Heather’s Bookshelf: Shadow in the Ward
Author: Ari Gray
Released: 01/13/24
Genre: Sci-Fi Medical Thriller
“Shadow in the Ward” occurs in the near future when AI led robotics is being implemented in groundbreaking hospitals. It also introduces Dr. Seth Kelley, an experienced and gifted emergency physician who has become frustrated with the challenges of the healthcare system.
Dr. Kelley reluctantly accepts a position at a hospital utilizing AI and robotics for patient care. He’s initially torn by the concept understanding how the science may lead to help for millions but he also feels the need for the human factor in medicine. He’s seen firsthand how gut instinct and human empathy can be as important as medicine in healing.
So, when he takes the position he’s guarded but open to the clinical trial. He soon meets the main programmer involved with the hospital AI and inadvertently takes on Daria, a medical student scared of patient care. Things start off pretty well, but soon devolve when a patient is found close to death…and then there’s another…
Dr. Kelley believes the AI has a plan all its own and it’s up to him, his medical student (Daria), and a couple of other hospital staffers to stop it all before it’s too late.
Trigger Warning: violence, disease and disability, reference to drug use, reference to prostitution (including child), murder, medical related procedures
Overall, I enjoyed this book. My day job is in the medical field as a physical therapist. I have worked for 15 years at a community-based trauma hospital. So, I’m very familiar with medical jargon and procedures. There’s quite a bit of medical terminology in this one and there are times when the author fully explains terms and others when they are glanced over. I felt like the audience would be a little tough because of this- those with a medical background don’t need the explanation and those without it will have questions while reading. For the rest of the review, I’ll continue with the medical background perspective. Told mostly through the POV of Dr. Kelley, the physician’s background and personal traits are made evident and clear. It is through Dr. Kelley’s interactions with those around him that the personalities of the ancillary characters are put on display. I especially enjoyed Daria and how she grew throughout the story. She was relatable in her anxieties and self doubt but stepped up when it counted. The AI topic felt very “now” and relevant, though there were some portions after the revelation that felt a little redundant, but perhaps that was due to the audiobook format. The pacing of this story overall was excellent from the start and throughout several action sequences. The ending got a bit “preachy” for me and seemed less authentic than the rest of the book. It did set it up for a possible sequel…
This review was conducted on the audiobook version of the story. The narrator is very clear to understand with a lovely tone to his voice.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A thriller heavy in medical and tech jargon centered around discussions of “now” topics. A promising start with great pacing but some confusion regarding the audience and the ending.
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