Tomorrow We Die

June 1, 2010
Paramedic Jonathan Trestle doesnt quite to know what to do when a man who appears close to dying utters a gibberish sentence, thrusts a paper full of incomprehensible notations into his hand, and tells Jonathan to give this to Martin. Trying to find out more about the man, not to mention the mysterious Martin, Jonathan stumbles into a murder mystery that threatens to cut his own life short. Although its a bit rough around the edges, Gradys novel should appeal to fans of fast-paced thrillers with a medical theme (Michael Palmer fans, for example, should do well here). The author, a firefighter and paramedic, captures the novels milieu perfectly, although hes less surefooted when it comes to character and dialogue. Jonathans partner, Thaddeus Bones McCoy, for instance, is drastically overwritten, and dialogue thats supposed to be snappy frequently comes across as clumsy. On the other hand, the plotting is solid, and the book features a strong hero, an appropriately evil villain, and a satisfying resolution. With a few more of these under his belt, Grady could become a name to know in the medical-thriller world.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)