William Rubin,,,Disappoints... Disgusts...

I admit that when I got a notice of new books from William Rubin, I was immediately interested.  I had read Forbidden Beginnings and Forbidden Birth, respectively about 200 and 400 pages...So I never thought to check the pages...my bad... I had bought both of the books of the new book and started to read yesterday...

The thing is, I knew that Rubin could write an exciting thriller novel. What had happened?

Michele's Captivity, moves into action immediately, introducing the series main character and his wife. Then he moves into the actions of his villain(s).

The thing is, I, for one, had read the other books years ago. And if a reader had never read any previous book, they would be almost immediately wondering... Who is this guy? Why is he after Ravello? And his wife? For it is his wife who first finds she is being followed... There is absolutely no flashbacks into the earlier story to help the reader know who the characters are...It was like entering into a home where you knew nobody, but was expected to enter into their lives without even an introduction. I was disappointed... For me, I kept wondering. Who is this villain? What had happened? And I refused to go back to my earlier reviews to find that information...

When I'm reading an ebook, I use the percentage completion line at the bottom to help decide when to take a break. I was shocked when I looked and found it at just under 50%... I had barely started reading. So I quickly finished the book, which was just over 30 pages...

I immediately moved on to Part II, a different book...Again, action began without any explanation of how characters were related. Obviously there were bad feelings...But...nothing...

Once you know what the villain is doing, the remainder of the book, for another total 30 pages or so, moves into action, once again... and then before you even take a tea break...two books have been read... The concept was, of course, not new; however, if there had been more narrative about the goals of the villain, or why he was so focused on Ravello and his wife, it might have salvaged what became, quickly, to be boring...action with no value of story...

And the second again stops within the action and refers you to the next part, another book!

At that point, I was disgusted...and no way was I going to buy another book no matter that the action was good or not...

Ok, it was only $2 that I had spent...but, to me, it was a total waste of money. Why can I buy complete books with hundreds of pages of exciting, well-written stories, and then get caught with two totally unsatisfying, incomplete books, for which I was asked to proceed on, perhaps, Ad infinitum... And why did it bother me so much? The idea of dividing books is also not new...but, surely, if you're going to do it, the page length should be sufficient to get your readers totally involved and willing to proceed to the purchase of another book.  Fooled Once, Fooled Twice...Not Again... I am quite willing to easily forget I read about 60 pages of action without a conclusion... But I won't be reading this author again...

Needless to say...not recommended...

GABixlerReviews

William Rubin Presents Important Prequel to Chris Ravello Medical Thriller Series

Sometimes a prequel doesn't seem important to a series already started; however, I was very happy to take a step back for William Rubin's Chris Ravello Medical Thriller series! More, I highly encourage you to start the series with this book before you continue on to the second, Forbidden Birth...Be sure to read my review of that book.

There are two reasons I was happy to see the prequel. First, it shares more of the life and family of Chris Ravello so that we learn more of the man who by the next book has made a major career change...and that leads to the second reason--to learn why he made that decision...

By the time readers are in the second book, we are immediately thrown into a brilliant plot or a thriller that pulls you directly into and through the book. Knowing the why, how and when Ravello became a cop lays a foundation that, for me, established him as a righteous hero, one to look forward to as he uses his significant knowledge, expertise, and experience in fighting crimes related to medical issues...

Sunday afternoon at the Ravello residence in beautiful Rye, New York – it’s the best time of the week. Jacqueline and Bill Ravello, aka Mom and Dad/Grandma and Grandpa, are over for our weekly family dinner. My best friend, Kevin Kennedy, is here as well. He is like a brother to me. Michelle, Christine, James, and I round out the crew. Our magnificent seven use this time to catch up with each other and enjoy some great cooking courtesy of Mom and Michelle. Today is extra special, as it’s the first time Michelle and I are hosting the event at our new home, a four thousand square foot, five bedroom Victorian in one of Westchester County’s more exclusive neighborhoods. Michelle gathers the children at the top of our sprawling staircase, putting the finishing touches on their hair, as the rest of us catch up with each other in the living room...
“I’m so proud of you, Christopher. This new house, your career, the two wonderful children you and Michelle are raising.... I always knew you could do it.” Mom beams with pride. 
Blushing, I try to downplay it. “I’m as surprised as anyone, Ma, with how well it’s turned out. For a lot of years, I was a major screw up. You were the one who pulled me through all the fights, the turmoil, the feeling I didn’t fit in when we moved to Ossining from Arthur Avenue.” A smile fills my face. “I don’t know how you hung in there with me, Ma, how you believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself. You made this all possible. Thank you so much.” Tears rim my eyes. Mom’s mist up as well. 
“Oh Christopher,” she says as we lean into each other and hug. “Can you come to the kitchen with me? I have something for you in my purse.” 
“Sure, Ma. Lead the way.” Mom glides through the dining room and into the kitchen, checking on the meal she and Michelle have prepared. The aroma of lasagna and garlic bread in the oven waft through the air, bringing me back to happy Sundays from my childhood. Mom stirs the mac and cheese she is making for the kids, adding in seasoning as she goes. Sipping a glass of cabernet sauvignon, I admire her, reflecting on how lucky I am to have such a wonderful woman as my mother. Many are not so fortunate. “I meant what I said a moment ago, Ma. I felt so lost, like such an outsider once we moved to Ossining...”
Mom and I embrace for a moment. She leans back and pulls a tissue from her purse and dabs at her eyes. “Ma, are you okay?” “Yes, I’m fine dear. I just want you to know how proud I am of you. Seeing what you’ve accomplished, what a wonderful life you and Michelle have built for yourselves.…” Mom smiles broadly through her tears. “I’m glad you found a strong woman, Christopher. A mother’s always concerned about who her son will marry, who will take care of him when he leaves home. You and Michelle will pull each other through the darkest hours of your lives long after I’m gone. If I had to die now, I’d die happy, knowing how wonderfully my little boy has turned out.”
I kiss Mom on the forehead and hug her. “Hey, Mom, don’t get all melodramatic and serious on me now, huh? You’re not going anywhere for a long time.” I chuckle. “You’ve got two beautiful grandchildren counting on you to spoil them.” 
Mom dries her tears as she speaks. “Sorry for going a bit overboard, but what can you expect from a mother? Here, I got something for you.” Mom reaches into the depths of her purse and pulls out a sturdy white box with a bright blue bow. It envelopes her hands. “Here, open it.” 
“Uh, okay. What’s this all about?” Mom’s face fills with anticipation as I untie the bow and open the box. 
A puzzled look comes over me as I stare at the large gold medallion. It depicts a man, a club in his hand, fire around his head. The medallion is thick, filling my hand with its size and

weight as I lift it and the chain it is on out of its box. “It’s beautiful, Ma. But what’s with the flame around the guy’s head?” I smirk at her. “Are you trying to remind me not to be a hot head?” 
Mom gives me the look reserved for mothers when their children misbehave. “Very funny.” She grabs the gift from me. “It’s a St. Jude medallion, Christopher. He’s the patron saint of lost or hopeless causes. His feast day, October 28th, happens to be your birthday.” 
My look of confusion speaks volumes. “You wear this as a reminder, dear.” Mom’s knowledge of Catholic saints is encyclopedic. Mine not so much. “A reminder of what?” 
“To always do good in the world, to help and protect those in need, no matter how lost they are or how hopeless their cause seems to be. Do this and St. Jude and I will always be there to watch over and protect you.”

~~~

The Sub-Title, Jacqueline's Tragedy, is the key to the major change to Chris Ravello and his family's lives. Jacqueline, Chris' mother, had been behind every action and reaction of daily living during Chris' early school years. From her, he gained the strength to fight against bullies, stand strong in doing right, and working hard to achieve the most he could... He was now a surgeon, performing small and large miracles to save those who needed his expertise...

Chris was now able to afford a larger house for his wife and two children. It was on the first Sunday in that new house that all the family, including Chris' parents and his best friend, Kevin Kennedy had come for a small housewarming... Kevin was a cop as had been Chris' father. Everybody was thrilled with the beautiful home and after the meal, that day, Jacqueline had taken Chris into another room and presented her son with a stunning gold medallion of St. Jude. It was almost as if she knew even then that Chris would one day need that help promised through praying to St. Jude... But that was later, after Jacqueline, herself, had been killed by street violence...

Jacqueline had been on her way to help serve at a food kitchen when a man waved her to stop. She hesitated, but then saw another man lying on the nearby walk. As soon as she got out to help and moved to the man, she was caught. But she fought

them so hard that finally they had to run because the police was on their way. They rushed her to the hospital but she soon went into a coma... Finally, after days of visiting, Chris noticed a strange mark and thought she might have been drugged... Telling Kennedy, it was soon discovered that another man had the same mark and that there appeared to be more than an assault happening...

Ravello and Kennedy had handled many tough issues since they had grown up together. Now, there was no way that Chris was not going to be involved with finding those who had attacked his mother.  Kennedy soon showed his intelligence in working to get Chris permitted to be informally involved, since the mark appeared to be leading to something that could be behind all the missing older people who had been reported.

Soon, even the governor was involved and not only agreed to have Chris involved, but wanted him to take over an already-formed medical group that had, as yet, not solved one case since none of those working had any medical training...

The book quickly gets into a serious investigation, with Chris finding a side of him not seen for a long time, when he used a scalpel as a weapon to scare a witness into talking!

There were two interesting medical issues that became prominent in the story...one that was unique and plagued our main character, Chris... And another which was used to attempt to bring Jacqueline out of her coma... The ending of Jacqueline's life was via a brief awakening where she was able to speak to all of her family... What a blessing that decision, though fatal, made to the family.

In fact, the drama of routine death-life actions, together with those who care not about life itself, if they can make money through, in this case, selling organs, brings about today's reality into books that stir strong emotional responses that keep readers riveted. But the thrilling ending when Chris is in serious danger cannot be beat for an exhilarating conclusion, as well as lead in to Chris' new career! Bravo to Rubin for giving this more personal touch to his characters as we look forward to future medical thrillers by this expert in the medical field! Highly recommended.


GABixlerReviews


William Rubin is a practicing physician who enjoys weaving tales of medical/scientific intrigue. Writing for him is equal parts catharsis, creativity, and escape from the rigors of a busy medical practice and the joys and challenges of raising a family. The works of James Patterson, Robin Cook, Michael Palmer, and Patricia Cornwell inspired Dr. Rubin to create the Christopher Ravello Series. Challenges and tragedies in Dr. Rubin’s life, particularly the untimely death of his mother, provided some of the underlying drama, conflict, and turmoil for the series’ lead character.

When he isn't busy practicing medicine or crafting his next medical thriller, Dr. Rubin enjoys time with his family and friends, running, playing piano, and travel. He values your thoughts, insights, and feelings on his series. Please leave a review on your favorite website(s).

William Rubin Presents A Chris Ravello Medical Thriller - Forbidden Birth!

A few key cuts and he had what he had
been searching for in the palm of
 his hand. He pulled it out and examined
 its symmetry, its beauty, its potential.
~~~

