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srivalli's review
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
3.75
3.8 Stars
One Liner: Slow but entertaining
Kadence is a defibrillator recently approved by FDA. The device misfires, causing heart problems that need immediate correction to save the patient. When the misfires occur in succession, Dr. Kate Downey, an experienced anesthesiologist, suspects foul play. When her Aunt Irm also suffers from the misfire, Kate knows she needs to do something about it.
Christian O'Donnell, Kate’s friend and lawyer, is working with a client who wants to buy Kadence and other new medical aids created by the University team. Kate updates him about the issues, and they decide to investigate the cause with help from detective Garner.
Can Kate get to the bottom of the issue and save the patients fitted with Kadence? What does she have to do to protect the patients from being killed by a life-saving device?
The story comes from Kate’s POV.
My Thoughts:
The book is presented as a standalone though it has characters from the previous novel Fatal Intent. While it does work on its own to an extent, the subplot will be more effective if you read book one, especially since it has a significant space in this one.
I read Fatal Intent more than a year ago (and forgot most of it). However, I could get into the plot once I remembered the basics. Aunt Irm continues to be my favorite for a valid reason. She is quirky, loving, smart, and gets straight to the point.
The book is slow; understandable as it has medical jargon and details the reader needs to understand. There are quite a few threads too. This can be overwhelming if the reader wants only a medical thriller and ends up with a blend of family intrigue, romance, murders, kidnapping, and tech crimes.
There are enough twists and turns to keep us guessing (though I figured it out soon enough). Kate, as usual, takes risks she shouldn’t be taking but survives. The side characters like Nathan and Garner support the plot.
The scenes in the hospital are my favorite. The author’s experience in the field shows as she presents a realistic picture of the constant stress faced by medical personnel. The book also shows how women in the medical profession are still looked down upon despite their obvious talent.
The personal track between Kate and Christian was steady enough (and I think I like it better in this one). They make a good team, with Aunt Irm, of course, so I do look forward to more adventures and cases for them to solve.
To summarize, Misfire is the sequel to Fatal Intent and is best read that way. Enjoy this medical suspense with a touch of romance, a dash of pain, and a not-so-fictional medical aid. The author’s note at the end was enlightening (and a bit scary).
Thank you, NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage and Abortion
library_dreamer's review
fast-paced
2.5
Overall, I thought the premise of this book was good, but I had a couple of issues with it. First, it is a sequel. I almost would have preferred to be left in the dark, since so much of the backstory took up unnecessary space. I felt like I had read the first one, too, by the time I was done. Second, it was just clunky. The hints for the ending weren't subtle at all, and so much of the dialogue was expositional and unnatural. Overall, I wasn't blown away, but I also don't regret reading it. It's a good rainy weekend read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Abortion, Pregnancy, Medical content, Miscarriage, Murder, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
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