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High Society
From internationally bestselling author Daniel Kalla comes a twisty psychological thriller about a pioneering psychiatrist hiding dark secrets, in the vein of The Golden Couple by Hendricks and Pekkanen and Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty.
At sixteen, Holly Danvers barely survived the car accident that killed her father. While she has no memory of the crash, it took an ayahuasca treatment, a native plant-based psychedelic therapy, in the jungles of Peru for her to emotionally recover. Twenty years later, Holly is a sought-after psychiatrist determined to use her expertise with psychedelics to treat patients suffering from addictions. Ignoring the risks, she embarks upon an unproven new protocol with miraculous results. But her success in probing the traumas of her patients and the secrets they keep is short-lived.
When one celebrity client goes public with his recovery and another overdoses after accusing Holly of improprieties, her world is turned upside down. With her career on the line, Holly reaches out to her mentor—and estranged husband—Dr. Aaron Laing, for advice and comfort. But he has a different agenda, and it soon becomes clear that it will be up to Holly alone to figure out why her clients are relapsing and dying. To accomplish that, she will have to risk her life and revisit her own deep-seated trauma.
At sixteen, Holly Danvers barely survived the car accident that killed her father. While she has no memory of the crash, it took an ayahuasca treatment, a native plant-based psychedelic therapy, in the jungles of Peru for her to emotionally recover. Twenty years later, Holly is a sought-after psychiatrist determined to use her expertise with psychedelics to treat patients suffering from addictions. Ignoring the risks, she embarks upon an unproven new protocol with miraculous results. But her success in probing the traumas of her patients and the secrets they keep is short-lived.
When one celebrity client goes public with his recovery and another overdoses after accusing Holly of improprieties, her world is turned upside down. With her career on the line, Holly reaches out to her mentor—and estranged husband—Dr. Aaron Laing, for advice and comfort. But he has a different agenda, and it soon becomes clear that it will be up to Holly alone to figure out why her clients are relapsing and dying. To accomplish that, she will have to risk her life and revisit her own deep-seated trauma.
352 pages, Paperback
Published May 28, 2024
46 people are currently reading
6236 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Kalla
19 books568 followersBorn, raised, and still residing in Vancouver, Daniel has worked as an ER Physician for the past twenty years. He is also the author of fifteen published novels, which have been translated into thirteen languages.
In his latest novel, THE DEEPEST FAKE, a tech CEO and AI pioneer’s carefully curated life is unraveling—his wife is cheating, someone is defrauding his company, and he’s just been handed a fatal diagnosis. He’d end it all, if only he could trust his own reality. As deepfakes and deception blur the lines between truth and illusion, the novel explores the challenges and pitfalls of safeguarding reality in an age when it can be fabricated.
Daniel received his B.Sc. and MD from the University of British Columbia, where he is now a clinical associate professor. He is the proud father of two girls and a poorly behaved but lovable mutt, Milo.
In his latest novel, THE DEEPEST FAKE, a tech CEO and AI pioneer’s carefully curated life is unraveling—his wife is cheating, someone is defrauding his company, and he’s just been handed a fatal diagnosis. He’d end it all, if only he could trust his own reality. As deepfakes and deception blur the lines between truth and illusion, the novel explores the challenges and pitfalls of safeguarding reality in an age when it can be fabricated.
Daniel received his B.Sc. and MD from the University of British Columbia, where he is now a clinical associate professor. He is the proud father of two girls and a poorly behaved but lovable mutt, Milo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
May 27, 2024
“Nothing in the world could justify me using a therapeutic agent to roofie my own clients. But I did it anyway.”
I know that a Daniel Kalla book will (1) introduce me to a world I know nothing about, (2) stimulate my intellectual curiosity, (3) confront me with complex moral and/or ethical issues, (4) give me space to question the limits of humans’ decision-making abilities and (5) foster empathy. I’m always confident that I have a masterpiece in my hands when I hold a Kalla book. This is my 8th book. I’ve never been disappointed.
Kalla’s book examines ethical issues within medicine and looks at the benefits of ‘tribe’ mentality on clients’ well-being.
I was educated in the advances of psychedelic therapy which has surged in popularity in recent years. Kalla was able to show me that although these drugs are on the cusp of entering mainstream psychiatry and have enormous value, clinicians need to be mindful of the risks, even in a controlled environment and under supervision.
Kalla’s main character, Dr Holly Danvers, is a diehard psychedelic practitioner and advocate who is committed to harnessing the therapeutic powers of psychedelics. Her therapy group of seven clients is a hodgepodge of high-functioning, long-term addicts who have been caught up in the trappings of success, yet remain dependent on what Dr. Holly Danvers can provide. Readers soon realize that (1) although this self-proclaimed ‘tribe’ of professionals, artists, and influencers are united in their suffering from major traumas and hold many secrets, they are not the average drug users; they’re all successful, despite their crippling addiction and (2) that putting them together creates a very combustible environment.
Three months into treatment consisting of a weekly potent intravenous dose of the psychedelic agent ketamine, followed by individual and then group therapy, the tribe of sex, gambling, opioid and alcohol addicts have made genuine progress.
Until the day one of them is found dead.
And the tribe starts crumbling.
And the trust they’ve shared becomes virtually non-existent.
And then, like the “cast of some cheap Agatha Christie knockoff” the tribe members start dying.
“What a sorry lot we are. We can’t live without her. But no guarantees we’ll live at all if we stick with her.”
For a rock star, a CEO, a ‘woke’ activist, a fashion designer, a lawyer, a socialite, and a colleague in psychiatry, the psychedelics may not be the panacea they’d hoped for; the struggle appears insurmountable and their damaged souls appear irreparable. They begin to question if they are still a tribe.
For a therapist engaged in innovative and unproven therapy, perhaps the results she hoped for and the ethics she was willing to sidestep, aren’t worth the risks. She begins to question if the end justifies the means. As she is forced to examine her marriage, she queries if she’s been blind to what’s been happening right under her eyes, what else could she have gotten wrong? How has she lost insight into herself?
Why are the members of the ‘tribe’ dying off? Is someone killing them? Is it tribe related?
What an education! I’ll be able to throw kitty flipping, MDMA, and dysphoric reactions (to name a few) into my dinner table conversations this weekend.
