Tortur

Dr. Edward Jenner #2

by Jonathan Hayes, Christine Gaspard (Übersetzer)

Forensic pathologist Edward Jenner survived the horrific ordeal of the Inquisitor serial slayings in New York, but not the political fallout. With his state medical license suspended, he hopes to repair his shattered life while working as a medical examiner in Douglas County, Florida. But evil is not confined to big cities alone.

Two corpses pulled from a sunken car—followed by the grisly discovery of four more bodies hanging in the Everglades—are evidence of an insidious rot infecting this quiet coastal resort community. Suddenly Jenner's investigation is turning up grim traces of a nightmarish conspiracy—and with no one to trust and nowhere to turn, his only hope of survival is to walk away . . . something Jenner could never do.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

British-born Jonathan Hayes is a senior forensic pathologist in New York City. He has lectured internationally in his field, and teaches at New York University School of Medicine; he is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. A prolific and eclectic freelance writer, Hayes writes regularly for the New York Times, New York magazine, GQ, Food and Wine, Martha Stewart Living and many other magazines. In "Precious Blood", Hayes's first novel, a forensic pathologist burnt out after 9/11 hunts a serial killer on the streets of New York."

Reviews

[Mauoijenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder. Killers. The Everglades.
This book was very well written and had me on the edge of my seat, can't quite turn the page fast enough read.

[Phil James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book and the second (and last) in the series by Jonathan Hayes. Book 1 was about a disgraced medical examiner who was somewhat burnt out after being involved in the recovery of bodies at ground zero following 9/11. This book sees him taking on a job in Florida for a few months to fill in for a colleague who is on leave. Let's just say bodies start piling up so he's kept busy. It is very well paced and somewhat different. Well worth a read.

[Chris Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started out good, but got too bogged down with parallel plot lines, until, as a whole it became a bit ludicrous.

The forensic scenes are solid, and that is what drew me to read it, but the rest is a hodgepodge of characters and events that keep trying to top one another, and just come off as unrealistic.

If you're looking for non-stop action escapism, with villains galore, then this might just be for you.

[Dan Downing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven years on I took this for another spin. It was there and I browsed to it and started reading. Got hooked again, the plot and characters were complex enough to sustain a second reading. It still falls a bit short of 5 Star territory, but as the weather turns cooler Hayes was good company in the wee hours.
Recommended.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: Jenner is banished from New York to become Medical Examiner in Florida's Port Fontaine. He makes a discovery in the Everglades.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a most excellent book. Well researched. Well written. Great characters. It truly is a book you can't put down. I highly recommend it.

[L.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monday, April 4, 2011A Hard Death by Jonathan Hayes
Article first published as Book Review: A Hard Death by Jonathan Hayes on Blogcritics.

Helping an old friend in Florida after losing his job and reputation in New York gives Edward Jenner time and space to make decisions. Of course, it would have to be soon, money was running out. A forensic pathologist by trade, and brilliant in his field, he is in the area helping as a medical examiner.

Working second fiddle to his friend Doc Roburn his life is more sedate. Covering while the Doc is on vacation, Jenner realizes he will have to make his funds stretch to cover his expenses.

Jenner receives information about some bodies, and as he investigates, he finds not one set of bodies but two. The victims’ cause of death was hanging. Finding two sets of bodies, one set current, and the other from several months prior, is a surprise, hanging is no longer a common form of murder. Many farms and ranches dot the area so when the bodies are of Hispanic decent it is no surprise. Many illegals still work the area and it will be difficult to establish identities. Deb Putnum from the Ranger service joins the search, and Jenner finds her to be capable as well as attractive. Detective Rudge is also at hand and Jenner finds comfort in having someone he can trust.

Later, coming on the scene of a car accident, Jenner is shocked to find his mentor as well as his wife in the car, but the deaths are not due to the accident. Both are murdered, and Jenner finds the similarities to the other bodies found to be an odd coincidence. Is it possible the murders are related? Will his professionalism allow him to autopsy his old friend? He is not so sure.

When the murders attract national attention, Jenner is again in the middle of a controversy. The same reporter that dealt his career as a Pathologist in New York a death blow, is back on the chase with every intention of dragging him down again. Can he do his job and still maintain his distance? Little does he know that his life has just tilted again and he will not only be responsible for his life but that of many of the people involved. Can he find the answers before it is too late? Someone from the force is leaking information, and it takes a deft hand to stay ahead of the killers. Only with answers can Jenner stop the killing, but can he find them in time, his only hint at the truth lies in a small package found in the Doc’s car.
In A Hard Death, Jonathan Hayes has taken a community and cordoned it off from society. Small towns are often close and suspicious, but Jonathan takes it to another level. Jenner is scraping rock bottom, putting his life back together. Losing everything in New York, he is determined to begin again. Unaware how his life will shift with his friend and mentor’s murder, he thinks he can determine the cause of death. When more deaths pile up and those he most loves are in the cross hairs, can he find it within himself to dig out the answers? Hayes has written his character as a fractured soul with the heart of a hero. The character comes to life, and when attacked it becomes personal, as if he is our own family or friend. The depiction of who he is resonates.

His friends and coworkers become our friends and coworkers and when danger and death occur, we are mortified, sad and disheartened. The pathology, done with an eye to the nonprofessional is laid out for easy perusal. Jenner is brilliant, move over Kay Scarpetta; there is a new pathologist in town.

The story resonates and I read it in one sitting. I found I could not put it down; I was immersed in the menace and following the danger, willing it all to work out. This would be a great book for a reading group and a must for your library.

If you enjoy thrillers this is a first class read. Jonathan Hayes has found the perfect pace to keep the reader involved from the first page to the last. Make time, for you will not want to put it down.

I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

[Mysterytribune · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonathan Hayes, a veteran forensic pathologist, has been a New York City medical examiner, performing autopsies and testifying in murder trials, since 1990. A former contributing editor at Martha Stewart Living, Hayes has written for the New York Times, GQ, and Food & Wine. A Hard Death is his latest novel, a sequel to Precious Blood.

A Brief Summary:

Forensic pathologist Edward Jenner, the main character of the forensic driven series by Hayes, is in a small-town coastal community in Florida now.

In Precious Blood, has survived the horrific ordeal of the Inquisitor serial killings in New York, but not the political fallout. His New York state medical license is suspended, and he is out of job. He hopes he can get his hands on something to get by in a relatively cheap place. Finally Jenner finds himself banished to Douglas County in coastal Florida, working as a medical examiner in the balmy seaside resort of Port Fontaine.

But new adventures are about to begin: First Jenner finds the bodies of a murdered man and woman decaying in a sunken car. They belong to his former mentor, Marty Roburn and his wife.

And then an anonymous call in the middle of the night notifies him that a group of gangsters are torturing and killing illegal immigrants in an isolated island nearby. The call leads him to a gruesome discovery in the heart of the Everglades. He finds traces of a shadowy criminal conspiracy, and soon learns that he can trust no one. With his life on the line, Jenner refuses to walk away and let the murderers go unpunished. The consequences, though, are not something he imagined in the first place.

Our Take:

A Hard Death has all the elements you're looking for in a top-notch thriller: Gripping plots, fast paced storyline, plenty of action scenes and clever twists.

The book has been written in James Patterson Style (short chapters usually each with only 2-4 pages); at times during the story the author forces scenes of romance, philosophical remarks about God and a lesbo wedding. While we found these contents unnecessary in the storyline, they didn't hurt the reading experience.

Mexican drug cartels, law enforcement corruption, underage prostitution, and fear evoking murders, all play a part in this gritty crime novel set in the coastal area of the Everglades in Florida.

We enjoyed this book a lot and recommend it to the fans of forensic-driven crime fictions.

Our Rating: 4.5

There is more at http://www.mysterytribune.com or @mysterytribune

[Wendi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Hard Death
By Jonathan Hayes
Published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers

Mexican drug cartels, corruption, child sex trade, and heinous fear evoking murder, all play a part in this gritty crime thriller played out in the Everglades of Florida.

When Edward Jenner agrees to stand in as Douglas County Medical Examiner for his long time mentor and friend, he has no idea what he’s in for. Almost as soon as he arrives, bodies begin to stack up⎯including those of the resident Medical Examiner and his wife⎯and one thing is for certain, the murders are connected.

Following an anonymous tip, Jenner soon uncovers a depraved consortium masquerading as a common working farm and owned by a local tycoon. As dark clues are revealed, a wide and extensive network unfolds. Never one to do things half way; Jenner is determined to expose the entire conspiracy he knows lies behind the murders. A marked target, Jenner has little time left to uncover the truth before he loses everyone he’s grown close to.

A fast-paced thrill ride, A Hard Death has a great storyline and gutsy characters. While I enjoyed the novel, I was distracted by the incessant swearing which did nothing to establish it’s characters or set a stage. In a 400-page book, there were over 1000 profanities, slowing progress through the book. There were also forced “tokens” of porn, a “lesbo wedding,” and a thorough mocking of God, which felt random and unnecessary to the storyline. Hayes’ writing is good enough on its own merit and I was sorry the work was reduced by such tactics.

I received this book free from HarperCollinsPublishers as part of their Blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.

[The Sunday Book Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book I follow Dr. Jenner as he moves to a new town and immediately finds himself in the middle of murder and drama. It starts out fun enough. He moves in and the former M.E. has been found murdered and he has to perform the autopsy. Then bodies start popping up hanging from trees and being run over. Love it.

And then I find out that all the murders are connected and I feel a bit deflated. I don’t want everything to be connected. I want different story lines where the lead character, in this case Jenner, is torn from one case to the other. But as it turns out one case gives him clues to another.
Dr. Jenner is likable enough. He seems like a normal man: likes his job, has insecurities and falls for women everyone tells him he shouldn’t. His relationship with Rudge was interesting as the appeared to be good friends but there was some struggle at times when one tried to overshine the other.
The first creep factor for me was a scene between daughter and father by the pool. Jenner was meeting a woman he would later date at her house when out of the pool comes her naked father. His daughter just giggles and says “Daddy”. Throughout the book we see just how odd their relationship is and how uncomfortable everyone is around them.

The overall book was good. There was a lot of racial and ethnic undertones – book revolves around Mexican run farming – which while rings true to the climate, takes some getting used to the first couple of times it is thrown your way. I did enjoy reading it, but it wasn’t a book I rushed through dinner to pick up and continue.

[cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Hard Death is a sequel to an earlier novel by the author (Precious Blood) and follows forensic pathologist Edward Jenner as he becomes immersed in a series of mysteries in southern Florida. I do think having read the prior novel would give the reader a head start in understanding Jenner and his past (involving a serial killer in NYC and related personal background), but I was able to catch up. I'm not a huge thriller/mystery girl but enjoyed watching the threads tie together and think Hayes handles that well, making the relationship between multiple mysteries more believable than a typical episode of CSI (the fact that two separate murders on CSI are inevitably related drives me nuts). I did get a bit lost at time in the character names but that's not unusual for me. I felt mixed on the more personal side of the story involving Jenner and two very different women in the Florida town....it felt forced at times and the characters didn't always feel fully fleshed.



Overall, an enjoyable read. A solid three of five stars, which (I feel like a broken record) is a solid score from me...firmly in the "Good" range but not in the "Great" arena and not one I expect to read again.

(An advance copy of this book was provided to me by Harper)

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t read the first book in this series. Despite there obviously being a lot that happened, you get the gist of it through this book. Jenner took things into his own hands while in New York, and as a result he is now working in Florida, trying to lay low and just do his job. But when the man who hired him is found dead, just the first in a chain of strange events, laying low is no longer an option.

This isn’t a happy book. Hayes does a nice job of maintaining the noir feel, even when there is a little bit of romance involved. I thought the forensics were well handled, and was interested in the portrayal of the migrant farms, of both the workers and the people who run them. And Jenner is a man who believes in doing what’s right, no matter the consequences to himself.

My one complaint is that Hayes goes a bit overboard with making the bad guy bad. There’s one aspect of him that is particularly horrifying, and I’m not sure it was necessary. The guy was bad enough without throwing in that extra dysfunction.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to not only picking up the first in the series, Precious Blood, but seeing what comes next.

[Elli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Hard Death: A Novel, by Jonathan Hayes. It's a good book and well written, 3.5 stars actually. But it's just too, too much. Evil on top of evil, greed on top of greed and no rules to moderate methods which were pretty ghastly. The richest of the rich and totally depraved and his daughter and her daughter. A dog picked up, rescued from some real cruel ninnies led by their bad sorry excuse for a father, then part of a bombing by those involved in the "safe" illegal profit making. Another set of rules, thin, and led by a dog eat dog philosophy. And a big city successful TV News Anchor who wants to keep getting even with the doctor for her unsuccessful affair with him. Even at the end it gets no real improvement....one set going out another continuing...like a bad dynasty, but not necessarily related. Even if true, it is more depressing than I would want to spend time with, especially since there is nothing I personally can or am going to do....the laws are ignored even though they are there and on the books. Just a bit to depressing for my taste. People are not saints, I realize that, and some are really bad. But enough is enough on the literary scene, for me anyway.

[Linda Branham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't read the first book in this series. Even though there obviously was a lot that happened in the first book, you get the gist of it through this book. It seems that in the first book Jenner took things into his own hands while in New York and a policeman was killed, and as a result he is now working in Florida, trying to lay low and just do his job. But when the man ( another pathologist) who hired him is found dead, just the first in a chain of strange events, laying low is no longer an option. Jenner is a man who believes in doing what's right, no matter the consequences to himself.

I thought the forensics were well handled, and was interested in the portrayal of the migrant farms, of both the workers and the people who run them. The bad people were really bad - but from what I understand a lot of that may be accurate and true to life

The dog was a great addition to the book :)

[Caroline Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first instalment of Jonathan Hayes' Edward Jenner character in Precious Blood I was very excited to read the sequel. At first, I must admit I found it more difficlut to really get into this one. However, I do think that it was largely due to the setting. New York does appear to be more of a dangerous, dark setting than sunny, holiday-like Miami.

It is a good novel and as it goes onit does get better and better and better. The story goes deeper, with references to the last book, and there are twists in the last half of the book. It was well worth a read and I will definitley be interested in reading more of Jonathan Hayes' novels. Hopefully, there will be more Edward Jenner to come!

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Te trials of Dr. Edward Jenner, a former New York ME, now disgraced and displaced, continue in this second novel. Jenner is in Port Fontaine, FL, filling in for his friend and mentor as county ME. When that friend and his wife turn up dead and other bodies are found hanging in the Everglades, Jenner finds himself in the middle of what turns out to be a dark and deadly conspiracy, reaching into the upper levels of society. Along the way, his personal troubles return to plague him, and the result is a fast-moving, satisfying thrill-ride.

If you liked PRECIOUS BLOOD, you'll love A HARD DEATH. So say I, and I'm sticking to it.

[James Marinero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another unputdownable book in my recent reading.

I learned a lot about the Everglades and even more about the work of a Medical Examiner. Hayes is an ME and it was interesting to learn from his notes that Patricia Cornwell was an advisor.

Plenty of action, twists and a bit of science thrown in. I already knew that cold cures could be used to make methamphetamine - a pharmacist told me that when I asked for a previously available OTC drug for sinus relief.

Anyway, plenty to keep you going here. Entirely credible - we all know that this stuff happens, but the insights were interesting.

7.6/10 on my own scale, so it gets 4 Goodreads stars.

[Bibliophile · Rating 1 out of 5]

It can't be easy, being a criminal pathologist in exile in Florida. People drop dead like flies around Dr Jenner, unless they're busy trying to kill him. Or unless they're women, who prefer swooning. Jenner seems undaunted though, and efficiently uncovers drug cartels, performs autopsies, charms the ladies and even saves a mangy old dog from mean kids. I'm sure this is an excellent read for those who enjoy fast-paced crime fiction with a righteous hero and don't care much about credibility or character development. I thought it might work as a lazy summer read, but no.

[Dan Downing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hayes sophomore effort almost stretches into 5 star territory. He certainly has the knack for keeping one turning the page, yet this is not a particularly violent or gory book. Not a Cozy by any means but not The Executioner, either.
We follow the career path of pathologist Edward Jenner, whom we met in Hayes' first book. Having had his way with wrenching events in NYC, Jenner is in Florida to attract mayhem and suspicion.
Peppered with some interesting characters and left with enough loose ends to ensure a third in the series, this was a satisfying journey.
Recommended.

[Jennifer Jowsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had put off reading this because I knew it would be a hard read. Jonathan Hayes writes vivid realism, his settings, characters, and situations are very *real*, without sensationalism. While the murders were not explained in extreme graphic detail, the situations themselves were painted so well - again, real - that the brutality was disturbing.

I like the character of Jenner and would love to read more in this series.

[Chris Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brutal but real. Jonathan Hayes writes cleverly and the main character Dr Edward Jenner is so likeable flaws and all. You wonder how one person can have so much bad luck. I preferred Precious Blood and recommend that it is read first to understand Jenner's situation better but this still get a 5 star rating from me. More please.............

[A.M.D. Hays · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Jonathan Hayes novel I have read, but I can tell you now that it won't be the last. A Hard Death is brilliant, suspenseful, and a little grisly at times--but let's face it, the protagonist is a forensic pathologist so one should expect a little blood.

I couldn't stop turning the pages!! Highly recommended.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jonathan Hayes brings back disgraced pathologist Edward Jenner in this brutally realistic south Florida thriller. Jenner tries to solve the grisly murder of his mentor, as the body count keeps rising. A likable hero and truly despicable villians, this one kept me reading long into the night!!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Total transparency alert: Hayes is a friend of mine. That said, I really loved this book! Jenner is a much more likeable character in this book, and Hayes paints the Florida landscape with steamy brilliance. Enjoy!

[Deb Carlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the storyline. Fast paced and addictive. Too many f-words for my taste...but that may be the way these folks talk. I like the main protagonist Dr. Jenner.nwill go back and read the 1 st novel.

[Ron S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly genre by the numbers thriller set in Florida with a medical examiner protagonist. Graphic violence and scenes or gore galore. Saved somewhat by occasionally realistic characters that behave in unexpected, inconsistent ways, just as real people do.

[Nancy Shepherd · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot to like here! The story of a discredited medical examiner, searching for a new place in life, kept my interest through the whole book. I was reminded of Kathy Reichs' Bones series, but the plot here is much darker than Reichs gives us.

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, fast moving and no dull bits.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't know if there will be any others to come in this series but if there is I will read them. Very good reads.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A smashing thriller with characters you fall a little in love with and storytelling that makes it almost impossible to put down.