"critical condition" by richard l. mabry, m.d.

About the book (from Litfuse): About the book: Dr. Frasier couldn't save the gunshot victim on her front lawn. Now she's fighting for her own life.

It began as a quiet dinner party honoring Dr. Shannon Frasier's colleague, but became a nightmare when a man was shot on her lawn, reviving emotions from a similar episode a decade ago. Then a midnight call from her sister, Megan, causes Shannon to fear that her sister is on drugs again.

Her "almost-fiancé" Dr. Mark Gilbert's support only adds to Shannon's feelings of guilt, since she can't bring herself to fully commit to him. She turns for help to her pastor-father, only to learn that he's just been diagnosed with leukemia. Shannon thought it couldn't get any worse. Then the late-night, threatening phone calls begin, the rough voice asking, "What did he say before he died?"

With everything around her in a critical state, simply staying alive will require all the resources and focus Shannon has.

My take: Critical Condition is an intriguing novel that kept me guessing until the end. In addition to the suspense thread (which is really quite good), it also examines family relationships. I saw a lot of myself in Shannon, the "good girl" who always did what was expected of her, even if her heart wasn't in it. (Although I definitely don't have what it takes to be a surgeon!) I enjoyed watching her grow throughout the novel and come to a place where she could truly take control of her life. I also was surprised at the direction the romance took. It was not at all what I expected, but I do think it was fitting. (The other potential romance revealed at the end of the novel? Not so much...)

I did think one of the "bad guys" was pretty obvious ... in fact, he was so obvious that for a while, I thought he couldn't possibly be involved, just because it seemed so apparent! And I couldn't believe that Shannon would "forget" to give vital information to the police. But overall, I really enjoyed this novel. It's a quick read that kept my attention to the last page.

My rating: 3-1/2 stars

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Read my reviews of Mabry's Stress Test and Heart Failure.

About the author: A retired physician, Dr. Richard Mabry is the author of four critically acclaimed novels of medical suspense. His previous works have been finalists for the Carol Award and Romantic Times Reader's Choice Award, and have won the Selah Award. He is a past Vice-President of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the International Thriller Writers. He and his wife live in North Texas.

Connect with Richard at http://rmabry.com.

About the giveaway: Richard Mabry's latest medical suspense, Critical Condition, is receiving high praise. USA TODAY says, "Mabry combines his medical expertise with a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat."

Richard is celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• Critical Condition by Richard Mabry

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 11th. Winner will be announced May 13th on Richard's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Richard's blog on May 13th to see if you won.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."