This is the first book I have read by this author. I enjoyed it.
It’s a good thriller full of suspense, and some unexpected twists.
Kept me gripped from start to finish.

Thanks to NetGalley and Jennifer Jaynes for the ecopy for my Kindle.
I really wanted to like this book but between the cliff hanger and the effects on children, it was just o.k. for me.

I have enjoyed this book very much! I enjoy the suspense the author brings to the book. This book talks about some very scary issues for doctors and kids. It may hit home for many parents yet not being a parent I still see how scary this book was. I enjoyed the characters and I was sad for the mother in this story. I would read more from this author. This was a great thriller book for me! *This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.*

I’ve read Jennifer Jayne’s Strangers series, so I was excited to read and review Malice when it was offered on Netgalley. The book had an intriguing blurb, so I settled in for another superb psychological suspense from this best-selling author.

Dr. Daniel Winters seems to be living a charmed life. A beautiful beachfront home in Malibu, a promising new career as a pediatric physician in a respected practice, and a gorgeous new wife, Mia.

Admittedly, there are a few red flags. Daniel’s past hints at heavy alcohol use—blackout drinking, in fact. Plus, he is extremely distrustful of women, especially beautiful women. Something to do with his mother’s string of boyfriends when he was little. And then there’s the critical little voice in his head that is nearly prominent enough to be its own character.

So a little “uh oh” went off in my head when he met Mia in a bar, broke his no-drinking rule, and married her almost immediately.

But your main character should be somewhat flawed, right?

When he returns to work after his honeymoon, Daniel discovers all the docs in his medical practice are openly promoting a new vaccine called Respira. This new immunization protects against the common cold which boosting children’s natural immune system. Although Daniel feels a bit hesitant, he has no reason not to start prescribing it.

Then one of his colleagues in another group reports a patient is having serious complications after taking the Respira vaccine. When one of his own patients has a negative reaction, Daniel decides to do some extra research on his own. Based on his findings, he voices opposition to the new drug, but soon discovers that everyone who has opposed the drug has ended up dead.

To add to his work issues, Daniel’s new trophy wife is exhibiting some suspicious behavior. She stays out late, sometimes all night, and acts evasive when he’s suspicious.

Daniel hires a private detective to trail Mia, and when some potentially damming evidence comes back, he falls apart.

Because the story is told from multiple points of view: Daniel, Mia, and Rachel, the mother of Daniel’s sick patient, we readers know Mia is a shady character, even though we don’t know the details. (We still don’t know her motives at the end of the book, by the way, one of several unsatisfying loose ends left dangling).

By the time the three story lines had developed, I realized I didn’t like any of the main characters. The protagonist, Daniel, falls into the bourbon bottle and never climbs out. He makes some feeble efforts to stand up to his colleagues, but never uses his intellect to reason through his situation at work or with his wife.

Mia is never developed enough to anything but a patsy.

And Rachel, mother of sick little Suzie, as well as the medical reporter she goes to for help, are in the story mainly to put forward the author's anti-vaccination message.

Sadly, while Malice is touted as a medical thriller, the overriding message here is that the FDA is pushing unsafe medications onto the vaccination schedule for profit.

Personally, I found this a difficult message swallow. Most of the myths that vaccinations are harmful have been repeatedly and thoroughly debunked by numerous, impartial sources. Not vaccinating children is dangerous, and I didn’t appreciate this book forcing those old misconceptions on me as a reader, especially without forewarning, and under the guise as psychological thriller.

Reader beware. There’s a lot more anti-vac propaganda in Malice then there is character development—or thrills.

This is a very profound book. I didn’t want to put this book down. Its about the introduction of a new miracle drug called respira. However this drug is causing a multitude of problems. This book seems to prove how much power the drug manufacturers have and the power they hold over our doctors. And it’s all fueled by greed. It is well written. Overall I liked this book. A great thriller.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of this book.

You can trust your pediatrician right? He is always going to do the ethical thing for your child and what is in their best interest, correct? He would never be guilty of malice and doing things for his own personal financial gain, or would he?

Dr. Daniel Winters has it all. He has a career as a pediatrician and an exclusive office, Healing Hands which has a one year wait for new patients. He has a beautiful beach front home in Malibu and a wife named Mia that looks like a model and is smart as hell. Life is good...until it is not.

A new vaccine is out for children and it is called Respira. For some reason Healing Hands is pushing this vaccine, even though it is used to prevent the common cold. They don't even want their doctors to use the word vaccine for it, they prefer the term "immune system booster." It is totally safe, or is it? Dr. Winters is struggling with that question himself. Meanwhile doctors that have spoken out against Respira are found murdered. He may lose his job, his home, his wife and his career if he follows his gut on this.

Mia meanwhile is sneaking around, getting mysterious texts and has many holes in her story as to where she is. Daniel Winters is wondering if there may be more to his wife than he knows about. She doesn't like to talk about her past, what is she hiding?

This book had me from the very first chapter. It pulled me right and would not let me go. I flew through this book. I have never read a Jennifer Jaynes book and I can assure you I will be reading more from her. It was a gripping thriller that really had a lot of depth to it. It made you question to what degree that things like this occur in our medical field. What lengths people go to for money, even if it meant they are harming others. Even if they have taken the oath to heal others and do no malice. Loved it!

Much thanks to Jennifer Jaynes, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley!

This was a wonderful, suspenseful, medical thriller with a touch of romance and I was sorry to see the story end.

The storyline revolves around a handsome pediatrician and a gorgeous woman (possible femme fatale?) who meet and begin a whirlwind relationship without knowing much-needed information about their past. Daniel works out of a prestigious pediatric office in the Malibu area catering to well known and well off individuals raising children. The story involves a new drug just approved by the FDA as an immunization to protect from the common cold virus.

The story takes off from there with so many twists and turns that my head was spinning. This was an excellent book that was well-written and researched about the pharmaceutical companies and their interaction with the promotion of new drugs and the power behind the scenes which most people don't think twice about when trusting their doctors to make informed and safe decisions. I would not want to raise a child today and be forced to receive so many vaccinations and other immunizations just so the child would be allowed to go to school or attend daycare. So many more drugs than I was required to have when I was growing up. I am not against immunizations but after reading this informative (fictitious) book, it certainly gave me a lot of food for thought.

This book started out with a terrific prologue that I cannot imagine anyone would want to discontinue reading because the suspense is so chilling before reading the first chapter.

This is my first Jennifer Jaynes book and I am now a fan. I just loved how this author wrote this story. I really could not put this book down and I so wish all my books were this well-written. The characters were very unique where I would feel anger at them and then feel empathy for them. I loved the complex situations and frustrating way that the characters would handle their individual problems. This book had a few shockers that I never saw coming and I found myself holding my breath through the last final chapters!

I highly recommend this book to all suspenseful thriller and mystery lovers.
I want to thank the publisher Thomas & Mercer and Netgally for this ARC and also this review is my own and unbiased opinion, which I am more than happy to give.

Daniel and Mia are interesting characters. Both appear to make life choices based on their previous experiences; a good sign of well-rounded characters. Daniel, in an effort to avoid becoming his father, has strict rules regarding his own alcohol consumption, avoids beautiful and untrustworthy women, and sticks by his strong and honest moral compass. Mia, although supportive of her husband, keeps things close to her chest. The dynamic between Mia's dishonesty and Daniel's desire for transparency in his work and marriage is an interesting element of Malice, and one that I wish Jaynes' explored more.

Prior to beginning Malice, I believed that the book would be a domestic thriller focusing on Mia and Daniel's marriage. In reality, Malice is more of a medical thriller. Throughout most of the book, Daniel's suspicions about his wife fall to the wayside with the plot focusing on Respira. Despite Malice seeming to propose a strong anti-vax argument (something which I also wasn't prepared for) it was a solid thriller. There was mystery, intrigue, deception, threats, and suspicious deaths - everything you can find in a great thriller.

Malice is a good plot-driven medical thriller that prompts the reader to question their thoughts on their children, health, and "big pharma". It's big question - who can you really trust?

Read my full review on my blog:
https://reviewbee.errorfree.me/review/review-malice-by-jennifer-jaynes/

My first time to read this author' but won't be the last. I was disappointed in the ending but more disappointed that it ended at all. Definitely a recommended read!!

This was a pretty decent book, although there weren’t any likable characters in it, unless you count the dog.
I’m a little let down at the ending and all of the unknowns, as well as the fact that a main character was killed off – which isn’t a spoiler since it says it in the first paragraph of the book.

Malice is a well written psychological suspense. Great plot with many twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. If you are a fan of psychological suspense you do not want to miss this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital arc this is my unbiased review.

This was my first time reading a Jennifer Jaynes novel and I was pleasantly surprised. She is gifted at sucking you in, chewing on you a bit, before spitting you out. That’s my kind of author, my friends! Sometimes, when reading you need to feel used and abused as you read pondering the ending. Jaynes nailed it.

Malice was a superb read; the kind of read that leaves you feeling full and satisfied. I give 5 stars for this read and look forward to reading more from the talented Jaynes.❤️

Dr. Daniel is living the dream life. He has a gorgeous home in Malibu, a dream job as a pediatrician in an affluent neighborhood in Los Angeles, and a gorgeous new wife, Mia, whom he met nine months ago at a bar. Despite his deep distrust of beautiful women, he believes Mia is an exception and is totally smitten with her.

Shortly after he returns from his two-week honeymoon, his boss, Teddy, brings him in on a new vaccine, Respira that has recently been introduced to the market. The manufacturers claim the drug would protect kids from common cold and boost their immune system.

At first, Daniel is not completely sold on the idea of this new drug. But then he considers Teddy’s offer of the possibility of making Daniel partner someday and how this promotion might boost his career and self-image. He reluctantly jumps on board and administers the drug to one of his patients, Suzie Jacobs.
Then things begin to unravel both at Daniel’s home and work, sending his world into an irreversible downward spiral.

This was one hell of a thrilling ride. This book grabbed me from the first page. I read it in one sitting and absolutely enjoyed it. I loved the characters and I thought they were relatable and believable. I sympathized with the main character as he constantly struggled with his decision to drink alcohol; one of two weaknesses that destroyed his father.  He decides a glass or two of Jameson or Chardonnay would not suddenly turn him into his father. I also felt empathy towards the other characters as the book progressed.

Malice is full of twists and turns that I did not see coming. I could not wait to get to the last page to see how everything tied up. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a fast-paced mystery thriller that’s bound to give you an adrenaline rush. Will definitely read more by this author.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my.... Jennifer Jaynes jumps to a new level of awesome with this one! This was a perfect example of a book that you never want to end and cannot put down! All of the characters were realistic & engaging; even if you didn’t like them. You will genuinely feel invested in the tale, the with its’ intriguing twists & exemplary, relatable writing. Eager & ever-so-impatiently awaiting the follow-up to this suspenseful narrative!

Jennifer Jaynes is the undisputed Queen of Domestic Noir! In this new standalone thriller, the suspense is high and a realistic topic as drug manufacturers push their product on the unsuspecting American public and prey upon parents' inherent need to keep their children safe. Ms. Jaynes always does a fabulous job at creating true to life characters that face the same moral dilemmas as we do in the modern day world. Secrets blur the seemingly picture perfect life Daniel lives, and internal struggles skew his moral compass. Mia runs from a past that threatens to mar her comfortable life with Daniel. A single mother strives to be heard by the medical community while she fights for her child's life.



This author is a master story teller, weaving depth and surprise into this tale of greed, leaving us shocked at the very end when the full picture comes into focus, and hopeful that a sequel will show up down the road in which the stories of those that survive might also be told.



Malice becomes a part of the literary powerhouse Jennifer Jaynes has become since I first started reading her books in 2011. Her books continue to hold my rapt attention, explore the darker sides of the characters she creates, and remind us that evil can occur in many forms. My fandom continues to grow with every novel she puts out!

Excellent medical thriller with a twist ending that will shock you! Great read and very intoxicating.
Highly recommended, cannot wait for more books by the author.
Thank you NetGalley for free advance reading copy!

This book is definitely gripping. I foolishly started it late last night and read and read until I was too tired to keep going on. Then I had to finish it this morning.

In the prologue two characters, Daniel, a pediatrician and Mia, a waitress meet and hit it off. Still Daniel receives instructions from his inner voice telling him to run from her. He doesn't and the narrator tells us this decision will completely alter his life and that in a year one of the two will be running for their life and the other will have died.

Jennifer tells the story quick chapters that let us see things with several characters as the lead for that segment. In addition to Daniel and Mia, we get others including the mother of one of Daniel's patients.

The concept of who you can and cannot trust is consistent in the book. Daniel thinks his wife is lying to him. He also thinks the doctors and salespeople pushing pediatricians to give a new vaccine injection called Respira which should help kids in theory not get colds or associated other diseases are hiding a lot. When patients start to get sick and Daniel's patient in particular has horrible reactions to the first two shots in the series, he is determined to get at the truth.

I love how Jennifer describes things. When she describes a character battling their decision to drink more alcohol then they should, when she describes scenes in which characters believe they are fighting for their lives, you the reader will truly feel like you are there with them. This book, loaded with medical information may even change how you feel about vaccines. Additionally, there are several twists that you may not see coming, or if you do, you'll still enjoy.

So why 4 stars not five? The book has two main flaws. One a few minor characters are brought up, used to move the plot line a tiny bit, then never really stay relevant. Second the ending is just so hard to accept as the end. There are several loose ends (not sure if this is going to have a sequel, as the author has a series that's one possibility). I can deal with ambiguous ends, but this one in addition to leaving so much unanswered is just so bleak. I didn't think everyone would have a happy ending, knowing that at least one main character would die, but there was so much sadness for those that did survive, that it really changed how I saw the book as a whole.

Dr. Daniel Winters is living a fairy-tale life. He has a beachfront home in Malibu, a career as a respected pediatrician at a thriving Los Angeles practice, and a gorgeous new wife, Mia. For a man whose past was rife with mental illness, addiction, and thoughts of suicide, it seems too good to be true.

This is an excellent medical thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat and the ending will shock you completely! You do not want to miss this book by Jennifer Jaynes.

#Malice #NetGalley

Malice concerns the massive push of the drug Respira, for young children, despite it having horrible side effects. The side effects are hidden from the public and downplayed to doctors, so that the drug can be put on a special list, requiring kids to have been injected with this drug, to get into public schools and daycare. Suspicious deaths surround a doctor and his family and another younger doctor, when they raised concerns about the harmfulness of the drug.

Enter Dr Daniel Winters, a new doctor, who was able to get past mental illness issues, thoughts of suicide, and addiction to become a pediatrician. Life is perfect for him at the moment, with a job he loves, dark issues behind him, and having just come back from his honeymoon. He'd met Mia nine months earlier, and fell in love with her and married her, despite his distrust of beautiful women. Little did he know, everything was going to come crashing down.

Daniel had dealt with his alcoholism by severely restricting how much and when he would drink. But it was lurking in the background along with a nagging, critical voice, letting him know that he shouldn't take any drink and that he shouldn't be so trusting. At work, his boss is demanding that he administer Respira and ignore any talk of side effects. At home, Mia is acting suspiciously, not showing up for work, and not returning calls.

This book had a lot going on in it. The problems surrounding Respira would cause enough trouble for Daniel and Mia but even without the Respira angle, this is a couple who really doesn't know anything about each other. Both of them had hidden important information about their pasts and they don't know how to communicate with each other. They seemed doomed for trouble even without outside influences even though I do think they are good people behind all the trouble of their pasts, trouble caused by bad decisions.

This book was written with a sequel in mind because the ending is not much of an ending. Several major plot points are left hanging and the book ended abruptly. Even when a book is part of a series, I like for the book to feel finished and this book didn't have a finished feel to it. I rate it 3.5, rounded to 4. I'm willing to read the next book so I can find answers to my remaining questions.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.

"This industry (big Pharma) was a machine...and a very powerful one at that."

Dr. Daniel Winters is a pediatrician and newlywed. Married to Mia and living on a beachfront property in Malibu, he's finally achieving all his dreams in the new practice at Healing Hands in Los Angeles, California. Trouble starts soon after the honeymoon when Daniel returns to work and is told about a new immunoceutical -- Respira -- that the doctors are expected to push on their young patients to prevent the common cold. It seems that there are undocumented adverse effects from this new vaccine and the powers that be do NOT want their patients to know. Things go from bad to worse for Daniel quite quickly and, not only does he suspect his new wife is lying to him, there's major trouble at work when one of his patients experiences a severe reaction to the drug. His new boss threatens him, other doctors who've gone public about Respira are killed, and Mia is sending private texts and sneaking off when she's supposed to be at work. NO SPOILERS but Daniel's life is about to spiral completely out of control.

This was a great thriller, very fast-paced and a bit unpredictable with the twists and turns. I read it over a matter of hours as I simply couldn't put it down. I love reading about anything "medical" and the whole topic of vaccinations was quite interesting from that standpoint. I've always been pro-immunization and can't always relate to or understand the hordes of anti-vaxers when I read stuff on social media, etc. because I do believe they are safe, effective and necessary. The new, FICTIONAL, vaccine in this book doesn't exist but I can understand the fears of parents who are told and nearly forced to get a new, untested vaccine for their child. All I can say is what I always say, do your research, consult with professionals and make an informed decision. I won't judge you for trying to do the best possible thing for your child as long as you are fully aware of all the consequences for whatever action you take.

Anyway, great read and I've never read anything else written by this author but I intend to rectify that in the future. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read and review. I had a lovely couple of hours completely absorbed in the characters and the story. Absolutely riveting and timely medical thriller.