Guarded Prognosis

A solid medical nystery

Dr. Caden Taggert, a surgeon, receives an unexpected visit from two DEA agents, at his office. His DEA number is apparently being used to write suspect prescriptions. They want to find out who is really behind it. It's a frightening experience, and he far too easily accepts their encouragement not to call a lawyer. And, heck, he doesn't even know a lawyer, and doesn't want to upset the DEA agents.

It's a mistake, of course. They don't even have a search warrant. Something is wrong here, but he's not asking the right questions. He introduces the agents to his staff and the other two surgeons as doctors leaving academia and hospital work, and interested in seeing how this private practice office is organized. He's introduced trouble that's not the trouble he thinks it is, though the reader, or listener, soon knows.

Meanwhile, his father, Dr. Henry Taggert, also a surgeon, is having troubles of his own. He has just learned that he may have pancreatic cancer. It does cause him to reach out to his son. Neither man would want to say so, but since Henry's wife, Caden's mother, Nancy, had a stroke that reduced her to a vegetative state a year ago, what closeness they once had has faded away. Now he needs his son.

It takes us, and Henry, longer to find out there is also trouble in his practice.

What happens over the next several weeks becomes a terrifying roller coaster ride, that changes the two men's relationship with each other, Caden's with his wife, and Henry's with his office nurse, who has been a supportive friend since Nancy's stroke.

This is an explicitly, but not cloyingly, Christian novel. I'm a New Englander. In this part of the country, advertising your religious faith is not considered a sign of the strength and sincerity of your belief. On the contrary, we tend to believe that things that get heavily advertised are probably for sale. It's different in Texas, where this book is set, and I guess in much of the south.

This is likely why many New Englanders and many southerners tend to regard each other with dark suspicion.

So it's worth noting that these are plausibly real and plausibly good people, sincere in their beliefs. If you're a religious believer of a culture more like mine, be aware that they do talk about their faith more than some of us might find appropriate.If you are not religious, again, be aware. These characters are sometimes naive, but they're neither phonies nor fools.

If you are the flavor of atheist that thinks being religious is ipso facto proof you're either a phony or an idiot, this book might not be for you.

Recommended with the obvious caveats.

I listened to the audiobook. The narration is solid and easy to listen to.

I received a free copy of this audiobook, and am reviewing it voluntarily.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Interesting mystery with proper medical terms!

A faith-based, medical ministry with doctors as the main characters. An enjoyable story that is easy to get into.As the plot develops and more unusual problems arise, it was nice to see how God became the centre focus for some in the book, while others just did their own thing. The narration was really good. It was quite impressive to hear the correct medical terminology pronounced without even any hesitation. And I liked finding out what cancer was actually called.I would definitely listen to more of the books in this series.

Medical Mystery!

The author wrote this in such a way that it almost feels like two separate stories told simultaneously, but are also intertwined. Which is interesting considering because we have the father's story and then the son's story; both are doctors. The author does a fabulous job making storyline seem realistic and plausible; he also formed characters that were likeable and normal even though they are doctors. There is a twist that seemed really unexpected to me, but it made sense. I enjoyed this author's style in this book.

The narrator did an excellent job in this performance. This is not the first time I've listened to him, and I thus far have enjoyed all of his performances. His performances seem to get a little better with each performance. I think he was definitely a great pick for this type of book and he was able to bring the story to life.

I received a review copy at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.

Very interesting

I really enjoyed this story. It had the right elements of mystery and danger. A nice touch was there were two separate mysteries for a son and father who are surgeons in different practices. The element of faith was wonderful. I received a complimentary audio and this review is voluntary.

Entertaining medical mystery

Guarded Prognosis is an easy listening story that’s a little bit slow in the beginning but picks up as it progresses. It entertains with themes of cancer, death, deceit, drugs, betrayal, Christianity and relationships. The narrator did a good job creating emotion and tension in the story and made it easy to distinguish who was talking. It is an easy listening story with some good twists and personal problems, but I did find the main character in the story somewhat naive. Any investigation of you or abuse of your prescribing number is a serious thing and you would have thought he would have sort legal advise, asked more questions or at least contacted his Medical Association for direction strait away. This aspect didn’t really detract from the story though, it was still an entertaining, enjoyable audiobook.

WHY THIS DR WAS THE TARGET

GUARDED. PROGNOSIS..by Richard Mabry
2 men in waiting room, wearing suits and when in his office showed their badges. Death certificates from prescription, that had his name and number, did he want it handle easy or complicated.knowing he was innocent, and not having a lawyer, chose easy. A father called and he had been told his illness was serious. His mother was in a home, and was checked on regularly. The father wants him to help at the end to end the pain and his life Then his life is in danger, whoever is writing prescriptions with his name.
The plot is good, has a lot of twists, you are drawn in from the first and have questions, of why this doctor was the target. It is based on faith and it shows the emotions, struggles, and that God is in control.He wraps the story up and you are glad you read it.
The audio by Bill Nevitt brought this story to life, and voices of the different characters were good. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

Twists and turns!

Richard L Mabry creates high drama, tension in this medical mystery. I liked the religious overtones throughout the book.

Bill Nevitt brought the characters to life with his narration.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Nicely Done!

A fast paced, enjoyable listen. Well narrated by Bill Nevitt. The DEA is investigating Dr Caden Taggart’s medical practice. At the same time, the doctor learns his father may have a fatal cancer diagnosis.

Is there time and a method to resolve both? Investigating his staff, visiting his comatose mother, and helping his father get answers take their toll. Definitely a good time to consider his faith—and trust—in God.

It’s a good story, balancing the need for trust in God with the issues of the world. Enjoyed it! You’ll find my full review at Mystery Suspense Reviews. We received a free copy at our request and were happy to review the audiobook.

Christian mystery

Guarded Prognosis is a Christian mystery written by Dr. Richard Mabry. That being said, it is neither preachy nor inundated with medical terms. It is about a father and son, two stubborn doctors, and the emotional issues neither wants to discuss as well as their relationships with their wives. It has a bit of everything: doctors, mystery, DEA agents, suspense, twists, and red herrings. Bill Nevitt, the narrator, brought the book to life injecting emotion while clearly differentiating between the male and female voices, and adding to the enjoyment of the story.

Guarded Prognosis

Dr. Caden Taggert is being questioned by DEA agents about an extraordinary amount of narcotic prescriptions being prescribed by him. Although the DEA agents did not have a warrant to search the doctors' records or premises, Dr. Taggert gave them carte blanche to search the place and embed themselves into the practice.
While all of this is going on his father, Dr. Henry Taggert has been diagnosed with pancreatic carcinoma. Both father and son are headstrong males that want to do things their own way.
I found situations in the novel a bit simplistic and the younger Dr. Taggert nieve. With the epidemic of narcotic abuse, I found it a bit odd that the DEA numbers of the doctors were posted for anyone to see or that Caden wouldn't know a lawyer or have the common sense to call one when the DEA agents started asking questions.
The narration by Bill Nevitt was okay, nothing too great and not too bad, stilted at times and not much variation between character voices.

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."