Book Blurb:
The gripping new book from the author of The Algorithm Will See You Now. Based on the true-life rationing of kidney dialysis in 1960s America, a medical intern in 1992 Seattle tries to leave his painful past behind, only to uncover a shocking truth of thirty years prior and the lasting, generational harm of hidden secrets…
After a co-intern dies by suicide, a grieving Noah Meier commits an accidental error. In a desperate move to save his patient's life, he covertly seeks help from audacious surgical resident Marah Maddox, igniting a bond between them.
When the hospital is suspiciously quick to sweep everything under the rug, Noah turns to his late father's journal for guidance and makes a chilling discovery, all while trying to stay out of the crosshairs of abusive Dr. Rankel, keen to make an example of Noah. Worse, Rankel clearly has it out for Marah as the only woman in her program.
As the hospital's patriarchal power structures, and the truth about his father's past, threaten Noah and Marah's burgeoning relationship, Noah will have to choose: shoulder his father's devastating legacy or create his own daring future.
The latest sensational page-turner from physician-author JL Lycette, The Committee Will Kill You Now is a riveting historical suspense about the inner workings of the medical world and the personal struggles of those within it.
A thrilling near-historical drama that exposes the dark side of the medical establishment and a must-read for anyone interested in medicine, ethics, and the human struggle for justice.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/A3mI3R
Author Bio:
Writer of feminist medical thrillers and suspense. Author of THE ALGORITHM WILL SEE YOU NOW and THE COMMITTEE WILL KILL YOU NOW
Jennifer / JL Lycette is a novelist, award-winning essayist, rural physician, wife, and mom. Mid-career, she discovered narrative medicine on her path back from physician burnout and has been writing ever since. She is an alumna of the 2019 Pitch Wars Novel Mentoring program. Her first novel, The Algorithm Will See You Now, was published in March 2023. It was a 2023 SCREENCRAFT CINEMATIC BOOK COMPETITION FINALIST, 2023 READER'S FAVORITE BRONZE MEDAL WINNER in the Medical Thriller category, 2023 MAXY AWARD'S FINALIST - Thriller category, and 2023 PAGE TURNER AWARD'S FINALIST - Best Debut Novel category. The Committee Will Kill You Now is her second novel and was released November 2023. It was selected as a recommended read by The Big Thrill / International Thriller Writers.
Editorial Review:
“Plato could wax all he liked about the separation of body and soul, but most days, Noah had to struggle to even remember his patients had souls, let alone find time to doctor them.”
Noah is a hospital intern in Seattle. It’s 1992. The internet is new and unknown (remember those times?). The descriptive talent of the author is clear from an early stage of this novel, creating a vivid picture in the reader’s mind of characters, settings, and emotion. The reader is immediately immersed in Noah’s world. The hospital procedures, the casual medical jargon, the annoying colleagues (and the attractive one!). Perhaps these may seem like cliches, but not in this book. “The Committee Will Kill You Now” is authoritatively written where each character is compelling and authentic, and the author’s knowledge of hospital life – and death – is obvious. Lycette’s writing style is one of gritty realism. There is nowhere to hide in this novel, no poetic rambling or euphemisms. Those who love an intense medical thriller will be reading late into the night.
“Andrews crossed to the front of the room under the fluorescent glare. A trim, middle-aged man with a scholarly air and a fatherly persona, he was the quintessential Program Director of Family Medicine. Dressed in his characteristic tweed jacket, crisp white
shirt, and bow tie underneath his long white coat, his professorial presence commanded the room’s attention without him having to say a word. But instead of his usual broad, open expression, he compressed his lips into a smile that conveyed simultaneous warmth and distance. The careful face of a doctor about to give bad news.”
A trigger warning is included, which some may prefer to read before deciding whether to embark on this reading journey. There are harrowing scenes, death and trauma, which others may see as expected given the premise of “The Committee Will Kill You Now”. There are direct references to traumatic death. These do not appear gratuitous, but these events are nevertheless referred to from time to time during the novel as characters grieve and reflect on what has happened. Likewise, the descriptions of illness and acute health episodes are unflinching, as may be reasonably expected (and wanted) by readers who love this genre.
Through Noah’s eyes the reader is taken on a compulsive tour of what it means to gradually succumb to pressure and paranoia. Noah has trauma of his own, and as the reader goes deeper into Noah’s mind, the stress intensifies. Noah’s attempts to rationalize and to try and meet the impossible standards of others – both family and colleagues - creates considerable sympathy in the reader for his circumstances. He becomes more philosophical, searching for meaning as others around him lose their humanity and moral compass.
“Leave it, Noah. Worrying about worst-case scenarios that didn’t happen accomplishes nothing. She’s going to be fine.” Harper slung her bag over her shoulder. “And you know what they say. The longer you stay, the longer you stay.”
One of his least favorite sayings in the hospital. It was true, though. The longer an intern stayed trying to dot every “i” and cross every “t,” the more additional tasks would be piled on them. The work, in fact, could never be done. It was Sisyphean.”
But “The Committee Will Kill You Now” is not only about Noah’s personal struggles. There is something deep and sinister emerging. In the best tradition of a medical suspense novel, disturbing ethics and past secrets bring to light a shocking historical event that still has present-day ramifications. Noah must confront the past and reflect on decisions made in the 1960s by members of an anonymous medical committee. Noah’s past, his present, and his interior thoughts are consistently well-balanced within the narrative. Noah’s personal story is just as compelling as the discovery of the wider mystery, although some readers may feel that the narrative’s continuing focus on his worries and angst is somewhat overwhelming. The authentic dialogue is a highlight, particularly Noah’s interactions with his colleagues, including Colleen, who is trying to explain that she gets her statistics from the “World-Wide-Web” while others look at her with incomprehension. There is romance for Noah too, but that is also portrayed with realism, with imperfections and uncertainty.
Everything about the narrative, plot and characters in the “The Committee Will Kill You Now” is authentically written, although many readers will understandably assume that the characters and situations are fictionalized. But perhaps the biggest shock is reserved for the Author’s Note, where the extent of historical fact included in the novel is revealed. It may or may not surprise the reader to know that the ratio of fact to fiction is quite different from what many would expect (or hope!).
This novel is not a “happy” story, but it is a deeply thoughtful one. The characters, situations and moral themes are sometimes complex and that is also part of the book’s attraction. Noah is both compelling and vulnerable as a main character, and many readers will identify with his angst and self-doubt in a crushing workplace environment. “The Committee Will Kill You Now” is full of surprises and provides a window into the ethical dilemmas and perspectives of medical decision making, particularly when looked at through an historical lens. First, do no harm…
*****
"The Committee Will Kill You Now" by JL Lycette receives 4 ½ stars from The Historical Fiction Company
To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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