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The Room at the End of the Hall
When rising star surgeon Michael Baker moves home to care for his estranged alcoholic mother, his life falls apart. One patient dies, another lands in the ICU, he loses his chairmanship, and the new chairwoman takes a nasty tumble on the roof. His mother cries murder, but did her alcohol-addled brain suffer one fall too many? Or...is he the cause?
From the author of the award-winning cozy mystery series, The Fog Ladies, a suspense novel about mother/son tensions and failures, buried secrets, ruined life dreams, revenge, and murder.
From the author of the award-winning cozy mystery series, The Fog Ladies, a suspense novel about mother/son tensions and failures, buried secrets, ruined life dreams, revenge, and murder.
- GenresSuspense
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 5, 2025
8 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Susan McCormick
8 books312 followersSusan McCormick is a writer and doctor in Seattle, author of The Fog Ladies cozy murder mystery series, The Antidote, a medical STEM middle grade fantasy, and Granny Can't Remember Me, a lighthearted picture book about Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
She graduated from Smith College and George Washington University School of Medicine, with additional training in San Francisco and Washington, DC. She served as a military doctor for nine years before settling in the Pacific Northwest and civilian practice. She is married and has two boys. She loves giant dogs and has loved an English mastiff and two Newfoundlands.
She graduated from Smith College and George Washington University School of Medicine, with additional training in San Francisco and Washington, DC. She served as a military doctor for nine years before settling in the Pacific Northwest and civilian practice. She is married and has two boys. She loves giant dogs and has loved an English mastiff and two Newfoundlands.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 5, 2025
Surgeon Michael Baker receives a disturbing note saying he’s not a good doctor and the hospital shouldn’t trust him with patients. He’s shocked by the unsigned note, and he wonders who sent it. When his patients either die or wind up in ICU, he wonders who is trying to sabotage him. His alcoholic mother, who stays in the room at the end of the hall, says it’s murder. The killer is too close, and Michael doesn’t see it until it’s too late. Will he clear his name, or will he be the final victim?
The Room at the End of the Hall is a gripping medical suspense I couldn’t put down. The narration is descriptive and emotional at the same time. The plot is well-written with twists and turns I didn’t expect. The suspense builds over the course of the story, and I stayed up late reading. The characters, though, are what make The Room at the End of the Hall an unputdownable read.
Michael is a brilliant doctor who has buried secrets and a dysfunctional relationship with his mother. When I first started reading, it felt like a Norman Bates novel. While some of the Bates issues are present in the relationship between Michael and his mother, it’s much more disturbing. He puts up with his mother and tries to maintain a professional atmosphere among his co-workers. It takes a shocking discovery to open his eyes to how much his mother loves him.
Susan McCormick has penned an impossible to put down medical suspense. The tension and stakes are high and propel the story. The characters are well-developed. The intrigue and uncovering the revenge plot had me whipping through the pages. The strength of her writing is flawless. Fans of Patricia Cornwell and Daniel Kalla will love The Room at the End of the Hall.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Nancy
This review first appeared: https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookhea...
The Room at the End of the Hall is a gripping medical suspense I couldn’t put down. The narration is descriptive and emotional at the same time. The plot is well-written with twists and turns I didn’t expect. The suspense builds over the course of the story, and I stayed up late reading. The characters, though, are what make The Room at the End of the Hall an unputdownable read.
Michael is a brilliant doctor who has buried secrets and a dysfunctional relationship with his mother. When I first started reading, it felt like a Norman Bates novel. While some of the Bates issues are present in the relationship between Michael and his mother, it’s much more disturbing. He puts up with his mother and tries to maintain a professional atmosphere among his co-workers. It takes a shocking discovery to open his eyes to how much his mother loves him.
Susan McCormick has penned an impossible to put down medical suspense. The tension and stakes are high and propel the story. The characters are well-developed. The intrigue and uncovering the revenge plot had me whipping through the pages. The strength of her writing is flawless. Fans of Patricia Cornwell and Daniel Kalla will love The Room at the End of the Hall.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Nancy
This review first appeared: https://substack.com/@nnlightsbookhea...
July 31, 2025
Michael Baker is a surgeon who moves from his home on the East Coast to Seattle to help his aging mother. It’s been twenty-five years since he left there, and more than a year since he even talked to his mother. To say their relationship is difficult would be an understatement. Madge, his mother, is an alcoholic who knows what she is and refuses to give up her drinks. Hospitalized multiple times, she also brings into the room her pink nightdress and strong perfume, all against hospital rules. All Michael can do is shake his head and avoid her room as much as possible. But when her roommate, a young woman Michael operated on for a broken leg, dies suddenly—and then another one ends up in ICU, and then the new chairperson is seriously injured, and her son is blamed, Madge goes all out to find out who the real murderer is.
The story starts off with Michael doing what he can to a avoid his mother, but when his patient dies in her room, he has to figure out what happened and why. Then everything else starts happening that all points to him. As his life tanks, he discovers his lone support is his mother. Especially at the end.
