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Richard Kurtz is a surgeon with a growing practice, a luxury apartment on the East Side of Manhattan and a beautiful girlfriend. Lew Barent is a police detective. He has chronic migraine headaches, a son-in-law he can barely stand and a job that he's looking forward to leaving. Kurtz and Barent have solved two improbable murders at Easton Medical Center and neither of them are expecting a third, but when elderly philanthropist dreams that she's witnessed a murder and a young hospital administrator is found strangled in bed, Kurtz and Barent are drawn into a twisted tale of greed, conspiracy and long-simmering revenge
- GenresMedical
218 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
217 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Robert I. Katz
40 books24 followersRobert I. Katz attended Columbia College and Northwestern University Medical School, and is on the faculty of the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His first novel, Edward Maret was published by Willowgate in 2001 and won the ASA Literary Prize that year.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 7, 2020
A friend who knows I love cops-and-doctors stories recommended this thriller. I enjoyed it! Surgeon Richard Kurtz and his friend, police detective Lew Barent, investigate a murder that occurred in Kurtz’s hospital. The surprise is that, in between all the medical description and police procedural, there is humor – reminding me often of the wisecracking in Spencer for Hire.
A wealthy, elderly woman named Eleanor Herbert goes briefly into cardiac arrest, then revives to say while she was “out” she saw the murder of a young woman. Delusion? Eleanor is one of the hospital’s trustees, so her allegation gets quick attention from nervous hospital honchos, and a young doctor is suspected. Two days later, the young woman Eleanor described is found strangled and dumped in the woods.
What follows details corruption in a wealthy family, plus hitmen, mysterious deaths in the past, and a psychotherapist helping Kurtz and Barent investigate. The story is enjoyable, with the one problem of perhaps too many characters. But things soon even out, and just when you think you’ve solved the case, you are thrown for a loop. Cheers for you if you figured it out. I didn’t. Five stars!
A wealthy, elderly woman named Eleanor Herbert goes briefly into cardiac arrest, then revives to say while she was “out” she saw the murder of a young woman. Delusion? Eleanor is one of the hospital’s trustees, so her allegation gets quick attention from nervous hospital honchos, and a young doctor is suspected. Two days later, the young woman Eleanor described is found strangled and dumped in the woods.
What follows details corruption in a wealthy family, plus hitmen, mysterious deaths in the past, and a psychotherapist helping Kurtz and Barent investigate. The story is enjoyable, with the one problem of perhaps too many characters. But things soon even out, and just when you think you’ve solved the case, you are thrown for a loop. Cheers for you if you figured it out. I didn’t. Five stars!
January 9, 2021
Seizure features a surgeon, Richard Kurtz, and a police detective, Lew Barent, working together on a third case, having solved two murders at Easton Medical Center.
The story opens with a realistic description of the daily grind in the operating room, where Katz loses one patient after another. Then, Eleanor Herbert, an elderly philanthropist, goes briefly into cardiac arrest. Once revived, she claims to have seen the murder of a young woman. A couple of days later, the young woman she described is found strangled and dumped in the woods. Kurtz and Barent consult with a psychotherapist as they delve into the complexity of the case, which is ripe with corruption, greed, vengeance and mysterious deaths.
The dialog is written at a fast clip and to the point. “I hate coincidence,” Barent says. “I don’t believe in coincidence. Eleanor Herbert dreams she sees a woman being murdered and wouldn’t you know it, the woman turns up murdered. Cutting through all the bullshit, what does that tell you?”
Five stars.
Disclosure: I discovered Richard I. Katz’s work when we were both invited to take part in the box set Do No Harm.
The story opens with a realistic description of the daily grind in the operating room, where Katz loses one patient after another. Then, Eleanor Herbert, an elderly philanthropist, goes briefly into cardiac arrest. Once revived, she claims to have seen the murder of a young woman. A couple of days later, the young woman she described is found strangled and dumped in the woods. Kurtz and Barent consult with a psychotherapist as they delve into the complexity of the case, which is ripe with corruption, greed, vengeance and mysterious deaths.
The dialog is written at a fast clip and to the point. “I hate coincidence,” Barent says. “I don’t believe in coincidence. Eleanor Herbert dreams she sees a woman being murdered and wouldn’t you know it, the woman turns up murdered. Cutting through all the bullshit, what does that tell you?”
Five stars.
Disclosure: I discovered Richard I. Katz’s work when we were both invited to take part in the box set Do No Harm.
July 6, 2018
Excellent read and a mind teaser mystery.
Love all the medical information and how it adds a real depth to understanding of the characters, especially Elenore.
Good read.
Love all the medical information and how it adds a real depth to understanding of the characters, especially Elenore.
Good read.
February 28, 2024
Seizure: A Kurtz and Barent Mystery by Robert I. Katz
***** Well-written and intense...
Starting out with a pelting rainy night and a well-described, medical-savvy hospital setting, we read about several people dying in surgery no matter how hard the surgeons have worked. But then this book takes a turn; a plot path not often mentioned in murder/medical stories. It’s all about an astral projection that leads us toward finding a murder victim. The elderly Eleanor Herbert, who, at one point, is pronounced clinically dead, becomes instrumental as a witness. During her deathbed-induced phenomena, she remembers floating over a surgeon as he walks down a hall. He knocks on a door but when there’s no answer, she floats in herself. There, lying on a table is a dead woman, obviously strangled. Even in her current otherworldly state, Eleanor recognizes the victim as Regina Cole, whom she and her husband had only met the night before at a big event. And how Regina’s smile had originally brought a chill to her heart.
And the investigation begins. Dr. Kurtz and Detective Barent are a fine pair as they team up to unravel this increasingly complicated case. As the plot twists and turns, various potential guilty witnesses are being questioned. We are introduced to the fact that as a child, Eleanor was exposed to serious drug-induced deprivation and electric convulsive therapies by a sadistic psychiatrist. And that fact alone could place within her the highest form of childhood PTSD.
As Kurtz and Barent steady on, they not only learn about Eleanor’s family’s servants and their “silences” over the years, but they also engage with the disturbed Herbert family members, as well as learning about inheritance revenge, loans, organized crime, and financial institutions’ possible involvement. More than that, years before when certain young girls were expected to perform some male-needed acts, they also had witnessed other acts by the same deprived psychiatrist who had treated Eleanor. Will Dr. Kurtz and Det. Barent find the ultimate murderer before they also become victims? You’ll just have to read this intense and informative book. Definitely recommend.
***** Well-written and intense...
Starting out with a pelting rainy night and a well-described, medical-savvy hospital setting, we read about several people dying in surgery no matter how hard the surgeons have worked. But then this book takes a turn; a plot path not often mentioned in murder/medical stories. It’s all about an astral projection that leads us toward finding a murder victim. The elderly Eleanor Herbert, who, at one point, is pronounced clinically dead, becomes instrumental as a witness. During her deathbed-induced phenomena, she remembers floating over a surgeon as he walks down a hall. He knocks on a door but when there’s no answer, she floats in herself. There, lying on a table is a dead woman, obviously strangled. Even in her current otherworldly state, Eleanor recognizes the victim as Regina Cole, whom she and her husband had only met the night before at a big event. And how Regina’s smile had originally brought a chill to her heart.
And the investigation begins. Dr. Kurtz and Detective Barent are a fine pair as they team up to unravel this increasingly complicated case. As the plot twists and turns, various potential guilty witnesses are being questioned. We are introduced to the fact that as a child, Eleanor was exposed to serious drug-induced deprivation and electric convulsive therapies by a sadistic psychiatrist. And that fact alone could place within her the highest form of childhood PTSD.
As Kurtz and Barent steady on, they not only learn about Eleanor’s family’s servants and their “silences” over the years, but they also engage with the disturbed Herbert family members, as well as learning about inheritance revenge, loans, organized crime, and financial institutions’ possible involvement. More than that, years before when certain young girls were expected to perform some male-needed acts, they also had witnessed other acts by the same deprived psychiatrist who had treated Eleanor. Will Dr. Kurtz and Det. Barent find the ultimate murderer before they also become victims? You’ll just have to read this intense and informative book. Definitely recommend.
June 8, 2021
An opera lover once wrote that after listening Parsifal, a Wagner opera, for three hours, he checked his watch and realized that only 30 minutes had passed. That is exactly what I felt about Seizure. After reading for what I felt was about two or three hours, I realized I had only read 20 or 30 pages. A good story, insipid to extreme characters, lots and lots of medical activities which have nothing to do with the story, boring to tears conversations among the characters, etc. etc. No, this is not an author I will follow. Three stars because I recognize authors' work and it is not easy and the medical activities are very well, I guess, explained.
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November 28, 2022Great
Dr Kurtz , as seems usual, is pulled into another investigation . This while he is involved in a malpractice case . He makes friends with an elderly , wealthy woman who had a vision .
Multiple cases show up a Detective Barent is trying to solve the original murder .
Well written , maybe a typo or two and worthwhile read.
Dr Kurtz , as seems usual, is pulled into another investigation . This while he is involved in a malpractice case . He makes friends with an elderly , wealthy woman who had a vision .
Multiple cases show up a Detective Barent is trying to solve the original murder .
Well written , maybe a typo or two and worthwhile read.
July 7, 2019
Not recommended
Too complicated with a pharoah of persons, hard to keep straight. Also very complicated chapters with several scenes & no lead up. Needs a good editor. Interesting historic novel.
Too complicated with a pharoah of persons, hard to keep straight. Also very complicated chapters with several scenes & no lead up. Needs a good editor. Interesting historic novel.
June 23, 2020
So-so. I thought the out-of-body experience was interesting, but then things went downhill. Too many characters for one thing. The mob angle didn't interest me at all so I started to lose interest around 1/2 way. Others might enjoy that aspect of the story. Struggled to finish.
January 12, 2021
Too many characters for me
The story line was a good one, and kurtz and barent were true characters, but at some point I lost track of whom I was reading about. Maybe the story needed them all. But for me, trying to keep straight who was doing what to whom, I was confused.
The story line was a good one, and kurtz and barent were true characters, but at some point I lost track of whom I was reading about. Maybe the story needed them all. But for me, trying to keep straight who was doing what to whom, I was confused.
May 3, 2020
Not a bad intellectual exercise?!
July 2, 2020
This book was okay. Not one of my favorites.
August 14, 2022
Well written and intriguing.
I enjoyed reading this book. Interesting characters and story. Also very credible. I’ll definitely look into reading the other books in this series.
I enjoyed reading this book. Interesting characters and story. Also very credible. I’ll definitely look into reading the other books in this series.
March 28, 2025
Seizure. Interesting part historical murder
Part Historical novel, part murder mystery. Why people do what they do! Kurtz is an interested party! Barent is a cynical cop!
Part Historical novel, part murder mystery. Why people do what they do! Kurtz is an interested party! Barent is a cynical cop!
October 21, 2024
Technically a murder mystery I suppose. I enjoyed this. Complicated enough characters and storyline. This is the third one in the series I have read. I would read more, but am not dying to. Each book can be a stand alone. Not sure why it is called Seizure. I like mysteries that have to do with Medical and murder.
July 10, 2019
Awesome thriller and mystery book!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews