Book Review: Delayed Diagnosis

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Delayed Diagnosis     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Gwen Hunter
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Medical   Thriller   Woman Main Character
Series: Dr. Rhea Lynch # 1
Mira, Jun 2001, $5.99, 384 pp.

After being on vacation for a week, ER Doctor Rhea Lynch returns home to learn her best friend Marisa Braswell suffered a sever stroke. However, instead of being at the hospital, Marisa’s husband, Dr. Stephen Braswell, head of ER, has kept her at their home and will not allow any visitors. Rhea cannot fathom why Stephen is keeping his spouse out of the hospital and how such a healthy young woman like Marisa could have suffered such a debilitating illness.

Rhea is unable to ignore her friend’s plight. She sneaks into the Braswell home, but what she sees horrifies her as a comatose Marisa drips a strange liquid from her nasal passages. Her quick exam fails to verify Stephen’s diagnosis. Later that same day, a patient enters ER with similar if not the identical symptoms as Marisa has. Rhea begins to investigate what is happening to her adopted small South Carolina town though someone will go to any lengths to insure she fails including murder.

DELAYED DIAGNOSIS is an exciting medical thriller that centers on the theme of friendship and how far a person will go in the name of that friendship. The heroine is a person will risk everything for a friend. The intrepid Rhea is a flawed person whose weaknesses turn into strengths. She goes the extra mile to help her best friend over the objection of Marisa’s spouse, who is the patient’s doctor and Rhea’s boss. Though the reason for the conspiracy seems thin, readers will fully enjoy this action-packed medical drama because Rhea, who tells much of the tale, hooks the audience.

Harriet Klausner

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