The Jake Merlin Mysteries

Medicine, Magic, and Murder

By James Tucker

What can I say, these books are terrific! A few weeks ago I had never heard of the Jack Merlin mysteries or Jim Tucker. Now that I know about both the author and the series, I can’t wait for more of them. I hope that he continues with the characters because in his latest book, he introduces new characters. Let me start by writing what I liked the most about these books, and that is how he has developed his characters. Jim Tucker has a female ADA, Assistant District Attorney, Tory Welch, in his first three books. He has evolved her from a brand spanking, somewhat naive, new ADA into a character that is sure of herself and her role in the stories. By the second book, she has a gun and is not afraid to use it when the plot calls for it. There are a few writers who write a female lead into the plot and then have them acting helpless throughout all of their stories. This is not the case with Tucker ort with Welsh. Tucker has written her multidimensional and this makes the character more real and believable. I know from his website, http://www.jamestuckerbooks.com, that he has sons so I am guessing his wife was a huge influence on the development of this character. Come to think, on all of the female characters in the books. He writes them well, no condescending, or demeaning roles in the stories. Kudos Jim for how you write female characters.

Jack Merlin is also a multidimensional character. Jim Tucker has written about a physician with a sense of humor and honor. Merlin is a physician who relates to his young patients through magic. He is not afraid to get a few good laughs and take a few good laughs. His honor shows through in his loyalty to those closest to him. Merlin and Welch are a couple in the books and Tucker has written a very believable story about these two. You will find that you want to finish the books both to see how their story turns out as well as the “who dunit” part. Tucker has written about what he knows very well, physicians and their counterparts. All of the physicians in these books are believable. In fact many have traits that you may have seen in your own doctors. They will elicit a chuckle or a shake of the head, as in “yep, I know someone just like that”. This is quite a talent.

Of course Tucker also knows the cops and bad guys very well also. The bad guys, in his books, the mob, are automatically the villains. However, the cops are also villains in the stories. This makes for a nice little twist because you don’t see it coming, especially in Tragic Wand.

Tucker manages to create plots that are intricate. What I especially like is the fact that when he ends the story, he does not do it a rush as so many authors do. The ending flows with the story and the reader does not feel like the author ran out of story and just wants to finish the book. As a reader I appreciate the fact that Tucker leaves you wanting more. His books can be read as stand-alone stories but they read better if you read them in sequence. I commented that the Silent Samaritan could easily be made into a TV show, in fact all of his books would do well as TV shows. They are entertaining and fast moving, and as I have already said, I hope that we get more Merlin mysteries !

Following is a synopsis of his first three books. Be sure to visit his website http://www.jamestuckerbooks.com to keep in touch with what he is doing. Maybe he’ll have Merlin and Welch solving a golf course mystery. Now there’s a story for magic, the game of golf, murder, what a place to hide a body, the golf course and medicine, all kinds of things can happen !!

Abra Cadaver

We first meet Jack Merlin, MD, a resident who is assigned to work with the head of the Anatomy Department at the Medical School. The head of this department is obnoxious but brilliant. On his first day helping the new medical students, he discovers that one of the cadaver’s is that of his best friend and roommate that went missing over a year ago. What a place to hide a body! We meet Tory Welch, a brand new assistant district attorney and the cast of characters from her office, including an equally obnoxious District Attorney! The characters from the mob, are both obnoxious and deadly, what a combination! Merlin and Welch get together to solve this case, and in doing so create another plot line. We are introduced to the hospital and it functions. This book is a fast read with a good plot and strong characters. It is hard to put down! This is a great first book !

Hocus Corpus

This is the second book in the Merlin Mysteries. Merlin is now the Chief Resident at the hospital in Pittsburg. Welch and he are now a couple and life seems to be going well. That is until a series of deaths from a drug resistant bacteria start to take place. One of the deaths is a young patient of Merlin’s whose father is extremely rich and well connected. Merlin’s reputation, as well as that of the hospital is at stake. Once again, Tucker knows his players well and writes them accordingly. The villains this time are not only the mob but an insurance company and a ambitious hospital administrator. Merlin and Welch team up to solve the mystery. There are enough red herrings to keep you guessing till the end.  This is a really good read that is sure to please.

Tragic Wand

This is the third in the Merlin Mystery series and what a twist in this one! Merlin is now an attending physician at the hospital when he accompanies Welch to a plastic surgeon’s office. What starts out as a routine office visit turns into a scene from hell when a crazy patient attacks Welch. The patient is convinced , against all evidence, that the DA’s office know why he is at the plastic surgeon’s office and tries to kill both Merlin and Welch. The action is fast. The cops and the Department of Justice are both involved in this one and you really will not see the end coming until almost the end! This is a good read and a good story. I hope that there are more Merlin stories coming, because I want to see how the characters develop!