Isolation Ward

By: Joshua Spanogle

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Straight out of today’s hospitals and labs - and tomorrow’s headlines - comes a frightening, scalpel-sharp thriller from medical insider Joshua Spanogle. In an astounding debut, Spanogle takes us on an all-too-real race against time...as a young doctor enters the dark side of scientific research, desperate to stop a terrifying epidemic before it is too late....

In Baltimore’s St. Raphael’s Hospital, three newly admitted patients are among society’s most helpless citizens: female residents of Baltimore’s group homes for the mentally impaired, their bodies racked by a virus the likes of which no one at St. Raphael’s has ever seen.

Dr. Nathaniel McCormick is one of the first on the scene. A young investigator from the Centers for Disease Control, Nate is paid to explore the bizarre, the exotic, and the baffling - from superviruses to bioterrorism. But as soon as Nate begins to investigate the lives and habits of the victims, he knows something is terribly wrong. Using all his skills as a medical detective, Nate soon zeroes in on the “vector” - the one person who had sexual contact with the first victims. And when that suspect is found murdered, Nate fears that the disease he’s chasing may not be an act of nature, but of man.

With his brash style angering his superiors and fellow investigators alike, Nate turns to an old colleague and former lover, Dr. Brooke Michaels, for help. Together the two investigators follow a twisting trail of clues to a discovery that is at once groundbreaking and unspeakable. And as a circle of treachery tightens around him, Nate is about to confront the most chilling revelation of all - and a past Nate himself has been trying to escape.

At once a taut medical thriller and a riveting psychological portrait of a young doctor on the edge, Isolation Ward is a tale of runaway tension - with a brilliant “what-if” premise that is harrowing...heartbreaking...and impossible to wrench from your imagination.

©2006 Joshua Spanogle (P)2006 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"[A] tightly woven debut thriller....Engrossing and intellectually wrought." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Combines a wonderfully flawed yet stereotypically smart-ass hero with a plot that moves as rapidly as a lethal virus." (Entertainment Weekly)

"Spanogle is a funny, smart, and skilled writer at the beginning of what readers will hope is a long and prolific career." (Publishers Weekly)

Epidemiology with Attitude

I picked this book out looking for a quick and engaging read, and was pleased to get just that.
"Isolation Ward" is told from the point of view of Dr. Nathaniel McCormick, a CDC officer with an attitude equal to his brain power, both of which have a tendency to get him into trouble. I enjoyed his snarky side comments and disaffected viewpoint on the medical establishment throughout the book. I'm sure this comes across on paper but was made all the better, by narrator Scott Brick's embodiment of the character. While this is not a piece of literature with complex character development, there is just enough detail and witty dialogue to round out the cast and keep things interesting.
The story starts with an outbreak of an unknown hemorrhagic virus in the special needs population of Baltimore, MD. I found the setting intriguing because usually epidemic stories begin in some hugely populated and trafficked setting... airports, casinos, movie theatres... not within a fairly insulated population living in group homes. This was a very clever choice by the author which becomes an important part of the "web" later in the story. The plot ends up going much deeper than the story of the disease, into a hidden world of medical experimentation and interpersonal intrigue. I certainly didn't foresee the source of the disease.
This is a fast-paced, smart book that will keep you reading, and can even be thought provoking at times when it delves into medical ethics. If you're looking for a decent "page-turner," I would certainly recommend it.

A true medical thriller

Isolation Ward is exciting from start to finish and chock full of medical knowledge and detail. Pneumothorax? Don’t mind if I do!

good read

I highly recommend this book and this author. I hope to see more from him. The book has a good pace, some funny retorts, and just enough "heat" dont be afraid to give it a listen.

Isolation Ward

Well written and fast-paced if not just a little bit predictable. Author has a good sense of humor and it comes through with some fairly witty retorts and comments by its protagonist. Of great help to this book is the delightful insight and capability of Scott Brick the narrator, who lends just the right tone inflection to make this work.

Book is worth listening to. Good writing.

medicalthrillerreader

one of the more interesting listens in a long time. Sponagle keeps it fast. His dry humor will be enjoyed by insiders to science. His descriptions will make the book available to all readers inside or out. I'm already looking for more. Great

a little dated in some references

interesting story. Enough plot twists and suspense to keep you focused. a little dated in some references

Oustanding medical thriller

I hesitated before spending a credit on this and I'm glad I did.
I'm a big fan of the medical thriller, and this book fits very nicely into the genre... part medical thriller, part detective story, part police procedural. The characterization develops very well, especially the main character, and there are plenty of tense moments to keep you interested.
Of course, Scott Brick's narration is superb as always.
Isolation Ward is on the level of another of my favorite medical thriller authors, Michael Palmer. And it is a notch above most of Robin Cook's writings.
The story line kept its pace well, mixing fact with fiction along the way. The best medical thrillers are the ones that make you think this sort of thing could actually happen, and Isolation Ward is no exception.
This is an excellent example of what a medical thriller should be.

Isolation Ward

Any additional comments?

The protagonist, Nathaniel, is a loose cannon, a flawed character in many ways, which is one of those delightful slices of reality in Isolation Ward. As a Centers for Disease (CDC) doctor with a shady past, including getting tossed out of medical school, Nathaniel is a man with an attitude, obsessed with the pursuit of a possibly virulent pathogen.

This unabridged version of Isolation Ward is just over sixteen hours long, read by Scott Brick. Although not a prolific author, Spanogle’s books have that added benefit – realism. Spanogle is a doctor, with a stellar resumè, and this book has a medical theme right up his alley. The old axiom is ‘Write what you know.’, and Spanogle does. Needless to say, Scott Brick is one of the best, and adds a great deal to the story with his brilliant narration. Coincidently, Scott Brick is the narrator for Spanogle’s other books.

This book is in the vein of other medical thrillers, bringing to mind author’s like Robin Cook, Ken McClure, even a couple of Michael Crichton books. In some areas it can be a little protracted/slow, but for the most part this story is a good read and well worth the purchase. Enjoyed.

Scott Brick is fantastic as always. Great book!

Fantastic detail and story line! I was sucked in immediately. I look forward to listening to more books by Joshua Spanogle.

Best Medical thriller I have listened to

Would you listen to Isolation Ward again? Why?

This book was absolutely one of the best medical thrillers I have ever read/listened to. Yes I would read it again. The characters were well fleshed out and the plot kept me guessing until the end with a double conflict going on. Even guessing "who done it" only gives the reader 1/2 of the conclusion.

What other book might you compare Isolation Ward to and why?

This is on the same order as the Surgeon or the Apprentice by Tess Gerritson.

What does Scott Brick bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think Scott Brick is a fantastic narrator. He brings so much to the characters he reads. His sarcasm and inflections would make any book a great listen.

Any additional comments?

I have purchased Joshua Spanogle"s next book Flawless, I wish he would write more books. This is an author I would love to read more.