What do you think?
Rate this book
Family Doctor
I have three days to kill a patient. If I fail, my daughter will die…
As the only doctor on a stunning remote Scottish island, I finally feel safe and happy. Here, nobody knows about my troubled past except my teenage daughter Lauren. I'm a single mother, so it’s just the two of us now, and Lauren is my world.
Caring for every person on the island, from birth to death, I know all their fears and secrets. But they don’t know mine, and for the sake of my daughter, I must keep it that way…
Everything is going perfectly until I am sent a link to a live video stream of my beautiful daughter Lauren, her wide blue eyes terrified. And there’s a
‘Three rules. Three days.
You must murder one of your patients.
You must not tell another soul.
You must not get caught.
If you fail, your daughter dies…’
A jaw-dropping psychological thriller from multi-million copy bestseller J M Dalgliesh. This utterly addictive, pulse-pounding read is packed with twists you’ll never forget.
As the only doctor on a stunning remote Scottish island, I finally feel safe and happy. Here, nobody knows about my troubled past except my teenage daughter Lauren. I'm a single mother, so it’s just the two of us now, and Lauren is my world.
Caring for every person on the island, from birth to death, I know all their fears and secrets. But they don’t know mine, and for the sake of my daughter, I must keep it that way…
Everything is going perfectly until I am sent a link to a live video stream of my beautiful daughter Lauren, her wide blue eyes terrified. And there’s a
‘Three rules. Three days.
You must murder one of your patients.
You must not tell another soul.
You must not get caught.
If you fail, your daughter dies…’
A jaw-dropping psychological thriller from multi-million copy bestseller J M Dalgliesh. This utterly addictive, pulse-pounding read is packed with twists you’ll never forget.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 2, 2025
1471 people are currently reading
1054 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Dalgliesh
38 books927 followersJason Dalgliesh was born on the south coast of England and grew up in Hampshire, UK. He has worked in the power transmission industry, the retail sector, call centres and as a night-owl in a bakery. His greatest challenge of all is ongoing, as a stay at home parent.
He is presently writing the Dark Yorkshire crime-series, featuring DI Nathaniel Caslin.
The novels are set in Yorkshire, England. The medieval City of York is Caslin's home town and the plot lines take in some of the UK's most rugged and beautiful landscapes, from the windswept North Sea coastline and across the stunning North York Moors.
Penned in the style of the Crime Noir genre, Caslin is a deep character, as flawed as he is brilliant, battling his own demons as much as those he is pitted against. Readers who enjoy gritty, atmospheric thrillers will find the series a must read.
Having spent time abroad, Jason has lived and worked in various parts of England as well as the Scottish Highlands. He currently resides in the East Riding, with his wife and two young children.
You can reach him via his website at www.jmdalgliesh.com
You can also follow him on social media;
facebook.com/jmdalglieshauthor
twitter.com/darkyorkshire
He is presently writing the Dark Yorkshire crime-series, featuring DI Nathaniel Caslin.
The novels are set in Yorkshire, England. The medieval City of York is Caslin's home town and the plot lines take in some of the UK's most rugged and beautiful landscapes, from the windswept North Sea coastline and across the stunning North York Moors.
Penned in the style of the Crime Noir genre, Caslin is a deep character, as flawed as he is brilliant, battling his own demons as much as those he is pitted against. Readers who enjoy gritty, atmospheric thrillers will find the series a must read.
Having spent time abroad, Jason has lived and worked in various parts of England as well as the Scottish Highlands. He currently resides in the East Riding, with his wife and two young children.
You can reach him via his website at www.jmdalgliesh.com
You can also follow him on social media;
facebook.com/jmdalglieshauthor
twitter.com/darkyorkshire
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews
January 2, 2025
Gripping, shocking, pulse pounding and hard to put down! J.M. Dalgliesh had me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages in this fast-paced gripping book! Rules, rules, you must obey the rules! Kelly is the only doctor on a remote Scottish island. When her daughter, Lauren is kidnapped, she is given a set of rules that she must follow to get her daughter back! Whew!
Three Days....
Talk about pressure! Three days is all Lauren must do as the kidnapper asks. They will be the longest three days of her life! Readers, like Kelly, know her daughter has been taken and what Kelly must do to get her back, but what no one knows is who has taken Lauren and why? Readers are left scrambling along with Kelly as she struggles with still doing her job, doing her best to find her daughter, and coping with blasts from the past.
Whew! The pacing is perfection as there is never a dull moment in this book. This book has drama, tension, suspense, and a riveting mystery! I felt for many of the characters and had my heart rate increase a few times as Kelly got closer to the truth!
The setting was great and provided a nice amount of atmosphere. I love the dread which flowed throughout this book. The myriads of emotions that Kelly was feeling felt very real and leapt off the pages! There were a nice number of twists and turns in addition to a shocking reveal at the end!
This is the second book that I have read by J.M. Dalgliesh, and I can't wait to read what he writes next!
Gripping, tense, dramatic, and suspenseful!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Three Days....
Talk about pressure! Three days is all Lauren must do as the kidnapper asks. They will be the longest three days of her life! Readers, like Kelly, know her daughter has been taken and what Kelly must do to get her back, but what no one knows is who has taken Lauren and why? Readers are left scrambling along with Kelly as she struggles with still doing her job, doing her best to find her daughter, and coping with blasts from the past.
Whew! The pacing is perfection as there is never a dull moment in this book. This book has drama, tension, suspense, and a riveting mystery! I felt for many of the characters and had my heart rate increase a few times as Kelly got closer to the truth!
The setting was great and provided a nice amount of atmosphere. I love the dread which flowed throughout this book. The myriads of emotions that Kelly was feeling felt very real and leapt off the pages! There were a nice number of twists and turns in addition to a shocking reveal at the end!
This is the second book that I have read by J.M. Dalgliesh, and I can't wait to read what he writes next!
Gripping, tense, dramatic, and suspenseful!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
January 11, 2025
3.5⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ Scotland
Publication date ~ January 2, 2025
Publisher ~ Bookouture
Est Page Count ~ 311 (p+ 42 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 47 minutes
Narrator ~ Eilidh Beaton
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ missing daughter, dual timeline, secrets from the past, infidelity
Kelly gets a message that her daughter, Lauren, has been kidnapped. In order to get her back safely she’ll need to kill one of her patients. Can she take someone’s life in order to save another?
Who has Lauren? What is Kelly hiding from the past? Are they connected? There are plenty of suspects from the present and the past to go around. The infidelity was gross, I mean it usually is, but this one was extra gross.
Overall, at times slow moving for me, but engaging nonetheless. I didn’t not see the culprit or the twists coming, so whoop whoop for that.
Narration notes:
She did fine, and sounded like how I would think a mother in this situation should sound. Her voices for men, oof. She would slow down her tone, which made them sound odd to me. Didn’t hate it per se, but I think I might slightly like it better in book form.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Setting ~ Scotland
Publication date ~ January 2, 2025
Publisher ~ Bookouture
Est Page Count ~ 311 (p+ 42 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 47 minutes
Narrator ~ Eilidh Beaton
POV ~ single 1st
Featuring ~ missing daughter, dual timeline, secrets from the past, infidelity
Kelly gets a message that her daughter, Lauren, has been kidnapped. In order to get her back safely she’ll need to kill one of her patients. Can she take someone’s life in order to save another?
Who has Lauren? What is Kelly hiding from the past? Are they connected? There are plenty of suspects from the present and the past to go around. The infidelity was gross, I mean it usually is, but this one was extra gross.
Overall, at times slow moving for me, but engaging nonetheless. I didn’t not see the culprit or the twists coming, so whoop whoop for that.
