I always like to keep an eye on local authors, and when I heard that a local doctor from the University of California, San Francisco, wrote a comedy crime novel, I had to take a look. Now I hate Josh Bazell because he’s hilarious, engrossing and is a god damn doctor. No wait, I think I’m in love with him.

Beat the Reaper follows the story of Pietro, a former Mafia hitman turned Med Student through witness protection. The chapters switch back and forth from Pietro’s day at the hospital (which is quickly becoming the worst day ever), and his former life with the Mafia. The story jumps around from the main character’s past hunting down marks in New Jersey, to his present, running through the halls of a hospital, trying desperately to keep his patients alive.

Bazell is hilarious, managing to create some glorious amalgam of Scrubs and The Godfather. The whole story is told in first person, with footnotes from the narrator to explain medical terms, character backstories, and random facts, all with dripping sarcasm and brutal honesty.

Pietro is a pretty likable antihero, even if he is a bit rough around the edges. Bazell brings the character to life, making his completely insane situation seem believable. He’s at his best when he’s insulting anyone and everyone, including the reader.

And while the story is a comedy, this is still a Mafia tale. Few books have ever made me squirm as much as this one has. There’s violence in spades, punctuated by crude dialogue, and accented with medical and legal lessons that almost make the book educational as it is entertaining.

Beat the Reaper came out in June, and is already in paperback, which is not a good sign in terms of sales. But that’s good for you since it’s already considerably cheaper. It’s worth picking up not only to support local authors, but also because this is funniest book you’ll ever read about a guy in witness protection.