Take a trip between Heaven and Hell with a small group of docs and nurses as they journey through a big-city ER. There they will dance with Death in a sixteen-part saga, laughing, crying, loving, screaming and talking with God. And by the way – the stories are true, mostly. You’ll meet Dean Miller, a veteran with near-terminal burnout; Bob Finkel, a sarcastic doc with hopeless cynicism; Peter Moore, tired of life; Karlita, the Body Snatcher, and Jeff Sanders, King of the Morgue. They and many others will endure outrageous adventures, with a few side visits to…well, ‘somewhere else’.
This book is your passport into a secretive but very real world. You will witness things you may have imagined, but never really thought could be true. Television and the cinema wouldn’t dare touch any of this. Some parts of the book are wildly funny; some, hauntingly sad. Others are very sexy, others bizarre, and others just this side of madness. And they’re true, mostly.
Welcome to the emergency room. Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride. You’re going to remember this trip.
Book Reviews
Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers’ Favorite
Ghastly and Ghoulish: Tales From the ER by Mitch Goldman, MD, offers an unforgettable glimpse into the life of emergency room staff. This book seamlessly weaves together humor, horror, and human connection. Structured as a saga in sixteen parts, it transcends a collection of short stories, taking readers on a narrative journey that captures the rollercoaster ride of the ER. Goldman brings us face-to-face with a diverse cast of doctors, nurses, and patients, all united by the surreal and intense world of emergency medicine. Each chapter introduces new situations that challenge the medical staff’s skills and humanity. Characters navigate high-stress situations, bonding over a shared mission to heal and sometimes to survive the day. Mitch Goldman doesn’t shy away from the gritty realities of ER life, embracing the raw, unfiltered truth of the profession. There is humor, often dark and unexpected, that brings much-needed levity to serious, even grim scenarios. This authenticity makes the stories deeply relatable, drawing readers into the unique mindset of ER staff who grapple daily with life, death, and everything in between. The rhythm and pace of the book are relentless, mirroring the nonstop intensity of the ER itself. The chronological storytelling format enhances its impact, allowing readers to journey alongside the ER staff as they grow, bond, and tackle increasingly challenging cases. Goldman’s narration feels intimate, as if the reader is part of the team, experiencing the highs and lows, the triumphs and heartbreaks as they unfold. Ghastly and Ghoulish is a book that readers will wish never ended. I hope there’s more to come from this highly talented author.
Reviewed by Stephen Christopher for Readers’ Favorite
Step into the world of a busy ER in Mitch Goldman’s Ghastly and Ghoulish: Tales From the ER. If you think you know what happens in a hospital emergency room from watching many TV series, think again. This collection of 16 short stories is gritty, realistic, and in your face. The author spent 36 years working in ER, and his stories are based on real situations. Step into the world of Doctors Lars Anderson, Bob Finkel, Dean Miller, and a cast of interns, nurses, and admin staff. You’ll get to read stories about strange cases, hospital romances, and what really goes on behind the scenes. You might never look at your favorite doctor or nurse the same way again. You’ll laugh, you’ll gasp, and you may even shed a tear. I’m a fan of medical dramas, so Ghastly and Ghoulish: Tales From the ER hooked me from the opening paragraph. Mitch Goldman uses a lot of hospital jargon in this anthology as it fits the narrative and has thoughtfully provided a complete glossary at the back of the book to assist the reader. I read the glossary from start to finish and learned a lot of new medical terms. Even though they’re short stories, in his note to the reader the author asks them to read these in order. This makes sense as characters appear and reappear and the reader is taken on a journey. It’s not for the faint of heart as some medical procedures are detailed, and, as is to be expected, there’s blood, vomit, and other bodily fluids everywhere. I loved it!
Ghastly and Ghoulish: Tales from the ER by Mitch Goldman is a collection of short stories that come from the lives of an emergency room medical staff under pressure, ranging in length and subject matter. In My Big Beautiful Car, Dr. Finkel faces an accusation of reporting an ER incident, leading to escalating strain and the vandalism of a man’s car. Space Pearl follows Finkel as he treats a low-acuity patient, Angel, who presents a mysterious pearl, leading Finkel to think humorously about its significance after the CEO’s visit. In The Magic Bathroom, Dr. Peter Moore, overwhelmed by stress, isolates himself in a bathroom, fixating on ants. His absence from the ER triggers a crisis, and when colleagues find the bathroom empty, they question whether his disappearance is real or a hallucination. In Ghastly and Ghoulish: Tales from the ER, Mitch Goldman does well in giving readers a great mix of stories set in the pressure cooker of emergency medicine. The writing is sharp and intelligent, leaning into the emotional and psychological strains of the job with dark humor, existential musings, and the surreal. There were two standouts for me. Stonehenge harnesses itself to a doctor’s fixation on a trivial bathroom mark, symbolizing his desire for immortality; while in Applause, the quiet moments surrounding a dying patient force us to consider love and closure. Goldman’s homing in on his characters’ inner turmoil is pitch-perfect, creating a striking contrast between the chaotic world of the ER and the personal battles that everyday people face in not-so-everyday situations. Macabre, introspective, and very highly recommended.
Title: Ghastly and Ghoulish Tales from the ER: A Saga in Sixteen Parts