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Alberto Hazan
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Dr. Vigilante Paperback – September 1, 2013

by Alberto Hazan (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 6,529 ratings
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Doctor by day.

Vigilante by night.

Robert lives a double life in New York City. He spends his days treating patients at the St. Jude’s Hospital ER and his nights going after the psychopaths who wrong them: the child molesters, wife beaters, and rapists. But when the fiery, beautiful new social worker discovers his secret identity and their love affair takes off, Robert is forced to face some hard questions:

Do the ends justify the means?

After years of hunting down psychopaths, is Robert turning into one himself?

An action thriller with strong, distinct characters, filled with suspense and surprise, Dr. Vigilante is also a love story unfolding amid the turmoil and drama of a busy ER.
Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 3
    Dr. Vigilante
  2. Print length
    275 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    VB Publishing
  5. Publication date
    September 1, 2013
  6. ISBN-10
    0578127091
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0578127095
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ VB Publishing; First Edition (September 1, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 275 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0578127091
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0578127095
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.6 ounces
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 6,529 ratings

About the author

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Alberto Hazan

Alberto Hazan

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After graduating from Harvard University, Alberto Hazan attended Stony Brook Medical School. He trained in emergency medicine at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, where he was chief resident. Since then, he has worked in clinics and hospitals all over the world, including Morocco, Nepal, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Haiti. As a former Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner, Dr. Hazan continues to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault in both New York and Las Vegas, where he currently practices emergency medicine. He is the author of the medical thriller "Dr. Vigilante" and the preteen urban fantasy series "The League of Freaks."

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
6,529 global ratings
Real COOL!!
5 Stars
Real COOL!!
This is one of my better books Ive read in quite awhile!! Sorry I'm not a good reviewer like some other folks out here, but I know what I like!! I dont see how anybody could not like this book!! The guy does what we all want to do!
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Top reviews from the United States

Ileana
5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly Fantastic(A New Fave)
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2014
Verified Purchase
Robert is the anti-hero. He is an incredibly complex character. His day job role: Dr.MacKenzie: cynical, sarcastic, and patronizing. Everyone loves to hate him. He reminded me a lot of House(from the self-titled TV show). His night job: The Vigilante: the one everyone raves about on the news who takes justice into his own hands. Robert hunts down the following: psychopaths. They range from wife beaters, to child molesters, and neo-Nazi's. His need to have these individuals get their just desserts speaks highly of the trauma he once had to deal with and in many ways has not let go. His anger is his fuel, until he meets the new social worker Sharon.

Sharon is dedicated to helping people. She's determined and doesn't back down,even though there are many times she wants to give up and walk away from it all. She's resiliant, an extremely intelligent. She like Robert sees patterns where many other's don't. But where Robert is jaded, she is hopeful. She does her best to see the good side or upside of everything and everyone; even if many times she is proven wrong. She stands by the fact that bad people can be rehabilitated.

I love the dynamic between their developing relationship. They are similar, yet extremely different. She's the ying to his yang. I like the balance they provide one another, even if it remains hard getting there and still doesn't manage to do quite that by the end because of unforseen events that seemed to be coming for a long time.

I really hope there is a sequel in the future. There were many brutal scenes and the action was non-stop, but it too remained thought provoking and engaging. I completely fell in love with this. It was like House meets Dexter. Completely original and brilliant. The medical knowledge is intriguing. Definitely a new favorite of mine. I highly recommend to all.
20 people found this helpful
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ClaireP
4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting, a hero we can root for
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2013
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With a hero who is a respected doctor determined to take out the bad guys by whatever means necessary, you have the makings of a good story. Put that hero in the position of lead ER doctor, overseeing the care of many of the bad guys' victims, and that story becomes even more exciting. Add a love interest in the form of a social worker trying to help the victims through traditional, legal means, and you have a near-perfect vehicle.

And, in truth, Dr. Vigilante is a very satisfying read. Set in a busy New York hospital, it is action-packed from the start, with new social worker Sharon Reede stepping into her job, getting to know the various doctors and nurses, and learning very quickly that things, and people, are not always as they seem.

The action is fast, the hospital scenes are realistic, and the vigilante scenes are satisfying. As the relationship between Sharon and Robert grows, we see the ways she influences his thoughts and actions, and learn the reasons why he is so driven to avenge the victims of violence that he has treated. The book is well-written; it flows smoothly, and is a very enjoyable read.

I would have liked to give it four stars, but felt I could not, because certain aspects seemed a bit too Mission Impossible in nature (specifically, some of the descriptions of Robert's apartment, and his resilience during some of his times dispensing justice). Those few flaws made an otherwise realistic story a bit far-fetched, and I found them distracting.

Overall, however I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who appreciates action stories and/or medical intrigues.
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WendyW
5.0 out of 5 stars This well-crafted thriller had it all: action, drama, human suffering and romance.
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2019
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Sharon, a social worker newly arrived from Indiana, is unprepared for the busy pace of a New York City ER inundated with everyday domestic violence and an escalating spate of hate crimes perpetrated by a neo-Nazi group. While her new colleagues don’t expect her to last the week, she shows perseverance and dedication to her profession, quickly learning the tricks of the trade and earning respect as a valued member of the staff.

Relatable and honest, we support Sharon's decisions as she navigates the minefield of relationships running hot and cold in the hospital. She is a great heroine with a big heart, quick wit and admirable patience.

Robert, who by day works as one of the ER doctors (though Hazan withholds his identity so we don’t know which doctor he is), is a highly-skilled vigilante by night, targeting psychopaths whose violent attacks leave badly beaten and incapacitated victims in his ER. Robert’s double life comes to a head when he struggles to maintain his gruff exterior in the ER amidst budding feelings for the new social worker.

As the plot develops, Hazan depicts Sharon's changing interaction and feelings towards the various doctors, but doesn't let us in on which doctor Robert is until late in the story. Though I guessed correctly, I wasn't entirely sure, so Robert's identity was hidden well and created a nice twist in the story.

This book is more than just your usual thriller. The novel offers statistics on domestic violence, child abuse and rape and showed the physical and mental implications of these attacks on the victims as well as on ER staff, government infrastructures and society at large. It raises questions about psychopaths (defined as having a lack of remorse), rehabilitation and social work, and the inherent nature of people – good versus evil.

I enjoyed the Buddhist angle when Sharon and Robert discuss Buddha’s philosophical teachings about the relationship between human life and suffering, and the benefits of freeing yourself from relationships and worldly attachments.

In conclusion, Dr. Hazan's blend of fiction and truth, vigilantism and liberal ideals, and challenging social stereotypes coupled with a quick-paced, engaging plot made Dr. Vigilante an outstanding thriller.
One person found this helpful
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Jeff Willis
3.0 out of 5 stars Generic thriller that works as a one-off, but doesn't inspire to keep reading in the series
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2018
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I originally purchased this book because the premise sounded intriguing. An ER trauma doctor by day and a vigilante out bringing justice to those the system won't by night... it felt very Dexter-ish. It was a very competently-written thriller, but felt rather generic and didn't really offer anything new or exciting that hasn't been done many times before. As a one-off it was fine, but there just wasn't enough there to inspire me to continue on in the series.
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Top reviews from other countries

Lynda Kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars Some Satisfying Crimes For A Change
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 25, 2021
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I'm ashamed to say I downloaded this for free almost 5 years ago now but for some reason kept skipping past it.....I'd missed a terrific read. It isn't anything especially new but I love heroes who aren't full of political-correctness and his girlfriend evened things up, by being what I'd call a bleeding-heart liberal !! Thank goodness for the vigilante, I say. He has a healthy sense of humour as well.
It also lists some really appalling statistics regarding rapes and abuse. And that 10% of people commit 90% of all crime !! That one left my jaw hitting the floor and so I agreed with him-if that 10% could be put out of commission we'd all be much happier ! He is correct about rehabilitation, or the lack of it as well. I remain convinced that violent and sex offenders will never be rehabilitated and should either be kept off the streets for good, if we're not going to execute them, or castrated. Time after time after time, they'll re-offend, and many more than once, cos' we STILL don't learn that we're wasting our time and are putting law-abiding, innocent citizens at risk in order to satisfy some ridiculous council of human rights.....but the WRONG humans' rights.
One passage I found very touching, "I spent an hour trying to revive the dead and thirty seconds comforting the living".......I believe the author is a medical man so knows his stuff.
I REALLY enjoyed how we didn't know which doctor was Dr. Vigilante till we were 39% into the book. That was very cleverly done and I was very much enjoying the tease.
He left a needless space writing over whelmed but that was the only mistake I highlighted throughout which is to be greatly commended indeed these days.
I loved the ending which was very ambiguous and look forward to the next story in the series, although it looks like it's set in Guatemala, which doesn't sound much like my type of thing. I'd avoid it altogether if it wasn't a sequel to this one, I must say. I have zero interest in books set in places like that and I fear I may not like it as much so I'm hoping he is back to being in America in book 3, though I won't read the synopsis on that one in case it has an inadvertent spoiler.
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Anonymous
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
Reviewed in Spain on May 29, 2020
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Loved it, kept me up all night. Good story, easy read and as a physician the medicine was interesting to follow
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Ronald N D
5.0 out of 5 stars AN ER DOCTOR & VIGILANTE IN OFF HOURS IS SO REALISTICLY DONE YOU CAN LITERALLY SEE THE BLOOD. AND THEN SHE COMES ALONG.
Reviewed in Canada on July 18, 2018
Verified Purchase
One of the most realistic and arresting books I've read in years. Vigilante takes an ER Doctor, who's charged with saving lives to the best of his experience and ability, and puts him at the opposite end of the spectrum as an outright vigilante reaping retribution against those who've physically harmed those he treats - and others for that matter. Having done this for years he's developed, literally, assassin skills - but getting into middle age (he's turning 44) his attitude remains high contrary to the somewhat slowing pace of his aging body. That plus the new beautiful late 20's social worker in the ER who he falls for hook, line, and sinker - and with reciprocal feelings. And the love affair begins - and continues even after she figures out just who he is in his off hours. DAMMIT ALL ANYWAY ! But now the cops have him on their radar too and things are getting dicey. Extremely well written fight scenes, no wild sex scenes and extremely few expletives all come together to create a truly arresting book to read - totally absorbing - realistic - and believable. So much so that I'm already into Book #2 of the series. One absolute Jim Dandy of a read - worth every penny PLUS, PLUS !
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J. Wain
5.0 out of 5 stars A good Story
Reviewed in Australia on June 6, 2022
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The statistics about child abuse were horrifying albeit one needed to accept them. When one added In the stats about spousal abuse, I started to wonder what species inhabited the Earth. Unfortunately I decided I would sympathise with the so called vigilantes.
James Wain
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K.Visweswaran.
5.0 out of 5 stars This is what we want in most of the Countries ,like a Batman or Phantom.
Reviewed in India on August 25, 2016
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A fiction ,,But this is what most of the people want in almost all countries ,especially in Developed ones .
Every one prays for something good to happen ,(In India we pray to God),and expect an Avathar or a Phantom or A Batman to come and rescue us .
Let us go on praying with the Politicians and Mafia continue to take us for a Ride .
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