Medical Thrillers

In Harms Way (1995) Breeze, Paul A. Steven Hamble had something to tell Tony Marchbank but died while Tony waited at his house, a supposed suicide. Then Tony and his assistant Chris begin looking into the study Steven was working on and find strange things happening, both at work an d in their personal lives. What actually happened at Roughburn to cause such an unusual number of infant cancers and who wants to keep it quiet? Before he tracks down the answer, Tony will find his life threatened and his marriage falling apart. Vital Signs (1991) Cook, Robin Dr. Marissa Blumenthal is surprised to learn that sealed fallopian tubes have rendered her infertile--and that the cause of the problem seems to be a rare form of tuberculosis. Then she finds that several other women, including a medical school friend, have the same problem and have been going to the same fertility clinic. Could there be a connection? As Marissa pursues the problems she becomes suspicious of the clinic's unusually high success rate with in-vitro fertilization and the number of those patients whose reason for infertility matches hers. Further investigation leads Marissa to Australia and then to Hong Kong with someone trying to end her search--permanently! Final Fear (1993) Harper, Philip When Gray's friend dies in an inner city hospital, complaining of pain while receiving morphine and failing to recover from a serious infection despite receiving the newest antibiotic, Gray suspects a drug scam and gets himself admitted to the hospital by faking a heart attack. Once a patient, Gray almost dies himself from an unnecessary surgical procedure, and begins his investigation in earnest. Along the way, Gray discovers that not only are many of the drugs altered, someone is listing transfers of patients to a nearby nursing home--patients who are already dead, but also someone appears to be murdering indigent patients. Can Gray get to the bottom of all this while protecting his own life and the life of Dr. Molly Hale? A Case of Need (1968) Hudson, Jeffrey This novel deals with abortion in the days when it was still illegal. The book spans only one week as pathologist John Berry tries to prove that his friend Dr. Arthur Lee did not perform the botched abortion which caused the death of the daughter of a prominent surgeon. As Berry investigates the case, he uncovers a number of family secrets, sees the Ku Klux Klan attack both his family and his friend's, and as he reaches a solution, finds himself attacked and left for dead on the street. Will he find the real butcher in time to save his friend from a trial and the loss of his practice, and was that person another medical professional or a back-alley practitioner? Epidemic 9 (1980) Lerner, Richard, M.D. Epidemic 8 (Legionnaires' Disease) is essentially contained. Now the National Institute for Communicable Disease Control (NICDC) is facing a possible Epidemic 9, Nevus magnus, a fast spreading black hairy growth similar to a mole. When the first three cases show up in a small town in New Jersey, there seems to be no connection between the victims. Then cases begin doubling almost daily and showing up all over the world. What is the connection and where is the source? Drs. B.J. Keller and Luke Hornbine soon find that someone doesn't want them to answer those questions and their continued search could endanger the lives of all concerned. Carriers (1995) Lynch, Patrick When a new ebola type filo-virus appears in monkeys shipped to the US, Colonel Carmen Travis heads a team to track its origins and is soon headed for the jungles of Sumatra. But why does this virus incubate so quickly and seem to be airborne? Is there a connection with a mysterious and formerly unknown research facility in New Mexico? Carmen is joined unexpectedly in Sumatra by Holly Becker who is trying to track down her twin daughters who were visiting her ex-husband in the area where the virus originated. What's going on here and who will survive this deadly plague? Practice to Deceive (1991) Miller, Timothy Two plastic surgeons -- Lionel Stern, board certified and reputable; Morris Gold, flashy and virtually self-taught -- when these two meet sparks are sure to fly. Then Stern meets Gold's benefactress Luisa Obregon and issues become clouded. Is Gold the humanitarian he claims to be or a conniving smuggler, using innocent, unsuspecting patients as his carriers? And what is Luisa's role -- innocent supporter or partner? As the bodies and botched surgeries pile up, Stern finds himself confused and his life threatened. Natural Causes (1994) Palmer, Michael A rare blood disease is killing maternity patients of Dr. Sarah Baldwin and the cause seems to be an herbal prenatal supplement which Sarah has given her patients. Then one of the women survives--after losing her baby and her arm--and questions arise as to the true cause of the disease. More