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Book Cover for: Dead Already: A Dr. Zack Winston Thriller, Mike Krentz

Dead Already: A Dr. Zack Winston Thriller

Mike Krentz

A drug-laced conspiracy. A former Navy surgeon with a harrowing history. Will a covert frame job end his career... and his life?

Zack Winston can't outrun his mistakes. Working in the high-pressure environment of the ER, the widowed doctor is haunted by lives he should have saved. But when he fails to resuscitate his coworker's husband from a fatal cardiac arrest, he's blindsided by the livid ICU nurse launching a career-threatening malpractice suit.

Falling under harsh criticism when he tries to investigate a strange poisoning in the hospital, Zack comes face to face with his traumatic past during courtroom depositions. And as he and his alluring lawyer look closer into the suspicious body count on the rise, uncovering the source could land them both in the kill zone.

With shadowy accusers eager to get him fired, will his fight for answers see him flatline?

Dead Already is the nail-biting first book in the Dr. Zack Winston series of medical thrillers. If you like nuanced characters, endless adrenaline rushes, and vividly realistic settings, then you'll love emergency physician Mike Krentz's suspenseful drama.

Book Details

  • Publisher: Mike Krentz Author
  • Publish Date: Jan 18th, 2025
  • Pages: 304
  • Language: English
  • Edition: undefined - 0002
  • Dimensions: 9.00in - 6.00in - 0.64in - 0.90lb
  • EAN: 9798218597269
  • Categories: Thrillers - MedicalMedical

About the Author

Krentz, Mike: - Mike Krentz writes medical suspense, psychological thrillers, and military fiction featuring complex characters and relationships.Born and raised in Arizona, Mike earned a classical degree in English from the University of San Francisco, a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin, and a Master of Public Health Degree from Johns Hopkins University.Following a civilian career as an emergency physician, Mike rededicated his professional life to serve America's Navy and Marine Corps heroes and their families, and to honor their sacrifices in defending our freedom and way of life. His last active duty assignment was as 7th Fleet Surgeon on board the flagship, USS BLUE RIDGE.After retiring from the US Navy, Dr. Krentz continued his service as a consultant supporting the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center. Upon completion of that mission, he returned to his earliest life passion as a full-time writer.Dr. Krentz served as vice-chair of he Board of Directors of The Muse Writers Center where he teaches fiction writing and led an advanced studio.Mike's fiction works include the DR. ZACK WINSTON SERIES of medical conspiracy thrillers, the MAHONEY & SQUIRE SERIES of military fiction, and a standalone psychological thriller, ANGELS FALLING.

Praise for this book

Editor's Pick. BookLife Reviews by Publishers Weekly:

Offering a potent blend of medical drama and suspense, this series kickoff from Krentz (author of the Mahoney & Squire series, among other thrillers) centers many of its heart-stopping developments in the emergency room of Bethesda Metro Hospital, where Zack Winston, an ER doc haunted by the death of his wife and the patients he's lost. After the shocking death of another patient, despite Zack's "extraordinary measures," Zack finds himself targeted by a negligence lawsuit filed by the nurse who is now the widow of the deceased. With his name dragged through the mud, plus a surprise attempt on his life, Zack begins to realize that he is facing some kind of conspiracy. Fortunately, as Krentz's story surges ahead, Zack's got a top-notch defense attorney and the will to tell himself to "Man up and carry on, sailor."

Taking full advantage of its tense, convincing ER setting, Krentz's swift storytelling is both exciting and humane, as invested in the mystery Zack faces as the challenges of serving as a front-line medical professional. Every page is alive with striking medical and technical detail, with situations that force Zack into hard choices and self doubt, or convincing legal drama, or straight-up suspense as the body count starts to rise. The major players have hidden depths to them, especially Zack, plagued with uncertainty after once having felt like a "bad ass" doctor, and brilliant, empathetic defense attorney Bridget Larson, whose best moments showcase her legal brilliance even as she's beleaguered by issues with family.

Krentz's leads will win readers over with their power-through resilience, their ability to work towards a hopeful outcome even when there's scant promise of victory. But what mystery lovers might most appreciate is Krentz's deft plotting, from red-herrings to narrative sleight-of-hand involving what's filtered through the perspectives of characters. Dead Already favors the hard work of saving lives and finding the truth over empty action.

Readers Favorite 5-Star Review:

"The author has created a nail-biter of a medical drama, reminiscent of Robin Cook's bestsellers. DeadAlready by Mike Krentz delivers all the medical and legal goods you expect from the genre."

"Absolutely stunning! This is the heart-stopping medical thriller I've waited for."

-Stella Cameron, NYT bestselling author.

"A heart-pounding thriller. Krentz taps his richly lived experience as an emergency physician and takes the reader on a deep dive into the medical challenges, legal battles, and lingering emotional wounds of Dr. Zack Winston. A page turner, with twists that surprise - and satisfy."

-Deborah Serani, award-win