Narration notes:
She did fine, and sounded like how I would think a mother in this situation should sound. Her voices for men, oof. She would slow down her tone, which made them sound odd to me. Didn’t hate it per se, but I think I might slightly like it better in book form.
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ X
December 31, 2024
I wish this had been more fast paced
In the Family Doctor we have Kelly who is a doctor on a small Scottish Island and one day she gets a call from a stranger who informs her that he has kidnapped her daughter Lauren and she has 72 hours to kill one of her patients or he will end Lauren’s life. Will Kelly be able to do it?
The premise of the book started off so strong and I was completely locked in with Kelly's life and backstory, but along the way it started to drag out and I found myself aimlessly reading. It is definitely a slow burn but for the kind of plot this is, had It been speedier and action based it would have held more attention more strongly.
The perpetrator was a pleasant surprise and the additional twist at the end I admit I did see coming but I don’t want to ruin it with how.
The book was atmospheric and had some good likeable and unlikeable characters. I just wished the pacing had me been faster.
Will continue to scope out more of this authors work.
3.5 ⭐
Thank you to Bookouture and the author for sending me a gifted copy of this book.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!🎉🎉🎉
I think this will be my last book of 2024
And the blurb is sounding sooooo good!
Fingers crossed we end the year with a banger!!! 💜🤍💜
Thank you to Bookouture and the author for sending me a gifted copy of this book.
In the Family Doctor we have Kelly who is a doctor on a small Scottish Island and one day she gets a call from a stranger who informs her that he has kidnapped her daughter Lauren and she has 72 hours to kill one of her patients or he will end Lauren’s life. Will Kelly be able to do it?
The premise of the book started off so strong and I was completely locked in with Kelly's life and backstory, but along the way it started to drag out and I found myself aimlessly reading. It is definitely a slow burn but for the kind of plot this is, had It been speedier and action based it would have held more attention more strongly.
The perpetrator was a pleasant surprise and the additional twist at the end I admit I did see coming but I don’t want to ruin it with how.
The book was atmospheric and had some good likeable and unlikeable characters. I just wished the pacing had me been faster.
Will continue to scope out more of this authors work.
3.5 ⭐
Thank you to Bookouture and the author for sending me a gifted copy of this book.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pre read
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!🎉🎉🎉
I think this will be my last book of 2024
And the blurb is sounding sooooo good!
Fingers crossed we end the year with a banger!!! 💜🤍💜
Thank you to Bookouture and the author for sending me a gifted copy of this book.
December 20, 2024
3.5🌟
Kelly and teenage daughter Lauren have moved to a small Scottish island. A place where you can disappear. And old secrets can stay buried. A chance to start anew.
When Lauren suddenly goes missing, the ransom or should I say... demands aren't something Kelly is capable of paying. She’ll need to find another way to rescue her daughter.
This storyline took a while for me to warm up to. Our MC Kelly was a bit abrasive, hampering my ability to feel connected with her.
BUT…there are some great twists in in this book. A few I had figured out early, but the final one rocked me! Well Played!🙌🏼 Rounded up my rating for that ending!
This was my first read by this very popular author and I’ll be watching for more of his books in the future.
Thank you to Bookouture via NetGalley
Kelly and teenage daughter Lauren have moved to a small Scottish island. A place where you can disappear. And old secrets can stay buried. A chance to start anew.
When Lauren suddenly goes missing, the ransom or should I say... demands aren't something Kelly is capable of paying. She’ll need to find another way to rescue her daughter.
This storyline took a while for me to warm up to. Our MC Kelly was a bit abrasive, hampering my ability to feel connected with her.
BUT…there are some great twists in in this book. A few I had figured out early, but the final one rocked me! Well Played!🙌🏼 Rounded up my rating for that ending!
This was my first read by this very popular author and I’ll be watching for more of his books in the future.
Thank you to Bookouture via NetGalley
January 2, 2025
I do love a good fast paced thriller. And Family Doctor fit the bill perfectly. It was dark and addictive with plenty of twists and dodgy characters. I loved the isolated setting of a remote island off the coast of Scotland, where our main protagonist is the only doctor.
Doctor Kelly and her daughter moved to this island after a tragedy and things seem to be going well. That is until she gets a call that somebody has her daughter and she must follow all the kidnappers instructions if she wants her back alive. But can she do what they ask? Who has her and why? Is this revenge or something else.
Thank to Bookouture for my early copy of this book to read. Publishes on January 2nd.
Doctor Kelly and her daughter moved to this island after a tragedy and things seem to be going well. That is until she gets a call that somebody has her daughter and she must follow all the kidnappers instructions if she wants her back alive. But can she do what they ask? Who has her and why? Is this revenge or something else.
Thank to Bookouture for my early copy of this book to read. Publishes on January 2nd.
January 2, 2025
"I’ll readily send him back to you piece by piece, finger by finger… I will happily take him apart one bit at a time, every hour until I have my daughter home safely. Do you understand me?’"
💣Pay attention, Kelly. You must do exactly as I say. There are three rules.
Rule One. You have seventy-two hours – three days – to murder one of your patients.
Rule Two. You must not tell another soul.
Rule Three. You must not be caught.
If you break these simple rules, your daughter will die.
A game of cat and mouse. What did Kelly do to be facing such a dilemma? Did she really let someone die out of spite? Who abducted her daughter for revenge? Is she going to kill an innocent person to appease a psychopath? How would she know, whoever it is, would keep their word?
This thriller novel only has one POV and dual timeline. I did not guess both the mystery person and the accomplice. Tension-filled and rooting for Kelly not to make a stupid decision. I felt kinda bad for the other suspect but it was a blessing in disguise he wasn't killed in the end.
My thanks to Bookouture for providing an early copy. I received an arc for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.🖤
Happy publication day! Jan. 2, 2025
💣Pay attention, Kelly. You must do exactly as I say. There are three rules.
Rule One. You have seventy-two hours – three days – to murder one of your patients.
Rule Two. You must not tell another soul.
Rule Three. You must not be caught.
If you break these simple rules, your daughter will die.
A game of cat and mouse. What did Kelly do to be facing such a dilemma? Did she really let someone die out of spite? Who abducted her daughter for revenge? Is she going to kill an innocent person to appease a psychopath? How would she know, whoever it is, would keep their word?
This thriller novel only has one POV and dual timeline. I did not guess both the mystery person and the accomplice. Tension-filled and rooting for Kelly not to make a stupid decision. I felt kinda bad for the other suspect but it was a blessing in disguise he wasn't killed in the end.
My thanks to Bookouture for providing an early copy. I received an arc for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.🖤
Happy publication day! Jan. 2, 2025
January 27, 2025
1.5
Not for me at all.
I listened to the audio version, which was narrated by Eilidh Beaton. The actual recording was fine as Ms Beaton has a clear voice and didn't try too many voices. It's a problem for all women to do male voices - they always sound like they're talking down their nose. That aside there was a certain amount of pausing and sobbing which I felt unnecessary but on reading other reviews I see that the "stuttering" language was spoken in the text (w..w..what, d..d..don't - you get the idea).
The storyline is quite ridiculous. Dr Kelly (I can't remember her full name) has gone back to being a GP on the Isle of Jura after being suspended for not being able to save the lives of two girls during a pool party held at her home. (I'm still not clear on why no one else could perform chest compressions on the second girl). This has caused the break up of her marriage and her daughter to become somewhat distant - I'm not clear on why. The reason for the marriage breakup is part of the plot.
The action begins one day when the daughter, Lauren, is abducted whilst on her way to the mainland. There then follows a demand by the kidnapper that his rules are followed - no police, noone else to be involved and she has to murder one of her patients in the following 72 hours - or her daughter will die.
