Dead Certain (Kate Millholland Novel) [Mass Market Paperback]

Gini Hartzmark (Author)

Book Description

Series: Kate Millholland Novel | Publication Date: January 4, 2000

FROM MANAGED CARE TO MURDER

Attorney Kate Millholland grew up on Chicago's Gold Coast, an accessory to her socialite mother. Now she lives in a rough Hyde Park neighborhood, works long hours for demanding clients, and eats cold takeout for breakfast. Then Kate takes her mother on as a client, and her legal career takes an unexpected turn.

The sale of her family's charitable hospital to a greedy corporation has Kate's mother up in arms. And when Kate enters the fray, she finds a shocking secret: Patients are mysteriously dying at Prescott Memorial Hospital. Kate is dead certain that a killer is on the loose--and for proof, she has to look no closer than home. . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her latest Kate Millholland mystery, Hartzmark offers a suspenseful account of a hospital's takeover by a crooked HMO. Prescott Memorial--a charitable institution, founded by Kate's family, that serves Chicago's most needy citizens--is about to be purchased by the dubious Health Care Corporation (HCC), which has been buying up hospitals around the country. Kate, a corporate attorney, doubts her flaky, socialite mother's commitment to the cause, but she reluctantly agrees to help her block the sale, and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the hasty purchase and rumors of mysterious deaths at the hospital draw her deeper into the case. She learns from her roommate, Claudia Stein, a surgeon at Prescott, that several patients have died of unexplained respiratory arrest after being operated on by the same doctor. The situation hits home when Claudia is accused of negligence after one of her own patients dies following routine surgery. Running on caffeine and adrenaline, Kate keeps her cool as she races to clear her friend's name and thwart HCC's efforts. Kate is a witty and quick-witted protagonist, and she is joined by an interesting, well-developed supporting cast. Hartzmark (Rough Trade) weaves multiple plot threads into a complex and satisfying thriller as deftly as her heroine juggles cases.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Hartzmark is an excellent writer . . . especially good at catching the vibrations of tension which encircle complex business dealings."
--Mystery News

"When it comes to the legal thriller, Gini Hartzmark's work is top of the line."
--LES ROBERTS

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett (January 4, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804119007
• ISBN-13: 978-0804119009
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #382,601 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful new Milholland!, January 7, 2000

By 

Barbara Walker (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dead Certain (Kate Millholland Novel) (Mass Market Paperback)

I was such a big fan of the other in the Milholland series, I ordered this one right away. This is just a terrific book. I can't believe this author doesn't have a deal with a major publisher, the writing is superior to most of the other mystery/crime writers. Kate Milholland ranks right up there with Kay Scarpetta and Kinsey Milholland. Hartzmark manages to make business law thrilling and exciting. I recommend this one very highly.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is for anyone who loves legal procedurals, December 27, 1999

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dead Certain (Kate Millholland Novel) (Mass Market Paperback)

Kate Millholland is 100 percent pure blueblood, but shuns the society work of her aristocratic mother for the pleasure of toiling at a prestigious law firm. She shares an apartment with her best friend, Prescott Memorial trauma specialist Claudia Stein, in a middle class neighborhood in Hyde Park. Kate's family founded Prescott and along with wealthy individuals provides endowments that allow the hospital to remain a great place for teaching and for coverage for people without insurance.

The Millholland role in the hospital will change now that Prescott's Board of Directors accepted a deal to be bought out by Health Care Corporation, a company that prefers a large profit at the cost of medical care. Kate's mother is irate and legally challenges the deal. At the same time, a series of mysterious patient deaths occurs. Kate begins to investigate, but even she does not yet know the level of ruthlessness several individuals will go to attain what they want.

Gini Hartzmark writes legal thrillers that are as good as any of the works found in bookstores today. Her latest tale, DEAD CERTAIN, rivals the best of Rosenberg and McGuire. The story line continually surprises the reader with twists that are unexpected but logically developed so the plot retains a sense of reality to it. The mystery is entertaining and after seven books, Kate Millholland is a friend, who the audience knows well. She still manages to remain fresh and keep us off balance and alert with her unusual approach to a problem. One thing is DEAD CERTAIN: this novel is a great way to open the new year.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First Time with Kate, March 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Dead Certain (Kate Millholland Novel) (Mass Market Paperback)

This was my first time reading a Kate Millholland novel. I am an avid mystery/courtroom drama fan and was very pleased with this book. I find the Kate Millholland character intelligent, funny and quite stubborn (a quality I admire.) All the characters are well developed, the plot is intriguing and keeps the book moving along at a nice pace. The humorous observations of Kate Millholland give the book a light-hearted feel and make it an easy read. I enjoyed it enough to order other books from this series.