In between long, descriptive passages describing Pittsburgh neighborhoods, rivers, and hills, and longer detailed medical passages about how anesthesiologists sedate patients before surgery, author Steve Orebuagh tells the story of Kurt McCain, who falls for a patient's romantic interests and is consumed by her need for the thrill pain medications can induce when mixed with alcohol. This novel is for yinz guys who love Pittsburgh, its food, sports teams, and culture.

A talented, devoted anesthesiologist, with a coveted academic position. A lovely, accomplished financial analyst with a glamorous social life, a high-rise apartment, and a dirty little secret. The story was fascinating and totally kept my interest. Thank you so much for a great read. I will be looking out for future books by this author.

I was taken by the cover, title, and description of this book, and really wanted to like it. I have mixed feelings.

The very, very good - Philadelphia history, the description of walking up, down, and around the stairs, the town, a Dr. devoted to his profession with intelligence and compassion who takes responsibility for his phenomenal lapse in judgment, and redeems himself at a great personal cost.

The bad - Said Dr. meets a woman patient, a whirlwind relationship ensues, and next drugs are being used, and he nearly loses everything because he cannot resist her and her charms.

The ugly - I didn’t quite find the relationship with the woman believable. Based on her not fully developed character, she seems one-dimensional, greedy, and manipulative to her own ends. Had her character been teased out as well as the Dr’s, it might have made more sense to me. Also, why must it be a woman leading him down the road to ruin? It could just have well been one of his male buddies. I did not find that coupling authentic. It happened too quickly, and lacked the details and communication that would have made this 4 stars.

I’m very aware of the opioid crises in America, as well as professionals abusing their power. I didn’t learn anything new about the opioid crisis, but I learned good history about Philadelphia and a devoted Dr. too easily taken in.

Thank you to Netgalley, Steve Orebuagh, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.