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The Bone Curse (Benjamin Oris Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Carrie Rubin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 718 ratings
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Medicine has no cure for evil…

Ben Oris, a pragmatic med student from Philadelphia, gets cut by an old bone while touring the Paris catacombs. His companion Laurette, a public health student from Haiti, senses danger and worries an evil curse now runs through him.

Ben scoffs at the idea—he simply has a wound that won’t heal—and back home he returns to his stressful clerkship at the hospital. But when people close to him succumb to a grisly illness and a dark priest pursues him, his skepticism waivers. Could a bone from an 18th century skeleton with a frightening history really cause modern-day disease?

With the help of Laurette, he scrambles to find a cure through Vodou before more of his loved ones die. But first, he must battle the mysterious priest who’s bent on vengeance and determined to have Ben’s blood as his own.

“A tense, perceptive tale of an investigation into a terrifying threat.”–Kirkus Reviews

“A teeth-grinding story of ancient curses and mystical remedies … The Bone Curse will keep even the most skeptical reader awake long past midnight.”—Andra Watkins, New York Times bestselling author of Not Without My Father and author of the Nowhere Series

“From the first page to the last, the tensions never let up … Bravo to Rubin for creating another fast-paced medical thriller that both keeps you turning pages and opens a window into a world most of us have never considered.”—Audrey Kalman, author of What Remains Unsaid and Dance of Souls

“A sizzling slice of Vodou served alongside methodical medical science. What's not to love? Unique characters, a plot that galloped along, and some damn fine writing, too.”—G. M. Barlean, author of The Rosewood Series

“A cursed medical student... a vengeful Vodou priest... a vast subterranean Parisian catacomb with more secrets than the bones that rest there... what could go wrong? Take note medical thriller fans, the genre has a new contender, and her name is Carrie Rubin.”—Larry Brooks, USA Today bestselling author
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Benjamin Oris
  2. Print length
    300 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    March 27, 2018
  6. File size
    1514 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

2018 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist

"A tense, perceptive tale of an investigation into a terrifying threat."--Kirkus Reviews

"Realistic details of Ben's hospital clerkship as he and other med students diagnose patients help ground the story's paranormal elements. ... The novel's strength lies in the author's sensitive commentary on adult responsibilities and mental illness."--Publishers Weekly

"The Bone Curse is a strong medical thriller--inclusive, skillfully written, and inviting."--Foreword Reviews

"A teeth-grinding story of ancient curses and mystical remedies... The Bone Curse will keep even the most skeptical reader awake long past midnight."--Andra Watkins, New York Times bestselling author of Not Without My Father and author of the Nowhere Series

"From the first page to the last, the tensions never let up ... Bravo to Rubin for creating another fast-paced medical thriller that both keeps you turning pages and opens a window into a world most of us have never considered."--Audrey Kalman, author of What Remains Unsaid and Dance of Souls

"A sizzling slice of Vodou served alongside methodical medical science. What's not to love? Unique characters, a plot that galloped along, and some damn fine writing, too."--G. M. Barlean, author of The Rosewood Series

"A cursed medical student... a vengeful Vodou priest... a vast subterranean Parisian catacomb with more secrets than the bones that rest there... what could go wrong? Take note medical thriller fans, the genre has anew contender, and her name is Carrie Rubin."--Larry Brooks, USA Today bestselling author

About the Author

Carrie Rubin is a physician-turned-novelist who writes genre-bending medical thrillers. She is a member of the International Thriller Writers association and lives in Northeast Ohio.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B078RD3D6Y
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ ScienceThrillers Media (March 27, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 27, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1514 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 718 ratings

About the author

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Carrie Rubin

Carrie Rubin

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Carrie Rubin is a physician-turned-novelist who writes medical-themed thrillers. She enjoys exploring other genres as well, so she has a cozy mystery published under the pen name Morgan Mayer and a novel of magical realism under the pen name Dannie Boyd. She is a member of the International Thriller Writers association and lives in Northeast Ohio.

Website: carrierubin.com

Twitter: @carrie_rubin

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/carrierubinauthor

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
718 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Paul DeBlassie III
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent metaphysical thrill rides
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2024
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From the beginning I was pulled into the story by an intriguing protagonist, an occult theme, and underlying mystery unfolding, Start to finish, I found myself looking forward to the read and discovering the next bizarre event that would propel the story forward, All said, it left me satisfied and eager to read the next in the series,
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writester
4.0 out of 5 stars Medical Mystery, Ancient Curse, and Vodou Rituals... Oh, my!
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2018
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Carrie Rubin’s The Bone Curse promises a medical mystery, an ancient curse, and Vodou rituals. I was interested at the words “medical mystery.” Throwing in the other stuff was a bonus to me.

And it all paid off.

At the heart of it all is a med student with more on his plate than any one person should have to juggle. (Boy, could I relate.) I loved watching the medical mysteries unfold. While I couldn’t begin to guess what might cause the maladies of the people in the book (I’m not a doctor), I really enjoyed watching him figure it all out.

But that’s only the beginning. Throughout the story, we learn more about his personal relationships—people with whom he had passing encounters and people who helped shape his life. These interpersonal relationships were the driving force for me. Watching what was said—and what wasn’t said—is what made me care for these people. And learning the different layers each person had was satisfying—the author brought depth and believability to characters who could easily have become caricatures.

What wrapped it all up for me was the curse. Who it affected and how. To what lengths the main character would go to stop it. Did it exist, or was there a medical explanation? Will we find out the truth in the end?

I’m telling you, I swiped through the pages as fast as I could, looking for answers to my ever-growing questions.

This story has paranormal elements, but the overarching delivery is grounded in reality. I’m excited that this is the first in a series because I’d love to see what happens next. But don’t worry; this is a standalone novel, and the threads are all neatly tied off at the end.
4 people found this helpful
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D. Safir
3.0 out of 5 stars Medical/supernatural thriller that started out as captivationg but lost me in all Vodou.
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2019
Verified Purchase
I started out loving this book. The young med student, Ben, accompanied by his Haitian friend, Laurette, go to Paris and visit the Catacombs. While there, he pricks his finger on an old bone and crazy things start to happen. Back in the US, and working in the hospital, people who he has had contact with starting getting very sick with a strange disease. Is it a new disease or is it a Vodou (apparently this is a religion, as opposed to voodoo)? The character of Ben is drawn nicely and gains the reader's sympathies. The story moves along well until getting near the climax. I know this got an overwhelming amount of five star ratings but the whole ending of the story, all Vodou ritual and breakneck speed action, just left me cold. It felt over the top. I generally like the supernatural but this just seemed all over the place and kind of silly. I basically did enjoy the book and would have given it four or five stars if it hadn't gotten what I consider muddled in the big build-up. Instead of staying with a spooky tone, it turned into an action story story mixed with Haitian voodoo. Hence, three stars.
7 people found this helpful
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C.Stastny Books
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent medical-Vodou thriller
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2018
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This thriller by Rubin intermingled the medical profession with the ancient religion of Vodou, not to be confused with voodoo. When medical student, Ben Oris, has a strange unearthly experience in the Paris catacombs with his Haitian friend, Laurette, and cuts himself on a bone, dire things begin to happen in his life back in Pittsburgh when he returns from his vacation. The wound on his hand won’t heal, and those he touches with it and bleeds upon, start contracting a horrible disease that can’t seem to be cured. When two women he has grown to care for die and another one gets sick…and then his dad…his pragmatic tendencies have to be set aside for other alternate possibilities. A Vodou curse set by a slave against his ancestor the most believable answer…at least to his friend Laurette. Ben will believe practically anything other than crazy mumbo jumbo about angry ancestors and spirits needing to be appeased. Logic can’t explain any of that, and logic is what he lives by.

Favorite quote: “There are some things you do not see. Things you refuse to see.” –Laurette

This was a page-turner that sucked me into the creepy Paris catacombs and into ancient religious rites and beliefs and into the drama of a hospital like nobody’s business. Rubin set a great tone to the book, and painted believable characters. Her medical background comes out in the text, and made me stress right along with Ben the whole time, wondering how he would come out on top in the end when everything seemed set against him. The villain is mysterious and there are lots of great twists and turns throughout this story. The writing itself is sharp and well-edited. I felt like I learned along with being entertained. I highly recommend this one.
10 people found this helpful
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Priscilla Bettis
4.0 out of 5 stars Medical Suspense with Frightening Vodou Scenes
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2018
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This was an almost perfect tale that manages to respect the beliefs of Vodou (voodoo) practitioners while still presenting a heart-thumping, frightening Vodou plot. The story centers around Ben, a medical student, who finds himself entangled in a centuries-old curse.

Pros: Rubin obviously did a lot of research for this book because the Vodou details ring true. Plus, Rubin is a physician, so the hospital scenes and bodily violence scenes were credible, and the illness that snakes its way through the book is believable. Rubin writes excellent fight scenes, and she has perfect control of the story’s tension.

Cons: The prose is not very expressive, and that may be a pro or a con, depending on your preference. Rubin’s authorial voice is more immediate and gripping which I didn’t appreciate in the prologue, but by the time I started the second chapter, I was captivated. I ran into two point-of-view errors which momentarily threw my mind out of the story, but no big deal. (E.g., from Ben’s POV, he wouldn’t be able to tell that his own face was “ashen.”)

The Vodou scenes were so scary that I caught myself holding my breath in places. Yikes . . . I expect a nightmare or two from reading this book. Well done, Carrie Rubin!
6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Sue Archer
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved Carrie Rubin's previous novel
Reviewed in Canada on April 21, 2018
Verified Purchase
I loved Carrie Rubin's previous novel, Eating Bull, and pre-ordered this one. I was definitely not disappointed! Ms. Rubin has a true knack for sustaining tension - I had a difficult time putting this book down. Her characters are relatable, the Voudou aspects were clearly well researched and intriguing to read, and her knowledge of the medical profession gives the story a realism that helps to ground all the supernatural elements and makes you believe in everything that is happening. I loved Ben's best friend and am eager to learn more about how Ben's relationships with all of the people in his life progress in the next book. A fantastic supernatural thriller, highly recommended!
One person found this helpful
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HarvestingHecate
5.0 out of 5 stars A medical thriller with a difference
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 17, 2019
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While on holiday in Paris, medical student Ben Oris is scratched by an old bone in the catacombs. Back at home, Ben is struggling to cope with a difficult medical rotation when people around him begin to get sick with a mysterious illness. His Haitian friend Laurette thinks Ben has been infected by an old Vodou curse and he is soon embroiled in a complex world of ritual and magic that will put everything he cares about in danger. This is a medical thriller with a difference, moving from the explainable world to the unexplainable with ease. The action rarely stops as Ben is plunged into one crisis after another. The author keeps us guessing about what the conclusion will be - curse or disease - and until the end, we are never sure who can be trusted. The characters are likeable and relatable, with touching moments of friendship and family to balance the horror. A thriller that is exciting, interesting and hard to put down.
3 people found this helpful
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Colleen
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it a lot
Reviewed in Australia on April 8, 2018
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I've enjoyed all of Carrie Rubin's novels - my favourite was Eating Bull - and I enjoyed this one too. The hero was believable - he sleeps around, he can be grumpy and obtuse - and I liked that. The writing was fast paced and I stayed up late to see what happened. I was interested by the idea that someone rational and logical would be challenged by evidence of a vodou curse - as you would. It takes Benjamin a long time to accept that vodou has anything to do with his situation - but paradoxically, if he'd accepted this earlier, things would have worked out worse, not better, in the end. The novel is quite grim, in parts. All in all, a well researched and believable thriller!
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Audrey Driscoll
4.0 out of 5 stars Non-stop Crises
Reviewed in Canada on May 23, 2018
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A brief encounter with an old bone in a Paris catacomb precipitates a dizzying sequence of events for Ben Oris, the main character of this medical thriller. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong for the medical student, threatening his career, the people closest to him, and his sanity. The action is non-stop; in fact, I found the wealth of detail -- people, places and physiological effects -- a bit exhausting at times. Plot elements include Haitian vodou, family histories, and medical science. Ben's physical stamina, mental stability and ethics are thoroughly tested in this wild ride.
One person found this helpful
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Mr Dylan S Hearn
4.0 out of 5 stars An intriguing read that went in directions I didn't expect.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 2, 2018
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed The Bone Curse by Carrie Rubin. It reminded me a lot of her first novel, The Seneca Scourge, in that it starts out as a medical thriller but then adds a fantastical twist to spice it up.
What I liked about the book was Ben Oris's continual struggle between his rational, scientific viewpoint and seeing things that did not fit this world view. Whether you enjoy the book will depend on if you can go with the more supernatural elements or not. In my opinion, I think Rubin did a great job of keeping Ben's reactions plausible and maintaining that tension right to the end of the story.
As the action hotted up toward the end of the novel I occasionally lost track of who was doing what, especially between Guy, David and Jean Miot, but overall this was an intriguing read that went in directions I didn't expect. Recommended.
3 people found this helpful
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