This superb novel about risking ethics and the desperate things we’ll do to get results and kick a habit needs to be on your reading list immediately!
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I know that a Daniel Kalla book will (1) introduce me to a world I know nothing about, (2) stimulate my intellectual curiosity, (3) confront me with complex moral and/or ethical issues, (4) give me space to question the limits of humans’ decision-making abilities and (5) foster empathy. I’m always confident that I have a masterpiece in my hands when I hold a Kalla book. This is my 8th book. I’ve never been disappointed.
Kalla’s book examines ethical issues within medicine and looks at the benefits of ‘tribe’ mentality on clients’ well-being.
I was educated in the advances of psychedelic therapy which has surged in popularity in recent years. Kalla was able to show me that although these drugs are on the cusp of entering mainstream psychiatry and have enormous value, clinicians need to be mindful of the risks, even in a controlled environment and under supervision.
Kalla’s main character, Dr Holly Danvers, is a diehard psychedelic practitioner and advocate who is committed to harnessing the therapeutic powers of psychedelics. Her therapy group of seven clients is a hodgepodge of high-functioning, long-term addicts who have been caught up in the trappings of success, yet remain dependent on what Dr. Holly Danvers can provide. Readers soon realize that (1) although this self-proclaimed ‘tribe’ of professionals, artists, and influencers are united in their suffering from major traumas and hold many secrets, they are not the average drug users; they’re all successful, despite their crippling addiction and (2) that putting them together creates a very combustible environment.
Three months into treatment consisting of a weekly potent intravenous dose of the psychedelic agent ketamine, followed by individual and then group therapy, the tribe of sex, gambling, opioid and alcohol addicts have made genuine progress.
Until the day one of them is found dead.
And the tribe starts crumbling.
And the trust they’ve shared becomes virtually non-existent.
And then, like the “cast of some cheap Agatha Christie knockoff” the tribe members start dying.
“What a sorry lot we are. We can’t live without her. But no guarantees we’ll live at all if we stick with her.”
For a rock star, a CEO, a ‘woke’ activist, a fashion designer, a lawyer, a socialite, and a colleague in psychiatry, the psychedelics may not be the panacea they’d hoped for; the struggle appears insurmountable and their damaged souls appear irreparable. They begin to question if they are still a tribe.
For a therapist engaged in innovative and unproven therapy, perhaps the results she hoped for and the ethics she was willing to sidestep, aren’t worth the risks. She begins to question if the end justifies the means. As she is forced to examine her marriage, she queries if she’s been blind to what’s been happening right under her eyes, what else could she have gotten wrong? How has she lost insight into herself?
Why are the members of the ‘tribe’ dying off? Is someone killing them? Is it tribe related?
What an education! I’ll be able to throw kitty flipping, MDMA, and dysphoric reactions (to name a few) into my dinner table conversations this weekend.
This superb novel about risking ethics and the desperate things we’ll do to get results and kick a habit needs to be on your reading list immediately!
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
June 8, 2024
Wild story! RTC as I’ve got to get ready for work
July 27, 2024
1.5 ⭐️rounded up
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC
This book was just not for me and it took me a long time to read it, I just did not want to pick it up. It wasn’t all bad, there were some qualities I did like so I’ll start with those.
The Pros:
- I found the idea really original and I thought I would enjoy this story
- the author definitely did his research (probably helped he is a doctor already) but the story wasn’t exactly far fetched and it made sense. I love when authors do the proper research.
The Cons:
- The story did not hold my attention, it lagged throughout the book and I didn’t want to pick it up
- The main character was annoying to me and I didn’t want to root for her at all
- I am VERY critical of how male authors write women in their stories, so I know I am a little harsh with this (but honestly I’m sick of how women are portrayed in books written by men) and this book let me down in this category
- I found it repetitive. If I had to read the work “tribe” one more time in the context it was used I was going to be upset.
I don’t want to add this to the cons list, but I also hate the cover page. If I wasn’t sent this book to read I’d never pick it up, but that is a personal preference for me and doesn’t have anything to do with the story.
Overall I don’t know if I will read Kalla again, I usually believe in second chances so I’ll likely give this author a try again, and I know reading preferences are so subjective so he might write something else that I can’t put down. Time will tell.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC
This book was just not for me and it took me a long time to read it, I just did not want to pick it up. It wasn’t all bad, there were some qualities I did like so I’ll start with those.
The Pros:
- I found the idea really original and I thought I would enjoy this story
- the author definitely did his research (probably helped he is a doctor already) but the story wasn’t exactly far fetched and it made sense. I love when authors do the proper research.
The Cons:
- The story did not hold my attention, it lagged throughout the book and I didn’t want to pick it up
- The main character was annoying to me and I didn’t want to root for her at all
- I am VERY critical of how male authors write women in their stories, so I know I am a little harsh with this (but honestly I’m sick of how women are portrayed in books written by men) and this book let me down in this category
- I found it repetitive. If I had to read the work “tribe” one more time in the context it was used I was going to be upset.
I don’t want to add this to the cons list, but I also hate the cover page. If I wasn’t sent this book to read I’d never pick it up, but that is a personal preference for me and doesn’t have anything to do with the story.
Overall I don’t know if I will read Kalla again, I usually believe in second chances so I’ll likely give this author a try again, and I know reading preferences are so subjective so he might write something else that I can’t put down. Time will tell.
March 29, 2024
This is a Thriller with an Important message !
This toxic thriller takes us on a trip through the the world of psychedelic therapy to treat addictions with a lot of deaths along the way.
High Society is a page turner crime mystery that grazes the topic of the global epidemic around substance abuse and that addictions come in all forms. I loved how the author was able use a current topic that is not discussed enough and was able to turn it into a deadly thriller with so much realism.
With out giving too much away the main character Holly is psychiatrist who is using her expertise in the psychedelics to help treat her patients to block and end their addictions .
Holly has an elite group of wealthy patients that call themselves "The Tribe" who's wealth backgrounds vary from famous musicians , lavish careers , or born into money.
"The Tribe" is a toxic bunch I tell yah and they have all kinds of crazy addictions . When one of the group members makes an accusation against Dr. Holly Danvers , well things start to get twisty and someone's life is cut short followed by many more deaths!!
I have to say the author did an excellent job as I dashed through this story so quickly and just when I thought I had the suspect figured out Daniel threw in another red herring to keep me digging for more, as the author completely conned me on this one !
Although at times the story seemed a bit far fetched with the use of "Psychedelic's" through IV to treat addiction, it totally worked for the story , and after reading the story I did some research and sure enough there are some studies and trials being done showing it can help and reduce addictions .
This book really had me thinking a lot , only if this really could be a new age break through to help those that need it !
The only thing I did not like in the book , was I did have problems relating to the character at times she out right annoyed me , but it was so slight that it did not stop me from devouring this twisted page turner .
I really think fans of True Crime and Harlan Coben movies will be "Addicted" to this read and YES pun intended !
** Trigger warnings to Addictions , Trauma , Drug Abuse and sexual abuse **
Thank you Netgalley , Simon & Schuster Canada and Daniel Kalla for this Digital ARC!!
Respectfully Another Read by Angie
This toxic thriller takes us on a trip through the the world of psychedelic therapy to treat addictions with a lot of deaths along the way.
High Society is a page turner crime mystery that grazes the topic of the global epidemic around substance abuse and that addictions come in all forms. I loved how the author was able use a current topic that is not discussed enough and was able to turn it into a deadly thriller with so much realism.
With out giving too much away the main character Holly is psychiatrist who is using her expertise in the psychedelics to help treat her patients to block and end their addictions .
Holly has an elite group of wealthy patients that call themselves "The Tribe" who's wealth backgrounds vary from famous musicians , lavish careers , or born into money.
"The Tribe" is a toxic bunch I tell yah and they have all kinds of crazy addictions . When one of the group members makes an accusation against Dr. Holly Danvers , well things start to get twisty and someone's life is cut short followed by many more deaths!!
I have to say the author did an excellent job as I dashed through this story so quickly and just when I thought I had the suspect figured out Daniel threw in another red herring to keep me digging for more, as the author completely conned me on this one !
Although at times the story seemed a bit far fetched with the use of "Psychedelic's" through IV to treat addiction, it totally worked for the story , and after reading the story I did some research and sure enough there are some studies and trials being done showing it can help and reduce addictions .
This book really had me thinking a lot , only if this really could be a new age break through to help those that need it !
The only thing I did not like in the book , was I did have problems relating to the character at times she out right annoyed me , but it was so slight that it did not stop me from devouring this twisted page turner .
I really think fans of True Crime and Harlan Coben movies will be "Addicted" to this read and YES pun intended !
** Trigger warnings to Addictions , Trauma , Drug Abuse and sexual abuse **
Thank you Netgalley , Simon & Schuster Canada and Daniel Kalla for this Digital ARC!!
Respectfully Another Read by Angie
December 14, 2024
Loved this book and found it to be so much fun to read. Holly is experimenting with psychedelics and trauma - the patients, her tribe, have to bring their own meds/drugs of course bc it’s totally not legal. I loved the sessions so much.
I also loved the characters and all of their different addictions/issues - they made this book come to life and seem even more real. Of course, once again, this is a book of the times. Kalla has a way of creating the most scary, WTF but could also be true stories and this book falls in line with that same premise.
The mystery side of this book also kept me hooked - I had to know what was happening and who was responsible. I was not disappointed at that ending!
This is my 2nd book by this author and now I need more. Another fix please! Recommend his books!
I also loved the characters and all of their different addictions/issues - they made this book come to life and seem even more real. Of course, once again, this is a book of the times. Kalla has a way of creating the most scary, WTF but could also be true stories and this book falls in line with that same premise.
The mystery side of this book also kept me hooked - I had to know what was happening and who was responsible. I was not disappointed at that ending!
This is my 2nd book by this author and now I need more. Another fix please! Recommend his books!
April 6, 2024
Holly Danvers is a sought after psychiatrist determined to use psychedelics to treat patients for addictions, ignoring the risks she embarks upon an unproven new protocol. But when one of her celebrity client goes public accusing Holly of improprieties she reaches out to her estranged husband, Dr. Aaron Laing, for advice and comfort. Inevitably it is up to Holly to figure out why her clients are relapsing and dying.
By focussing on hot topics, Daniel Kalla once again demonstrates his ability to deliver a timely and scary look into addictions and the use of psychedelics therapy. Substance abuse comes in all forms: opioids, fentanyl, cocaine, ayahuasca, hallucinogens, alcohol, sex, nicotine, abuse of prescription medicines, gambling, etc. People under their spell are from all corners: rich, poor, celebrity, lawyer, doctors, artist, influencers, etc. In this story Holly has an elite group of wealthy patients that call themselves “The Tribe” all are seeking an end to their addictions. Holly treats them with the use of psychedelics through IV then wiping their memories with other drugs.
Three months into treatment, Dr. Danvers’ therapy group of seven clients start to crumble when the first of them is found dead and then another one and one goes missing.....No one trust each other....what is happening and who is killing them?.....
Being a fan of this author and have read all his previous books I know from the get-go that most of them will have a difficult subject. This latest story examines ethical issues and the benefits of group therapy. Being a Doctor, Mr. Kalla knows what he is talking about and expresses himself with words the mainstream public can understand. Although I like the subject matter I was not fully invested in this drama. It was somewhat slow and seemed to revert too much on the therapy sessions. The drama gives a boost to the plot, murders or suicides never fails to do so. I like that part so I kept flipping the page to see if I was right guessing the whodunit...I failed.
I am always looking forward to be immersed into one of Daniel Kalla’s thriller and I will continue in the future. Mr. Kalla is an excellent storyteller and his subject matter all taken from his experiences and from the daily news....
Thank you Netgalley, Simon& Schuster for this digital ARC.
By focussing on hot topics, Daniel Kalla once again demonstrates his ability to deliver a timely and scary look into addictions and the use of psychedelics therapy. Substance abuse comes in all forms: opioids, fentanyl, cocaine, ayahuasca, hallucinogens, alcohol, sex, nicotine, abuse of prescription medicines, gambling, etc. People under their spell are from all corners: rich, poor, celebrity, lawyer, doctors, artist, influencers, etc. In this story Holly has an elite group of wealthy patients that call themselves “The Tribe” all are seeking an end to their addictions. Holly treats them with the use of psychedelics through IV then wiping their memories with other drugs.
Three months into treatment, Dr. Danvers’ therapy group of seven clients start to crumble when the first of them is found dead and then another one and one goes missing.....No one trust each other....what is happening and who is killing them?.....
Being a fan of this author and have read all his previous books I know from the get-go that most of them will have a difficult subject. This latest story examines ethical issues and the benefits of group therapy. Being a Doctor, Mr. Kalla knows what he is talking about and expresses himself with words the mainstream public can understand. Although I like the subject matter I was not fully invested in this drama. It was somewhat slow and seemed to revert too much on the therapy sessions. The drama gives a boost to the plot, murders or suicides never fails to do so. I like that part so I kept flipping the page to see if I was right guessing the whodunit...I failed.
I am always looking forward to be immersed into one of Daniel Kalla’s thriller and I will continue in the future. Mr. Kalla is an excellent storyteller and his subject matter all taken from his experiences and from the daily news....
Thank you Netgalley, Simon& Schuster for this digital ARC.
June 22, 2024
i’m so sorry this was the worst book i have ever read. tense constantly changes, weird sexual tie bits that only ever could be written by a man, and basic medical jargon explain like the reader is dumb.
April 23, 2024
Book review
High Society by Daniel Kalla
Tropes and Triggers
Use of psychedelics in addictions therapy
Psychology
Medical research
Unhealed traumas
Gambling, narcotics, alcoholism, sex addict
Abuse
Childhood trauma shrouded in mystery
Murder
Death of a parent
Thoughts
✅ Has the reader questioning What is memory vs a “ drug induced trip” ?, can you trust your memories and your sense under the influence of drugs?
✅ For me- the storyline of this book Felt a bit similar to others (Nine Perfect Strangers) but didnt stop me from enjoying it
✅ Storyline and pacing were both fluid, easy reading
✅ The Tribe provided a consistently unreliable perspective of the events unfolding making it difficult for the reader to predict where the story was leading
✅ unpredictable ending with have readers on the edge of their seats
Characters
Holly- Dr whose ambitions blur the lines of professionalism
Aaron- estranged husband , Dr, against use of drugs in therapy, desperate to get back together with his wife
The Tribe- each one a wealthy privileged addict (in some context) looking for a way to break the cycle of addiction
Overall
A solid read with the medical expertise and insight I can always expect from Daniel Kalla’s writing
Thanks to @netgalley and For my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.
High Society by Daniel Kalla
Tropes and Triggers
Use of psychedelics in addictions therapy
Psychology
Medical research
Unhealed traumas
Gambling, narcotics, alcoholism, sex addict
Abuse
Childhood trauma shrouded in mystery
Murder
Death of a parent
Thoughts
✅ Has the reader questioning What is memory vs a “ drug induced trip” ?, can you trust your memories and your sense under the influence of drugs?
✅ For me- the storyline of this book Felt a bit similar to others (Nine Perfect Strangers) but didnt stop me from enjoying it
✅ Storyline and pacing were both fluid, easy reading
✅ The Tribe provided a consistently unreliable perspective of the events unfolding making it difficult for the reader to predict where the story was leading
✅ unpredictable ending with have readers on the edge of their seats
Characters
Holly- Dr whose ambitions blur the lines of professionalism
Aaron- estranged husband , Dr, against use of drugs in therapy, desperate to get back together with his wife
The Tribe- each one a wealthy privileged addict (in some context) looking for a way to break the cycle of addiction
Overall
A solid read with the medical expertise and insight I can always expect from Daniel Kalla’s writing
Thanks to @netgalley and For my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.
June 17, 2024
I always know to expect something a little different from this author’s books - and this one didn’t disappoint. Full of unlikeable characters ( from our resident psychiatrist to her husband to her patients) you want to learn more about and an “An Then There Were None” type of a murder mystery as members of “The Tribe” , this one is hard to put down !
June 11, 2024
A dark twisty deep dive into the world of drug therapy that went places I wasn't expecting but kept me thoroughly entertained from start to finish. Good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Linwood Barclay. This might be my new fav from Canadian ER doctor Daniel Kalla. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
October 10, 2024
Finished this in like 2 days- did not expect it to be a thriller but was pretty interesting, especially diving into the world of ketamine/MDMA/DMT therapy
December 2, 2024
Thank you @simonschusterca and @netgalley for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
The most interesting thing about the recent Daniel Kalla books is that Daniel Kalla is actually an Emergency Department doctor in Vancouver (yay Canada!) and he brings his medical questions and exploration into his novels.
In High Society, Holly has spent years grieving her father’s death, when her grandfather introduces her to the psychedelic therapy of ayahuasca, and it’s the only thing that helps her start to come to terms with her loss. Twenty years later, Holly is a psychiatrist in L.A., determined to use her expertise with psychedelics to treat patients suffering from addictions. She gathers a group of seven individuals, all addicted to different things, for ketamine-enhanced therapy combined with a second psychedelic that isn’t exactly legal.
The problems start when members of her therapy group start dying and disappearing. Holly is desperate to find out what’s happening to her patients, and save herself from getting in legal and professional trouble from her experimental therapy.
I enjoyed this book and I was curious to see where it was going to go. I love books about groups of people who are trying to find out what’s happening with the other members of the groups. However, I did find it a bit difficult to keep all seven members of her therapy group and their various addictions and professions straight. I didn’t really understand why Holly was seen as such an amazing therapist. I guess she was helping the people in her group but she seemed pretty unsure of herself. I guess I’ll give her the benefit of the double since she was attempting a new, non-traditional, and extremely risky, form of therapy.
Overall, the book kept me guessing and reading and wanting to know what was going to happen next.
3.5 Stars
The most interesting thing about the recent Daniel Kalla books is that Daniel Kalla is actually an Emergency Department doctor in Vancouver (yay Canada!) and he brings his medical questions and exploration into his novels.
In High Society, Holly has spent years grieving her father’s death, when her grandfather introduces her to the psychedelic therapy of ayahuasca, and it’s the only thing that helps her start to come to terms with her loss. Twenty years later, Holly is a psychiatrist in L.A., determined to use her expertise with psychedelics to treat patients suffering from addictions. She gathers a group of seven individuals, all addicted to different things, for ketamine-enhanced therapy combined with a second psychedelic that isn’t exactly legal.
The problems start when members of her therapy group start dying and disappearing. Holly is desperate to find out what’s happening to her patients, and save herself from getting in legal and professional trouble from her experimental therapy.
I enjoyed this book and I was curious to see where it was going to go. I love books about groups of people who are trying to find out what’s happening with the other members of the groups. However, I did find it a bit difficult to keep all seven members of her therapy group and their various addictions and professions straight. I didn’t really understand why Holly was seen as such an amazing therapist. I guess she was helping the people in her group but she seemed pretty unsure of herself. I guess I’ll give her the benefit of the double since she was attempting a new, non-traditional, and extremely risky, form of therapy.
Overall, the book kept me guessing and reading and wanting to know what was going to happen next.
3.5 Stars
April 6, 2024
This book was a wild ride, it took me awhile to rate on it because I had to sit on it. For interest sake, this is how I described the plot to my boyfriend “this high profile therapist treats her patients addictions with Ketamine and she recently tried dual therapy and gave them K and MDMA at the same time and one of the clients had a bad trip and thought the therapist inappropriately touched her and now wants to go public”.
So I didn’t love Nine Perfect Strangers, but I thought this gave Nine Perfect Strangers but it was actually a mystery/thriller. This book is compelling to say the least, there are tons of well developed suspects and pretty much every single character you love to hate. This book’s a bit out there so if you’re not into the synopsis you may not be into the book (although I liked it much more than expected!).
I definitely hope to see this one on the screen, it would make a super fun adaptation!
So I didn’t love Nine Perfect Strangers, but I thought this gave Nine Perfect Strangers but it was actually a mystery/thriller. This book is compelling to say the least, there are tons of well developed suspects and pretty much every single character you love to hate. This book’s a bit out there so if you’re not into the synopsis you may not be into the book (although I liked it much more than expected!).
I definitely hope to see this one on the screen, it would make a super fun adaptation!
May 1, 2024
If you can't trust a doc with your medical thrillers, who can you trust?
Author and emerg physician Daniel Kalla's newest novel, High Society, hits shelves this month.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted ARC for review.
As a teen, Holly Danvers found relief from grief after the death of her father through ayahuasca treatment, a native plant-based psychedelic therapy in the jungles of Peru.
Now, as a practicing psychologist, Dr. Danvers makes use of pharmaceutical psychedelics in her clients' treatment for addiction.
But during a group session with dual-therapy meds on board, one client has a bad experience and is found dead in her home a short time later.
Followed by another. And another.
High Society is not only a gripping suspense story, but I always enjoy medical elements in thrillers to add reality and science to the unknown.
This is the fifth Kalla novel I've read, and his writing draws me in more every time.
Recommended, and also check out his back list!
For release on May 28.
Author and emerg physician Daniel Kalla's newest novel, High Society, hits shelves this month.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted ARC for review.
As a teen, Holly Danvers found relief from grief after the death of her father through ayahuasca treatment, a native plant-based psychedelic therapy in the jungles of Peru.
Now, as a practicing psychologist, Dr. Danvers makes use of pharmaceutical psychedelics in her clients' treatment for addiction.
But during a group session with dual-therapy meds on board, one client has a bad experience and is found dead in her home a short time later.
Followed by another. And another.
High Society is not only a gripping suspense story, but I always enjoy medical elements in thrillers to add reality and science to the unknown.
This is the fifth Kalla novel I've read, and his writing draws me in more every time.
Recommended, and also check out his back list!
For release on May 28.
June 25, 2024
Daniel Kalla is awesome. If you've not yet read any of his books, what are you waiting for? He is an absolute master of mystery/thriller/suspense writing, throwing in a good dose of medical information as well. He doesn't seem to have a formula, unlike many others of his genre, but he is creative and keeps you guessing right up until the end.
This is his latest, and perhaps his best yet. I believe this is the 6th I've read, and there are more out there.
This one centres around using psychedelic drugs in a controlled setting in an attempt to cure addictions. Dr. Danvers is the doctor carrying on where her elderly grandfather left off. She has seven high-profile patients and all is proceeding very well, until it isn't.
There are sudden deaths. The questions arise. Why? How? Are they suicides? Murders? Drug-related? Natural?
Essentially, everyone in the novel is suspected of some kind of involvement as we read on. I can usually predict the outcome but not this time. I like that. I believe you will too.
This is his latest, and perhaps his best yet. I believe this is the 6th I've read, and there are more out there.
This one centres around using psychedelic drugs in a controlled setting in an attempt to cure addictions. Dr. Danvers is the doctor carrying on where her elderly grandfather left off. She has seven high-profile patients and all is proceeding very well, until it isn't.
There are sudden deaths. The questions arise. Why? How? Are they suicides? Murders? Drug-related? Natural?
Essentially, everyone in the novel is suspected of some kind of involvement as we read on. I can usually predict the outcome but not this time. I like that. I believe you will too.
April 18, 2024
This book follows Holly a psychiatrist whom is treating patients with psychedelic drugs. All of her clients have their issues and are struggling with addictions. Holly wants to bring the use of psychedelics into the light and show its effectiveness.
But then things start to go south…
This book is a psychological thriller at its finest, I throughly enjoyed it and not really knowing who to trust. It felt like going down the best kinda rabbit hole.
I’m not sure Holly was an overly likeable character and her motivations were hard to get behind at times, but I enjoyed this book nonetheless.
Gifted copy provided by Simon & Schuster Canada.
But then things start to go south…
This book is a psychological thriller at its finest, I throughly enjoyed it and not really knowing who to trust. It felt like going down the best kinda rabbit hole.
I’m not sure Holly was an overly likeable character and her motivations were hard to get behind at times, but I enjoyed this book nonetheless.
Gifted copy provided by Simon & Schuster Canada.
August 5, 2024
Ohhhh this one was a wild ride!
The characters, the writing style, the concept- it all worked together so well to build tension, make the reader feel SO uneasy, and ultimately, create a combustible environment that you just know will not end well! (Spoiler alert- it doesn’t!)
