A rash of student suicides has hit the campus of Ellsford University! What can be the cause? Sammy Greene is determined to get to the bottom of things as a reporter and talk-show host for W.E.L.L., the campus radio station. She is tough, dedicated, and prone to exclamations in Yiddish, a result of being raised by her traditional grandmother. She plans a Memorial show for the most recent, a young man with a great future ahead, a talented musician and composer, and homosexual.

Interviews with professors, students, and friends trigger some questions as to whether these suicides are what they seem.  A fanatical religious group, with an overly zealous leader preaching, anti-gay, anti-abortion, and anti-corporate funding of research, she begins to investigate the group as possibly responsible for the "suicides".

Having left her purse at the home of her biology professor during an interview, she returns the next morning to retrieve it, and the tape from her interview. When she arrives, Sammy discovers Professor Conrad is dead from a self-inflicted bullet. Another seemingly unrelated suicide? But why then did his mentor commit suicide in the same manner with the same gun 3 years before?  Retrieving her purse, she realizes that it was running until it ran out, and possibly there will be some evidence on it.

Thus begins Sammy's thrill-ride as she battles against all comers including the police chief, her boyfriend, the Dean, other professors, and the Reverend Taft. No one will listen to her, and all warn her to leave it alone, they are satisfied with the suicide theory. Even Professor Conrad had tried to warn her off.  If he was going to commit suicide, why the warning?

This story is fast-paced, factual in many ways, researched thoroughly by the authors who are well-versed in their subject.  The suspense is high and the action continuous with little snippets of humor to ease the tension. Suspicions take sidetracks throwing Sammy and Campus Police Chief Pappajohn off course several times. Danger lurks everywhere. She is not even sure she trusts Pappajohn.  Now, two students are missing. What is the connection?

A strong story and very current, the dangers in the world of today as we lose control of who owns what in business, what conglomerate is supporting life-saving research, this is a medical thriller that satisfies. When Sammy's missing tape is located after a suspicious fire destroys the radio station, answers start flowing thick and fast and in several directions. Everyone seems to suspect the wrong person(s). The race heats up all through the book, to a heart-stopping climax.

Both authors have written thrillers before. Both are in the field of health care and research.  This is the first collaborative story by Deborah Shlian and Linda Reid, and the first introduction of Sammy Greene, which appears to me to be the beginning of a series. If so, I will be watching for the next episode!

Reviewed on 06/20/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Betty Gelean

 Sammy Greene is a student at Ellford College in New England where she hosts her own radio show on the campus station WELL. She does not mind tacking controversial topics and ruffling feathers along the way.

This story centers around several suicides on campus that Sammy thinks are suspicious. One was her professor Dr. Conrad who she had visited the night before the suicide to get an interview. She returned as she left something at the house and found him dead. She is suspicious and being a journalist, she sets out to find some answers to her questions. She also wants to provide some information on WELL about suicide and gets her boyfriend, Ryan who is a medical student to go on air with her and provide some advice to the student body.

The more Sammy gets involved the more she realizes there is more to the story and the more danger she is in. There was another professor who also committed suicide and a student also. Are all these suicides somehow related? She comes to head with several people as she investigates – Reverend Taft, who wants to shut down the experimental program using animals and Chief Papajohn who thinks Sammy shows up too much at the wrong places, hindering his own investigation.

However, none of this stops Sammy. Part of her motivation is that her own mother committed suicide and she goes to Dr. Osbourne to find some answers. Once a deadly fire happens at the campus radio station, she thinks it is not an accident and though she is in danger that does not stop her.

Will she solve the mystery before there are other deaths? Moreover, who can she really trust? Read this compelling mystery written by Deborah Shlian and Linda Reid to find out. I have read other books written by teams and this one is seamless. Though Sammy Greene is a college student this is not just a book for young adults. I found her to be a likable and intellectual new female sleuth who I hope the authors bring back in more stories.

Reviewed on 04/17/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Janice Hidey

When Sammy Greene, Ellsford University communications major and host of the talk show "The Hot Line," finds the body of professor Barton Conrad at his home, her investigative skills kick in. Conrad's death is considered a suicide, but Sammy is not convinced.

Sammy learns that students and faculty at Ellsford University are committing suicide at an alarming rate and she means to find out why. Sammy's mother also committed suicide so this cause is personal. Raised by her Jewish grandmother in New York, Sammy's language reflects her upbringing.

Authors Deborah Shlian and Linda Reid create an intriguing cast of characters including university police chief Gus Pappajohn, radio program director Larry Dupree, and the Reverend Taft, among others.

Fighting demons from her past and those who want her to sign off the air for good, brave and head-strong Sammy takes readers on an exciting ride. "Dead Air" is the perfect prescription for readers looking for a good medical mystery with a little Yiddish and Greek mixed in for good measure. I highly recommend it and hope more Sammy Greene thrillers will be out soon.

Reviewed on 12/27/2009 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Darcy Odden

Reviewed on 11/13/2009 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Jud Hanson