Forbidden Birth

Chris Ravello Medical Thriller #2

by William Rubin

Unspeakable medical procedures. A crazed serial killer. Who will protect the innocent and at what cost?

Doctor Christopher Ravello is driven by an unquenchable desire to avenge his mother's senseless murder. He forsakes a lucrative career in medicine, and plunges headlong into the brutal, unforgiving world of a New York City homicide detective.

Head of the new Division of Medical Crimes, Ravello's first case pits him against a brilliant, sadistic serial killer. Known only as The Giver, he is hell bent on subjecting young women and their unborn babies to his illicit experiments. As the body count rises, New York City is engulfed in fear.

Fighting an illness that threatens his job, immersed in turmoil at home due to his radical career change, Ravello struggles to understand who The Giver is and where he will strike next. Just as he discovers the killer's identity the unspeakable happens, and Ravello is confronted with an agonizing choice: Will he play it safe or make the ultimate sacrifice to save his loved ones and the city he is sworn to protect and serve?

Genres: Thriller, Medical, Crime, Mystery, Suspense, Horror, Fiction

442 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2016

About the author

William Rubin is a practicing physician who enjoys weaving tales of medical/scientific intrigue. Writing for him is equal parts catharsis, creativity, and escape from the rigors of a busy medical practice and the joys and challenges of raising a family.

The works of James Patterson, Robin Cook, Tess Gerritsen, and Patricia Cornwell inspired Dr. Rubin to create the Christopher Ravello Series. Challenges and tragedies in Dr. Rubin’s life, particularly the untimely death of his mother, provided some of the underlying drama, conflict, and turmoil for the series’ lead character.

When he isn’t busy practicing medicine or crafting his next medical thriller, Dr. Rubin enjoys time with his family and friends, running, playing piano, and travel.

Reviews

[Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded down from roughly 3.5 stars ⭐️

Forbidden Birth follows Detective Ravello, on the hunt for a serial killer who is targeting pregnant women. What does he want with them? How many more people will he kill before the detective can catch up with him?

I absolutely loved the short chapters in this book, it really helped to keep the pace up. That being said, I did feel the book was a little bit too long overall. I loved the serial killer character, they had a darkness and complexity which I found myself lapping up. I also grew quite the soft spot for Ravello, it left me wanting to know what happens to him and his loved ones. The rest of the characters all felt a little one dimensional, and I often found myself getting confused by who was who.

Towards the end it did get a little bit outlandish, which I know some people struggle with. But in this instance, I actually really enjoyed it. It reminded me of the James Bond novels in many ways. I didn’t see some of the twists coming and was left shocked and desperate to turn the pages to see what would happen next. I definitely feel that this started to veer towards sci-fi at the end. It is very clear how knowledgeable the author is about medicine. Although at times I found myself losing focus a little when the terminology got quite detailed. However, the author always explained things so that the reader didn’t get lost. Overall, this was an enjoyable read that left me wanting to try more of the series.

I recommend this book to fans of medical thrillers, as long as you don’t mind some outlandish and sci-fi themes. I want to thank Voracious Readers Only and William Rubin for sending me a copy of this book so I can give my personal thoughts.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

gripping involved thriller

I was completely floored with the complexity and details of this thriller. I enjoyed the talent and skill of Chris Ravello. He was a surgeon, and then he was a man that changed his entire life because of his mother's murder. He relocated his family and became a Medical Expert Detective. when the bodies began showing up he was called into action to figure out this series of mutilated girls with little to no clues.

The Giver shares his thoughts and his eerie processes as he is on the track to make his great discoveries. A mysterious man with medical skill, drive, and visions of grandeur about his calling. His thought processes are intense along with his ability to steer the investigation into other suspects vicinity.

Feeling creeped out with the sheer audacity of the Giver and his cause, I couldn't stop reading this medical thriller. It is the perfect late night under the covers mystery thriller. I totally enjoyed Chris Ravello. He has secrets and tries to hide a medical condition while working tirelessly all over the country attempting to pull this case together. Imaginative and cleverly evil, this book works.

Great detail and a compelling mystery made this an intense read.

