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Heart Stopper
Dr. PRIYA JOSEPH is an Irish-Indian coder working at a new pacemaker clinic in Galway, a small city on the west coast of Ireland that is a research and manufacturing hub within the multi-billion-dollar medical devices industry. Priya’s life is already off the rails; in fact, the train has disappeared screaming into a ravine when, after a night out that she does not remember apart from a vague memory of being with a mysterious woman, she wakes up in an unfamiliar apartment and finds the dead body of her boss, American cardiologist and inventor, Dr Daniel Fairer III.
Priya is dragged by his family into an investigation of Daniel’s death. As they uncover secrets about the groundbreaking pacemaker technology that Daniel and his research partners developed and the wireless controllers that communicate with the implanted pacemakers, their investigation threatens a multi-million dollar enterprise. Priya learns that she has unwittingly been involved in research that could have consequences far beyond the small city where she has been trying to hide from her life. She discovers that her past is not what she thought it was and now that she actually wants a future, she may not survive long enough as she is being pursued her and her pursuers will do whatever it takes to complete their mission but time is running out. And they have a problem. Which they need Priya to solve.
Priya is dragged by his family into an investigation of Daniel’s death. As they uncover secrets about the groundbreaking pacemaker technology that Daniel and his research partners developed and the wireless controllers that communicate with the implanted pacemakers, their investigation threatens a multi-million dollar enterprise. Priya learns that she has unwittingly been involved in research that could have consequences far beyond the small city where she has been trying to hide from her life. She discovers that her past is not what she thought it was and now that she actually wants a future, she may not survive long enough as she is being pursued her and her pursuers will do whatever it takes to complete their mission but time is running out. And they have a problem. Which they need Priya to solve.
276 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2012
About the author
R.J. Samuel
8 books40 followersSite: www.rjsamuel.com
Email: R.J_Samuel@yahoo.com
Twitter: @R_J_Samuel
Instagram: @RJSamuel_Author
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RJSamuelAuthor
R J Samuel was born in Nigeria, to Indian parents. She spent many years qualifying to be a medical doctor first in Nigeria, then Ireland, but ran away from home to do a Masters in IT. She settled on IT as a career rather than Medicine as she thought computers might be more logical than people, but that hasn’t always proven to be the case. She remained Ireland for many years, apart from a few years in the southwest of France where she ran a restaurant-bar despite having absolutely no interest in restaurants, except for eating in them. She considers herself almost Irish, almost Indian, and almost American. She now lives in Atlanta in America where, in her latest creative outburst,
she wants to establish an artist retreat in a mostly unusable property.
Her story ‘Helmets’ was shortlisted for the 2011 Over the Edge ‘New Writer of the Year Competition’ and she was the only entrant to have both her fiction and her poetry long-listed for the Doire Press ‘1st Annual International Fiction and Poetry Chapbook Competition’ in January 2012. Her fiction entry, ‘The Vision Painter,’ went on to be shortlisted for this competition and was the basis for her second novel, ‘Falling Colours – The Misadventures of a Vision Painter.’ Her short stories ‘Parallel Lives’ (2012) and ‘The Alleyway’ (2013) were shortlisted and her poetry entry was longlisted (2016) for the Over the Edge ‘New Writer of the Year Competition’.
Her published novels – ‘Heart Stopper’, The Vision Painter series (‘Falling Colours’, ‘Casting Shadows’) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2013 Rainbow Awards, and ‘A Place Somewhere’, which was a finalist for the Ann Bannon Popular Choice and the Tee Corinne Cover Design Awards, are set in Ireland, India, and America. Her fifth novel, ‘An Outsider Inside’, is set in Ireland and France and tells the story of an Irish-Indian lesbian activist who finds the troubling manuscript left behind by a missing Indian woman.
She has also published a short story collection ("The Alleyway and other Short Stories") featuring the stories above and others.
Email: R.J_Samuel@yahoo.com
Twitter: @R_J_Samuel
Instagram: @RJSamuel_Author
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RJSamuelAuthor
R J Samuel was born in Nigeria, to Indian parents. She spent many years qualifying to be a medical doctor first in Nigeria, then Ireland, but ran away from home to do a Masters in IT. She settled on IT as a career rather than Medicine as she thought computers might be more logical than people, but that hasn’t always proven to be the case. She remained Ireland for many years, apart from a few years in the southwest of France where she ran a restaurant-bar despite having absolutely no interest in restaurants, except for eating in them. She considers herself almost Irish, almost Indian, and almost American. She now lives in Atlanta in America where, in her latest creative outburst,
she wants to establish an artist retreat in a mostly unusable property.
Her story ‘Helmets’ was shortlisted for the 2011 Over the Edge ‘New Writer of the Year Competition’ and she was the only entrant to have both her fiction and her poetry long-listed for the Doire Press ‘1st Annual International Fiction and Poetry Chapbook Competition’ in January 2012. Her fiction entry, ‘The Vision Painter,’ went on to be shortlisted for this competition and was the basis for her second novel, ‘Falling Colours – The Misadventures of a Vision Painter.’ Her short stories ‘Parallel Lives’ (2012) and ‘The Alleyway’ (2013) were shortlisted and her poetry entry was longlisted (2016) for the Over the Edge ‘New Writer of the Year Competition’.
Her published novels – ‘Heart Stopper’, The Vision Painter series (‘Falling Colours’, ‘Casting Shadows’) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2013 Rainbow Awards, and ‘A Place Somewhere’, which was a finalist for the Ann Bannon Popular Choice and the Tee Corinne Cover Design Awards, are set in Ireland, India, and America. Her fifth novel, ‘An Outsider Inside’, is set in Ireland and France and tells the story of an Irish-Indian lesbian activist who finds the troubling manuscript left behind by a missing Indian woman.
She has also published a short story collection ("The Alleyway and other Short Stories") featuring the stories above and others.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 29, 2019
I got this book after reading Far From Home by Lorelie Brown and a night of binge watching Bollywood movies with the usual suspects. Without the elderlies, we had a blast swooning over Sridevi,
Rani Mukerji, Aishwarya Rai, Kajol and Madhuri Dixit out loud.
Robin Cook's Brain fueled my interest in medical thriller, read it a few times and still reading it, whenever a scene came to mind. As for Heart Stopper - a medical thriller set in Ireland, featuring an Indian/Irish lead with one of the most famous names, add in the title Doctor, how can any mothers resist such woman for their daughters/sons.
Doctor Priya Joseph had a heck of a Friday night, she met a good looking American woman at the pub and left with her but the details were a bit hazy as she was drunk. She woke up the next morning, in an unfamiliar place, alone and instead of a table filled with dosa, Irish Soda Bread or nasi lemak, she found a dead body. Priya's life had not been easy before the Saturday morning event, her closet was cleared off her sexuality but filled with some troubling skeletons and after that dead body discovery, it took a turn for the worst.
The days after were a mixed of slow-burn suspense and some roller coaster rides of thriller as Priya
- conducted her own investigation
- discovered disturbing facts
- chased by thugs that meant business
- trying to resist her attraction towards her
potential love interest
- shared her dark past with some amazing
characters
- experienced more heartbreaks
A bit technical at times but overall, good. The romance, kept me on my toes too as I wondered if they were going to hit it off or...
Ireland, Doctor Priya, Mysterious American Love Interest, An amazing Confidant, heart stopping thriller and a crock-pot romance.. Why not?
Rani Mukerji, Aishwarya Rai, Kajol and Madhuri Dixit out loud.
Robin Cook's Brain fueled my interest in medical thriller, read it a few times and still reading it, whenever a scene came to mind. As for Heart Stopper - a medical thriller set in Ireland, featuring an Indian/Irish lead with one of the most famous names, add in the title Doctor, how can any mothers resist such woman for their daughters/sons.
