AJ Docker substitutes the busy emergency rooms of Houston for a more sedate alternative in Waterford, Montana. He takes his faithful canine sidekick Banshee with him on this new adventure to which he earnestly looks forward. He has barely settled into the community with its fair share of unusual individuals before he is thrown into the middle of a shooting incident. Docker rushes to the scene to offer whatever aid is possible and during the melee becomes embroiled in his weirdest mystery yet. Follow the good doctor as he goes up against a new threat in a town that likes to keep its dirty secrets buried in Gary Gerlacher’s Faulty Bloodline: An AJ Docker Medical Thriller.

AJ Docker gets caught up in a conspiracy of astronomical proportions in Faulty Bloodline. The characters have origin stories that are colorful as well as easy for the reader to follow. Gary Gerlacher adds an impressive level of authenticity to the narrative with his inclusion of the school incident as it touches on a very contentious topic. His teasing the reader with a snippet of what to expect in the opening paragraphs is a masterstroke. It immediately ramps up the suspense and immerses the reader as they try to deduce the identity of the primary antagonist using Gerlacher’s well-placed clues. The author’s combination of entertaining storytelling and innuendo-laden conversations between the characters keeps the reader riveted in the manner I have come to associate with the AJ Docker Medical Thriller series. I enjoyed reading Faulty Bloodline.

Faulty Bloodline is a medical crime thriller about a traveling doctor named A.J. with his retired police dog, Banshee. He arrives in Waterford, Montana, for his next three-month assignment. Along the way, he makes both friends and enemies. A.J., also known as Dr. Docker, has an incredible appetite for danger, and despite not being a professional detective, he knows how to get around. He crosses paths with John, a powerful rancher whose influence extends into town, his wife Carol who tends to keep her family's hands full, and his son Conner, who is his right-hand man. A.J. also meets Travis, a renowned attorney in Waterford. Author Gary Gerlacher makes situations complicated for A.J. as he repeatedly gets on Conner's bad side.

Faulty Bloodline is an exhilarating rollercoaster of emotions. Gary Gerlacher does an excellent job of keeping reading engagement high, as he uses alternating points of view to help readers relate to the main characters. Gary has a fantastic grasp of medical procedures, and he shows his knowledge here. It was a delight to read how he took his time vividly describing each area. The action was realistic, and I loved to see A.J.'s friendship with his trusty Belgian Malinois. The theme is clear as A.J. wonders what is going on with the ranch in town. Gary crafted Faulty Bloodline with precision; the pace is fast, and the pages keep turning. The first sentence hits hard, and you'll have fun trying to figure out who the killer is.