What follows is the most ridiculous farce imaginable with Dr Kelly being given clues at every turn as to who the abductor is but completely ignoring them. (SPOILER: At one point she even ties up a completely innocent person and threatens them with death - without having a shred of evidence that they are involved).
And the conclusion is completely insane. I'm quite useless when it comes to practical things but even I know diesel doesn't behave the same way as petrol. Not only are the final panic-stricken scenes utterly ludicrous but if I had to hear "M..m...m...mum" followed by "B...b...b...baby" one more time I'd have lost the few marbles I had left.
I spent a lot of time talking to this book. It didn't make any difference. It still wasn't my thing at all. But don't take my word for it. I'm in the minority. Everyone else seems to have loved it. So it's probably just me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the audio advance review copy.
Not for me at all.
I listened to the audio version, which was narrated by Eilidh Beaton. The actual recording was fine as Ms Beaton has a clear voice and didn't try too many voices. It's a problem for all women to do male voices - they always sound like they're talking down their nose. That aside there was a certain amount of pausing and sobbing which I felt unnecessary but on reading other reviews I see that the "stuttering" language was spoken in the text (w..w..what, d..d..don't - you get the idea).
The storyline is quite ridiculous. Dr Kelly (I can't remember her full name) has gone back to being a GP on the Isle of Jura after being suspended for not being able to save the lives of two girls during a pool party held at her home. (I'm still not clear on why no one else could perform chest compressions on the second girl). This has caused the break up of her marriage and her daughter to become somewhat distant - I'm not clear on why. The reason for the marriage breakup is part of the plot.
The action begins one day when the daughter, Lauren, is abducted whilst on her way to the mainland. There then follows a demand by the kidnapper that his rules are followed - no police, noone else to be involved and she has to murder one of her patients in the following 72 hours - or her daughter will die.
What follows is the most ridiculous farce imaginable with Dr Kelly being given clues at every turn as to who the abductor is but completely ignoring them. (SPOILER: At one point she even ties up a completely innocent person and threatens them with death - without having a shred of evidence that they are involved).
And the conclusion is completely insane. I'm quite useless when it comes to practical things but even I know diesel doesn't behave the same way as petrol. Not only are the final panic-stricken scenes utterly ludicrous but if I had to hear "M..m...m...mum" followed by "B...b...b...baby" one more time I'd have lost the few marbles I had left.
I spent a lot of time talking to this book. It didn't make any difference. It still wasn't my thing at all. But don't take my word for it. I'm in the minority. Everyone else seems to have loved it. So it's probably just me.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the audio advance review copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2025
I saw a chance to check out a new(to me) author from a publisher I really like so I was excited. This author's work is not for me.
This takes place on a Scottish island which is interesting because my last audiobook did also. I didn't fancy it much either. Maybe this is not my atmosphere.
Dr. Kelly is the only doctor on this island. She's moved there to get away from a family-related tragedy/scandal with her equally annoying and unlikable teen daughter, Lauren.
One good thing was the book jumped right into it. Lauren disappears and her mother receives a call saying they have her daughter and that she must kill a patient and get away with it to get her daughter back. It sounds more exciting than it is.
Most of the book is Dr. Kelly rambling to herself. She's pretentious and judgmental. She has "not like the other girls" energy. She and Lauren are BEAUTIFUL but any other woman who cares about her appearance is a cheap tramp. I don't need a likable character but I need to be able to understand them somewhat and nothing she did made any sense to me.
We switched timelines from the present to the past when the scandal in question took place but I kept thinking I missed something and went back looking for it. I didn't miss it, it was just not structured in a way that I enjoyed. I like to find out juicy tidbits but it would tell you something 2 chapters before it explained it and even then it was confusing. In both timelines Dr. Kelly is a snob.
The narrator did a great job with what she was working with. Sometimes Scottish or Irish accents can be difficult for me as an American in audio form but it was great.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
This takes place on a Scottish island which is interesting because my last audiobook did also. I didn't fancy it much either. Maybe this is not my atmosphere.
Dr. Kelly is the only doctor on this island. She's moved there to get away from a family-related tragedy/scandal with her equally annoying and unlikable teen daughter, Lauren.
One good thing was the book jumped right into it. Lauren disappears and her mother receives a call saying they have her daughter and that she must kill a patient and get away with it to get her daughter back. It sounds more exciting than it is.
Most of the book is Dr. Kelly rambling to herself. She's pretentious and judgmental. She has "not like the other girls" energy. She and Lauren are BEAUTIFUL but any other woman who cares about her appearance is a cheap tramp. I don't need a likable character but I need to be able to understand them somewhat and nothing she did made any sense to me.
We switched timelines from the present to the past when the scandal in question took place but I kept thinking I missed something and went back looking for it. I didn't miss it, it was just not structured in a way that I enjoyed. I like to find out juicy tidbits but it would tell you something 2 chapters before it explained it and even then it was confusing. In both timelines Dr. Kelly is a snob.
The narrator did a great job with what she was working with. Sometimes Scottish or Irish accents can be difficult for me as an American in audio form but it was great.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2025
Happy publication day 🎉🥳🍾
This is how you write a thriller, edge of the seat stuff!
I DIDN’T FIGURE IT OUT ���😵😵
Set on the Isle of Jura, Dr. Kelly has 3 days to murder a patient to ensure the safe return of her daughter. Can she do it? Who could possibly have taken her daughter and why?
Buckle up and find out.
J. M. Dalgliesh’s writing pairs perfectly with Eilidh Beaton’s voice for the audio narration. Genuinely excellent.
If this isn’t a January best seller, I’ll eat my hat!!
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
Huge thanks to Bookouture Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
This is how you write a thriller, edge of the seat stuff!
I DIDN’T FIGURE IT OUT ���😵😵
Set on the Isle of Jura, Dr. Kelly has 3 days to murder a patient to ensure the safe return of her daughter. Can she do it? Who could possibly have taken her daughter and why?
Buckle up and find out.
J. M. Dalgliesh’s writing pairs perfectly with Eilidh Beaton’s voice for the audio narration. Genuinely excellent.
If this isn’t a January best seller, I’ll eat my hat!!
All the stars 🌟
#Jorecommends
Huge thanks to Bookouture Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
November 21, 2024
So with this book, we know what the deal is by the synopsis. Kelly, a physician and single mom to 19-year-old Lauren, has a quandary on her hands. Lauren was taking a ferry to go to a university interview, but she never texted Kelly that she’d arrived, and she isn’t answering her phone. Then Kelly finally gets a message: a video of her daughter held captive, and a text giving her three rules. She must kill one of her patients within three days without telling anyone else or getting caught, or her daughter will die.
Of course the mystery is why, and who, and what to do. There isn’t much I can get into outside of that synopsis, but Kelly “has a past”, because in the thriller world, they all do. Is this some kind of retaliation? This is like the movie “Taken”, only Kelly does not have a special set of skills, so that’s a problem. Whoever has taken Lauren is watching Kelly’s every move, and she can’t make a mistake. Also, she obviously needs to kill a patient. Should she go for the alcoholic, abusive man? Maybe the woman in her 90s, or the retired church warden? She has several choices, but this is a big decision.
If you haven’t surmised this already, you’ll need to suspend reality for this very dramatic thriller. The plot isn’t very unique, and for some reason all of the characters seemed very lackadaisical about what is happening, almost like this is an everyday problem that needs to be solved. However, this is definitely a page turner with a lot of suspense and action. Can Kelly decide on who to kill? Who is doing this to her? Will she get her daughter back, safe and unharmed? The ending wraps everything up neatly, and while there are only a few ways it could go, I was surprised by who was behind all of this. Overall, this was a fun read. Four stars!
(Thank you to Bookouture, J.M. Dalgliesh and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be published on January 2, 2025.)
