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Dr Death
George Campbell is nearing the point of collapse, having stood guard throughout the night, his antique shotgun at the ready. Three escaped prisoners, who had attacked his home the day before, now lie dead in his front garden — a deterrent to other unwelcome visitors. With the power still out, and communication all but impossible, George holds out little hope of getting his dying wife the medical assistance she desperately needs.
Doctor Brian Angelo, a model prisoner with a dark past, sits patiently in his unlocked cell. For three days, since the authorities abandoned the prison, he has managed to avoid the mayhem that has erupted around him. The promised arrival of the army, to take control and supply much needed food and water, has yet to transpire. With hunger and thirst now the driving factors, Brian decides to take his chances on the outside.
Doctor Brian Angelo, a model prisoner with a dark past, sits patiently in his unlocked cell. For three days, since the authorities abandoned the prison, he has managed to avoid the mayhem that has erupted around him. The promised arrival of the army, to take control and supply much needed food and water, has yet to transpire. With hunger and thirst now the driving factors, Brian decides to take his chances on the outside.
38 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2020
About the author
Paul McMurrough
13 books29 followersAuthor of the Powerless Earth Series, Paul was born and raised in Belfast, Ireland. Until the age of 15 he could barely read. Then, when introduced to Computing at school, he was finally able to make sense of the letter spaghetti on the pages of the text books.
He went on to get a degree in Computer Science followed by a career in Software and later in IT & Business Consulting.
You may know him from Game of Thrones, where he played "Back of Head from 100 yards" or in The Fall with Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson where he played "Elbow at the bar" - His acting career ended soon after.
He went on to get a degree in Computer Science followed by a career in Software and later in IT & Business Consulting.
You may know him from Game of Thrones, where he played "Back of Head from 100 yards" or in The Fall with Jamie Dornan and Gillian Anderson where he played "Elbow at the bar" - His acting career ended soon after.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 2, 2023
An Emotional Short Story
This short story features George the old man who saved Lisa near the end of Reliance after she had her car accident and then helped defeat the prisoners who had escaped. It’s now a day after Lisa, Simon, Derek and Jenny moved on to head towards Lisa’s home and George is recovering from the excitement, trying to put his house back together and look after his ailing wife who is fast running out of medication. But then he meets the enigmatic Dr Brian Angelo another escaped convict from the same prison that the previous prisoners had escaped from. To George the good doctor doesn’t look dangerous and he needs some medical assistance for himself and his wife anyway so he invites him in. A decision that he very quickly comes to regret. This is a great short story set in The Powerless Earth universe. To understand what’s going on you need to read Reliance first. It was very quick read and read it one 40 min session.
This short story features George the old man who saved Lisa near the end of Reliance after she had her car accident and then helped defeat the prisoners who had escaped. It’s now a day after Lisa, Simon, Derek and Jenny moved on to head towards Lisa’s home and George is recovering from the excitement, trying to put his house back together and look after his ailing wife who is fast running out of medication. But then he meets the enigmatic Dr Brian Angelo another escaped convict from the same prison that the previous prisoners had escaped from. To George the good doctor doesn’t look dangerous and he needs some medical assistance for himself and his wife anyway so he invites him in. A decision that he very quickly comes to regret. This is a great short story set in The Powerless Earth universe. To understand what’s going on you need to read Reliance first. It was very quick read and read it one 40 min session.
December 19, 2020
Dr. Death is an excellent short story based on three characters from Reliance and the moral of this story is trust no one. Even if they do show up in a well-dressed suit, offer to clean and bandage your wound and treat your sick wife. George was right to be suspicious.
December 20, 2023
A quick read but an excellent tidy up about what happened to two of the characters in Reliance. I'd been worried about George!
January 22, 2021
I wish it were longer. A short back story of two side characters from the well-received first book. A bit heart-wrenching. Reminded me of the old couple in the animation film Up.
Give us more Mr McMurrough!
Give us more Mr McMurrough!
December 13, 2022
Reliance and Control, the Powerless Earth books from author Paul McMurrough, paint a terrifying picture of how reliant the planet in general is on electricity, and focus on a section of Northern Irish society to give details of just how wrong things could go if the power were to be switched off. It was inevitable that there would be areas left up in the air for readers to speculate over, and here the author gives us closure for George, the brave elderly man who helps the main characters out of a tight spot in Reliance.
We are also taken back to the prison to witness the outcome when the prison officers—insufficient in dwindling numbers to keep order—locked it up left the prisoners to await the arrival of the Army—which never arrived. So focussed were we readers on the escaped paramilitary prisoners—whose activities we see in Control—that we forgot the other prisoners, freed from their cells and left to their own devices. One in particular stands out, given the sinister nickname of Dr Death by his fellow inmates.
The author sub-titles this short story Novelette One, giving good news in the suggestion of more of these, and not so good news in that it is, as the name suggests, short, and too much so. I’m not complaining, I wasn’t promised anything longer, and it is a great demonstration of how much detail and feeling author McMurrough can distil into so few pages. A great and heart-breaking read which I recommend. More please, Paul.
We are also taken back to the prison to witness the outcome when the prison officers—insufficient in dwindling numbers to keep order—locked it up left the prisoners to await the arrival of the Army—which never arrived. So focussed were we readers on the escaped paramilitary prisoners—whose activities we see in Control—that we forgot the other prisoners, freed from their cells and left to their own devices. One in particular stands out, given the sinister nickname of Dr Death by his fellow inmates.
The author sub-titles this short story Novelette One, giving good news in the suggestion of more of these, and not so good news in that it is, as the name suggests, short, and too much so. I’m not complaining, I wasn’t promised anything longer, and it is a great demonstration of how much detail and feeling author McMurrough can distil into so few pages. A great and heart-breaking read which I recommend. More please, Paul.
August 17, 2023
An Emotional Short Story
This short story features George the old man who saved Lisa near the end of Reliance after she had her car accident and then helped defeat the prisoners who had escaped. It’s now a day after Lisa, Simon, Derek and Jenny moved on to head towards Lisa’s home and George is recovering from the excitement, trying to put his house back together and look after his ailing wife who is fast running out of medication. But then he meets the enigmatic Dr Brian Angelo another escaped convict from the same prison that the previous prisoners had escaped from. To George the good doctor doesn’t look dangerous and he needs some medical assistance for himself and his wife anyway so he invites him in. A decision that he very quickly comes to regret. This is a great short story set in The Powerless Earth universe. To understand what’s going on you need to read Reliance first. It was very quick read and read it one 40 min session.
This short story features George the old man who saved Lisa near the end of Reliance after she had her car accident and then helped defeat the prisoners who had escaped. It’s now a day after Lisa, Simon, Derek and Jenny moved on to head towards Lisa’s home and George is recovering from the excitement, trying to put his house back together and look after his ailing wife who is fast running out of medication. But then he meets the enigmatic Dr Brian Angelo another escaped convict from the same prison that the previous prisoners had escaped from. To George the good doctor doesn’t look dangerous and he needs some medical assistance for himself and his wife anyway so he invites him in. A decision that he very quickly comes to regret. This is a great short story set in The Powerless Earth universe. To understand what’s going on you need to read Reliance first. It was very quick read and read it one 40 min session.
November 13, 2020
Dr Death by Paul McMurrough is a story based on the characters from his previous novel, Reliance. This concentrates on select characters, giving the reader more detail into their individual stories.
Paul has written this very well. The language used creates imagery which fits well within this story. As Reliance centres around a community following a power cut, the plot of Dr Death is not an uplifting one yet it does have its moments as you can sympathise with George’s nostalgia when reminiscing of his past with his wife, Rose.
I’d very much recommend this if you’ve read Reliance. I see Paul also has a further book in the pipeline. I for one, eagerly await its release.
Paul has written this very well. The language used creates imagery which fits well within this story. As Reliance centres around a community following a power cut, the plot of Dr Death is not an uplifting one yet it does have its moments as you can sympathise with George’s nostalgia when reminiscing of his past with his wife, Rose.
I’d very much recommend this if you’ve read Reliance. I see Paul also has a further book in the pipeline. I for one, eagerly await its release.
November 16, 2020
Dr Death by Paul McMurrough is most definitely a page turner. The three main characters, Rose, but more especially, George and Brian appeared in Reliance, by the same author. Although they fully contributed to the Reliance plot, they had a back story that demanded further investigation, and that is exactly what Dr Death has done.
Set in a dystopian time when our trusted institutions are buckling under an international crisis (sound familiar?), the meeting of George and Brian was always going to be challenging ...
A really enjoyable (in a dark but compassionate way) read, as a stand-alone or as another step in The Powerless Earth Series. Highly recommended.
Set in a dystopian time when our trusted institutions are buckling under an international crisis (sound familiar?), the meeting of George and Brian was always going to be challenging ...
A really enjoyable (in a dark but compassionate way) read, as a stand-alone or as another step in The Powerless Earth Series. Highly recommended.
November 15, 2020
A Heartbreaking but Stunning Read
If you’ve read Reliance, then you know just how phenomenal the world that McMurrough has created is. He leaves readers clinging to every word, cheering for every good guy, and swearing vehemently at the bad ones.
This work of art is no different. George is my absolute hero at this point, and I was in TEARS at the end of this short novelette.
You will not regret picking up this story. Unless you just hate fantastic books. Always a 10/10 for one of my new favorite authors.
If you’ve read Reliance, then you know just how phenomenal the world that McMurrough has created is. He leaves readers clinging to every word, cheering for every good guy, and swearing vehemently at the bad ones.
This work of art is no different. George is my absolute hero at this point, and I was in TEARS at the end of this short novelette.
You will not regret picking up this story. Unless you just hate fantastic books. Always a 10/10 for one of my new favorite authors.
November 16, 2020
This short story took me no time at all to read. It was amazing, and another good one by the author. A big fan of Reliance! I loved how this short story was tied into it! Two characters from Reliance being in this short story. But there was one in particular that caught my eye. George is such an interesting character. Always so determined in the story all the way until the end. Wanting to do all that he can to help his wife. I will not spoil! If you have read Reliance then read this! So worth it!
November 14, 2020
I read reliance and being interested in the solar flare angle, I found it an intriguing read throughout. I really enjoyed Dr Death as it added a little more depth to the characters from Reliance. The author does have a wonderful way of describing things, without setting spoilers, scenes with his grandmother, I also found it to have a sad ending, a short story of thirty five well written addictive pages, recommended if you read Reliance first.
November 15, 2020
This story is about two characters from Reliance, which I found to be very good. All be it is a short story which can be hard to get into sometimes, but it wasn't the case with this book. It is thrilling from page one, George is on the edge trying to save his wife, whilst being at the centre of an attack. The author writes very well and can describe a scene brilliantly. Highly recommended.
November 18, 2020
From the author of Reliance, this is a short, standalone story that is well worth reading. The writing style made me feel I was there in the prison and sitting in the bedroom with George and Rose. No plot spoilers but this will keep you on the edge as it leads to its final conclusion. Short but brilliant addition to the great novel.
November 20, 2020
If you have read Reliance, this short story is a must read! It's a rather dark story as the title suggests, but it also has some lovely life confirming moments in it, particularly between George and Rose, the couple living in the farm who have had to deal with the onslaught of shady characters before. Really enjoyed it and definitely recommend this one.
January 3, 2021
Elijah
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews