What do you think?
Eisenmenger-Flemming Forensic Mysteries #11
A Kiss Before Killing: Nothing can keep the doctor away.
Each man kills the thing he loves... Edward Marsham is admitted to the Royal Infirmary having hung himself in his prison cell. In the wake of several unexpected deaths at the hospital, however, Dr. Claire Woodforde suspects there is a killer amongst the staff. As Detective Chief Inspector Beverley Wharton and her new sergeant Tom Bayes begin to investigate Marsham’s death, they too start to wonder if it was natural or whether someone... helped him along. But as they start to make headway on the case, something much more sinister comes to light. A body is found in an empty house. A body without its limbs. And head. Product 9781911445814 Paperback Keith McCarthy Endeavour Ink 309 20 x 13 x 2cm.
- GenresThrillerProcedural
23 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
About the author
Keith McCarthy
65 books27 followersKeith McCarthy is a pathologist and writer of crime fiction, known for his Eisenmenger-Flemming Forensic Mysteries. He also writes under the name Lance Elliot.
Series:
* Dr. Lance Elliot
* Eisenmenger-Flemming Forensic Mysteries
Series:
* Dr. Lance Elliot
* Eisenmenger-Flemming Forensic Mysteries
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 8, 2017
First of all, I'd like to thank the author for offering me a manuscript of A Kiss before Killing in exchange for an honest review.
"Nothing can keep the doctor away." 🔪
Edward Marsham hung himself in his prison cell during several unexpected deaths at the hospital that Dr. Claire Woodforde works at and she suspects that there is a killer among the staff. As Detective Beverley Wharton and her sergeant Tom Bayes begin to investigate Marsham's death, they too start to wonder if it was natural or whether someone helped him along. But as they work their way through the case, something worse happens. A body is found in an empty house, without its limbs and head.
Dr. John Eisenmenger is tasked to examine the torso to identify the body and the cause of death but as the investigation unfolds, the team discovers that there is much worse to come, and that there's a link between the two cases.
An interesting plot, but I didn't find the characters relatable or even likable, they were pretty shallow to me. It got cheesy and very cliché at times, and the writing style just didn't suit me.
Although I need to comment on something that I found quite offensive, and I quote:
”Bayes asked tentatively with a glance at Frazier, "It couldn't be terrorist, could it? You know, Islamic...“
What the hell? It's 2017 and people are still brainwashed to believe that. 🤦🏻♀️
I'm sorry but that was so racist, I just had to take a few stars out of this one.
This is recommended for Tess Gerritsen fans and anyone who's interested in forensics; you're going to enjoy this fast paced thriller.
"Nothing can keep the doctor away." 🔪
Edward Marsham hung himself in his prison cell during several unexpected deaths at the hospital that Dr. Claire Woodforde works at and she suspects that there is a killer among the staff. As Detective Beverley Wharton and her sergeant Tom Bayes begin to investigate Marsham's death, they too start to wonder if it was natural or whether someone helped him along. But as they work their way through the case, something worse happens. A body is found in an empty house, without its limbs and head.
Dr. John Eisenmenger is tasked to examine the torso to identify the body and the cause of death but as the investigation unfolds, the team discovers that there is much worse to come, and that there's a link between the two cases.
An interesting plot, but I didn't find the characters relatable or even likable, they were pretty shallow to me. It got cheesy and very cliché at times, and the writing style just didn't suit me.
Although I need to comment on something that I found quite offensive, and I quote:
”Bayes asked tentatively with a glance at Frazier, "It couldn't be terrorist, could it? You know, Islamic...“
What the hell? It's 2017 and people are still brainwashed to believe that. 🤦🏻♀️
I'm sorry but that was so racist, I just had to take a few stars out of this one.
This is recommended for Tess Gerritsen fans and anyone who's interested in forensics; you're going to enjoy this fast paced thriller.
November 14, 2017
I was a bit surprised to find that there are quite a few of these books in the series and this isn't a first one. I got the impression that most of the characters were new to each other and hadn't worked with each other before.
While I liked the serial killer angle and the grisly way of dealing with the corpses (liked may be the wrong word there!) there was a brief one line towards the end of a 'Grand Plan' and then nothing. I am assuming it's the old story of abused becomes abuser but why the dismemberment? Why men of a certain age? It all left me a bit unsatisfied.
Then again so many evil geniuses feel the need to explain their grand plans (before being caught natch!) that maybe the author thought they were doing something different? It was a bit annoying though.
As was Wharton and her boss Lambert. Both quite cliched & unlikable characters. Why does the female cop always have had to sleep her way to the top? One thing that again was never explained was the antagonism between the two. He obviously hates her but why? I'm guessing that it's explained in one of the previous stories but I would have liked a little bit of a link back to it.
What I did like was the pace of the story. Being an unlikable 'I want results now or you'll lose your job' type issuing time demands meant everything got to be tied up quite quickly and I think the writing matched the pace really well. I did like DS Bayes - he at least seems interesting and the end of the book focused on his future which threw me a bit because the synopsis ignores him completely.
Overall it's not a bad book and I did like the story. I'm just not overly keen on the characters.
Free arc from netgalley
While I liked the serial killer angle and the grisly way of dealing with the corpses (liked may be the wrong word there!) there was a brief one line towards the end of a 'Grand Plan' and then nothing. I am assuming it's the old story of abused becomes abuser but why the dismemberment? Why men of a certain age? It all left me a bit unsatisfied.
