Book Review: Code Blue

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Code Blue     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Nancy Fisher
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Medical
Onyx, Jan 2000, $6.99, 384 pp.

Dr. Taylor Barnes was one of Manhattan’s leading cosmetic surgeons until the pressure and alcohol broke her spirit. Now a recovering alcoholic, Taylor accepts her first position since her fall from grace. She is returning to her hometown of New Chatham, Connecticut to serve as a cosmetic surgeon at the fastidious Greenvale Hospital.

Taylor’s work at the hospital starts off well, but threats from the Gaia society frighten her. The group wants the hospital closed. They feel that the Greenvale mission to cater to the wealthy is an affront even if it subsidizes the free clinic associated with it. They also believe that the hospital chief Dr. Sam Slater is doing illegal research that is an abomination to God, nature, and humanity. Sam is up for a prestigious Larrabee award for his work on cryopreservation of organs. A worried Taylor soon wonders why several of her healthier patients suddenly die. She begins to make inquiries where she learns others have mysteriously died too and her predecessor is missing. What is the real goal behind Sam’s research and will her investigation lead her into being the next victim?

CODE BLUE is an entertaining medical research mystery that will please the sub-genre audience and attain new readers for talented author Nancy Fisher. Though the build-up is a bit slower than the action-crowd would like, the story line remains exciting as the audience waits for the subplots to tie back to the main story line. Taylor is a flawed but warm individual who the audience will relish for her bravery. With novels like this one, CODE RED, and SPECIAL TREATMENT, Ms. Fisher is turning into a fan-favorite.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner