Recently I read a couple of inspirational novels and a non-fiction book about Dr. Brinkley (the "goat gland doctor").  Here is what I thought of them:

The Edge of Recall by Kristen Heitzmann
An unusual profession stands at the center of this suspense novel, Tessa is an landscaper who specializes in labyrinths, an obsession she has had since a little girl. So it is no surprise that her former boyfriend contacts her when he has a construction project that involves the restoration of a labyrinth. But she is still disturbed since her relationship with this boyfriend was rocky and he hurt her badly and her own emotional health has always been turbulent. She can't resist the pull of the labyrinth however, and as the project continues she finds the strength to confront several unanswered questions from her past.
My thoughts: The labyrinth element was intriguing and the past and present monsters that Tessa confronts made for a page turning read. It was a bit improbable in parts but then that made for an exciting story. Fans of Christian and/or romantic suspense should enjoy this one.

Solemnly Swear by Nancy Moser
Serving on a jury should be a solemn duty, but all is not as it seems for the jury members called to serve in a murder trial. One is an out of work actress who campaigns for the role of foreman, one is a struggling family man who needs to learn how to dream again, one is a golf pro has-been who needs to reconnect with his family. And one is on the jury not to see that justice is done--but to see that her own agenda is served when the verdict is read.
My thoughts: As you can tell, this book tells multiple stories as it goes into the lives of several of the jurors, the author did a pretty good job of juggling them but if you don't like books with many different storylines going on at once this one is not for you. The main mystery is the connection one of the jurors has to the murder and this is revealed bit by bit as the novel goes on. All the featured jurors learn important life lessons and the stories are wrapped up neatly. A nice read for fans of Christian fiction.

Charlatan: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam by Pope Brock
Dr. Brinkley, the "goat gland" doctor and Dr. Feinstein, the man who brought him to his downfall, are featured in this look into a fascinating time in the history of medicine and popular opinion. It is shocking as a modern "enlightned" reader to learn about the outlandish treatments Dr. Brinkley employed on his patients, but the author does a good job of setting them in the context of medicine/science at that time. Many things we take for granted like elecricity had just been invented and if science could lead to such magical discoveries, why not to cures that would rejuvenate and extend people's lives? The book goes chronologically through Brinkley's rise and fall with many colorful stories along the way.
My thoughts: The novelty of the stories and learning more about this time period was what kept me reading.  Those interested in history (especially Kansas history) or just shocking medical stories should pick this one up.