[Stanley McShane · Rating 3 out of 5]

William RubinForbidden Birth: A Chris Ravello Medical Thriller I was sent this book by the author, Dr. William Rubin, as a medical thriller to read and review. After reading "Forbidden Birth," however, I'm wondering if it shouldn't have been classified as cross-genre, as there were also elements of horror, crime, and mystery, as well as sci-fi. There is something here for everyone! Dr. Christopher Ravello has given up a lucrative medical practice to join the newly formed Medical Crimes Division as a homicide detective of the New York Police Department. Compelled to fight crime on their level after the brutal murder of his mother, he works with childhood buddy Kev Kennedy and moves his well-to-do family to a blue collar hood of questionable security just in time to bump up against a serial killer known as The Giver. The antagonist is extremely intelligent as well as sadistic as he targets one pregnant single woman after another, harvesting the unborn baby as he works towards his secret goal of cloning an adult human. You'll enjoy the fun of testing your medical terminology skills as the plot weaves in and out of one slashem'up scene to another. (Be prepared for some "F" rated words as well.) Things get bloodier the closer he gets to his target, but not wholly a big surprise as the twist goes exactly where you expect. Dr. Detective Rubin is insecure along the way, constantly second-guessing himself, has a medical condition himself which at times leaves him debilitated and extremely vulnerable. Recommended as an intelligent thriller for those who don't mind getting into some dirty stuff, physically as well as mentally.

[crazipotmom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this I'll be looking for the first one and then others after that a great page turner

[czai · Rating 4 out of 5]

this review is also posted at: the Blacksheep Project. I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

* * *

Forbidden Birth had me on the edge of my seat right from the start!

{ 5 Things About Forbidden Birth }

detective Chris Ravello.
Like every detective novel, Chris Ravello has his demons and that was really showed in the novel. Aside from, of course, the crazy case he handles, he had to worry about his health and his family - which later on became a very important aspect of the story. He was well established - his reason for entering the force, his strong resolve to protect his family. He's a commendable detective and really worth following.

the serial killer.
I honestly have not read a lot of serial killer crime fiction. Weird, huh? I mean sure, I've read several crime fiction but they're mostly murders and murders are easier to trace, yeah? They have specific reason to kill. But serial killers? They're more tricky.
The Giver is a medical researcher. He kills for his research - for cloning, to create life. He's also very clever - knows how to clean his mess, how to mislead the police. Later on, he also plays around Detective Ravello's mind which is the really thrilling part of the novel.

the mystery solving.
Forbidden Birth kept me intrigued. Right of the bat, I was interested and ended getting really engaged in the entire mystery solving process. I like how Ravello assess the body the moment he sees it and gives his initial findings - take note that there are several technical terms but I ended up being okay with them. I like the technicalities as well as how the bodies are described. A little gruesome but we expected that, right?
As I mentioned, the Giver knows how to cover his trace, so there were several dead ends throughout the first half of the novel. It was frustrating! But feeling that way means I'm really into what's happening.

the thrilling pace.
There's a serial killer. There's nothing but dead ends. Serial Killer tries to make contact. This novel really has nothing but thrilling turn of events. I was always at the edge of my seat and trying to figure out how things will go - some I've guessed correctly, some I missed (especially that ending. I freaked out a bit and really I thought things were going to get messier and end in a cliffhanger. good thing it didn't, haha!).
The short chapters and the multiple POVs also add up to how exciting this novel is. The short chapters are always on point - no dull moments, always something important, and makes this a really quick read! The multiple POV kept me intrigued (especially The Giver's POV).

the medical side.
Since this is a medical thriller, there are medical sides of the novel. As I mentioned earlier, there are technical terms but those aren't really something to worry about. Everything is well explained. I also like the parts where Ravello inspect and analyse the bodies through simple observation. This is my first medical thriller and I'm so glad I gave it a try!
Also, there the inclusion of the idea of cloning is very interesting. I don't know much about science and such but just considering this idea and how it's incorporated and later on brought to life in the novel is quite haunting. Really something I wouldn't want to happen in real life. (reminds me of how I'm scared of the idea of Unwind by Neal Shusterman).

OVERALL, Forbidden Birth is thrilling medical thriller with an engaging mystery that kept me at the edge of my seat. It has an intriguing mystery, a difficult-to-track serial killer, well established detective, and a thrilling pace. Forbidden Birth is recommended read for mystery-thriller fans.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I stared back at my partner, speechless for the first time in years and feeling very old, very tired. On top of everything else going on, Commissioner Kelly had pulled me aside earlier, putting the screws on me to wrap things up quickly-as if it were that simple! And Dad had called me too. He was at a doctor's office getting tests run for an irregular heartbeat he had just developed. How many different directions could a guy get pulled before he snaps?"........

