The Little Ambulance War of Winchester County

by I.M. Aiken

>b>A fascinating and darkly funny novel giving readers front-row access to the world of EMS and other first responders — and the stink, sweat, and sex that accompanies long days caring for others at their most vulnerable.

Following in the footsteps of their beloved Boston cop father, Alex Flynn trains as an EMT, and spends years chasing emergencies in an ambulance. But the person Alex becomes is a far cry from the hero they signed up to be.

Over four decades in public safety, Alex encounters a changing America, where veterans are left to rot on streets, women are welcome in dangerous fields but abusers still walk free, and service providers are subjected to intense public scrutiny while being denied the resources they need. After moving from bustling Boston to small town Vermont, Alex discovers an escalating feud between emergency operators and must decide which to protect: their community, or their legacy.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook

268 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2024

About the author

I have worked on ambulances off and on since the 1980s starting in the Boston where I was born and raised. After school and the required lost-period that followed, I landed in Alaska. Between sailing and skiing, I worked with the US Public Health Service before slipping into the post-9/11 world of government agencies. Which then triggered a letter from Uncle inviting me on yet-another adventure. Thus, as a civilian I spent about 18 months as a member of a unit of the 4th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. Texas for training, Kuwait, Iraq, then finally home to New England. The Little Ambulance War of Winchester County is debut novel.

Reviews

[Lauren Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ambulance wars are very real and rural EMS is having issues... This was to be a 5 star if it had a bit more editing.

[Sara Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting look inside the world of EMTs. Alex serves long days on an ambulance, days filled with stick, sweat, and sex. Always on the move from one emergency to the next caring for people in need. Starting in the bustling Boston and then moving to a small town in Vermont, things change as much as the town in some ways while in others they seem to be the same no matter where Alex goes.

I found the book eye-opening as it made me really think about the lives of the people that don't give a second thought to helping people in a time of need. How they go out of their way, sometimes even risking their own life, just to help another person that they have never meet and will probably never see again. I wonder how much training they really have completed, and how much of it they really remember. Alex, although a fictional book, won my respect.

[Bookreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the mother of a paramedic, I very much enjoyed the stories and descriptions in this book, but even more I enjoyed the realistic way the author portrays the current controversies and crises facing the delivery of emergency medical services in the United States. I hope that people reading this book will take action to ensure that emergency medical services organizations in their communities are properly funded and available needed. Thank you, IM Aiken for calling attention to a serious problem .

[Katelynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

It took me months to finish this book. As a RN, I thought I would empathize and really enjoy this book. I wanted to categorize it in the DNF column. It was really hard to get past the grammar and spelling issues. The book did not flow to my liking. While I understood some of her medical cases and challenges, the choppiness of the story threw me off. I would have to reread sentences. At other times, her writing was unnecessarily repetitive. I am disappointed this was not my cup of tea.

[Kathy Woulfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a winner in Goodreads giveaway!
Thanks to the author for sending me a personally signed copy! Loved the story, it was very interesting. I learned a lot about the world of first responders! The cute stories, the heartbreak, politics, quick decision making, nostalgia all made this book a very good read.

[Lisa Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read! I have a very limited knowledge of the ambulance world. Many experiences in this book were familiar and others opened my eyes to what goes on behind the scenes. Thank you I.M Aiken and Goodreads.

[Chelsea Poteet]

DNF at 23%. Despite this book being exactly what its description says, I, for some reason, heard that it was a thriller, which it very much is not. Just bored out of my mind listening to this, unfortunately.

[Tamarah Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

The novel read like a memoir and kept me engaged. Although fiction, it touched upon the real challenges faced by EMS teams and our healthcare system overall.