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Quiz about Somebody Call a Doctor  Medical Thrillers
Quiz about Somebody Call a Doctor  Medical Thrillers

Somebody Call a Doctor! : Medical Thrillers Quiz


Some books are best read with the lights ON, including this assortment of medical thrillers. You may have read some of them, but the question is: Can you recall who wrote them?

A multiple-choice quiz by paulmallon. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
paulmallon
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
346,481
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
619
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. "Harvest" (1996) is about an illegal organ harvesting scheme going on at Bayside Hospital in Boston that is thwarted by a young intern, Dr. Abbey DiMatteo.
Who is the scrivener of this spooky story?
Hint: A couple of the author's characters were the inspiration for a TV series.
Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. "The Sisterhood" (1982) was this author's first published novel and dealt with the frightening scenario in which a cadre of nurses were practicing unauthorized euthanasia at Boston Doctor's Hospital. He has since written over a dozen novels which have appeared on The New York Times Bestseller List, and his works have been translated into more than 35 languages.
He was a full time doctor for 20 years before going full time with his writing.

HINT: One of his earlier works "Extreme Measures" (1991) was turned into a movie of the same title in 1996 which starred Hugh Grant, Gene Hackman and Sarah Jessica Parker. His 2012 book "Oath of Office" is his 17th novel.
Can you name him?
Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. "A Faint Cold Fear" (2003) is the story of Sara Linton, a small town coroner/medical examiner, and the town's police chief Jeffrey Tolliver, who join forces to try to determine the true facts behind what appears to be a suicide at the local college campus. She is also the author of "Fractured" (2008) and "Fallen" (2011).
Can you name the author who created them?
Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. "Dry Ice" (2007) is a spooky tale of a man who escapes from a mental hospital in an attempt to gain revenge against those who played a part in his incarceration including Boulder, CO psychologist Dr. Alan Gregory.
Dr. Gregory has appeared in over a dozen of this writer's works which include "Dead Time" (2008) and "The Last Lie" (2010).
Can you name this scrivener of psychology?
Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. "Declared Dead" (2002) deals with the mystery behind why death certificates are being issued for people who are still very much alive, including Dr. Jenna McLaren who tries to unravel what led her Denver hospital to even include one in her name.
There are lies, secrets and talk of a new, but unproven miracle drug as well.
The author also has written "Bad Blood" (1999) and "Bad Medicine" (2001).
Do you have a clue who she is?
Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. "The Darkness Drops" (2010) features Dr. Terry Ryder, a special advisor to the president on issues regarding bio-terrorism. He tries to determine what strain of microbes is causing people to develop tremors and a feeling of numbness in their arms and legs before it becomes a national calamity.
Who is the author who dreamed up this doomsday scenario?
Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. "Critical Condition" (2010) evolves around a group of patients and staff at Angels of Mercy Hospital who are being held hostage during a howling snowstorm. During the chaos, Dr. Gina Freeman is trying to treat her wounded fiance, Det. Jerry Boyle and the only person who may be able to stop a wholesale massacre, E.R. physician Linda Cole is stranded outside.
Who is the cold-hearted author?
Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. "Death Benefit" (2011) is the story of medical student named Pia Grazdani who, through a working alliance with Columbia University Medical Center's brilliant cutting edge molecular geneticist, Dr Tobias Rothman, is trying to create replacement organs for critically ill patients, an achievement that would change the face of health care for generations to come.
Who is the author who came up with this intriguing idea?
Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. "Body of Evidence" (1991) is an early entry in a popular series featuring VA chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta in which Beryl Madison, a somewhat reclusive author of romance novels, has been getting threatening phone calls and has the disquieting sense that she is being stalked. Finally after finding a heart keyed into the side of her car she can take no more and flees to Key West to try to escape her taunter. Upon the very first night of her return home she is stabbed to death by a person for whom she apparently opened her door, not realizing that it was the very same person who had been tormenting her all along. Det. Pete Marino calls on Scarpetta to bring to use all of her skill in an effort to sort through the forensic evidence and bring the killer to justice.
Can you name this prolific author?
Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. "The Andromeda Strain" (1969) is thought to be the world's first novel to deal with the topic of a space-age biological emergency.
For years scientists have been warning the U.S. government about the possible deadly consequences that could occur when satellites are sent to outer space in an effort to collect data to be studied about organisms and dust beyond our atmosphere. Later, one of seventeen such satellites falls to earth in a remote part of Arizona, in the little town of Piedmont, whose streets shortly thereafter are littered with the corpses of those who were living there. A quartet made up of a microbiologist, an epidemiologist, a pathologist and a chemist begin a battle against time to determine what has caused these unexplained deaths and to find a way to eliminate the threat before a worldwide pandemic can occur.
Whom do you suspect of coming up with this terrifying tale?
Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. "Harvest" (1996) is about an illegal organ harvesting scheme going on at Bayside Hospital in Boston that is thwarted by a young intern, Dr. Abbey DiMatteo. Who is the scrivener of this spooky story? Hint: A couple of the author's characters were the inspiration for a TV series.

