The Pain Nurse

Jon Talton
Poisoned Pen Press (2009)
ISBN 9781590586242
Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (2/09)

Cheryl Beth Wilson is a nurse who helps patients to manage any pain they are experiencing.  She is employed at a large inner-city hospital in Cincinnati which is not exactly located in the best neighborhood.  One night Cheryl Beth discovers the body of one of her colleagues in the hospital basement and because of her past, she is instantly considered a person of interest in the case.  However, Will Borders, a former policeman and current patient in the hospital, sees the crime scene and recognizes its similarities to a serial killer case from a few years ago.  As the investigation goes on, the information that is uncovered leads the police in several different directions.

I was impressed by the way the author makes nearly every character a possible suspect in the murder.  He presents the case from several different angles, allowing the reader to sift through the information in an attempt to solve the crime.  I enjoyed trying to figure out if the murder is related to something going on in the hospital or if the incident is merely a result of the neighborhood in which the hospital is located. 

The main characters in the story are strongly developed and very likable.  Cheryl Beth’s efforts to make sure her patients were kept comfortable and free from pain are remarkable.  In times such as these with all the problems surrounding the health care system, it is good to see health care workers depicted as caring and competent.  Will similarly is portrayed as a heroic character.  He is recovering from surgery to remove a tumor from his spine.  Although he is unable to walk, he is determined to prove he is still capable of doing his job.  The inner strength he exhibits when it seems he has nothing left to look forward to in life is inspiring.

“The Pain Nurse” by Jon Talton will appeal to all mystery lovers, even more so to those in the medical field.  As the author describes the hospital as an underfunded teaching hospital with a Level I trauma center in the inner city, I feel right at home as this is so eerily similar to the facility in which I am employed.  Although the action is somewhat slow at times, the overall content and style are excellent.



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