For some time now, he had decided who lived and who died--and who would be born again. He had built up this state-of=the-art lab from nothing over the last six and a half years. His clientele now included the wealthiest, most powerful people in the world. He produced high-priced miracles for them and they, in turn, unwittingly funded all he had worked so hard to create. After years of tolling in secrecy, the time had come to reveal himself. The world would learn of his intelligence and power. The world would learn to fear and respect. The Giver, the moniker he had chosen for himself.
He looked up from the mangled corpse that lay before him and turned his attention to the flat screen monitor a few feet away. It was an NBC special report that he didn't want to miss. New York State Governor Gregory Spatick was answering questions from a well-dressed reporter who sat across from him.
"Governor, you've allocated a great deal of time, money, and manpower to your pet project, the Division of Medical Crimes. To date they have not solved a single crime. Aren't you concerned the federal government will withhold funding, shutting the unit, if the DMC continues to fail?"
Spatick uncrossed his legs, shifted in his chair, and tentatively re-crossed his legs. "Janet, we have wonderful news to report for the DMC. Doctor Chris Ravello has just been appointed the lead detective for the Division of Medical Crimes. As you know, his division is our response to the explosive growth of medical associated crimes in recent years. Illegal sales of drugs over the internet; synthetic street drugs; unusual murders where medical expertise is helpful; and crimes involving physicians, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies or any other areas of medicine. All such crimes in New York State now fall under the jurisdiction of the newly created Division of Medical Crimes. Detective Ravello is our new lead investigator and the FBI will also offer assistance whenever we feel their expertise would aid in solving such crimes."
"Governor, it's unheard of for an NYPD officer to become a detective after only two months on the job. With such limited experience what qualifies Detective Ravello to now become the DMC's lead investigator?" the blong said with a furrowing of her brow.
"Chris Ravello is the only physician-detective in the NYPD history. Doctor Ravello brings experience, knowledge and a unique perspective to the fight against medical crimes in New York. I wholeheartedly believe the DMC will flourish under Detective Ravello."
Hands still and folded in front of him, the Giversmiled to himself as the television droned on. Not only had the dead woman in front of him given him exactly what he needed, she was his perfect calling card. Her appearance would jolt Ravello. Indeed, it would disturb him to his core...
"They have no clue who or what they are dealing with. And they never will."

~~~

Forbidden Birth

A Chris Ravello Medical Thriller

By William Rubin

First, a warning: This is an extremely dark and graphic novel. Second. it is an amazing merge of crimes surrounding medical atrocities, with a main character that has medical credentials that are used to consider both the crime, as well as the potential individuals who could or would possibly have done the crime...

What do I mean by medical atrocities? Well, there is a serial killer operating in New York City. While he has been involved in these actions for quite some time, he sees the appointment of the head of a new Division of Medical Crimes, who is the first medical doctor who has also gone through the Police Academy, as a challenge. His feelings of omniscience have led him from his primary goals and resulted in a desire for a game of cat-and-mouse... Let's see this obviously inadequate doctor-cum-police investigator fumble through some sort of investigation with which he will ultimately be unsuccessful... And he'll be gone!

And believe me, when The Giver starts the game, it is difficult to keep up! Especially since Ravello has just been appointed and, indeed, has little experience in police investigation. And the author has not made it easy for his main character! He's taken him from a lucrative practice and a happy family into a relocation of his family into a location that is quite a letdown from their previous home. He is also fighting an illness that threatens his job and about which he did not share when he applied for the job! Not exactly a good start...

But what he has is the desire to succeed, based upon the loss of his mother through a devastating, senseless murder. He can no longer function as a doctor--he needs to get out there and stop those individuals who do harm! There was no way though that he could have realized that his first assignment would prove to be one of the biggest and most explosive cases that could ever come to New York!

How fitting that these degenerates
and their offspring would be used,
raised up, to transform all whose
lives would follow from theirs.
These patients would accomplish
so much more dead at his hands
than they ever would have alive,
roaming the earth without purpose.
~~~

