This mystery is about what seems to be a very simple crime - the stealing of a laptop from a man in a restaurant. But this is the wrong laptop to take as the victim chases him down and kills him. Enter a newly hired San Francisco coroner who discovers evidence on the body that will uncover a heaping pile of criminal activity. It is very graphic in it's portrayal of how people die and what happens in an autopsy. So the book is not for the weak of heart. Apparently it is the first in a series which is a good thing for mystery fans. ( )

This is going to be a new series I am assuming starring medical examiner Jessie Teska. There was a great deal of discussion on autopsies and what they uncover. It is obvious that one of the author's backgrounds is used extensively in this tale of murder. I found it interesting and entertaining. ( )

This is the first book of the Dr. Jessie Teska series. That is a good thing and a bad thing. This is a very promising series based on this first book, so I was glad that I listened to others and read it. But it's a bad thing because now I have to wait for this author to write more. The time will go slowly. This is an edge-of-your seat thrill ride, that will keep you frantically turning pages. The pace never lets up. I found Jessie to be a bit ascerbic and jumpy at first, but we slowly learn her backstory as we read the book. Jessie has just been hired as an Assistant Medical Examiner in San Francisco. She has left the Medical Examiner's in Los Angeles under rather stressful circumstances, and she needs to do well in San Francisco as she has a crippling $200,000 student loan hanging over head. But her first call-out in San Francisco opens up a whole can of worms, and the bodies keep coming. Jessie risks her job and her life as she tries to get to the truth. The forensics in this book do not hold back. They are there, front and centre, but the descriptions and the explanations explain so much about the science of forensics. This is a grittier form of book than books about Temperence Brennan and Kay Scarpetta. Not for the faint of heart or the squeamish. Very promising first book in the series indeed. Highly recommend. ( )

4.5 stars.

The First Cut by Judy Melinek & T.J. Mitchell is a riveting mystery starring Medical Examiner Jessie Teska.

Dr. Jessie Teska is settling into her new position at the San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office following her abrupt resignation in Los Angeles. She is smart, inquisitive and tenacious which are excellent qualities that are sometimes underappreciated by her new bosses Chief ME James Howe and Deputy Chief ME Michael Stone.

Jessie's first cases are interesting yet somewhat puzzling. Eugene Chen is brutally gunned down after stealing a laptop which begs the question what was on the computer that was worth killing for. Nursing student Rebecca Corchero dies from an apparent overdose but Jessie is not convinced her death is as straight forward as it appears. Certain there is more to both cases than first meets the eye, Jessie defies her bosses as she attempts to uncover the truth about these unsettling deaths.

Jessie is undaunted as she uncovers a promising lead in the Chen murder case. With her brother Tommy's assistance, she provides Assistant District Attorney Anup Banerjee with new information that could help with his prosecution. However, the deeper Jessie digs, she unearths details that could possibly link to another victim that has recently been examined in the San Francisco ME's Office. Will the investigators and Banerjee follow up on her evidence?

Jessie is deeply troubled by Rebecca Corchero's death. With no evidence the young woman is a drug user, Jessie is reluctant to label the case an accidental overdose. She is disturbed by some of her autopsy findings and despite pressure from Stone, she continues trying to find answers to her lingering questions. Jessie discovers startling details that send shockwaves through the ME office. But will Howe give her the opportunity to continue her investigation?

The First Cut is a well-written mystery with a clever storyline and engaging lead protagonist. Jessie is a flawed yet immensely appealing woman. The investigations are quite fascinating as they take very unexpected turns. Although savvy readers might connect the dots before Jessie, Judy Melinek & T.J. Mitchell bring this innovative mystery to a twist-filled, realistic conclusion. A brilliant fiction debut that will leave fans of the genre eagerly awaiting the next novel starring Dr. Jessie Teskas.
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First Cut by Judy Melinek and T.J. Mitchell has Dr. Jessie Teska starting over in San Francisco. Jessie along with her beagle pup, Bea rent a converted cable car. She then dives into her job as assistant medical examiner. Jessie notices an alarming number of drug related deaths that are similar. It starts her investigating that takes her down a dangerous path. Readers who enjoy forensics will be thrilled with First Cut. The authors experience shines through in First Cut. The story is well-written and the story proceeds at a thoughtful pace. I did find First Cut to be a slow starter, but it soon becomes engrossing. I thought the characters were realistic and developed. I liked Jessie with her Polish background, cute little dog named Bea, and her quirky abode. I thought she was spunky. She leaves a job with her mentor along with state of the art facilities behind in Los Angeles to get a fresh start. We do not find out why right away. Clues are dropped with the full story emerging later in the book. The descriptions are detailed allowing readers to visualize the scenes which brings the story alive. Be prepared to handle the gory details related to the autopsies (the sounds, smells and what the medical examiner sees during the examination). There is one corpse that was truly repulsive courtesy to the explosion of fluids. The mystery is complex and multifaceted. I enjoyed following Jessie as she delved into the case searching for the truth. It is a modern case that involves more than drugs (I do not want to spoil it for you). You will be amazed at how it all plays out in the end. First Cut is a story that will you keep you guessing. ( )