Customer Reviews

Lethal Cure

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Strong book! I sat flipping pages, totally transfixed. It's paced well, the characters are believable and the plot pumps the arteries right up. Great adventure, solid dialogue, wonderful twists, some absolutely heart-pounding action sequences. Popke's knowledge of trauma-room hospital settings takes the book to another level, as well. It's credible and unquestioned as you read, that this author knows his stuff. But he's got a command of storytelling, dialogue and human dilemma as well. If you're a fan of the Sacramento area, you'll get a deep taste of local color too, including an absolutely shattering action sequence at the foot of the Yolo Causeway between Davis and Sacramento. Terrific job...can't wait for Popke's next volume!

This is a refreshing read. The medical descriptions are not fictitious and exaggerated, but seem to be clinical and accurate. The plot moves rapidly and there are some genuinely creepy, if not sadistic, moments.

A typical California family, the likeable Prescott family is the target of a vicious attack during an unforeseen home invasion. Sara Prescott nearly dies in a battle with the attacker and her little girl, Kelly, is kidnapped by the sociopathic accomplice, Billy Ray Chance. As a reader, I was really engaged by the plight of the little girl who experienced horrific physical punishment and mental abuse at the hands of Chance.

The book was driven by Jake Prescott's protective and paternal instinct to rescue his family. Luckily he had some help going after the criminals.

The only aspect of the book I didn't like was the motivation for the attack upon the Prescotts: A villanous tobacco company wanted to wipe out this nice family because the company put money before ethics. It all started with an e-mail from a disgruntled whistle-blower who wanted to expose the evil machinations of the tobacco company. The e-mail was directed to Jake Prescott.

This author has a great future in the field of suspense writing.

An ER doctor's life is shattered when his wife is wheeled in on a gurney. Knowing her attacker is a patient nearby, emotions override duty, and the patient takes a sudden turn for the worse. Only later does he learn the attacker is the only link to his missing daughter. The author's believable characters kept me turning pages. A fast read. Highly recommended.

I saw Kurt Popke with 44 other Mystery Writers who had one minute
to talk about their book, I found Kurt's minute interesting and I checked his name and went to purchase his book, his book was sold out in 30 minutes. Lethal Cure reminded me of my favorite TV program ER good characters, fast paced, good story. I really got into the characters and wished the book was longer, it was technical and good twists in the story, a good read. Can't wait for the next one. I'm going to recommend it to my book group.

Dr. Kurt Popke is a graduate of the University of California and holds a medical degree from UC Davis School of Medicine with a slew of honors, including Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha. He is presently an ER physician and resides in Sacramento. LETHAL CURE is his first medical thriller to be published.

Dr. Jake Prescott is an emergency room resident used to seeing medical trauma victims. But when his wife and a stranger come in with injuries resulting from a break-in at his residence, his life becomes a nightmare. His young daughter, Kelly, has been kidnaped, and the only person who can tell Jake what this is about is the man who shot his wife. Hampered by feelings of rage and helplessness, Jake discovers his own capacity for revenge:

"One more chance." Jake slid the needle into the port. "Once I inject the full dose, you'll have about a minute before you're unable to breathe. If you don't write down what I want to know, I walk out of here." Jake leaned in close to Metzger's face. "You think my wife messed you up? Wait'll you see what I've got in store for you. You'll be here along, unable to move. Helpless. You'll want to fight and scream for air. Beg for your life. Do anything just to be able to take one...more...breath."

LETHAL CURE is definitely a thriller. There is a lot of blood and gore, which would classify it as strictly adult entertainment. However, Popke is in a unique position to write the perfect ER medical thriller, and is also, by the way, a precise and gifted writer. LETHAL CURE fairly pops with electricity, and is a page-turner of the first degree. Jake Prescott is an authentic hero, with all the proper failings to make the reader twitch and cheer for him when he finally digs deep enough into his psyche to rescue the people he loves. The denouement is bittersweet, as Jake gives up something he loves to gain back his family. The bad guys are so evil that the reader wants to jump inside of the story and help Jake beat them to a bloody pulp. LETHAL CURE is a gripping read from an up-and-coming author.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

This was an excellent book. It was well written, tense,and exciting. The characters were so well defined that I became attached to them. The medical parts were interesting without being gory or demeaning to the medical profession. A great book. I can't wait for #2.

Lethal Cure has a great medical background very suspenseful keeps you intranced. I was hooked starting with page one, I couldn't put it down until I finished the book! Dr. Kurt Popke is an amazing Author and I look forward to reading his next book!

I was fortunate enough to be able to read the Advanced Reader Copy of this book and I have already placed an order for multiple books to share with my friends and associates.

The author happens to be my younger brother. I know that he's an accomplished ER doctor and that he has been an avid reader over the years. Now, he's woven his experiences and knowledge into a storyline that's well written, intriguing and full of suspense.

With sibling rivalry what it is, you know I'd tell you if this book wasn't worth the read.

To the contrary, I'm already eager to read his next work.

If you like a 'real life' flavor to your mysteries, this is a great book to add to your collection.

Way to go, Bro!