| Reviews for Grievous Bodily Harm
TITLE INFORMATION
GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM
A Toni Day Mystery
Munro, Jane Bennett
CreateSpace (292 pp.)
$15.00 paperback, $5.99 e-book
ISBN: 978-1481218993; June 22, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
Sassy pathologist Toni Day shines in this modern-day mystery of corporate shenanigans and hospital politics.
Within hours of taking the reins as an administrator at Perrine Memorial Hospital, the slick but charismatic Marcus
Manning begins pressuring Day to resign. When she resists, demanding details about the alleged complaints regarding
her job performance, Manning implies an alternative solution: If she’ll have sex with him, she can keep her job. Shortly
after this conversation, he offers the same deal to another female physician, kicking off an involved campaign of
blackmail and extortion—until he drops dead at the company picnic, the victim of a toxic lemonade. Finding herself a
suspect in the case, Day throws herself into clearing her name and revealing the real killer. Little does she know that
she’ll find more than her reputation at risk. As she gets closer to the truth, she confronts a killer whose vengeful plans
allow for plenty of collateral damage. The villainous Manning is almost too evil—he lies, he cheats, he sexually harasses
co-workers, he abuses his wife, he beats his children, etc.—which makes for an impressive array of plausible suspects
for his murder, though it detracts from the quality of his own character development, which elsewhere is expertly
nuanced. Dialogue is fresh and witty: “Beauty is only skin deep, but asshole goes all the way to the bone,” Day quips
early on in the book. Award-winning author Munro (
Too Much Blood, 2012, etc.) worked for years as a pathologist, and
her experience lends authenticity to the work. Overall, plotting and pacing are satisfying, though some of the plot twists
strain believability; for instance, how many times can one man be surprised that his private conversations were recorded
on a hidden cellphone? There are other minor missteps, including the shockingly permissive attitudes of the police, but
the effect isn’t too troubling, and the strong, action-packed conclusion will likely leave readers wanting more from this
talented writer.
A smart, enjoyable summer read.
Kirkus Indie, Kirkus Media LLC, 6411 Burleson Rd., Austin, TX 78744
indie@kirkusreviews.com
Monday, August 5, 2013
Review: Grievous Bodily Harm: A Toni Day Mystery by Jane Bennett Munro
Book: Grievous Bodily Harm: A Toni Day Mystery
Author: Jane Bennett Munro
Published Date: June 22nd, 2013
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Genre: Mystery
Series: Book 3 in Toni Day Mystery series
Book Link: Goodreads
Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Synopsis:
When Marcus Manning is hired to help ease Perrine Memorial Hospital's transition from privately owned hospital to part of a behemoth system that covers most of the Pacific Northwest,he immediately stirs up trouble.He begins lying, bad-mouthing and blackmailing & even threatening the hospital staff and before he can really get going, pathologist Toni Day blows the whistle.
While the hospital considers firing him,someone else comes up with a more permanent solution-cyanide. Now Toni is the number one suspect and she must clear her name and find the real killer.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.
Review:
This book is set two years after Too Much Blood. Not much has changed in Toni's personal life but things are changing at the hospital where she has been a pathologist for many years. Marcus Manning is one character that I wanted to take a shotgun to,and quickly. Usually I don't have that vehement of a statement about characters but he was the biggest book related asshole that I had "met" in awhile.
He is the type of character who abuses his power to the point of Toni being the recipient of a serious bodily injury that eventually requires surgery.He scares her staff by blackmailing them and attempting to extort sexual favors from him. All the while hiding the fact that he is abusing his wife on a daily basis. I wanted to reach through the book and strangle him until he turned limp beneath my hands.
Someone else had the same idea as Marcus is killed in plain sight of many people at a hospital picnic. No one knows who did it. Was it the wife? Was it the wife's best friend whom Marcus had bragged about sleeping with? Or was it Toni,fed up with the physical & emotional damage that Marcus was inflicting upon her?
I really enjoyed this book. Like Too Much Blood,I found Toni to be a badass and she was the type of woman who took no crap from anyone. Even from someone who had the ability to get her fired.In Too Much Blood,one of my only criticisms was that the secondary characters weren't as well developed as I would have liked,particularly Hal, Toni's husband of many years.
However,the author seemed to take these comments to heart and I noticed a definite increase in character development this time around. I got a much better picture of Hal as well as Toni's stepdaughter & her husband Pete. Lets not forget the friends as well. They played a much more important role this time around.I was thrilled to see such commitment to better character development.
The majority of the book seemed to focus on the crap that Marcus was attempting to throw at the hospital before his untimely death. That would be my only complaint this time around.It's not enough to change my rating though.
This book was a throughly enjoyable book that kept me guessing throughout the entire thing. I actually enjoyed this book MORE than Too Much Blood and for that reason,this book gets a full 5 stars from me. I cannot wait to see what the author writes next.
Posted by Alexia Boesen at 8:00 AM
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Customer Review
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Toni, Toni, Toni!, August 2, 2013
By
Dii
This review is from: Grievous Bodily Harm (A Toni Day mystery) (Kindle Edition)
Toni Day is back and deep in the thick of murder, mystery and mayhem, once again! Grievous Bodily Harm by Jane Bennett Munro is an excellent addition to the Toni Day Mystery Series. Toni is among several hospital employees being targeted for dismissal by a newly hired administrator, Marcus Manning. Seems Marcus has his eye on being the hospital CEO and his mind in the gutter as he uses sexual harassment, lies and intimidation to revamp the staff to his liking and hopefully strengthen his powerbase in the process. With the staff up in arms, Toni spearheads the counter attack on Marcus in an effort to get him fired and out of the picture. But someone else wanted him gone more permanently and figured a little cyanide might just do the trick. Sure, there are lots of likely suspects, but Toni becomes suspect number 1 and must risk everything to find the real killer. Hal just isn't totally onboard with all that is happening, Toni's mother is getting married and in her own world, so Toni does her usual thing and ignores all sense of caution in her quest. There are tons of people who despised Marcus, and his track record is less than stellar. Will Toni be able to uncover what the police cannot? Or perhaps the question should be: Can Toni survive long enough to uncover what the police do not seem to be able to? The answer and the reasons why Marcus met an untimely death are best labeled as, "Didn't see THAT one coming!"
Once again, Jane Bennett Munro has taken her vast medical experience, sliced it up and tossed into the mystery hat and pulled out another winner! Her world-building is fabulous, anyone who can make me think I'm smelling a hospital, or a musty pile of old records, all while keeping me on the edge of my seat waiting for Toni's next move has talent through and through! Each character is unique, complete and human. I didn't have to always like or hate them, no one was all evil or all good, like I said, these characters felt human, flawed, real. Each subplot was strategically placed and added realism to the story. And Toni? I'm not sure she isn't part cat, she seems to have at least nine lives and eventually ends up landing on her feet, time after time! She is over-the-top brilliant, tough and determined in this fast-paced who-dun-it!
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Customer Review
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Toni's strength, and the JERK's power, August 15, 2013
By
gayle pace "May A Rainbow Shine Down On You!"
This review is from: Grievous Bodily Harm: A Toni Day mystery (Paperback)
REVIEW:
TOO MUCH BLOOD came first and now two years later we have GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM. Toni has been a pathologist at the same hospital for quite a few years. Not much has changed for her personally either.There was one character who rubbed me the wrong way. He thought he had this great power and you just wanted to flatten him. Marcus Manning is not on my favorite character's list. Toni ends up at the brunt of his power and requires surgery.He is a wife abuser and he is trying to hide the fact. He scares her staff with blackmail and seeking sex from them. King El Jerko to be sure. Someone was killed at a hospital picnic right in front of everybody, but no one knows who did it. Maybe it was his wife? The wife's best friend whom Marcus had told everyone about sleeping with her.? There's still another possibility, Toni? She might be fed up with the abuse that she was dealing with from Marcus . Toni took no guff from anyone. She was her own woman and strong willed. I would like to know more about Toni's husband. Where is he when Marcus is playing macho man with Toni and her friends? I feel that the author did a fine job of developing most of her characters. Most of the book was about the power Marcus had and how he inflicted it on others, before he died. This is a book that you should read if you like mystery, murder and mayhem. Who doesn't like a combination of those three? The author didn't fail to deliver another fantastic book. Thanks Ms. Munro for such good books.
I would give this book 5 STARS.
I received a complimentary copy of GRIEVOUS BODILY HARM from the author, Jane Bennett Munro for this unbiased review.
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Great Medical Mystery that will also make you Laugh!
FIVE GOLDEN STARS
By MikiHope on July 29, 2013
Although Sexual harassment and intimidation have been outlawed in the US for many years now -that does not mean to say it does not still exist and happen!! To say that I was literally spitting nails at what was being depicted is well frankly an understatement!! Unless you have been harassed to leave a job or had a co-worker make sexual overtures (which I sincerely hope never happens to you) you are going to be shocked. This is, after all, just a novel--but an extremely well written one which will have you gasping, and admittedly even laughing a bit.
Other then Toni Day, a die hard pessimist whose character I ended up loving and admiring and who seemed to be constantly opening her mouth, getting in more and more trouble or ending up in a hospital bed herself--her mother, who had come for a visit was a bit of a comic relief. I mean really, as the entire world is going crazy and you finally say some words that maybe you shouldn't--there is good old Mom reminding you about your language! I also loved all the ancillary characters from the hospital staff. I have worked in hospitals and yes, they are hot beds of gossip. Toni's husband when up to his earlobes would throw his hands up in the air and scream out Oy Gevault--
Now that I have read this novel I can not wait to read others in the Toni Day Mystery series--I give this a 5 star rating and suggest you go get a copy for yourself (e-book or paperback)!!!!!
Grievous Bodily Harm: A Toni Day mystery
Grievous Bodily Harm: A Toni Day Mystery Reviewed By Fran Lewis of Bookpleasures.com
Author: Jane Bennett Munro, M.D
ISBN: 978-1481218993
Publisher: CreateSpace
Makeovers are supposed to change your appearance for the better and give up a different perspective on life. But, some such as the one Perrine Memorial Hospital is about to experience will not only create dissention, hard feelings and disharmony. Dr. Toni Day is a pathologist who finds herself the object of ridicule, discontent and blackmail. When Marcus Manning is hired to help with the transition of Perrine Memorial to a private hospital called Cascade, some feel it will give the hospital a new lease on life. But, appearances are deceiving and when the new roles are defined, changes that will be implemented will be drastically change the complexion of more than just how the hospital is run. When the administrator explains the new chain of command, why this would help improve the image of the hospital and unite them more with the community, not everyone wants to jump on board. New programs are being implemented and many of the doctors will be required to teach classes in High Schools to encourage students to go into the health profession but the underlying and nagging feeling in Toni’s gut is about to come front and center.
When Marcus Manning decides to make the rounds and introduce himself to some of the staff the end result is blackmail, sexual harassment and threats. Stating that there have been many complaints against Toni and several other staff members sends her reeling and wanting to find out where these threats originated and with whom. In a day and age where most people realize that women are equally as capable as men, what happens when one hospital wants to revert back to the colonial period or dark ages, suppress women’s voices and create an all male staff? Twin Falls is the location and Marcus Manning has his roots there. First impressions are often quite powerful and although he tries to endear himself with the staff the end result will cost him dearly. Finding his way to rid the hospital of anyone who tries to go up against him as the new CEO of Perrine Memorial. Toni Day is his first victim and what she does to bring him down is priceless.
Toni is hard nosed, filled with ire and will not back down when she enlists the help of her fellow staff members, her supervisor Mike in pathology and her husband Hal for support to find a way to circumvent what Manning is trying to put in place. This pathologist would not go quietly and the end result will eliminate Marcus as someone decides that the only way to prevent his wrath is to take him down. As Toni began questioning some of her co-workers a link to the Chief of Staff’s brother was found, the possibility that no one checked Marcus’s credentials and his work history appeared quite suspect. Added in during a gathering they all witnessed Marcus yelling and hitting his wife after meeting her at another event and noticing several bruises. How could they hire someone that might be blackmailing their Chief of Staff? What did he have on Jack or even his brother that would make him look the other way at what he was doing to Toni and some of the other female doctors? Was he after just ancillary services, female doctors or was there a religious reason? What about the new person that was promoting the hospital?
Things heat up as Marcus threatens to fire many more employees, claims there are many complaints against Toni, firing nurses, techs and even Charlie the CFO. Finding ways to alienate the staff, and making both physical and managerial threats against different staff members, Marcus Manning would stop at nothing to reach his ultimate goal. After analyzing his actions Toni and several of her friends and co-workers come to conclusion that he wants to be CEO of the entire system and by eliminating Toni and two others clearinig his path of any opposition.
Things heat up even more, as Marcus critically attacks Toni causing her to need surgery or lose her arms. Compartment syndrome is serious as the author shares the information about this illness, the surgery and the method of recovery with readers. The author brilliantly shares her expertise in forensic pathology allowing readers inside the room during the autopsy and sharing her expertise and knowledge about the murder weapon, cyanide.
The investigation points to several suspects with Toni at the top of the list. Added in we meet her mother Fiona, her future husband Nigel who add a comedic blend and definite flare to the story and the investigation. Just who decided to rid the world of this blackmailer, abuser and cheat? Wait until you find out what happens during the autopsy that will certainly surprise the reader.
A wife that was blinded to her husband’s actions and a best friend that kept some secrets from her. Lies, betrayals, blackmail, murder, abuse and a rumor that could do more than just ruin Toni’s career. One snap decision will bring it all to a close as Toni risks her life in order to find a killer even if it means becoming a killer herself. What started as a routine hospital makeover turned into Grievous Bodily Harm!
Grievous Bodily Harm: A Toni Day Mystery Reviewed By Fran Lewis of Bookpleasures.com
Author: Jane Bennett Munro, M.D
ISBN: 978-1481218993
Publisher: CreateSpace
Makeovers are supposed to change your appearance for the better and give up a different perspective on life. But, some such as the one Perrine Memorial Hospital is about to experience will not only create dissention, hard feelings and disharmony. Dr. Toni Day is a pathologist who finds herself the object of ridicule, discontent and blackmail. When Marcus Manning is hired to help with the transition of Perrine Memorial to a private hospital called Cascade, some feel it will give the hospital a new lease on life. But, appearances are deceiving and when the new roles are defined, changes that will be implemented will be drastically change the complexion of more than just how the hospital is run. When the administrator explains the new chain of command, why this would help improve the image of the hospital and unite them more with the community, not everyone wants to jump on board. New programs are being implemented and many of the doctors will be required to teach classes in High Schools to encourage students to go into the health profession but the underlying and nagging feeling in Toni’s gut is about to come front and center.
When Marcus Manning decides to make the rounds and introduce himself to some of the staff the end result is blackmail, sexual harassment and threats. Stating that there have been many complaints against Toni and several other staff members sends her reeling and wanting to find out where these threats originated and with whom. In a day and age where most people realize that women are equally as capable as men, what happens when one hospital wants to revert back to the colonial period or dark ages, suppress women’s voices and create an all male staff? Twin Falls is the location and Marcus Manning has his roots there. First impressions are often quite powerful and although he tries to endear himself with the staff the end result will cost him dearly. Finding his way to rid the hospital of anyone who tries to go up against him as the new CEO of Perrine Memorial. Toni Day is his first victim and what she does to bring him down is priceless.
Toni is hard nosed, filled with ire and will not back down when she enlists the help of her fellow staff members, her supervisor Mike in pathology and her husband Hal for support to find a way to circumvent what Manning is trying to put in place. This pathologist would not go quietly and the end result will eliminate Marcus as someone decides that the only way to prevent his wrath is to take him down. As Toni began questioning some of her co-workers a link to the Chief of Staff’s brother was found, the possibility that no one checked Marcus’s credentials and his work history appeared quite suspect. Added in during a gathering they all witnessed Marcus yelling and hitting his wife after meeting her at another event and noticing several bruises. How could they hire someone that might be blackmailing their Chief of Staff? What did he have on Jack or even his brother that would make him look the other way at what he was doing to Toni and some of the other female doctors? Was he after just ancillary services, female doctors or was there a religious reason? What about the new person that was promoting the hospital?
Things heat up as Marcus threatens to fire many more employees, claims there are many complaints against Toni, firing nurses, techs and even Charlie the CFO. Finding ways to alienate the staff, and making both physical and managerial threats against different staff members, Marcus Manning would stop at nothing to reach his ultimate goal. After analyzing his actions Toni and several of her friends and co-workers come to conclusion that he wants to be CEO of the entire system and by eliminating Toni and two others clearinig his path of any opposition.
Things heat up even more, as Marcus critically attacks Toni causing her to need surgery or lose her arms. Compartment syndrome is serious as the author shares the information about this illness, the surgery and the method of recovery with readers. The author brilliantly shares her expertise in forensic pathology allowing readers inside the room during the autopsy and sharing her expertise and knowledge about the murder weapon, cyanide.
The investigation points to several suspects with Toni at the top of the list. Added in we meet her mother Fiona, her future husband Nigel who add a comedic blend and definite flare to the story and the investigation. Just who decided to rid the world of this blackmailer, abuser and cheat? Wait until you find out what happens during the autopsy that will certainly surprise the reader.
A wife that was blinded to her husband’s actions and a best friend that kept some secrets from her. Lies, betrayals, blackmail, murder, abuse and a rumor that could do more than just ruin Toni’s career. One snap decision will bring it all to a close as Toni risks her life in order to find a killer even if it means becoming a killer herself. What started as a routine hospital makeover turned into Grievous Bodily Harm!
Grievous Bodily Harm Jane Bennett Munro Jane Bennett Munro 2013 ISBN 9781481218993 Reviewed by Janet Reeves for Rebecca’s Reads (8/13)
This book is so enticing. I was not sure where it was going, and then I thought I did know, and finally it went someplace completely different! That makes me enjoy the events much more, so now I look forward to another Toni Day Mystery by Jane B. Munro
Marcus Manning comes in with a bang all right; forget about making a smooth transition as the new hospital COO. He is firing everyone left and right. His first order of business is to get the two female doctors that start off giving trouble, in the meeting where he was introduced. Toni is rattled as she is Marcus’s first subject to be fired, followed by sexual harassment. Toni goes over Marcus’s head and manages to undo as many firings as Marcus can get done. The problem is she stops getting support because he is so busy being bad.
Throughout the book, Toni is constantly interfering with Marcus’s plans. Now he is so angry and is really out to get her; and has no problem announcing it! Justice seems to be Toni’s motto as she attempts to stay ahead of the game with Marcus. Toni is the hospital’s head pathologist and she and her partner Mike run a tight ship. Marcus starts to slither in and wreaks havoc in Toni’s world in spite of her best efforts to keep one step ahead of him.
The hospital is being turned upside down by one man who will eventually become the CEO when Monte retires. Why does Marcus get away with all his power plays? No one will fire him and it seems as they cannot stop him either. The big question is: why is he still there? Who is Marcus blackmailing?
This book is one adventure after another as Toni will not give up, at all costs, taking Marcus down. Marcus’s motives are still not clear and she will stop until she uncovers all the clues in this mystery man’s appearance.
The end will surprise you; Marcus makes one transition to another but how?
The US Review of Books
Grievous Bodily Harm
by Jane Bennett Munro
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
reviewed by Maria A. Hughes
"My blood ran cold. He sounded like Don Corleone, making me an offer I couldn't refuse"
Trouble seems to follow Toni Day, a gutsy if somewhat pessimistic pathologist, wherever she goes—and this time is no different. Marcus Manning, a young, charismatic, upstart is hired at Perrine Memorial Hospital to help assimilate it into a larger medical corporation that spans the Pacific Northwest. Despite his outstanding credentials, Toni doesn't trust him when she first meets him because his smile "doesn't touch his eyes." Her immediate distrust leads her to uncover Manning's less than outstanding behavior toward other hospital personnel (including herself) that involves bribery, sexual harassment, blackmail, and outright abuse in order to rise up the corporate chain. Toni blows the whistle on him and attempts to get him jailed for his conduct, until he mysteriously ends up dead. Toni, now the primary suspect, races against the time and law enforcement to prove her innocence.
A good mystery weaves a delicate line between reality and suspension of belief. The author's background as a pathologist lends credibility to Toni's medical evaluation in her investigation, making her come alive for the reader. It produces a story that is both compelling and believable, as Toni uses her medical expertise to clear her name. The author also does a wonderful job of demonstrating how sexism and corporate bullying is alive and well in a character like Marcus Manning, a character the reader will love to despise. Munro's story is a roller coaster ride of suspense and intrigue with twists and turns that will entertain a lover of mysteries and forensic crime novels for hours.
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