‘The bullet carrying Amy Winter’s name whooshed through her hair at a speed of fifteen hundred feet per second …’

Medical student Amy Winter has apparently committed suicide by shooting herself in the temporal lobe. She’s left a note indicating that she wants to donate her organs for transplant, and because her heart is still beating, she is a perfect candidate.

Former detective, now private investigator Kirk Miner is called to the scene. Investigations quickly reveal that Amy was shot: a victim of an organ harvesting conspiracy.

Charlotte Bloom, a probationer with the FBI, under the supervision of FBI Agent Jack Mulville, is assigned to work with Kirk Miner to investigate. Charlotte has a secret of her own: one she is desperate to hide until her probationary period ends.

‘You better choose wisely. Your life may be at stake.’

What follows is a fast moving and dangerous quest for the truth. The more Miner and Bloom investigate, the more complicated (and dangerous) their work becomes. Someone has managed to infiltrate donor-related records and other lives are at risk.

The first half of this novel had me totally engrossed. Then there were a couple of twists which I thought stretched credibility to breaking point. Yes,
those twists increase the stakes and add more colour to the story, but they didn’t really work for me. That said, I am interested enough to seek out the first novel in this series and (mostly) I enjoyed the way Dr LePort blended medical knowledge and fiction in this novel.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Bancroft Press for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Kirk Miner was nicknamed “The Medical Detective”. A former cop turned private investigator, he was often called in as a criminal case consultant. Medical student Amy Winters had seemingly committed suicide by shooting herself in the temporal lobe. She was found inside her vehicle parked in front of a NY Medical Center. The passenger seat, containing a signed and dated note, stated her intention to donate her organs. Before the fatal shot was fired, 911 had been called. In order to save lives, Amy must be rescued before her organs shut down.

In just two months, Charlotte Bloom’s probationary period would end and she would become FBI Cyber Special Agent Bloom. A glitch might disqualify her, one she must keep under wraps.

Kirk Miner and Charlotte Bloom, chosen by the FBI in conjunction with the NYPD, were tasked with investigating unsolved cybercrime, crimes that had been escalating since hospital medical records were hacked one year ago. The main suspect orchestrating these breaches was a slippery mobster, someone continuing to illegally access patient information. The death of Amy Winter, a homicide made to look like suicide, was an attempt to harvest her organs.

NY Medical Center maintained a chain donation database. Each patient signed up with a potential donor. To create anonymity, patients were identified by a letter and number. Suicides among chain donors were found to be at an all time high. Who would benefit? “Someone wanted Amy Winter’s heart to go to a certain patient, very badly.”

This medical thriller will leave the reader breathless. It has it all; medical expertise written in layman terms, mystery, cybercrime, ethics and moral issues and romance. The cast of protagonists are well fleshed out and relatable. Author Cristina LePort, MD has written an outstanding novel that is adrenaline charged and unputdownable.

Thank you Bancroft Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review of eBook

Amy Winters is dead, shot in the head. But her heart is still beating. And she’s left a note indicating her desire to be an organ donor.

Private investigator Kirk Miner, called to the scene by NYPD captain John Spencer, has been asked to consult. What, at first, seemed to be a suicide, may be murder.

FBI probationary special agent Charlotte Bloom, assigned to the cybercrime division, longs to be in the field, working on challenging cases.

Circumstances conspire to bring these people together in an unexpected way, setting the stage for long-held secrets to come to light. And why does the hacking of hospital records play such an important part in the investigation?

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Believable characters in plausible situations populate this medical thriller. Anchored by a strong sense of place and a clever, inventive plot, the unfolding narrative pulls readers into the telling of the tale from the outset. The medical details add depth to the telling of the tale and the fast pace keeps the story moving.

Moral and ethical questions, the inevitable politics, and the challenges faced by doctors all work together to make this tale both captivating and thought-provoking. Filled with surprising twists, this medical murder mystery keeps those pages turning as fast as possible. With readers on the edge of their seats, the revelations keep readers guessing right up to the satisfying denouement.

Readers who enjoy mysteries with a medical twist will find much to appreciate here as will those who are looking for a good mystery.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Bancroft Press and NetGalley
#ChangeofHeart #NetGalley

Change of Heart is a gripping medical thriller that explores cyber hacking, organised crime and the darker side to organ donation and transplants. It hooks you in immediately and keeps the pace up the whole way through the novel. There were a couple of twists I picked but didn’t quite get the motive right and I was kept guessing along the way.

It’s the second book in the Miner and Mulville medical thriller series. There was a couple of times I wished I knew a bit more about the characters back stories but it is one you can jump into without knowing a lot. I enjoyed PI Kirk Miner as a character-his medical background and family background real helped add to the plot. FBI Rookie Charlotte Bloom played off him nicely and they balanced out their different skills and experiences well. FBI Director Jack Mulville seemed more of a side character rather than headliner though. Overall the novel was hard to put down and I enjoyed the medical components and am definitely keen to go back to read the first in the series now.

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! This book took me a bit to get through I kept coming back to it, and I’m really glad I did! It ended up being a wry good book! It’s a bit different but I definitely enjoyed reading it! This book had suspense, murder, serial killer, mystery, suicide, organ theft, and some crazy twists and turns! The story was very interesting! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This is an enthralling story that I found nearly impossible to put down. It begins with finding a young woman, Amy Winters, a medical student, shot in the head, right in front of a hospital. She is brain dead; however, her heart is still beating, making her the perfect candidate to donate a heart for transplant to a patient waiting for a heart. Having her found right at the hospital, makes it possible to give her still beating heart a patient in need of a new heart.
Detective Kirk Miner is recruited to work with the New York Police, however, upon further investigation, a conspiracy theory is formed that necessitates getting the FBI involved. It seems careful murders and suicides are occurring for the sole purpose of harvesting organs to accommodate those on a patient transplant list, specifically waiting for a heart.
As the case becomes more complex and dangerous, the FBI is called in. Special Agent Charlotte Bloom, and her Supervisor, Agent Jack Mulville, join forces with Detective Miner and it is soon apparent this is a very dangerous and corrupt operation of organ trafficking.
This story takes the reader on a wild ride as more deceit and unscrupulousness acts are revealed. Shocking, life-changing secrets are revealed as more information and details comes to light.
I absolutely could not put this riveting book down and kept reading until the last page was turned.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

Another great entry into the medical thriller genre. In this story we learn a lot about the very lucrative organ donor-harvesting-transplant business. The investigation reveals lots of information as the detectives aren’t on Vince’s the death was accidental or coincidental. We’ll design plot with excellent characters.

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.

"Change of Heart" is a gripping medical thriller that intertwines the intricacies of modern medicine with the relentless pursuit of justice. Cristina LePort, M.D., masterfully combines her medical expertise with edge-of-your-seat storytelling, delivering a novel that will keep you turning pages long into the night. Dr. LePort is an accomplished physician with a passion for weaving medical knowledge into thrilling narratives. Her extensive background in medicine lends authenticity and depth to her stories, making the Miner & Mulville series a unique blend of fact and fiction.

Loved it. Cannot wait to read more from the author. Will recommend to others.