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emmyjames's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.75
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
This was an intense and horrifying read about the dark side of medical care and that you can't always trust that the doctor cares about your health, terrifying thoughts on its own. Very readable and easy to get invested in, would most likely read something else by Charlotte Bismuth.
gah3278's review against another edition
Really could’ve done without the parts about her wiener boyfriend & kids. Like I get that it was relevant to the author at the time this was all going on, but honestly it was a distraction to the actual story.
bootman's review against another edition
5.0
This book was incredible, and it meant a lot to me. In 2012, I had been addicted to prescription opioids for nearly a decade, I was the father of a 2-year-old son, my life was a mess, and I had a 10% chance of living. I've been clean for over 8 years, but I've met thousands of addicts trying to get clean, and I've known nearly 100 people who have died from overdoses. Due to my personal experience, I'm an advocate against the pushing of pills by doctors and pharmaceutical companies, and sometimes it feels like this problem isn't addressed, but this book from Charlotte Bismuth gives me hope.
Charlotte was a prosecutor who helped bring down Dr. Stan Li, a man who ran a pill mill that took the lives of multiple people due to his negligence. We often downplay or forget the role that trusted doctors play in the opioid epidemic, but through Charlotte's masterful writing, we get a full view of how this happens and the families it affects. While reading this book, I was pleasantly surprised at how amazing of a storyteller and writer Charlotte is. Not only do you learn about the opioid epidemic and this specific case, but she does a great job explaining the law while also sharing her personal journey during this chapter of her life. I can't put into words how great this book was, and I really hope it gets the credit and recognition that it deserves.
Charlotte was a prosecutor who helped bring down Dr. Stan Li, a man who ran a pill mill that took the lives of multiple people due to his negligence. We often downplay or forget the role that trusted doctors play in the opioid epidemic, but through Charlotte's masterful writing, we get a full view of how this happens and the families it affects. While reading this book, I was pleasantly surprised at how amazing of a storyteller and writer Charlotte is. Not only do you learn about the opioid epidemic and this specific case, but she does a great job explaining the law while also sharing her personal journey during this chapter of her life. I can't put into words how great this book was, and I really hope it gets the credit and recognition that it deserves.
mlweih's review against another edition
informative
tense
slow-paced
3.0
I had hopes for this book to provide some “on the ground” context to the opioid epidemic, and how our US legal system is addressing it. When the author focused on the legal process, the book excelled. She is clearly skilled at analyzing, condensing, and presenting mounds of obtuse data in a comprehensible way.
However, the author struggles to describe the emotional components of her, and the patients stories. The emotions are clearly there, but her ability to write about psychology, mental health, and feelings is limited. This book would be much stronger if she did what was encouraged at jury trial- present the case, and let the readers form their own emotional conclusions.
However, the author struggles to describe the emotional components of her, and the patients stories. The emotions are clearly there, but her ability to write about psychology, mental health, and feelings is limited. This book would be much stronger if she did what was encouraged at jury trial- present the case, and let the readers form their own emotional conclusions.
katherineb18's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved the unfolding and the investigation of the trial and the victims, but what was the point of the personal info from the author?