Medical examiner Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman was not meant to be idle, which is why she’s back at a murder scene even while reeling from recent chemotherapy treatments. Having undergone a double mastectomy, all she wants to do is dive back into her medical examiner job. It’s a gruesome world, yet Schwartzman takes comfort in its science and precision.But the crime she’s dealing with brings her … brings her right back to the cancer ward: the victim is her own oncologist, dead from ingesting the very chemical used to fight her disease. Now, Schwartzman and homicide inspector Hal Harris must figure out why and stop the culprit before he can act again.
For Schwartzman, the case becomes even more personal. Her abusive ex, Spencer, who’s in prison and seemingly out of the picture, is never far from Annabelle’s mind. But to solve the mystery behind the death of the doctor who saved her life, she’s got to put aside everything else.
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I’m a fan of the entire Dr. Schwartzman series. Daniell mixes suspense, humor and downright terror into a cocktail that is tasty as it is frightening.
353 pages
4 stars
I first have to confess that I have read Ms. Girard’s Schwartzman books out of order. It makes for a rather disorienting experience, knowing what happens in the next book, or the next makes it interesting to read the backstory.
This is the second book in the series and it is a good one. Dr. Todd Pozner has been horribly murdered. He was a surgeon and he performed Schwartzman’s mastectomy. What a horrible coincidence.
Meanwhile, Dr. Schwartzman is recovering from her latest round of chemotherapy. I recall when my mother was undergoing chemo, and the book describes the post-chemo reactions very well. It was truly awful. Schwartzman is feeling weak and nauseated, but determined to continue with her work and examines Pozner.
What follows is a twisty story as Detective Hal and Schwartzman investigate the mysterious death. The reader also gets a first hand view from the point of view of the killer, although we don’t know yet who they are.
Schwartzman’s ex-husband Spencer also makes a return (the creep), and has plans of his own. Schwartzman’s boyfriend Ken is doing better and makes a few cameo appearances.
This is both and interesting and action-tended novel. In it, Schwartzman remains introspective and fearful of Spencer’s possible involvement. But, no, that’s impossible…right?
An exciting and very well written conclusion brings the story all together in a surprise ending. I didn’t suspect that person at all.
Ms. Girard writes a very good story. Her ability is well-proven and consistent. I like Dr. Schwartzman and as a character she is very good. She is competent and works well with her cohorts, such as Hal.
San Francisco Medical Examiner Battles Chemotherapy, Entanglements with Her Ex-Husband, and a Close-To-Home Murder
This novel starts exactly where you would expect when the heroine is a Medical Examiner and the other main character is an Inspector for the San Francisco Police — at a crime scene. Anna Schwartzman, the medical examiner, just returned from medical leave after her double mastectomy but still is in her chemotherapy regimen. As she enters the crime scene, Hal Harris, the usual police inspector, with whom she normally works, tells her the name of the victim. It was the surgeon that performed her mastectomy. Most noticeable on the victim was a terrible apparent chemical burn on most of his chin and in his mouth. The novel takes off from here.
There are three threads in the main storyline. The first and major thread is the murder of her surgeon with the investigation starting in the practice of her oncologist, Dr. Fraser. More deaths occur that seem related but the modi operandi have significant differences. The second and parallel thread provides the events from the murder’s point of view. The third thread is a continuation from the first novel in the series and deals with the situation with her stalking ex-husband, Spencer MacDonald, who currently in jail awaiting trial for murder. Even from jail, Anna believes that Spencer is directly or indirectly responsible for many of the bad events happening in her life. Now, there is a question about the evidence against Spencer, and he may go free. The author weaves these threads into a very captivating novel with many twists, turns, and misdirections that quickly grabbed my attention. In finishing this novel, I continued to read when I should have been up and doing other things.
The B-storyline is equally as rich. The relationship between Anna and Hal continues to develop. Anna’s relationship with Ken Macy, a patrolman, who was stabbed 18 times and dumped on her bed in the first novel, deepens. Anna’s desire to have a home and move out of the apartment with all of its bad memory starts and builds. Again, the author weaves the B-storyline threads seamlessly into the main storylines and enriched the reading pleasure for me.
Some readers object to foul language, and graphic sex scenes. This novel should be acceptable to most readers in these categories. Vulgar language, mostly minor in nature, occurs about one every ten pages. There are not any graphic sex scenes. The same is not true about violent scenes. Several of the murders are described in what I call in the first person, that is, described by the murderer as it happens. This does add some edginess, but not excessive. The most gruesome murder, the first, is described during the autopsy and in discussions that reduces the edginess of these murders.
When this novel was published, I missed it. Subsequently, I have read the third and fourth novels in this series. I purchased this novel and read it last. Since I knew how things turned out, I found it interesting how the author dropped subtle hints of what was going to occur in those follow-on novels. I do not have think that I would have noticed them and probably never remember them when reading those novels later but the author was thinking ahead.
The main reason that I gave the first book with four stars was due to the actions of Anna that I felt were inconsistent with her characters. Well, those actions came back to bite her in this novel. This begs the question as whether you need to read the first novel not to understand some aspects in this novel. My answer is that I do not believe so. The author provides adequate background to understand the actions in this novel.
I definitely do not regret going back to purchase and read this novel. I do recommend reading it. I rate this novel with five stars.
Danielle Girard has done it again. Schwartzman is at it again. She’s been through ‘hell’ and back (ex problems, surgery, chemo) but still is ready to help her police buddies solve yet another murder mystery! The anticipation of “what’s next” in her life keeps me up at night reading reading re….. I’ve already started the next one “Expose” and am again losing sleep. 🙂 Thanks.
Excise is Exhume on steroids. Danielle Girard has this way of writing a chapter that is intriguing and fast paced and then leads you with a cliffhanger that makes it compulsory to keep reading on until returning to that particular part of the story a few chapters ahead. The characters of the good guys become more likable and the bad guys even more despicable and twisted! The way all these loose ends twirl around until the end makes for an exciting and unpredictable read!
I’m a Danielle Girard fan for life!
For me, the Dr. Schwartzman series (currently 2 books, soon to be 3) is nothing short of perfection! The medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, postmortem tissue and body fluid sampling is spot on… Oh, BUT…that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg- the weaving of small threads into the final fabulous tapestry of characters, human emotions and actions, settings, plots, subplots (I could go on and on)… Just buy the books- you won’t be sorry!!!
August 18, 2020
I had high hopes.
I enjoyed the good characters very much, but the sex and hate of the evil characters was just not something I am willing to read. I’m sure there are plenty of others who will love these books. Or I wouldn’t have rated this at all.