Of course the mystery is why, and who, and what to do. There isn’t much I can get into outside of that synopsis, but Kelly “has a past”, because in the thriller world, they all do. Is this some kind of retaliation? This is like the movie “Taken”, only Kelly does not have a special set of skills, so that’s a problem. Whoever has taken Lauren is watching Kelly’s every move, and she can’t make a mistake. Also, she obviously needs to kill a patient. Should she go for the alcoholic, abusive man? Maybe the woman in her 90s, or the retired church warden? She has several choices, but this is a big decision.
If you haven’t surmised this already, you’ll need to suspend reality for this very dramatic thriller. The plot isn’t very unique, and for some reason all of the characters seemed very lackadaisical about what is happening, almost like this is an everyday problem that needs to be solved. However, this is definitely a page turner with a lot of suspense and action. Can Kelly decide on who to kill? Who is doing this to her? Will she get her daughter back, safe and unharmed? The ending wraps everything up neatly, and while there are only a few ways it could go, I was surprised by who was behind all of this. Overall, this was a fun read. Four stars!
(Thank you to Bookouture, J.M. Dalgliesh and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be published on January 2, 2025.)
January 2, 2025
Second stand alone book for me from this author and like fhe first it did not disappoint
We enter the murky world of revenge, revenge against a Dr who chose one life to save over another….but did she? And if she did why did she
Some people ‘think’ they have all the answers and are determined she will pay the ultimate price for her ‘transgressions’
This is equal parts psychological, thriller and family based story set on a Scottish Island that focuses on a steady ‘creeping up on you ‘story rather than a fast wham bam affair, it allows you to get to know the characters and really feel the tension and fear as it builds
The story briefly but succinctly deals with alcoholism and the effects this illness can have on anyone and their daily life
A good involving read
We enter the murky world of revenge, revenge against a Dr who chose one life to save over another….but did she? And if she did why did she
Some people ‘think’ they have all the answers and are determined she will pay the ultimate price for her ‘transgressions’
This is equal parts psychological, thriller and family based story set on a Scottish Island that focuses on a steady ‘creeping up on you ‘story rather than a fast wham bam affair, it allows you to get to know the characters and really feel the tension and fear as it builds
The story briefly but succinctly deals with alcoholism and the effects this illness can have on anyone and their daily life
A good involving read
September 11, 2025
3.5⭐
"Šiaip ar taip, žiūrėdami į mane, visi mato rūpestingą vienišą mamą ir darbui atsidavusią šeimos gydytoją, nuo gimimo iki paskutinio atodūsio atsidavusią savo pacientams.
Jie neturi jokio suvokimo, kuo buvau visų kaltinama, prieš čia atsikraustydama.
Per tris dienas turiu nužudyti pacientą. Jei to nepadarysiu - mirs mano dukra.
- Norėjau priversti tave suvokti, kas esi iš tikrųjų - žudikė. Žmogus, manantis, kad gali nuspręsti, kas nusipelno gyventi, o kam geriau mirti...".
Trileris iš pradžių intrigavo, vėliau kažkiek nuobodu pasidarė,nes išsitęsė istorija su pagrobta dukra, ir tik ant pabaigos sugrįžo įdomumas, kai išaiškėjo tiesa. Man pritrūko to teksto prikaustymo ir įtampos.
"Šiaip ar taip, žiūrėdami į mane, visi mato rūpestingą vienišą mamą ir darbui atsidavusią šeimos gydytoją, nuo gimimo iki paskutinio atodūsio atsidavusią savo pacientams.
Jie neturi jokio suvokimo, kuo buvau visų kaltinama, prieš čia atsikraustydama.
Per tris dienas turiu nužudyti pacientą. Jei to nepadarysiu - mirs mano dukra.
- Norėjau priversti tave suvokti, kas esi iš tikrųjų - žudikė. Žmogus, manantis, kad gali nuspręsti, kas nusipelno gyventi, o kam geriau mirti...".
Trileris iš pradžių intrigavo, vėliau kažkiek nuobodu pasidarė,nes išsitęsė istorija su pagrobta dukra, ir tik ant pabaigos sugrįžo įdomumas, kai išaiškėjo tiesa. Man pritrūko to teksto prikaustymo ir įtampos.
August 14, 2025
Emma eindelijk rust gevonden als enige huisarts op het afgelegen Schotse eiland Jura. Hier kent niemand haar bewogen verleden, behalve haar dochter Lauren. Ze zijn met z'n tweeën, en Lauren is haar alles. Maar dan ontvangt Emma een schokkende video: Lauren is gegijzeld.
Vanaf haar telefoon staren de grote, angstige ogen van haar dochter haar aan. Een dreigende boodschap volgt, met daarin drie regels: 1. Vermoord één van je patiënten. 2. Vertel niemand iets. 3. Laat je niet betrappen. Houdt ze zich niet aan de regels, dan sterft haar dochter.
Emma kent iedereen op het eiland. Ze kent hun geheimen, hun angsten. Maar kan ze een van hen doden om haar dochter te redden? Of is er een andere uitweg... voor het te laat is
Dit verhaal lees je vanuit hoofdpersonage Kelly. Ze is huisarts en heeft een dochter, Lauren. Al vrij snel in het verhaal lees je over de ontvoering en de opdracht die Kelly krijgt om haar dochter terug te krijgen.
Vanaf dat moment voel je de onmacht die Kelly plotseling heeft. Ze moet namelijk iemand vermoorden, maar waarom? En wie dan? En krijgt ze dan daadwerkelijk haar dochter terug?
Aangezien Kelly huisarts is, heeft ze dus veel verschillende patiënten en ik vroeg mij dan ook af of het bericht van één van hen afkomstig zou zijn, of misschien toch een buitenstaander? Daardoor werd de zoektocht naar de dader wel heel erg interessant. Daarbij wilde ik natuurlijk ook het motief weten.
Een heleboel personages komen voorbij en hierdoor bleef het verhaal interessant. De schrijfstijl van deze auteur is heel vlot. Het boek is niet al te dik (lees: 286 pagina's), dus ik vloog dan ook behoorlijk snel door het verhaal.
'Help me' is een prima thriller met de nodige plottwists en ik heb mij hier dan ook prima mee vermaakt.
Natuurlijk wil ik @xanderuitgevers weer heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
Vanaf haar telefoon staren de grote, angstige ogen van haar dochter haar aan. Een dreigende boodschap volgt, met daarin drie regels: 1. Vermoord één van je patiënten. 2. Vertel niemand iets. 3. Laat je niet betrappen. Houdt ze zich niet aan de regels, dan sterft haar dochter.
Emma kent iedereen op het eiland. Ze kent hun geheimen, hun angsten. Maar kan ze een van hen doden om haar dochter te redden? Of is er een andere uitweg... voor het te laat is
Dit verhaal lees je vanuit hoofdpersonage Kelly. Ze is huisarts en heeft een dochter, Lauren. Al vrij snel in het verhaal lees je over de ontvoering en de opdracht die Kelly krijgt om haar dochter terug te krijgen.
Vanaf dat moment voel je de onmacht die Kelly plotseling heeft. Ze moet namelijk iemand vermoorden, maar waarom? En wie dan? En krijgt ze dan daadwerkelijk haar dochter terug?
Aangezien Kelly huisarts is, heeft ze dus veel verschillende patiënten en ik vroeg mij dan ook af of het bericht van één van hen afkomstig zou zijn, of misschien toch een buitenstaander? Daardoor werd de zoektocht naar de dader wel heel erg interessant. Daarbij wilde ik natuurlijk ook het motief weten.
Een heleboel personages komen voorbij en hierdoor bleef het verhaal interessant. De schrijfstijl van deze auteur is heel vlot. Het boek is niet al te dik (lees: 286 pagina's), dus ik vloog dan ook behoorlijk snel door het verhaal.
'Help me' is een prima thriller met de nodige plottwists en ik heb mij hier dan ook prima mee vermaakt.
Natuurlijk wil ik @xanderuitgevers weer heel erg bedanken voor het recensie-exemplaar!
Beoordeling: 3,5 ⭐️
January 7, 2025
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Family Doctor' by J M Dalgliesh
This is the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely won't be my last!!!
An absolutely epic read from the very talented J M Dalgliesh!!! Absolutely rammed full of twists, tension and turns!! Congratulations Dalgliesh on a fantastic and gripping page turner!!
This is an extremely well written book with vivid descriptions that will suck you straight into the storyline and captivated from beginning to end. The synopsis and cover worked perfectly with the storyline.
I had never read a book by Dalgliesh before this one but I am definitely hooked after and have already added all his books to my wish list. I was absolutely hooked throughout, a true page turner from beginning to end. Dalgliesh is one of those amazing authors who manages to write an epic book that when you are reading it you promise yourself one more chapter and then you'll go to sleep or get on with other work but each time he ends his chapters in a way that has you hooked so you have to read just one more, but then another and before you know it you have walked around all day with the book glued to your hands and have devoured it in one sitting!!! In this gripping page turner Dalgliesh transports the reader to the remote Island of Jura where we meet Doctor Kelly Murray. Kelly and her daughter Lorraine moved to Jura from Edinburgh after something that happened 2 years ago forced them to relocate. Kelly is the only Doctor on the Island and the community relies on her to keep them safe. However when Kelly receives a message stating that this person has kidnapped her daughter Lauren and that unless she does what they say they will kill her. They give her three rules to abide by which are Kelly has 72 hours (3 days) to murder one of her patients, she must not tell another soul and she must not be caught. Is this connected to what happened in her past? Can Kelly take another life to save her daughter's? Well, to find out you will just have to grab this book and I can promise that you will not regret it!! With a storyline ram packed with secrets, family, twists, threats, suspense, drama, lies and more what are you waiting for? Dalgliesh's fantastic and vivid writing skills and descriptions and Eilidh's emotive narrative skills really brings the Island of Jura, the characters, the emotions and the action to life throughout ensuring you can see, feel and hear everything that Kelly and the rest of the characters are seeing, feeling and hearing. I absolutely loved the twists which I didn't see coming at all so a huge well-done to Dalgliesh for that. I have read hundreds of crime and thriller books so it is getting harder and harder to surprise me but you managed it. The storyline was compelling and I was completely invested in it and the characters throughout. I loved the setting which was perfect in creating the isolated and tension packed atmosphere. I read this book in less than 24 hours and I'm looking forward to reading more books by this fantastic author. Dalgliesh does a brilliant job of weaving the multiple timelines together ensuring the reader gets a bigger picture of what is and did happen without giving away too much too soon. I hope your busy typing your next book up Dalgliesh as I cannot wait and until then I am off to get stuck into the rest of the books that you have written!!! This book would make an absolutely amazing and box selling movie that I would be first in line to see!!!
This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Eilidh Beaton who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Eilidh did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices as well as accents!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by J M Dalgliesh but also to listening to more books narrated by Eilidh! I have previously listened to 'My Perfect Marriage' by AJ. Campbell which is also narrated by Eilidh and which I would also highly recommend.
I loved meeting all the characters who were all strong, well defined and unique. I become completely invested in Kelly along with all of the other characters. Dalgliesh's absolutely fantastic evocative writing skills and descriptions along with Eilidh's brilliant narrative made it feel like you were standing right next to Kelly throughout feeling everything that she is feeling and going through everything she is right along with her. Each of the characters had their own different quirks and personalities and although I wasn't a fan of them they will definitely stay with me for a long time as will this storyline!
An absolutely addictive, compelling and gripping true page turner!!!
Overall a unique captivating page turner that is compelling, chilling and addictive by an extremely talented author!!!
#FamilyDoctor #JMDalgliesh #EilidhBeaton #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous #HachetteUK
@JMDalgliesh @EilidhBeaton @Bookouture @BookoutureAnonymous @HachetteUK
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...
https://mobile.twitter.com/kcmw86
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/a...
Review for 'Family Doctor' by J M Dalgliesh
This is the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely won't be my last!!!
An absolutely epic read from the very talented J M Dalgliesh!!! Absolutely rammed full of twists, tension and turns!! Congratulations Dalgliesh on a fantastic and gripping page turner!!
This is an extremely well written book with vivid descriptions that will suck you straight into the storyline and captivated from beginning to end. The synopsis and cover worked perfectly with the storyline.
I had never read a book by Dalgliesh before this one but I am definitely hooked after and have already added all his books to my wish list. I was absolutely hooked throughout, a true page turner from beginning to end. Dalgliesh is one of those amazing authors who manages to write an epic book that when you are reading it you promise yourself one more chapter and then you'll go to sleep or get on with other work but each time he ends his chapters in a way that has you hooked so you have to read just one more, but then another and before you know it you have walked around all day with the book glued to your hands and have devoured it in one sitting!!! In this gripping page turner Dalgliesh transports the reader to the remote Island of Jura where we meet Doctor Kelly Murray. Kelly and her daughter Lorraine moved to Jura from Edinburgh after something that happened 2 years ago forced them to relocate. Kelly is the only Doctor on the Island and the community relies on her to keep them safe. However when Kelly receives a message stating that this person has kidnapped her daughter Lauren and that unless she does what they say they will kill her. They give her three rules to abide by which are Kelly has 72 hours (3 days) to murder one of her patients, she must not tell another soul and she must not be caught. Is this connected to what happened in her past? Can Kelly take another life to save her daughter's? Well, to find out you will just have to grab this book and I can promise that you will not regret it!! With a storyline ram packed with secrets, family, twists, threats, suspense, drama, lies and more what are you waiting for? Dalgliesh's fantastic and vivid writing skills and descriptions and Eilidh's emotive narrative skills really brings the Island of Jura, the characters, the emotions and the action to life throughout ensuring you can see, feel and hear everything that Kelly and the rest of the characters are seeing, feeling and hearing. I absolutely loved the twists which I didn't see coming at all so a huge well-done to Dalgliesh for that. I have read hundreds of crime and thriller books so it is getting harder and harder to surprise me but you managed it. The storyline was compelling and I was completely invested in it and the characters throughout. I loved the setting which was perfect in creating the isolated and tension packed atmosphere. I read this book in less than 24 hours and I'm looking forward to reading more books by this fantastic author. Dalgliesh does a brilliant job of weaving the multiple timelines together ensuring the reader gets a bigger picture of what is and did happen without giving away too much too soon. I hope your busy typing your next book up Dalgliesh as I cannot wait and until then I am off to get stuck into the rest of the books that you have written!!! This book would make an absolutely amazing and box selling movie that I would be first in line to see!!!
This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Eilidh Beaton who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Eilidh did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices as well as accents!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by J M Dalgliesh but also to listening to more books narrated by Eilidh! I have previously listened to 'My Perfect Marriage' by AJ. Campbell which is also narrated by Eilidh and which I would also highly recommend.
I loved meeting all the characters who were all strong, well defined and unique. I become completely invested in Kelly along with all of the other characters. Dalgliesh's absolutely fantastic evocative writing skills and descriptions along with Eilidh's brilliant narrative made it feel like you were standing right next to Kelly throughout feeling everything that she is feeling and going through everything she is right along with her. Each of the characters had their own different quirks and personalities and although I wasn't a fan of them they will definitely stay with me for a long time as will this storyline!
An absolutely addictive, compelling and gripping true page turner!!!
Overall a unique captivating page turner that is compelling, chilling and addictive by an extremely talented author!!!
