"Stress Test" by Richard Mabry

They may not have enough evidence to convict him, but they have enough to ruin his life.

Dr. Matt Newman thought he was leaving his life in private practice for a better one in academic medicine. But the kidnappers who attacked him as he left his last shift in the ER have no such plans—they just want him dead. Bound and in the trunk of his car, Matt’s only thought is escape. He does so, but at a price: a head injury that lands him in the ICU . . . where he awakens to discover he’s being charged with murder.

Sandra Murray is a fiery, redheaded lawyer who swore she was done with doctors. But when Matt calls, she knows she can’t walk away from defending someone who is truly innocent.

Matt’s career is going down the drain. His freedom and perhaps his life may be next. But with the police convinced he’s a murderer and the kidnappers still trying to finish what they started, finding the truth—and the faith to keep going—will be the toughest stress test Matt has ever endured.

What would you do when someone is systematically attacking every facet of your life - trying to destroy you before killing you?  Would your meager faith sustain you, or would you trust only what you could see?

That's the dilemma that Dr. Matt Newman faces, and it's a fascinating one.  From the very first sentence you're handcuffed to Matt, totally invested in his character and wanting to find an escape from the one trying to ruin him.  The plot is very fast-paced and full of action, with death, crime, and hope surgically implanted into every page.  This is definitely a book that I'll be passing off to my husband, for while there is a side romance and emotional moments, this is an action story on every level - of the body, mind, and soul.

Mabry used a fairly wide cast of characters to keep his story moving right along, switching from each perspective seamlessly.  I enjoyed the way that he drew his net ever closer to the heart of the matter, keeping the action high but providing enough clues to keep your mind working on overdrive.  One character's choices were more obvious than the others, I felt, and so you could see where that person was heading; but the others had dark and unpredictable journeys ahead.

I've read Mabry before, and I hope I'll read his again.  Stress Test will make you need one, but if you're a fan of action and suspense, this story will thrill you.


You can read other reviews of this story here, or purchase a copy here.

A retired physician, Dr. Richard Mabry is the author of four critically acclaimed novels of medical suspense. His previous works have been finalists for the Carol Award and Romantic Times Reader’s Choice Award, and have won the Selah Award. He is a past Vice-President of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the International Thriller Writers. He and his wife live in North Texas.

Find out more about Richard at http://www.rmabry.com/.

I received a free copy of Stress Test from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.