Stigma [Kindle Edition]

Philip Hawley Jr (Author)

Book Description

When science surrenders to man's darkest impulses, who will protect the innocents?

In Los Angeles, a young Mayan boy with a blue-crescent-moon tattoo dies mysteriously. In Central America, a puzzling illness is spreading among Mayan tribal villages.

And soon, E.R. physician Luke McKenna will discover the link between these events and demons from his dark past. The secrets that haunt Luke are about to pull him and the woman he loves into a terrifying house of mirrors where nothing is as it first appears. Time is running out, and only by reawakening the ghost of Luke McKenna's past can they discover the truth.

His enemies may also discover a truth: When threatened, Luke McKenna is a very dangerous man.


CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR STIGMA

"STIGMA pulses with tension and drama. Philip Hawley has written a top-notch thriller!" --Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author

"STIGMA is an explosive, page-turning thriller with depth and emotional complexity. Hawley is a master storyteller." --Allison Brennan, New York Times bestselling author

"STIGMA is a blast of a read from start to finish. Phil Hawley is the real deal and the thriller world has an authentic new voice." --John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author

"Philip Hawley delivers a rare combination of taut plotting and brilliant writing. Sit back and enjoy. Phil Hawley is for real." --Ridley Pearson, New York Times bestselling author

"Action-packed . . . rich with authenticity. Philip Hawley tells a great story." --Jonathan Kellerman, New York Times bestselling author

"Destined to be a classic . . . upon finishing I closed it up and said 'Perfect!' " --Terry Lewis, book critic, The Other View

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this solid debut thriller, a troubled doctor gets caught up in a global conspiracy after a mysteriously afflicted four-year-old Guatemalan boy dies on his watch. Pediatric ER physician Luke McKenna's curiosity is piqued when it seems the child's symptoms don't match any known disease; he's more intrigued, however, when hospital administrators and Guatemalan officials whisk away the child's body before McKenna can perform a postmortem investigation. While trying to beat back haunting, at times debilitating memories of his time in a shadowy military organization, McKenna continues to pursue the child's case, attracting the attention of a professional killer and the men behind him. It isn't until McKenna's framed for the murders of a former girlfriend and a football player that the good doctor becomes certain a conspiracy's afoot. From there, McKenna's on the run, using his old military training and contacts, as well as his medical expertise, to evade the cops and killers, get to Guatemala, try to uncover the forces he's up against and face his personal demons. Despite some clunky expository dialogue (practically a genre requisite) and a disappointing ending, Hawley delivers intense action, tricky plotting and an unpredictable hero sure to satisfy anyone with an appetite for a good page-turner. (Mar.)
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Review

"STIGMA is the thriller debut of the year. Hawley is a huge new talent on the thriller scene!"
   --DAVID J. MONTGOMERY, MYSTERY/THRILLER CRITIC, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

"Hawley delivers intense action, tricky plotting and an unpredictable hero sure to satisfy anyone with an appetite for a good page-turner."
   --PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"Talk about debuting with a bang! Hawley's first foray into the medical thriller field is a stunner."
   --ROMANTIC TIMES BOOK REVIEWS

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 592 KB
• Print Length: 492 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: B000UDFC8M
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: HarperCollins e-books; Second edition (August 24, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005HRRITW
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,308 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #68 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Science Fiction > Genetic Engineering

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 74 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A thriller debut that will blow you away August 21, 2011

By David Montgomery VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

It's an exciting feeling when a debut novel appears out of nowhere and dazzles you with such strong writing and storytelling that you can't believe the author has never done this before. That's the case with Philip Hawley, Jr.'s "Stigma," one of the best debut thrillers I've read in a long time.

Hawley is a pediatrician in Los Angeles, so naturally his main character, Luke McKenna, is, too. McKenna is also a former Navy SEAL and a real tough guy. (No word on whether Hawley, too, has a black ops background. I suspect not.)

The plot starts off with a bang when a boy from Guatemala is rushed into McKenna's emergency room and dies a mysterious death. The doctor begins to investigate what really happened, and discovers a plot involving high-tech science and low-grade greed.

You expect a book like "Stigma" to have wall-to-wall action and suspense. And it does. What might surprise you is that this is also a smart book, one that makes you think while entertaining you. "Stigma" probes interesting ethical questions about the role of technology in medicine, and the ages-old dilemma of where we draw the boundaries of medical science.

