A welcome sense of realism sets this series apart, with Feldman proving adept at capturing how corruption works within systems. This third novel especially engages with its era, as Dora and company must face not only a killer but COVID-19 and the protocols to prevent its spread. Dora might need her mask for more than just the real-world pandemic: Feldman’s convincing depictions of the various rare illnesses that drive the plot, and the frightening possibility of an unknown person roaming the hospital to spread deadly illness, plays on contemporary anxieties, giving scenes a sharp edge of suspense.

Interspersed with the storyline of the increasing number of unexplained illnesses and death is the simmering undercurrent of union organizing at the hospital. This thread leads readers to question whether someone angry about the arduous process of unionizing could be retaliating by murdering patients to negatively affect the hospital’s reputation, forcing it to cancel its upcoming gala and the donations received there. But the overarching impact of the narrative brimming with realism is that readers will be left questioning whether this fictional evil could become tomorrow’s headlines.

Takeaway: Budding P.I.s search for a killer spreading illnesses in a hospital in this of-the-moment thriller.

Great for fans of: Robin Cook, Michael Angel’s The Devil’s Noose.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A