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Extended Audio Sample Isolation Ward Audiobook, by Joshua Spanogle Click for printable size audiobook cover
3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 3.00 (314 ratings) (rate this audio book) Author: Joshua Spanogle Narrator: Christian Rummel Publisher: Penguin Random House Format: Abridged Audiobook Delivery: Instant Download Audio Length: Release Date: February 2006 ISBN: 9780739324356
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Straight out of today’s hospitals and labs–and tomorrow’s headlines–comes a frightening, scalpel-sharp thriller from medical insider Joshua Spanogle. In an astounding debut, Spanogle takes us on an all-too-real race against time…as a young doctor enters the dark side of scientific research, desperate to stop a terrifying epidemic before it is too late….

In Baltimore’s St. Raphael’s Hospital, three newly admitted patients are among society’s most helpless citizens: female residents of Baltimore’s group homes for the mentally impaired, their bodies racked by a virus the likes of which no one at St. Raphael’s has ever seen.

Dr. Nathaniel McCormick is one of the first on the scene. A young investigator from the Centers for Disease Control, Nate is paid to explore the bizarre, the exotic, and the baffling–from superviruses to bioterrorism. But as soon as Nate begins to investigate the lives and habits of the victims, he knows something is terribly wrong. Using all his skills as a medical detective, Nate soon zeroes in on the “vector”–the one person who had sexual contact with the first victims. And when that suspect is found murdered, Nate fears that the disease he’s chasing may not be an act of nature, but of man.

With his brash style angering his superiors and fellow investigators alike, Nate turns to an old colleague and former lover, Dr. Brooke Michaels, for help. Together the two investigators follow a twisting trail of clues to a discovery that is at once groundbreaking and unspeakable. And as a circle of treachery tightens around him, Nate is about to confront the most chilling revelation of all–and a past Nate himself has been trying to escape.

At once a taut medical thriller and a riveting psychological portrait of a young doctor on the edge, Isolation Ward is a tale of runaway tension–with a brilliant “what-if” premise that is harrowing…heartbreaking…and impossible to wrench from your imagination.

Download and start listening now!

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Quotes & Awards

  • Combines a wonderfully flawed yet stereotypically smart-ass hero with a plot that moves as rapidly as a lethal virus. Entertainment Weekly, grade A-
  • [A] tightly woven debut thriller.... engrossing and intellectually wrought.—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Listener Opinions

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 John At Hella Sound | 2/13/2014

    " You know, I really liked this writer's style. And it's a shame, because I truly hated the main character. He's a selfish, childish jackass that grates on my nerves. "Nathanial" is the central character in the book series, and as much as I'd like to continue with the other books, I just don't think I can. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Marsha | 2/13/2014

    " First rate medical thriller tracking the source of a new deadly virus. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Abbey | 2/12/2014

    " For storyline I would have given this four stars, but the hero was such an irredeemable jerk, I had to knock it down a star. Great story, lousy protagonist. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Richard Tolleson | 2/5/2014

    " This is in the same vein as Robin Cook's medical thriller's. This won't win a literary prize, but it's exciting and entertaining. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Lea Anne | 1/25/2014

    " This book started out great, good pace. Towards the middle of the book, it started getting slow. The author really could've cut out about 75 pages. I just finished the book so I could see what the source of the outbreak was. The ending was so lame. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Barbara ★ | 1/20/2014

    " This is a bizarre tale of infectious disease and what happens when it hits a group home for the mentally handicapped. It chronicles the doings of CDC Dr. McCormick during his investigation into the unrecognizable outbreak. It's a little over the top since I really didn't expect a CDC officer to be breaking and entering, carrying a gun or evading the police. I did enjoy the encounters with both of his ex-girlfriends and if you discount the outlandish heroics, the story itself was a good one. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Laura | 1/13/2014

    " I believe this was Joshua's break out novel. REALLY GOOD. I love medical thrillers and this one does not disappoint, I was thoroughly entertained. Joshua wrote this novel while in medical shoo!, which makes the book more amazing! You get a great mixture of a difficult physician who has excellent clinical skills (Sherlock Holmesesgue), throw in the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and Medical/Ethical issues and voila! You get ISOLATION WARD. I didn't figure out the ending, I expected something different, so I did kind of have a minor 'waaa' moment, but only because I would have ended it another way. Oh well, that's creative license for you. Would read again! Recommend to anyone who likes medical thrillers! "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Heidi | 1/3/2014

    " Pretty good medical suspense thriller. Much too much swearing. "

