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Frank J. Edwards
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Final Mercy Kindle Edition

by Frank J. Edwards (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 160 ratings
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Dr. Jack Forester, director of the New Canterbury University Hospital emergency department, is struggling to modernize the ED despite fierce office politics, national media coverage, and the obstruction of the power-hungry new Dean, Bryson Witner, when someone tries to murder Jack's Nobel Prize-winning ally and mentor, former Dean James Gavin, and make it look like a suicide attempt.

As Jack begins to uncover facts that suggest that Gavin is not the first victim -- nor the last -- of a terrifying murderer at large, he and beautiful hearing-impaired author and investigative reporter Zellie Andersen begin to uncover hidden truths, furtive conspiracy, and madness, and death becomes a desperately personal affair.
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  1. Print length
    302 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    February 1, 2013
  5. File size
    684 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A nimbly crafted suspense certain to earn Edwards an appreciative fan base." - KIRKUS REVIEWS."Final Mercy is a superbly written medical thriller. The author, a medical doctor, has created a tale of suspense and intrigue . . . along with an inside look at emergency medicine. . . . Outstanding." - Readers Favorites."Final Mercy is a medical thriller that I couldn't put down. - Hamilton Gregory (Author of Public Speaking for College and Career, McGraw-Hill).

From the Author

This is the second edition of Final Mercy, brought out under a new publisher and editor.  It has a fresh new prologue, a slightly different ending and promises to be an even more gripping and satisfying read than before.  It even has a nice new cover.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00B9PJT20
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pascal Editions; Second edition (February 1, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 1, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 684 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 302 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 160 ratings

About the author

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Frank J. Edwards

Frank J. Edwards

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Frank Edwards writes and practices emergency medicine in Western, NY. He served as an Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam, studied English and Chemistry at UNC Chapel Hill, and earned an M.D. from the University of Rochester. Visit www.frankjedwards.com for more.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
160 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Diana M. Hockley
5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly enjoyed this one
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2013
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Final Mercy is a well-written book with an exciting plot! I won't repeat the synopsis as anyone can read that, instead I will get into the review.

The two characters, Jack and Zellie, are well rounded people-except for the "baddie" of course-and likeable without being flooded with testosterone or Zellie being too feisty. Zellie having a disability was something new and this was handled with a minimum of drama. The manner in which they meet and naturally develop their friendship is extremely well presented.

The plot concerned hospital politics into which is weaved a complex murder mystery. It moved at a good pace and is believable. I have worked in a hospital for a few years and politics are rife! It would have been pretty easy for the bad bloke to operate in the way he did.

I enjoyed this book very much and stayed reading far into the night.

Well done, Mr Edwards!
2 people found this helpful
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Rità Schultz
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Plot
Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2014
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I don't usually read medical thrillers but I'm very glad I stumbled upon this one! Complicated plot, intriguing characters, excellent writing...a real page-turner.
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Laura Rose Gatley
5.0 out of 5 stars Knowledgeable author, nicely developed characters.
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2013
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I bought this for my Kindle supposing that having been written by an ED physician (thanks for the correction on ER vs ED), it would be intriguing and factual. The novel is all of that and with a sinister plot that kept me racing on. In fact, I could hardly put the book down to sleep last night! The romantic element and the developmentally delayed brother simply added to my enjoyment. Kudos, Dr. Edwards. I look forward to more.
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Dianna Rose
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting medical thriller...
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2014
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Well written medical thriller. Enjoyed the character of Jack Forester, but despised Bryson Witner. The story takes place in an old hospital and centers around the emergency department. The power struggle between characters is electrifying, and I could not put this book down until the end. If you have not read this book yet, do so, and you will not be sorry.

Dianna,
Lake Forest, CA.
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honest Abe
3.0 out of 5 stars Close but not enough for 4 stars
Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2014
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I was disappointed. The dialogue felt forced and stilted. The plot, while interesting, requires the reader to suspend belief in reality at times. But the last 15-20% was exciting and did have flourishes of thriller-like qualities that many will find enjoyable. My hats off to the author for his service to our country in Vietnam. I'm sorry I couldn't be more upbeat about my rating, and I wish him success in the future.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Good medical thriller
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2015
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I thought this was a good medical thriller. It had some unexpected twists to it and I thought it was well written with good character development.
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John
5.0 out of 5 stars but there was a point in the book when it just sucked me in that I just had to finish reading ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2016
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I admit that I periodically read Dr. Edwards book when I was waiting for oil changes or getting car repairs, but there was a point in the book when it just sucked me in that I just had to finish reading it and did so in one day and evening. Jeffrey Archer says the villain--- more so than the hero-- drives the intensity of the story and in Dr. Edwards' book he has done just that developed a villain that has unpredictable behaviors with a trove of idiosyncrasies. Dr. Jack Forrester, the hero, finds an ally in a visiting journalist and it becomes a journey for them to uncover a sinister plot of an egomaniac to control every thing in "his" hospital environment and to prevent another tragic death affecting the hospital staff. I read the Kindle edition because of ease of use, but think I would have preferred a paper version more because switching between devices--phone, tablet and PC--did not allow continuity. I for one cannot wait until Dr. Edwards comes out with his next Jack Forrester novel. And I will never again call the ED an ER (the answer is in the book as to why).
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H. H. Gregory
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Medical Thriller
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2010
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FINAL MERCY is a medical thriller that I couldn't put down. I stayed up late on two consecutive nights in enthralled reading. The novelist - who is a medical doctor -- not only creates a tale of suspense and intrigue, but he also gives interesting details about hospitals and medical schools and emergency medicine.
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Thomas Hardy
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Medical Thriller
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 24, 2014
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Frank J. Edwards has written one of the best medical thrillers I've read in a long time and a very natural read, most importantly for me, characters that you really care about, from its chilling start to its deadly end, my favorite character Arbus of course, I think Jack Forester could be addictive, looking forward to what I hear is the return of Jack and Zelluie in " Bedside"
Well done to the author will certainly read more.
Highly Recommended.
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Diviwonder
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Australia on December 22, 2014
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Excellent story, I'll look for more by Mr Edwards.
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John Hart
4.0 out of 5 stars A classy thriller that revels in its medical setting
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 13, 2013
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There's something appealing about the idea of a madman being charge of a hospital and nobody realising it. That's the premise of Frank J Edwards' Final Mercy: everyone thinks Bryson Witner, the new dean of a once prestigious teaching hospital in rural New York that has fallen on hard times, is a breath of fresh air. But Dr Witner is seriously unhinged: he's killed his way to the top job and he's intent on killing anyone who threatens his grip on it.
The antidote is Dr Jack Forester, the likeable head of the Emergency Department, who finds himself confronted with the unenviable task of unravelling what's really going on at the hospital.
Anyone who's ever worked for a boss with narcissistic tendencies will find the early chapters all too familiar, as Dr Forester's life is made miserable by Dr Witner's demands. What sets Final Mercy apart is the glee with which Edwards sets about deliberately blowing office politics out of all proportion, and asking: what if the boss really is a sociopath?
At first Dr Forester just faces his pet project being shelved. But when his mentor returns to town saying he's heard something seriously disturbing about the new dean, only to fall mysteriously from a bridge hours later, Dr Forester starts to uncover the truth about Dr Witner. He's aided in this by Zellie Anderson, a reporter who's in town to interview the new dean.
Edwards uses his own background in emergency medicine to great effect, and it's no surprise that some of the novel's best scenes play out in the Emergency Department, where he conveys the real drama of patients being brought in hovering between life and death, and doctors having to make near instant decisions.
One scene, where the experienced doctor on duty can't be found, and a student is faced with diagnosing a patient who is dying before his eyes, and can't work it out, is particularly compelling.
But Edwards brings across also the routine frustrations behind the drama too: the office politics and petty bickering, especially in a committee meeting where rival department heads combine to block a much-needed overhaul of the Emergency Department for no better reason that their own egos and ambition.
The more conventional thriller plot which takes over toward the end is perhaps not as enticing or different as the hospital drama, but it holds up well enough.
The romantic subplot between Jack and Zellie is not quite so convincing. It's not that they fall for each other too fast -- who ever loved that loved not at first sight? -- but more that they seem to take their powerful attraction for each other a little too much in their stride. That said, they're an engaging pair.
It's Dr Witner, though, who steals the show: a well crafted portrayal of a dangerously unhinged personality, full of telling little details.
A classy thriller that revels in its setting, and offers a more convincing view of hospital life than House or ER.
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N. Mercier
5.0 out of 5 stars First rate
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2013
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I enjoyed this book immensely, and look forward to the next in the series. Well written, and almost devoid of mistakes: I only spotted two, which is a low record for Kindle books.
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