Doctor Priya Joseph had a heck of a Friday night, she met a good looking American woman at the pub and left with her but the details were a bit hazy as she was drunk. She woke up the next morning, in an unfamiliar place, alone and instead of a table filled with dosa, Irish Soda Bread or nasi lemak, she found a dead body. Priya's life had not been easy before the Saturday morning event, her closet was cleared off her sexuality but filled with some troubling skeletons and after that dead body discovery, it took a turn for the worst.
The days after were a mixed of slow-burn suspense and some roller coaster rides of thriller as Priya
- conducted her own investigation
- discovered disturbing facts
- chased by thugs that meant business
- trying to resist her attraction towards her
potential love interest
- shared her dark past with some amazing
characters
- experienced more heartbreaks
A bit technical at times but overall, good. The romance, kept me on my toes too as I wondered if they were going to hit it off or...
Ireland, Doctor Priya, Mysterious American Love Interest, An amazing Confidant, heart stopping thriller and a crock-pot romance.. Why not?
January 17, 2021
The entire story seemed to be that everyone has secrets and is lying to protect them. There's heaps of manipulation by side-characters and interpersonal drama. Honestly - for me - it was exhausting.
Everyone had a past, was doing things to save face, and not telling the truth. Even when confronted it was frustrating that people were not defending themselves or acting how I would have figured they would react. Maybe that's a me problem.
Even once you do get to the end you never really feel good about things. Because again, lies and manipulation from a third party are STILL happening and effecting things in the epilogue. THE EPILOGUE FFS.
Very well written, since it churned me up inside enough to give me second-hand anxiety from all the drama lol. But this is not the type of fun time read For Me!
I would not call this a romance, either. Mostly it's a mystery thriller with many side character players, all with their own agenda. It's on Kindle Unlimited.
Everyone had a past, was doing things to save face, and not telling the truth. Even when confronted it was frustrating that people were not defending themselves or acting how I would have figured they would react. Maybe that's a me problem.
Even once you do get to the end you never really feel good about things. Because again, lies and manipulation from a third party are STILL happening and effecting things in the epilogue. THE EPILOGUE FFS.
Very well written, since it churned me up inside enough to give me second-hand anxiety from all the drama lol. But this is not the type of fun time read For Me!
I would not call this a romance, either. Mostly it's a mystery thriller with many side character players, all with their own agenda. It's on Kindle Unlimited.
October 16, 2017
I liked this book but it was a bit too technical at times. I would've liked more emphasis on the romance than the mystery.
September 2, 2016
Priya is a slow character to get to know, even though we see the world through her eyes. Being in her head is often stressful as we start learning about her past traumas.
While there is definitely some romance, Heart Stopper leans heavily towards a slow, anxious thriller. I would say the split is around 90/10.
My only major qualm would be the overwhelming medical and technical descriptions. This is no light read, but I found myself skimming paragraphs when the medical guff made me go cross eyed.
All said and done, a great thriller with superb character studies.
4.5 stars rounded down to 4 as I wish there was more time spent on the romantic relationship.
While there is definitely some romance, Heart Stopper leans heavily towards a slow, anxious thriller. I would say the split is around 90/10.
My only major qualm would be the overwhelming medical and technical descriptions. This is no light read, but I found myself skimming paragraphs when the medical guff made me go cross eyed.
All said and done, a great thriller with superb character studies.
4.5 stars rounded down to 4 as I wish there was more time spent on the romantic relationship.
August 18, 2014
The first time I read this I was in rather stressed circumstances and, obviously, couldn't concentrate on what I was reading.
Now, on second reading, I took the time to try and understand all the technical stuff, and if I probably didn't get all the details, everything made sense!! It's an awesome thriller, and I'm grateful I read the Author's Note - less scared now!
Looking forward to reading more of R.J.'s books!!
Now, on second reading, I took the time to try and understand all the technical stuff, and if I probably didn't get all the details, everything made sense!! It's an awesome thriller, and I'm grateful I read the Author's Note - less scared now!
Looking forward to reading more of R.J.'s books!!
June 22, 2012
Heart Stopper is RJ Samuel’s first book. Priya and Reyna are well developed, and the setting well described. It takes place in Galway, Ireland, with several references to street names, town names and landmarks. There are several mysteries within the plot that need to be solved, revolving around a medical clinic and research related to implanted heart pacemakers.
