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candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
This is the sort of novel that could become a nice series. Dr. Adam Knox himself is the reason why it works: he runs a clinic on LA's Skid Row and makes "house calls"--which doesn't mean he brings Kleenex if you have a crappy cold. He and his pal Sutter patch up people too famous or too criminal to drop by the nearest ER. It helps keep the clinic running. His job gets even more interesting when a woman comes in with a little boy in anaphylactic shock. Doc and Co. help the little guy while the woman jumps out the bathroom window and disappears. Not wanting to send the boy to the mega morass of LA's child protective services, he decides to wait until the woman comes back. Whoops. Lots people are looking for them both, and they are not nice folks.
Okay, so why do so many mild mannered types in the mystery/thriller genre have a ninja pal? Dr. Knox met Ben Sutter when he was working at an NGO in the Central African Republic. It's a pretty plausible connection, but author Spiegelman doesn't rely on Sutter to solve all the issues in the plot--yes, he's good for some pretty useful recon or poor Doc Knox would be squashed by baddies like a bug--but the doctor works it out himself. It's a nice balance.
I love the way Michael Connolly knows LA, and I get the same real feel from Peter Spiegelman. The Skid Row scenes ring true. This is a good read and I'm happy to see that Spiegelman has several other novels I have not yet enjoyed.
This is the sort of novel that could become a nice series. Dr. Adam Knox himself is the reason why it works: he runs a clinic on LA's Skid Row and makes "house calls"--which doesn't mean he brings Kleenex if you have a crappy cold. He and his pal Sutter patch up people too famous or too criminal to drop by the nearest ER. It helps keep the clinic running. His job gets even more interesting when a woman comes in with a little boy in anaphylactic shock. Doc and Co. help the little guy while the woman jumps out the bathroom window and disappears. Not wanting to send the boy to the mega morass of LA's child protective services, he decides to wait until the woman comes back. Whoops. Lots people are looking for them both, and they are not nice folks.
Okay, so why do so many mild mannered types in the mystery/thriller genre have a ninja pal? Dr. Knox met Ben Sutter when he was working at an NGO in the Central African Republic. It's a pretty plausible connection, but author Spiegelman doesn't rely on Sutter to solve all the issues in the plot--yes, he's good for some pretty useful recon or poor Doc Knox would be squashed by baddies like a bug--but the doctor works it out himself. It's a nice balance.
I love the way Michael Connolly knows LA, and I get the same real feel from Peter Spiegelman. The Skid Row scenes ring true. This is a good read and I'm happy to see that Spiegelman has several other novels I have not yet enjoyed.
jwrosenberg69's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and read it quickly. I don't think it was "noir" as it purports to be, but the story was enjoyable, fast paced, and Dr. Knox was a great character that you rooted for. And I especially liked his friend Sutter and the woman who started it all, Elena. If you want an enjoyable read about dirty LA, this is it. I hope to see more Dr. Knox from Peter Speigelman. 4.5 stars even though I gave 4.
rkmelcher's review against another edition
4.0
Quite gripping despite some slow moments. Entertaining throughout.
carolpk's review against another edition
With gratitude to Random House and Edelweiss for granting early access to the e-galley published July 12, 2016.
The Hook Enthusiastic recommendation by Ann Kingman Booksonthenightstand, Episode #389. She didn’t exaggerate.
The Sinker – Move over detectives, there’s a new go to guy in town. Doc Knox still makes house calls; cash up front, few questions asked and an unconventional bedside manner. His LA Angeles clinic isn’t one of those clean white medical centers and his patients are either the street life savvy poor or the able to pay high-ranking criminals with an agenda. Either/or they’re no one to mess with but neither is Knox. Yet there is a flip side to his tough exterior. He cares about his patients and upholds his medical oath. Spiegelman has knocked it out of the park with this fast-paced, down right first-rate thriller. Dr. Knox, you can come knocking on my door anytime.
The Hook Enthusiastic recommendation by Ann Kingman Booksonthenightstand, Episode #389. She didn’t exaggerate.
The Sinker – Move over detectives, there’s a new go to guy in town. Doc Knox still makes house calls; cash up front, few questions asked and an unconventional bedside manner. His LA Angeles clinic isn’t one of those clean white medical centers and his patients are either the street life savvy poor or the able to pay high-ranking criminals with an agenda. Either/or they’re no one to mess with but neither is Knox. Yet there is a flip side to his tough exterior. He cares about his patients and upholds his medical oath. Spiegelman has knocked it out of the park with this fast-paced, down right first-rate thriller. Dr. Knox, you can come knocking on my door anytime.
arundlestl's review against another edition
3.0
This book started out great. I pictured the main character like Will Arnett in "Flaked" but a much nicer person. Then the story just kept dragging. The plot didn't move fast enough for me, so by the time the action picked up again, I was over it.
