Ward D by Freida McFaddenMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Ward D is a fast-paced suspense / thriller, with Freida McFadden's trademarks of twists and turns, red herrings, and story line surprises. Amy Brenner is a third year medical student doing her psychiatry rotation. Up until now she has been shadowing a psychiatrist who treats outpatient individuals with sleep disorders. However, she will have to spend a 12-hour shift on the inpatient psychiatry ward at the hospital. Unsettling things happen, patients and staff are not what they seem to be, and worst of all her childhood best friend is a patient on the ward.
There are too many coincidences -- no computers, no phone system, the exit door code is wrong, cell phone service is not available, no cameras in the isolation rooms, etc. There are also too many unnecessary deaths (content warnings apply!). Overall it is a very unsympathetic representation of the mentally ill and those health care professionals dedicated to their care, which is disappointing considering that the author is a physician.
In spite of these opinions, I raced through the book just to find out what happened! I've really enjoyed her other books, but unfortunately this one was not nearly as good, in my opinion. I'll be very interested in hearing others' opinions at our book club tomorrow.
Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.
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