Review of Contrived
Posted: 30 Sep 2022, 19:59
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Contrived" by E.W. Johnson M.D..]
Dr. Sean Nolan likes only one thing more than a good cup of coffee: solving a mystery for the greater good. Dr. Nolan becomes suspicious when the body of one of his patients fails to surface from an unexpected tragedy that left the remains of the car in the frigid Kalama River. The police reports claim it was an accident caused by wintery conditions and driver error, but Dr. Nolan has doubts. As his investigation proceeds, Sean can’t help but get into deeper trouble as he tiptoes around the law in pursuit of a few unsettling leads. Fortunately, he has a trusted set of colleagues to watch his back as the situation becomes more perilous. Will Dr. Nolan learn the truth in time? Discover the answer in Contrived: A Dr. Sean Nolan Mystery by E. W. Johnson M. D.
I loved how the author opened this book with a suspenseful scene that leaves the reader wondering what sort of trouble Dr. Nolan has encountered. While there are several other books in this series, this was my first time navigating a mystery with Dr. Sean at the helm, and it was an exciting ride! As the author introduced familiar characters, I got a strong sense of camaraderie and respect between Sean and his friends. I loved how they interreacted and the light-hearted humor that kept this book entertaining. Each person was connected to Dr. Nolan from previous mysteries solved and had a particular skill set vital to collecting the clues. Jed was critical to the late-night surveillance and evidence gathering, ABCDE was a reporter with connections to a computer expert, Eileen conducted essential research, and a few other characters added to the espionage portion of the clue gathering. I especially appreciated Sheriff Dent, who kept Sean on the right side of the law. I also enjoyed how Sean’s daughters, nursing staff, and girlfriend kept him grounded in reality; it was nice to rally behind an everyday hero rather than a high-intensity vigilante.
Another thing that I appreciated about the book was the medical information incorporated throughout the pages. The author’s medical background created an authenticity in the descriptions, and I loved how easy it was to understand the procedures he described. I also found it noteworthy that the author brought up current events like COVID and race issues that served a subtle but essential role in how the mystery played out. It felt realistic to witness the characters responding to the same issues we’ve dealt with in the past few years and to see how things have since developed.
There was nothing that I disliked about the novel. I found it frustrating to figure out the order of the rest of the titles in this series, but that was not something for which I would reduce the rating. Other than a few missing periods, this book was well edited. Therefore, I give Contrived four out of four stars.
I recommend this exciting book to mature readers who enjoy well-paced mysteries with many characters. Amongst the humor and suspense, there was non-borderline swearing and a few innuendoes, but no erotic content. The book had a satisfying ending and could be read as a standalone, but I think it would be better appreciated after reading a few other mysteries in the series.
******
Contrived
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Dr. Sean Nolan likes only one thing more than a good cup of coffee: solving a mystery for the greater good. Dr. Nolan becomes suspicious when the body of one of his patients fails to surface from an unexpected tragedy that left the remains of the car in the frigid Kalama River. The police reports claim it was an accident caused by wintery conditions and driver error, but Dr. Nolan has doubts. As his investigation proceeds, Sean can’t help but get into deeper trouble as he tiptoes around the law in pursuit of a few unsettling leads. Fortunately, he has a trusted set of colleagues to watch his back as the situation becomes more perilous. Will Dr. Nolan learn the truth in time? Discover the answer in Contrived: A Dr. Sean Nolan Mystery by E. W. Johnson M. D.
I loved how the author opened this book with a suspenseful scene that leaves the reader wondering what sort of trouble Dr. Nolan has encountered. While there are several other books in this series, this was my first time navigating a mystery with Dr. Sean at the helm, and it was an exciting ride! As the author introduced familiar characters, I got a strong sense of camaraderie and respect between Sean and his friends. I loved how they interreacted and the light-hearted humor that kept this book entertaining. Each person was connected to Dr. Nolan from previous mysteries solved and had a particular skill set vital to collecting the clues. Jed was critical to the late-night surveillance and evidence gathering, ABCDE was a reporter with connections to a computer expert, Eileen conducted essential research, and a few other characters added to the espionage portion of the clue gathering. I especially appreciated Sheriff Dent, who kept Sean on the right side of the law. I also enjoyed how Sean’s daughters, nursing staff, and girlfriend kept him grounded in reality; it was nice to rally behind an everyday hero rather than a high-intensity vigilante.
Another thing that I appreciated about the book was the medical information incorporated throughout the pages. The author’s medical background created an authenticity in the descriptions, and I loved how easy it was to understand the procedures he described. I also found it noteworthy that the author brought up current events like COVID and race issues that served a subtle but essential role in how the mystery played out. It felt realistic to witness the characters responding to the same issues we’ve dealt with in the past few years and to see how things have since developed.
There was nothing that I disliked about the novel. I found it frustrating to figure out the order of the rest of the titles in this series, but that was not something for which I would reduce the rating. Other than a few missing periods, this book was well edited. Therefore, I give Contrived four out of four stars.
I recommend this exciting book to mature readers who enjoy well-paced mysteries with many characters. Amongst the humor and suspense, there was non-borderline swearing and a few innuendoes, but no erotic content. The book had a satisfying ending and could be read as a standalone, but I think it would be better appreciated after reading a few other mysteries in the series.
******
Contrived
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon