If You Knew Her by Emily Elgar

This story focuses on a particular hospital floor where those who need constant care live.  Most of them are unconscious or have other problems (like not being able to communicate) and the nurses keep them hydrated, medicated, clean and visit with them to encourage them.  One person in the story did it to himself by drinking too much.  The other is a young, pregnant woman who was run down by a car and is in a coma.  Their stories are sad.

Harper and Edelweiss allowed me to read this book for review (thank you).  It will be published January 23rd.

Frank is working getting his eyes to blink so he can say yes or no.  His daughter is visiting him and he loves seeing her.  He has exceptional hearing so he can hear what the people say to the woman in the coma.  He even learns about who put her there.  But he can't tell anyone...

As we learn about Frank and Cassie's past, one of the nurses on the floor finds herself getting emotionally tied to them.  She talks to Frank all the time even if he doesn't answer.  She's lost all the babies she's carried so she's anxious for Cassie to live long enough to have her child.  She tries to be kind to all the relatives and offer them moral support.  She does a good job but she doesn't know the killer is visiting the hospital and Cassie's future is in that person's hands.

In ways, this was creepy to read.  Life and death can't be taken for granted.  There's one semi-crazy person in the batch that does evil things to protect the one they love.  The climax is frightening and deadly.

I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.  It disturbed me but was very believable.  Read it.  I bet it does the same thing to you.