Summary...
Wife and husband duo Dr. Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell first enthralled the book
world with their runaway bestselling memoir Working
Stiff—a fearless account of a young forensic pathologist’s “rookie season”
as a NYC medical examiner. This winter, Dr. Melinek, now a prominent forensic
pathologist in the Bay Area, once again joins forces with writer T.J. Mitchell
to take their first stab at fiction.
The result: FIRST CUT (Hanover Square Press;
Hardcover; January 7, 2020; $26.99)—a gritty and compelling crime debut about a
hard-nosed San Francisco medical
examiner who uncovers a dangerous conspiracy connecting the seedy underbelly of
the city’s nefarious opioid traffickers and its ever-shifting terrain of
tech startups.
Dr. Jessie Teska has
made a chilling discovery. A suspected overdose case contains hints of
something more sinister: a drug lord’s attempt at a murderous cover up. As more
bodies land on her autopsy table, Jessie uncovers a constellation of deaths
that point to an elaborate network of powerful criminals—on both sides of the
law—that will do anything to keep things buried. But autopsy means “see for
yourself,” and Jessie Teska won’t stop until she’s seen it all—even if it means
the next corpse on the slab could be her own.
My review...
I’ve never
read anything by this author, but the book blurb sounded like something I’d
enjoy. I liked the medical facts throughout, as well as the fact that things
were written in a manner that the average person could understand. I love TV
shows that deal with forensics, and this book reminded me of them.
Dr. Jessie Teska is a new medical examiner in San Francisco. She's smart and sassy. The author's inside knowledge of the field adds to the realism and enjoyment of the story. The character development is solid and the mystery interesting to watch unfold. There were a few unexpected twists, that I enjoyed. The end did seem a bit abrupt, but perhaps it's a set-up for a sequel.
Fans of crime stories, mysteries, and police procedurals will enjoy the book.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
BUY LINKS:
Walmart
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Judy Melinek
was an assistant medical examiner in San Francisco for nine years, and today
works as a forensic pathologist in Oakland and as CEO of PathologyExpert Inc.
She and T.J. Mitchell met as undergraduates at Harvard, after which she
studied medicine and practiced pathology at UCLA. Her training in forensics
at the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner is the subject of their
first book, the memoir Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the
Making of a Medical Examiner.
T.J. Mitchell
is a writer with an English degree from Harvard, and worked in the film
industry before becoming a full-time stay-at-home dad. He is the New York
Times bestselling co-author of Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies,
and the Making of a Medical Examiner with his wife, Judy Melinek.
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Where you can find them online...
TWITTER:
FB: @DrWorkingStiff
Insta:
Goodreads
