Fatal Intent

Jacksonville, Fla., anesthesiologist Kate Downey, the narrator of Euliano’s promising debut, is concerned about unusual patient deaths at her hospital. They all had minor surgeries, came out of the procedures in good health, but for reasons Kate doesn’t understand died a few days later. Kate suspects a temporary nurse anesthesiologist who was present at each of the surgeries is somehow responsible, but when she starts asking questions, she’s accused of sexual harassment and comes under scrutiny for the deaths. Despite being suspended and warned by an anonymous message left on her dog’s collar to back off, Kate determines to get to the bottom of the mystery. Meanwhile, she must make some crucial life and death decisions about her husband, a wounded veteran who’s in a vegetative state with little chance of surviving, and she’s also mourning the death at birth of a premature daughter. A possible romantic relationship that develops between Kate and one of the victims’ sons enhances the intriguing plot. Euliano, herself an anesthesiologist, brings authenticity to this chilling medical thriller. Readers will look forward to her next. (Mar.)