This is a complex story with a lot of suspects and a different sort of sleuth in Madge. And having Michael inherit an almost 4-foot lizard named Frank was so different and made me smile. Nicely done.
Recommended.
Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
The story starts off with Michael doing what he can to a avoid his mother, but when his patient dies in her room, he has to figure out what happened and why. Then everything else starts happening that all points to him. As his life tanks, he discovers his lone support is his mother. Especially at the end.
This is a complex story with a lot of suspects and a different sort of sleuth in Madge. And having Michael inherit an almost 4-foot lizard named Frank was so different and made me smile. Nicely done.
Recommended.
Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
August 8, 2025
Get ready for a medical thriller steeped in suspense, secrets, and psychological tension. Author Susan McCormick has taken a darker turn, away from her cozy Fog Ladies mysteries, and moved to The Room at the End of the Hall. She delivers a taut, emotionally charged thriller that probes a fragile line between trust and betrayal.
The story follows Dr. Michael Baker, a rising star surgeon whose life begins to unravel when he returns home to care for his estranged, alcoholic mother. What begins as a reluctant act of duty quickly spirals into a nightmare when patients die under suspicious circumstances, his career collapses, and his mother insists—perhaps delusionally—that murder is afoot.
The author’s medical background brings authenticity to the hospital scenes, and her storytelling keeps the tension simmering. The novel explores complex themes of family history, the unreliability of memory, and the corrosive power of ambition. As Michael grapples with professional sabotage and personal demons. Readers are drawn into a layered mystery where every character harbors secrets, and every room could conceal a clue—or a threat.
The pacing is brisk, the stakes are high, and the emotional undercurrents run deep. The writing is clean and evocative, and her ability to balance procedural realism with psychological depth makes this a standout medical thriller. The Room at the End of the Hall is a read perfect for anyone who likes their suspense served with a dose of emotional complexity and a twist of family drama.
The story follows Dr. Michael Baker, a rising star surgeon whose life begins to unravel when he returns home to care for his estranged, alcoholic mother. What begins as a reluctant act of duty quickly spirals into a nightmare when patients die under suspicious circumstances, his career collapses, and his mother insists—perhaps delusionally—that murder is afoot.
The author’s medical background brings authenticity to the hospital scenes, and her storytelling keeps the tension simmering. The novel explores complex themes of family history, the unreliability of memory, and the corrosive power of ambition. As Michael grapples with professional sabotage and personal demons. Readers are drawn into a layered mystery where every character harbors secrets, and every room could conceal a clue—or a threat.
The pacing is brisk, the stakes are high, and the emotional undercurrents run deep. The writing is clean and evocative, and her ability to balance procedural realism with psychological depth makes this a standout medical thriller. The Room at the End of the Hall is a read perfect for anyone who likes their suspense served with a dose of emotional complexity and a twist of family drama.
July 12, 2025
ARC Review
The Room at the End of the Hall by Susan McCormick is a gripping suspense novel that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
Michael Baker, a brilliant surgeon, relocates to Seattle to care for his ailing mother. Ambitious and highly respected, he has his sights set on becoming department chairman. But suddenly, his world begins to unravel. One patient dies unexpectedly, another ends up in the ICU—and Michael is blamed. As if that weren’t enough, the newly appointed chairwoman is mysteriously injured. Meanwhile, his mother insists that someone is out to get him, but Michael dismisses her warnings… until it’s almost too late.
This book has an incredible plot. It starts off gently, introducing the characters and their circumstances, then builds into a steady, suspenseful rhythm. The deepening relationship between Michael and his mother adds emotional weight, and around the midpoint, the tension escalates as the race to uncover the truth intensifies.
I absolutely loved Madge. Despite her illness, she was determined to solve the mystery. Michael, though often a mess, proved to be an intriguing and complex protagonist. His brilliance took time to surface, but when it did, it was worth the wait. My favorite moment? Madge’s heroic move—it was unforgettable.
If you enjoy well-paced, character-driven suspense, this is a must-read.
The Room at the End of the Hall by Susan McCormick is a gripping suspense novel that will keep you hooked from start to finish.
Michael Baker, a brilliant surgeon, relocates to Seattle to care for his ailing mother. Ambitious and highly respected, he has his sights set on becoming department chairman. But suddenly, his world begins to unravel. One patient dies unexpectedly, another ends up in the ICU—and Michael is blamed. As if that weren’t enough, the newly appointed chairwoman is mysteriously injured. Meanwhile, his mother insists that someone is out to get him, but Michael dismisses her warnings… until it’s almost too late.
This book has an incredible plot. It starts off gently, introducing the characters and their circumstances, then builds into a steady, suspenseful rhythm. The deepening relationship between Michael and his mother adds emotional weight, and around the midpoint, the tension escalates as the race to uncover the truth intensifies.
I absolutely loved Madge. Despite her illness, she was determined to solve the mystery. Michael, though often a mess, proved to be an intriguing and complex protagonist. His brilliance took time to surface, but when it did, it was worth the wait. My favorite moment? Madge’s heroic move—it was unforgettable.
If you enjoy well-paced, character-driven suspense, this is a must-read.
August 6, 2025
This is the best book I’ve read in a while! The author is a doctor (I was an RN) and the medical parts ring very true. There are some really difficult things for Dr. Michael Baker to figure out as his life slowly falls apart, and he doesn’t know if he can trust himself. Or is someone putting all of these possibly unrelated tragedies into motion? He’s embarrassed by his alcoholic mother, as he has been all of his life, but now she’s a “frequent flyer” in the hospital, practically a permanent patient. He’s relocated to the west coast only to be near her, as her condition has become more precarious over the years, exacerbated by her continued drinking. She’s paranoid, but is she actually right about some things? Is someone trying to hurt her? Hurt her son’s patients? Hurt him? It’s fascinating and I had a hard time putting the book down by the second half. I can definitely recommend this book; I was provided an ARC, which I appreciate, but these opinions are my own.
August 3, 2025
Loved this suspenseful thriller with heartwarming characters and a tense plot. The author uses her medical background brilliantly using a real medical condition to cast doubt on a main character’s reliability. Can the reader trust what she saw? Or was it the result of her medical condition? It adds a layer of uncertainty and complexity.
The main character’s dilemma as he’s pulled in different directions by work, social life, family and ethical obligations while trying to investigate the mystery is realistic and suspenseful. Especially as we watch him try and fail to balance his obligations to his mother, his other patients, and his position as Chair of surgery.
Highly recommend this enjoyable book. Warning – it’s a tough one to put down!
The main character’s dilemma as he’s pulled in different directions by work, social life, family and ethical obligations while trying to investigate the mystery is realistic and suspenseful. Especially as we watch him try and fail to balance his obligations to his mother, his other patients, and his position as Chair of surgery.
Highly recommend this enjoyable book. Warning – it’s a tough one to put down!
August 18, 2025
A page turner!
McCormick always manages a narrative that is gripping, interlaced with characters that are sometimes a bit disturbing in how well they're drawn.
Mikey and his mother, in their interactions and especially Mikey's seemingly downward spiral, can sometimes twist your stomach because you can clearly see there's no good coming anytime soon. But, you can't put the book down, you keep inexorably turning pages because, you need to know how it all pans out.
McCormick drew me in with her Fog Ladies series and this stand alone is another of the same.
A thriller you won't forget any time soon!
[I was fortunate to receive a pre-publication copy of the book from the author with no obligation to review. The opinions stated above are given freely and are entirely my own.]
McCormick always manages a narrative that is gripping, interlaced with characters that are sometimes a bit disturbing in how well they're drawn.
Mikey and his mother, in their interactions and especially Mikey's seemingly downward spiral, can sometimes twist your stomach because you can clearly see there's no good coming anytime soon. But, you can't put the book down, you keep inexorably turning pages because, you need to know how it all pans out.
McCormick drew me in with her Fog Ladies series and this stand alone is another of the same.
A thriller you won't forget any time soon!
[I was fortunate to receive a pre-publication copy of the book from the author with no obligation to review. The opinions stated above are given freely and are entirely my own.]
August 10, 2025
A medical suspense at its finest! A story with mystery, murder, family drama, plot twists and turns, and characters that are relatable, it was a great weekend read that kept me entertained and made it hard to put down until I had completed the last page!
Lately I have been hooked on historical fiction stories, so this was a great change of pace. It was fun to read and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future :) It was a well written story that had the perfect amount of suspense, drama, plot twist and turns, and many times throughout had me really feeling for Michael and all that he was going through.
Lately I have been hooked on historical fiction stories, so this was a great change of pace. It was fun to read and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future :) It was a well written story that had the perfect amount of suspense, drama, plot twist and turns, and many times throughout had me really feeling for Michael and all that he was going through.
July 20, 2025
Just finished reviewing this book. If you enjoy a bit of a cozy mystery but a little more edgy, give it a try. It had my head spinning at all of the twists and turns. Totally felt for the main character, Michael, as his world was crumbling. A good whodunit, I was surprised by the who that done it!
If you like this ya gotta check out The Fog Ladiesand The Antidote. Susan is a great storyteller!
If you like this ya gotta check out The Fog Ladiesand The Antidote. Susan is a great storyteller!
August 22, 2025
I LOVED THIS STORY. I was hooked right from the first page. The story was so full of twists and turns. My heart was racing the last few chapters. Such a different book from the Fog Series, I hope Susan
McCormick keeps writing psychological thrillers. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
McCormick keeps writing psychological thrillers. I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 18, 2025
secrets and buried dreams bubble up lethally. hidden hazards might just prove lethal, or at least befuddling
mysterious mayhem.
mysterious mayhem.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews