Do No Harm - by Christina McDonald (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Emma loves her life. She's the mother of a precocious kindergartener, married to her soulmate--a loyal and loving police detective--and has a rewarding career as a doctor at the local hospital.

But everything comes crashing down when her son, Josh, is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

Determined to save him, Emma makes the risky decision to sell opioids to fund the life-saving treatment he needs. But when somebody ends up dead, a lethal game of cat and mouse ensues, her own husband leading the chase. With her son's life hanging in the balance, Emma is dragged into the dark world of drugs, lies, and murder. Will the truth catch up to her before she can save Josh?

A timely and moving exploration of a town gripped by the opioid epidemic, and featuring Christina McDonald's signature "complex, emotionally intense" (Publishers Weekly) prose, Do No Harm examines whether the ends ever justify the means...even for a desperate mother.

Review Quotes

"Do No Harm by Christina McDonald is an intense, emotional page-turner that's impossible not to devour in one sitting."-Real Simple

"Do No Harm is a pulse-pounding deep dive into the dark heart of addiction. The stakes couldn't be higher in this smart, breathlessly-paced, and emotional novel about love, family, and how far we'll go when our child's life hangs in the balance. Riveting, ripped from the headlines, and not to be missed."-Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Confessions on the 7:45

"McDonald's third domestic thriller delivers a jaw-dropping plot...the suspense, along with the body count, ratchets up with their every encounter. McDonald offers a painful look at two hot-button topics: the desperate opioid crisis, and a system that allows the cost of cancer pharmaceuticals to extend far beyond the reach of so many. Is what Emma does an unforgivable betrayal of her medical oath, her husband, and herself? It will be up to the reader to decide if the ends justify the means."-Booklist

"Gripping and timely."-Book Riot

"Christina McDonald has a real talent for bringing suburban domestic suspense to life, and showcases it to great effect in Do No Harm. Tense, taut, and absolutely unmissable, you'll find yourself wondering how far YOU would go to save your child's life."-J.T. Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of Lie to Me

"Do No Harm takes on the air of a cat-and-mouse thriller, with each character trying to outwit the other and come out on top. Drawing upon the searingly timely topic of the opioid crisis and adding some much-needed context to the severity, classism and racism of the issue, McDonald pens a suspenseful thrill ride that is as socially aware as it is meticulously plotted...Instantly gripping and full of gasp-worthy twists, the book is clever, tense and utterly addictive. You won't stop until you've turned the last page."-Bookreporter

"McDonald takes the heart-wrenching premise that has become her trademark and ratchets it up a notch in Do No Harm, blurring the lines between good and evil in a doctor desperate to save her sick child. A gripping, emotional roller coaster with a sting in the tail."-Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of The Marriage Lie

"Grace Fraser and Do No Harm's Emma have a lot more in common that what meets the eye...From the outside, selling opioids sounds like a horrible and irresponsible idea, but readers will quickly become fans of Emma, Christina McDonald's protagonist..."-PopSguar

"Christina McDonald knows how to pack an emotional punch! Do No Harm is a riveting, thought-provoking novel that keeps you reading even as it breaks your heart. This might be my favorite book by McDonald yet."-Samantha Downing, USA Today bestselling author of My Lovely Wife

"Do No Harm is a cross between Breaking Bad and Kohlberg's theory of moral development."-CrimeReads

"A gripping page-turner with a heartwrenching moral quandary at its core. Do No Harm is tense, moving, and disturbingly relevant."-Robyn Harding, internationally bestselling author of The Swap and The Party

"[A] complex medical thriller that will have the reader asking themselves what they would do if they were in Emma's position...McDonald explores the many perspectives of the opioid crisis with insight and compassion...Readers looking for a fast-paced and emotional story will enjoy Do No Harm and be thinking about it long after the last page is read."-The Seattle Book Review

"Devastating, heartbreaking, and incredibly timely-this risky and brilliant examination of when the ends justify the means will captivate you from moment one. The talented Christina McDonald dissects the crumbling marriage of two good people, and reveals how love and obsession can combine to destroy even the most perfect family. As a doctor's vow of 'do no harm' twists into 'do whatever it takes, ' you'll be riveted by this thought-provoking and tragically believable story."-Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of The Murder List

"This raw, emotional story echoes fear that would result when denied necessary available health treatment due to lack of funds. And it brings into question how far a parent can morally go to save their child."-Authorlink

"With her trademark emotionally gripping, outstanding writing, Christina McDonald tackles the moral and ethical lines crossed by a doctor desperate to save her child. A stunning gut-punch of a suspense novel, Do No Harm expertly merges the dangers of the opioid crisis with a mother's love, leaving readers gasping for more. A breathtaking read."-Samantha M. Bailey, #1 bestselling author of Woman on the Edge

"A deftly woven blend of suspense, family life, amateur sleuthing, and an opioid epidemic "Do No Harm" is an inherently fascinating and engaging novel by Christina McDonald examines whether the ends ever justify the means -- even for a desperate mother."-Midwest Book Review

"Do No Harm is a gripping and unflinching novel. Christina McDonald demands an answer to the ultimate question: How far would you go to save your child? One thing is for sure: your heart will be ripped out as you whip through each page to discover the answer. Highly recommend!"-Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke, authors of How To Save a Life

"In her suspenseful new thriller, Do No Harm, Christina McDonald brings a controversial topic right out of the real-world headlines and displays a fantastic ability to truly examine it from all sides...Do No Harm is an absolute page turner! McDonald has once again perfectly balanced little twists that the reader can feel clever for figuring out with big, sudden gasp-out-loud moments. Fans of the author's previous books, Behind Every Lie and The Night Olivia Fell, should be ready to jump right in to this intense new thriller!"-The Nerd Daily

"A family-driven medical thriller that's unique and propulsive, Do No Harm by Christina McDonald is as gut-wrenching as it is jaw-dropping. Not to be missed!"--Hannah Mary McKinnon, bestselling author of Sister Dear

"Do No Harm poses morally gray questions...McDonald's novel doesn't just tell a story of a doctor trying to use the opioid crisis as a quick payday, she examines different angles of the crisis and how it plays out for different people, exploring who benefits, who suffers and who is left behind."-Fairfield Citizen

"Nobody writes motherhood like Christina McDonald. Her third novel, Do No Harm, is a riveting thriller which braids the complexities of modern parenting with the pressures of finding a moral centre in a devastating opioid crisis. Heartrending, heart-pounding and fearless to the last word."--Amber Cowie, author of Loss Lake

About The Author