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The Burner
Racism, Revenge, and the Wrath of God
Gail Hallas
Welcome to Sunny Palms Nursing Home, where southern hospitality breeds racism, rage and hot revenge. Revenge so fierce that even the Good Lord's mighty powers can’t stop hell's blazing embers from moving into the building and taking up residency. Right there among the geriatric patients who are strapped to metal chairs and hidden behind the locked doors of C Ward.
Was it the black orderly who torched those twelve people to death? Or was it the bigoted nurse's dictatorship? Was it both the orderly and the nurse? But what about the evangelical elderly patient whose mind tripped over the edge of reality in the throes of raving lunacy?
One patient and a child know who started the fire. But are they even still alive?
* * *
Carlyle Neuse takes a night-shift job at Sunny Palms Nursing Home while he attends college to become an RN. He befriends patients in the locked psych ward. Soon the entire nursing home burns to the ground, and twelve people are dead. Carlyle is thrown into prison for arson and murder, where he's tortured by inmates, guards, and the jail psychiatrist.
Somewhere three patients and a 12-year old girl know the truth. Can Carlyle find any of them before it's too late?
Or are they all dead, too?
* * *
NO OTHER MEDICINE
Medical Political Drama
One hospital explosion.
Three medical outcasts.
Two days frozen.
The miserable have no other medicine,
but only hope.
– William Shakespeare, 1604
All 5-Star Reviews on Amazon
From the 25th Annual Writer’s Digest Book Awards.
This fast-paced novel plot takes you beyond just capturing the bad guy and into the court room. To take on two such complex systems (medical and legal) and capture both with such authenticity and accuracy in such detail, and at the same time do so in such a vivid and engaging manner takes a great deal of talent and skill.
The author invites us into the inner workings—and failings—of the medical profession and presents them from an insider’s perspective. A great insight into the dichotomy that is medicine; the god complex vs. humility, the ability to save lives and to take lives, and ego vs. servant’s heart just to note a few. The characters are fleshed out and well developed. A really good read!
* * *
Other Reviews and testimonials
What a book! I did a book report over this book and I have to say I was skeptical when I first chose this book but I know now it was the best decision ever. this book was a page turner and it kept me on the edge of my seat.
-- Ashley L., Amazon Review
* * *
Brings to life passion and horror that do exist in the field of healthcare. Deep insights into characters. This is a must read!
-- Vel R. MBA, HCM Business
Administrator of 1,300 bed teaching hospital, Miami, Florida
* * *
Dr. Hallas is a masterful storyteller. Words are the paints she used to bring to life her passion and her love for children, animals, and for those whose voices too often go unheard. The story is painstakingly constructed and fast-paced. The characters are authentic and complex. The scenes, from detailed medical procedures, to a deadly blizzard, or experimental human hibernation research conducted in a remote winter cabin are vividly painted. The culminating courtroom drama is worthy of John Grisham or Scott Turow.
-- D. Webb, Gateway Villages, Florida
