Book Review: To the Bone

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

To the Bone     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Neil McMahon
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Psychological Suspense   Thriller   Medical
Series: Carroll Monks # 3
HarperCollins, Sept 2003, $23.95, 250 pp.

She is a young beautiful woman who went from porn star to an actress having good parts in daytime drama. She has just had breast augmentation surgery and the boyfriend who was supposed to be staying with her left her alone and in pain. As time goes on the pain becomes unbearable and Eden Hale is barely able to make the 911 for an ambulance before becoming unconscious. By the time the she arrives at Mercy Hospital in San Francisco, she is barely breathing.

Dr. Carroll Monks works on Eden but nothing he does is helping and he has no idea what is wrong with her until he sees bruising spreading across her skin. He administer a drug in hopes of stopping the blood from clotting but she dies before the drug can take affect. His peers criticize him for his treatment protocol but when the pathologist finds a toxin in Eden’s blood, Carroll thinks she was murdered. He starts asking too many questions and winds up almost getting killed by a person who wants attention deflected from the plastic surgeon and those who work for him.

After reading TO THE BONE, readers will have second thoughts about having cosmetic plastic surgery done to them. This story is fast moving, action-packed and gives the audience a glimpse into the world of the affluent who will do anything to look young and beautiful. Neil McMahon is an excellent storyteller whose work can be favorably compared to Michael Palmer and Robin Cook. The protagonist of this tale is likable and vulnerable and will hopefully star in more books.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner