Emma, a doctor, married to detective Nate, just finds out that their young son has cancer, with the only chance for. a cure is a new, very expensive treatment that is not covered by insurance. In a panic, Emma decides that the quickest way to raise money is to write prescriptions for opioids in a drug ring that her brother is involved in. Meanwhile, her husband Nate is actively working the case to find the leaders and break up this drug ring. Thus begins the deception and scrambling to keep her husband from finding out she is a part of this.

While the thought of "the ends justify the means" or the moral dilemma explored here is an intriguing plot, I think Emma comes across as quite unlikable with terrible decision-making skills. For example, it took her like 4 seconds to decide to sell drugs, without exploring other ideas or even really discussing other options with family and friends. For those reasons, the plot wasn't as amazing as it could be. What I did find interesting and thought-provoking is the discussion surrounding why so many people have become addicted to opioids in the first place. It is tragic what has been done to some of these people.

Overall, a good book, with a great interesting finish.

Emma is a mother and doctor. Her husband, Nate, is a police officer. Together they have a beautiful son, Josh. Their world turns upside down when Josh is diagnosed with leukemia. The best chance for him to live is with an expensive treatment that their insurance won’t cover. Emma is determined to do whatever it takes to save her son.

As a mother I felt for Emma. She needs to do whatever she has to for her son. Emma risks everything to get the necessary money to pay for Josh’s treatment. She has to make some very tough decisions and I loved how the author navigated me through Emma’s decisions.

I loved this book. The basic plot of a mother going to great lengths to save her son is turned into a thrilling novel.

After receiving an early copy of this book, I inhaled it! The story begins with a stabbing in the dark, leaving one wondering who could have been hurt and how they might have failed. It then jumps to present day when you meet the main characters, Emma and Nate Sweeney, and their son. The story accelerates into high gear with the family faced with a crippling decision: how to save their son who was just diagnosed with cancer. The family rallies around Josh, looking to find an effective cure for him despite the cost. This leads to a series of events that will come to define do the ends justify the means. Thank you for the opportunity to read the book early.

The first time I ever cried while reading a suspense novel was when I read The Night Olivia Fell, Christina McDonald's debut novel. In her latest novel, she has done it again--written a novel which is a jaw-dropping, tense thriller that is also heart-wrenching and emotional. She has given us a story that you can't put down, with nonstop action and deep dark secrets and deception. At the same time, we are introduced to characters who are suffering, who wedge their way into our hearts, who we hope will come out okay on the other side. In this book, we are given so much to think about, and I felt like I had to dig deep to understand the complexities of the story and the people living it. Do No Harm brings us into the seedy world of the opioid epidemic, seeing it from so many points of view--the addicts, the dealers, law enforcement--really causing me to think beyond the black and white of addiction. There are so many fascinating layers to this story, the lines increasingly blurred--good vs evil, right vs wrong, relieving unbearable pain vs the cost (mental, physical, and monetary) of addiction--which begs the question, "Does the ends justify the means?" To say that the characters in this book are complex doesn't even scratch the surface of all of the emotions that they brought out in me. This line really stuck with me, and although it was spoken by Emma, it can be applied to so many of the characters: "But I knew how easy it was to hide the darker side of yourself from others, even those you loved. To hide fear and sadness, anger and hostility. The mask was easy. It was honesty, openness, and trust that were truly difficult to manage." With all of its twists and turns, heartache and fear, in the end this is an emotionally-driven story of a desperate mother, who will let nothing stop her from saving her son.

Another amazing book by an outstanding author!
Emma will do anything to save her young son Josh who has been diagnosed with cancer. Emma is an upstanding doctor following her dream with her Detective husband Nate when their world come crashing down. Josh is in kindergarten and still with a long life ahead if only his parents can come up with the huge sum of money for his lifesaving treatment. They are scraping money together, something that young parents can relate to, just to make ends meet. Emma has a plan to cash in on the opioid market in order to fund the cancer treatment while Nate is trying to solve murders relating to the drug crisis. How far will Emma go to save her son’s life? Is his life worth the loss of others? How long can she keep her double life a secret from Nate before the two worlds collide.
The author is so descriptive that I could see and feel what was going on! It was thought provoking and as a mother, it made we wonder how far I would go and I felt compassion and was letting her off the hook for her transgressions in the name of her son!
Be ready to stay up way past your bedtime because you won’t want to put this book down! Another winner! Thank you Netgalley , Gallery Books and Christina McDonald for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Sometimes you’re dealt a losing hand you might win, sometimes you’re dealt a winning hand you might lose. You just gotta play the cards you’re dealt.
Christina McDonald-Do No Harm

Emma is a doctor and a mother. Nate is a detective and a father. Josh is a little boy, a son diagnosed with a deadly cancer and with that comes expensive treatments. Desperate to save her son, Emma decides to sell opioids to help pay for his treatment. Emma is quickly thrown into a world of drugs, lies and murder. It’s a modern day cat and mouse case as Nate is desperate to solve the case of who is behind the opioid crisis in their town. Will Emma be able to save her son in time? Or will she be caught?

What did I like:
1. I feel like this story was made for tv or movie. I think it would play on the big screen nicely. As I mentioned, its a cat and mouse chase with lots of secrets and sneakiness.
2. Not only does the book touch on the touch topic of opioid addiction, which is a big problem in our country, I liked that it also addressed the patients who are harmed the most. The ones who truly need pain killers to treat the daily chronic pain they have but can’t get it because doctors are afraid to prescribe it.

What I didn’t like:
1. I had a hard time relating to the characters and I felt like they could have been developed a little more. It was also told in two points of view, Nate and Emma’s but the chapters weren’t labeled. So it was hard to distinguish sometimes between the two.
2. While the plot and storyline was a good idea, I felt like the delivery was lacking. Relationships and friendships would appear out of nowhere and the timeline didn’t always make sense. The story would jump ahead days or a week at a time and the reader was left to figure that out on their own. As an example, someone was thrown into a river and then the next chapter that person is found and its indicated they’ve been in the water for 6-8 days but that didn’t follow the pattern for the rest of the story. I think titles like “X days later” or something would have been helpful.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Wow, what an ending! I had in my mind what I was going to say for my review as I was reading this book, but then as I neared the ending, everything changed! A question I often ask myself is what constitutes my rating? Is it the writing done by the author? How much I enjoyed the book? Is it determined by if I can relate to the characters or story? The answer is really that it depends... I absolutely can’t relate to the story and definitely not to the mother, Emma. I was disappointed in her actions over and over again but, really, it doesn’t matter because her poor choices made a REALLY GOOD book to read! The author was very creative and talented and I was surprised at the unexpected twists and sudden intensity at the end! Great job!

I have enjoyed all of Christina Henry’s work, but this one might just be my fav! The character development was amazing, and the plot was realistic, unique, and absolutely well researched. Some have you shaking your head, as you read the misinformation they spread throughout different areas, this does the opposite! It keeps you on the edge of the seat, holding your breath, and gasping in shock; all while covered in goosebumps! Very emotional, as are all her books! I highly, highly recommend! As many say, 3rd times the charm, and while Henry’s first two were great, I think this one out-blew them! Do not start before bedtime, in fact clear schedule, as I promise it’s one of those that needs read in one sitting!

Will buzz around and use lower Amazon reviewer number on release date!

I will always read anything this author puts out. I just love the way she writes, the way she tells a story. That being said this was my least favorite of hers.

The characters were too much for me. She (Emma) was so very alone, an orphan. He (Nate) was the strong white knight that “completed” her. The child (Josh) was just such a doll. Yet, there is a darkness to Emma.

There were twists. Some I saw coming, others not so much. I did like the ending though. That was dark and twisty!

