The Pain Nurse [Audiobook, Unabridged] [MP3 CD]

Jon Talton (Author), Lloyd James (Reader), Marguerite Gavin (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2009

[This is the MP3CD audiobook format in vinyl case.]

Cheryl Beth Wilson, a nurse at Cincinnati Memorial Hospital, finds a doctor brutally murdered in a secluded office. Wilson had been having an affair with the doctor's husband, a surgeon, and now she is a ''person of interest'' if not an outright suspect. But someone other than the police is also watching Cheryl Beth.

The murder comes as former homicide detective Will Borders is just out of surgery. But as his stretcher is wheeled past the crime scene, he knows this is no random act of violence--in fact, it has all the marks of a serial-killer case he supposedly solved years before. Unable even to walk, Borders starts to investigate, teaming up with Cheryl Beth, who is desperate to clear her name. But as the killer grows closer, the two are running out of time to unlock the secrets of the murder at the brooding, old hospital.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The author of the David Mapstone series set in Phoenix (Cactus Heart, etc.) puts an interesting twist on the detective solving a mystery while bed-ridden scenario in this tense, well-crafted whodunit. A brief glimpse of a horrific murder scene in Cincinnati Memorial Hospital is enough to tell Will Borders, an ex-homicide cop who's recovering from the removal of a spinal cord tumor, that the crime resembles those committed by the killer dubbed the Mount Adams Slasher. The man convicted of the slasher's crimes, however, was caught, tried and executed. Cheryl Beth Wilson, the pain nurse specialist who discovered the victim, Dr. Christine Lustig, becomes a suspect once the police learn she had an affair with Lustig's husband. Borders, one of Wilson's patients, isn't even ambulatory as the two start sharing information about the case. Talton's authentic depiction of hospital life lends heft, as do his searing descriptions of Borders's physical pain and mental anguish during recovery. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

''The author of the David Mapstone series set in Phoenix (Cactus Heart, etc.) puts an interesting twist on the detective solving a mystery while bed-ridden scenario in this tense, well-crafted whodunit. A brief glimpse of a horrific murder scene in Cincinnati Memorial Hospital is enough to tell Will Borders, an ex-homicide cop who's recovering from the removal of a spinal cord tumor, that the crime resembles those committed by the killer dubbed the Mount Adams Slasher. The man convicted of the slasher's crimes, however, was caught, tried and executed. Cheryl Beth Wilson, the pain nurse specialist who discovered the victim, Dr. Christine Lustig, becomes a suspect once the police learn she had an affair with Lustig's husband. Borders, one of Wilson's patients, isn't even ambulatory as the two start sharing information about the case. Talton's authentic depiction of hospital life lends heft, as do his searing descriptions of Borders's physical pain and mental anguish during recovery.'' --Publishers Weekly

''A nurse who understands pain, a cop who's got plenty of it and a cold case turned hot mesh smoothly in the latest from Talton . . . Nicely done. Though she's a pain nurse, Cheryl Beth is a pleasure.'' --Kirkus Reviews

''[Talton] puts an interesting twist on the detective solving a mystery while bed-ridden scenario in this tense, well-crafted whodunit . . . Talton's authentic depiction of hospital life lends heft, as do his searing descriptions of Borders's physical pain and mental anguish during recovery.'' -- ''[Talton] demonstrates his versatility in depicting the little-known world of the hospital pain nurse. A strong series launch, for all collections. --''Library Journal (starred review)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• MP3 CD: 1 pages
• Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.; MP3CD Unabridged edition (April 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1433265753
• ISBN-13: 978-1433265754
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,572,154 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for anyone who likes crisp, intelligent writing, May 11, 2009

By 

Melissa D. Allison "Melissa Allison" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Pain Nurse (Hardcover)

With each mystery he writes, Jon Talton moves closer to becoming a cross-over phenomenon with non-mystery readers who appreciate crisp, intelligent writing.

In "The Pain Nurse," he introduces a strong female protagonist -- Cheryl Beth Wilson, the pain nurse at Cincinnati Memorial Hospital -- and her patient "sidekick," Will Borders, who harbors painful secrets from his years as a homicide detective. Borders becomes obsessed with the murder of a doctor at the hospital, where he has just undergone spinal cord surgery.

Their relationship and pursuit of the killer are riveting and sometimes sweet. Even more exciting is the range and creativity that Talton demonstrates in his first novel that's not part of the excellent Mapstone series that established his mystery creds.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent refreshing investigative thriller, April 11, 2009

By 

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

This review is from: The Pain Nurse (Hardcover)

At Cincinnati Memorial Hospital, Pain Nurse Specialist Cheryl Beth Wilson finds the corpse of Dr. Christine Lustig in an isolated office. The CPD homicide detectives quickly suspect Cheryl Beth killed the victim because of her affair with the deceased's spouse.

One of Cheryl Beth patients, just out of surgery removing a tumor on his spinal cord, former homicide cop Will Borders feels like he suffers from déjà vu when on his gurney heading back to his room he glimpses the crime scene. It eerily reminds him of the Mount Adams Slasher, who was caught, convicted and executed. Bed-ridden and in severe pain, he is unable to make the cops including his former partner listen to him. Instead Will directs Beth on investigating the crime while someone nearby watches her every move.

THE PAIN NURSE is an excellent refreshing investigative thriller starring a detective stuck in bed and his "legs"; mindful of Jeffrey Deaver's Lincoln Rhymes. The location plays a key part in this thriller as Jon Talton moves from Arizona (the Mapstone mysteries) to an Ohio hospital. Readers will feel empathy pain as Borders' aches are that descriptive; on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being hurting at Mt. Everest levels, he is a 12. However, it is the recuperating patient and his pain nurse who team up as an unlikely investigative duet searching for a killer.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars From a former Cincinnati pain doc, December 14, 2010

By 

PainMaestro "WinoFino" (Chicago, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Pain Nurse (Paperback)

OK, I got this because I used to be a pain doc back in the 80's at UC hospital, and the book brings back memories of the old general hospital structure and of the city of Cincinnati (now that I no longer live there). Unfortunately, it really skimps on the technical aspects and challenges of pain management, and so as a thriller it really fails where other skilled novelist succeed- engrossing you in the story by virtue of the details of a new world/profession/city/setting. So, I enjoyed it but I'm a specific case. Most folks will find it a very average thriller.