The Pain Nurse (Hardcover)

~ Jon Talton (Author)

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.

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, 1/19/2009

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press (April 10, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590586247
• ISBN-13: 978-1590586242
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #667,247 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 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)

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.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will appeal to all mystery lovers, May 11, 2009

By	Reader Views "www.readerviews.com" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (2/09)

Cheryl Beth Wilson is a nurse who helps patients to manage any pain they are experiencing. She is employed at a large inner-city hospital in Cincinnati which is not exactly located in the best neighborhood. One night Cheryl Beth discovers the body of one of her colleagues in the hospital basement and because of her past, she is instantly considered a person of interest in the case. However, Will Borders, a former policeman and current patient in the hospital, sees the crime scene and recognizes its similarities to a serial killer case from a few years ago. As the investigation goes on, the information that is uncovered leads the police in several different directions.

I was impressed by the way the author makes nearly every character a possible suspect in the murder. He presents the case from several different angles, allowing the reader to sift through the information in an attempt to solve the crime. I enjoyed trying to figure out if the murder is related to something going on in the hospital or if the incident is merely a result of the neighborhood in which the hospital is located.

The main characters in the story are strongly developed and very likable. Cheryl Beth's efforts to make sure her patients were kept comfortable and free from pain are remarkable. In times such as these with all the problems surrounding the health care system, it is good to see health care workers depicted as caring and competent. Will similarly is portrayed as a heroic character. He is recovering from surgery to remove a tumor from his spine. Although he is unable to walk, he is determined to prove he is still capable of doing his job. The inner strength he exhibits when it seems he has nothing left to look forward to in life is inspiring.

"The Pain Nurse" by Jon Talton will appeal to all mystery lovers, even more so to those in the medical field. As the author describes the hospital as an underfunded teaching hospital with a Level I trauma center in the inner city, I feel right at home as this is so eerily similar to the facility in which I am employed. Although the action is somewhat slow at times, the overall content and style are excellent.

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 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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