Guarded Prognosis

By: Richard L. Mabry MD

Narrated by: Bill Nevitt

Double-barreled trouble

When Dr. Caden Taggart saw the two men sitting in his waiting room, he didn’t think they were patients. He was right, and when they introduced themselves as agents of the Drug Enforcement Agency, things started to get bad.

Then Caden felt as though someone had gut-punched him when his father, Dr. Henry Taggart, told him he probably had carcinoma of the pancreas. When he talked about his son assisting with his suicide, Caden wondered how he could talk him out of that.

When he shared his news with his wife, Beth, she tried to assure Caden that God was in control. But as things progressed, he was unsure that was true. At first, he feared for his freedom. Then for his ability to cope. Eventually, he feared for his life.

©2018 Richard L. Mabry (P)2018 Richard L. Mabry

Doctors dilemmas

Caden Taggart and his father, Henry, are both surgeons. Caden's world is shaken when two DEA agents show up on his doorstep, claiming that someone in his practice has been falsely prescribing painkillers.

Meanwhile, Henry is facing a life-threatening prognosis while his wife/Caden's mother is in a coma following a brain aneurysm. At the start of Henry's possible diagnosis, he contemplates suicide and asks for Caden's assistance. Also, there seems to be several side characters that have money issues that might play into the story for both Caden and Henry.

The two storylines progress and there is action/thrills when Caden becomes more and more involved with the DEA's investigation. The story was entertaining but nothing too exciting or unusual. There really wasn't too much of a surprise at the ending, but it was still a good read. I will admit that it often read like a TV drama.

Some reviewers have complained about the overtly Christian theme to the book, but I liked this part of the story. When faced with life-threats, either in the form of danger or illness, people often turn (or return) to God.

The narrator, Bill Nevitt, did his usual outstanding job and added a lot to the enjoyment of the book. His voices for the different characters were great (even for the women!) and made the listening even better. I was provided an audio version of this book by the narrator and chose to review it.

Guarded Prognosis

Dr. Caden Taggert is being questioned by DEA agents about an extraordinary amount of narcotic prescriptions being prescribed by him. Although the DEA agents did not have a warrant to search the doctors' records or premises, Dr. Taggert gave them carte blanche to search the place and embed themselves into the practice.
While all of this is going on his father, Dr. Henry Taggert has been diagnosed with pancreatic carcinoma. Both father and son are headstrong males that want to do things their own way.
I found situations in the novel a bit simplistic and the younger Dr. Taggert nieve. With the epidemic of narcotic abuse, I found it a bit odd that the DEA numbers of the doctors were posted for anyone to see or that Caden wouldn't know a lawyer or have the common sense to call one when the DEA agents started asking questions.
The narration by Bill Nevitt was okay, nothing too great and not too bad, stilted at times and not much variation between character voices.

"I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review."

Entertaining medical mystery

Guarded Prognosis is an easy listening story that’s a little bit slow in the beginning but picks up as it progresses. It entertains with themes of cancer, death, deceit, drugs, betrayal, Christianity and relationships. The narrator did a good job creating emotion and tension in the story and made it easy to distinguish who was talking. It is an easy listening story with some good twists and personal problems, but I did find the main character in the story somewhat naive. Any investigation of you or abuse of your prescribing number is a serious thing and you would have thought he would have sort legal advise, asked more questions or at least contacted his Medical Association for direction strait away. This aspect didn’t really detract from the story though, it was still an entertaining, enjoyable audiobook.

An intriguing medical drama

Guarded Prognosis is an intriguing medical drama with a dangerous criminal plot, a dire diagnosis, family drama, and a little religion thrown in the mix. There is a lot going on, but the story never rushes. It is clear that the author knows a lot about medicine, and he has written an interesting book.

The narrator does a very good job bringing the story to life along with giving the characters their own voices.

I received a complimentary copy of this audio book. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Entertaining medical mystery.

