Josh Bazell

Witty, funny, highly footnoted, and a fresh take on cryptozoology. I have not read Bazell's first novel, but that didn't at all harm my enjoyment of this book. Lionel Azimuth's journey to find a mysterious lake monster takes all sorts of clever twists and turns, complete with plenty of strange characters. I will say that I don't think Bazell understands women very well, or at least can't write them in any realistic way, but if you ignore that and just read for the kooky small town and show more cryptozoological antics, this is a quick, enjoyable read. show less

Peter Brown started life as an orphaned kiddo being raised by his loving, Holocaust-survivor grandparents, but when they're randomly and brutally murdered in their own home, Peter sets out for revenge and ends up as a very competent hitman for the mob, then as a very competent MD intern in the Witness Protection Program. And then his past comes calling during a hospital shift from hell.
This isn't my usual fare at all, but my friend, Rob, has been wanting me to read it for years and I finally show more gave in. I'm so glad I did. It's fantastic even as it's also very much not what I usually go for. It's dark and downright brutal in parts, but somehow Bazell manages even so to keep it light and funny. Most of that is because of the narrator, who ticks a lot of the right boxes for me: smart, *very* good at pretty much everything he does, but also very matter-of-fact about it and with a healthy dose of self-deprecation, and chock full of charisma. The plot is great, too: lots of interesting twists as the story plays out both in the present and in flashbacks that unfold his hitman past. Definitely recommended, even if, like me, this might not be your usual jam. show less

Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell is a wildly funny mashup of a medical and gangser thriller. Peter Brown is an overworked medical resident trying to get through his day at the worst hospital in Manhattan. Between keeping his medical students in line, overseeing the care of patients, covering up the medical mistakes he routinely comes across, and trying to keep communications open between himself and other medical workers, the last thing he needed was to recognize a patient as a mobster. You show more see, in another life Peter Brown was a mob hit-man known as Bearclaw Brown.

He entered the witness protection program and is hiding in plain sight as a trauma physician. His former accomplice threatens to rat him out if he doesn’t save his life. The day that follows is both thrilling and hilarious as it includes the doctor making a clever diagnosis, chasing down a runaway wheelchair patient and getting accidentally stuck with a needle full of infected pus. We are also treated to Brown’s backstory which includes plenty of gun and knife play as well as a harrowing encounter with a shark tank.

Fast, original and darkly funny, I found Beat the Reaper an absolute blast. This book will not appeal to everyone as it is very violent and quite improbable but for those who like dark and twisted stories as much as I, this is a great read. show less

The book starts out with the main character, Pietro Brwna, getting mugged early in the morning on his way to Manhattan Catholic Hospital, where he works as a doctor. When the doctor takes down the mugger and confiscates his gun, you know something is up with this guy. It turns out that the doctor is under witness protection because the mafia wants him dead.

The novel alternates between Brwna's current life at the hospital and his past. He began working for David Lacono, the father of his show more childhood best friend, Skinflick, to avenge the killers who murdered his grandparents. Quickly he began doing hits for Lacano regularly until Lacano convinced Brwna to take his son along on a mission. The mission ended badly and, eventually, the good relationship Brwna had with the Lacanos ended badly as well.

Today, Brwna is known as Dr. Peter Brown, and he has just encountered an old mob acquaintance, Squillante, who is being treated for a terminal condition at the hospital. Fearing for his life, Peter agrees to help save Squillante in exchange for his silence, but Peter has his doubts about the mobster's sincerity.

This book is a whirlwind, and Bazell hits all the marks for drugs, violence, sharks, girls, and the mob. His characters are sarcastic and witty, and the dialogue made me laugh out loud. It's the same old story, but Bazell gives it a refreshing little tongue-in-cheek love. A fun read. show less