The Care Card is a medical mystery novel by Daryl Bollinger. It centers on hedge fund manager Warren Thompson who, after a dangerous accident, loses his beloved fiancée. When he discovers that he was given the antibiotics that saved him, but his fiancée was not, Warren embarks on a grief-fuelled mission to discover why treatment is administered to some but not others in the American hospital system. So begins a series of startling discoveries about the ugly truth of bureaucracy around health insurance and saving lives. Warren finds himself in the eye of a dangerous and powerful business storm. If he sticks to his guns and searches for equality in health, it may cost him dearly.

Readers who love detailed stories about businesses, power-plays and the intricacies of legal matters will adore Daryl Bollinger’s incredible attention to detail. The Care Card is a realistic portrayal of grief in the adult world, with vivid characters who leap off the page into living colour at the author’s excellent descriptions. In a tale heartfelt at its center, protagonist Warren never loses the memories that motivate him during his fascinating and thought-provoking discovery. I’d be interested to know how much of the horrifying truth about American healthcare is real in this story, as Warren’s struggle holds a painful mirror up to society for any of us who feel unfairly treated when we visit a hospital. Overall, a fabulous book that I would recommend to readers who enjoy realistic fiction set in the medical, legal or big-business vein.

The Care Card by Darryl Bollinger is the story of Warren Thompson, a successful hedge fund manager, and his beautiful and elegant fiancée, Alex. Together they enjoy the finer things in life; Warren drives a Porsche and Alex has incredible jewellery. Life roars on at the pace Warren thrives at, until his world falls apart when Alex becomes ill. Warren battles through the intricacies of a health care system that seems inept at best and corrupt at worst as Alex deteriorates and eventually dies. Exasperated by the system, and devastated by his loss, things that had seemed important to Warren now take a back seat as he makes it his mission to expose the system for what it is.

It was clear from the start that the author, Darryl Bollinger, has a good knowledge of the health care system he writes about and I was almost convinced this was a true story. I found the writing smooth and flowing and was immediately immersed in Warren’s life as he seeks to fight injustice and bigotry. Unable to put this book down, I was engrossed to the end and am now keen to read other works by this author. The Care Card will inspire everyone to question, demand, and expect rather than to just accept. It is a tribute to this writer that he had me checking facts on the internet in conjunction with reading the book, and the facts appear correct. A good book with an added ethos that makes this a must-read for anyone who has ever lost a loved one in hospital.