Infectious-disease specialist Pennie's second Dr. Szabo medical mystery (following Tainted, 2009) opens with the Ontario public-health physician and his assistants dealing with an ongoing outbreak of gastroenteritis at the exclusive retirement home that just happens to be his adopted grandfather's chosen abode. When the prime minister's aunt dies at the retirement home, the pressure is on Szabo to find the source of the infection. Szabo assembles his usual team: anxious Dr. Hamish Wakefield, smart and enthusiastic epidemiologist Natasha, and private investigator and girlfriend Colleen, plus residents Art, Betty, and Phyllis. The problems multiply quickly: the Bosnian pharmacist is clearly up to something, the managers of the home are slightly shady as well, and the bug that is causing the outbreak is hard to identify. Medical-thriller fans will find much to enjoy here, even if the story gets a bit bogged down in too many plot complexities. Suggest to fans of Patricia Cornwell or Tess Gerritsen, who will appreciate Pennie's professional expertise.--Moyer, Jessic. Copyright 2010 Booklist

In Pennie's less than compelling second medical mystery featuring Canadian public health official Dr. Zol Szabo (after 2009's Tainted), Szabo's Hamilton, Ont., unit is on the hot seat after the residents of Camelot Lodge, an upscale retirement residence, start to die from an unknown disease. The pressure builds when the prime minister's aunt falls victim as well. His team's best efforts prove unsuccessful at identifying who's responsible for the tainted food served at Camelot. Meanwhile, too many pages go by before a possible criminal element enters the mix. Szabo's attractive significant other, PI Colleen Woolton, again plays a prominent part in the investigation, though her character remains undeveloped. A remark Szabo makes early on, "Nothing in public health was so important it couldn't wait fifteen minutes," may trouble those who expect a physician in his position not to have such a relaxed attitude. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.