I really liked the moral grey areas and the ethical questions brought up through the group counselling & Holly’s methods- and I liked each unique character, their different struggles & addictions, and their group dynamic.
Definitely look forward to reading more by Daniel Kalla!
The characters, the writing style, the concept- it all worked together so well to build tension, make the reader feel SO uneasy, and ultimately, create a combustible environment that you just know will not end well! (Spoiler alert- it doesn’t!)
I really liked the moral grey areas and the ethical questions brought up through the group counselling & Holly’s methods- and I liked each unique character, their different struggles & addictions, and their group dynamic.
Definitely look forward to reading more by Daniel Kalla!
August 20, 2024
I cannot stop thinking about this book! It was such a fun, entertaining read, but also the kind of thriller that is not just for your beach bag but also for a good, juicy book club discussion! Or in my case colleague discussion!
High Society revolves around a group of privileged, wealthy people who also happen to be dealing with various forms of addictions. Holly Danvers is a psychiatrist whose personal experience with psychedelics and trauma is driving her need to prove effectiveness of use of psychedelics in treatment of addiction.
Such a page turner featuring characters who are fallible, traumatized, not always making the best decisions. Basically very human! North America in particular is a space where society’s attitude towards addictions is filled with stigma, judgement and misinformation. Real humans I work with who struggle with this don’t have access to these kinds of resources and that’s why I liked that the focus was on “high society” individuals and lengths they would go to hide their issues.
It also left me thinking about how in its attempts to create a more “ethical” treatment system, medical model has becomes so rigid especially in the way that it makes it very difficult to introduce new treatments. There is a reason abstinence based rehab programs have such abysmally low “success rates”. As you can see I could write an essay because of the passion this book ignited in me!
Daniel Kalla’s professional medical experience truly elevates his books to another level for me! Prepare to continue seeing this book on my feed because I don’t plan to shut up about it any time soon!
A huge thank you to Tandem Collective & Simon Schuster CA for my gifted copy of this wonderful book! And my fellow bookstagrammers for a great discussion!
High Society revolves around a group of privileged, wealthy people who also happen to be dealing with various forms of addictions. Holly Danvers is a psychiatrist whose personal experience with psychedelics and trauma is driving her need to prove effectiveness of use of psychedelics in treatment of addiction.
Such a page turner featuring characters who are fallible, traumatized, not always making the best decisions. Basically very human! North America in particular is a space where society’s attitude towards addictions is filled with stigma, judgement and misinformation. Real humans I work with who struggle with this don’t have access to these kinds of resources and that’s why I liked that the focus was on “high society” individuals and lengths they would go to hide their issues.
It also left me thinking about how in its attempts to create a more “ethical” treatment system, medical model has becomes so rigid especially in the way that it makes it very difficult to introduce new treatments. There is a reason abstinence based rehab programs have such abysmally low “success rates”. As you can see I could write an essay because of the passion this book ignited in me!
Daniel Kalla’s professional medical experience truly elevates his books to another level for me! Prepare to continue seeing this book on my feed because I don’t plan to shut up about it any time soon!
A huge thank you to Tandem Collective & Simon Schuster CA for my gifted copy of this wonderful book! And my fellow bookstagrammers for a great discussion!
June 2, 2024
I have to admit the beginning was a bit rocky for me, I was a bit lost but then I got into the groove of the story and it was a quick, engaging read. I loved the use of a group text and short chapters to move the story and add a different dimension to character interaction. I am a fan of this author and look forward to his next book.
July 21, 2024
This was even more wild than I had anticipated! I actually loved seeing treatment that is actually similar to what’s going on - I wasn’t educated about ketamine clinics and found out there is one nearby. This was fun and educating (in a way) for me and now I can’t wait to see what else Kalla has in store for us!
August 1, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed the thought-provoking theme throughout. I went through a fair range of emotions reading this from anger to shock to disgust. I rated it four because I did not feel connected to the ending, including not feeling the character had gone through enough development. It felt as though the character was almost in the foreshadow for the entirety of the book until the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2024
Think I would have enjoy it more if like the tribe I was taking psychedelics. Skip this one, it’s a jumbled mess.
April 9, 2025
The book itself had a great plot and kept my attention. However, I think it could have been better written!
November 3, 2024
This book was a wild ride, definitely kept me guessing right until the end. It follows a therapy group through their use of psychedelics for addiction. These mental health books are not my cup of tea, but it was an interesting read! 4/5 ⭐️
February 23, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read "High Society" in exchange for my honest review.
Dr. Holly Danvers survived the car accident that killed her father when she was sixteen. She has no clear memories of what actually happened that day. She spends time in the Peruvian jungle with her grandfather Walter where a native plant-based psychedelic therapy helps her to emotionally recover.
Twenty years later she treats patients with a legal drug therapy combined with one no legitimate pharmaceutical supplier would make available as it has no sanctioned medical use. Holly doesn't worry about consequences she is happy to take the legal and professional risk.
She has a group of 7 patients: JJ, Reese, Baljit, Salvador, Elaine, Liisa and Simon - all have various addictions ranging from pills to alcohol and beyond. The members of the group call themselves the "Tribe". After a session of psychedelic therapy one of the tribe members accuses Holly of inappropriate touching and threatens to tell the world what she did. Holly is convinced that she is mixing up childhood traumas with the present day. When one of the Tribe members is found dead everyone writes it off as a relapse but Holly is suspicious. She wonders whether one of the Tribe might even be responsible for the death.
When another Tribe member dies under suspicious circumstances, everyone is still thinking relapse but Holly with the help of a compassionate police detective are starting to piece together events. A third Tribe members disappears..... Holly goes into the realm of the unethical when she starts questioning the Tribe members while they are under the influence psychedelic drugs. Then later wiping their memories with other drugs.
Holly is separated from her husband Aaron but she turns to him for help and advice, not realizing that he's working on his own agenda for her. When strange things start to happen to Holly he accuses her of paranoia.
The exciting conclusion will shock the readers as to who did what and the reasons why.
Dr. Holly Danvers survived the car accident that killed her father when she was sixteen. She has no clear memories of what actually happened that day. She spends time in the Peruvian jungle with her grandfather Walter where a native plant-based psychedelic therapy helps her to emotionally recover.
