Lucy Ryuan is a midwife at the Gramatan University Hospital (GUH), working in a midwifery department that seems to be held in disdain by the CEO Dr. Barrett Katz. Lucy is used to standing up for herself and her patients, and nothing will stop her looking out for the welfare of her tiny little charges and their mothers. Highly experienced, Lucy and her fellow midwives have years of training and on-the-job experience, and there is very little that they can't handle. When one of the babies they delivered goes missing Lucy is concerned, but she is also angry, angry that anyone would steal a baby.
When another baby goes missing, and then another in rather gruesome circumstances, Lucy is determined to stop the kidnappers no matter what. That determination leads her right into the path of Detective Leon Blumenthal, who has invaded the hospital along with the rest of his team. Everyone at GUH is on edge, but there seems to be a frustrating lack of progress on the case. When Lucy finds her safety, and the safety of her son Willie, at risk she knows she has no choice but to finish what she started.
The midwife murders is an interesting read, mainly because it is not quite in the same style as other books by James Patterson and his co-authors. It is in a similar, slightly off kilter style as The store which was also co-authored by Richard Dilallo, but it still may not appeal to readers of the 'typical' James Patterson novel. Lucy Ryuan is a feisty and interesting character to have as a lead - she is determined, stubborn, has her flaws, and has a fantastic temper which leads her into all sorts of interesting situations. Her flipsides are Detective Leon Blumenthal who seems to be so laid back and dismissive that he seems to belittle her, and the equally cool and calm Dr. Rudra Sarkar who seems to be very interested in Lucy for a number of reasons.
The midwife murders will not appeal to all readers as it is quite a departure from the 'traditional' James Patterson, mainly because it is so focused on one character (Lucy) and everything she feels and sees colours how you see and feel everything too. This is not an intense action thriller that takes place at a mile a minute, or a detective focused thriller where you test yourself to see if you have solved the puzzle before the end - it is much more emotion-tugging and character driven. I didn't dislike it, I didn't love it, it was a solid read. This was an enjoyable read, and I loved the reference to the Call the midwife TV series that appears (because who wouldn't).
If you like this book then try:
- 1st case by James Patterson & Chris Tebbetts
- Kill me if you can by James Patterson and Marshall Karp
- Lost by James Patterson and James O. Born
- Never never by James Patterson and Candice Fox
- Spare me the truth by C.J. Carver
- Orphan X by Greg Hurwitz
- Eeny meeny by M.J. Arlidge
- City of the lost by Kelley Armstrong
- The better sister by Alafair Burke
- The vanishing season by Joanna Schaffhausen
- Breaking Creed by Alex Kava
- City of fear by Alafair Burke
- Gathering dark by Candice Fox
Reviewed by Brilla
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