Then again so many evil geniuses feel the need to explain their grand plans (before being caught natch!) that maybe the author thought they were doing something different? It was a bit annoying though.
As was Wharton and her boss Lambert. Both quite cliched & unlikable characters. Why does the female cop always have had to sleep her way to the top? One thing that again was never explained was the antagonism between the two. He obviously hates her but why? I'm guessing that it's explained in one of the previous stories but I would have liked a little bit of a link back to it.
What I did like was the pace of the story. Being an unlikable 'I want results now or you'll lose your job' type issuing time demands meant everything got to be tied up quite quickly and I think the writing matched the pace really well. I did like DS Bayes - he at least seems interesting and the end of the book focused on his future which threw me a bit because the synopsis ignores him completely.
Overall it's not a bad book and I did like the story. I'm just not overly keen on the characters.
Free arc from netgalley
November 12, 2017
This is a great,easy to read crime story involving forensics and pathology. Immediately we meet a man in prison, supposedly on suicide watch but prison officers don't check him often, who hangs himself with the arms of his shirt tied together. Even though he is brain-dead, he is taken to a hospital. When he dies , a Dr. Claire Woodforde, believes there is something amiss, as does police DI Beverly Wharton.
The characters are well explained, we know just who they are and believe how they act in a situation. A pathologist,Dr.John Eisenmenger, is involved with the death and brought further into deaths Claire believes are happening in the hospital!
There is plenty to like in this story as the author tells it like it is when dealing with blood and body parts. The plot is excellent, and it is surreal when many torsos are found, no extremities or heads anywhere! I have not read others by this author, but certainly will now!
I did receive a copy of this from Endeavour Press , and would like to thank them and the author for having this chance to discover a new , to me, thriller artist!
The characters are well explained, we know just who they are and believe how they act in a situation. A pathologist,Dr.John Eisenmenger, is involved with the death and brought further into deaths Claire believes are happening in the hospital!
There is plenty to like in this story as the author tells it like it is when dealing with blood and body parts. The plot is excellent, and it is surreal when many torsos are found, no extremities or heads anywhere! I have not read others by this author, but certainly will now!
I did receive a copy of this from Endeavour Press , and would like to thank them and the author for having this chance to discover a new , to me, thriller artist!
November 28, 2019
*thank you to Netgalley, Keith McCarthy and Endeavour Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
1 star.
Ok no. Just a no from me. I found this to be poorly written and that made it so distracting to the point where I just couldn't connect with it. It is unfortunate because the sypnosis for this sounded so good but unfortunately I was borderline DNFing it several times. This was not for me.
1 star.
Ok no. Just a no from me. I found this to be poorly written and that made it so distracting to the point where I just couldn't connect with it. It is unfortunate because the sypnosis for this sounded so good but unfortunately I was borderline DNFing it several times. This was not for me.
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October 20, 2017"Coincidencees happen all the time, Chief Inspector. It's because we live in a random universe."
Well -- imagine my surprise to find that this book is #11 in a long-running series! And I have not read ANY of the previous books. I hate it when this happens! I would have liked to approach this medical thriller with all the background on the characters of Dr. John Eisenmenger and DCI Beverley Wharton. Perhaps I would have understood their relationship better based on their history together. Regardless, without the benefit of all the backstory, I did enjoy this very fast paced and quite grisly suspense novel. There's plenty of description for anyone not too squeamish, but I suspect readers of this genre are familiar with themes of bloody murder and torture. That the "victims" are only torsos when found is a bit off-putting, and that there are so many! There's another series of deaths that are occuring at a statistically higher than usual rate at the Royal Infirmary. Are these all connected somehow?
The medical details dovetail nicely with the police procedural. I like that it was told in the alternate points of view of the two main characters. The setting is the UK and it's spring time when Dr. Eisenmenger and DCI Wharton get involved in the cases. It's obvious that the author is himself a medical doctor with personal knowledge about pathologists and hospitals. Lots of dialog and action move the narrative along quickly so I was able to finish this in one sitting. There are loose ends at the conclusion so I imagine those answers will be addressed in the next book of the series. Perhaps one day I'll go back and try at least the first book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Endeavor Press for the e-book ARC to read and review. Medical thrillers are my favorites!
Well -- imagine my surprise to find that this book is #11 in a long-running series! And I have not read ANY of the previous books. I hate it when this happens! I would have liked to approach this medical thriller with all the background on the characters of Dr. John Eisenmenger and DCI Beverley Wharton. Perhaps I would have understood their relationship better based on their history together. Regardless, without the benefit of all the backstory, I did enjoy this very fast paced and quite grisly suspense novel. There's plenty of description for anyone not too squeamish, but I suspect readers of this genre are familiar with themes of bloody murder and torture. That the "victims" are only torsos when found is a bit off-putting, and that there are so many! There's another series of deaths that are occuring at a statistically higher than usual rate at the Royal Infirmary. Are these all connected somehow?
The medical details dovetail nicely with the police procedural. I like that it was told in the alternate points of view of the two main characters. The setting is the UK and it's spring time when Dr. Eisenmenger and DCI Wharton get involved in the cases. It's obvious that the author is himself a medical doctor with personal knowledge about pathologists and hospitals. Lots of dialog and action move the narrative along quickly so I was able to finish this in one sitting. There are loose ends at the conclusion so I imagine those answers will be addressed in the next book of the series. Perhaps one day I'll go back and try at least the first book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Endeavor Press for the e-book ARC to read and review. Medical thrillers are my favorites!
