A murder on the front lawn, a sister out of rehab, and a
secret geotraking code all combine to make Richard L. Mabry, M.D.’s novel,
Critical Condition, a must read. Adding in the daily grind of the protagonist
doctor and her pathologist boyfriend just heightens the action. In this mystery novel, we follow Dr. Shannon
Frasier, a capable and trusted surgeon, who has her hands full, not only with scalpels
and sutures, but also with her father’s life-threatening illness and her sister’s
recovery from addiction. Then, one evening, Shannon tries to save the life of a
stranger who is shot in her front yard. The event takes her back to another
incident when she was unable to save the life of her fiancé . But it is the
dying man’s last words that place Shannon in grave danger. She is soon faced
with an evil criminal who wants to know those final words and will stop at nothing
to get them. And she is not convinced that the police can help her. The plot moves
along at a swift pace; you must read every word or miss something important.
The author’s descriptions are vivid; the characters are lifelike, and their
anxieties and fears are quite believable. Threaded throughout the story is a
Christian witness. Shannon, who grew up in her pastor-father’s home, questions
her faith, but finds she must call on God as she faces impossible situations. This is an immensely satisfying novel with
twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. I highly recommend this novel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not
required to write a positive review and the comments here are my own.
