Cheryl Beth Wilson, a nurse at Cincinnati Memorial Hospital, finds a doctor brutally murdered in a secluded office. Wilson had been having an affair with the doctor’s husband, a surgeon, and now she is a “person of interest,” if not an outright suspect. But someone other than the police is also watching Cheryl Beth.
The murder comes as former homicide detective Will Borders is just out of surgery. But as his stretcher is wheeled past the crime scene, he knows this is no random act of violence—in fact, it has all the marks of a serial-killer case he supposedly solved years before. Unable even to walk, Borders starts to investigate, teaming up with Cheryl Beth, who is desperate to clear her name. But as the killer grows closer, the two are running out of time to unlock the secrets of the murder at the brooding, old hospital.
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"Good plot. Set in a large midwestern hospital, formerly a state of the art, but now suffering a number of financial woes and trying to get more on its feet. Starting of a new series."
— Elli (4 out of 5 stars)
“[Talton] puts an interesting twist on the detective solving a mystery while bed-ridden scenario in this tense, well-crafted whodunit…Talton’s authentic depiction of hospital life lends heft, as do his searing descriptions of Borders’ physical pain and mental anguish during recovery.”
— Publishers Weekly“[Talton] demonstrates his versatility in depicting the little-known world of the hospital pain nurse. A strong series launch, for all collections.”
— Library Journal (starred review)“A nurse who understands pain, a cop who’s got plenty of it, and a cold case turned hot mesh smoothly in the latest from Talton…Nicely done. Though she’s a pain nurse, Cheryl Beth is a pleasure.”
— Kirkus Reviews" it's ok. pretty well written, but you've met the characters a hundred times before. Plot a bit preposterous, but, hey, maybe after fifty years of reading mysteries I'm becoming jaded. "
— Cynthia, 12/11/2013" Good plot and well developed characters. If you don't mind bloody scenes and bad language, the plot keeps you moving through this story. I was disappointed by the last scene which I found flawed because one man who should have participated, didn't. "
— Suzanne, 6/1/2012" good mystery, qua medical thriller. Title is misleading and first I thought I'd be reading about a homicidal nurse knocking off the terminally ill. Quick "
— Mary, 11/18/2011" Good read, love a medical murder mystery. Some good twists and turns in the plot. Kindle freebie, the price was right!! "
— Clare, 9/1/2011" Just ok. I thought I was getting the one that was second in a series, but I actually got a different title. I loved the first one I read, so I will give him another chance. "
— Barbara, 4/13/2011" Just ok. I thought I was getting the one that was second in a series, but I actually got a different title. I loved the first one I read, so I will give him another chance. "
— Barbara, 2/9/2011" Good plot and well developed characters. If you don't mind bloody scenes and bad language, the plot keeps you moving through this story. I was disappointed by the last scene which I found flawed because one man who should have participated, didn't. "
— Suzanne, 4/2/2010" good mystery, qua medical thriller. Title is misleading and first I thought I'd be reading about a homicidal nurse knocking off the terminally ill. Quick "
— Mary, 12/13/2009" it's ok. pretty well written, but you've met the characters a hundred times before. Plot a bit preposterous, but, hey, maybe after fifty years of reading mysteries I'm becoming jaded. "
— Cynthia, 6/13/2009Jon Talton is a fourth-generation Arizonan, the author of numerous novels, a former columnist for the Arizona Republic, and former business editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer. He currently is the economics columnist for the Seattle Times and writes the blog Rogue Columnist. Dry Heat, the third David Mapstone mystery, was named 2005 fiction book of the year by Arizona Highways magazine.
Lloyd James (a.k.a. Sean Pratt) has been a working professional actor in theater, film, television, and voice-overs for more than thirty years. He has narrated over one thousand audiobooks and won numerous Earphones Awards and nominations for the Audie Award and the Voice Arts Award. He holds a BFA degree in acting from Santa Fe University, New Mexico.
Marguerite Gavin is a seasoned theater veteran, a five-time nominee for the prestigious Audie Award, and the winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones and Publishers Weekly awards. She has been an actor, director, and audiobook narrator for her entire professional career. With over four hundred titles to her credit, her narration spans nearly every genre, from nonfiction to mystery, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and children’s fiction. AudioFile magazine says, “Marguerite Gavin…has a sonorous voice, rich and full of emotion.”