September 19, 2017
From the start it is obvious that the author knows a great deal about cadavers and forensics; there is a lot of detail about the dissection of bodies and the necessary criminal investigation. I didn’t mind reading about those sections; in fact I can deal with grisly as much as the next reader of this genre but it felt rather clinically shown so, as a reader, the dreadfulness of the murders, the horrendous dismemberment, was, for me, portrayed too clinically; there was something emotionally missing.
I liked some of the characters; most were multi – layered. Beverley Wharton is well rounded and the relationship between her and John Eisenmenger is interesting. And we get some insight into her sergeant, Tom Bayes and his background. We also get a good understanding of their professional environment. All of which shows that these characters and their relationships to one another could lead to further stories. But I couldn’t quite get a handle on the character of Dr. Claire Woodforde. (I did think this was perhaps what the author intended as, although portrayed as a professional person her interaction with other characters was hesitant and not what I would have expected)
On the whole the dialogue is realistic and shows who was speaking, though it is a little stilted, less realistic, at times.
It’s a good plot. And, generally, well told. The author has a good writing style that carries the story along. But there are too many cliches in the narrative and far too many metaphors and similes. (and these also slip over into the dialogue occasionally. Which would be fine if it were an idiosyncrasy of only one or two of the characters).
My whole problem with this book was with the editing and the proof reading. I think the book needs another good edit and, certainly, a more exact proofreading.
Once this is done I would certainly recommend A Kiss Before Killing.
I liked some of the characters; most were multi – layered. Beverley Wharton is well rounded and the relationship between her and John Eisenmenger is interesting. And we get some insight into her sergeant, Tom Bayes and his background. We also get a good understanding of their professional environment. All of which shows that these characters and their relationships to one another could lead to further stories. But I couldn’t quite get a handle on the character of Dr. Claire Woodforde. (I did think this was perhaps what the author intended as, although portrayed as a professional person her interaction with other characters was hesitant and not what I would have expected)
On the whole the dialogue is realistic and shows who was speaking, though it is a little stilted, less realistic, at times.
It’s a good plot. And, generally, well told. The author has a good writing style that carries the story along. But there are too many cliches in the narrative and far too many metaphors and similes. (and these also slip over into the dialogue occasionally. Which would be fine if it were an idiosyncrasy of only one or two of the characters).
My whole problem with this book was with the editing and the proof reading. I think the book needs another good edit and, certainly, a more exact proofreading.
Once this is done I would certainly recommend A Kiss Before Killing.
December 2, 2017
It seems this is the 11th book in a series. Would it have been better for me if I had some back story on the characters? Probably. In many ways the interaction of the main characters and the action of the serial killer seemed to work against it. I found myself wishing that they would just get on with it!
The murders are gory and the author doesn't spare the reader's finer feelings! I could almost smell the gory discoveries! He certainly knows how to hook a reader! Do these gory dismembered corpses have any connection to the suspicions coming from a doctor, that too many people are dying in her hospital?
For a lot of this book I wasn't totally hooked, but the last third or so really picked up and I was reading way past my bedtime. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me the chance to read & review this book
The murders are gory and the author doesn't spare the reader's finer feelings! I could almost smell the gory discoveries! He certainly knows how to hook a reader! Do these gory dismembered corpses have any connection to the suspicions coming from a doctor, that too many people are dying in her hospital?
For a lot of this book I wasn't totally hooked, but the last third or so really picked up and I was reading way past my bedtime. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for giving me the chance to read & review this book
November 6, 2017
This is one of those times when I wish I had been watching this story rather than reading it, not because I don't like the story, but because I think A Kiss Before Killing: Nothing can keep the doctor away... would thrive as ... say ... a BBC television series rather than a novel. And I think it might actually have been better.
A Kiss Before Killing: Nothing can keep the doctor away... is a solid serial killer tale. It's not really a thriller -- we don't know who is doing the killing until the end -- nor is it a classic mystery, since there is little we can grab onto to solve the case ourselves, but as a police procedural (with the contemporary "pathologist procedural" thrown in for good measure), it is a solid and compelling piece of work.
I found myself powering on late into the night. Usually this is because I want to know whodunit, but this time it was because of [autor:Keith McCarthy]'s pacing. He may be a little clunky when it comes to gender politics -- which problematize his characterizations -- but McCarthy has mastered the skill of the chapter-hanger. Every time I hit the end of a chapter, I felt like a little kid in a 40s theatre watching a Saturday Morning Serial. I needed to know what came next. It may seem an almost quaint skill these days -- the skill to pace a tale in just such a way as to keep us reading -- but it is fun to be the recipient of such manipulation. I tip my hat to McCarthy for his mastery of this skill.
If there is anything that pulls me back from fully effusive praise, it is in McCarthy's characterizations. The problem with this, I must admit, is that A Kiss Before Killing: Nothing can keep the doctor away... is deep into the series, so I don't have any connection to the work he's done before now (having only read this novel). It is entirely possible that his characters have been undergoing rounding volume after volume, but here they feel much too flat for my liking. While I like Eisenmenger and Wharton, I never felt fully invested, which meant I never fully cared, and since they were joint protagonists I couldn't shake the feeling that I should love them but wasn't. And one should really like at least one of the protagonists. In the end, the only character I really cared about was Wharton's partner, Bayes. Yet Bayes was the newest character to the series (I think), and there is no guarantee that he's coming back. I would be sad if he didn't, though, because he was the character that grounded me in the tale.
Still, this series seems like a long continuum, and perhaps the "weak" characterization fits the bill for an ongoing series where characters -- much like people in our lives -- must come and go based on the whims of the every day.
I can say, in favour of McCarthy's A Kiss Before Killing: Nothing can keep the doctor away..., that I will be seeking out book one and putting it on my shelf for those lost weekends when I need to check out from the heavy and ponderous and check into the purely entertaining.
Now if I could only see this on ITV with Stephen Fry as Eisenmenger ... (that would be some must-see streaming).
A Kiss Before Killing: Nothing can keep the doctor away... is a solid serial killer tale. It's not really a thriller -- we don't know who is doing the killing until the end -- nor is it a classic mystery, since there is little we can grab onto to solve the case ourselves, but as a police procedural (with the contemporary "pathologist procedural" thrown in for good measure), it is a solid and compelling piece of work.
I found myself powering on late into the night. Usually this is because I want to know whodunit, but this time it was because of [autor:Keith McCarthy]'s pacing. He may be a little clunky when it comes to gender politics -- which problematize his characterizations -- but McCarthy has mastered the skill of the chapter-hanger. Every time I hit the end of a chapter, I felt like a little kid in a 40s theatre watching a Saturday Morning Serial. I needed to know what came next. It may seem an almost quaint skill these days -- the skill to pace a tale in just such a way as to keep us reading -- but it is fun to be the recipient of such manipulation. I tip my hat to McCarthy for his mastery of this skill.
If there is anything that pulls me back from fully effusive praise, it is in McCarthy's characterizations. The problem with this, I must admit, is that A Kiss Before Killing: Nothing can keep the doctor away... is deep into the series, so I don't have any connection to the work he's done before now (having only read this novel). It is entirely possible that his characters have been undergoing rounding volume after volume, but here they feel much too flat for my liking. While I like Eisenmenger and Wharton, I never felt fully invested, which meant I never fully cared, and since they were joint protagonists I couldn't shake the feeling that I should love them but wasn't. And one should really like at least one of the protagonists. In the end, the only character I really cared about was Wharton's partner, Bayes. Yet Bayes was the newest character to the series (I think), and there is no guarantee that he's coming back. I would be sad if he didn't, though, because he was the character that grounded me in the tale.
Still, this series seems like a long continuum, and perhaps the "weak" characterization fits the bill for an ongoing series where characters -- much like people in our lives -- must come and go based on the whims of the every day.
I can say, in favour of McCarthy's A Kiss Before Killing: Nothing can keep the doctor away..., that I will be seeking out book one and putting it on my shelf for those lost weekends when I need to check out from the heavy and ponderous and check into the purely entertaining.
Now if I could only see this on ITV with Stephen Fry as Eisenmenger ... (that would be some must-see streaming).
November 8, 2017
"Eisenmenger had left his small house fifteen minutes before, aware that he was late and therefore hurrying. He walked quickly to the end of the mews, looked right and left, saw nothing coming and stepped into the road. The car that hit him must have come out of nowhere. Having hit him, it disappeared into the same place and he was left sprawled on the tarmac, bleeding from an abrasion on his left temple and feeling intense pain in his chest and right knee. He was concussed, with the world whirling around him. He smelled the tarmac and heard nothing except an internal screaming in his skull."......
A prisoner, Edward Marsham, attempts suicide in his cell, and later dies from the complications. A pattern is emerging and other patients have died as well. People that were thought to recover. Head of the hospital, Dr. Woodfored, is suspicious. Is it a staff member?
The police investigative team consists of DCI Beverly Wharton, and her new sergeant, Tom Bayes. As pieces start to come together, another body sheds light to their suspicions. This horrific discovery has them pushing as quickly as they can for answers. A torso with no head or limbs is found. Are their others? Is it 2 cases or one? Lucky for Beverly, she has a top notch retired pathologist at her disposal, Dr. John Eisenmenger. He works special cases upon request.
The water is a little muddied by the fact of Beverly inclinations to carry on relationships with co- workers. Will this interfere in the investigation? Is there more than one killer out there, or is it all connected in some twisted way? Dr John is helping with the hospital cases, and Beverly’s dismembered case. Maybe he can tie things together.
Beverly and Bayes are not a great team. He’s a know it all, and she enjoys watching him trip himself up with upper authority. Will they ever make headway?
Gruesome at times, but definitely a page turner. In the end nobody is in the place they started. A dark road, and a dark read.
Thank you Keith McCarthy
A prisoner, Edward Marsham, attempts suicide in his cell, and later dies from the complications. A pattern is emerging and other patients have died as well. People that were thought to recover. Head of the hospital, Dr. Woodfored, is suspicious. Is it a staff member?
The police investigative team consists of DCI Beverly Wharton, and her new sergeant, Tom Bayes. As pieces start to come together, another body sheds light to their suspicions. This horrific discovery has them pushing as quickly as they can for answers. A torso with no head or limbs is found. Are their others? Is it 2 cases or one? Lucky for Beverly, she has a top notch retired pathologist at her disposal, Dr. John Eisenmenger. He works special cases upon request.
The water is a little muddied by the fact of Beverly inclinations to carry on relationships with co- workers. Will this interfere in the investigation? Is there more than one killer out there, or is it all connected in some twisted way? Dr John is helping with the hospital cases, and Beverly’s dismembered case. Maybe he can tie things together.
Beverly and Bayes are not a great team. He’s a know it all, and she enjoys watching him trip himself up with upper authority. Will they ever make headway?
Gruesome at times, but definitely a page turner. In the end nobody is in the place they started. A dark road, and a dark read.
Thank you Keith McCarthy
December 4, 2018
I enjoyed this book. I haven't read the first one but didn't think I really needed to as it is a crime novel. I did get confused in parts, as it kept going to and fro between different scenes, and it gave no indication that the scenes were different. All in all, a good read, and a really good ending.
September 20, 2017
A Kiss Before Killing by Keith McCarthy is an addictive thriller that I found hard to put down. The novel is one of many featuring pathologist John Eisnenmenger although this is the first one that I’ve read.
The novel opens with the seeming suicide of a prisoner whilst in custody. The man’s death brings Dr Claire Woodforde to the attention of Eisenmenger and his former lover DCI Beverley Wharton due to her claims that his death was suspicious and linked to other unexplained deaths in the hospital where she works. McCarthy then introduces a serial killer who is leaving tortured, dismembered bodies around the city as a seemingly unconnected storyline.
McCarthy uses third person narrative to tell his story and this works particularly well as we are given an insight into all of the major characters. McCarthy’s skill as a writer is evident in the control he exerts over the complex threads that make up the plot. He creates layer upon layer of mystery and tension which evolve into an almost fever-pitch denouement. I found myself reading until much later than was sensible as I was desperate to find out how the story was going to end.
This is definitely a plot driven novel but it is supported by a strong cast of characters. I particularly liked Beverley Wharton, the tough, no-nonsense DCI who lives her life almost like a man. She’s confrontational, unconcerned about other people’s opinions of her and takes lovers as and when she pleases. She is partnered with rookie detective, Tom Bayes and their relationship is very enjoyable as they move from distrust and dislike to a positive working relationship and potential friendship.
It is through Bayes that McCarthy shows the toll that working on the front line and dealing with murder cases has on investigators. Wharton has become hardened and cynical in order to deal with the horrors she sees. Eisenmenger is obsessive in his work and self aware enough to recognise that he is probably suffering from PTSD. Bayes on the other hand takes his work home with him and finds himself questioning his future with the police force. His partner finds it hard to support him as the stresses are so unique to his job. It raises the question of how isolating and damaging it must be to see the worst of human behaviour day in and day out.
The novel also raises lots of disquieting questions about the way hospital trusts work. Under immense pressure to perform successfully, the CEO and Chief Operating Officer of the trust collude to cover up potentially damaging information about the hospital even if this means allowing murders to go unsolved. Claire Woodforde is a whistle blower but is discredited by the hospital so that she appears mentally unstable. McCarthy cleverly remains ambiguous in his portrayal of Woodforde, presenting her as an unreliable, erratic source to heighten the tension and leave the wider political questions regarding the hospital unanswered.
I found the credibility of McCarthy’s plot very unsettling which is probably why it works so well. It’s entirely plausible that murders could take place in an environment where lethal drugs are readily available and who would be more able to kill without a trace of evidence than someone with medical training? All I can say is I’m glad I don’t have any hospital visits pending.
I really enjoyed this book and if you like thrillers with lots of twists and turns that take you to unexpected places then this is one for you.
The novel opens with the seeming suicide of a prisoner whilst in custody. The man’s death brings Dr Claire Woodforde to the attention of Eisenmenger and his former lover DCI Beverley Wharton due to her claims that his death was suspicious and linked to other unexplained deaths in the hospital where she works. McCarthy then introduces a serial killer who is leaving tortured, dismembered bodies around the city as a seemingly unconnected storyline.
McCarthy uses third person narrative to tell his story and this works particularly well as we are given an insight into all of the major characters. McCarthy’s skill as a writer is evident in the control he exerts over the complex threads that make up the plot. He creates layer upon layer of mystery and tension which evolve into an almost fever-pitch denouement. I found myself reading until much later than was sensible as I was desperate to find out how the story was going to end.
This is definitely a plot driven novel but it is supported by a strong cast of characters. I particularly liked Beverley Wharton, the tough, no-nonsense DCI who lives her life almost like a man. She’s confrontational, unconcerned about other people’s opinions of her and takes lovers as and when she pleases. She is partnered with rookie detective, Tom Bayes and their relationship is very enjoyable as they move from distrust and dislike to a positive working relationship and potential friendship.
It is through Bayes that McCarthy shows the toll that working on the front line and dealing with murder cases has on investigators. Wharton has become hardened and cynical in order to deal with the horrors she sees. Eisenmenger is obsessive in his work and self aware enough to recognise that he is probably suffering from PTSD. Bayes on the other hand takes his work home with him and finds himself questioning his future with the police force. His partner finds it hard to support him as the stresses are so unique to his job. It raises the question of how isolating and damaging it must be to see the worst of human behaviour day in and day out.
The novel also raises lots of disquieting questions about the way hospital trusts work. Under immense pressure to perform successfully, the CEO and Chief Operating Officer of the trust collude to cover up potentially damaging information about the hospital even if this means allowing murders to go unsolved. Claire Woodforde is a whistle blower but is discredited by the hospital so that she appears mentally unstable. McCarthy cleverly remains ambiguous in his portrayal of Woodforde, presenting her as an unreliable, erratic source to heighten the tension and leave the wider political questions regarding the hospital unanswered.
I found the credibility of McCarthy’s plot very unsettling which is probably why it works so well. It’s entirely plausible that murders could take place in an environment where lethal drugs are readily available and who would be more able to kill without a trace of evidence than someone with medical training? All I can say is I’m glad I don’t have any hospital visits pending.
I really enjoyed this book and if you like thrillers with lots of twists and turns that take you to unexpected places then this is one for you.
