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Richard L. Mabry
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Bitter Pill Kindle Edition

by Richard L. Mabry MD (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 326 ratings
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THINGS WERE GOING ALONG JUST FINE

UNTIL THE MIRACLE FOULED THEM UP

“Brother” Bob Bannister is content with his life and his itinerant healing ministry, until one night he finds that the woman who walks off the stage under her own power isn’t one of his shills. At that point, doubts begin to intrude on his previously untroubled existence.

Dr. Abby Davis is tired of her family practice and at odds with God. Dealing with critically ill and dying patients has crushed her spirit to the point she’s ready to quit. But she soon realizes that there’s more to healing than ministering to the physical body.

Scott Anderson was the oldest graduate of his seminary class. Then again, most of them hadn’t turned away from a medical practice, hoping to atone for past mistakes (including his wife’s death) by ministering to men’s souls. Now he hopes he hasn’t made a colossal mistake in switching careers.

Each of these individuals becomes linked to the other, and each finds that God has a purpose for them—but, as it often does, the lesson comes with discomfort.
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  1. Print length
    132 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    May 29, 2019
  5. File size
    426 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
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  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"As usual, Richard Mabry has hit another home run with this novella of redemption and second chances. ... The story is full of turns and twists you don't expect."
Patricia Bradford, author

"Thoughtfully merging faith, suspense, and medicine in a plot that's difficult to put down involving characters you'll become emotionally invested in, Bitter Pill is exactly what we expect from this author."
Carrie Schmidt, Reading Is My Superpower

From the Author

This isn't my typical medical mystery, yet I felt it had to be written. I won my future agent's contest with this line--Things were going along just fine until the miracle fouled them up--but the book that went with that line took me years to write. I hope you find it entertaining, and a little thought-provoking.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07R5C8L5W
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (May 29, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 29, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 426 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 132 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 326 ratings

About the author

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Richard L. Mabry

Richard L. Mabry

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I'm a retired physician who, in addition to writing, is a husband and grandfather, plays (and enjoys) golf, and does the hundred-and-one other things that retired people do.

I got into non-medical writing after the death of my first wife with my book, THE TENDER SCAR: LIFE AFTER THE DEATH OF A SPOUSE. I'm gratified that it continues to help those who have lost a loved one.

Now I'm writing what I call "medical suspense with heart." My novels have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Award, Romantic Times' Best Inspirational Novel and their Reviewer's Choice Award, have won the Selah award, and been named by Christian Retailing as the best in the mystery/suspense/thriller category. My latest novel is GUARDED PROGNOSIS. I've also published fivenovellas, the latest one MEDICAL MYSTERY.

You can follow me on my blog (rmabry.blogspot.com) and my web page (rmabry.com), as well as Facebook (rmabrybooks) and Twitter (RichardMabry).

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
326 global ratings
Wonderful Story
5 Stars
Wonderful Story
‘I don’t think any of us are prepared for the bitter pill we’re sometimes asked to swallow. ‘Richard Mabry’s books have always been good and I have enjoyed them all. This one is a bit different than his usual fare, but he is wonderful here. We meet three individuals in this novella: Dr Abby Davis, who is somewhat dissatisfied with her practice and with God. Her patients have begun to ask her to pray for them. Then we gave Bob Bannister, itinerant preacher, who conducts healing services, even though there are no real healings. Until one night, there just may have been one. But Brother Bob knows it doesn’t have anything to do with him. And finally, there is Dr Scott Anderson, who has left medicine and gone to seminary.Each one of these characters have a connection to the other in a roundabout way. They soon discover that God has a plan for their life. And it involves a good amount of discomfort. They must swallow a bitter pill, but like the medicine prescribed for an illness, that pill brings health back. Sometimes we all need a reminder that not everything that looks bad is bad. Good things come in pain and hardship sometimes.*My thanks to the author fir a preview copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
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Top reviews from the United States

TexasCitizen
5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Bitter Pill
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2022
Verified Purchase
I thought sure I figured out who the villain was, but was totally surprised. Enjoyed the story line and the interesting twists & turns to keep you engaged. Well done Dr. Mabry.
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Priscilla Bettis
4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun, Uplifting Story
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2019
Verified Purchase
This is a Christian suspense novella. The protagonist, Scott, is a rookie pastor and a former physician. Together with Dr. Abby, Brother Bob, and Pastor Ed, Scott tries to work out what God wants him to do next in life.

And who the heck keeps attacking Brother Bob?!

PROS:
Bitter Pill is a palate cleanser (haha, despite the name). If you’ve been zapped by technical nonfiction or weighty literature or driveling plots, this book will leave you uplifted, energized, and ready to tackle the next book on your reading list.

The book is well-edited with very few (if any) typos. It made for a pleasant, easy read.

Dr. Abby comes across as a likable, real-life person, not just a physician in a white suit. If Mabry writes a sequel, I hope Dr. Abby is in it.

CONS:
I was itching for more in the story about Bob’s friend, Randy, and about the likable Abby. But this is a novella. Not everything is going to be deeply developed, so I didn’t take off any stars for this.

I know it’s a Christian novella, but a few dialogue passages came across as preachy instead of the story showing the faith aspect. I reluctantly took off a star for this.

OVERALL:
Fast plot, uplifting, easy, and fun. 4 stars.
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Ellen Oceanside
5.0 out of 5 stars CHOICES BEYOND WHAT THEY THOUGHT
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2019
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Scott dropped the Dr to his name as well as being in the medicine field. Taking courses to be a pastor and now he had been an associate pastor for three months. When Ed tells him he will be the one preaching on Sunday. Scott saying he needs more time, when Ed reply’s God created the world in six days. He could prepare a sermon in six days. The real question for Scott was what was his foundation, his beliefs.
Bob.Bannister was struggling with a nightmare or was he aware that someone in this small town was sending. deadly messages to warn people about him. He had a thriving healing church , until a woman walked away, and he couldn’t explain what happened, but it scared him.
Abby questions her career choice, when a woman asks to continue to see her, though outcome had already been said. Could she continue to give her patients what they needed outside of being a doctor,
A good in depth look at three people one might say had tunnel visions in their choice of career. and God was showing them to accept other possibility, and to broaden them, in ways that have come to them. Leaving how it was done, to faith, prayer, and in God’s hand.
Once again he has written, a book that captures us, and intrigued us, of how the three will come together, and the outcome.
2 people found this helpful
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Ellen L Craft
3.0 out of 5 stars Mabry tackles faith
Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2021
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Good read, different from Mabry's typical work. It started slow but turned out to be a good story about faith, challenges and following your path.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting characters and storyline.
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
I read nightly for pleasure and comfort. Mabry's stories have interesting inspiring characters that I enjoy following. In our world that seems hopeless at times, it is encouraging to read about integrity, honesty and faith. I look forward to my evenings with one of Dr. Mabrys books to read!
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LD2reader
4.0 out of 5 stars Needed to be longer and have more depth
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2019
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I liked the characters and the overall premise, but this needed to be a much longer book. Everything fell apart and came back together predictably. There was no real tension over the characters—I predicted pretty much all the plot points. All except one, which was the most intriguing but the most confusing. I had no clue what Willis’ motivation was or why he would even care about Bob, much less hate him so viciously, since Bob didn’t affect Willis’ job. That didn’t ring true to me. I think this book would have been great if it was full length with fully-developed characters and I felt actual emotions over them (I didn’t connect with anyone.) However, it was the perfect read for a sleepless night, so sometimes it’s OK to have a simple book that doesn’t require a lot out of the reader, yet it is intelligent.
2 people found this helpful
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Sheila C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable.
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2020
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Since I have enjoyed this author's medical thrillers, I thought this would be more of the same. It was not. Instead, it was a telling of three distinct stories who are developing a different relationship with God. I enjoyed reading this novella.
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DDomann
4.0 out of 5 stars Faith
Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2021
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This story of conflict and success is driven by introspection and the questions that arise in life. A solid story worth reading.
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Top reviews from other countries

Patricia
5.0 out of 5 stars Life's Bitter Moments
Reviewed in Canada on July 1, 2019
Verified Purchase
There were different difficult times in the lives of three people in this novel. Each person was going through a difficult time and each difficulty faced was different. We can relate to the diagnosis of cancer and what we went through. |It was a bitter pill. Richard Mabry has done a great job of describing what people go through when they get a difficult pill and also the solutions to coming through them in a victorious way. So did we!
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