Guarded Prognosis by Richard Mabry is an entertaining and suspenseful medical mystery. I always look forward to reading Dr. Mabry's newest and was not disappointed with Guarded Prognosis. I like how he is able to tell his stories with just the right amount of medical lingo and scenes, suspense, and strong, relatable characters. Readers are drawn immediately into the story and their interest is kept right up until the climactic ending. Who are these DEA agents really? Can Caden trust them? How will he and his father work through the struggles and difficulties they encounter? Guarded Prognosis, with its twists and turns, action (arson, attempted murder, car crashes), ethical dilemmas (assisted suicide, fraud, narcotic drug issues) is a great read for those who love a good medical mystery. Bill Nevitt does a great job of narrating the book--bringing the characters and their story to life. His voice is easy to listen to and makes the listening experience a pleasant one.

A Cosy Medical drama

Guarded Prognosis - This was my weekend read/listen and very good it was indeed. If you like a mystery drama then I highly recommend this, it is full of twists and keeps your interest throughout. Good entertainment
Bill Nevitt's narration is first class, clear and concise.
I was given a free copy of this audiobook at my own request, and voluntarily leave this review.

Very interesting

I really enjoyed this story. It had the right elements of mystery and danger. A nice touch was there were two separate mysteries for a son and father who are surgeons in different practices. The element of faith was wonderful. I received a complimentary audio and this review is voluntary.

Twists and turns!

Richard L Mabry creates high drama, tension in this medical mystery. I liked the religious overtones throughout the book.

Bill Nevitt brought the characters to life with his narration.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Christian mystery

Guarded Prognosis is a Christian mystery written by Dr. Richard Mabry. That being said, it is neither preachy nor inundated with medical terms. It is about a father and son, two stubborn doctors, and the emotional issues neither wants to discuss as well as their relationships with their wives. It has a bit of everything: doctors, mystery, DEA agents, suspense, twists, and red herrings. Bill Nevitt, the narrator, brought the book to life injecting emotion while clearly differentiating between the male and female voices, and adding to the enjoyment of the story.

A solid medical nystery

Dr. Caden Taggert, a surgeon, receives an unexpected visit from two DEA agents, at his office. His DEA number is apparently being used to write suspect prescriptions. They want to find out who is really behind it. It's a frightening experience, and he far too easily accepts their encouragement not to call a lawyer. And, heck, he doesn't even know a lawyer, and doesn't want to upset the DEA agents.

It's a mistake, of course. They don't even have a search warrant. Something is wrong here, but he's not asking the right questions. He introduces the agents to his staff and the other two surgeons as doctors leaving academia and hospital work, and interested in seeing how this private practice office is organized. He's introduced trouble that's not the trouble he thinks it is, though the reader, or listener, soon knows.

Meanwhile, his father, Dr. Henry Taggert, also a surgeon, is having troubles of his own. He has just learned that he may have pancreatic cancer. It does cause him to reach out to his son. Neither man would want to say so, but since Henry's wife, Caden's mother, Nancy, had a stroke that reduced her to a vegetative state a year ago, what closeness they once had has faded away. Now he needs his son.

It takes us, and Henry, longer to find out there is also trouble in his practice.

What happens over the next several weeks becomes a terrifying roller coaster ride, that changes the two men's relationship with each other, Caden's with his wife, and Henry's with his office nurse, who has been a supportive friend since Nancy's stroke.

This is an explicitly, but not cloyingly, Christian novel. I'm a New Englander. In this part of the country, advertising your religious faith is not considered a sign of the strength and sincerity of your belief. On the contrary, we tend to believe that things that get heavily advertised are probably for sale. It's different in Texas, where this book is set, and I guess in much of the south.

This is likely why many New Englanders and many southerners tend to regard each other with dark suspicion.

So it's worth noting that these are plausibly real and plausibly good people, sincere in their beliefs. If you're a religious believer of a culture more like mine, be aware that they do talk about their faith more than some of us might find appropriate.If you are not religious, again, be aware. These characters are sometimes naive, but they're neither phonies nor fools.

If you are the flavor of atheist that thinks being religious is ipso facto proof you're either a phony or an idiot, this book might not be for you.

Recommended with the obvious caveats.

I listened to the audiobook. The narration is solid and easy to listen to.

I received a free copy of this audiobook, and am reviewing it voluntarily.