Dr. Chris Ravello is the only physician-detective in the history of the N.Y.P.D. Newly appointed to the ''Division of Medical Crimes," he's facing his first serial killer. Nick named "The Giver," this monster is taking young women and their unborn children, to experiment on.

Moving from doctor to police officer was easy for Chris after the murder of his mother. His family supportive, wife Michelle, and two young children. There are challenges brought about to the family because of the career change. I like the way the author made Chris into a real person immediately. He didn't have to grow on you as you read, as sometimes the case in books.

Opening page was frightening. Just a hint of what was to come. Lucky for Chris, his partner is also his childhood friend, Kevin. The medical terminology was on point and graphic. The storyline feels real and will draw you in immediately.

"The Giver" is enjoying the killing, but he has a specific agenda. He's also enjoying watching the police try to figure it out. Meanwhile the bodies keep showing up. His plans inadvertently may include Chris Ravello. Some heart stopping moments related to Chris and his loved ones. "The Givers" motives are really creepy and quite disturbing.

Will he be caught? How many will he kill. A unique and thrilling story line. Story had me hooked on the first page. Just when you think you know what's going on there is a great twist. I love a good thriller, and this was definitely one of those!

Thank you William Rubin.

[Pallavi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Forbidden Birth is a medical thriller - a part of the Chris Ravello series. It was my first time reading this genre and I found it quite interesting. The details were top notch and the writing was explicitly gruesome. The author did not hold back on the gore and violence, which really delivered the climax for me.
Overall, it was a good book with a well developed mystery and a satisfactory twist!
A huge thank you to VRO for providing a copy.

[Taryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was one of the worst books I have ever wasted my time reading. The writing was amateurish and the plot was ridiculous. I purchased it because it was on sale on my Nook and I kept hoping it might improve. It didn’t. Don’t waste your time. I later realized the author was a physician and all I can say is - don’t quit your day job Doc. Sorry if this is a rude review but - truth is truth.

[GlenS · Rating 2 out of 5]

Forbidden Birth: A Chris Ravello Medical Thriller
By William Rubin

eBook: 442 pages
Started: September 08, 2020 – Completed: October 10, 2020


It starts with Doctor Chris Ravello explaining why he left his lucrative medical career at Washington General, the country’s busiest trauma hospital. Transferring to become a law enforcement officer, then fast-paced into running a new division of Medical Crimes Division after 6 weeks.

With a disease impacting his body day-to-day, never knowing when high stresses will bring on attacks of dangerous levels of epinephrine/adrenaline coursing through him, leading to chest pains, blood pressure spikes and blackouts. He had to falsify his records with the police force to pass his medical.

The first case is one of a serial killer with unique medical knowledge; the killing involving pregnant women, and their foetuses. The connection between the victims seems to be they are on their own in their lives, no family or friends that would care enough to report them missing if they weren’t seen for a few days/weeks.

The other voice narrating is the antagonist, who refers to himself as The Giver. He talks about his search for women with aspects of his mother’s attributes. Hunts, charms then he kills them in the most inhuman way possible, deliberately making there last moment as painfully as possible.

The novel starts out running and feel as if you are watching extended versions of the numerous crime series that are known by their acronyms – very visual writing.

It slows down before you get halfway into the story and becomes slightly repetitive. The Giver thinks of himself as a genius; Ravello is conscious about his nervous condition that has been flaring up regularly since the brutal death of his mother.

I wanted more from this medical thriller, more rounded characters, but it fell a bit flat for me.

I want to thank #VoraciousReadersOnly for the opportunity of reading this in exchange for my own honest review.

This book was due for release on Publication date: August 2016

Rating 2.5 / 5.0

[Donadee's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forbidden Birth by William Rubin Review
When is ENOUGH, ENOUGH?

Doctor Christopher Ravello is driven by an unquenchable desire to avenge his mother's senseless murder. He forsakes a lucrative career in medicine and plunges headlong into the brutal, unforgiving world of a New York City homicide detective. Head of the new Division of Medical Crimes, Ravello's first case pits him against a brilliant, sadistic serial killer. Known only as The Giver, he is hell-bent on subjecting young women and their unborn babies to his illicit experiments. As the body count rises, New York City is engulfed in fear. Fighting an illness which threatens his job, immersed in turmoil at home due to his radical career change, Ravello struggles to understand who The Giver is and where he will strike next. Just as he discovers the killer's identity the unspeakable happens, and Ravello is confronted with an agonizing choice: will he play it safe or make the ultimate sacrifice to save his loved ones and the city he is sworn to protect and serve?

What did I like? This was a very interesting book, to say the least! With this being a topic of a highly controversial problem in the world today it spelled out the “God Syndrome” that could possibly happen. I don’t think any of us are ready for that to happen, no matter the outcome.

What will you like? Action that you will astound you, characters that will mesmerize you, a mystery that will keep you glued, sadness that will have you in tears and descriptions and details that will have you in the thick of all that and more. One man that will at least make an attempt to stop the madness in his world but at what cost! This is a high action read that is nonstop and will keep your interest to the very end. I received this from the author for an honest opinion with no other compensation.

[Mayush Shrestha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Among the thrillers I've read so far, this is my first medical thriller.

I took a while to finish this book (not a new thing really). The plot was interesting at certain points while very stretched out in few chapters. Of course, there was the use of medical terms and chemical names which went over my head (googled some of them. I felt so smart ). Nevertheless, the author did put effort into creating a translation in between the conversations without making it obvious. For example: In a scene where Dr. Dietz is giving a full explanation about a patient's report. Detective Ravello, the protagonist who is an ex-surgeon, pretends to not understand and requests to be clarified in simple language. Honestly, things get a bit intense and heavy with the use of medical terminology.

I love how the character's background was so properly put with enough to know and secrets to keep. Like you don't get to any point where you have to wonder how they appeared. The background is always prior to the entry. My favorite is the Antagonist "The Giver". The madness, I tell you. The author has done proper justice in introducing the characters.

The suspense is quite commendable. I reckon, if the author would have indulged the nemesis among the continuously reeling characters, the missing tension would have been established. Also, the purpose for which the antagonist went through all the trouble wasn't clear enough. The ostensible idea was there but the depth was not enough. Why was the protagonist so much of his interest? The frustration and tension which normally drives the antagonist was missing.

The plot is great, so are the materials but the tension which drives the protagonist and the antagonist was a bit not at par. The investigation could have been driven in a mad way since the nemesis is a clear psycho. Other than that, the story is good.

[Lynne-Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forbidden Birth written by William Rubin, what a ride! This book had me on the edge of my seat. From start to finish with many twists along the way.

This book was written with depth and accuracy. It touched on surgical techniques as the bad man did terrible things to young women and their unborn babies, with the ultimate intention of taking over the USA. How does one thing lead to the other, well that is the road that needs to be travelled by reading this book and getting to that answer.

I really enjoyed reading about Chris Ravello who is a trained doctor, turned NYPD Detective who heads up a specialised unit which hopes to solve crimes of a medical nature. He endures set back after setback, and heartache that would be hard to bear for most of us. He is determined to find the villain at all costs, even at the expense of his young family who sees very little of him as he works this case.

This story is exciting, terrifying in places, action packed, it questions morality, and had me thinking about medical ethics. The villain in this story, named Durand, is evil at his core, cruel and heartless, showing no mercy to his victims.

I found the Forbidden Birth to be quite the page turner, and I found myself making time to sit and continue reading, I did not want to put it down. The writing style of William Rubin was fast moving and held my attention wanting to know what was to happen next. He wrote the story to life, I even found myself in tears as I felt part of what was happening.

This book is everything that is presented in the blurb. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the Chris Ravello Medical Thriller series.

I was gifted a copy of this book by the author via Voracious Readers Only.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serial killer in loose in New York, killing pregnant women and stealing their babies. The Giver wants to create clones and excels at medical research, no matter the cost in human lives.
Doctor Chris Ravello is mourning the murder of his mother and is determined to join the police to protect other families from the same pain. His personal life is in tatters as his family adjust to the lower financial situation and the change to working conditions. Can he catch the killer an justify his career change to himself and his family?
I haven't read a medical thriller in a long time and had forgotten how much I LOVE THEM! My teenage years were spent with Michael Crichton and Robin Cook and this book brought me into the modern day with cloning and stem cell research. I liked the way that author William Rubin has cleverly merged the medical thriller and police procedural genres in Forbidden Birth.
The Giver is a sinister genius and sees himself as the nemesis of Chris Ravello. The ethical issues of cloning are portrayed in an interesting way and the advancement of human knowledge is a scary but relevant topic.
The book is written in short chapters to maintain the momentum of the grisly plot. There is graphic detail of the murders and medical procedures as well as autopsies but they are handled objectively and clinically rather than gratuitously.
The ending was dramatic but had a different focus which I enjoyed but I found it lacked credibility so didn't quite meet the high standard of the rest of the book in my opinion. I definitely intend to check out the first book and have just found out that there are 14 books in this series!

[Laura Furuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forbidden Birth: A Chris Ravello Medical Thriller
By: William Rubin
5 out of 5 stars

The story Forbidden Birth: A Chris Ravello Medical Thriller by William Rubin is a medical thriller. Dr. Christopher Ravello has changed professions. He is now the Head of the new Division of Medical Crimes. His first case is a serial killer who has named himself The Giver. Newly appointed to this team and not long on the job as a detective, Dr. Ravello has hurdles to overcome. One is the serial killer who is abducting women who he experiments on, two a police department who doesn’t think he should have made detective so quick, and an illness that could possibly cost him his job. Dr. Ravello wants to catch this killer quickly. Will Dr. Ravello be able to crack this case and bring this psychopath to justice? How much is he ready to sacrifice to keep his family and the city that he loves and has sworn to protect and serve?

This is an amazing book! I have always loved medical thrillers and this one just proves that there are authors out there that have the drive and ability to take an idea and create a story that will send shivers up your spine and have you looking over your shoulder. I believe this book is up there with Robin Cook and Jonathan Kellerman in the attention to detail, the medical knowledge and just a plain awesome book. Not only the storyline but the characters are first rate. Dr. Chris Ravello has the drive and the tenacity to get the job done. He has a wife and 2 children who he loves and a partner who will also have his back. This story is told from Dr. Ravello’s and The Giver’s POV, as well as the POV of his partner, Kennedy. The Giver is a truly evil character who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.

If you love stories with a Dr. who is catching the bad guy and using his medical knowledge, this is the book for you. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[Jane Verco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love a good medical thriller, and “Forbidden Birth” definitely did not disappoint. It was clear from the outset that William Rubin knows his subject matter well, and the expert medical details woven through a well-paced plot keeps the reader engrossed right from the start.
Dr Chris Ravello has recently had a career change, leaving his medical practice and being appointed to the newly created Division of Medical Crime. Along with his long time friend Kev, they are repeatedly taunted by “The Giver”, an evil serial killer who is mutilating and killing young females. Ravello is doubly challenged by having to protect his wife and family in their new environment while tracking down The Giver – and all the while his capability to solve the case successfully being doubted by his NYPD and FBI colleagues. Even when the identity of The Giver is finally established, Ravello still has plenty of hurdles to overcome before a satisfactory outcome is achieved.
With some very thought-provoking ideas raised within the book, this is a fabulous page turner. I am very much looking forward to reading the next installment in the series.
Thank you to Voracious Readers only for providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Northern Light · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series but can be read on its own, there's only a small reference to the first book.

Chris is a qualified doctor but has now joined the police and a special group has been set up to look into crimes with medical issues which he heads up.

Women's mutilated bodies have been found, they were pregnant but no sign of the babies. Why are they being murdered and is it it significant that they were pregnant?

This fast paced novel deals with modern medical issues which have legal and moral implications.

Chris is mistrusted by many of his colleagues for being fast tracked to lead the unit.

The story takes the reader up several blind alleys with red herrings sprinkled liberally.

Just when things seem to be beginning to be resolved we're back on a rollercoaster chasing suspects before more women are killed.

He's also dealing with his own health problems, a wife who isn't happy that they've had to move to a smaller house and children who he rarely sees.

A dramatic finish which came out of nowhere completed this very readable book.

I received this book for free but all opinions expressed are my own.

[Lisa Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out well, the lead character was likable and it started building into what sounded like a good suspense novel, was really enjoying it until about half way through and then it just went silly. 'The giver' is on a mission taking stem cells for research or is he? Towards the middle of the story the red herrings were getting a bit untoward with the wrong doctor being accused and then finding out notes had been added to his case files to make him look guilty but then the plot unravelled badly when it got into the sci-fi stuff (up until then it was kind of dr jekyll and mr hyde but still in the realm of possibilities, although it never did explain why 'the giver' was obsessed by the medical investigator and his family) and was totally unbelievable at the end. We want our lead characters to be heroes not to turn on their friends and all that stuff about the fingerprints was irrelevant and unnecessary as was involving the wife so much in 'the givers' orbit . By the end the villain was comic book and none of the twists made much sense. Disappointed by a story that looked like it was going places. This was a free copy from voracious readers

[Lucy Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good, I liked the concept and the ethical questions raised about stem cell research and it definitely kept me on my toes with regards to who was the murderer.

At times though it felt quite repetitive, Ravello constantly saying how he needed to solve the case because he would lose his job and his family would be impacted if he didn't got a bit old, I understand the author maybe wanted to raise the tension by reminding the reader of the stakes but it got on my nerves a bit. To me it also started to feel very cartoonish after Michelle was stabbed. It didn't make any sense to me why Durand was going after Ravello so much other than he happened to be a surgeon and the whole fake out of Michelle dying took away from the emotional impact of her real death at the very end. Durand's motivation for creating the clones also felt totally out of left field and way to comic book supervillain for my liking.

Overall, I would be open to reading more from this author in the future as this book was compelling and interesting enough but only if I thought it was going to be a bit less out there.

[Jana Hege · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a mess. First of all, it switches back and forth from first person to third person narration. Pick one, please. Then, there is the twist near the end. But wait, another twist! And then a third! Yes, this increases the pace of the story, but it felt very unbelievable, veering into science fiction. The writing style is difficult to stick with. The author describes everything, which is good when it's relevant, but many times it's not. I don't need to know what the guy who hands him a report looks like, or what his background story is. The book is much longer than it needs to be because of this.

However, I give it a solid three stars for character development. The bad guy was not a cookie cutter villain. Twisted and sick? Sure, but his motivation was interesting. Ravello is a believable character, apart from how he talks about his wife, which I found too positive. It's weird to say that, but no woman is that perfect.

Anyway, I can't say I would read this again but it did keep me turning pages to see how it would end.

I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only.

[Sam Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received a complimentary copy of this novel by the author through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book to feature the character of Chris Ravello, the former doctor who, after the devastating death of his mother, changes career paths and becomes the lead detective with the newly formed Division of Medical Crimes within the NYPD. This time round he must outwit and bring to justice the sadistic serial killer who calls himself “the giver”.
The story starts explosively with the egotistical killer murdering and mutilating the first of his many victims. It’s then a cat and mouse game as the intelligent and versatile killer eludes the law enforcers and the body count quickly increases until it reaches its shocking ending.
A brilliant medical thriller that was action packed and a real page turner, the only downside for me was that I found the medical jargon when explanations were given was quite long and boring.

[Jomil Vrabelmulvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to read on the beach! This medical thriller starts winding the reader up and diggs deep into the feelings of the protagonist, who would like to be a regulaf guyYou knowthe type : family man,husband, loving dad, etc. The problem is that there's a weird geneticist creating clones of multiple murder victims,and determined to set them loose to [Victor Spinetti voice ("dare I say it?" )]i the world .there are minor niits to pick:split infinitives to boldly go here and there,use of precipitation when condensation is more correct,and ,BTW,nothing can be "emblazoned" aanywhere, particularity on a face, NOW the good news! The downloading contents of the USB scenes were genius! I was riveted throughout. Watchin police politics is daily fare for this CNN jjunkie ,but it read true and real.all in all a good trip down the rabbit hole. It kept me guessing juat long enough to want more!

[Brian Borgford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely suspenseful. The overall plot line is very interesting and kept my attention throughout. The direction of the story is somewhat predictable, but the actual events were not. The ending, although not predictable, was not shocking. I felt I never really got to know the characters, but the story kept me going. The police procedural aspect seemed realistic and I did not question it. There were even some known characters in positions of power that added to the realism. Lots of medical jargon and procedures that I had to trust to the knowledge of the author. The medical part about cloning stretched into scifi slightly, which added to the story. The stage is set for the next book in the series, but there were no tricks to hook you into the next book. This is a good stand alone medical/police thriller.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into the book. The chapters are short, which is good since there are 100 of them. Having each chapter from a different character wasn't bad either, but what was jarring was the POV. All but one of the characters are told in 3rd. One character is mostly in 1st, but also has an odd chapter in 3rd. That part was odd. I also struggled with the end. The action is drawn out through so much of the book, and the author tried to add a twist at the end (one that was fairly predictable based on the story), but it wasn't done well. The last few chapters, I felt, were rushed, under developed, and underwhelming. Then everything was tied up neatly with a bow. While it is true that the story is open yo sequels, there are no loose ends. Anything that follows will be new. Very similar to a tv show starting a new season.

[Ashling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway, which made me excited to read a new free book for the summer!

This book was right up my alley, being in the medical field myself, yet it was not overly technical or complex so that someone without scientific knowledge would be lost in the story.
The plot is rich with detail, ingenious in the creation of the 'bad guy' and had me constantly guessing right up until the end. The personal life of the lead and how it intertwines with the murders at hand had me wanting more and I cannot wait to read the next book to figure out what happens next in the life of Chris Ravello.
If anyone is looking for a new medical mystery/thriller to read, I suggest this book and look forward to more books in the future!

[Preeti Chauhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a real doctor turns to writing Murder mystery , we are bound to get some interesting writings.

Dr. Chris Ravello , loses his mother in a road accident where she is crushed to her death .The Doctor then leaves his well paying job and becomes a cop to save more innocent people from getting murdered.

Throw in a maniacal scientist and mutilated corpses of young women turning up and you have a riveting murder mystery unfolding before your eyes.

The book slackens in pace in between, going into too many explanations and emotional scenes thus taking away from the slick pace that a murder mystery needs .

I am sure William Rubin is going to give us some great stories in his upcoming publications.

[Harriet B Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of science run amuck

The story is well researched, carefully written and horrifying. A brilliant research scientist is a psychotic murderer intent on controlling the world his way. The advances in stem cell research and cloning have provided issues of ethics that may be stalling the creation of very real cures for birth defects, nerve regeneration and diseases. Those just scratch the surface of possibilities. But where would we be without ethics and laws? Right where this novel took us.. We also have a flawed main character who has created his own purgatory. Makes for a wild ride. Don't miss it.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the intricacies of this book. This is the perfect medical thriller. You see how a serial killer twists things to suit him while he plays his games with who he views as his adversary. This book crosses genres with a little mystery, a little thrill and a little horror and it delves into the "Physician heal thyself" or God complex that some doctors can develop. It shows the depravity of what science is capable of if not reined in by ethics. I loved how a doctor switched over to the law profession in order to use what he knew to solve crimes. It shows knowledge can be invaluable in multiple situations.

[Sylvester Quill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow Start, Riveting Story, Shocking End

At first, I was really put off by the slow development. Then as the pace picked up, the story became more and more exciting. Detective Ravello went through so much that you keep thinking ''Why can't he catch a break?" I have read books in which the protagonist is a broken man. But it is usually after the fact.

But here, you can see how the events break Detective Ravello one by one. The weight of his choices hang over him till the end of the book. The story is riveting. Not exactly my type of book but brilliant. Definitely recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only but that did not affect my review.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
This is a fairly fast paced read, particularly due to the short chapters and also because you want to find out what the heck is going on.
There is a lot of medical talk which is usually explained in layman's language since the detective (Ravello) is a former medical doctor.
There are many murders making this a somewhat gruesome situation and you do figure out who is doing them. He is a lunatic as well as a sociopath, but super smart. It does bother me when the culprit puts no value on people's lives. Once you realize who is responsible, you next struggle with how they can prove and catch him.
There were times when I thought things got a bit far-fetched but overall, a good read.

[Patricia Toth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this great book! Love mysteries that have medical content and this one has that in spades. A serial killer is on the loose, leaving virtually no hints behind. His murders are tempered with mutilation and all in young women. The bodies leave the investigators puzzled as to who would leave their victims in such a state, and the bigger question WHY?

I breezed through several chapters without even realizing that time was passing by. I slowed down toward the end, not because I wasn't compelled to keep reading, but because I didn't want it to end too soon.

Extremely well written, I will have to look for other books by this amazing author!!!