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The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness, and Murder Paperback – July 29 2014

by Charles Graeber (Author)

4.3 3,934 ratings

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The mesmerizing basis of the movie starring Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain⁠—a “stunning book...that should and does bring to mind In Cold Blood”—takes you inside the mind of America's most prolific serial killer, whose 16-year long "nursing" career left as many as 400 dead. (New York Times)

Edgar Award Nomination, Mystery Writers of America

BBC (Top Ten Books of the Year)

“The best books I read this year” (top ten books, EW)
—Stephen King

“The Best Journalism of the Year.".
—The Daily Beast

“The most terrifying book published this year. It is also one of the most thoughtful...call it literary true crime...”
—Kirkus Reviews ("Best Books of the year")

After his December 2003 arrest, registered nurse Charlie Cullen was quickly dubbed "The Angel of Death" by the media. But Cullen was no mercy killer, nor was he a simple monster. He was a favorite son, a husband and beloved father, a best friend and a celebrated caregiver. Implicated in the deaths of as perhaps as many as 400 patients, he was also perhaps the most prolific serial killer in American history.
When, in March of 2006, Charles Cullen was marched from his final sentencing in an Allentown, Pennsylvania, courthouse into a waiting police van, it seemed certain that the chilling secrets of his life, career, and capture would disappear with him. Now, in a riveting piece of investigative journalism nearly ten years in the making, Charles Graeber gives us the unbelievable true story.
Based on hundreds of pages of previously unseen police records, wire-tap recordings and videotapes and interviews with whistleblowers and confidential informants, and years of exclusive jailhouse conversations with Cullen himself, the homicide detectives who worked against the clock and administrators to try and finally crack the code on Cullen’s crimes, and Cullen’s fellow nurse Amy, an overworked single mom asked to choose between protecting her friend Charlie and stopping a potential serial killer, The Good Nurse weaves an urgent and terrifying tale of madness, humanity and heroism.
Cullen's murderous career in the world's most trusted profession spanned sixteen years and nine hospitals. Time and again he was fired or allowed to resign. But Cullen continued to work and kill, shielded by a hospital system that, by accident or design, successfully protected the institution while failing to protect patients. THE GOOD NURSE is a searing indictment of a crushing and dehumanizing for-profit medical system, and an inspiring human story of the previously unknown individuals who chose to risk their jobs and lives to do the right thing. Mesmerizing and irresistibly paced, this book will make you look at hospitals and the people who work in them in an entirely different way.

Print length

320 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Twelve
Publication date

July 29 2014
Dimensions

13.34 x 2.54 x 20.32 cm
ISBN-10

1455574139
ISBN-13

978-1455574131
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Product description

Review

"Put this one on the shelf next to Ann Rule's classic about Ted Bundy, The Stranger Beside Me - it's that good. Grade: A"―Entertainment Weekly

"A stunning book...that should and does bring to mind In Cold Blood....the story appeals to prurient interests, as does any graphic tale of true crime. But THE GOOD NURSE succeeds in being about much more than Mr. Cullen's murderous kinks. The causes of his pathology are not interesting. But the eagerness of ambitious hospital administrators to cover up his misdeeds is revelatory. And the police investigation that brought him down is a thriller in every sense of that word."―Janet Maslin, New York Times

"The most terrifying book published this year. It is also one of the most thoughtful.... From a long series of conversations with Cullen, the detectives who solved the case and Amy, a nurse who once was Cullen's best friend and eventually got him to confess, among many other sources, Graeber has crafted a book that is a revelation. THE GOOD NURSE is gripping, sad, suspenseful, rhythmic and beautifully documented (the endnotes to this book are impressive)."―Kirkus Reviews

"Graeber doesn't pull punches... A deeply unsettling addition to the true crime genre."―Publishers Weekly

"Riveting"―People

"A standout true-crime book, one that doubles as both a thrilling horror story and a cautionary tale, and frightens and frustrates in equal measure."―The Boston Globe

"Absolutely frightening."―The Detroit News

"Alarming"―CNN.com

"The story is consistently incredible, but credit it you must, for it is the truth... I couldn't put this book down."―PopMatters

"Fascinating and frightening... A scary page turner about one man's quiet reign of terror, those dedicated and brave enough to end it, and the dangers that can lurk in the places we may feel safest. "―BookReporter

"A very scary book. It will reach out and grab you and not let you go. You will forgo food, talking, work, anything just to get to the climactic moment of this true crime story."―Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"Engrossing...hard-to-put-down.. On one level, The Good Nurse is an absorbing story of a serial killer operating within the walls of what most view as a trusted institution. On another, it's an intriguing detective story. And on another it's an indictment of the hospital industry."―The New Jersey Star-Ledger

"A literary thriller with legs... Meticulously crafted... a book that demonstrates the transportive power of literary journalism while simultaneously helping to restore its credibility."―The Brooklyn Rail

"A remarkable new book...gripping and brilliantly written."―Healthcare Risk Management Review

"A gripping look into a killer's mind...THE GOOD NURSE is as suspenseful as any crime novel."―Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

About the Author

Charles Graeber has been honored with an Overseas Press Club award for Outstanding International Journalism, an Edgar nomination, and a citation of merit by the British Medical Association. He has contributed to publications including The New Yorker, New York Magazine, GQ, Bloomberg Businessweek, Vogue, The Cambodia Daily, The Phnom Penh Post, The Budapest Sun, The Nantucket Beacon, MIT Technology Review and The New York Times, and been anthologized in The Best American Crime Writing, The Best American Science Writing, The Best American Business Writing, The Best of 10 Years of National Geographic Adventure, The Best of 20 years of Wired and other collections. Born in Iowa, he now lives closer to saltwater.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Twelve; Reprint edition (July 29 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1455574139
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1455574131
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 254 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.34 x 2.54 x 20.32 cm

Best Sellers Rank: #285,618 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #294 in Personality Disorders
- #577 in Medical Biographies (Books)
- #583 in Serial Killer Accounts

Customer Reviews:
4.3 3,934 ratings

About the author

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Charles Graeber

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Charles Graeber is an award-winning journalist, documentary producer, and New York Times bestselling author of "THE GOOD NURSE", and "THE BREAKTHROUGH: Immunotherapy and the Race to Cure Cancer".

Honors include an Overseas Press Club Award for Outstanding International Journalism, a New York Press Club prize, an American Poet's Prize (2nd pl), an Edgar Award nomination, a British Medical Association Citation of Excellence, an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation fellowship, and a fancy blue ribbon from the Nantucket Sandcastle Competition. His writing has appeared in anthologies such as The Best American Crime Writing, The Best American Science Writing, The Best American Business Writing, The Best of National Geographic Adventure, The Best of 20 years of Wired and The Best American Magazine Writing, and in print publications including The New Yorker, New York Magazine, Vogue, GQ, Outside, Men's Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, NASCAR, American Cowboy, Details, Elk, Put an Egg On It, Kidney International, MIT Technology Review, The Nantucket Beacon, The Budapest Sun, The Phnom Penh Post, The Cambodia Daily, The Guardian and The New York Times. His books have been translated into over a dozen languages; "The Good Nurse" was adapted for a film starring Eddie Redmayne and Jessica Chastain. Born in Iowa, he now lives closer to seawater.

For the latest and speaking queries, please go to: www.Charlesgraeber.com or @charlesgraeber on social media.

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Bruce

Excellent read

Reviewed in Canada on November 17, 2023

Verified Purchase

The book was well written & made for a riveting read. I did not know any details about the subject, just seen the title on Netflix so I wanted to read the book first.

Helpful

Diana Rose

Horrific/Shocking Story

Reviewed in Canada on March 12, 2014

Verified Purchase

Being a nurse myself is the reason I decided to initially purchase this book and get the full story on how another nurse could possibly commit such horrific crimes. The most terrifying thought is that this murderer is not your stereotypical "crazy looking" serial killer yet this was a intelligent professional whom society trusted their lives with! The story itself was shocking which prevented me from putting the book down to find out more on what this man was capable of!
The author did the best he could to get accountable information from multiple sources to get different views of the stories. Yet, one criticism is that there were parts of the book that become dull due to long-winded court case facts and dialogue of investigators which is why I rated it a 4.
Yet overall a great read which I recommended to my nurse colleagues!

5 people found this helpful

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cee pearson

Love a good nurse

Reviewed in Canada on September 24, 2013

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed the book, just goes to show how a nurse is in a privilege place to care for the most vulnerable. I was surprise though how long it took to have this guy discovered, I don't think this could happen in 2013. Being in the health field myself there are so many checks to see that the right medication is given to the right patient, he prepared medications and others nurses would give it, they did not follow what they learn in Nursing School, NEVER ADMINISTER MEDICATIONS THAT YOU HAVE NOT PREPARE YOURSELF.

One person found this helpful

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Brook

Worth a read

Reviewed in Canada on October 16, 2013

Verified Purchase

This book is a far cry from a who done it... more of a why done it. The 2distinct parts of the book give different yet valuable insights into the case. I found it depressing and fascinating at the same time... and the first part harder to read than the second. Enjoy.

Helpful

Suzanne

Portrait of a serial killer

Reviewed in Canada on June 2, 2013

Verified Purchase

Not about the average serial killer, this book is about a strange man who is a nurse and a murderer. The author has conducted extensive interviews with the murderer as well as with people who worked with him and the detectives who finally were able to gather the evidence to convict him. Very well written, it kept me engaged throughout the book.

2 people found this helpful

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Heather

Twisted bastard

Reviewed in Canada on February 13, 2017

Verified Purchase

Good book for nurses or anyone that likes sick twisted messed up people.
Atleast something good came of it in the end

Helpful

Eden Dilley

Be nice to your nurse

Reviewed in Canada on December 10, 2019

Verified Purchase

Read this and die at home as you are now too scared to go to the hospital.

Reviewed in Canada on January 30, 2017

Verified Purchase

I love true stories. This one is a must read. Gives so much information that few know about this story. Can't believe he killed so many people for so long. Just unimaginable

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Frater Perdurabo

The book is better than the movie (isn't is always though)

Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2023

Verified Purchase

I had to read this book for a class. Typically, it would not be a book I would consider reading in my time. Still, it's actually a horrific and objective telling of a nurse who poisoned/murdered people spanning over a decade.

I watched the movie afterward to compare/contrast, and the film is just awful. If you saw the movie and hated it, I suggest reading the book.

Kindle Customer

Great read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2023

Verified Purchase

Very well written and reads like a detective novel,was gripped from start to finish, thoroughly enjoyed this book, would recommend

Elizabeth

Great book

Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2023

Verified Purchase

This story was a page turner. It was hard to believe how many people this guy killed over his nursing career and that it took so long for him to be caught. He was seriously depressed and crazy and I can't believe he was hired by so many different places.

neilorie

Wealth of information

Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2023

Verified Purchase

I watched the movie, then read the book which as I mentioned in the title has loads of information. There were so many links, it became distracting, so I'd suggest ignoring the notes and reading them at the end as it interfered in continuity, for me anyway.

Susan M. Baumann

An Intelligent and Frightening Read

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2022

Verified Purchase

Graeber’s book is meticulously researched.
It’s a compelling and terrifying read that is an alarming and cautionary tale about how evil can exist unchecked in plain sight in multiple hospitals and several states over a span of nearly two decades, wherever Charles Cullen was employed. Cullen was a seemingly dedicated nurse with experience in burn care, critical care and other specialties. He was initially amiable and willing to take on tedious tasks and extra shifts, always early, skilled and efficient. But as time progressed, a disturbing pattern emerged. Colleagues and supervisors began to notice odd, inexplicable behavior, missing drugs, medication mistakes and patient fatalities that could not be explained. Cullen would be monitored and sometimes terminated, but he would most often just bounce to another hospital, as his conduct and suspicious activities would not follow him on his references, only the verification of employment by his previous employer. Eventually, Cullen’s diabolical deeds are found and a former colleague agrees to go undercover for law enforcement, in an effort to catch Cullen and secure a murder confession.
While reading the book, I was struck by several things. First, by the unabashed darkness that permeated Cullen. He relished injecting patients with drugs that could produce detrimental and fatal outcomes with their medical conditions and physiologies. He was detached and indifferent, but he waited to see who would die, as if playing a macabre game of roulette, all the while hiding his actions, which gave him an additional rush and sense of power. It’s utterly incomprehensible. We expect compassion and safety in a medical environment or facility. Yet, we know evil does exist. Perhaps it’s somehow worse because it occurs in a place where we least expect it. Secondly, the scope of Cullen’s crimes is staggering. Hundreds of deaths are suspected. Lastly, I’m equally stunned by the fact that some of the medical personnel seemed willing to turn a blind eye to Cullen’s deviousness, and those who seemed more concerned about protecting the hospital and stonewalling the criminal investigation. It’s impossible to read the book and not look at a hospital stay with perhaps some trepidation. I truly believe that the vast majority of nurses and hospitals sincerely want to help their patients and would never intentionally harm, as Cullen did. Unfortunately, there are some people in society with criminal intent, and subsequently, that dark impulse can exist in whatever area of life that person chooses, be it a profession or personal endeavor.
Graeber’s book is an intelligent, gripping read that reads like a fictional, medical thriller, made all the more frightening because it’s actually true. It shines a necessary light on the crucial importance of medical safeguards and stringent policies to protect patients from threat and harm. The book also shines a light on the hidden strand of darkness that can exist within some individuals, and it’s imperative that we remain more vigilant and aware of the people in our lives.

43 people found this helpful

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