October 10, 2017
I was offered this ebook in exchange for an honest review; that's why I'd like to thank the author and the publishing house first :)
I was sent the book because I'm a big fan of the Rizzoli & Isles series. A Kiss Before Killing follows another pair of the same kind, tough detective Beverley Wharton and no-nonsense pathologist John Eisenmenger as they investigate a series of grisly murders that takes them from a prison to the hospital, with many body parts strewn in between.
It is a very engaging thriller with well-rounded characters. There is a whole series of novels featuring Eisenmenger (and Wharton?) that I obviously haven't read, but it didn't prevent me from enjoying this one. The writing is also excellent and pleasantly complex without being overly purple or stilted. There are many British words and medical terms that might confuse American readers (I myself had to use a dictionary a few times). I liked the fact that the plot was pretty straightforward, without the gimmicky use of sub-plots, flashbacks or double narrative voices that we have seen so often recently.
I also appreciated the unmistakable British atmosphere that is very different from American, French or Scandinavian thrillers.
I was sent the book because I'm a big fan of the Rizzoli & Isles series. A Kiss Before Killing follows another pair of the same kind, tough detective Beverley Wharton and no-nonsense pathologist John Eisenmenger as they investigate a series of grisly murders that takes them from a prison to the hospital, with many body parts strewn in between.
It is a very engaging thriller with well-rounded characters. There is a whole series of novels featuring Eisenmenger (and Wharton?) that I obviously haven't read, but it didn't prevent me from enjoying this one. The writing is also excellent and pleasantly complex without being overly purple or stilted. There are many British words and medical terms that might confuse American readers (I myself had to use a dictionary a few times). I liked the fact that the plot was pretty straightforward, without the gimmicky use of sub-plots, flashbacks or double narrative voices that we have seen so often recently.
I also appreciated the unmistakable British atmosphere that is very different from American, French or Scandinavian thrillers.
November 8, 2017
A Kiss Before Killing is the latest in a long line of crime thrillers involving forensics and pathology by Keith McCarthy, who is himself a practicing pathologist.
As written in the book description: This is not for the faint-hearted reader of crime thrillers -- it shines a light into the darkest recesses of the human soul.
I will state at the outset there are parts of this mystery which are grisly. The author is a physician/pathologist and clearly knows about dissection and forensics, which lends great reality to his story. I am a trained anatomist and have done many cadaver dissections, so I could deal with the descriptions, but there may be some potential readers who couldn’t. Fair warning.
As for the story itself, it is multi-layered and the reader needs to pay close attention to detail. The main characters – Beverly Wharton, John Eisenmenger (with whom she had had a relationship), and Tom Bayes, the rookie, are well-drawn and compelling. Wharton’s relationship with Eisenmenger is interesting and nuanced and I enjoyed watching the gradual maturation of Bayes as Wharton’s partner. Superintendent Lambert was clearly intended to be an irritant as he oversees Wharton’s work, and he certainly is, but I found his interactions with somewhat over the top and not particularly professional.
Dr. Claire Woodforde, by contrast, was pale and indeterminate. I never really got a feeling for her as a person, and the part of the mystery concerning the unexpected deaths in the hospital proceeded at a lethargic pace. The portrayal of the hospital administration was all too real, but even though this aspect of the book ultimately tied into the search for the murderer of the owners of the headless and limbless bodies, it never really captured my interest.
While there is great tension towards the last third of the book, there was an overall lack of emotion on the part of the characters with regard to the deaths. The dialogue was realistic and the author did a good job carrying the story forward, although at drastically different paces.
Overall, this book was a competent and occasionally compelling read, with enough twists and turns to hold your interest.
As written in the book description: This is not for the faint-hearted reader of crime thrillers -- it shines a light into the darkest recesses of the human soul.
I will state at the outset there are parts of this mystery which are grisly. The author is a physician/pathologist and clearly knows about dissection and forensics, which lends great reality to his story. I am a trained anatomist and have done many cadaver dissections, so I could deal with the descriptions, but there may be some potential readers who couldn’t. Fair warning.
As for the story itself, it is multi-layered and the reader needs to pay close attention to detail. The main characters – Beverly Wharton, John Eisenmenger (with whom she had had a relationship), and Tom Bayes, the rookie, are well-drawn and compelling. Wharton’s relationship with Eisenmenger is interesting and nuanced and I enjoyed watching the gradual maturation of Bayes as Wharton’s partner. Superintendent Lambert was clearly intended to be an irritant as he oversees Wharton’s work, and he certainly is, but I found his interactions with somewhat over the top and not particularly professional.
Dr. Claire Woodforde, by contrast, was pale and indeterminate. I never really got a feeling for her as a person, and the part of the mystery concerning the unexpected deaths in the hospital proceeded at a lethargic pace. The portrayal of the hospital administration was all too real, but even though this aspect of the book ultimately tied into the search for the murderer of the owners of the headless and limbless bodies, it never really captured my interest.
While there is great tension towards the last third of the book, there was an overall lack of emotion on the part of the characters with regard to the deaths. The dialogue was realistic and the author did a good job carrying the story forward, although at drastically different paces.
Overall, this book was a competent and occasionally compelling read, with enough twists and turns to hold your interest.
October 29, 2017
There is plenty of death in this medical mystery with a higher than expected rate of patient deaths at the hospital, which alerts Dr Claire Woodforde to the fact that something’s wrong, and then the first body is found in an empty house. A torso, minus its limbs and a head.
DCI Beverley Wharton leads the investigation with her new sergeant, Tom Bayes, enlisting the help of Dr John Eisenmenger, a pathologist, along the way. My favourite characters were Eisenmenger and Wharton and I enjoyed whatever it was that was going on between them. They’d had a relationship in the past, it was over, but there was that lingering connection that made for some interesting interactions.
There were a few things that were a little off for me with this story. There was a lack of emotion throughout and I couldn’t really work out why Lambert, Wharton’s superior, was quite so antagonistic towards everything and anything that went on in the investigation. It seemed out of proportion. I also felt it could have done with another edit and proofread.
There will be some for whom the level of description of the bodies will be too gruesome but it didn’t bother me at all. I loved all that detail and it was clear the author knows what he is talking about so I had great confidence with his descriptions and the medical detail. This book will therefore please those readers who are not squeamish.
I received a copy of this book from the author as I am a member of Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team.
DCI Beverley Wharton leads the investigation with her new sergeant, Tom Bayes, enlisting the help of Dr John Eisenmenger, a pathologist, along the way. My favourite characters were Eisenmenger and Wharton and I enjoyed whatever it was that was going on between them. They’d had a relationship in the past, it was over, but there was that lingering connection that made for some interesting interactions.
There were a few things that were a little off for me with this story. There was a lack of emotion throughout and I couldn’t really work out why Lambert, Wharton’s superior, was quite so antagonistic towards everything and anything that went on in the investigation. It seemed out of proportion. I also felt it could have done with another edit and proofread.
There will be some for whom the level of description of the bodies will be too gruesome but it didn’t bother me at all. I loved all that detail and it was clear the author knows what he is talking about so I had great confidence with his descriptions and the medical detail. This book will therefore please those readers who are not squeamish.
I received a copy of this book from the author as I am a member of Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team.
November 18, 2017
As written in the book description: This is not for the faint-hearted reader
Book Description
Each man kills the thing he loves…
A body is found in an empty house.
A body without its limbs. And head.
Dr. John Eisenmenger is tasked with examining the torso to uncover clues which will lead to its identity and cause of death; a grisly job even for the most hardened of pathologists.
But as the investigation unfolds, the team discovers that there is much, much worse to come, and in addition, there is growing suspicion that there is a link between the two cases.
I have just realised that this book is number 11 in a long-running series! And I have not read ANY of the previous books!
Reading this book as a standalone works but I feel I would have been more invested in this book if I had read the series in the proper order.
Keith McCarthy, is himself a practicing pathologist and knows a great deal about cadavers and forensics and there is a lot of detail about the dissection of bodies so there are parts of this book which gets a bit grisly with plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading.
I think that the realism added by the author from his own experience with the medical aspects added to the book and gives it an edge on other books in this genre.
I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends and I will go back and start at book 1 when i get chance.
Book Description
Each man kills the thing he loves…
A body is found in an empty house.
A body without its limbs. And head.
Dr. John Eisenmenger is tasked with examining the torso to uncover clues which will lead to its identity and cause of death; a grisly job even for the most hardened of pathologists.
But as the investigation unfolds, the team discovers that there is much, much worse to come, and in addition, there is growing suspicion that there is a link between the two cases.
I have just realised that this book is number 11 in a long-running series! And I have not read ANY of the previous books!
Reading this book as a standalone works but I feel I would have been more invested in this book if I had read the series in the proper order.
Keith McCarthy, is himself a practicing pathologist and knows a great deal about cadavers and forensics and there is a lot of detail about the dissection of bodies so there are parts of this book which gets a bit grisly with plenty of twists and turns to keep you reading.
I think that the realism added by the author from his own experience with the medical aspects added to the book and gives it an edge on other books in this genre.
I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends and I will go back and start at book 1 when i get chance.
August 31, 2019
As an avid fan of crime and medical dramas, I was really excited when I read the description and reviews of "A Kiss Before Killing." Once I started reading, I was happy with the plot, and with the characters. Clearly, a great deal of research went into writing this book. The terminology is all accurate, and the writing style paints a very clear picture.
Unfortunately, there was something about this story that just refused to stick with me. Each time I put the book down, when I came back to it, I couldn't remember what was going on. There lacked a certain depth and emotional draw that kept me from really feeling consumed by this story. That is one of my favorite things about reading - is getting so pulled into the tale that I feel I'm in it, or it almost runs as a movie in my head. I didn't get that here, and I was disappointed by that.
Now, at over a week from having finished the book, I truly don't remember many of the details about it. I recall only my visceral reaction, which was mostly positive. I came away thinking it was a good story and that I'd enjoyed reading it. I just can't remember, at this point, why that is.
Read this and more of my reviews at:
www.memoirsofabookwyrm.com
Unfortunately, there was something about this story that just refused to stick with me. Each time I put the book down, when I came back to it, I couldn't remember what was going on. There lacked a certain depth and emotional draw that kept me from really feeling consumed by this story. That is one of my favorite things about reading - is getting so pulled into the tale that I feel I'm in it, or it almost runs as a movie in my head. I didn't get that here, and I was disappointed by that.
Now, at over a week from having finished the book, I truly don't remember many of the details about it. I recall only my visceral reaction, which was mostly positive. I came away thinking it was a good story and that I'd enjoyed reading it. I just can't remember, at this point, why that is.
Read this and more of my reviews at:
www.memoirsofabookwyrm.com
June 14, 2018
I picked this up because I'd previously read and enjoyed The Silent Sleep of the Dying and was interested to revisit Eisenmenger some years on.
Sadly, this for me isn't as strong a novel. It feels a little rushed, like it's an early draft.
The strengths - the pace, the detailed portrayal of the hospital/medical world and the author's willingness to populate his books with unlikeable characters!
The weaknesses - I struggle with the trope of pulling an indispensable cop (or in this case pathologist) out of retirement. I felt there was one massive hole in the plot and a number of smaller things that were set up but not paid off. We didn't really get a clear sense of the killer's motivation.
Having said that, I'd give this series another go because of the quality of the first book I read.
*
I received a copy of A Kiss Before Killing from the publisher via Netgalley.
Sadly, this for me isn't as strong a novel. It feels a little rushed, like it's an early draft.
The strengths - the pace, the detailed portrayal of the hospital/medical world and the author's willingness to populate his books with unlikeable characters!
The weaknesses - I struggle with the trope of pulling an indispensable cop (or in this case pathologist) out of retirement. I felt there was one massive hole in the plot and a number of smaller things that were set up but not paid off. We didn't really get a clear sense of the killer's motivation.
Having said that, I'd give this series another go because of the quality of the first book I read.
*
I received a copy of A Kiss Before Killing from the publisher via Netgalley.
September 29, 2017
A body is found in an empty house.
A body without its limbs. And head.
This is from the synopsis of A Kiss Before Killing, throw in some torture, some good forensic snooping, and you have yourself an exciting forensic thriller. Besides being a first rate author, Keith McCarthy is a pathologist, which means he is the fellow who really does the autopsies. So as you can imagine, McCarthy doesn’t hold back when he writes about the darkest part of his job. A Kiss Before Killing is not for those that have a weak stomach.
Like McCarthy, the main character, John Eisenmenger, is also a pathologist who has his fair share of grisly autopsies. For those who are not familiar with the series, Eisenmenger has been a somber but inquisitive figure throughout the series. More often his curiosities get him into a considerable amount of trouble which happens to be true in the case for A Kiss Before Killing.
The Eisenmenger series is the darkest forensic thriller series that I have read and I have read a lot of forensic thrillers. Though most of the books within this series can be read as standalones, it is really beneficial to read the whole series just to understand the two main characters, John Eisenmenger and especially Beverly Wharton. Wharton, a rather stunning cop, started the series as a really despicable person. She was looking to advance her career by any means possible and I emphasize by any means. But Eisenmenger put a stop to that after the first book in the series, A Feast of Carrion, by solving the murder case that Wharton was leading and then making her look really bad. I thought Wharton was a goner after the first book, but she ended up being the only other character besides Eisenmenger to remain throughout the series. As the series continues, the reader gets to see a more vulnerable side to this women and one of them is John Eisenmenger. Even though Eisenmenger almost destroyed her career, she has always been fascinated with him. They are complete opposites of each other which makes it difficult for them to get together, yet at the same time they can’t seem to totally break away. In A Kiss Before Killing Wharton realizes that she cares for more for Eisenmenger than she realizes.
A Kiss Before Killing is a must read for the forensic thriller junkie.
If you are interested in learning more about the John Eisenmenger Series check it out on my blog A-Thrill-A-Week
November 1, 2017
A statisical increase in the deaths at the hospital results in Dr. Claire Woodforde involving John Eisenmenger. Meanwhile Detective Chief Inspector Beverley Wharton starts to investigate the appearance of torsos.
An interesting mystery which held my interest to the conclusion.
A NetGalley Book
An interesting mystery which held my interest to the conclusion.
A NetGalley Book
July 10, 2018
I received a copy from NetGalley and this is my honest review. I found this to be a quick thriller with a forensic spin. This is the first book I have read by this author but I did enjoy it so will now b e on the lookout for others by him.
June 13, 2019
ASDFLKJH This series is *so good*. I'm thrilled to have found a book I didn't know existed.
November 30, 2023
A good read, with strong characters.
February 14, 2019
I am reviewing this book for Keith McCarthy, Endeavour press, and NetGalley who gave me a copy of their book for an honest review.
I hadn’t realised until the end that this was part of a series but thankfully it could be enjoyed as a standalone book. In a nutshell, it is a British crime book focussing on several deaths at a hospital. Despite some of the characters being rather clichéd, I did enjoy the read and have added his previous books to my ever-growing ‘to-read at some point’ list.
I hadn’t realised until the end that this was part of a series but thankfully it could be enjoyed as a standalone book. In a nutshell, it is a British crime book focussing on several deaths at a hospital. Despite some of the characters being rather clichéd, I did enjoy the read and have added his previous books to my ever-growing ‘to-read at some point’ list.
February 11, 2018
I was taken when I read the back of this book that it was going to have me on the edge of my seat with the way that it was saying there was ghosts and Gould’s offing people in the hospital. But frankly that wasn’t exactly what I was reading it was a pathetic attempt at a crime thriller that could better be described as teenage fiction. Bitterly disappointed.
August 21, 2018
A wonderful Thriller!
I enjoyed the book. I love the characters and the plot. This could be a movie for sure! You will love the determination of the characters and the drama until the end. No time wasted here.
I enjoyed the book. I love the characters and the plot. This could be a movie for sure! You will love the determination of the characters and the drama until the end. No time wasted here.
February 21, 2018
I received this arc from Netgalley.
Quite an interesting read. Plenty suspense to keep you guessing. It kept me entertained throughout.
Quite an interesting read. Plenty suspense to keep you guessing. It kept me entertained throughout.
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