When my friend was clearing out an old storeroom at her workplace, she found a huge number of books tucked away out of sight. Rather than see them thrown out, I kindly offered to adopt them all for BookCrossing.

This was completely what I needed. After going through a phase of picking up and discarding books, I didn't have high hopes for this. But within pages I was hooked and devoured the lot in a couple of days.

The story follows Abby Di Matteo, a surgical student trying to balance her life in and out of the hospital. When she makes a decision to help a fellow surgeon make sure a donated heart goes to a very sick young man, she knows that she is risking her career. But the repercussions are huge - the husband of the woman who was supposed to get it, tries to have Abby sacked and goes on a viscous campaign to get her struck off. However, when a second heart arrives and is given to his wife, all seems well.

But Abby thinks something is wrong and a few well aimed questions turns up a horrific truth - the heart did not come through the official channels, the surgeon has disappeared and no-one knows what is going on. The hospital wants her silence, but racked with self doubt and a fear that her boyfriend will be hurt, Abby continues to dig and ends up risking more than just her career.

This is fast paced, gory and brilliantly written. Abby's confusion and inability to control the events spiralling around her, put the reader in a permanent state of anxiety - great! The ending is fab - very edge of your seat stuff and I like an author that isn't scared to introduce a new main character later on it the story - in this case the policeman Katzka.

My only niggle is with the author's note at the beginning - why o why don't they put those at the end? She basically gives away the plot twist. Ok, its not a huge surprise, but I think I missed getting the visceral feeling when everything drops into place. So don't read that bit :)

Overall, I am hugely happy to have read this and to have discovered a new favourite author.

Sent as part of the Easter Exchange organised on the forum - hope you enjoy your package of goodies!

it's here!! :-) thank you dark-draco for this book and the lovely stationery supplies :-)

received from birnsen while she's visiting Holland :-)