Physical Evidence [Paperback]

Thomas Noguchi (Author), A. Lyons (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Colleagues in a forensic investigations firm discover a link between a questionable death in a nursing home and cryogenics experimentation. PW described this as "taut and fast-paced. . . . A high-energy tale, replete with authentic medical detail."
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA --As head of forensic investigations, Dr. Eric Parker, former L. A. county coroner, is called upon to determine why so many residents of the Havenhurst Nursing Home have paid to be frozen upon death with a company called Freeze Time. Parker's investigations and a pathology class he teaches are described with complete pathological details, including all the gory touches readers love to squeal about. This medical thriller outdistances those by Robin Cook in its attention to both legal procedures and medical techniques, yet never loses its fast pace and ability to hold readers' interest. --Pam Spencer, Jefferson Sci-Tech, Alexandria, VA
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Jove (November 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515104531
• ISBN-13: 978-0515104530
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,595,256 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the book, April 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Physical Evidence (Paperback)

I read this book for the very first time and I could not put it down. I found myself interested in the mystery about cryonics and Parker's love life. It held my interest because I wanted to know if they would find out that the women was still alive when Gaberial had the doctor cut off her head to be perserved. I was kind of spooked when Parker went home after the white Dodge was following him and he went into his home and noticed somebody has been in there. I was shocked to find out it was the student from the college he taught pathology at. The ending was great and I am glad Ennis got what he deserved and Parker is seeing Leah.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Mystery of a Death in a Nursing Home, May 16, 2006

By 

Acute Observer (By the Shore NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Physical Evidence (Paperback)

Thomas T. Noguchi is the former Chief Medical Examiner of Los Angeles County. His co-author Arthur Lyons has written detective novels. The 'Prologue' tells of an operation on a dying woman with a flat EEG. Her head is surgically removed, and stored in a cylindrical container! People pay a lot for a promise of a future life!

Chapter One begins with a lunch meeting with Jim Gordon, Deputy D.A. and Dr. Eric Parker, forensic pathologist. Harold Ennis is being tried for abduction, rape, and murder; the evidence is circumstantial. Dr. Parker will testify for the defense. Chapter Two tells how Forensic Investigations Inc. was started with Mike Steenbargen, the investigator. They chose to stay a small operation, and only take the cases that interested them. Leah Wechsler wants her mother's death investigated; Leah was disinherited, and wasn't close to her Mom. They will take the case, but can promise nothing. Chapter Three explains the coroner's office in L.A. county. In Chapter Four Dr. Parker interviews Bruce Wechsler, the son and heir. Chapter Five describes a class in pathology with an autopsy, and we learn about Dr. Parker's personal life (Chapter Six). The investigative aspect of forensic work fascinated Dr. Parker and made this his career (Chapter Eight). The investigation appears to have ended, until Dr. Parker gets a call from a nurse (Chapter Thirteen). When he arrives for their meeting he finds Nurse Selma Barnes will tell no tales. He also gets a lead to another case.

So the question is whether an autopsy of Mrs. Wechsler will be ordered (Chapter Sixteen). The influence of friendship, and a strange coincidence, result in an autopsy. The results are inconclusive (Chapter Twenty). There is another attack on Dr. Parker when he returns home; but he knows how to escape from a police choke-hold. The struggle hurls the intruder through a glass door and out of action. A chemical vial tells what happened to Nurse Barnes (Chapter Twenty-one). Chapter Twenty-three has an example of a forensic pathologist's work. They confirm the unusual method used to kill Nurse Barnes (Chapter Twenty-five). Leah Wechsler compared her mother's bank signature to the Freeze Time contract - they were authentic, and identical (Chapter Twenty-six). Dr. Parker breaks up with his girlfriend (Chapter Twenty-seven). He then gets a call from Leah Wechsler, she is dropping the entire matter (Chapter Twenty-eight)! But Dr. Parker figures something is strange and investigates. The final action occurs in Chapter Thirty-one. [It reminds me of a James Bond story.] Leah Wechsler is saved, the villains get their just reward in a chilling ending.

Did you know that lead in tap water can create Alzheimer's symptoms? This novel would make a good TV film and pilot for a series, like the old "Quincy M.E." shows. Could the quality be maintained so they would be educational as well as entertaining? Is this story a warning against harvesting body parts in a proprietary hospital? [It reminds me of "Coma".]