deaths occur, these not from "natural" causes, and those dying could have possibly helped Sarah prove her innocence. As investigations continue, it appears that Sarah may be the final victim -- but why and who stands to gain? Blood Heat (1988) Pieczenik, Steve At the end of World War II, American soldiers overrun a Japanese biological warfare facility. Now in 1988 the re-searcher from that facility is working for an American drug development company owned by the commander of the invading force. Could these two men be connected with the sudden outbreak of bubonic plague-like symptoms in three areas of the United States! And what is going on at the secret military research center near Washington! Dr. Orestes Bradley, a prominent epidemiologist finds himself involved in the race to answer these questions -- and save his own life. Second Seed (1987) Polan, Mary Lke, M.D. Dr. Beth Danforth and her husband have decided it is finally time to start their family; however, the after-effects of a tubal pregnancy force them to turn to in-vitro fertilization. At the same time, half a world away, the young ruler of a small Arab nation is considering the same process in an attempt to achieve an heir from his comatose wife. Through a fluke of fate, both women use the same doctor and Beth unwittingly becomes the host mother for the young princess' embryo, a situation that imperils Beth and all those who come in contact with her. As Beth learns the reason for her peril she also realizes how difficult it will be for her to keep her baby, if they both survive the pregnancy. Who can she trust and what options does she have? Fourth Procedure(1995) Pottinger, Stanley Pregnant men! Convicted abortion clinic bombers used as hosts for aborted fetuses! What is going on and how does it affect the appointment of the new Chief Justice of the Supreme Court? Sen. Jack MacLeod finds himself in the middle of this unusual situation with the fate of his unborn son, a distinguished surgeon's reputation, and a possible medical breakthrough riding on his actions. Seven North (1985) Ravin, Neil Why would the chairman of Washington, D.C.'s most prestigious hospital ask Dr. Ben Abrams, an endocrinologist in private practice, to investigate the recent death of one of the hospital's patients. Ben had never seen the patient, former South Vietnamese General Dhieu, who apparently died of extremely low blood sugar. Then publicity surrounding Ben's investigation brings new patients flooding to his office, many supposedly suffering from hypoglycemia. One patient in particular attracts Ben's attention. What is causing her suspicious hypoglycemic attacks and are they related to the General's death? Was General Dhieu actually murdered, and if so, by whom? And why is Ben suddenly being followed and/or courted by Vietnamese of both sexes? Does the answer lie in a new hypoglycemic drug being tested at Saint George's hospital? The Magic Bullet (1995) Stein, Harry When three junior associates at the American Cancer Federation receive approval for a protocol test on a possible new cancer drug, they have no idea of the type of opposition they will face from their peers as well as senior researchers. At first the drug seems to work miracles, then a toxic reaction sets in and patients begin to die -- but is it the protocol drug which is causing the fatalities or jealous researchers who will do anything to discredit the test? After one of the three purportedly commits suicide, the other two find themselves running for their lives. Is Compound J really worth all this danger and intrigue? A final test on a very prominent lady may yield the answer. Death on Call (1984) Wilkinson, Sandra Riverside Hospital is due for its accrediting inspection in two weeks and everything seems to be going wrong -- two staff members have been murdered, patients have died because of incorrect diagnoses, the hospital administrator is being admitted for cardiac testing, and equipment is breaking down. Rosemary Cleaveland, the assistant administrator, finds herself drawn into both a murder investigation and a drug bust as she tries to ready the hospital for its inspection. And why is someone stalking her --is her life really in danger? The Select (1994) Wilson, F. Paul A medical school with all expenses, including housing and food, paid for the lucky 50 students who are accepted each year! There has to be a catch. After Quinn Cleary gets a slot, she begins to notice how much all of the students think alike, even Tim whom she has come to care for. What's going on here and who are the special patients in Ward C? When Tim disappears after apparently finding a listening device in his room, Quinn finds her life is also in danger. Could all this have something to do with the Kleederman Foundation and its supporting pharmaceutical company? Quinn's search for answers and for Tim almost lead to disaster for both of them.