#FamilyDoctor #JMDalgliesh #EilidhBeaton #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous #HachetteUK
@JMDalgliesh @EilidhBeaton @Bookouture @BookoutureAnonymous @HachetteUK
https://m.facebook.com/Bookworm1986/?...
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...
https://mobile.twitter.com/kcmw86
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/a...
September 28, 2025
"Pamirškit tokius didingus principus kaip „akis už akį“, kuriais žmonės kartais nužudymą paverčia kilnia teisingumo išraiška. Tai tėra iš anksto suplanuota žmogžudystė."
Pavadinimas sufleruoja, kad istorija bus apie šeimos gydytoją, todėl tikėjausi daugiau ligoninės, vaistų ir visokių medicininių procedūrų. Tačiau istorija daug paprastesnė. Gydytoja Kelė apsistojus mažoje saloje, kur nedaug pacientų, vienas policijos pareigūnas ir aplink tvyro ramus gyvenimas. Tačiau pasirodo viskas ne taip įprasta kaip atrodo. Gydytoja turi praeities paslapčių, kurios ją atsivijo. Man buvo įdomu, kas per nutikimai buvo praeityje. Autorius subtiliai neišpasakojo visko iki pat pabaigos.
"Kaip manai, kokia tinkama bausmė žmogui, gaišinančiam kitų laiką?"
Vienu metu pagalvojau, kad gydytoja išprotėjo. Ar mato, tai kas akivaizdu? Ar viskas yra tik pasąmonės vaisius? Nors ir buvau suintriguota pagrobimo ir laukiau kokį pacientą Kelė pasirinks, kad išgelbėtų dukrą, tačiau gaila, bet pritrūko tos kibirkštėlės, kad norėtųsi tęsti istoriją ir nepadėti knygos į šalį.
"Tai tiesa, tą dieną tikrai priėmiau sprendimą. Tik jis visai ne toks, dėl kurio mane visi apkaltino."
🧑⚕️3.5🧑⚕️
Pavadinimas sufleruoja, kad istorija bus apie šeimos gydytoją, todėl tikėjausi daugiau ligoninės, vaistų ir visokių medicininių procedūrų. Tačiau istorija daug paprastesnė. Gydytoja Kelė apsistojus mažoje saloje, kur nedaug pacientų, vienas policijos pareigūnas ir aplink tvyro ramus gyvenimas. Tačiau pasirodo viskas ne taip įprasta kaip atrodo. Gydytoja turi praeities paslapčių, kurios ją atsivijo. Man buvo įdomu, kas per nutikimai buvo praeityje. Autorius subtiliai neišpasakojo visko iki pat pabaigos.
"Kaip manai, kokia tinkama bausmė žmogui, gaišinančiam kitų laiką?"
Vienu metu pagalvojau, kad gydytoja išprotėjo. Ar mato, tai kas akivaizdu? Ar viskas yra tik pasąmonės vaisius? Nors ir buvau suintriguota pagrobimo ir laukiau kokį pacientą Kelė pasirinks, kad išgelbėtų dukrą, tačiau gaila, bet pritrūko tos kibirkštėlės, kad norėtųsi tęsti istoriją ir nepadėti knygos į šalį.
"Tai tiesa, tą dieną tikrai priėmiau sprendimą. Tik jis visai ne toks, dėl kurio mane visi apkaltino."
🧑⚕️3.5🧑⚕️
July 8, 2025
This book was another hit by J.M. Dalgliesh. This is the second book I’ve read by him (the first being Home Wrecker) and this is the second book that I’ve loved.
Meet Doctor Kelly, her daughter Lauren has just been kidnapped. Doctor Kelly has three days to follow three rules or her daughter dies.
Rule 1: She must kill one of her patients.
Rule 2: She must not tell a soul.
Rule 3: She must not get caught.
If she fails at any of these things, Lauren dies.
This book was so good. With time being of the essence, it made for such a tense read. Kelly must choose which of her patients she’s going to kill. The kidnapper is in contact with her, taunting her the entire time. It’s a fast paced, crazy ride with twist upon twists, even down to the last sentence. 😱 I recommend this to any thriller lover. This was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 stars for me! So good!
I’d like to thank @bookouture for the gift copy in exchange for an honest review. And @netgalley for also approving me for this as well.
Have a you read anything by this author? I just recently was introduced to his books and so far, he’s great.
This book is out NOW. So it’s available for purchase. Grab your copy today!
Meet Doctor Kelly, her daughter Lauren has just been kidnapped. Doctor Kelly has three days to follow three rules or her daughter dies.
Rule 1: She must kill one of her patients.
Rule 2: She must not tell a soul.
Rule 3: She must not get caught.
If she fails at any of these things, Lauren dies.
This book was so good. With time being of the essence, it made for such a tense read. Kelly must choose which of her patients she’s going to kill. The kidnapper is in contact with her, taunting her the entire time. It’s a fast paced, crazy ride with twist upon twists, even down to the last sentence. 😱 I recommend this to any thriller lover. This was ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 stars for me! So good!
I’d like to thank @bookouture for the gift copy in exchange for an honest review. And @netgalley for also approving me for this as well.
Have a you read anything by this author? I just recently was introduced to his books and so far, he’s great.
This book is out NOW. So it’s available for purchase. Grab your copy today!
January 4, 2025
This is a great fast paced thriller! The pacing is good. Kelly and Lauren are entertaining characters and I was invested in how their story would end. I liked the writing style because it drew me in and kept my interest. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to JM Dalgliesh, Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 26, 2024
A remote island where Kelly is the only doctor, suddenly faced with kill a patient within a certain time ir I'll kill your daughter. This was a binge fast listen full of action and tension. The narrator did a brilliant job of telling the story and all the character were given real emotion . I especially loved the subplot where we discovered why kelly was here rather than in Edinburgh and the way in which it was dripped throughout the story. This was also full of red herrings as Kelly desperately tries to work out who has her daughter. Some of the action was very graphical bur so realistic, would make a brilliant film. The final reveal was perfect and I felt the door might have been left ajar for a sequel. The narrator got all the emotion of all the characters through fantastic delivery of a well written story. The detail made me believe and the backstory slotted in so well. The final reveals made sense but also this felt like it could be a real life story and not a novel.
Thank you so much to netgallery, author and narrator for this action packed binge listen that will have you up all night
Thank you so much to netgallery, author and narrator for this action packed binge listen that will have you up all night
December 1, 2024
Thank you Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Family Doctor is a terrific thriller set on a remote island where everyone is a suspect.
Doctor Kelly receives a disturbing message…..
You have three days to kill a patient or your daughter will die.
When Lauren leaves for the mainland for an interview, Kelly expected all would be fine.
But now pandemonium erupts.
Kelly can’t tell anyone otherwise tragedy will come to her daughter.
Do they know Kelly’s secret…..
Who can be trusted….
And ultimately will she run out of time to learn the truth…..
A quick read of a fast paced thriller with many devious characters, an haunting atmosphere and climatic ending.
The suspense and tension rise as you flip the pages fast to find out the facts.
Many twists later, after reading the final sentence, you will leave the story with a smirk.
Family Doctor is a terrific thriller set on a remote island where everyone is a suspect.
Doctor Kelly receives a disturbing message…..
You have three days to kill a patient or your daughter will die.
When Lauren leaves for the mainland for an interview, Kelly expected all would be fine.
But now pandemonium erupts.
Kelly can’t tell anyone otherwise tragedy will come to her daughter.
Do they know Kelly’s secret…..
Who can be trusted….
And ultimately will she run out of time to learn the truth…..
A quick read of a fast paced thriller with many devious characters, an haunting atmosphere and climatic ending.
The suspense and tension rise as you flip the pages fast to find out the facts.
Many twists later, after reading the final sentence, you will leave the story with a smirk.
December 28, 2024
This is an excellent standalone thriller from the prolific JM Dalgleish and it is intriguing and enthralling from the start. A doctor has moved with her daughter to a remote Scottish island to escape a troubled past. However, her life is once again thrown into turmoil when she receives a video showing that her daughter has been has been kidnapped and, in order to get her back, she must kill one of her patients! A terrific read.
January 2, 2025
Wow...I was just left reeling by that twisty conclusion. Someone has taken the good doctor's daughter, and all she has to do is kill a patient to have her returned. Or is it really that simple? Who is behind all this? Many plausible suspects surround Dr. Kelly, but the answer comes in unexpected places. The small Scottish island setting with country folks provides the backdrop for this twisted thriller. Kelly has more gumption in her than at first glance, for sure. I thought it plodded along fairly well, but with no real surprises...until that ending! We could be set up for a sequel...and I'm here for it!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARL. All opinions are mine.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARL. All opinions are mine.
November 17, 2024
I have never read this author before. Hoping now to read more. A twister for sure I was surprised on who it was. Had me thinking otherwise. Great writing easy to keep on top of characters and to pick up the book.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.
February 24, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up
This book is indeed a thriller. Gripping. A real page turner.
The ending though...it's terrible. Feels like one of Freida's books. Absurd at so many levels.
This book is indeed a thriller. Gripping. A real page turner.
The ending though...it's terrible. Feels like one of Freida's books. Absurd at so many levels.
December 17, 2024
Thank you Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The main character (who’s name I have already forgotten) is the only doctor on a stunning remote island and a single mother to her daughter Lauren. Her daughter is kidnapped and she is given three days to kill a patient or else her daughter will die.
Okay… so I had a few issues with this. First of all, the plot is very similar to Do No Harm by Jack Jordan. It does take a different direction in the story itself however.
The second issue was with the dialogue and that everyone kept stuttering. Before I get cancelled, I want to make it very clear I have absolutely nothing against stuttering. However, as a dyslexic, it makes it really tricky to read when literally on every other page, someone is saying “W-what?!” and “D-Don’t.”
And to my third and final issue - this was so predictable! I pretty much guessed everything. I never ever say this, but I think I could have done a better job (sorry)!
The main character (who’s name I have already forgotten) is the only doctor on a stunning remote island and a single mother to her daughter Lauren. Her daughter is kidnapped and she is given three days to kill a patient or else her daughter will die.
Okay… so I had a few issues with this. First of all, the plot is very similar to Do No Harm by Jack Jordan. It does take a different direction in the story itself however.
The second issue was with the dialogue and that everyone kept stuttering. Before I get cancelled, I want to make it very clear I have absolutely nothing against stuttering. However, as a dyslexic, it makes it really tricky to read when literally on every other page, someone is saying “W-what?!” and “D-Don’t.”
And to my third and final issue - this was so predictable! I pretty much guessed everything. I never ever say this, but I think I could have done a better job (sorry)!
October 3, 2025
Man patiko netrūko netikėtų siužeto vingio ir įtampos. Įtraukė nuo pirmo iki paskutinio puslapio. O pabaiga tikrai nustebino! 😊💯🔥
August 6, 2025
Het leven van Emma lijkt op het Schotse eiland Jura eindelijk tot rust te zijn gekomen. Niemand kent haar bewogen verleden, behalve haar dochter Lauren. Ze zijn met zijn tweeën en Lauren is haar alles. Dan ontvangt Emma een schokkende video. Lauren is gegijzeld. Vanaf haar telefoon ziet ze de angstige ogen van haar dochter. Een dreigende boodschap volgt en hierbij krijgt Emma drie regels:
1) Vermoord één van je patiënten.
2) Vertel niemand iets.
3) Laat je niet betrappen.
Indien je je niet aan deze regels houdt, dan sterft je dochter. Emma kent iedereen op het eiland. Ze kent hun geheimen en angsten, maar kan ze een van deze mensen doden om haar dochter te redden? Of is er nog een andere uitweg?
Mijn ervaring:
Wat een heerlijk intrigerend, spannend en tijd tikkend verhaal, waarbij ook het psychologische spel dat J.M. Dalgliesh fantastisch in de verhaallijn weet te verwerken. Hierdoor is het echt een verhaal waarin je begint en die je niet meer los kan laten. J.M. Dalgliesh heeft een beeldende, vlotte en krachtige schrijfstijl en heeft een vlot tempo in de verhaallijn gestopt, waardoor de gebeurtenissen en wendingen zich snel opvolgen.
De personages zijn realistisch, complex en divers uitgewerkt. De diverse en heel uiteenlopende personages die op het Schotse eiland lopen vormen een natuurlijke mix. Hierdoor voelt het verhaal waarheidsgetrouw en goed aan. Zeker, Emma is geweldig en diepgaand uitgewerkt. Haar angsten, emoties en gevoelens zijn tastbaar beschreven waardoor je ook echt met haar meeleeft.
De verhaallijn begint direct met een schokkend, aangrijpend en spannend proloog en de ontvoering van Lauren. Hierdoor wordt je nieuwsgierigheid gewekt en wordt je zonder moeite de verhaallijn ingetrokken. De verhaallijn wordt daarna op geweldige wijze opgebouwd en daarbij weet J.M. Dalgliesh je ook direct te pakken als Emma het schokkende nieuws krijgt van de ontvoerder met de boodschap en de drie regels. Dan volgt het driedaagse tijd tikkende verhaal en de gebeurtenissen in en rondom het leven van Emma, waarmee de angst, spanning en paniek steeds verder wordt op gebouwd. Het plot was echt enorm verrassend, en gaf het verhaal tot twee keer toe een enorme twist. Doordat ik de ontknoping niet verwacht had, heeft J.M. Dalgliesh me echt verrast met dit pakkende, spannende en razend goede verhaal.
Help me is een razend spannende, pakkende en tijd tikkende pageturner. J.M. Dalgliesh heeft een vlotte, levendige en krachtige schrijfstijl en het verhaal bevat realistische, complexe en diverse personages die ook op psychologisch vlak erg goed zijn uitgewerkt. Door middel van een schokkend proloog wordt het verhaal ingetrokken en het verhaal weet je echt tot het einde in spanning te houden. Daarbij was het plot en de ontknoping verrassend, erg spannend en goed uitgewerkt.
1) Vermoord één van je patiënten.
2) Vertel niemand iets.
3) Laat je niet betrappen.
Indien je je niet aan deze regels houdt, dan sterft je dochter. Emma kent iedereen op het eiland. Ze kent hun geheimen en angsten, maar kan ze een van deze mensen doden om haar dochter te redden? Of is er nog een andere uitweg?
Mijn ervaring:
Wat een heerlijk intrigerend, spannend en tijd tikkend verhaal, waarbij ook het psychologische spel dat J.M. Dalgliesh fantastisch in de verhaallijn weet te verwerken. Hierdoor is het echt een verhaal waarin je begint en die je niet meer los kan laten. J.M. Dalgliesh heeft een beeldende, vlotte en krachtige schrijfstijl en heeft een vlot tempo in de verhaallijn gestopt, waardoor de gebeurtenissen en wendingen zich snel opvolgen.
De personages zijn realistisch, complex en divers uitgewerkt. De diverse en heel uiteenlopende personages die op het Schotse eiland lopen vormen een natuurlijke mix. Hierdoor voelt het verhaal waarheidsgetrouw en goed aan. Zeker, Emma is geweldig en diepgaand uitgewerkt. Haar angsten, emoties en gevoelens zijn tastbaar beschreven waardoor je ook echt met haar meeleeft.
