Heart Seizure

A Mad Cap, totally unbelievable yet entertaining caper, easy to read, with characters that make you laugh a loud.

A reissue from 20 years ago that feels relevant with some of the politics we face right now.

The Story is about Spencer and brother Boyd, who when a heart destined for their mum in a transplant op is taken last minute for the president, they decide to half inch the heart and set off on a mad dash to make sure mum gets what’s promised, it’s completely nuts. But it’s inoffensive, it’s almost charming and really rather good.

It’s a switch your brain, prepare to laugh and forget the world around you type of book that made me smile many times and I look forward to the rest of the trilogy from Farrago Books

I thoroughly enjoyed Heart Seizure. The plot is completely crackers but is still engaging and entertaining and there is some blazing satire of several aspects of life in the USA, most notably healthcare, politics and the media.

The story concerns Spence and his brother Boyd who have very different views of the world, and their mother Rose who is elderly and in immediate need of a heart transplant. She and the President have the same rare blood type and it turns out that the President suddenly needs the heart allocated to Rose. An imbroglio develops which snowballs to immense proportions as various security agencies and political interests become involved and Spence, Boyd, Rose and a growing number of others go on the run.

It works, in the way that completely silly plots sometimes can, and it’s buoyed by real wit, engaging characters, good dialogue (which is sometimes very funny in itself) and the aforementioned scathing satire. I found it a very enjoyable read indeed which also had some important points to make – some of which have become even more important in the almost 20 years since the book was written. I can recommend this warmly and I’ll be looking out for more in this tetralogy.

(My thanks to Farrago for an ARC vis NetGalley.)

Complete escapism, this is whacky. I really enjoyed its mix of strange characters and completely implausible plot. Definitely one for people who want a relatively short trip onto a world in which is as funny as it is whacky.

What an incredible and hilarious romp! AB blood type, a much sought after heart, ridiculous political shenanigans & a wild ride to save a mother's heart! Funny, hysterical, crazy and often really disturbing, this unique and incredible novel hasn't taken a single tiny wrinkle since its much talked about release in 2003. A fabulous fictional journey through post 9/11 America and all its wary restlessness, blind rages and heartfelt hopes for its future. Bill Fitzhugh is an incredible wordsmith and probably one of the most talented writers today in America when its comes to gifting us with very noirish & often "out of control" comedy fiction.
A marvellous discovery or rediscovery to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Farrago for this terrific ARC and for giving a new life once again to Fitzhugh's magnificent talent!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a fast-moving wild ride of a tale that is generally about getting their mother the heart transplant that was “hers”; despite the fact that she was number one on the transplant list, she got bumped because it seemed that the President of the United States needed one. Laced with laugh out loud funny parts, Heart Seizure is truly about the love among a mother and her two sons, who would literally do anything, including kidnapping some folks and hijacking some motor vehicles, to keep their mom alive.

Highly recommended.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

Heart transplant, heart-'kidnapping', wacky characters and a chase of a lifetime. Gosh! This book had me laughing till the end.

Completely engaging and entertaining mystery. Wacky characters add a dash of wacko-weirdo to the quirky plot. Witty dialogs, political satire and some ouchie moments (sugar coated with entertainment) take the story to a whole new definition of quirky.

I absolutely enjoyed reading this book.

The story is about a son’s love for his mother, the value of right from wrong, national secrets and political spin. Rose Tailor, a critically ill patient with a rare blood type, is need of a new heart. After a long wait, Rose finally reaches the top of the heart transplant list. The death of a young man with the same rare blood type becomes the perfect heart donor. As Rose is preparing for surgery, the family is notified that she will not be receiving the heart after all. Rose’s son Spencer is furious that someone else will receive his mother’s new heart. He isn’t about to allow that to happen and hijacks the heart. What Spencer doesn’t know is that the FBI has been sent to retrieve the heart and fly it to Washington because the intended person is the President of the United States. What ensues is a wild and crazy laugh out loud silly adventure. Thoroughly enjoyed the escapism.

HEART SEIZURE
By Bill Fitzhugh
Farrago

A humorous story that brings an important social issue to the forefront.

This book is offbeat, fun, and quirky. The underlying theme is importantly so you do find yourself wondering what you would do in the same situation, but it is written so comically that you can’t take it too seriously.

I absolutely loved this book and am looking forward to the next one. The writing is easy to read. It is a great beach read or book to read curled up in front of the fire. The characters are outrageous. You will fall in love with their unique ways and find yourself rooting for the underdogs.


I received an ARC from Farrago through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Didnt know what to expect going in to this, but was not disappointed. Really liked this book and would read another book by the author. Would definitely recommend.

I wouldn't have thought a book about a man trying to fight the government to ensure his mother gets a heart transplant would have me laughing out loud, but this certainly did! Fitzhugh takes partisan politics and government conspiracies to new levels of humor, and our hero, lawyer-with-a-heart (pun intended) Spence Tailor is the perfect person to put everything in its proper place. Complete with car chases, accidental kidnappings and nutty characters willing to help out along the way, this book had me turning the pages as quickly as possible, both to find the next laugh and to find out what would happen next. This is a great combination of humor and plot, I'm off to read more of his books!

Heart Seizure by Bill Fitzhugh is a part, of what the author refers to as his Transplant Tetralogy; four books whose stories and characters are not otherwise connected save for the plot being a madcap romp around a different transplant scenarios.
By this book’s title the reader rightly assumes that a heart is involved. In short, an elderly woman and mother of adults, Rose, is next in line for such a surgery. Alas, she is unofficially bumped when through the secrecy of his office The President of the United States needs one.
Thus is the frame upon which hangs the rest of the story where FBI, CIA agents, working for either the President’s Chief of Staff, or a US Senator who aspires to be the first female President. This leads to a chase/game of keepaway as at first Rose’s sons, and later a doctor, a police officer and many more try their best to make sure the heart goes to the originally intended recipient.
This is the second book in the series and, as already mentioned, it stands independent from the one that came before. Fitzhugh presents a novel that is both funny and a commentary on our world today.
Heart Seizure informs the reader, makes them think, holds a mirror up to who we are, and with a dash of “It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World,” helps us to take in these realities with a large dose of humor.
This reprint was written in 2003 and I am soon going to pick up the new, fourth in the series, merely on the merit over how much I enjoyed this installment in Bill Fitzhugh s transplant series.

A unique plot that has so many twists and turns you cannot guess what’s next. You can’t help but pull for the sons and their mom to “win” the heart! Just when it seems like all hope is lost, twist and twist again! Keeps you turning the pages.

What a road trip! Originally published in 2003, Heart Seizure is a political and healthcare comedy with a hilarious cast of characters and a whole lot of action.

At the heart of the story, two brothers Spence and Boyd are trying to save their mother's life. Rose Tailor needs a new heart and is getting ready for the operation at Mulholland Memorial Hospital.

Meanwhile, in DC, President Webster is ushered for a jog along the Reflecting Pool by his campaign manager to create confidence that the president has the stamina to run the great nation. While jogging, the president keels over, the WH doctor deems he needs a heart transplant. WH Chief of Staff cited this as a matter of national security and cut the line for the heart. With a rare blood type, they found a suitable one in Los Angeles. FBI agents were sent to steal the heart from the hospital, but Spence and Boyd are able to prevent that from happening. They have two hostages, a gay cop, and a surgeon then took off with their mother and the heart in a cooler.

While the president's condition is kept from the public, the brothers are labeled as terrorists with an attempt on the president's life. The media is having a field day covering the news. Senator Peggy Check of Virginia couldn't let this opportunity slide. As a political opponent, she sent two ex-special ops goons to prevent the heart from being delivered to DC.

I had such fun reading this book that pokes fun at politicians on both sides. Bill Fitzhugh is a talented writer to pull this off and I would love to read the other three books in Transplant Tetralogy.

Thank you Farrago and Netgalley for this digital copy.

Wow.....I can't say that I've ever read anything like this! It's like slapstick hilarious humor.....with a serious point/message. And I might guess that much of this nonsense that he presents, actually has base in degrees of reality......which might lead this tale to be about as scary as it is funny! It touches on politics, medicine, pharmacy, wacky characters, chase scenes, crazy encounters, life/death, relationships........ I think I laughed out loud at about every other page! I might even say a 4.5 star rating is more accurate....definitely memorable! I look forward to reading more of Bill Fitzhugh's work!
I received this e-book from publisher Farrago Books via NetGalley, after offering to read it & post my own fair & honest review.

Spence Taylor's mother, Rose, is scheduled for a heart transplant. She has been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and because of a rare blood type, hearts are not so easy to come by. So when one does become available, Spense is absolutely delirious with joy.

A few months before the national elections, the president has a heart attack and needs a heart transplant. Amazingly enough, he is of the same blood type as Rose.

White House chief of staff orders the FBI to seize the heart that was going to Rose .. all in the name of democracy.

There is no way, Spence will allow his mother's heart to be taken away from her. So begins one of the funniest pursuits ever.

Spence, along with his brother, decide to kidnap the heart. They also inadvertently kidnap a cardiac surgery resident. Jumping into a '65 Mustang they are barely ahead of the all the president's men. Spence will stop at nothing to keep the heart for his mother. The FBI will continue the chase until they have the heart back ... or they stop the kidnappers by any means possible.

The story-telling is sheer funny! One of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. I loved the characters .. the conversations are priceless. I can hardly wait to see what's next.

Many thanks to the author / Farrago Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this funny, funny novel. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

In Heart Seizure author Bill Fitzhugh treats the reader to a zany romp involving a pair of brothers, a pair of CIA operatives, a doctor, a police officer, and even an entire Mormon basketball team. Oh yeah, the chief of staff of the President of the United States plays a key role, as does a senator seeking higher office. The storyline is simple enough: Spence and Boyd abscond with a heart originally promised their mother, while government agents try to commandeer the same heart for an ailing President. What results is a frenzy involving very colorful (and at times stereotypical) characters who add to the chaos. And yes, there were some laugh out loud moments.

Fitzhugh has been rightly compared to Carl Hiaasen, who happens to be one of my favorite authors. While I was provided a free ebook for review by NetGalley (in exchange for my honest review), I enjoyed it so much I purchased a physical copy for my library.

Unlike most health-related books I've read, this one is a comedy. The main character's mother is set to get a heart. When the decision is made to give it to the president instead he and his brother decide to right that wrong themselves. This book does a great job painting a picture of the scene so you can easily imagine what is happening and you can't help but laugh. It is also an interesting commentary on how things work in the United States that will make you think a little. Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A wacky adventure that stretches incredulity, Heart Seizure by Bill Fitzhugh would be wonderful for fans of Tim Dorsey or Carl Hiaasen. The campy tone is foreshadowed by a table of contents that all contains references to songs with “heart” in the title. Fitzhugh plies the “racing against time” device to crank up the tension and give the reader the feeling of escalating chaos. The cast of characters bloom into an almost unmanageable number, but the main protagonist in the novel is Spence Tailor. His mother, Rose has been on a long list for a heart transplant and has finally reached the top. Her sons go with her to prepare for the procedure when an unexpected event occurs—placing her claim to the donated heart in jeopardy. Spencer decides he must prevent his mother’s heart from being hijacked. He impulsively steals and flees with the organ. Then, he drags his mother and brother on a desperate search for a surgeon who will agree to do the transplant. Along the way, they pick up a motley crew of kidnap victims that include a doctor, several representatives of US Intelligence, and innocent bystanders. Heart Seizure is definite a classic caper, slapstick and ludicrous from beginning to end. As the reader is carried along by the quest, they must discard skepticism, buckle up and enjoy the ride.

I did not know that I was waiting for this book this year, but I was. This is the first book I have read from this author and I immediately want more. I already picked up another book from the author's tetralogy to enjoy. This book was definitely satire on our American medical hellscape complete with a tinge of political satire thrown in for the fun of it,. This was an adventure of sorts that keeps you tied into your seat to see what is going to happen next. The play on words, conversations, and interactions between characters were well written and most of the time pretty fun. There is definitely a high level of fantasy to this book, however there is also a part that is making an important statement. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley. This was highly enjoyable.