Linda Strong
Sam Kelson is a private investigator in Chicago. Sam isn't your ordinary man ... while he was a detective just a few years ago, he was shot in the head while on duty. He's lucky to be alive .. but because of the trauma, he now suffers from inhibition .... in his case, the inability to tell a iie. No matter what, there is no way he can ever keep a secret .... a little problematic when questioning people. And then there are those who know of his condition and ask him things just to see what he says .. .like his 13-year-old daughter. He's been shot again, luckily it's only an arm wound, but he's in hospital for a day or two. While there, he's approached by a nurse ... who tells him people are dying. Well, okay, thinks Sam .. it's a hospital, people do die here. But the nurse explains that there have been several unexplained deaths ... no connection between the deceased, no pattern, the only thing in common is that they should not have died. Sam starts asking questions, and the more he uncovers, the more he begins to believe that something is really wrong at the hospital. And someone wants to make sure Sam doesn't learn what .. or why. Sam is a great character .. he's made the most of his inability to filter what he says, and he's just down right funny. I love his interactions, not only with his friends, but also with his daughter. The plot is cleverly written, there is much action, a bit of violence, and characters that are solidly drawn. Although 3rd in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone, but I do recommend reading in order. Many thanks to the author / Canongate Books / Severn House / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.