Cutting Edge by John Harvey

A scalpel-wielding maniac terrorizes a hospital staff

Karen Archer understands that women who date doctors should expect tardiness. The last time she invited Tim Fletcher over, he arrived from the emergency room exhausted, and barely had time to say hello before he passed out on her bed. Tonight her patience has run out. After a bottle of wine and too much television, she gives up on Fletcher and leaves the house to find her own fun—but instead she finds Fletcher, covered in blood, sprawled across the steps near her building. Karen runs to find the police, not sure if Fletcher is alive or dead.

Despite his blood loss, Fletcher survives. Soon the attacker comes for other members of the hospital staff, and police inspector Charlie Resnick must race to find him before the slasher graduates from assault to murder.