Faced with curses and murder, Rhea must try to unravel the puzzle before her in time to prevent more deaths. Every belief she has ever held is put to the test, and past romantic entanglements make life at once more difficult and better.

***** With fascinating information and a complex plot, this story weaves its own fast paced spell. Although the medical data is sometimes complex and new readers might find some references oblique, this is still a promising series that will challenge the mind and completely involve the reader. Rhea is an intriguing character that joins the ranks of classic detectives. Highly recommended! *****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Rhea is unable to ignore her friend's plight. She sneaks into the Braswell home, but what she sees horrifies her as a comatose Marisa drips a strange liquid from her nasal passages. Her quick exam fails to verify Stephen's diagnosis. Later that same day, a patient enters ER with similar if not the identical symptoms as Marisa has. Rhea begins to investigate what is happening to her adopted small South Carolina town though someone will go to any lengths to insure she fails including murder.

DELAYED DIAGNOSIS is an exciting medical thriller that centers on the theme of friendship and how far a person will go in the name of that friendship. The heroine is a person will risk everything for a friend. The intrepid Rhea is a flawed person whose weaknesses turn into strengths. She goes the extra mile to help her best friend over the objection of Marisa's spouse, who is the patient's doctor and Rheaís boss. Though the reason for the conspiracy seems thin, readers will fully enjoy this action-packed medical drama because Rhea, who tells much of the tale, hooks the audience.

Harriet Klausner

Rhea stumbles across the epidemiological cause of the disease, but doesn't know how to treat it or how to get rid of it, other than an antibactieral cocktail she and another physician concoct. Rhea contacts Shirley, an English transport who went to med school with Rhea and her best friend Marisa (who returns from rehab very pregnant), who now works at the CDC. Together with Shirl, Rhea determines that the pneumonia is the result of a manmade streptococcus designed to be used in biological warfare. But who's behind it?

It's wonderful to see Rhea again. She's a smart, funny, independent, and educated woman who could be anyone's friend. Returning also are Miss Essie and her niece Arlana, Rhea's housekeeper, albeit in a limited role. Mark and Rhea grow closer, but could a new love for Rhea be on the horizon? Shirl is a fabulous new character, and it looks like, thankfully, she'll be in future books.

The only part of the novel that is a suspension of disbelief are those responsible for infecting the town. Frought with religious fervor and numerous governmental agencies, it's difficult to discern who actually did what and why. This is, however, a definite must-read for fans of Hunter and medical thrillers.

I like Gwen Hunter's fictional female doctor, Rhea Lynch. I agree with another reviewer that Hunter's books contain graphic medical details, but to write Dr. Rhea's stories any other way would be to take the easy way out.

In this book, Dr. Rhea comes face to face with a fast-acting, virulent, and deadly virus that has her completely stumped. The first victims, an interracial couple, die within hours of being brought into Rhea's small emergency room in Dawkins County, South Carolina.

But, they aren't the only ones to die and before it's all over, Rhea must use every ounce of her impressive medical talent and survival skills to save her town, her staff and herself from the evil that lurks in the shadows.

Hunter keeps getting better. She and Dr. Rhea will make it to all the bestsellers' lists soon.

I'll be reading whatever Hunter writes...she's a keeper....blood, guts and all!

Enjoy!