Ratings18
Average rating3.8
Dr. Peter Brown is an intern at Manhattan's worst hospital; Pietro "Bearclaw" Brwna is a hitman for the mob.
And Nicholas LoBrutto, Dr. Brown's new patient who has three months to live, has a very strange idea: that Peter Brown and Pietro Brwna might - just might - be the same person ...
Dr. Peter Brown is an intern at Manhattan's worst hospital, with a talent for medicine, a shift from hell, and a past he'd prefer to keep hidden. Whether it's a blocked circumflex artery or a plan to land a massive malpractice suit, he knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men.
Pietro "Bearclaw" Brwna is a hitman for the mob, with a genius for violence, a well-earned fear of sharks, and an overly close relationship with the Federal Witness Relocation Program. More likely to leave a trail of dead gangsters than a molecule of evidence, he's the last person you want to see in your hospital room.
Nicholas LoBrutto, aka Eddy Squillante, is Dr. Brown's new patient, with three months to live and a very strange idea: that Peter Brown and Pietro Brwna might - just might - be the same person ...
Now, with the mob, the government, and death itself descending on the hospital, Peter has to buy time and do whatever it takes to keep his patients, himself, and his last shot at redemption alive. To get through the next eight hours - and somehow beat the reaper.
Spattered in adrenaline-fueled action and bone-saw-sharp dialogue, Beat the Reaper is a debut thriller so utterly original you won't be able to guess what happens next, and so shockingly entertaining you won't be able to put it down.
Featured Series
2 primary booksPeter Brown is a 2-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2009 with contributions by Josh Bazell.
Reviews with the most likes.
This is a very fun book. The author employs such excellent pacing throughout the whole story that it always feels exciting when beginning a new chapter. The mob drama is all there too, complimented by the dashes of humor throughout the story.
The only reason why I give it 4.5/5 instead of a full score, is because there are certain parts of the story where the protagonist does something so incredibly strong and unlikely that I had a hard time imagining the scene in my head without it feeling silly. Additionally, there was also a point in which the pacing did feel a little strange. These are small gripes though, and it doesn't take that much away from the creative writing overall.
Genuinely a fun, thrilling and at times hilarious novel.
Fast paced book. Good read. Got really exciting at the end
Honestly, I thought overall this book was pretty entertaining. I'm not expecting it to be the next great american novel but for a mobster/medical comedic drama it was very well written. At times I didn't know where the author was taking me on his long winded side stories, but in the end it all made perfect sense and I don't think I would change anything about the book. Even the foot notes, which irked me at first, made sense to do in the end.
I doubt this book will be for everyone. It is very profane and graphic at times, but if you're looking for a light, quick read (I read it at work over a span of about 4 hours) then this is for you!
I read this book back in 2012 & just now... 12yr later. Enough time to not remember the details & feel just as "on-the-edge" as before.
I've preached about how cool this book is for the past 12yr, with incredible pacing, raw humor, & crazy situations. Reading it again, I only feel more strongly about why this is such a fantastic book!
For people who don't think they can enjoy reading (none of you on this app, of course), recommend this to your non-reading friends who enjoy action genres, crime, or just dark humor. You're welcome!
Featured Prompt
37 booksTime travel books are a great way to explore the possibilities and consequences of changing the past. They can also be a lot of fun, as you follow the adventures of characters who travel through time.