It was spring in the Midwest and the perfect storm was brewing. A scientist of considerable renown, Dr. James Conroy, Jr., was leading a grassroots movement to improve access to medical treatment in the United States. At the same time, a group known as the Crusaders for Common Sense was rallying around the cry, “Stop Playing God with Medicine.” Claiming that medical science merely maintained the … maintained the body while the soul rotted from within, they stood opposed to Conroy—violently opposed.
Like most residents of St. Louis, Missouri, Sam “Doc” Price and Nicole Veles watched in horror as the violence escalated. But after a noted medical researcher was attacked at Nicole’s apartment, she and Doc were plunged into a world of domestic terrorism.
Doc found an unlikely ally in FBI Special Agent Rebecca Marte. Together, they tried to make sense of the Crusaders’ actions that defied all logic. The terrorists showed no fear of identification—or even death. In the end, Doc risked everything he loved in a final, deadly gambit with the Crusaders, only to find that the cost of his ploy might be more than he was willing to pay.
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Mind in Chains is a riveting medical mystery/thriller that keeps the pages turning. I had no clue what was going to happen. At the end I hoped there was more coming, too. I’ll keep looking – there could be another book.
This story is beyond well-written. I found myself rereading paragraphs because I loved the wording! It is simply perfectly-polished. 5/5 stars!
In this third book in The Mind Sleuth Series, Dr. Sam “Doc” Price has finally gotten his act together and asked Nicole to marry him. That brief moment of happiness doesn’t last long as both are flung into an investigation of a terrorist targeting the medical establishment. “The Crusaders for Common Sense” don’t just have it out for vaccinations, but wouldn’t mind if the entire medical profession went back to the Dark Ages. Introducing a new character in FBI Special Agent Rebecca Marte, we follow the three of them as they try to decide who to trust and who is the next target.
Though it started off a tad slow, it quickly got up to speed in this fun thriller with lots of red herrings and enough techno babble to make even a scfi fan happy. (I personally thought the science was well-balanced throughout and made it interesting.) Overall, the plot is well-developed and I found the characters to be even more relatable than in the previous books. I especially liked Agent Marte and I’d suggest she have a book of her own. (hint, hint) The only detraction was I was never really sure about the antagonist’s motivation after all was said and done, but perhaps that will be made more clear in the next book. And I’m pretty sure there’s going to another one.
I’ve read all three of the “Mind Sleuth” books now and I must say this is the best of them so far.
Compulsive and gripping! Will have you on the edge of your seat!
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
Sam Price, the cognitive psychologist main character of the Mind Sleuth series, and his girlfriend, Nicole Veles, are getting married. Soon after their engagement, they become involved with a female medical researcher who is Nicole’s latest client. While the three of them are having dinner at Nicole’s apartment, someone takes a shot through the window at the researcher.
The story plays out against the backdrop of medical science versus God. On the one hand, some are advocating better access to medical resources for all (sound familiar?), while on the other religious advocates are preaching against medical science, believing that the scientists are working against the will of God. One militant group has been attacking St. Louis facilities where medical research takes place, and in one such act, a researcher is killed when he comes in to work early. When the incident happens at Nicole’s apartment, it is believed to be an attempt on the researcher’s life by the same fanatics.
This is book 3 of the Mind Sleuth series, and it’s the best yet! I’ve read all the Mind Sleuth books and the science in them was frightening—because it has a basis in fact—but this one is creepier than the others. I’m not going to say why because that would be a spoiler. All I will say is prepare to be entertained and prepare to be surprised.
You may have seen the teaser I put up in November and I also read and reviewed the first two novels in this series. I loved them enough that I read Mind in Chains also!
This one will get to you–it involves medical practices and the people who are for it and those who are against it. A baby is stolen from a hospital–scientists are murdered and then a noted researcher is shot at in Nicole’s apartment.
Everyone knew about the anti medical group—but would the FBI agent and Doc, Nicole’s fiance be able to figure it all out and stop the killing?
You will be shocked at who it is and what they have been doing!!
Be aware there is a CLIFF HANGER that drove me crazy–so you know I will be getting Book 4 when ever it comes out!!
Mind in Chains is an engrossing, suspenseful mystery that literally kept me up until the wee hours of the morning. I couldn’t get to sleep before finding out what happened! A really well-written and well-constructed story from the twisted mind of Bruce Perrin. The author drops sufficient clues for the reader to eventually figure out the mystery along with FBI agent Rebecca Marte, but it’s a complex puzzle; one that’s fun to solve. The characters here are colorful and interesting, and in the end you’ll have real feelings for their situation. A truly masterful job and a book worth buying and reading.
The main character of the Mind Sleuth series, Dr. Sam “Doc” Price, has just become engaged to Nicole. Things are going swell until the domestic terrorist group known as the Crusaders for Common Sense comes into their lives. The Crusaders are bombing medical professionals, and both Sam and Nicole work in that field. The Crusaders rail against modern medicine as a blight on the planet, and when a prominent researcher is killed by a bomb, the FBI ramps up its attention. Rebecca is the lead agent investigating the terror group, and she meets Sam as part of the case. Sam’s keen analytical mind proves valuable to Rebecca as they both work toward tracking down the terrorists before they kill again.
The plot has many twists and is quite complex, yet with Sam’s assistance the reader is able to follow easily and understand where the investigation is headed. There are several persons of interest and figuring out who is really behind the Crusaders, and how they are carrying out their missions, is plenty of fodder for a deep and engrossing story. Sam and Nicole get sucked in and put in danger, but there are even bigger issues at stake. There is never a pause in the suspense as the pieces start to fall together. It’s a story that will keep you guessing and keep you happily reading. I fully recommend this book.
There are a few minor issues that keep this from being a 5-star rating, but they are truly nits that don’t detract from the enjoyment of the read. There are a few plot points that, after the fact, seem to have some logical irregularities, and the ending leaves a few questions not completely answered. There are some blind-alley sub-plots that could have worked better, but they don’t detract from the main story. There could be a little more punch to the climax, but this is a psychological thriller more than an action movie. I’m hoping for Ann Hathaway to play Rebecca in the movie. Overall, another winner from Bruce Perrin!
The Crusaders for Common Sense?
Wow, what a book that fits the time we live in. This is the first book of Bruce Perrin I have read and it will not be the last. The book was engaging and brilliantly written. The author wrote an original and very intelligent piece. The book flowed with such a gripping way with characters that were not only complex but very well developed. High praise to the author if you like thrillers this is the one to pick up. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
Gripping thriller!
The Crusaders for Common Sense are plotting the murders of people associated with Healthcare; researchers, doctors, hospital workers, and they are succeeding. Sister Constance, one of the Crusader warriors, flaunts her ability to attack with impunity, posts vivid descriptions on social media, and sows terror. Agent Rebecca Marte and her partner Senior Special Agent Gus Clements are on a mission to find and stop the Crusaders, preferably before someone else dies.
Bruce Perrin has done an excellent job of combining relatable characters and chilling suspense. The plot is well developed and is eerily possible given the current pace of medical and psychological research. This book is a real page-turner and held my attention from beginning to end.
A WISHING SHELF BOOK REVIEW
7th October 2019
TITLE: Mind in Chains
AUTHOR: Bruce M. Perrin
Star Rating: 4.5
‘A gripping thriller populated with complex characters. This novel will make you think. Highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf
REVIEW
I love a good thriller. And, you know what, this is pretty good. And I’ll tell you why. Yes, it has all the ‘normal’ facets of a thriller. There’s plenty of pace, it has a powerful ending, there’s even domestic terrorists for the protagonists to battle. But that’s not why I liked it. Okay, I’ll tell you. The author wants the reader to ‘think’. Yes, think. Now, compare that to a Clive Cussler (Dirk Pitt) novel where the reader’s job is not to think at all.
Medicine, how it develops, what it should be allowed and not allowed to do, and, of course, access to it (particularly in the US) is often in the news. This novel by Bruce M. Perrin looks at many aspects of this. But not in a textbook sort of way. Far from it. It’s exciting. Yes, exciting. The characters, particularly Rebecca (FBI agent) are interesting, complex and, of course, vulnerable. The Crusaders who feel medicine is simply a method of keeping the body working as the soul rots within, put up a good battle. I suspect the author wants me to detest them; and I did. But, also, I worry about how far medical science will go. I worry about how often ethics are overruled by the need to develop; to push a boundary. And, in many ways, this is what this novel is about. It wants the reader to think. And, you know what, I did.
They were a few small things that niggled me. The author tends to ‘tell’ a little too much and not ‘show’. In fact, even when he ‘shows’ he then feels he has to ‘tell’. A good example of this is, Martha blinked, surprised. When Martha blinked, from the contact of the writing, you can see she’s surprised. You don’t need to ‘tell’ the reader the character’s surprised; you already ‘showed’ it by having her blink. The other thing was character and setting description. It just felt a little bland. You know, the usual stuff, eye colour, etc. I felt this aspect of the novel could be worked on.
All in all, this was a well-written novel, with a solid plot and a wonderful second half (and ending). Also, it looks at very provocative topics. It’s always fun when an author has the skills to offer a gripping thriller and, at the same time, cover aspects of a topic that is so often discussed and is so often in the news. This novel is very much a job well done. Enjoy! I did.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
http://www.thewsa.co.uk