely!
October 13, 2022
Even though I haven't read any of the prior Dr.Sean Nolan Mystery novels, Contrived was very easy to dive into. There were familiar characters that would pop up but it didn't impact my reading experience at all. Dr. Nolan is on the case when one his patients goes missing and the aura of suspicion surrounding it leads him to go sleuthing once again. It was entertaining to read along and try to piece together the mystery with Nolan knowing that danger is lurking just around the corner.
This novel is action packed and a great balance of medical science and mystery. My favorite part of the novel were them characters themselves. There was a wide variety of characters that felt realistic and that the audience could connect to. It made the reading experience immersive! I would recommend this novel to any mystery fan.
This novel is action packed and a great balance of medical science and mystery. My favorite part of the novel were them characters themselves. There was a wide variety of characters that felt realistic and that the audience could connect to. It made the reading experience immersive! I would recommend this novel to any mystery fan.
October 12, 2022
Dr. Sean Nolan, gets entwined in another dangerous mystery when a close patient of his suddenly disappears in a car accident with details that don’t add up. As the local doctor starts playing detective, he calls on friends from past adventures, to help him uncover the truth of what really led to the accident that night. This is my second Dr. Sean Nolan story and, as with the first, I appreciated the sense of humor and the way the author brings characters to life. However, I did feel the story dragged on in parts and then rushed together at the very end. Although it’s nice to have the backstory and revisit familiar characters, you certainly don’t need to read the other stories in this series to enjoy the winding tale this mystery takes.
November 3, 2022
"Contrived: A Dr. Sean Nolan Mystery " by E. W. Johnson M. D, is an engaging and alluring expository mystery book, where the writer incorporates comic characters, medical background prowess, and humanitarian nature to keep readers thrilled from start to end.
Dr. Sean won't stop until his departed "patient turned friend" Cherno has been served justice. How did his friend's car end up in the river? Dr. Sean engages his friends in law enforcement to try to get some answers.
I found the author to be extremely creative with the characters, especially in fleshing out the main protagonist Dr. Sean. The read was ecstatic and I undoubtedly recommend it to fans of medical, mystery, or investigative reads. Kudos to the author for this great masterpiece!
Dr. Sean won't stop until his departed "patient turned friend" Cherno has been served justice. How did his friend's car end up in the river? Dr. Sean engages his friends in law enforcement to try to get some answers.
I found the author to be extremely creative with the characters, especially in fleshing out the main protagonist Dr. Sean. The read was ecstatic and I undoubtedly recommend it to fans of medical, mystery, or investigative reads. Kudos to the author for this great masterpiece!
March 23, 2023
Great Book
I think I mainly enjoyed the dialogue in the book. I kind of spent half the time laughing at Dr. Sean's wittisims and the other half wanting to smack him.
The mystery, I felt, was a little too dense. I'm the kind of person who likes to try and solve it as the characters do, but there were too many missing bits of information for a reader to be able to do so.
I did suspect who the big bad were before it was revealed, though, so there is that.
But altogether, it was a pleasant and enjoyable read, and the story and characters hooked me in.
I think I mainly enjoyed the dialogue in the book. I kind of spent half the time laughing at Dr. Sean's wittisims and the other half wanting to smack him.
The mystery, I felt, was a little too dense. I'm the kind of person who likes to try and solve it as the characters do, but there were too many missing bits of information for a reader to be able to do so.
I did suspect who the big bad were before it was revealed, though, so there is that.
But altogether, it was a pleasant and enjoyable read, and the story and characters hooked me in.
March 20, 2023
Convoluted Indeed
Convoluted is the right word to describe this novel. It features one of the most obnoxious leads ever. Virtually suspense free, it features a snarky goody goody doctor who figures out that the accident that supposedly killed his illegal alien friend was actually murder. From there it goes down the rabbit hole of super spies and black ops. Unbelievable and not entertaining.
Convoluted is the right word to describe this novel. It features one of the most obnoxious leads ever. Virtually suspense free, it features a snarky goody goody doctor who figures out that the accident that supposedly killed his illegal alien friend was actually murder. From there it goes down the rabbit hole of super spies and black ops. Unbelievable and not entertaining.
October 2, 2022
Kept me guessing to the very end
It Is rare that I find a mystery novel where I haven't figured out whodunit by the end of the first few chapters. Dr. Johnson kept me in the dark until the very end of the book - which isn't an easy thing to do! I'm looking forward to reading more of his books featuring Dr. Sean Nolan.
It Is rare that I find a mystery novel where I haven't figured out whodunit by the end of the first few chapters. Dr. Johnson kept me in the dark until the very end of the book - which isn't an easy thing to do! I'm looking forward to reading more of his books featuring Dr. Sean Nolan.
October 20, 2022
"Contrived: A Dr. Sean Nolan Mystery " by E. W. Johnson M. D is an engrossing whodunnit. There is an accidental death and the dead body is never recovered. However, Dr. Sean, a brilliant protagonist, has a strong intuition that something is wrong and it is a murder. In spite of all the risks and dangers involved he begins his quest for truth and justice.
The plot and prose of the novel is engaging, engrossing, suspenseful and powerful from start to finish. The narrative is immensely rich, deep, sometimes poetic and meaningful.The characters are so well crafted and strong that they seem easily relatable. The reader is hooked from the very first page and is compelled to keep turning the pages. Indeed the book has everything a mystery fan might wish for.
The plot and prose of the novel is engaging, engrossing, suspenseful and powerful from start to finish. The narrative is immensely rich, deep, sometimes poetic and meaningful.The characters are so well crafted and strong that they seem easily relatable. The reader is hooked from the very first page and is compelled to keep turning the pages. Indeed the book has everything a mystery fan might wish for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews