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Jack Merlin Mystery #1
Abra Cadaver
A dedicated young surgeon, Dr. Jack Merlin is stunned when he recognizes the body currently being disected in the anatomy lab at Pittsburgh University Medical Center as being that of his former roommate, who had vanished months before. Original.
400 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 22, 2011
This is the first James Tucker book I read and it was pretty good. I look forward to reading the next one and see what adventure Dr. Merlin will encounter.
December 5, 2019
Interesting premise and the heroine isn't a pansy, but she does things a real woman wouldn't do (author is obviously a man) and her love interest is a little violent.
May 29, 2022
A very good mystery. Although the basic plot has been used before, James Taylor adds so many unique characters and twists to make it worth reading. The book needs a little editing. I look forward to reading the other book I found in this series.
December 26, 2022
Medical thriller
This review is for my mom. She doesn't usually go for medical thrillers, but enjoyed this book very much, enought to continue reading the next in the series. She gives a 'strong thumbs up' 👍!
This review is for my mom. She doesn't usually go for medical thrillers, but enjoyed this book very much, enought to continue reading the next in the series. She gives a 'strong thumbs up' 👍!
March 9, 2011
A body is dragged from the river, and the ME's office finds he's died from natural causes, and already been embalmed. The same day, Dr. Jack Merlin's roommate Kevin Hoover goes missing. A year later, Kevin's body is found in the Gross Anatomy lab, about to be dissected by medical students. Who is switching bodies of murder victims with those donated to science? ADA Tory Welch is on the case, and in danger from those who'd rather she didn't solve it.
First time author Dr. James Tucker has an excellent premise, some well-developed characters (and some not-so-well developed ones), and the medical background necessary to write a novel based in a hospital and a medical school. Unfortunately, his knowledge of sentence structure, pacing, and the judicial system are quite lacking. The first half of the novel went well, and I was pleased that his female lead managed to extricate herself from an attempted rape situation without being rescued by the hero, but the book quickly soured for me after that, when she immediately jumped into bed with said hero. First of all, the sex was cringe-inducingly poorly written, and second of all, I don't know of any victims of rape or attempted rape whose first inclination is to engage in sexual activity. (And I've worked in that field, so I should know.) The story then builds to an extremely shaky scenario which one assumes will be the climax to the tale. Sadly, it is not, for Tory must be put in another dangerous situation that Jack can then rescue her from (by some incredibly unbelivable [and I mean confusing, not shocking] means). The only thing I can say in favor of the ending is that the body-switcher did not end up being whom I thought it was.
An okay first try, though, Tucker. Those not well informed about law enforcement or....um...sentences...might find this book entertaining.
First time author Dr. James Tucker has an excellent premise, some well-developed characters (and some not-so-well developed ones), and the medical background necessary to write a novel based in a hospital and a medical school. Unfortunately, his knowledge of sentence structure, pacing, and the judicial system are quite lacking. The first half of the novel went well, and I was pleased that his female lead managed to extricate herself from an attempted rape situation without being rescued by the hero, but the book quickly soured for me after that, when she immediately jumped into bed with said hero. First of all, the sex was cringe-inducingly poorly written, and second of all, I don't know of any victims of rape or attempted rape whose first inclination is to engage in sexual activity. (And I've worked in that field, so I should know.) The story then builds to an extremely shaky scenario which one assumes will be the climax to the tale. Sadly, it is not, for Tory must be put in another dangerous situation that Jack can then rescue her from (by some incredibly unbelivable [and I mean confusing, not shocking] means). The only thing I can say in favor of the ending is that the body-switcher did not end up being whom I thought it was.
An okay first try, though, Tucker. Those not well informed about law enforcement or....um...sentences...might find this book entertaining.
October 12, 2019
Holy corps batman!!!!!!
Wow!!! Just wow!!!!!. It's 1:30am and I just read the final page. Cou!dnt put this book down. No way no how!!!. GreAt characters. Great plot!!!! Don't miss this one guys
Wow!!! Just wow!!!!!. It's 1:30am and I just read the final page. Cou!dnt put this book down. No way no how!!!. GreAt characters. Great plot!!!! Don't miss this one guys
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October 23, 2008M Tuc
August 7, 2017
well,the book is set in 1996.there are a few times when the dates seem misplaced.but overall...its been a thoroughly good book to read.
it turns out that there are a bunch of main characters: mark peters,julian plesser,doctor olsen,jack merlin and a few police names as well. a body is discovered in the medical examiners office that used to be a doctor on staff.mysteries coincide with who would have killed the doctor and for what reason.for a few chapters the reader is sent through different interviews and scenarios as tory welch is on the case to find out why this body in particular has showed up for dissection among first year students in college learning about autopsies and being a diener.
we are also introduced to some criminals that often give their newly deceased victims to the hospital thru a liason that accepts money for the immediatte disposal of these hitmens victims.
as the book slowly comes to an end we see that some of these scenarios are mere accidents that happened to have happened by mere chance.like being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Because their is media focus and a large investigation going on the hitmen and the hospitals liason are going to be stopping any of their activities.The investigators and the doctors only know so much so they are backtracking into past cases of autopsies and cadavers to see how this has been happening and if its been often.
where i.m at,which is page 370.ive got less than 25 pages left.i totally think this is a good book.the last two i remember reading this good were red on red and a case of need.
so yea,ide recommend anyone to read it.
it turns out that there are a bunch of main characters: mark peters,julian plesser,doctor olsen,jack merlin and a few police names as well. a body is discovered in the medical examiners office that used to be a doctor on staff.mysteries coincide with who would have killed the doctor and for what reason.for a few chapters the reader is sent through different interviews and scenarios as tory welch is on the case to find out why this body in particular has showed up for dissection among first year students in college learning about autopsies and being a diener.
we are also introduced to some criminals that often give their newly deceased victims to the hospital thru a liason that accepts money for the immediatte disposal of these hitmens victims.
as the book slowly comes to an end we see that some of these scenarios are mere accidents that happened to have happened by mere chance.like being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Because their is media focus and a large investigation going on the hitmen and the hospitals liason are going to be stopping any of their activities.The investigators and the doctors only know so much so they are backtracking into past cases of autopsies and cadavers to see how this has been happening and if its been often.
where i.m at,which is page 370.ive got less than 25 pages left.i totally think this is a good book.the last two i remember reading this good were red on red and a case of need.
so yea,ide recommend anyone to read it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews