My unrestrained thoughts: I saw it coming, I REALLY DID!
Now, onto a little sophisticated review – it may contain tiny spoilers!

After bingeing on House MD last year, I have a newfound appreciation for medical mysteries. That might be why I picked up Change of Heart, a medical thriller by Cristina LePort. Or maybe it was the weirdly fascinating book cover of a heart and a gun together. Whatever the reason was, I was still expecting an action-packed FBI investigation where they break down doors and hold villains at gunpoint. And it followed my imagination, to some extent…
It starts with a medical student, Amy Winter, putting a bullet in her brain of her own volition. What has suicide written all over it, PI Kirk Miner (the main guy of this Miner and Mulville series) sees hidden discrepancies in the crime scene. He and the FBI director, Jack Mulville (the other main guy), are convinced a local mobster, Montepulciano, is involved in this supposed suicide. So, Mulville puts Charlotte Bloom, an FBI cyber investigator and his protégé, on the case to help him.
Miner and Bloom get started, uncovering an organ transplant racket and a horrifying secret that shakes their life…
This book is the second installment in the Miner and Mulville series, so I didn’t have any background on the titular characters. Thankfully, it doesn’t really affect the way I read the story, since I got all the context needed here. It was quite a fun read and so informative, as the author is a doctor. But it falls short in a couple of places.
All the characters, excluding maybe Montepulciano, were realistic but a tad forgettable. Especially Mulville, who appeared so little in the story that I immediately perceived him as a side character. He felt really impulsive, angry, and nothing like I had imagined him from people’s descriptions.
While the idea was absolutely fascinating, the author wasn’t able to keep up the thriller part as well as the medical side. The hows and the whys of everything medical were there, but the writing didn’t unravel the mystery as well as I had expected. For instance, I suspected the main twist the moment the first hints dropped (the daughter and her going to the same hospital, for instance). The final showdown also dragged unnecessarily and lasted so long that I didn’t feel any surprise or shock when Montepulciano killed himself.

What I liked:
o Aurora:
It seems like Aurora is the only level-headed person in this entire story. She takes care of the family, puts up with Kirk’s sudden work commitments, and takes a bullet in her hand, all the while saving people in the hospital. She’s a badass, and I can totally see why Kirk was in love with her. Now, take her to that vacation she so desperately needs, Kirk!
o The title:
Bloom was Montepulciano’s daughter – I saw it coming from miles away! I wasn’t shocked, but it made me realize how the title could mean two different things. That the patients/victims were receiving different hearts, and how Bloom was also supposed to have a ‘change of heart’ for her father. I don’t know if I’m reading too much into it but god damn that’s good wordplay!
o The medical details:
As a medical thriller, I saw the medical aspect – it was loud and exciting and so informative. The author’s medical background shone through, literally. She explained everything about how heart transplants and organ donations work, without indulging in too much technical jargon. It made the story more grounded, authentic, and fun to follow. Well, now I know what happens when there’s a tumor in your heart!

What I wasn’t impressed with:
Unfortunately, the story was sort of predictable because the writing didn’t have that bite needed for mystery and thriller genres. Well, not that it was completely wasted, but to me, it just read like any other story – and not like a thrilling FBI investigation that’ll have me turning the pages.
In line with this, I also felt that the FBI scenes were grossly underdeveloped, especially in the last chapters. There was no authoritative and official feel to them; it certainly didn’t help that the literal director came across as someone easy to fool.
Also, I found the romance between Charlotte and Zayne a little imbalanced. She played with (read: manipulated) his feelings to get the information she needed, even if she did like him back.
At the start, Zayne seemed like a bad guy when he tried to push Amy’s parents to donate her heart. So, when Bloom made him cough up the chain details, I didn’t feel any sympathy. But, as the story progressed, it felt like Bloom was stringing him along, making him violate the HIPAA laws without any care. Well, at least she wasn’t using him just for her promotion…

My Final Thoughts?
There is a little bit of everything in Change of Heart –mafia and mobsters, murder mystery, organ transplant, romance, drama, and complex familial ties. It might be a medically-rich plot, however, for me, it proved to be a rather dragging read. Not bad or DNF-level, just dragging.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bancroft Press, and Meryl Moss Media Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“It’s still your responsibility to fulfill your obligation. I don’t care how you do it. It’s your problem. You have to provide me with a heart, or else…”

Oooh this one is deep and scarily plausible. I am in medicine myself so I am always down for a gripping medical thriller…especially when it is something that I know can actually happen.

And anyone who knows anything about the human body and its systems would know immediately when a “suicide” is conveniently done so that the body is ready for organ harvest without actually harming ANY of the harvestable organs. Especially when the note spells it right out. How convenient, eh? Wild!

Change Of Heart, written by Cristina LePort, MD (a renowned cardiologist), is a book that will speak to those that love thrillers, medical drama, romance, and twisty twists! There is a little something in here for everyone. Her actual medical expertise shines through as there is nothing worse than reading a medical drama with inaccurate information.

Change Of Heart is book 2 of the Miner & Mulville series.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bancroft Press, Meryl Moss Media Group, and the author for the gifted ARC.

A medical thriller that truly hits close to home — and not just because of the heart transplant theme. Change of Heart pulls readers into a high-stakes investigation that digs deep into the unsettling cracks of the American healthcare system. Between suspicious suicides, hacked transplant lists, and a former detective haunted by his past, LePort builds a gripping plot that gains momentum with every page. Charlotte, a young FBI agent with a heart condition, is the standout character — vulnerable yet fiercely determined, she questions everything, including herself.
The writing is fluid, with short chapters that keep the pace fast and engaging. The medical details are handled with precision (unsurprising, given the author’s background as a physician), but never feel overwhelming. Some plot twists may be a bit predictable, and a few coincidences stretch believability, but overall, the story works beautifully. If you're looking for a compelling thriller with a strong female lead and thought-provoking themes, this one's worth adding to your TBR.

A gripping, fast paced thriller full of suspense and intrigue. Rather frightening as it could happen in today's world. I would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bancroft Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review:
I requested a copy of this book because I was really interested to see if the medical information was accurate and because of the subject of organ donation. The thought of there being criminal activity around organ donation was intriguing and also wouldn't shock me if it actually happened.

Dr. LePort accurately captures moment in the intensive care unit and medical information throughout the novel, which is highly refreshing.


Book Description:

In the bustling heart of New York City, a young medical student's life is tragically cut short, though her heart continues to beat, holding the promise of life for another. Detective Kirk Miner is called to the scene and quickly uncovers a chilling conspiracy involving organ donations and high-stakes crime. As the investigation unfolds, Miner realizes the case is far more complex and dangerous than it initially seemed.

Enter FBI Agent Jack Mulville, who steps in to supervise Special Agent Charlotte Bloom as they join forces with Miner. Together, they unravel a web of corruption, revealing that Amy Winter's death is connected to a ruthless organ trafficking ring. Amy Winter, a promising pre-med student, is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Her death triggers an investigation that pulls Miner, Mulville, and Bloom into a labyrinth of deceit and desperation. As they dig deeper, they discover that Amy's heart is not just a donor's gift but a coveted prize in a deadly game controlled by criminals willing to kill to keep their secrets hidden.

The quest for justice takes Miner, Mulville, and Bloom through the shadowy underbelly of organ trafficking, revealing the lengths to which people will go to secure life-saving transplants. Amidst the danger, they face moral dilemmas and personal risks, pushing them to their limits as they strive to protect innocent lives and dismantle a powerful criminal network.

The plot of this mystery is based on a clever and frightening premise: someone is murdering heart donors whose names are on a confidential list updated by health officials. This list has potential donors and patients matched together, forming a chain, allowing medical professionals know when a heart becomes available and to whom it must be offered, speeding up the process.

When a young woman is found dead of apparent suicide outside a hospital, and a bloody note is found beside her informing whoever finds her that she is an organ donor, the police and the FBI get involved, as there was nothing about the young woman that said she was suicidal.

The police bring in Kirk Minor, former police, now PI, to head the investigation, and liaise between the police and FBI.
FBI director Mulville brings in his protégée, Charlotte Bloom, a cyber investigator, and has her begin to investigate the people on the chain database for motives for the young woman’s murder, while Kirk begins interviewing people. Pretty soon, a hacker with family mob connections comes to their notice, and things only get messier from there, with danger getting close to both Miner and Bloom.

This book had great potential, but there were twists to keep things interesting. The writing, however, was frequently awkward, and did not flow. It took me several days to finish what is supposed to be a thriller, and I had to keep forcing myself to finish the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Bancroft Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

I really enjoyed the author's first novel, Dissection, so I was happy when after moving across the country I found that I had received a copy of this one to read and review. I am now happy to report that it lived up to expectations and delivered a compelling medical thriller that held me captive from start to finish. The author is an MD so the medical aspects of the story are made believable and real due to her experience and research. The story starts at a very comfortable pace but that ratchets up a notch or two as the plot thickens and the protagonist's life hangs in the balance. The very real issues of organ harvesting and donations are at the core of the story and the author does a great job of incorporating them into the story. By the end of the story the tension is as palpable as a heart missing a beat and having to rest a second to catch your breath. All in all this is a wonderful sophomore effort built around characters I've come to admire and I look forward to what mischief they get into next.

NetGalley gave me the opportunity to read this medical thriller written by an expert in her field: Christina LePort…M.D. Dr. LePort put forth a solid effort in “Change of Heart; “ however, I just did not connect with the narrative for the “ thriller” I was hoping to read. The murder mystery was not too bad and she brings a lot of writing skills to her plot. I would recommend this book to mystery lovers but would not raise expectations overly high. Just enjoy a solid effort by Dr. LePort.

Change of Heart by Dr. Christina Laporte is as intriguing and exciting as an open-heart surgery. But with more unpredictability and more violence. Amy Winters is a medical student in New York City who is found dead. Her death took place in front of a hospital, which facilitated an easy path to donation. The reader sees more and more of these crimes. Are they murders or suicides? The FBI is brought in to assist the NYPD. Is this an organ trafficking ring or a coincidence? Change of Heart is a superior blend of medical mystery and an absorbing police procedural. It is a wild ride, and readers would be advised to secure the first title in the series, Dissection.

A well written medical thriller. a.story about a transplant surgeon hearts a dead medical doctors hearta needed organ donation a criminal conspiracy.Tense chilling read book two in the series.I was drawn in from the first pages a search for a heart for a specific patient. kept me up late turning the pages.# netgalley #change of heart.

Change of Heart by Cristina LePort, MD, is a poignant and thought-provoking memoir that offers a unique glimpse into the life of a cardiothoracic surgeon. With candor and vulnerability, Dr. LePort shares her personal and professional journey, revealing the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way.


Dr. LePort's writing is engaging, accessible, and infused with a deep sense of empathy and compassion. Her stories about her patients, colleagues, and personal experiences are captivating and relatable, providing a nuanced exploration of the human side of medicine.

3.5

Once upon a time I worked in heart transplants and LVADs, so it was big fun for me to read two well written books about heart transplantation in the same month!

The twists weren't unexpected, and the characters were a bit dry, but I enjoyed the action and didn't find it too implausible.

Thank you to Bancroft Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Change of Heart, by Cristina LePort, MD, is an exciting, fast paced medical thriller that will keep you hooked from beginning to end.
In New York City, a medical student is found brain dead. Detective Kirk Miner arrives on scene and soon starts to uncover a dangerous conspiracy. He soon realizes that this case is far more intricate than it originally seemed.
Then FBI Agent Jack Mulville arrives to supervise Special Agent Charlotte Bloom as they work with Miner. All together, they discover corruption involving an organ trafficking ring.
Together they're in a race against time to prevent more deaths.

This was a medical thriller about finding donors for a heart transplant for a specific person. It was difficult for me to become interested in the theme because of the chain technique used to pair recipients and potential donors.
This was book two in a series, therefore some of the characters had a background together. It was difficult for me to become interested in their lives.

Great medical thriller. I wish I would have known this was part of a series before I decided to read it though because I felt a little lost sometimes.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

In this medical thriller, Charlotte Bloom is a young, still on probation, FBI agent leading her first case. The situation involves a criminal who is surreptitiously manipulating the list of heart donors and recipients. Potential donors are being killed to provide hearts for people he favors. Charlotte works with Kirk Miner, a consultant to the New York Police Department and her mentor, FBI Director Jack Mulville, to finally prove that their suspicions are correct. The dynamics of the case become very personal for Agent Bloom.

I had a hard time with this book, it seemed to be all over the place. I did finish it. Will read it again upon release to see if I can figure it out.

I loved every minute spent reading this novel and this author has solidified herself as one of my favorites. Her writing style is completely immersive and I often forget I'm reading and not living life as one of the characters (FBI special agent, of course). I especially love her knowledge of the medical field and the way she shares the information so it's easy to understand and flows as part of the story. It adds an extra layer to the plot and increases the sense of urgency. There's a crazy twist or two to the storyline that I never saw coming and the ending was sheer perfection. You don't want to miss this one!

I was gripped from the very first lines of Cristina LePort's CHANGE OF HEART--surprising me since a young medical student is dying and the detailed analysis of her brain death was more brain facts than I want to know, BUT somehow, I cared about her and the detective called in on the case plus the other investigators joining him in uncovering a complex, dangerous business in organ harvesting. I didn't always like the medical details, but I did enjoy the front-row seat in a suspense-filled, wonderfully written story. LePort's characters feel like people I know, encouraging me to cheer them on and worry about them when the criminals were too close. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

I had lots of fun reading this one.. had a lot of potential but the way everything pans out at the end was very convenient and "easy".