Again, this author is wonderfully talented. This story was more “emotional” than her two previous stories. It was still quite good and entertaining, and I’m sure it will be a big hit, I just liked the two prior books more.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Gallery Books for a copy in exchange for a review.

Wow. This is my favorite book by Christina McDonald so far. It was such an emotional read for me. It hit me on all different levels and I could tell she really did her research on all the issues in this book. I loved how she addressed the opioid crisis and how it has affected people who live in chronic pain like me. I’m also a medical mamma, so I understand the lengths a parent will go to protect their child. It was beautifully written and gave a voice to those who suffer while also keeping you in suspense!

When I first started querying, The Night Olivia Fell was one of my comp titles. I devoured that book and loved the gritty, real-life relationships McDonald developed. When I saw Do No Harm available, I immediately hit request and was thrilled to be approved.

Emma is a respected doctor and Nate is a detective on the cusp of a promotion. They have a wonderful son and a happy relationship--until, that is, their lives are turned upside down when their son Josh is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. On borrowed time and faced with an insurmountable debt, Emma has a choice to make: break the law, let herself be drawn into a complex underworld of drugs and opioid distribution, or turn down the only treatment that could possibly save her son's life and lose the only family she's ever known.

I really enjoyed this book.

As I've come to expect from McDonald's work, no character can be taken at face value; nobody is wholly good or bad. Nate is a wonderful foil for Emma, trying to do the right thing and proving that no amount of good intentions can fix the unfixable. You can't make money appear out of thin air. You can't take away chronic illness. People aren't infallible creatures.

The duality of Emma's personality is what makes this book work so well. On the one hand, she's a loving wife, successful doctor, doting mother, and admired member of the community. On the other hand, she's had a troubled past and isn't above using her position in order to save the most important thing in her life. She doesn't stick to her morals as you might expect of the leading female role in a thriller/suspense. Rather, she examines her morality and makes a decision based on what she thinks she can live with. Is she willing to break her husband's trust, the implied societal rules, the law in order to save her son?

Yes, she is, and that leads us to another interesting aspect of this book. Drug use in this country is a rampant social issue that affects a significant portion of the population on a daily basis. Opioids, in particular, once readily available and over-prescribed, are now regulated and noted for their addictive qualities--a fact McDonald leans into hard. There is no delicate handling of this subject. We see characters struggling with addiction. Chronic pain. Illegal immigrants drawn into dealing because they have few options or become trapped. We see "regular" people, teachers, and doctors, and store owners, involved in this underbelly of drug activity--and I think this is so important. Movies and TV portray drugs as cartel clashes and turf wars, but McDonald's characters emphasize that dangers don't always come from "the outside," and people can do bad things for good reasons. Good and bad, indeed, are subjective and always changing.

I think many readers will relate to this book. It's entertaining and dramatic without being indulgent, and it breathes an authentic complexity into its characters that is too often overlooked.

Smart, dark, and fast-paced, Do No Harm has teeth and and grit and isn't afraid to bite back. Out in February, I see this one rising the charts again and look forward to more from McDonald.

Big thanks to Gallery and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

Christina McDonald does it again in this page turner! Emma and Nate have the perfect life love that is endless a cute little boy Josh, Careers that they both love! All that pales when they find out Josh is sick with an aggressive form of leukemia. Nate and Emma need to figure out how to pay for the treatment that their insurance doesn’t cover, you would think that a dr and detective would have some savings and great insurance, but as is all too common in this world nothing is what it seems. Nate is given a lifeline if he solves a string of od’s it could push him up the ladder hence solving their money problems, Emma finds another way. What would you do as a parent if you needed the money to save your sick child! With twists and turns that will give you whiplash this is as great at the other two McDonald books! Can’t wait to read more. Thank you net galley for the early access to this great book.

I have always enjoyed Christina McDonald's work and this is no exception. What would you do if your 4 year old son was diagnosed with leukemia ? What if there was a treatment that would 98% cure him, but it costs thousands of dollars?

Emma Sweeney is a physician and loves her job. She has the perfect family. Her loving husband is a police officer and her son is the sweetest boy. When her son continues to get sick, and weird bruises show up. The MD in Emma makes her take him to the doctor. Only to find out her son has advance stages of leukemia and the treatment needs to get started right away in order for him to live. Emma and her husband rack their brain thinking of ways to come up with money but, with it already so tight, its impossible. Emma does the only thing she knows, she starts an Opioid drug ring with her brother to make the money for treatment because her son is the only thing that matters. Will she get caught? Is it worth destroying her life and going to prison? You find out how strong a mother's love is.

WOW! This book is not only relevant (the opioid pandemic in this country) but fast pasted, suspenseful and full of tough decisions. I read this book in a day because I could not put it down. In true McDonald fashion, she makes you feel so much for the characters. Josh, the 4 year old is the cutest little character. I wished he was real and I could give him a hug. The twists and cluster F's that are involved in this made my head spin. All in all this was extremely entertaining!

Thank you Netgalley for my advance copy and my change to read this for an honest review!

Wow,,,,,This is definitely a book that will stay with me. Full of not only twists and turns but moral questions with twists that make the reader rethink everything. This book definitely continues Christina McDonald writing riveting thrillers that keep the reader glued to the pages. Emma, a doctor, and Nate, a police detective, feel like their life is going well. Until their five year old son starts to feel sick and has strange bruising. They find out he has a highly aggressive and potentially lethal variant of leukemia. Switching between their perspectives this book shows what a parent will do to save their child. Because desperation will lead people down roads they never could have imagined. I highly recommend this book, it was well written, fast-paced, and full of beautifully flawed and therefore realistic people.

Thank you so much to #Netgalley, the publisher and most of all the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

OMG Christina, you did it again! I couldn't put this book down! This book brought up so many ethical issues in terms of saving a life, especially when its your son! How far would you go to save your child? Once again, Christina has crafted a intense story that sucks you in!

Thank you so much for the ARC

Do No Harm by Christina McDonald is a novel about a young mother who has struggled in her childhood, only to come out on top. She married the love of her life. She has a beautiful young son she adores. And she made it through med-school. But Emma's happiness was all about to crumble to the ground. Josh, her son, is diagnosed with leukemia and the risky, life-saving treatment isn't covered by insurance. Her husband is trying to get ahead at work and make lieutenant. Stress is high and the stakes are even higher. Emma's past resurfaces and she has to face some hard facts to get through.
Overall, this was an okay read. It was interesting enough to keep me interested but getting through the book did take me a while. I was drawn to the story like I can be sometimes. The writing was easy to read and the chapters were written in chronological order, which made the story easy to follow.
Special thanks to NetGalley, Christina McDonald, and Gallery Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
#NetGalley

Do No Harm by Christina McDonald. Do No Harm unless the ends justifies the means. Emma driven to save her son at all costs, even at the expense of others. Did not like Emma either at the beginning of the story and especially at the end. She was very cold and calculating. Nate for being a hot shot detective was clueless when it came to his wife. Interesting premise but unbelievable in some instances.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I loved Christina’s first book, the second one was not quite as good. This book, all I can say is what a book! Great from page one. Christina McDonald tackles the moral and ethical lines crossed by a doctor desperate to save her child. I can’t say enough good about this book or recommend it highly enough.

#netgalley

Thanks @Netgalley @Gallerybooks for giving me the chance to read this ebook.

I am a huge fan of Christina, and was excited to read this book!

The book is wow, good. Based in Washington, Emma is a physician, and her husband Nate is a detective. Sadly, their 5 yr old son is diagnosed with cancer. The drugs needed for their son, is not covered by insurance, so Emma gets involved in an illegal drug ring with her ex, Gabe. But her husband is investigating!!

The book is well written, keeps you on your toes, and of course it makes one think of how far a Mom will go to save their child.

Thrilling read!!!