Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Dead Ringer-Allen Wyler

Dead Ringer


Allen Wyler

A&B, Jun 26 2012, $12.99

www.astorblue.com

ISBN: 9781938231148



Seattle-based neurosurgeon Dr. Lucas McCrae is in demand as he specializes in the most difficult cases. Currently, Dr. Wong Yih-Wah invited him to provide a demonstration at Hong King’s Queen Victoria Hospital using the “fresh” head of a cadaver. Lucas begins his demo when he looks at the face staring back at him. He starts puking because he sees the head of his best friend Andy Baer.



Seattle Missing Persons Squad Police Detective Wendy Elliot investigates the disappearance of hooker Lupita Ruiz who befriended her when the cop worked vice. Her boss Redwing seems indifferent to her inquiry unless it interferes with her caseload. She visits Ditto’s Funeral Home because a vehicle illegally parked near where Lupita vanished is registered to the Medical Research center of Seattle and is owned by the funeral parlor. Soon the cop, the surgeon and Lupita’s brother the gangbanger team up as they look into the lucrative body recycling supply business that has made Ditto a fortune.



Allen Wyler’s latest medical thriller (see Dead head) is a tense suspense starring two dedicated people Sleepless in Seattle. The storyline is fast-paced from the moment Lucas stares at Andy’s head and never slows down as the two subplots deftly converge. Although a key ally in the body parts commodity exchange seems an unlikely enabler and the probability of Hong Kong is astronomical (as several characters point out), readers will relish this tense tale while wondering alongside of Lucas whether that is Andy’s head or a Dead Ringer.



Harriet Klausner



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