Rating: 
Summary: Heart Pounding!
Review: The Cardiac Cartel is a pulse-pounding, cardiovascular workout for the mind. David Mucci has composed a medical thriller comparable to any Robin Cook or Michael Palmer novel. The Cardiac Cartel is like a Mafia-style thriller with bad-guy doctors instead of organized wise guys.
Dr. Peter Pavano's future is in jeopardy the minute he interviews for a chance to join the Fellowship in Angioplasty with a prestigious hospital. He is assured the work will be consuming, seven days a week. He can't be married. He can't be planning to marry. He isn't even allowed to date. The intense agenda is guaranteed to generate an excessive amount of stress. This fact is proven. The last person in the Fellowship program committed suicide weeks after being accepted.
Pavano is approached by FBI Agent Sloan and informed of a mysterious cartel involving hundreds of doctors. The agent tells Pavano that the suicidal doctor before him might have been murdered. They need Pavano's help extracting information about the cartel in order to put a stop to the criminal activity.
In his search for the truth, Pavano is set up. He is accused of severely botching an operation, killing an important political senator. With the help of his attorney, Pavano launches a quest to clear his name, only to find himself surrounded by more doom. People with information turn up dead. The police think Pavano is responsible for murder. The cartel has set a team of mercenaries loose, looking to kill Pavano and anyone else involved with the scheme to puncture the money-artery pumping life into the heart of the cartel.
Amazing and well-developed characters, fast-paced scenes, great dialogue and a very believable, unnerving plot, The Cardiac Cartel has everything anyone could want in a medical thriller. David Mucci has a genuine skill of building up suspense-filled chapters and maintaining the intensity throughout the book. I will anxiously be awaiting more from this talented writer.
--Phillip Tomasso III, author of Johnny Blade, Third Ring and Tenth House
Rating: 
Summary: Medical Dirty Deeds
Review: The story begins with the murder of Dr. Collas, a fellow on the cardiac team at Connecticut General Hospital. It was apparently, someone he trusted. With the introduction of each new character, the reader is left to wonder, is this the murderer? Dr. Peter Pavanno enters the picture two days later to interview for a position on the team. Questions soon arise concerning the cardiac cartel and Peter finds first his job, then his life threatened. The first part of the book follows a familiar formula. Then about halfway through the story it begins to get more interesting. There is plenty of action and it is nice to be able to root for a deserving hero such as Peter Pavanno. There are quite a few typos that were a little distracting, but they didn't slow the pace of the story. Although this isn't a very original tale, it was an enjoyable read.
Rating:
Summary: This book is an "E" Ticket!
Review: To be honest, I was skeptical. I've read a lot of books recently, many by first-time authors, and in general, have read some decent attempts that just weren't all that they could be. I won Mucci's book in a contest and although pleased I won a "prize", was hoping it wasn't another book that I would be putting on the slag heap. Well, I so enjoyed the book that I can't recommend it highly enough. The best metaphor I can think of to describe "Cardiac Cartel" would be that of a roller coaster ride. They are at once exilarating and frightening, and once we are off the ride we laugh at how silly we were for being frightened, but dang, wasn't it fun? The book starts out gradually, giving hints and foreshadowing, almost as if we can catch glimpses of the coaster itself and hear vague screaming from its riders as we wait. The closer we get to the ride, and then once into the "car", the faster it goes and the more loops, turns, and fast up and down hill rides. Mucci surpassed my expectations. This book was a joy to read. I read it in two sittings. I finished it about two hours ago and still have a smile on my face and a laugh on my lips. I hope Mucci continues to write books of this caliber. As a final note, the topic of doling out health care is especially timely. The ethical questions raised in my mind are something to be understood and appreciated, especially if you or someone you love is on Medicare.
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