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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
Dangerous Medicine by Jane Toombs

Novel, 2003, 296 pp. ISBN: 1591051428 Knowing she needed to start over, Lynn Holley leaves Boston to accept a nursing position at Harper Hills Hospital in Southern California. Her friend, Conrad Wirth, a hospital administrator, arranged the job for her. However, due to a car accident to one of the staff, Lynn is assigned to maternity as an emergency replacement though she has not worked that specialty in several years. Three weeks pass, but though she works hard, Lynn finds the maternity ward staff remains cold towards her. Even Conrad, who brought her across the continent, has not made contact since her arrival in the El Doblez area. She still shivers from her first confrontation with Dr. Nick Dow and tries to avoid him even as she finds herself attracted to the hospital heartthrob. However, while her adjustment has been abysmal, even worse is that her past has come home to roost as she begins receiving phone calls from apparently her dead husband. This is an exciting medical thriller that will grip the audience rather quickly because fans will believe the hospital, the staff, and the patients are real, which in turn adds depth to the pressure Lynn faces. Readers will wonder if the heroine is losing her mind yet admire her courage as she deals with the crisis. Nick is also a caring character sort, reminiscent of Ben Casey. Medicine, mystery, and mysticism mix quite nicely in Jane Toombs strong romantic suspense thriller. Harriet Klausner
Plot Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) Time/era of story: Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book The crook is.... - stalking/killing innocents descript. of violence and chases - 10 % Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 % How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20 % Crime Thriller Yes Crime plotlets: Mostly a criminal POV story Yes General Crime (including known murderer) Yes Who's the criminal enemy here? - finding a known killer If story PRIMARILY about main chr. being hunted... - hunted by killer/stalker Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's How much violence does he/she use? - a little Ethnicity/Race How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Physique - very athletic Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 20's-30's Profession/status: How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount Motive of antagonist - revenge How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Physique - very athletic Setting United States Yes The US: - California Style Person - mostly 3rd Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment How many deaths? - 1 Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript