Michael J. McLaughlin’s NO HARM INTENDED feels like one of those stories that sneaks up on you, it starts as a simple river tour through the Amazon and suddenly turns into a full-blown survival nightmare. Whit Newsome, a young and slightly unsure doctor, ends up being the person everyone depends on after a brutal attack leaves passengers injured and stranded deep in the jungle. The medical scenes are especially gripping because Whit doesn’t have proper tools, just quick thinking and whatever limited knowledge he can pull together under pressure. At the same time, the book zooms out to show the activists behind the violence and wealthy travelers watching events unfold from a distance, which adds a sharp edge to the moral questions running through the story. It’s tense and uncomfortable in a good way, making you think about where activism crosses a line and how ordinary people react when they’re pushed far beyond their limits.

- Indie Reader