sparkwaren's review against another edition
4.0
This book was received from Netgalley for review.
This book was very reminiscent of A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier, despite the fact they don't take place during the same time period and they don't surround the same issue. They do, however, both relate to medicine at the time periods they take place in, and I'm slowly finding out that this particular subject is something I'm super interested in. Historical Fiction centered around the medicine or illnesses of the time? So interesting to read about!
Like the synopsis above states, the book starts off in 1899 with a young doctor named Noah Whitestone who is called into the home of a child normally seen by another, older and more experienced, doctor. The child dies, and you're left with Noah for the rest of the novel to find out who, what, and why, and it really is one hell of a journey you go on to get to the ends of things. Right up to the very last pages you're left with at least one question to the murder, and it's not until it all wraps up that you do finally find out everything you might have been wondering surrounding the child's death when he first died at the start.
If you're interested in medicine, especially medicine in Historical Fiction, or the era that the story takes place in, then I have to very highly recommend this book to you, because it really is a fascinating story. I have no medical background myself, so I had some trouble following a few of the terms as I went along, but it really wasn't that much of a deal to understand everything else going on. It was extremely interesting reading about some parts where medicine as we know it today wasn't discovered yet, such as when Noah mentions that blood types haven't been discovered yet, but they're starting to wonder if they might exist, and don't know why the body rejects blood sometimes.
The only thing I really did not like about this book was a very unnecessary and brief romance Noah had with one of the ladies in the story. Not only was he already engaged when he met her, he was widowed previously and still risked his relationship with his fiancee for another woman that was just too gorgeous to pass up.
Really? Knocked it down a half-star for me. I felt it entirely unwarranted.
The rest of the book, though? So interesting and a lot of fun to sleuth through (even though I hadn't figured hardly anything out myself--it was just fun to go along and watch Noah), and definitely a book I would love to add to my physical Historical Fiction collection.
This book was very reminiscent of A Death-Struck Year by Makiia Lucier, despite the fact they don't take place during the same time period and they don't surround the same issue. They do, however, both relate to medicine at the time periods they take place in, and I'm slowly finding out that this particular subject is something I'm super interested in. Historical Fiction centered around the medicine or illnesses of the time? So interesting to read about!
Like the synopsis above states, the book starts off in 1899 with a young doctor named Noah Whitestone who is called into the home of a child normally seen by another, older and more experienced, doctor. The child dies, and you're left with Noah for the rest of the novel to find out who, what, and why, and it really is one hell of a journey you go on to get to the ends of things. Right up to the very last pages you're left with at least one question to the murder, and it's not until it all wraps up that you do finally find out everything you might have been wondering surrounding the child's death when he first died at the start.
If you're interested in medicine, especially medicine in Historical Fiction, or the era that the story takes place in, then I have to very highly recommend this book to you, because it really is a fascinating story. I have no medical background myself, so I had some trouble following a few of the terms as I went along, but it really wasn't that much of a deal to understand everything else going on. It was extremely interesting reading about some parts where medicine as we know it today wasn't discovered yet, such as when Noah mentions that blood types haven't been discovered yet, but they're starting to wonder if they might exist, and don't know why the body rejects blood sometimes.
The only thing I really did not like about this book was a very unnecessary and brief romance Noah had with one of the ladies in the story. Not only was he already engaged when he met her, he was widowed previously and still risked his relationship with his fiancee for another woman that was just too gorgeous to pass up.
Really? Knocked it down a half-star for me. I felt it entirely unwarranted.
The rest of the book, though? So interesting and a lot of fun to sleuth through (even though I hadn't figured hardly anything out myself--it was just fun to go along and watch Noah), and definitely a book I would love to add to my physical Historical Fiction collection.
chezzreads's review against another edition
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
orzsol's review against another edition
4.0
The historical context is set really well, but at times there can be too much technical detail between the components that make up the drugs that are being discussed. It's almost as if readers are expected to know and care about the differences between chemical compounds.
kjs1995's review against another edition
5.0
Firstly, I would like to thank NetGalley and Pegasus Books for sending me an advanced copy for an honest review.
This book is probably the one I have enjoyed the most out of the other mysteries I own mainly because I am really interested in medicine and reading something where a victim dies of a certain medical administered treatment and the steps the main character took to figure out what had caused the death and why really intrigues me.
The character development in my opinion was good. I really enjoyed reading about the characters and understand why they are the way they are. I also like to see how each character interacts with one another throughout the story was really entertaining to see who is corrupt, who keeps their word, and so on and so forth.
This book is probably the one I have enjoyed the most out of the other mysteries I own mainly because I am really interested in medicine and reading something where a victim dies of a certain medical administered treatment and the steps the main character took to figure out what had caused the death and why really intrigues me.
The character development in my opinion was good. I really enjoyed reading about the characters and understand why they are the way they are. I also like to see how each character interacts with one another throughout the story was really entertaining to see who is corrupt, who keeps their word, and so on and so forth.
gawronma's review against another edition
3.0
What a timely story. It was interesting to learn about the history of the patent medicine industry and the development drug industry.
cmdaniels7's review against another edition
4.0
I always love reading medical events of the past. I found this a very interesting read regarding patent medicines and the beginnings of Bayer Aspirin. Again, as in The Radium Girls, greed takes a strong lead. To find out if greed wins, read both books. The Radium Girls is a non-fiction and the Deadly Cure is historical fiction.
vnesting's review against another edition
5.0
Cracking good historical mystery set in 1899 New York City. The detective in this case is a smart young physician who treats another physician's patient and then gets blamed when the boy dies. A fast-moving plot with fascinating tidbits about the state of medicine at the turn of the century. Highly recommended!
Thanks to the publisher for sending me this advance reading copy.
Thanks to the publisher for sending me this advance reading copy.
jsingh's review against another edition
3.0
I love that this story is rooted in medical practices and beliefs that existed in 19th century NY.
abookishtype's review against another edition
3.0
Lawrence Goldstone’s Deadly Cure begins with one of the worst things that can happen to a doctor. Up-and-coming doctor Noah Whitestone is summoned to the home of a wealthy New York couple because the family’s youngest son is very ill. Whitestone thinks this is his chance to become the doctor to the city’s upper crust until the boy dies that night. As far as Whitestone (and the experts he consults) knows, the boy should have been alright. His guilt spurs him to investigate the boy’s death, an investigation that almost immediately turns into a crusade against unethical medical experimentation...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration.
nickieandremus's review against another edition
5.0
*** I received an advanced e-copy from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
This book takes place in Brooklyn in 1899.... at a time when the Bayer Company had developed aspirin and it was considered the newest miracle drug. Heroin was also being prescribed by doctors, and manufactured by Bayer and one other prominent drug company. Dr Noah Whitestone is accused of killing a patient, and in the wake of trying to clear his name, he uncovers doctors being paid to test drugs on humans and drugs that are meant to be safe are anything but.
This book was really interesting. I did not know much about the early medical practices in the U.S. and found that fascinating. I would definitely recommend this book for not only lovers of historical fiction, but fans of mystery & suspense as well.
This book takes place in Brooklyn in 1899.... at a time when the Bayer Company had developed aspirin and it was considered the newest miracle drug. Heroin was also being prescribed by doctors, and manufactured by Bayer and one other prominent drug company. Dr Noah Whitestone is accused of killing a patient, and in the wake of trying to clear his name, he uncovers doctors being paid to test drugs on humans and drugs that are meant to be safe are anything but.
This book was really interesting. I did not know much about the early medical practices in the U.S. and found that fascinating. I would definitely recommend this book for not only lovers of historical fiction, but fans of mystery & suspense as well.