Saving Meghan by D.J. Palmer

I won an advanced reader copy in a giveaway sponsored by the author.

It was several years ago now that I picked up my first medical thriller at a hotel gift shop while on a vacation with my college friends. The year was 1996 and we had all just graduated and were enjoying the beach before we all headed to new cities to start our careers. I had brought along some books to read but not enough to fill the days, so I found myself perusing the hotel gift store looking for a book. After reading the back cover of several books, the book Natural Causes by Michael Palmer was the one that I picked up that afternoon. That book began my love of Michael Palmer's books and led me to read all of his books and eventually to start reading books by his son, Daniel Palmer.

I have read most of Daniel Palmer's books but not quite all. He writes thrillers, mostly techno, but a few medical thrillers in the same style that his dad did. What I love about Daniel's books is that they are so realistic and plausible, that the thrill is real and are told in a way that really pulls you in to the story and the lives of the characters. Saving Meghan, his most recent (and a medical thriller) was no exception From the first chapter, you find yourself thrust right into the story, trying to pick up details and learn what is happening with Meghan and you find yourself on the same roller-coaster ride as the characters. The story line is filled with twists and turns and just when I thought I knew what was going on, something new would get introduced that challenged my theory and I had to come to a new one. My schedule caused it to take me a while to really get started with the book, only having time to read a chapter here and there, but once I had a little time and could read more than a chapter, I was hooked and I had to keep reading and wound up finishing the book over a period of two days.

Saving Meghan is a riveting new thriller full of secrets and lies from author D.J. Palmer.

Can you love someone to death?

Some would say Becky Gerard is a devoted mother and would do anything for her only child. Others, including her husband Carl, claim she's obsessed and can't stop the vicious circle of finding a cure at her daughter's expense.

Fifteen-year-old Meghan has been in and out of hospitals with a plague of unexplained illnesses. But when the ailments take a sharp turn, clashing medical opinions begin to raise questions about the puzzling nature of Meghan’s illness. Doctors suspect Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a rare behavioral disorder where the primary caretaker seeks medical help for made-up symptoms of a child. Is this what's going on? Or is there something even more sinister at hand?

As the Gerards grow more and more suspicious of each other and their medical team, Becky must race against time to prove her daughter has a deadly disease. But first, she must confront her darkest fears and family secrets that threaten to not only upend her once-ordered life...but to destroy it.

You can learn more about Daniel Palmer and his books on his website. If you are a fan of suspense and thrillers, this book is a definite must read. And, be sure to check out the other books by Daniel Palmer and Michael Palmer.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. I won an advanced reader copy in a giveaway sponsored by the author.

Miracle Drug by Richard L Mabry, M.D.

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

I started reading thrillers when I was in high school and continued into college. While on a trip with friends following college, I read my first medical thriller. I would be lying if I didn't say I was immediately hooked. When I heard about the latest book from Richard L. Mabry, M.D., Miracle Drug , whose description sounded like a medical thriller to me, I decided that I should check his book out.

The story started off quickly, immediately creating a scene of mystery. This introduction to the story was a great way to pull the reader right in and the movement of the story kept the reader engaged. I, as might be expected, found myself not wanting to put the book down and staying up too late, in the attempt to read just one more chapter.

With the author being a retired physician, he had the background to really make the medical conditions, the lab tests, the diagnostic practice and the life of the medical professionals come to life for the reader. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, many of them members of the medical profession, as the story unfolded. There were plenty of 'decoys' interspersed in the story, characters that helped move the story along and served as a reasonable 'suspect' for the reader as they tried to stay a step ahead of the characters and solve the mystery - of course, the reader doesn't know they are decoys until the end of the story though when the story is resolved. As the characters go through the ups and downs of the story, the author interjects reflections of faith. The power of prayer and the belief in a higher being helps keep the characters moving forward in their battles to overcome the mysterious illness.

In the end, I would say that the book delivered more on the medical mystery than on the medical thriller that I had anticipated. I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading other books by the author, but felt like the end was a little rushed...with the answers a little too neatly wrapped up. Some of the wrap up left me scratching my head - not sure why they were needed and/or feeling like it was the answer to part of the story that had been cut in an earlier edit.

About the book:
Miracle Drug (Abingdon, September 2015)

Overcoming these odds will take more than a miracle drug---it will take a miracle.

The infection wasn't supposed to happen, but it did. The treatment was supposed to take care of it, but it didn't. Then Dr. Josh Pearson discovers why---his patients, including the former President of the United States, have been dosed with a different strain of the original virus, one that is universally fatal. The only chance for survival is treatment with an experimental drug, but the manufacturer might already have discarded its supply.

As if treating the President of the United States isn't stressful enough, the situation goes from bad to worse when Rachel Moore, a nurse Josh is falling in love with, falls ill. With the nation's eyes on him, Josh must pull off a miracle to save a man who holds a good deal of power and the woman who holds his heart.

Purchase a copy here.

About the author:

Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician who writes "medical suspense with heart." His novels have won multiple awards: a semifinalist for International Thriller Writers' debut novel; finalists for the Carol Award, Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and Romantic Times' Reader's Choice Award; and both finalist and winner of the Selah Award. "Miracle Drug" is his ninth published novel. He and his wife live in Frisco, Texas.

Find Richard online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Learn more about the book and read other reviews on the Blog Tour Landing Page.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.