  • 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 TeriC | 1/3/2014

    " Exciting, well-written and fun to read for a former Infection Control RN. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Amy Rogers | 12/12/2013

    " 4 star science/medical thriller (top 25% of the genre). For my full review, see ScienceThrillers.com "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Cindy | 11/12/2013

    " The book started out with potential and suspense but the plot ended up not being that great. I may try this writer again though it is... sweary (has lots of swearing in it). I really did like the main charachter. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Ricardo | 10/18/2013

    " I'll give it extra points for being written while the author was in medical school. Aside from that, extremely unlikeable character. I just hope the main character doesn't reflect the writer's personality, otherwise, he must have terrible bed manners "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Pandora | 8/2/2013

    " I liked this (not amazing but good) and being based in the Bay Area and about Biotech - made it even more interesting. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 A | 6/19/2013

    " I enjoyed most of Isolation Ward, however, I have read his other book, Flawless,and thought it to be more interesting. It was a little too technical for my liking. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Debby | 4/3/2013

    " In the mood for a fast-paced medical suspense/thriller then Isolation Ward would be a good one! "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Kristen | 3/23/2013

    " This was a good medical mystery-thriller. Spanogle did a fairly good job with a first-person narrative, but it was cumbersome at times. It made a pretty good audio book for the commute. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Ann Horton | 2/28/2013

    " Great medical thriller! Hard to put down. The main character, a doctor uses delightfully funny language in describing his perception of the ongoing events - a real change from other medical thrillers. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Michele | 2/19/2013

    " This was a very good medical mystery. A very intersting whodoneit. Kept you guessing till the end. Very gory! Better than Robin Cook's I think. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Allison | 5/28/2012

    " Very suspenseful medical thriller with strong young doctor investigating supervirus. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Jennifer | 4/28/2012

    " Interesting story, but I didn't necessarily like the protagonist. He grated on me, which interfered with my enjoyment of the book. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Joanne | 3/21/2012

    " Just OK - a little hard to follow the storyline at times; seemed disjointed. I like medical thrillers - this just not the best example. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Ellen | 1/8/2012

    " Dr Nathaniel MacCormick -- CDC -- Dr Brooke Michaels #1? "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Amy | 9/17/2011

    " Just didn't grab me. I never finished it. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Crazy Uncle Ryan | 9/9/2011

    " This was a pretty entertaining book but they could have done with a few less F-bombs. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Erin | 8/17/2011

    " A decent thriller, but I'm a bit surprised that it got such good reviews. Good for an airplane, but nothing more. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Nina | 5/17/2011

    " Surprised to find out that this book was written by a medical student. Good brain candy while in bed with my strained back... "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Kate | 5/3/2011

    " Ran across this book while shelving and realized I had already read it. I'm giving it 3 stars for being non memorable. I don't remember hating it, so it must not have been too terrible. But on the other hand it wasn't so good that I remembered it at all. I wish we could do half stars. "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Kristen | 7/2/2010

    " This was a good medical mystery-thriller. Spanogle did a fairly good job with a first-person narrative, but it was cumbersome at times. It made a pretty good audio book for the commute. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Nina | 6/1/2010

    " Surprised to find out that this book was written by a medical student. Good brain candy while in bed with my strained back... "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Debby | 5/13/2010

    " In the mood for a fast-paced medical suspense/thriller then Isolation Ward would be a good one! "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Ann | 4/5/2010

    " Great medical thriller! Hard to put down. The main character, a doctor uses delightfully funny language in describing his perception of the ongoing events - a real change from other medical thrillers. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Allison | 6/17/2009

    " Very suspenseful medical thriller with strong young doctor investigating supervirus. "

  • 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Lisa | 3/21/2009

    " started out good but then dragged on too long - in the end I didn't care what the solution to the mystery was "

  • 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Cindy | 3/9/2009

    " The book started out with potential and suspense but the plot ended up not being that great. I may try this writer again though it is... sweary (has lots of swearing in it). I really did like the main charachter. "

  • 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Michele | 2/5/2009

    " This was a very good medical mystery. A very intersting whodoneit. Kept you guessing till the end. Very gory! Better than Robin Cook's I think. "

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About the Author
Joshua Spanogle is currently a student at Stanford Medical School. A graduate of Yale University, he has also served as a senior researcher at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Bioethics. He is at work on his second medical thriller, Growth Factor, which Delacorte will publish in 2007.
About the Narrator

Christian Rummel has recorded many audiobooks in a variety of genres and won two AudioFile Earphones Awards. As an actor, he has worked with Theatre for a New Audience and Clubbed Thumb and also appeared in several episodes of Law & Order.

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