For a first novel in particular, "Stigma" shows tremendous polish and poise. If this book is any indication of the kind of talent Hawley possesses, it won't be long before he ascends to the top ranks of thriller authors. Fans of Michael Crichton or James Rollins in particular will find much here to enjoy.

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars STIGMA will leave you breathless! September 21, 2011

By Allison Brennan

Format:Kindle Edition

I read STIGMA when it was first published in mass market paperback. I loved it so much that I did something I rarely do--I emailed the author and told him how much I enjoyed the book. Now I'm doing something I've never done before--writing my first Amazon review because now, years later, I still remember how much I enjoyed this book. STIGMA has everything I love in a story--fast-pacing, great plot, wonderful characters to love or hate, and a touch of romance to raise the stakes. I was stunned it was never made into a movie--it's written so visually, I could see it; I think it would be amazing on the big screen. Almost as good as reading it.

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun medical thriller, that should have stayed medical! December 22, 2011

By Christina (Ensconced in YA) TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Being a pediatrician myself, I enjoyed the first part of the novel immensely. The description of the ER and the inner workings were accurate and I am a sucker for medical thrillers in general.

However, once the story dissolved into military territory, I thought it lost a bit of its verisimilitude. I felt the plot got lost once the main character treks to a foreign country to save his loved one.

That said, it was very fast paced and an enjoyable read overall.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A thriller debut that will blow you away February 27, 2007

By David Montgomery VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

It's an exciting feeling when a debut novel appears out of nowhere and dazzles you with such strong writing and storytelling that you can't believe the author has never done this before. That's the case with Philip Hawley, Jr.'s "Stigma," one of the best debut thrillers I've read in a long time.

Hawley is a pediatrician in Los Angeles, so naturally his main character, Luke McKenna, is, too. McKenna is also a former Navy SEAL and a real tough guy. (No word on whether Hawley, too, has a black ops background. I suspect not.)

The plot starts off with a bang when a boy from Guatemala is rushed into McKenna's emergency room and dies a mysterious death. The doctor begins to investigate what really happened, and discovers a plot involving high-tech science and low-grade greed.

You expect a book like "Stigma" to have wall-to-wall action and suspense. And it does. What might surprise you is that this is also a smart book, one that makes you think while entertaining you. "Stigma" probes interesting ethical questions about the role of technology in medicine, and the ages-old dilemma of where we draw the boundaries of medical science.

For a first novel in particular, "Stigma" shows tremendous polish and poise. If this book is any indication of the kind of talent Hawley possesses, it won't be long before he ascends to the top ranks of thriller authors. Fans of Michael Crichton or James Rollins in particular will find much here to enjoy.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars medical mystery August 19, 2011

By 39 steps

Format:Kindle Edition

I read "Stigma" when it first came out and was completely amazed. It's extremely authentic as far as all the
medical/doctor/hospital information and the way the action progressed was very exciting. I couldn't put it down!
Anyone who has any knowledge of medicine will appreciate this book and mystery fans will have a great read.
I'd love to read another Luke McKenna book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Crackling Good Yarn! February 27, 2007

By MM

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book excels on so many levels it's hard to know where to begin ... but fortunately the author knows exactly what he's doing in this thrilling, all-out adventure.

Start with a great story, inject realistic, multi-dimensional characters, then weave multiple thematic elements together seamlessly and what you have in Stigma is a first-rate thriller. For good measure, the dialogue includes some well-timed humorous exchanges that make the story all the more enjoyable. By the end of the first chapter you feel you're in the hands of a seasoned professional; it's hard to believe this is a debut novel.

This story quickly grabs hold of you and then takes off. Sit back and enjoy the ride!

More About the Author

Philip Hawley, Jr. is the two-time award-nominated author of Stigma.

He was born in Portland, Oregon, and grew up in southern California reading the stories of authors like Alistair MacLean, Frederick Forsyth, and Robert Ludlum--more often than not while hiding behind his parents' garage to escape the household chores that come with being one of eight children in an Irish Catholic family.

As one of the eldest, Phil usually got saddled with feeding and changing the diapers of his youngest siblings, which probably had something to do with his later becoming a pediatrician. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame and USC Medical School, he completed a pediatrics residency at Los Angeles Children's Hospital, where he is now a general pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatrics.

Phil became an author to write novels that combine the authenticity and sharp edges of today's thrillers with the epic adventure elements found in works of the genre's early masters. His first novel draws on his personal experiences as a physician-volunteer working among remote Indian tribes in the Central American rain forests.

You can contact him through his website: philiphawley.com