Marked for Mercy (Ridgeline Mystery Series #1) [Paperback]

Alton L. Gansky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1998

ASSISTED SUICIDE.

MURDER.

RIDGELINE, CALIFORNIA WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.


Dr. Gates McClure suddenly finds her quiet life and medical practice turned upside down when Dr. Norman Meade, an old acquaintance, arrives to assist a dying woman commit suicide. Then a man is found murdered--and the evidence points toward Dr. Meade.

As Gates searches for answers to the murder, she's also forced to take a hard look at her Christian faith and what she believes about assisted suicide. Complicating matters is her relationship to Dr. Meade. The man she remembers from med school wasn't a killer. . . .


Alton Gansky, author of By My Hands and Through My Eyes, explores a story behind today's headlines in the first Ridgeline Mystery. Alton brings an eclectic background to his writing, having worked in such fields as accounting, advertising, and architecture. Today he is the senior pastor of High Desert Baptist Church in Phelan, California, where he resides with his wife and three children.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Do doctors have the right to arrange "mercy killings" for their terminally ill patients who want to end their lives? That philosophical question is at the heart of Marked For Mercy by Alton Gansky. This novel does a good job exploring both sides of the euthanasia issue through the opposing viewpoints of its characters. Gates McClure is a small town doctor, trained in saving lives. Norman Meade is her counterpart and fellow med. student, whose career has taken a very different turn, administering to the death wishes of the terminally ill. When Meade is accused of the cold-blooded murder of a doctor who openly disagreed with his principles, McClure defends him as a friend, despite their different philosophical views. The struggle between how these two doctors interpret the Hippocratic Oath they are bound to serve sets up a very interesting debate.The suicide of Meade's patient Darlene Crews is artfully written and sensitively rendered, clearly illustrating the emotional effects of her death on her family. With a fairly straightforward plot and rather predictable ending, this book reads more like a mainstream novel than a mystery. Its merits lie in its diplomatic handling of the controversial topic of physician-assisted suicide. -- From Independent Publisher

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Chariot Victor Publishing (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564766780
• ISBN-13: 978-1564766786
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #873,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alton Gansky (www.altongansky.com) has written a number of other novels, including Zero-G, Finder's Fee, Director's Cut, Before Another Dies, The Prodigy, and the J. D. Stanton mystery series. He also writes nonfiction books that explore the mysteries of faith, the Bible, and God. He and his wife, Becky, have three adult children and live in Southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Controversial subject woven into great story, October 28, 2002

By 

Jackie Tortorella - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Marked for Mercy (Ridgeline Mystery Series #1) (Paperback)

Marked for Mercy is a good solid mystery with compelling, likeable characters. It also treats the issue of euthanasia fairly, showing both pro and con perspectives. The author and main character are prolife, as am I, so I was happy that the prevailing thought was that euthanasia is wrong.

Since reading A Ship Possessed and Vanished by the same author, I hurriedly ordered everything Gansky has written. Normally I do not particularly care for mysteries. I have to admit, when you apply Gansky's talent to the genre, you can't lose.

The first two books of his that I read (mentioned above) were centered on religion and had a strong Christian message. Marked for Mercy was more of a mystery where the main character, a very ethical female physician, happened to be a Christian. If you're looking specifically for Christian fiction, this might not enthrall you as much as Gansky's later books, but if you like mysteries and good writing, this will do very nicely!

4.0 out of 5 stars Dramatic telling of clash between "mercy" and principle, July 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Marked for Mercy (Ridgeline Mystery Series #1) (Paperback)

If you can ignore a few typos, including one on the first page, the story is surprisingly good. The volatile subject matter (euthanasia) is examined with respect and intelligence on both sides, and drama builds when the two opposing factions clash and must rethink their positions. Excellent characters, good dialog, very creative situations, entertaining, and personally challenging.