The Giver used the very body on which he'd been working as the first placed for a quick find. The lower part of the woman's body had been mutilated. It is quickly seen by the reader how Ravello's medical expertise was going to greatly help in the investigation. Not only did he consider the disposed body differently, he was able to work closely with the ME about what could be found.

The main thing was that, though mutilated, there was evidence of surgically removed parts of the body and sometimes a fetus... The body count quickly started to rise. 

The young fetus lay before him, still trapped for the moment inside Erika's uterus. With that baby, and the countless ones before it and those who would follow, he would achieve greatness for himself and the entire human race.

The Giver sang arias in Italian while he worked, as he was wont to do during moments of triumph such as these. He tore through Erika's uterus while matching

his voice to soprano Caroline Whisnant's... He removed the small fetus and its placenta. It was safe now. Safe with him and his grant plans--the same could not be said for Rakel Ingi...A sick, demented smile curled across The Giver's face as he stared at the spot where Rakel's body disappeared from view. A momentary and unexpected sadness came over him as he reflected on her. She was so pretty and so young to have died, but she would rest easy knowing her sacrifice helped advance the future of the entire human race. Erika's harvest had been a fruitful one. Thanks to her young baby, The Giver's plans were ahead of schedule. "Another Victory was almost at hand. 

The Queen song, "Another One Bites The Dust," danced in his head as a smile returned to The Giver's face and all thoughts of sadness or sympathy for the girl disappeared. A warm feeling of supreme confidence and satisfaction swept over him. Blood rushed to his penis and roused it from its slumber. What a glorious morning it was!

~~~

The Giver looked up from the newspaper
and turned his thoughts to his foe.
"Ravello is a worthy adversary, he's kept
me on my toes, but he's no match for my
preternatural powers...
"I alone will decide who in this fair city,
in this wonderful nation of ours, lives
and dies. I alone will decide who will be
reborn--and no one can stop me."
~~~

I thought the egomaniac psychopath created by Rubin deserved a"bravo." Not for the character but for the author who created him. For surely, this one individual was brilliant and was well advanced of others who had turned to criminal actions to serve their own personal, crazed, goals... There is no way you will not hate the actions he does, but realize his success in keeping his activities so secret that nobody was aware of him, until he decided to share with the doctor-investigator Chris Ravello...

Yes, I have purposely not shared much about the investigation, rather on the criminal who keeps readers hoping he'll be stopped! Other than to say that Ravello is a character that I look forward to learning more about. Then, too, his team characters are an interesting backup to the new lead investigator. All in all, this promises to be an exciting series with a leader who, I hope, doesn't have to face such a scary, dark psychopath the next time around... But with the range of issues that fall into his bailiwick, it could prove to be a long-standing set of books that will rock the medical thriller genre! Rubin has given us a knowledgeable team leader that will soon be recognized by readers who follow medical mysteries and thrillers! Kudos to the author! If you can get past the dark, graphic pictures, then do check out a new author that I highly recommend!

GABixlerReviews

William Rubin is a practicing physician who enjoys weaving tales of medical/scientific intrigue. Writing for him is equal parts catharsis, creativity, and escape from the rigors of a busy medical practice and the joys and challenges of raising a family. The works of James Patterson, Michael Crichton, and Patricia Cornwell inspired Dr. Rubin to create the Christopher Ravello Series. Challenges and tragedies in Dr. Rubin’s life, particularly the untimely death of his mother, provided some of the underlying drama, conflict, and turmoil for the series’ lead character. When he isn't busy practicing medicine or crafting his next medical thriller, Dr. Rubin enjoys time with his family and friends, running, playing piano, and travel.