Twenty years later she treats patients with a legal drug therapy combined with one no legitimate pharmaceutical supplier would make available as it has no sanctioned medical use. Holly doesn't worry about consequences she is happy to take the legal and professional risk.
She has a group of 7 patients: JJ, Reese, Baljit, Salvador, Elaine, Liisa and Simon - all have various addictions ranging from pills to alcohol and beyond. The members of the group call themselves the "Tribe". After a session of psychedelic therapy one of the tribe members accuses Holly of inappropriate touching and threatens to tell the world what she did. Holly is convinced that she is mixing up childhood traumas with the present day. When one of the Tribe members is found dead everyone writes it off as a relapse but Holly is suspicious. She wonders whether one of the Tribe might even be responsible for the death.
When another Tribe member dies under suspicious circumstances, everyone is still thinking relapse but Holly with the help of a compassionate police detective are starting to piece together events. A third Tribe members disappears..... Holly goes into the realm of the unethical when she starts questioning the Tribe members while they are under the influence psychedelic drugs. Then later wiping their memories with other drugs.
Holly is separated from her husband Aaron but she turns to him for help and advice, not realizing that he's working on his own agenda for her. When strange things start to happen to Holly he accuses her of paranoia.
The exciting conclusion will shock the readers as to who did what and the reasons why.
May 2, 2024
Dr. Daniel Kalla is back with another medical thriller based on controversial issues. This time we're diving in to the use of psychedelics as a form of therapy for various addictions. We're spun into a myriad of ethical issues, all tied together with a bunch of suspicious deaths. The link between them? They all belong in Dr. Danvers tribe of addicts. And let me tell you there all toxic and wonderfully unlikeable and unreliable. I really enjoyed the snarky comments found in their group chats.
I don't want to give too much away but we're taken on a wild ride full of twists, that kept me guessing right to the very end. The pacing flowed well and I found myself immersed in the story. Overall a great suspenseful read, great for thriller and medical thriller lovers alike.
Thank you to Simon Schuster for my advanced copy in return for an honest review
I don't want to give too much away but we're taken on a wild ride full of twists, that kept me guessing right to the very end. The pacing flowed well and I found myself immersed in the story. Overall a great suspenseful read, great for thriller and medical thriller lovers alike.
Thank you to Simon Schuster for my advanced copy in return for an honest review
September 15, 2024
This book was a massive disappointment and a waste of time. It’s hard to believe the author is a physician or that he engaged in an research prior to writing this book. Let’s start with the main topic of the book, ketamine. As a psychiatrist, I will say that Daniel Kalla paints a totally sensationalized and entirely distorted picture of IV ketamine, which is actually in the consensus guidelines as a legitimate treatment for treatment-refractory mood disorders. It’s use in substance use disorders is far more complex, and certainly no one legitimate supports “flipping the kitty” with both MDMA and ketamine, as one character described it. However, Kalla paints the use of psychedelics as controversial and scandalous (Holly’s ex Dr. Laing won’t “touch” ketamine in his practice), when that is absolutely not the case in this day and age with regard to Ketamine. Similarly, MDMA is in phase three trials for certain conditions. A new frontier? Yes. Scandalous? Far from it. I actually had to go back and check the date of publication, because it read like something from the 80s or 90s. I was shocked to see a print date of 2024 But Kalla needs to pitch this distorted picture to get any traction in his plot. Similarly, the psychobabble in this book is maddening (see what I did there?) - Holly talks repeatedly about her ability to predict suicide, and the fact that she didn’t see any “signs of intent” means that a character’s death must have been a homicide. Daniel Kalla should be very familiar with the fact that suicide can unquestionably be impulsive. Similarly, many lines of text are dedicated to emphatic, false statements - e.g. someone who is addicted to opioids wouldn’t use fentanyl or someone addicted to Xanax wouldn’t abuse alcohol. Totally nonsense. Again, Kalla should know much better but clearly doesn’t have much respect for his readers intellect.
And let’s talk about the characters themselves - hastily sketched, superficial, shallow, unethical and entirely unlikeable. I couldn’t care less if things ended well for Holly or not.
Do yourself a favor and give this book a miss.
And let’s talk about the characters themselves - hastily sketched, superficial, shallow, unethical and entirely unlikeable. I couldn’t care less if things ended well for Holly or not.
Do yourself a favor and give this book a miss.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2024
2.5 stars rounded down to 2. This was a super quick read, a who dunnit that centres around a psychiatrist who uses psychedelics to help her patients with addiction. It was entertaining enough and makes for a good beach read. However the author’s repeated explaining of the medical lingo and at least 3 obvious typos really irked me :(
June 30, 2024
4.5 ⭐️ RTC
June 26, 2024
HIGH SOCIETY by Daniel Kalla
“Nothing in the world could justify me using a therapeutic agent to roofie my own clients. But I did it anyway.”
Just as we can count on certain actors and actresses to be excellent in any role that they play, so too can we count on exceptional authors to always bring their best storytelling to the books that they write.
Daniel Kalla, Canada’s own internationally bestselling author, is that kind of writer, with avid fans knowing that when they see a book with his name on it, they’re guaranteed an excellent read. Not only are Kalla’s books entertaining, as an emergency doctor in a Vancouver hospital the content that he offers up is informative, cutting edge and finger-on-the-pulse topical as to what is going on in today’s society.
The protagonist of “High Society” is Dr. Holly Danvers, who at sixteen years of age, survives a car accident in which her father is killed. It is an event that Holly feels subliminally guilty for having caused. Two decades later, after engaging in ayahuasca treatments in Peru, a psychedelic therapy famously held in the Peruvian jungles, Holly has become a successful psychiatrist who believes in using psychedelics as a core treatment to help patients kick their various addictions, including Xanax, alcohol and sex.
The group that Holly assembles for her experimental trials – a mix of ketamine and MDMA – is a who’s who of accomplishment, weirdness, and fame. It is a gathering of well-heeled people whose “society masks” hide the true essence of who they are behind closed doors, bascially they are nowhere near who they purport to be. While different in so many ways —several of the characters are real “doozies,”—their life struggles and search to be their ‘best selves’ bind them together in a “tribe-like” mentality as they gather together on a weekly basis for experimental rounds of ketamine and MDMA.
One character in particular, Simon, an aging rock star, is so authentically true to rock star perceptions that I found myself thinking of him, even shaking my head, relative to his powerlessness over his peccadillos, days and days after I finished Kalla’s book.
And so, with the mix of these kinds of egos, and the cocktail of Dr. Danver’s drugs, what could possibly go wrong?
Seriously.
Shall we begin with the good doctor’s overriding ambition to further the cause of her grandfather’s advocacy for the usage of psychedelics to treat patients?
Or how about the already vulnerable “tribe’s” dependence of any and all substances that make them feel good? And/or the jealousies that abound when an epic group of strong characters are strapped in chairs with IV’s in their arms, high-tripping together?
Come to think of it, does Holly’s husband emeritus, Dr. Laing, who is still quite madly in love with his wife, have anything to do with getting rid of some of the “tribe’s” more inconvenient and troublesome members?
I have read a plethora of mysteries and psychological thrillers and take great pride in assessing the different people who could have possibly done what to whom, and how it all eventually plays out.
Which is exactly what I started to do when the first member of the “tribe” goes missing – and is, in fact, found quite dead.
And then there were six.
And then there were five.
And then…
Kalla’s ongoing bookish themes on topics that dominate current headlines – ketamine is attributed as being the main cause of “Friends” star, Matthew Perry’s recent death – offers up an intriguing fast-paced mix of what we didn’t know, what we should know, and what are deliciously hidden Easter eggs of “who done it,” until the last chapters are read.
Kalla writes in such a way that I wouldn’t mind making a visit to his ER so he could read me one of his engaging thriller mysteries.
Now that, folks, I would consider to be the best medicine of all.
@simonschusterca @danielkallawrites #HighSociety #fiction #mystery #emergencyroom #MatthewPerry #Friends
Cece is the feature cover writer for several prestigious publications both in print and online, and is an informed, connected and enthusiastic book blogger at cecescott.com. Her first book, The Love Story, was published in 2019, and was named one of “8 Books That Will Change Your Life,” by City Life Magazine.
Her books, “Nunzio Tumino: A Pocketful of Dreams: An Immigrant’s Journey,” and “Helping People One Hand At A Time” are all available on amazon.ca.
Cece is also working on a book of Daily Pick-Me-Ups for AutoImmune and other Life Warriors, called:
“My Body Parts Are On Recall But I’ve Still Got Gas in my Tank.”
“Nothing in the world could justify me using a therapeutic agent to roofie my own clients. But I did it anyway.”
Just as we can count on certain actors and actresses to be excellent in any role that they play, so too can we count on exceptional authors to always bring their best storytelling to the books that they write.
Daniel Kalla, Canada’s own internationally bestselling author, is that kind of writer, with avid fans knowing that when they see a book with his name on it, they’re guaranteed an excellent read. Not only are Kalla’s books entertaining, as an emergency doctor in a Vancouver hospital the content that he offers up is informative, cutting edge and finger-on-the-pulse topical as to what is going on in today’s society.
The protagonist of “High Society” is Dr. Holly Danvers, who at sixteen years of age, survives a car accident in which her father is killed. It is an event that Holly feels subliminally guilty for having caused. Two decades later, after engaging in ayahuasca treatments in Peru, a psychedelic therapy famously held in the Peruvian jungles, Holly has become a successful psychiatrist who believes in using psychedelics as a core treatment to help patients kick their various addictions, including Xanax, alcohol and sex.
The group that Holly assembles for her experimental trials – a mix of ketamine and MDMA – is a who’s who of accomplishment, weirdness, and fame. It is a gathering of well-heeled people whose “society masks” hide the true essence of who they are behind closed doors, bascially they are nowhere near who they purport to be. While different in so many ways —several of the characters are real “doozies,”—their life struggles and search to be their ‘best selves’ bind them together in a “tribe-like” mentality as they gather together on a weekly basis for experimental rounds of ketamine and MDMA.
One character in particular, Simon, an aging rock star, is so authentically true to rock star perceptions that I found myself thinking of him, even shaking my head, relative to his powerlessness over his peccadillos, days and days after I finished Kalla’s book.
And so, with the mix of these kinds of egos, and the cocktail of Dr. Danver’s drugs, what could possibly go wrong?
Seriously.
Shall we begin with the good doctor’s overriding ambition to further the cause of her grandfather’s advocacy for the usage of psychedelics to treat patients?
Or how about the already vulnerable “tribe’s” dependence of any and all substances that make them feel good? And/or the jealousies that abound when an epic group of strong characters are strapped in chairs with IV’s in their arms, high-tripping together?
Come to think of it, does Holly’s husband emeritus, Dr. Laing, who is still quite madly in love with his wife, have anything to do with getting rid of some of the “tribe’s” more inconvenient and troublesome members?
I have read a plethora of mysteries and psychological thrillers and take great pride in assessing the different people who could have possibly done what to whom, and how it all eventually plays out.
Which is exactly what I started to do when the first member of the “tribe” goes missing – and is, in fact, found quite dead.
And then there were six.
And then there were five.
And then…
Kalla’s ongoing bookish themes on topics that dominate current headlines – ketamine is attributed as being the main cause of “Friends” star, Matthew Perry’s recent death – offers up an intriguing fast-paced mix of what we didn’t know, what we should know, and what are deliciously hidden Easter eggs of “who done it,” until the last chapters are read.
Kalla writes in such a way that I wouldn’t mind making a visit to his ER so he could read me one of his engaging thriller mysteries.
Now that, folks, I would consider to be the best medicine of all.
@simonschusterca @danielkallawrites #HighSociety #fiction #mystery #emergencyroom #MatthewPerry #Friends
Cece is the feature cover writer for several prestigious publications both in print and online, and is an informed, connected and enthusiastic book blogger at cecescott.com. Her first book, The Love Story, was published in 2019, and was named one of “8 Books That Will Change Your Life,” by City Life Magazine.
Her books, “Nunzio Tumino: A Pocketful of Dreams: An Immigrant’s Journey,” and “Helping People One Hand At A Time” are all available on amazon.ca.
Cece is also working on a book of Daily Pick-Me-Ups for AutoImmune and other Life Warriors, called:
“My Body Parts Are On Recall But I’ve Still Got Gas in my Tank.”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews