This is an intriguing medical, legal mystery. There are so many character to keep track of that it is sometimes difficult to keep them straight. The author’s background ensures the details are an accurate portrayal of our legal and medical professions

Camille Delaney is a registered nurse turned high profile attorney working in a Seattle law firm specializing in family law. She receives word that a dear family friend has died after a routine surgical procedure and, because of her medical background, is asked to look into the circumstances surrounding his death. Prohibited from officially taking on a medical malpractice case by her firm, Camille’s initial cursory inquiry uncovers some disturbing statistics concerning two of the hospitals most prominent surgeons. Despite the risk to her own career, Camille begins her investigation in earnest and the result is an excellent medical thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley for an uncorrected digital copy of this book.

I applaud the author for her medical and legal expertise, in writing this novel. Let it suffice to say that I have a lot of experience with doctors and researchers, both personally and professionally. I find it impossible to believe in this story line. I will not elaborate further, so as to not create any spoilers. Therefore, this read was not a good fit for me. Three stars because of Amanda DuBois’s many accomplishments. Thank you NetGalley and Girl Friday Books for this ARC.

The Complication is a fast-paced thriller that grabs the reader from the first chilling scene and never lets go. The mystery begins when Seattle lawyer Camille Delaney’s friend Dallas dies during a routine operation. Camille decides to investigate and soon discovers evidence of other unexplained deaths at the hands of Dallas’ doctors. The story is filled with interesting, well-developed characters from Camille’s personal and professional life. The suspense quickly builds as Camille enlists the help of private investigator Trish Seaholm. Disguises, danger, and cliffhangers abound as the two women race to uncover the truth before more patients needlessly die. Detailed descriptions of interesting legal and medical issues are seamlessly woven into the story. Clever plot twists keep the reader guessing until the final chapters. A scene involving a harrowing solo flight through the foggy San Juan Islands left my heart racing! I thoroughly enjoyed The Complication and I look forward to more books in the Camille Delaney series.

Well researched book. A medical/legal thriller. I enjoyed this fast paced, suspenseful and dramatic story. It was a easy read and kept my attention throughout every page. This will easily be a great series.

Amanda Du Bois, The Complication, Girl Friday Books, 2022

Thank you, Net Galley for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

The Complication is in most ways an impressive first novel, written by someone who clearly has no reservations about including social commentary at the same time as developing a gritty legal and medical drama/mystery. I do have some reservations though, as I think that the narrative moves slowly at times, because of too much explanation and lack of selectivity amongst the ideas and descriptions Du Bois wants to depict. It is hard to dispense with sentences and phrases that have been carefully crafted but I think that this novel would have benefitted from some tougher editing.

The first chapter, in which Dallas Chapman, Drs Willcox and Burton are the main protagonists, sets a distressingly graphic beginning to the crimes which Camille Delaney will investigate. The procedures imposed on Dallas Chapman, the patient rendered invisible by the trappings of surgery, and the aftermath are at the centre of the plot. Additional twists and turns, the gradual unpeeling of the reasons for the crimes, and the extent to which they involve ruptured medical processes, authorities who enable dishonesty and medical malpractice and the issues at the heart of the crimes - to achieve both emotional and monetary advantages - are chillingly advanced.

At the beginning of the novel Camille Delaney is a high earning married lawyer with two children. Her substantial income is an essential part of supporting the family. However, when her friend dies without valid explanation and his wife needs legal assistance Camille follows the ideals laid down for her by her parents and Dallas’ spiritual beliefs. She establishes her own legal office to work on the case, leaving her successful career behind. She has a mix of acquaintances and friends who make her decision workable, some of whom join her in her investigations.

Camille is an interesting protagonist. She lives on a luxurious houseboat, is a pilot who has ceased flying after an accident twenty years before and must deal with financial challenges and threats to her family. The changes in her life result in some marital discord, but despite this she becomes a determined investigator. Delaney’s values contrast markedly with those of Drs Willcox and Burton, but she is prepared to be tough and unremitting with witnesses when she ignores their personal concerns when necessary to win her case.

With its sound plotting, good characterisation, and the introduction of a strong woman protagonist I look forward to reading another Camille Delaney novel by this noteworthy author.

I loved this book and was frustrated each time I was dragged away from it before I finished it. Amanda DuBois has very obviously done her research, in addition to putting her lived experience to good use in this medical/legal thriller that draws on one of our worst nightmares, someone close to us dying from complications during a routine surgical procedure.

This book is so much more though. The plot is brilliant, the pace is spot on, the explanations of medical and legal procedures and terminology are cleverly disguised a just a part of the regular dialogue so you don’t feel like you’re at a lecture.

I’m so excited about this book and genuinely want to see this book do well. I can’t wait to read more about Camille Delaney. She’s the perfect, well developed, lead character and the supporting characters are just as well fleshed out. I cannot recommend this book more highly. If you’re a thriller fan you’d be mad not to get your hands on it as soon as it’s released.

Great book! I really enjoyed reading this one! This book had suspense, intrigue, and a crazy messed up storyline! Geez I hope that's never happened in real life?! This book had a lot of twists and turns and a lot of good investigating ! I definitely recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! The storyline flowed well and it was just an all around good read! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!