Answer: Tess Gerritsen

Tess Gerritsen is an Asian American author, whose former work as a medical internist gives her a unique insight that is evident in her writings in the genre.

She was born June 12, 1953 as Terry Gerritsen in San Diego but changed her name to Tess to give her a more feminine sounding name when she was writing romance novels. She graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Anthropology and after graduating from The University of California-San Francisco she received her degree in Medicine and shortly thereafter began working as a physician in Hawaii. Lucky for us she later decided to retire to concentrate on her writing.

"Harvest" was her first published medical thriller and she is also the author of "The Surgeon" (2001) a novel that introduced Boston detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles, who have been portrayed respectively by Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander on the TV series "Rizzoli and Isles" which premiered July 12, 2010.

Lisa Scottoline is an author whose works include "Look Again" (2009) and "Think Twice" (2010).

Sue Grafton is the popular creator of the alphabetical series of mystery novels featuring P.I. Kinsey Millhone which started with "A" is for Alibi" (1982) and also includes "V" is for Vengeance" (2011).

Tami Hoag has penned, among other suspense novels, "Deeper Than the Dead" (2009) and "Down the Darkest Road" (2011).
2. "The Sisterhood" (1982) was this author's first published novel and dealt with the frightening scenario in which a cadre of nurses were practicing unauthorized euthanasia at Boston Doctor's Hospital. He has since written over a dozen novels which have appeared on The New York Times Bestseller List, and his works have been translated into more than 35 languages. He was a full time doctor for 20 years before going full time with his writing. HINT: One of his earlier works "Extreme Measures" (1991) was turned into a movie of the same title in 1996 which starred Hugh Grant, Gene Hackman and Sarah Jessica Parker. His 2012 book "Oath of Office" is his 17th novel. Can you name him?

Answer: Michael Palmer

Michael Stephen Palmer was born October 9, 1942, trained in internal medicine after graduating Case Western Reserve University and spent two decades practising internal and emergency medicine. His inspiration to write came after reading a book, "Coma" (1977) by another doctor you may have heard of, Dr. Robin Cook.

Dean Koontz has a long list of bestsellers to his credit including "Lightning" (1988) and "77 Shadow Street" (2011).

C.J. Box spins the yarns about Joe Pickett, a national parks ranger, in such books as "Blood Trail" (2009) and "Cold Wind" (2011).

Steve Thayer is the author of "The Weatherman" (1995) and "Wolf Pass" (2003).
3. "A Faint Cold Fear" (2003) is the story of Sara Linton, a small town coroner/medical examiner, and the town's police chief Jeffrey Tolliver, who join forces to try to determine the true facts behind what appears to be a suicide at the local college campus. She is also the author of "Fractured" (2008) and "Fallen" (2011). Can you name the author who created them?

Answer: Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter was born January 6, 1971 in Atlanta, GA. Her debut novel, "Blindsighted" (2001) was published in almost 30 languages and was a finalist for the Dagger Award for "Best Thriller Debut" by the Crime Writer's Association.

Mo Hayder is the author of "The Ritual" (2008) and "Gone" (2011).

Ann Patchett has penned "The Magician's Assistant" (1997) and "State of Wonder" (2011).

Donna Tartt has written "The Secret History" (1992) and "The Little Friend" (2002).
4. "Dry Ice" (2007) is a spooky tale of a man who escapes from a mental hospital in an attempt to gain revenge against those who played a part in his incarceration including Boulder, CO psychologist Dr. Alan Gregory. Dr. Gregory has appeared in over a dozen of this writer's works which include "Dead Time" (2008) and "The Last Lie" (2010). Can you name this scrivener of psychology?

Answer: Stephen White

Stephen White was born on Long Island, N.Y. in 1951. After graduating from Berkeley in 1972 he went on to have a 15 year career as a psychologist, enabling him to have great insight into the world of his fictional Dr. Alan Gregory and his patients. His first book "Privileged Information" (1991) was written while he was still practicing his medical career full time.
A couple of interesting notes about this eclectic writer: He is a licensed pilot, has worked as a tour guide at Universal Studios and tended bar at a pub called "The Red Lion" in Boulder, CO, which is the city where most of his books are set.

Daniel Silva is the author of several outstanding books featuring Gabriel Allon, a Mossad assassin who operates under the cover of being an art restorer in "The English Assassin" (2002), "The Rembrandt Affair" (2010) and "Portrait of a Spy" (2012).

Steve Martini has written over 15 novels and is the creator of lawyer Paul Madriani who stars in "The Rule of Nine" (2010) and "Trader of Secrets" (2011).

Phillip Margolin's works include "Proof Positive" (2006) and "The Last Innocent Man" (2010).
5. "Declared Dead" (2002) deals with the mystery behind why death certificates are being issued for people who are still very much alive, including Dr. Jenna McLaren who tries to unravel what led her Denver hospital to even include one in her name. There are lies, secrets and talk of a new, but unproven miracle drug as well. The author also has written "Bad Blood" (1999) and "Bad Medicine" (2001). Do you have a clue who she is?

Answer: Suzanne Proulx

Suzanne Proulx was born in Long Beach, CA. The first job she held after graduating from college was as a social worker in a mental hospital, a job which may partially explain her abilities to write such frightening tales.

Annie Proulx has written "The Shipping News" (1999) and "Brokeback Mountain", a short story which first appeared in "The New Yorker" magazine October 13, 1997 and which was made into a 2005 movie that was nominated for, but did not win, the Best Film Oscar.

Theresa Schwegel authored "Officer Down" (2005) and "Person of Interest" (2007).

Alice Hoffman, a familiar name on bestseller lists for years has written over twenty books including the wondrous "Practical Magic" (1993) and "The Dovekeepers" (2011).
6. "The Darkness Drops" (2010) features Dr. Terry Ryder, a special advisor to the president on issues regarding bio-terrorism. He tries to determine what strain of microbes is causing people to develop tremors and a feeling of numbness in their arms and legs before it becomes a national calamity. Who is the author who dreamed up this doomsday scenario?

Answer: Peter Clement

Dr. Peter Clement is a 20 year veteran of emergency room practice and has written a couple of different series of books, one featuring Earl Garnett, "Mortal Remains" (2003) and another featuring Richard Steele, "Critical Condition" (2002). "The Darkness Drops" is his first book to debut Dr. Terry Ryder.

Jeffrey Deaver, author of over 20 books, is the creator of the Lincoln Rhyme series that includes "The Bone Collector" (1997), which was made into a movie of the same name starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie (1999) and "Edge" (2010).

Harlan Coben's body of work includes "Caught" (2010) and "Live Wire" (2011).

T. Jefferson Parker's mystery novels include "L.A. Outlaws" (2008) and "The Jaguar" (2012).
7. "Critical Condition" (2010) evolves around a group of patients and staff at Angels of Mercy Hospital who are being held hostage during a howling snowstorm. During the chaos, Dr. Gina Freeman is trying to treat her wounded fiance, Det. Jerry Boyle and the only person who may be able to stop a wholesale massacre, E.R. physician Linda Cole is stranded outside. Who is the cold-hearted author?

Answer: C. J. Lyons

C.J. Lyons was raised in central PA, went to college in N.C. then to medical school in FL and finally back to PA for pediatric residency at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. She worked there for 17 years as a pediatric emergency room doctor before leaving to devote full time to her writing career.
She is also the author of "Blind Faith" (2011) and "Urgent Care" (2009).

Lisa Gardiner has written "Catch Me" (2012) and "Love You More" (2011).

Susan Sloan has authored "Behind Closed Doors" (2004) and "Act of God" (2002).

Liz Hickman is a member of my bar league trivia team "The Odd Squad" :-).
8. "Death Benefit" (2011) is the story of medical student named Pia Grazdani who, through a working alliance with Columbia University Medical Center's brilliant cutting edge molecular geneticist, Dr Tobias Rothman, is trying to create replacement organs for critically ill patients, an achievement that would change the face of health care for generations to come. Who is the author who came up with this intriguing idea?

Answer: Robin Cook

Robin Cook was born May 4, 1940 in New York City and in a career of over 20 years has been a perennial guest on the New York Times Bestseller List and has sold nearly 100 million copies of his novels worldwide. One of his his most famous books, "Coma" (1977) was turned into a movie of the same name the following year and starred Michael Douglas, Genevieve Bujold and featured a chilling performance by Elizabeth Ashley.
He has also turned out "Mortal Fear" (1989) and "Harmful Intent" (1990).
Interesting fact: He wrote his first novel "The Year of the Intern" (1973) while serving on the U.S. Navy's Polaris submarine.

James Lee Burke is the acclaimed author of the series featuring New Iberia, LA detective Dave Robicheaux including "In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead" (1993) and "The Glass Rainbow" (2010).

Lee Goldman is my next door neighbor.

James W. Hall has written about the exploits of his enigmatic anti-hero Thorn, in a fine series which includes ""Hell's Bay" (2008) and "Dead Last" (2011).
9. "Body of Evidence" (1991) is an early entry in a popular series featuring VA chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta in which Beryl Madison, a somewhat reclusive author of romance novels, has been getting threatening phone calls and has the disquieting sense that she is being stalked. Finally after finding a heart keyed into the side of her car she can take no more and flees to Key West to try to escape her taunter. Upon the very first night of her return home she is stabbed to death by a person for whom she apparently opened her door, not realizing that it was the very same person who had been tormenting her all along. Det. Pete Marino calls on Scarpetta to bring to use all of her skill in an effort to sort through the forensic evidence and bring the killer to justice. Can you name this prolific author?

Answer: Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell was born June 9, 1956 in Miami, FL and grew up in North Carolina where she graduated from Davidson College in 1979. Her first writing assignment was as a crime beat reporter for The Charlottte Observer. From 1984-1990 she worked at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, VA as a technical writer and computer analyst. Her first mystery novel "Postmortem" was finally published in 1990 after being rejected by seven major publishing houses. She got the last laugh on them as the book went on to win the coveted Edgar award as best mystery novel of the year. She has since written over a dozen more novels featuring Scarpetta including "The Body Farm" (1994) and "Post Mortuary" (2010).

Carolyn Keene is the collective pseudonym used by the authors of the popular "Nancy Drew" young adult series.

Jane Heller has written over a dozen wild and wacky mystery/romance capers including "Princess Charming" (1997) and "An Ex to Grind" (2005).

Nancy Taylor Rosenberg has authored such legal thrillers as "Mitigating Circumstances" (1993) and "My Lost Daughter" (2010).
10. "The Andromeda Strain" (1969) is thought to be the world's first novel to deal with the topic of a space-age biological emergency. For years scientists have been warning the U.S. government about the possible deadly consequences that could occur when satellites are sent to outer space in an effort to collect data to be studied about organisms and dust beyond our atmosphere. Later, one of seventeen such satellites falls to earth in a remote part of Arizona, in the little town of Piedmont, whose streets shortly thereafter are littered with the corpses of those who were living there. A quartet made up of a microbiologist, an epidemiologist, a pathologist and a chemist begin a battle against time to determine what has caused these unexplained deaths and to find a way to eliminate the threat before a worldwide pandemic can occur. Whom do you suspect of coming up with this terrifying tale?

Answer: Michael Crichton

Author, director, producer Michael Crichton was born October 23, 1942 in Chicago, IL. "The Andromeda Strain" would prove to be the most important book of his career as its immediate success established him as a best selling author whose books would go on to sell over 200 million copies worldwide. He graduated from Harvard College and then graduated from Harvard Medical School after which he undertook a post doctoral fellowship in 1969-1970 at The Jonas Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
Many of his novels have been turned into films including what is generally regarded as his most famous work, "Jurassic Park" (1990) which was made into a movie in 1993, as well as "Rising Sun" (1992) which when it hit the big screen the following year starred Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes.
He was also the creator and executive producer of the hit TV series "E.R." and even wrote three episodes. And just to add one more notch to his belt he directed the movie "Coma" (1978) which was based on the Robin Cook novel published in 1977.
He died of cancer in Los Angeles November 4, 2008.

Greg Isles has written several exciting novels including "Mortal Fear (1997) and "Third Degree" (2007).

Vince Flynn writes about the exploits of C.I.A. counterterrorism operative Mitch Rapp in an excellent series which includes "Transfer of Power" (1999) and "Protect and Defend" (2007).

David Lindsey has caused me endless hours of sleeplessness after reading his thrilling "Requim for a Glass Heart" (1996) and the most gut wrenching, nail biting, make sure the lights are on thriller I have ever read, "Mercy" (1990).
Source: Author paulmallon

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