I have a medical background, and I found the medical premise to be believable as it was written, even if it was fictionally enhanced. I like technical details, and find that technical descriptions add validity to the premise. The constraints of research are illustrated, including the fact that researchers are often blinded as well as the participants in a study.
Priya is an incredibly intelligent PhD, but has been numbed into a sort of dullness due to past emotional trauma. She must wake up her brain and re-engage in order to solve the complicated problems in which she winds up being involved. Reyna also has a troubled background, and a great deal of anger and confusion toward Priya that slowly evolves. She takes much longer to reveal her secrets, but makes her interest in Priya noticeable if not clear. Priya is somehow involved with the death of Reyna’s brother, and they must team up to understand how and why. The other characters help to support without distracting, and the list of possible suspects continues to grow. The relationship between Priya and Reyna is pained as one might expect, but they both are trying to overcome their differences. There is a great deal of tension that builds between Priya and Reyna, which I appreciate as a draw to continue reading. Reyna’s mother helps to push things along, and brings a much softer edge to Reyna’s carefully guarded character and the interactions between the two women.
The dialogue flows, and it is easy to follow why some things are revealed, and some things are held back as the book progresses. The timeline is set using a distantly related character in alternating chapters that underscores the main purpose of the pacemaker mystery, but reveals little bits at a time, to keep from giving the solution away.
I was able to really feel for Priya and Reyna in Heart Stopper, buy into the story, and appreciate the technical aspects that made it all believable. Heart Stopper kept me hooked. I look forward to more books by RJ Samuel. Actually, Falling Colours is in the works.
I have a medical background, and I found the medical premise to be believable as it was written, even if it was fictionally enhanced. I like technical details, and find that technical descriptions add validity to the premise. The constraints of research are illustrated, including the fact that researchers are often blinded as well as the participants in a study.
Priya is an incredibly intelligent PhD, but has been numbed into a sort of dullness due to past emotional trauma. She must wake up her brain and re-engage in order to solve the complicated problems in which she winds up being involved. Reyna also has a troubled background, and a great deal of anger and confusion toward Priya that slowly evolves. She takes much longer to reveal her secrets, but makes her interest in Priya noticeable if not clear. Priya is somehow involved with the death of Reyna’s brother, and they must team up to understand how and why. The other characters help to support without distracting, and the list of possible suspects continues to grow. The relationship between Priya and Reyna is pained as one might expect, but they both are trying to overcome their differences. There is a great deal of tension that builds between Priya and Reyna, which I appreciate as a draw to continue reading. Reyna’s mother helps to push things along, and brings a much softer edge to Reyna’s carefully guarded character and the interactions between the two women.
The dialogue flows, and it is easy to follow why some things are revealed, and some things are held back as the book progresses. The timeline is set using a distantly related character in alternating chapters that underscores the main purpose of the pacemaker mystery, but reveals little bits at a time, to keep from giving the solution away.
I was able to really feel for Priya and Reyna in Heart Stopper, buy into the story, and appreciate the technical aspects that made it all believable. Heart Stopper kept me hooked. I look forward to more books by RJ Samuel. Actually, Falling Colours is in the works.
August 4, 2022
Mystery/thriller based on pacemaker research
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: POC author/MC, not a romance, out of your comfort zone, unusual job, possibly other categories
The author works in this field, and it was most likely as factual as possible.
I'm a science nerd: I have a biology degree and I worked on 1970s aviation electronics communication and navigation radios while in the US Navy, so this book probably appealed to me more than many other readers. What started out as a few heart attacks became a very complex case of errors, accountability, and greed. The chemistry between the MCs added a little bit more to the story, but the focus was almost entirely on the mystery. The romance complications involved between the two women was explained near the end, and everything made sense as far as how that part turned out. I enjoyed the story, but I don't think it'll be everyone's cup of tea. STEM/STEAM nerds, readers interested in cardiology-related things, and/or people into medical mysteries would be the ones to enjoy it the most.
