I read this right after reading The Night Olivia Fell. I loved this book just as much! Again, I loved the twists and turns, and I never knew what to expect. I loved having both Nate and Emma's perspective. It definitely made you think about your own morals and what you would do for your own child.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my copy of Do No Harm by Christina McDonald in exchange for an honest review. It published February 16, 2021.
Wow! This book took me back to college and learning about medical ethics! I spent a lot of time ruminating over what I would do in this situation, and I just don't know. I found it to be well-written, and well-rounded. I think it shone a good light on the issues around opioids, and how it is a gray rather than black and white situation.
I found this book to be very readable, and I would read this author again.

I REALLY enjoyed this one. It was such a great exploration of what it means to do “the right thing”. I love the themes it tackled on the drug epidemic, the things we do for love, and the way secrets spiral. It was so tense and twisty, I couldn’t stop listening.

TW: drug use, gun violence, overdose

I had and ARC of this but listened to the audio instead.

Holy moly! This is one intense read from start to finish. As a parent, I can certainly understand Emma's actions, whether I agree with them or not. I can't imagine too many things I wouldn't consider when it comes to saving my child, and that comes across very well in the storytelling. Christina McDonald is no novice when it comes to the mystery/thriller genre, and she shows that very well in Do No Harm. The story is prevalent for the time, and while some things may be a bit over the top, the author makes it feel real. I won't go into the details so I don't spoil anything, but if you haven't had the chance to check out McDonald's work, this one is a good place to start.

We're a little late reviewing this title, but we really enjoyed this one. Really, anything by Christina McDonald is gold. This book gave us Breaking Bad vibes, so if you liked that show you'll probably enjoy this book. It asks the question, "How far are you willing to go for your child?" So if you're a parent, expect this one to cut deep.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Do No Harm by Christina McDonald.

Emma feels like she has everything. She has worked hard to establish a successful career as a doctor, her husband is a well liked detective, and their kindergartner is smart and thriving. But all of that is interrupted when her son Josh is diagnosed with cancer, an illness that requires treatments that even this power couple can't afford.

But being a doctor at the height of an opioid crisis might actually have it's advantages. Emma has access to these highly coveted meds, and there are a lot of people buying. But more than Emma's deep guilt for selling harmful narcotics, is the fact that her husband is unknowingly chasing her. Will she ever be able to get him to understand? And will they get the money they need to raise the money for Josh?

Okay, on one hand, I love a morally ambiguous story. Who was right or wrong? Do the ends justify the means? Is it worth hurting others to save your child? All great questions, and I have no doubt that people have been forced to ask them for themselves.

On the other hand, I just wasn't super into the story. I could kind of see where it was heading early on, and for some reason the whole thing turned me off. Plus, the idea of life saving medicine not being affordable to a child just makes me sick. Not the author's fault, but man I hate it.

This was not my favorite Christina McDonald novel. I feel all her novels have been 5 stars for me and this one was not quite there. With that being said, it wasn't awful and I would recommend, but not as thrilling as her previous novels. The pace is rapid, the plot extremely original, with a controversial twist, which makes it impossible to put down.

I've enjoyed other books by this author, but Do No Harm fell flat for me.
Emma is a doctor whose son is diagnosed with cancer, married to Nate, a detective. Josh's cancer treatment is extremely expensive, so Emma decides to start writing opioid prescriptions and working with a drug ring to get the money for her son's treatment.
The storyline was unrealistic and very far-fetched. Emma is truly an unlikeable character and doesn't care who she hurts. Her husband, Nate, is clueless as the detective that is actually investigating the drug ring/murders that his wife is involved in.
I found it really hard to finish this book as it was too unbelievable.

Christina McDonald is an amazing author. I loved Do No Harm. I have recommended all her books to my book club.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book. My reviews can be read on my GoodReads account here: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly

Do No Harm asks the question does the ends justify the means. Emma is a mother who would do anything for her son. As a doctor, she is aware of the opioid crisis, but when she discovers her son has cancer, she decides to sell them to come up with the money for his treatment. Did I mention her husband is a detective?

This book fell flat for me. I found many parts of the story unrealistic. I tried to put myself in Emma's shoes, knowing that I would want to do anything to save my child, but I just couldn't connect with her. I found Nate to be somewhat clueless as he continued to work the case with clear conflicts of interest. The plot was good and there were interesting twists, but not enough to get me to want to pick the book up every chance I got.

When Emma’s young son is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, she has to figure out how to find the money ti pay for the expensive life-saving treatment. As a doctor, her first inclination is to sell opioids — despite her husband being a detective, working a case on opioids.

Sound far-fetched? It should. You’ve got to suspend belief to get through this one. But… if you can do so, it is an entertaining and quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is an addicting page turner that will have you on the edge of your seat. It’s about a mother that will do whatever she needs to do to save her son!! It is one of those books that you think about long after the last page. It just gets to you.

Wow what an intense and relevant read. The author handled things with such a sensitive hand and still managed to write a tense and compelling thriller

I read and loved McDonald's previous books, The Night Olivia Fell and Behind Every Lie, so I was thrilled and honored when she reached out to me to ask if I would like to read an e-ARC (my very first NetGalley!) of Do No Harm! Like her previous novels, this is a fast-paced thriller filled with heart and emotion. I thought the plot was so unique and gave me Breaking Bad vibes! It is also timely in how it examines the opioid epidemic throughout so many communities.. I also always love the dreary Pacific Northwest settings of McDonald's books, which add to the mood and the suspense. This book definitely makes you think: how far would you go for someone you love? Do No Harm is set to release on February 16, 2021, so mark your calendars!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. This book kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what will happen next. This book is fast paced and has all the twists and turns a great thriller needs. This is definitely going to be in my top favorite thrillers of the year. I absolutely enjoyed Nate and Emma's characters. This book is in stores for $16.99 (USD).

Did not finish. I could not connect with Do No Harm by Christina McDonald. I will not be reading/finishing this one. Thank you, netgalley and publisher for the early copy!

I tried to get into this one and didn't really enjoy it. I think it was just the wrong book for me at the time, I have enjoyed all the other books by this author.

Although living modestly, Emma, a doctor and her husband Nate, a detective, have created a loving home for Josh, their kindergarten son. However, However, their untroubled family is thrown into sorrow when they receive a devastating diagnosis: Josh has a rare form of cancer. Despair leads to desperation when they learn insurance won’t cover the expensive treatments that could save Josh’s life.

Out of options, unknown to Nate, Emma starts selling opiates by writing false prescriptions using shadowing connections from her past. When a Seattle drug dealer is murdered and Nate is assigned to the case, his investigation comes uncomfortably close to Emma. Can she keep ahead of her dogged husband—and who will she be willing to sacrifice to save her son?

I like each new book of Christina McDonald’s more. The increasingly intense dynamic between Emma and Nate as he begins harboring suspicions increases the tension, while Emma’s compromised ethics against the backdrop of the opioid epidemic and a healthcare system in crisis offer a provocative and timely dilemma to consider. McDonald, whose family was touched by opioid addiction, sensitively presents the issue, with criticism to those profiting off opioids but empathizing with those who have legitimate needs for pain relief or help overcoming addiction.

A great pick for thriller lovers, especially those who like morally gray protagonists and complex characters!

I was somewhat disappointed with this story. At first glance, the book seems to hit all the right tropes but it veers off into a strange direction that I didn’t particularly enjoy. Maybe the author had an agenda regarding addiction and treatment of serious medical cases, I’m not sure. I for one, do not like a fiction writer becoming preachy about any topic. I see this a lot and for my taste I don’t mind the occasional comment about a social or emotional situation that the characters face in the USA especially, but when the book feels like it was written in this way to preach on something political, I’m not comfortable with it. I can agree or disagree with these sorts of comments or plots but that doesn’t make me want to read the novel. I look to literature in the fiction realm to become immersed in a story, not to reflect on some political agenda. This may be just me but it detracts from the story rather than enhances the story, in my opinion.
I did enjoy the medical situation that affected the son and some of the story around this. I hated the way the parents handled it though. Most hospitals will set up a payment plan for situations like this, or there are several different funds that are available. Plus the community wanted to help out by creating a go-fund-me, which is a sad commentary but very generous and the parents put zero faith in it.
Overall, this book largely did not work well for me. I think people who love this author can probably overlook much of what annoyed me.
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