Death Agent by Mike Krentz is the third in a series of medical thrillers set in Maryland where Dr Zack Winston works in the emergency room at Bethesda Hospital. The book opens with an assassination and a mysterious metallic case that is handed over to an equally mysterious group of gangsters with Spanish nicknames. Three ruthless brothers run a Mexican drug cartel and have now branched out into a new venture. Dr Zack’s daughter Annie was the subject of a horrifying procedure and previously left for dead. She still suffers from PTSD and her father and mother now living on opposite sides of the country are both eager to keep her safe. But the Winston family and their friends and associates are all in danger from the South American cartel that is determined to eliminate everyone who could put them behind bars. The police under Martinez are very supportive but are outwitted on several occasions as the people they are trying to protect are disposed of one by one.

Death Agent by Mike Krentz is a good story, but it is not a standalone, and I would advise reading the two earlier books in the series to get the full benefit of this fast-paced medical thriller. Several of the characters have two names, Spanish and English. It is a page-turning book with lots of action although the main character Dr Zack Winston takes some unnecessary risks and makes unwise choices. As a doctor, he makes rash decisions, leading himself and his daughter into danger. Annie is sweet but sassy, and for me, she is the most likable character of the many we meet. I suspect there will be another book to follow on as the ending was … but then I’m not going to give away any spoilers here. I think as part of a series this is a thrilling read.

In Death Agent by Mike Krentz, Annie’s parents are divorced. She had been living with her mother but had come to visit her dad when disaster struck. Annie was pregnant by Conner, but she didn’t want to keep the baby, and when Sarah offered to help her get an abortion, she agreed. This led to a series of events that almost killed Annie. The infamous Dr Sebastian steals Annie's embryo, and when Annie wakes up after her rescue, she identifies the Bobbsey twins and an unknown man accusing one of the twins of botching the plan to murder Bridget’s husband to her father. She is not able to recall this information when the detectives visit the hospital to take her statement. How will things turn out when Sarah shows up again?

Death Agent by Mike Krentz leaves one second-guessing and longing to find out what happens in subsequent chapters. The twists and turns in the flawlessly flowing plot put me on the edge of my seat, and I loved how Mike utilized suspense to great effect. I couldn’t wait to find out how everything was connected, especially with the cartel. Mike also ensured all events were vividly captured, which helped me to create a mental picture of what was happening as the events unfolded. The characters were well-developed, and the steady narration also added to the overall appeal of the book. The reader will also appreciate the accuracy of the medical terminologies used, which is an indication that the book was well-researched. This was an amazing read, and I look forward to reading something else by Mike Krentz.