Code 15 [Kindle Edition]

Gary Birken (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Birken (Embolus) delivers a middling medical thriller with an attractive but poorly written protagonist. Dr. Morgan Connolly, chief of emergency medicine at a Florida hospital, is a successful and capable doctor, but suddenly her life is falling apart: she learns she's pregnant just as her husband leaves her; her father is mysteriously murdered; and her investigation of several unexpected deaths at the hospital paradoxically angers the hospital administrators, who call her competence into question. Exhausted, baffled and worried, Morgan realizes she has been targeted by an enemy she must identify before he destroys her. Morgan is a strangely passive heroine, seeming almost unconcerned about her father's murder and the looming specter of single motherhood. Depictions of hospital rivalries add authenticity, but fail to mask a weak plot and various inconsistencies. (Dec.)
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Product Description

When Code 15s-deaths due to seemingly preventable medical errors-rise at Dade Presbyterian Hospital, Dr. Morgan Connolly, Chief of Emergency Medicine, is suspected of losing her edge. But she suspects that someone is cutting a deadly path of vengeance through the hospital-a path that may end with Morgan facing her own demise at the hands of a madman.

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 535 KB
• Publisher: Jove; Original edition (November 24, 2009)
• Sold by: Penguin Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002SV3754
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,506 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific medical thriller, November 25, 2009

By 

mystery reader "len" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Code 15 (Mass Market Paperback)

CODE 15 is another great medical thriller from Gary Birken. The story centers around a young emergency room doctor, Morgan Connolly. After her father is murdered, she soon becomes suspicious his death is linked to a series of disastrous hospital errors that have been made to look unintentional... they are anything but. The plot grabs you right from the beginning, remains fast-paced and has a totally unexpected ending. The book also gave me a sobering education regarding hospital mistakes and how to avoid becoming one. If you like reading medical mysteries, you'll love this one.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars exciting medical thriller, November 30, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Code 15 (Mass Market Paperback)

At Dade Presbyterian Hospital in North Miami, Florida, Chief of Emergency Medicine Dr. Morgan Connolly wonders if her personal life issues are impacting her medical judgment at work as a physician. There has been an alarming sudden rise in Code 15 deaths that were caused by unacceptable preventable mistakes.

Pregnant and alone as her spouse left her just when her father was murdered, Morgan ponders over the rise and decides to investigate so that she can change procedures if necessary. She is stunned when hospital administrators blame her for the deaths calling her incompetent and wanting her fired and disbarred. Morgan is further shocked with how they react to her inquiries as if they are covering up for someone. Still she knows someone wants to destroy her and collateral damage of the innocent is acceptable by her unknown adversary. Instead of wallowing, Morgan turns determined and goes after her enemy planning to destroy her foe with the precision of a surgeon before he or she can further devastate her.

This is an exciting medical thriller starring an intriguing heroine who seems numb by all that is going on in her personal and professional life. The story line is fast-paced from the onset and never slows down until the mile high final confrontation. Although the villain is over the top of Mount Trashmore, sub-genre readers will root for the beleaguered lead protagonist as so much has happened to her in a short time including her father's murder, her husband leaving and the Code 15 deaths along with the medical review of her have left her anesthetized yet obstinately resolute.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Page turner..., November 26, 2009

By 

Jessica M. Romero "Mystery Seeker" (Miami, Fl) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Code 15 (Mass Market Paperback)

... interesting characters, cool medical scenes, surprise ending, learned about scary stuff that can happen to you in a hospital.