SAPPHIC BOOK BINGO: POC author/MC, not a romance, out of your comfort zone, unusual job, possibly other categories
The author works in this field, and it was most likely as factual as possible.
I'm a science nerd: I have a biology degree and I worked on 1970s aviation electronics communication and navigation radios while in the US Navy, so this book probably appealed to me more than many other readers. What started out as a few heart attacks became a very complex case of errors, accountability, and greed. The chemistry between the MCs added a little bit more to the story, but the focus was almost entirely on the mystery. The romance complications involved between the two women was explained near the end, and everything made sense as far as how that part turned out. I enjoyed the story, but I don't think it'll be everyone's cup of tea. STEM/STEAM nerds, readers interested in cardiology-related things, and/or people into medical mysteries would be the ones to enjoy it the most.
December 2, 2019
Interesting story
I liked the story, however I felt like it was a bit slow. Even though I like everything about it, it did not get me as some books right from the beguning. I think it was more half way when things actually started moving still, not enough. Is it worth to read? Yes.
I liked the story, however I felt like it was a bit slow. Even though I like everything about it, it did not get me as some books right from the beguning. I think it was more half way when things actually started moving still, not enough. Is it worth to read? Yes.
May 22, 2018
Holy shit
March 29, 2022
Kept my attention
I enjoyed the academic part of the book. It was fascinating what medicine can produce. I would like to have had the book delve farther into the lesbian aspect.
I enjoyed the academic part of the book. It was fascinating what medicine can produce. I would like to have had the book delve farther into the lesbian aspect.
February 15, 2012
Dr Priya Joseph is a coder. She works at a dedicated up and coming pacemaker clinic in Galway, just off the west coast of Ireland. Priya is of Indian descent, an Irish Indian.
Priya hasn’t had a very easy life. Her parents were quite pushy and they never really accepted the fact that Priya is a lesbian either.
Priya’s life had spiralled out of control a couple of years earlier. She was just beginning to get her life back to some semblance of order, when she meets a woman on a night out. Unfortunately for Priya, she’d had so much to drink, she couldn’t remember much about it.
When Priya woke up in a strange apartment the following morning, she found her boss, Dr Daniel Fairing, an American cardiologist dead. She had no recollection of how she got there, panicked and ran.
Daniel’s family don’t believe that he died of a heart attack. His mother Catherine and sister Reyna, enlist Priya’s help to investigate into his death.
Priya slowly begins to uncover secrets appertaining to the new wireless pacemaker technology that Daniel and his partners had developed. Priya also uncovers facts that proves she had unwittingly been involved with the earlier research, that could have far reaching consequences for not only herself, but many other people. Along the way, Priya uncovers secrets and lies about her past, secrets that could change Priya’s outlook on life now. Priya has to uncover and unravel the mystery from her past research to find the answers she is looking for. But Priya is being pursued by an unknown enemy. Will she be able to solve the mystery before she becomes another victim? Or will her pursuers catch up with her and force her into helping them?
Meanwhile Priya and Reyna are feeling a mutual attraction between them. Priya has her past to overcome though. Will she be able to put it behind her? More to the point, what will Priya feel when she learns of even more secrets from her past?
Reyna is also hiding a secret. She has a past that she has to resolve before she can move on. But will Reyna be able to settle her past to be able to move on? When the truth comes out, will Priya even want to be with her?
This is R. J Samuel’s debut book. It is different from any of the other medical themed books I’ve ever read. It is well written, fast paced, intriguing, mysterious, exciting, thrilling, dramatic and a real page turner.
R. J has written in great detail of the workings and technology of a pacemaker, all seamless integrated into the story. She has obviously carried out extensive research with all the technical details in this book. I’m afraid some of this went over my head, but I could get the gist of it all. So, I did learn a few things along the way too.
This book is far more than a medical drama, thriller, murder mystery or a romance. It is a unique combination of all these things. R.J writes about race, sexual orientation and also about being an outsider in a new country. The characters are all written so that the reader can feel a part of the group.
I loved the book, settings, characters and the story. Although this book is a book I couldn’t wait to finish, at the same time when I did, I felt as though I hadn’t had enough.
I am looking forward to R.J Samuel’s next book very much.
Priya hasn’t had a very easy life. Her parents were quite pushy and they never really accepted the fact that Priya is a lesbian either.
Priya’s life had spiralled out of control a couple of years earlier. She was just beginning to get her life back to some semblance of order, when she meets a woman on a night out. Unfortunately for Priya, she’d had so much to drink, she couldn’t remember much about it.
When Priya woke up in a strange apartment the following morning, she found her boss, Dr Daniel Fairing, an American cardiologist dead. She had no recollection of how she got there, panicked and ran.
Daniel’s family don’t believe that he died of a heart attack. His mother Catherine and sister Reyna, enlist Priya’s help to investigate into his death.
Priya slowly begins to uncover secrets appertaining to the new wireless pacemaker technology that Daniel and his partners had developed. Priya also uncovers facts that proves she had unwittingly been involved with the earlier research, that could have far reaching consequences for not only herself, but many other people. Along the way, Priya uncovers secrets and lies about her past, secrets that could change Priya’s outlook on life now. Priya has to uncover and unravel the mystery from her past research to find the answers she is looking for. But Priya is being pursued by an unknown enemy. Will she be able to solve the mystery before she becomes another victim? Or will her pursuers catch up with her and force her into helping them?
Meanwhile Priya and Reyna are feeling a mutual attraction between them. Priya has her past to overcome though. Will she be able to put it behind her? More to the point, what will Priya feel when she learns of even more secrets from her past?
Reyna is also hiding a secret. She has a past that she has to resolve before she can move on. But will Reyna be able to settle her past to be able to move on? When the truth comes out, will Priya even want to be with her?
This is R. J Samuel’s debut book. It is different from any of the other medical themed books I’ve ever read. It is well written, fast paced, intriguing, mysterious, exciting, thrilling, dramatic and a real page turner.
R. J has written in great detail of the workings and technology of a pacemaker, all seamless integrated into the story. She has obviously carried out extensive research with all the technical details in this book. I’m afraid some of this went over my head, but I could get the gist of it all. So, I did learn a few things along the way too.
This book is far more than a medical drama, thriller, murder mystery or a romance. It is a unique combination of all these things. R.J writes about race, sexual orientation and also about being an outsider in a new country. The characters are all written so that the reader can feel a part of the group.
I loved the book, settings, characters and the story. Although this book is a book I couldn’t wait to finish, at the same time when I did, I felt as though I hadn’t had enough.
I am looking forward to R.J Samuel’s next book very much.
July 18, 2013
I want to read lesbian fiction that dares to be different. Searching through the lesbian fiction lists on the Internet my quest was rewarded when I came upon Heart Stopper by RJ Samuel. Samuel is an Irish based author from Galway.
Heart Stopper ticks all the right boxes for me.
If you love mystery then read this book. If you love twists and turns that keep you guessing to the end read this book. If you are not already passionate about the Irish landscape you will be when you read this book. If you are a romantic read this book. If you yearn for strong characters and dialogue that leaps off the page, read this book!
There are already many excellent reviews about Heart Stopper on Amazon and Goodreads. There is little more I can add to the eloquent, well-expressed reviews except to say buy the book! You won't regret it...
Heart Stopper ticks all the right boxes for me.
If you love mystery then read this book. If you love twists and turns that keep you guessing to the end read this book. If you are not already passionate about the Irish landscape you will be when you read this book. If you are a romantic read this book. If you yearn for strong characters and dialogue that leaps off the page, read this book!
There are already many excellent reviews about Heart Stopper on Amazon and Goodreads. There is little more I can add to the eloquent, well-expressed reviews except to say buy the book! You won't regret it...
April 30, 2014
This book was beautifully written with exciting characters and twists in the plot. It kept me guessing ‘till the end. Also the description of Irish landscape made feel the wind in my hair and I could smell the fresh sea air while reading this book. Great mystery/ love story with some interesting science in it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews