Book Review: Tragic Wand

Reviewed By: Webspinner - RAM

Tragic Wand    
James Tucker
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Medical   Thriller
Series: Merlin / Tory # 3
Onyx; Nov 2000; $6.99; pp. 406

Stanley Stillwell goes to the Cutter Institute for extensive surgery. While waiting for surgery, Stillwell sees Tory Welch in an examining room and goes berserk, BEFORE he knows her identity! He almost chokes Tory to death. When Stillwell calms down, surgery is performed on him. However, when he later learns that Tory is an assistant DA, he kidnaps Tory and her boyfriend Dr. Jack Merlin, planning to kill both of them. Before he can accomplish his gruesome task, a masked intruder sticks an ice pick into his brain, killing him. Regardless of the opinion of the investigating officer, Merlin and Tory are not about to bow out of this investigation.

What is the connection between the Phillips Cosmetic Surgery Center in Miami run by Raymond Phillips and the Cutter Institute for Cosmetic Surgery in Pittsburgh run by Marshall Cutter? Or is there one? Just who IS Marshall Cutter, MD? What happened to Raymond Phillips? Just who IS the "bad-guy" in this one?

TRAGIC WAND is the third in the Jack Merlin/Tory Welch series from James Tucker. If you've ever wondered "how did he do that?" when you watched a sleight-of-hand magician, if you enjoy "medical mysteries", if you like younger protagonists, or if you enjoy plot twists, you should enjoy this series tremendously! Each book in the series develops the characters a bit more and each one is more delightful than the last. James Tucker, MD has a hit series of his own!

Webspinner - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Webspinner - RAM