Rating: Summary: OK Medical Thriller Review: Small town, Tranquility, Maine is rocked by what is happening to their teenagers. School fights, disrespect and murder are only a few of the things. Dr. Claire Elliot who moved to Tranquility is determined to find out what is causing the problem and discovers the hidden secrets of this quiet resort town. Now what can she do to help?If you like medical thrillers and want an average book to read or listen to, then this is a book for you. I found this book to be average as can be seen by my 3 star rating. It will grab you from the start but fails to hold on completely. It didn't have me so riveted that when I had to stop that I waited until I heard more. I was able to pop the tape and get out of the car. The positive things about this book are that there are several twists and turns in the plot. Just as you think you've figured out what's going on and who the good guys and bad guys are you get surprised. Jan Maxwell (narrator) did a good job with the reading; however, the images of the characters and the town weren't extemely vivid. Don't let this review keep you from getting this title. If you like medical thrillers and have read other books by Ms. Gerritsen then read this book, it isn't a bad read by any sense of the imagination. However, if you haven't read anything else by Ms. Gerritsen, then allow me to recommend her book Life Support for your first. Ms. Gerritse is a good author. I have only read/listened to two fo her books. However, I enjoy Robin Cook who also writes medical thrillers and have read many of his works. Though not quite as good as Mr. Cook, I would rank Ms. Gerritsen right along side of him. Again, if you like medical thrillers then don't take this book off of your reading list.
Rating: Summary: Different from your average medical thriller Review: Gerritsen has an amazing eye for detail and gripping dialogue. The situations in this book are very peculiar. The plot mainly consists of teenagers going violent all of a sudden. It may seem cliche, but trust me, no book has ever amazed me so much. Could be the characters, so realistic. Could be the scenes, so vividly described. But I think it is mostly how everything comes together in this great novel. Read the first six pages. And I dare you to stop reading this book. It's just that good.
Rating: Summary: What a really cool book! Review: Tess Gerritsen is a learning writer's writer. Any one who wishes to write for a living should read Mrs. Gerritsen. This author does everything right. From the opening pages of "Bloodstream", I was hooked! What a prologue Mrs. Gerritsen writes, if it doesn't hook you to this book nothing will. I was first introduced to Mrs. Gerritsen through "Gravity" and was very surprised by just how good she is at her job. As a medical thriller writer, Tess Gerritsen is the best in my option. This author leaves the others in the dust. In "Bloodstream", Mrs. Gerritsen is once again in top form. With well developed characters, which the reader will care about. Not just the "lead" characters, but all the characters. Any one who has ever moved to a new town will understand the problems that occur in trying to fit in with the population, especially in a small town. The author does a great job in plotting these problems into the story line. And using them to advance the plot. Yes, I will agree with one reviewer that there are a couple of loose ends. To me though these couple of things didn't matter to the plot. They just showed what was happening all over the town. "Bloodstream" is a very well written book, with a tight plot and very well developed characters. I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it highly to any one who likes a good mystery.
Rating: Summary: Not as great as it seemed. Review: This book is actually quite good. It starts out strong and keeps up at a nice pace. My only problem with this book is that the conclusion was drawn out and a tad predictable. O would suggest this book, though.
Rating: Summary: A few too many twists..... Review: Having just read Tess Gerritsen's "Gravity", I picked up this book with a great deal of enthusiasm. The development of the characters in "Bloodstream" was very good, but the plot took a few too many turns at the end that made a good, plausible, fiction story a lttle too hard to beleive.Pass on this version of Tess Gerritsens's earlier efforts, and read her latest one: Gravity. That was superb!
Rating: Summary: HEART RACING THRILLER Review: The electrifying prologue to BLOODSTREAM sets the pulse for the rest of the book. This novel involves possible, yet unimagined issues. It's foundation is mystery, based on the desire for unethical profit. This is a spine-tingling thriller with building suspense in each succeeding chapter. The varied cast of characters lends to the excellent flow of superstition, rage, murder and unknown elements...all taking place in a town called Tranquility.
Rating: Summary: THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S WORST NIGHTMARE Review: --when the town Tranquility's economic mainstay (tourism) is threatened by the suspicion that Locust Lake (the big attraction) is dangerous. I came by this book via "Gravity" and Stephen King's high praise. Ms. Garritsen delivers on fast pace, good characterizations (some a little overdrawn),and a hig-tech tension in the Emergency Room scenes. The season and locale (late fall in northern Maine) are well done and key to the story. Her teenage males have a realistic ring. I don't confer the phrase "page turner" often, but "Bloodstream" meets the criteria. Admittedly, I am a fast reader, but completing a 324 page book in 1-1/2 sittings is clipping right along, even for me. The story did have loose ends (a fine scene describing an enraged teen aged girl from her little sister's terrified viewpoint; then you never hear of them again. An unexplained local doctor who is beyond snide, tumbling into malpractice. We are never told any reasons for his behavior. He sounds as if he is central to the plot, and again, we never hear any more about him.) Also, it is unexplained why retesting by other labs is never considered. Most mystery readers who have a weakness for medical thrillers will be delighted with this book.
Rating: Summary: Robin Cook, Move Over! Review: Tess Gerristen is taking over the medical thriller genre. She is a master wordsmith, and, without boring the reader, she explains many mysterious medical terms and conditions. "Bloodstream" is fast paced from the first to the last page. It takes place in the town of Tranquility, Maine, which becomes anything but tranquil when a number of its teenagers turn inexplicably violent. Dr. Clair Elliot, a newcomer to the town whose son Noah also shows signs of odd behavior, sets out to track down the reason behind it all -- and her digging turns up shocking results. Finding Tess Gerritsen is like striking gold!
Rating: Summary: Another Outstanding Thriller for Gerritsen Review: The teenagers of Tranquilty, Maine have become violent and it may be due to something in their bloodstream. This is one very scary medical thriller. It was great reading and not predictable at all. There were many twists and turns that kept you turning the pages as quickly as possible. I read both Life Support and Harvest by Tess Gerritsen and enjoy her work immensely.
Rating: Summary: BLOODSTREAM Hits the Right Vein Review: I cheated and listened to the unabridged version of the audio cassette (over 11 hours of narration). I rarely have time to sit and read but wanted to hear this story as the synopsis caught my attention. Within 5 minutes, I was hooked. I have listened to many tapes as I drive, but none that kept my attention as strongly as BLOODSTREAM. I would sit in my driveway once I returned home and continue to listen until I felt guilty for not going in to greet my family. Gerritsen weaves a believable tale mixing science and human relationships to create a moving, intense rollercoaster ride for all her avid fans (I am now one, by the way). I will not go into the cliffnote truncation of this novel as others can read the nutshell plot review in previous reviews on this page. Suffice it to say, I enjoyed this intriguing mystery and plot thickening scientific story produced by Ms. Gerritsen. I was very disappointed when the story ended...not because of the WAY it ended, but because IT ENDED. It was as if I had lost a best friend, and indeed Ms. Gerritsen was for the 11 hours it took me to finish this novel on tape. Just this last week, I purchased HARVEST and LIFE SUPPORT. My wife has finished both of them. I hope to get to them someday soon. I am anticipating that she will enjoy BLOODSTREAM as much or more than I did.
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