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Pulse

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From USA Today Bestselling Author, P.D. Workman!


They said it was all in his head.


In this gripping Young Adult medical mystery and adventure, Joseph Demain finds himself caught in a web of uncertainty and danger


When doctors dismiss his fainting spells and seizures as psychosomatic, Joseph will find himself in the psychiatric ward once more. When suspicions arise about his mother, Joseph is apprehended and reaches out to his old friend, Renata, to help him uncover the truth.


Can Renata and Gabriel help Joseph before it's too late?


Because it isn’t all in his head, it is in his heart.


Uncover the truth behind Joseph's mysterious medical condition in this pulse-pounding Young Adult medical thriller. Get your copy now!


Reviews for the series:



Looking for something new in young adult literature? A fast-paced adventure with diverse characters that will keep you turning the pages.


Follow Gabriel and Renata as they fight against an unfair and corrupt system, trying to save themselves and others from doctors, social workers, and judges who are more interested in profit than justice and the safety of their charges.

390 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2024

3 people want to read

About the author

P.D. Workman

232 books502 followers
Award-winning Canadian author P.D. Workman has written over a hundred addictive page-turners featuring diverse and divergent sleuths, high-stakes investigations, and stories that linger long after the last page. Her books dive deep into characters’ minds while exploring timely social issues through fast-paced, emotionally charged plots. Readers praise her work for its powerful emotional truth combined with unputdownable suspense.

Shunning sleep, when Workman is not writing, formatting, or marketing, she’s probably running, reading, or spending time with her family.

Check out her catalogue at pdworkman.com to start your next page-turner and sign up for news and special deals.

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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Profile Image for Kim.
508 reviews5 followers
August 6, 2024
Heartbreaking story!

P.D. Workman has penned another incredibly intense and absolutely heartbreaking story about a teen caught up in the very system developed to protect children from those who would do them harm. Sadly, the system is less than perfect as teenager Joseph Demain finds out when he is suddenly taken away from his loving mother as a result of erroneous assumptions made by case workers and doctors. Preferring to believe that Joseph’s new onset dizziness and fainting is simply the attention-seeking behavior of an anxiety-prone neglected child from a broken home rather than a clear indicator of a need for a comprehensive medical workup, Joseph is quite suddenly ripped from everything he knows and loves when a social worker and the police show up at his school one day to take him to a foster family “for his own good.” Joseph’s journey to find a way to make people believe his symptoms are truly the result of an undiagnosed physical ailment rather than a psychological issue is fraught with danger and uncertainty. It is horrifying to think that Joseph’s plight is even remotely possible in today’s society but, regardless, his story makes for some compelling reading that will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions as he navigates “the system” in search of a medical reason for his troubling symptoms and to find a way back to the mother he misses.

I was provided with an advance copy of this book, for which I thank the author, but I am sharing my honest and unbiased review on a completely voluntary basis.
Profile Image for Phthon.
2,341 reviews8 followers
August 15, 2024
The premise of this series is quite grim. That said, the actual story in this book is heartwarming. I can’t imagine what Joseph must have gone through. I am glad that he knew Renata. I think that she and Gabriel are wonderful human beings and more of us should strive to emulate them. I loved this book, it opened my eyes to the depravity that plagues our species. Highly recommend!
16.8k reviews162 followers
August 18, 2024
No one believes him and he will be sent away. He wants help to find his way back to his parents. He find someone to help him get back home. See just how he gets on
4 reviews
August 8, 2024
One of P D Workman's great strengths is her ability to create believable, likeable and often unusual characters - you feel you really get to know the protagonists in her novels. The Medical Kidnap series has Gabriel and Renata as the common thread, rescuing unfortunate youngsters caught up in a social services nightmare and separated from their families on flimsy evidence. Her latest novel in this series, Pulse, explores the difficulties experienced by a young lad, Joseph, who aspires to be leading soccer player but has some worrying fainting episodes which ultimately lead to him being taken from his home, put in a Psych ward and eventually moved to a foster home. Can Renata and Gabriel help to resolve the problems and reunite Joseph with his mother? Another great story from PDW.
Profile Image for Rosemary.
3,907 reviews71 followers
August 13, 2024
Pulse - a review by Rosemary Kenny.

This is P.D. Workman's 7th Medical Kidnap novel...an unusual topic to be sure, but a riveting one that will keep your attention on the storyline from page 1.
Teen high school football star Joseph Demaine thinks his troubles are nothing to worry his newly-divorced Mom about...but what follows will change his life, turning it upside down until he doesn't know whom to trust.
Who are Gabriel and Renata?
To find out the shocking truth, get your hands on Pulse today!
Profile Image for Sandy.
883 reviews15 followers
June 8, 2025
P. D. Workman’s Medical Kidnap series is not to be missed! She brings to light a situation I never knew existed. Joseph is a young soccer player who experiences fainting and dizzy spells. Awhile he actually has an undiagnosed medical problem, authorities blame his mother and place him in foster care. Well written and rich with interesting characters and a complex plot. Highly recommended! I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.
12.7k reviews190 followers
August 13, 2024
Absolutely gripping story that will keep you reading. Joseph’s life is in danger. If he doesn’t cooperate, a psychiatric hospital is where he’s going. Can his old friends help him before it’s too late. Won’t disappoint.
Profile Image for Sandy.
883 reviews15 followers
June 8, 2025
P. D. Workman’s Medical Kidnap series is not to be missed! She brings to light a situation I never knew existed. Joseph is a young soccer player who experiences fainting and dizzy spells. Awhile he actually has an undiagnosed medical problem, authorities blame his mother and place him in foster care. Well written and rich with interesting characters and a complex plot. Highly recommended! I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

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