Editorial Praise for Victor E. Pricolo, a.k.a. Jack Spears
In this gripping and singular thriller built around the culture, power relations, and technical prowess of the surgical profession, the narrative takes the reader through a stunning journey into the shrouded world of a university hospital. A narcissistic sociopathic doctor has been able to climb the leadership ladder, while getting away with murder, neglect, and inappropriate relationships at work. He has managed to survive frequent legal challenges while remaining in good standing on the hospital staff and cultivating his powerful connections at the local country club. The novel is deeply invested in themes of intimacy, self-preservation, and revenge, especially when one of the victims happens to be part of an Italian family, tied to the Mafia underworld. The book is a work of considerable craft, populated by characters of remarkable depth and complexity, with their own human strengths and frailties. Jack Spears’ writing style is distinctly original: sharp, vivid, and quite poetic at times. Trust Me with Your Life is a must-read book for fans of medical dramas, psychological thrillers, and Italian American heritage. This novel will keep readers wondering about the next turn of events, hoping for justice until its surprising end, begging for a sequel.
The sequel to “Trust Me with Your Life” displays a narrative that is both richly realistic and deeply absorbing in the psychological web it’s able to cast. The main characters, with their hopes and goals, human frailties, and private vices, are developed and presented with an insightful prose. They are drawn from diverse backgrounds, with rules to be bent, with vows made only to be broken, with promises turning into betrayals. The tackling of difficult contemporary societal issues comes across as frank, incisive, and delivered with effortless sophistication. The storytelling is generous and engaged, occasionally injecting sinister or humorous details in the scenes, while maintaining a sweeping vision of the narrative arc. As its plot unfolds, the novel explores a wide range of professional, socioeconomic, and cultural experiences through family connections and unexpected circumstances. The character speech is full of thoughtfulness, feeling, communicative potency, irony, and subtle humor. Perhaps most importantly, each character’s prose is imbued with unique phrases and patterns, such that a distinct “voice” for each emerges as the novel unfolds towards its astonishing epilogue.
Secrets of a Dreadful Surgeon carries the reader along on an international ride full of unexpected developments. Dr. Bill Bosworth decides to take a leave from his surgical practice to pursue a love interest, Ginnie Schiavon, a nurse at his same hospital. However, the hope of a romantic vacation in Venice, Italy, soon turns into a struggle for survival, as the doctor finds himself involved in a trafficking scheme. This story has several high-tension moments that propel it forward and keeps readers guessing what may happen next. The pacing is quite good, with quieter moments and personal introspection to balance out the sequential flow of the narrative. Also, the scenarios are alive with a dark humor that’s quite appealing. The comedy is at its best when Bill is at his worst: doing drugs, covering up crimes, and blatantly favoring his libido over his family and professional duties. In fact, the story contains strong ethical messages—both unflinching and touching—about core personal values that will resonate with the readers. The individual characters are well thought out, unique, and believable in their actions. Despite his nihilistic and reckless behavior, Bill Bosworth manages to maintain his own version of humanity, as he’s forced to risk it all to pursue his personal goals.