Toby had the temerity to override the egotistical doctorĘs orders. He demanded that she return the body of one of his patients to the person's family. Instead she maneuvered the medical examiner into conducting an autopsy. The autopsy reveals that the deceased died from an extremely rare illness that could only be contracted by direct contact of bodily fluids. Toby believes that a previous patient, who mysteriously vanished into the night, also carried the same illness. She begins to investigate, hoping to abort an epidemic before it occurs. Instead, Toby discovers that illegal use of fetal tissue gleaned from embryonic monsters are being used to treat wealthy patrons. She also learns that her knowledge of the practice makes her expendable by people who do not want their profitable business ended.

HARVEST was one of the top ten books of 1996, but LIFE SUPPORT is an even better novel. Tess Gerritsen has created a medical thriller that leaves readers with the creepy crawly feeling up and down their spines due to its chilling realism. The implications are terrifying, leaving readers to ponder what next after completing this pulse pounding, natural mescaline like ride of a best selling novel.

Harriet Klausner