Reviewed by Anne Boling for Readers' Favorite

The setting for Code 15 is Dade Presbyterian Hospital in Miami, Florida. The definition of Code 15 is death of a patient due to an error on the part of the hospital or a physician.

Dr. Morgan Connolly is the head of the emergency room and the chair of the hospital safety committee. Morgan was a well respected doctor until her life seemed to fall apart. Her father was murdered by a mysterious “patient.” Her husband leaves her right before she discovers she is pregnant. Suddenly there is an extreme increase in the number of code 15's. Morgan suspects the same person that killed her father is also responsible for the other deaths.

I love medical thrillers. This is the first book by Gary Birken that I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be the last. The detailed description of the bypass surgery was exquisite. While I’m not familiar with Birken’s bio, I suspect he has some type of medical training in his background. Morgan Connolly was an unusual character; she rarely reacted the way I expected. I like the character of Ben but wish the author had spent more time developing him and allowing him to play a larger part in the book. I would also have liked to see a completion to the subplot concerning Kevin and “the Boss.” Perhaps Birken is saving this nugget for a new book. I kept trying to guess who the murderer could be. Birken surprised me with the identity. I read this book while on vacation, and I did not want to lay it down. This is the perfect book to read while lying in a chair by the pool.