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Book Review of It's Nothing Personal

It's Nothing Personal
reviewed on + 175 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


Refreshing medical drama centering on an anesthesiologist who is sued for malpractice after a drug addict with Hepatitis C diverts controlled substances and substitutes contaminated saline that is administered to a patient in her OR.

I enjoyed this book for several reasons. First, the heroine is a believable and sympathetic 30-something female and the focus is on her personality, her life, and what happens to her career, not on her looks! Secondly, I loved that there was no ridiculous romance and that Jenna had a good relationship with her supportive husband and young daughter. Third - the character of Jenna was realistic and portrayed with some depth. Yes, this was a drama so there was lots of description about her mental state in reaction to the lawsuit, but that showed the roller coaster of emotions any person would have in the same situation. There are bonds forged with former strangers and betrayals by those she knew as Jenna tries to navigate the unfamiliar when the lawsuit is filed and as she deals with the relentless legal maneuvers and gamesmanship. Indeed, it is all about the money and nothing about the truth or justice.

The particulars about her work as an anesthesiologist and the medical details about the crime are very interesting and taken from the headlines. The plausibility of the plot is actually scary to anyone who does work in the health care field as there is such ambiguity in standard of care and reasonable precautions with regard to controlled substance security. This could happen in almost any OR despite safeguards!

Everyone affected by Jenna's case is changed. If you enjoy books in the medical fiction genre, skip the thrillers by authors who make their female characters one-dimensional stereotypes and enjoy a story rooted in reality with a likeable protagonist. I recommend it and can't wait for this author's next book.