Full disclosure: I received this eARC through Edelweiss.
Full disclosure: I received this eARC through Edelweiss.
bedeker's review against another edition
4.0
This novel combines 2 of my interests: medicine and mystery novel. It also has a "new L.A. noir" attitude that I really like. I'm going to plan on reading more of Mr. Spiegelman.
yoteach87's review against another edition
4.0
An easy, quick read. Plenty of action going on to keep the pace going. Interesting plot, esp. because protagonist is not a overpowered superhuman. Some good moral dilemmas, and ultimately question the necessity of heroism and its consequences. Just different enough from the cliche to be entertaining. 4/5 stars.
wordsmithlynn's review against another edition
3.0
A tale of human trafficking and refugees masquerades convincingly as an L.A. noir thriller in Dr. Knox, the latest novel from Shamus Award-winning author Peter Spiegelman. In three previous books featuring banker-turned-detective John March, Spiegelman pretty much created the genre of “Wall Street noir.” Now, he takes that same grim sensibility and applies it to Dr. Adam Knox, a man whose apparent death wish is constantly at war with his desire to save the world. These conflicting goals lead to lots of trouble, not only for Knox, but for his employees and the few friends he has.
In Dr. Knox, a woman fleeing Russian mobsters leaves her little boy at Knox’s shabby clinic in L.A.’s Skid Row. Rather than turn the child over to Social Services, Knox becomes convinced he can save both child and mother. He sets out to do so with the help of his buddy Ben Sutter, a former Special Forces operative. The vibe between these two was very reminiscent of the relationship between Robert Parker's detective, Spenser, and his sidekick, Hawk.
Like that master of L.A. noir, Raymond Chandler, Spiegelman keeps much of the real story bobbing just below the surface throughout this tale. As Knox searches for the boy’s missing mother and runs afoul of mobsters and corrupt American business tycoons, readers get unsettling glimpses into Knox’s own messy backstory. It becomes clear that while the doctor’s heart is in the right place, his penchant for self-destruction could hurt the very people he seeks to help.
Fans of classic noir fiction and old-fashioned “hard-boiled” detective stories should enjoy Dr. Knox.
This review originally appeared at "Between the Covers," the book review blog for the Baltimore County Public Library. For more great reading ideas, check out all the reviews there. We cover everything from fiction to nonfiction, children's books to adult graphic novels.
In Dr. Knox, a woman fleeing Russian mobsters leaves her little boy at Knox’s shabby clinic in L.A.’s Skid Row. Rather than turn the child over to Social Services, Knox becomes convinced he can save both child and mother. He sets out to do so with the help of his buddy Ben Sutter, a former Special Forces operative. The vibe between these two was very reminiscent of the relationship between Robert Parker's detective, Spenser, and his sidekick, Hawk.
Like that master of L.A. noir, Raymond Chandler, Spiegelman keeps much of the real story bobbing just below the surface throughout this tale. As Knox searches for the boy’s missing mother and runs afoul of mobsters and corrupt American business tycoons, readers get unsettling glimpses into Knox’s own messy backstory. It becomes clear that while the doctor’s heart is in the right place, his penchant for self-destruction could hurt the very people he seeks to help.
Fans of classic noir fiction and old-fashioned “hard-boiled” detective stories should enjoy Dr. Knox.
This review originally appeared at "Between the Covers," the book review blog for the Baltimore County Public Library. For more great reading ideas, check out all the reviews there. We cover everything from fiction to nonfiction, children's books to adult graphic novels.
pharmdad2007's review against another edition
2.0
This crime novel set in LA features a Dr who likes to do things his own way and then runs right into some pretty powerful and pretty bad people. It was okay, just didn't really grab me.
jwr69's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book and read it quickly. I don't think it was "noir" as it purports to be, but the story was enjoyable, fast paced, and Dr. Knox was a great character that you rooted for. And I especially liked his friend Sutter and the woman who started it all, Elena. If you want an enjoyable read about dirty LA, this is it. I hope to see more Dr. Knox from Peter Speigelman. 4.5 stars even though I gave 4.