Nashville Mercy (Medical
Mystery)
By M. Maitland DeLand, M.D.
ISBN #978-0986224110
274 Pages
$16.95 (Paperback)
Rating 5-Stars
“An Easy Read, Good Plot, And
Interesting Characters.”
Reporter Kate Katelinson, with the Nashville Herald,
is sent to Nashville Mercy Hospital on a human-interest story when she
discovers something more frightening. Country Music superstar, Gwendolyn
Cartwright is only one of many unnecessary angioplasty surgeries being done at
the hospital. Deciding to investigate, she encounters heavy resistance from the
hospital staff, then people start dying, and her sister is run over by a hit
& run driver, giving her a message to back off.
The more she pushes, the deeper the case gets, and she
discovers a lot of money is being moved into private accounts. There’s enough
money moving into someone’s account to make killing a necessity for someone.
Ms. DeLand is a medical doctor, and children’s book
author already. This is her first entrance into the mystery field, and she
brings her knowledge of the medical scene with her. A good plot, with good
characters, and interesting setting makes the tale an exciting read, and I
think we will see more of Kate Katelinson in the future. There is a bit of mild
profanity, but it doesn’t overwhelm the story, and is used when needed, not for
shock value. Sex is kept off scene also, so the reader is never distracted from
the mystery. Although the mystery really unravels on its own, Kate’s digging
pulls the culprits out into the open. This is a topnotch first mystery novel
for the author, and highly recommended.
Tom Johnson
Detective Mystery Stories
Q&A With M. Maitland DeLand
Q: After writing so many successful children’s
stories, what drew you to writing an adult novel, and a mystery in particular?
A: This was something different. It was edgy and I
could play around with some more adult themes. It was also fun to think of how
I could take my intense, technical medical knowledge and use it to create a
story that every reader could enjoy. Not everyone wants to read medical texts,
but everyone does want to read and find out how a murder can happen.
Q: How different was it writing an adult novel from a
children’s book?
A: Well, it was very different. I could really have a
little more freedom with my writing. I could make ideas a little more complex,
a little more technical, but with the children’s books – as fun as they are to
write, you have to keep in mind that you are writing to a much younger
audience.
Q: You uniquely tie your professional experiences as
an oncologist into your writing. Why is that important to you?
A: If I went to school for it…might as well use it!!
Seriously – we spend so much time building up our knowledge on marketing,
sales, business development, biology, whatever it is, and we spend so much
money to get these degrees. Why not find ways to utilize all your interests and
everything you learn over the years? This is a fun release for me. It’s
applying all my experiences and knowledge, but with a creative outlet.
Q: Why did you choose to set this series in Nashville?
A: It’s the hub of the music industry. I wanted to
center my books around things happening in the music industry. And personally,
I just love the city. It’s such a diverse culture, everybody there is so
friendly, and I love being there!
Q: Are you like your main character at all?
A: Not at all! But I think that’s what makes creating
her so fun! I wish I could solve a mystery as fast as Kate!
Q: Can you explain your writing process and how you
shaped Nashville Mercy?
A: Writing Nashville Mercy was an intuitive process. I
knew I wanted to create a strong, intelligent female protagonist with great instincts.
I put myself in Kate Katelinson’s shoes when writing, and always asked myself
how she would react to the events unfolding in the plot. It was actually very
fun.
When
shaping the idea for the plot, I chose to focus on a corrupt aspect of the
United State’s medical system that many don’t know exists. I ultimately wanted
to make the plot informative and engaging, while opening the opportunity to
have a dialogue and create change around the issues addressed in the book.
Q: Without any spoilers, can you give us a sneak peak
into the second installment of the Kate Katelinson series, Nashville Rap?
A: Kate Katelinson comes up against the greatest
challenge of her career and personal life in this murder mystery, which is set
in the heart of Nashville’s music scene. When a famous music producer suddenly
dies in what appears to be an accident, Kate’s instincts tell her there’s more
to the story. She embarks on a personal investigation and quickly finds herself
surrounded by colorful suspects and odd clues that must be pieced together
before the killer discovers her true agenda. Kate must also trust her instincts
when a handsome record executive pursues her. This book is a bold investigation
into race, power, jealousy, and betrayal. Readers will learn some more
interesting medical facts as well!
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