De verhaallijn begint direct met een schokkend, aangrijpend en spannend proloog en de ontvoering van Lauren. Hierdoor wordt je nieuwsgierigheid gewekt en wordt je zonder moeite de verhaallijn ingetrokken. De verhaallijn wordt daarna op geweldige wijze opgebouwd en daarbij weet J.M. Dalgliesh je ook direct te pakken als Emma het schokkende nieuws krijgt van de ontvoerder met de boodschap en de drie regels. Dan volgt het driedaagse tijd tikkende verhaal en de gebeurtenissen in en rondom het leven van Emma, waarmee de angst, spanning en paniek steeds verder wordt op gebouwd. Het plot was echt enorm verrassend, en gaf het verhaal tot twee keer toe een enorme twist. Doordat ik de ontknoping niet verwacht had, heeft J.M. Dalgliesh me echt verrast met dit pakkende, spannende en razend goede verhaal.
Help me is een razend spannende, pakkende en tijd tikkende pageturner. J.M. Dalgliesh heeft een vlotte, levendige en krachtige schrijfstijl en het verhaal bevat realistische, complexe en diverse personages die ook op psychologisch vlak erg goed zijn uitgewerkt. Door middel van een schokkend proloog wordt het verhaal ingetrokken en het verhaal weet je echt tot het einde in spanning te houden. Daarbij was het plot en de ontknoping verrassend, erg spannend en goed uitgewerkt.
January 2, 2025
“It’s amazing what people will do for the ones they love, isn’t it?”
Family Doctor follows Dr Kelly who moves to the small island of Jura with her daughter, Lauren, for a fresh start. However Dr Kelly’s moral compass is thrown into turmoil when her daughter is taken and her kidnapper asks Dr Kelly to go against everything she believes in.
His rules are simple; kill a patient within 3 days. Tell no one. Don't get caught, or your daughter dies. What lengths will she go to get her daughter back safely?
Family Doctor is set in Scotland and told over a 3 day period, with some chapters from the past to tie the plot together. This is J M Dalgliesh’s second psychological thriller, and I loved Homewrecker, but this one had me in an absolute chokehold - It was electrifying, pulse pounding and shocking.
The pacing of this book is perfect, it never lets up from the first page and as a reader you are as much thrown into the horror of the situation as Dr Kelly is. As an avid thriller reader, I do like to think of myself as an expert couch detective, but I could not and did not figure out where Family Doctor was taking me, which I absolutely loved.
This book has everything you want in a thriller; it was tense, psychological, thrilling, twisty, shocking and completely tests your own moral compass. This was my last read of 2024, and my first recommendation of 2025, and it deserves more than those titles, because it was incredible🤩
I just want to say again a massive thank you to Kim at Bookouture for gifting me this advanced copy to read and review. I absolutely loved the personalised bookmark and my prescription chocolate definitely cured me! My opinions are my own. Family Doctor is out 2nd Jan! 🩺🥼🔪🩸
Family Doctor follows Dr Kelly who moves to the small island of Jura with her daughter, Lauren, for a fresh start. However Dr Kelly’s moral compass is thrown into turmoil when her daughter is taken and her kidnapper asks Dr Kelly to go against everything she believes in.
His rules are simple; kill a patient within 3 days. Tell no one. Don't get caught, or your daughter dies. What lengths will she go to get her daughter back safely?
Family Doctor is set in Scotland and told over a 3 day period, with some chapters from the past to tie the plot together. This is J M Dalgliesh’s second psychological thriller, and I loved Homewrecker, but this one had me in an absolute chokehold - It was electrifying, pulse pounding and shocking.
The pacing of this book is perfect, it never lets up from the first page and as a reader you are as much thrown into the horror of the situation as Dr Kelly is. As an avid thriller reader, I do like to think of myself as an expert couch detective, but I could not and did not figure out where Family Doctor was taking me, which I absolutely loved.
This book has everything you want in a thriller; it was tense, psychological, thrilling, twisty, shocking and completely tests your own moral compass. This was my last read of 2024, and my first recommendation of 2025, and it deserves more than those titles, because it was incredible🤩
I just want to say again a massive thank you to Kim at Bookouture for gifting me this advanced copy to read and review. I absolutely loved the personalised bookmark and my prescription chocolate definitely cured me! My opinions are my own. Family Doctor is out 2nd Jan! 🩺🥼🔪🩸
December 20, 2024
Doctor Kelly and her daughter moved to this remote island off the coast of Scotland after a tragedy leads them to need a fresh start. She works as the only doctor on the island and all seems to be going along ok until she gets a call that someone has kidnapped her daughter and would proceed to murder her unless she follows their instructions carefully and Kelly's world comes apart. Who would take her daughter and why? Could she do the horrible thing that they are asking in exchange for her daughter?
There's not a lot! can say without giving anything away, but if you think along the lines of the "Taken' movies, except she is just an ordinary doctor with a history that seems to be catching up with her-the personal who has her daughter seems to be watching her every move so she has to make sure to follow the instructions directly, but that still leaves her having te falte an innocent life to get her daughter back. Obviously you need to suspend reality for this one but it's worth the attorts theres ots of action and build up of suspense. It will leave you thinking what you would do in her place.
Thanks to Bockoutule and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
There's not a lot! can say without giving anything away, but if you think along the lines of the "Taken' movies, except she is just an ordinary doctor with a history that seems to be catching up with her-the personal who has her daughter seems to be watching her every move so she has to make sure to follow the instructions directly, but that still leaves her having te falte an innocent life to get her daughter back. Obviously you need to suspend reality for this one but it's worth the attorts theres ots of action and build up of suspense. It will leave you thinking what you would do in her place.
Thanks to Bockoutule and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.
December 27, 2024
3 stars
Kelly is a doctor on a small Island. Everyone knows everyone and doctors make house calls to their patients. However, everything is not as it seems when Kelly’s teen daughter, Lauren, goes missing. Lauren can return home, but Kelly will have to do the unthinkable to make it happen.
Eh…the premise was promising, but the actual execution was a bit lack luster for me.
No one in the book was likable and Kelly’s behavior was pretty odd under the circumstances. I did a whole lot of “why would she do that? Why would she say that?” while listening to the audiobook.
The book was still very easy to listen to, but the last 10-15% was pretty painful for me.
On a positive note: The narrator was very clear in her speech and fit the role well.
A big thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to preview this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2024
‘Family Doctor’ follows the story of Doctor Kelly, who moved to the small island of Jura with her daughter, Lauren, for a fresh start. However, Kelly is thrown into turmoil when she receives correspondence from a mysterious suspect who has her daughter.
His rules are simple; kill a patient within 3 days. Tell no one. Don’t get caught, or your daughter dies. What lengths will she go to get her daughter back safely?
This is definitely one for thriller lovers to add to the TBR list for 2025! You are thrown straight into the drama and thrill of the story within the first few pages. As the plot develops, the suspense just ramps up even more, especially due to the fast paced nature of the book being set along a 3 day time period.
J M Dalgleish expertly keeps you guessing throughout the novel, and there were some real nail biting moments; my heart was racing whilst reading! As a thriller detective at this point, I thought I had the plot figured out. I could not have been more wrong!
His rules are simple; kill a patient within 3 days. Tell no one. Don’t get caught, or your daughter dies. What lengths will she go to get her daughter back safely?
This is definitely one for thriller lovers to add to the TBR list for 2025! You are thrown straight into the drama and thrill of the story within the first few pages. As the plot develops, the suspense just ramps up even more, especially due to the fast paced nature of the book being set along a 3 day time period.
J M Dalgleish expertly keeps you guessing throughout the novel, and there were some real nail biting moments; my heart was racing whilst reading! As a thriller detective at this point, I thought I had the plot figured out. I could not have been more wrong!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 265 reviews