Pollock No. 5 by Todd J. Cohen MD

Medical inventor, doctor, and art connoisseur Dr. Matthew Dawson (MD) is fired from his position at Mt. Sinai the night before Super Storm Sandy and returns to Long Island only to catch his wife in the act! With nowhere else to turn, he seeks the refuge of his brilliant Israeli engineer/friend and master of Krav Maga, Alexiev Shaw. The next morning, MD gets a call from his neighbor, Charley Weisberg, senior partner at Goldman Sachs stuck in Asia, who asks MD to check on his estate out in the Hamptons (next to MD’s vacation shack). To MD’s surprise, he finds a priceless Jackson Pollock painting (Pollock No. 5) over the Weisberg estate’s fireplace. Next day, MD returns to the estate to discover “the painting” missing and Weisberg’s wife (an heiress) dead on the floor. MD calls the Westhampton Police Department and becomes the main suspect in the painting’s heist and the murder. Read POLLOCK NO. 5 to see how MD gets out of this mess.

Todd J. Cohen, MD recently spent some time with The Big Thrill discussing his debut thriller, POLLOCK NO. 5:

What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

Have fun! Learn about art, music, and the world of medical inventing.

Todd Cohen

What attracts you to this book’s genre?

They say write about what you know! I know art, medical inventing, Long Island, the Hamptons, San Francisco, and even a little about jazz.

What was the biggest challenge this book presented? What about the biggest opportunity?

The challenge was getting my first book published. Appreciated the help of the Mystery Writers of America! Look forward to further developing the characters in my second novel, which features a different artist—Banksy!

Was there anything new you discovered, or that surprised you, as you wrote this book?

Yes, How much work it took to write it and get it in final form suitable for publication.

No spoilers, but what can you tell us about your book that we won’t find in the jacket copy or the PR material?

I am indebted to the many real-life characters that came to life in this work of fiction! You know who you are, and I hope you enjoy the book. Readers will also enjoy the historical fiction aspect of the book, which precisely coincides with the timing of the book before and around Super Storm Sandy!

What authors or books have influenced your career as a writer, and why?

Nelson Demille and Halen Coben are my favorites. They both inspire me!

Is there a question that you feel is important to you and/or your novel? Write it in below, but be sure to answer it too!

Q: What is it about Jackson Pollock the artist that is similar to the main character in the book?

A: Both are passionate, creative, and flawed individuals. Learn more by reading POLLOCK NO. 5!

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Todd Cohen, MD is chief of cardiology, director of medical device innovation, and professor at NYITCOM in Old Westbury, New York. He is known for his many cardiac inventions (one of which is featured in this book) and his 2010 Johns Hopkins health book A Patient’s Guide to Heart Rhythm Problems, which was named one of Library Journal’s Best Health Books. He is passionate about art and is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Nassau County Museum of Art.