Gallows Humor Carolyn ElizabethGallows Humor by Carolyn Elizabeth is the first book in the Corey Curtis and Thayer Reynolds romantic thriller series.

Corey Curtis believes she has it all and she is perfectly content with her life as it is. Corey is thirty-three years old and she’s at the top of her game where her fitness is concerned. She was also lucky enough to score a job at the Jackson City Memorial Hospital. She has a cozy salary, she’s surrounded by wonderful friends who dish out tough love on numerous occasions and she has the pleasure of dating talented and gorgeous women from time to time.

Dr. Thayer Reynolds is restless because she is eager to start her fellowship at the hospital in the emergency department but she can’t keep a lid on her curiosity about Corey Curtis, after all, she has heard so much about Corey from her colleagues and the residents. Thayer sneaks into the morgue during a resident training class just to see Corey in all her brilliant glory.

Corey is caught off guard and stunned from the moment Thayer enters the room. She tries to hold onto her wits and complete the post mortem examination of a construction worker who died after a tragic accident on the job. His cause of death wasn’t considered to be questionable until a few minor details stood out and there were more questions than answers. Corey decides to investigate the death on her own because she is blatantly ignored by her boss and the police when she shares her doubts about the circumstances surrounding the man’s death. The road to hell is certainly paved with good intentions because Corey jeopardizes her life and Thayer’s own as well in order to find out how the construction worker really died and she wanted to find enough evidence to bring the killer to justice.

Will Corey and Thayer’s blossoming relationship be able to hold up under the strain of a dangerous investigation coupled with physical and emotional trauma?

The Characters

Corey Curtis is an Autopsy Services Coordinator at the Jackson City Memorial Hospital. She is meticulous to the point where she could easily be accused of being obsessed with performing autopsies and handling all things death related. I gotta admit that Corey is high on the list of women that I adore because she believes in doing what is right and she doesn’t take the easy way out no matter how difficult a situation might be. I never thought that I would want to visit a mortuary one day but I wouldn’t have any qualms whatsoever about visiting Corey there if she was a real woman! Sigh… the power of fictional love! 

Dr. Thayer Reynolds works in the Emergency Department at the Jackson City Memorial Hospital. She’s a firm believer in having a healthy balance between work and play. Thayer never does anything halfway because she goes after whatever she wants or whoever her heart desires with a hundred percent of fierce determination and scorching passion. Now this is where the trouble comes in… I happen to have a huge crush on Thayer as well and it’s a good thing she’s a fictional character because I would have turned up at her job to woo her with so many delicious meals every day and her coworkers would have teased her mercilessly.

The Writing Style

At this very moment, my coffee cup is raised in Carolyn Elizabeth’s honor because she gave me the perfect blend of an angst-filled, budding romance with endless humor and an enthralling murder mystery that kept me up way past my bedtime. I still can’t get over the fact that this story is her debut novel because Carolyn Elizabeth has knocked my fluffy bedroom socks off with her flawless writing and the witty and entertaining dialogue between the characters along with the vivid descriptions of the Jackson City Memorial Hospital and environs.

The Pros

I can’t believe I’m going to say this but I will—I had the pleasure of tagging along with Corey while she did her autopsies and all of her snooping around in order to solve the suspicious death of a construction worker. This is the first story that has ever piqued my interest about autopsies or what it would be like to work in a morgue and I must say that this author definitely drew me in with her knowledge and the quirky characters she created.

The Cons

Zero complaints!

aprils favourite booksThe Conclusion

You can trust me when I say this—you’re not going to find another story quite like this one because it touched me so deeply with some of its heartfelt moments. It has also made me laugh out loud on a full bus during the rush hour evening traffic (a few people gave me the side eye and moved away from me, oh well…) and I engaged in a one-sided argument with my kindle whenever Corey and Thayer allowed their pride or insecurities to get in the way of the happiness they deserved. If you’re looking for a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and have you doubled over with laughter, then this is definitely the story for you!

Excerpt from Gallows Humor by Carolyn Elizabeth

She watched Dr. Reynolds approach, a coffee in each hand, a folder tucked under her arm, and an air of polish and confidence that set Corey’s heart racing. She was so caught off guard at their earlier interaction she failed to really see her. The woman was stunning in a khaki pencil skirt and emerald green button-down blouse with understated gold jewelry and very little makeup. Her hospital-issued white coat, shapeless on everyone else, seemed to enhance her figure.

Corey was determined to show a little class herself, or at the very least, not make an ass out of herself again. “Is one of those for me?”

“Yes.” Thayer handed her a coffee. “I thought perhaps you could use one, and I’m afraid I haven’t made a very good first impression.” She reached into the pocket of her coat and produced an array of cream and sweeteners.

“No, thank you.” Corey waved them off. “Black is good, thanks.”

“Of course.” Thayer’s mouth quirked as she looked her over. “I’m Thayer Reynolds. I’m sorry I’ve not managed to introduce myself yet.” She extended her hand.

Corey, thankful she hadn’t yet touched anything that required her to first wipe her hands on her pants, gripped her hand—warm, strong, with long, elegant fingers and neat, unadorned nails—and hoped she didn’t hold it for longer than was appropriate. “Corey Curtis.”

“I enjoyed your resident class yesterday.” Thayer smiled. “You seem to have made quite an impression and some of them are still talking about you. I assume you know what they call you?”

“I do.” She rolled her eyes. “It could be worse.”

“Oh, indeed.” Thayer laughed. “You could be T-Rex or Jugs or Wheezer and those are just a few of the ones I’ve heard. I don’t even know who those people are yet.”

“Jugs is a man, by the way, and the name doesn’t have anything to do with his body.” The door opened again. She looked past Thayer and gave a nod. “And here comes Wheezer now.”

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Series

Corey Curtis and Thayer Reynolds romantic thriller series

Gallows Humor

Dirt Nap

Bits and Bobs

  • ISBN number: 9781642470079
  • Publisher: Bella Books

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