The Dreadmoor Experiment

by Barrie Stevenson

It was the greatest medical breakthrough. It became the perfect killer.

When a catastrophic mistake leaves his wife, Clara, in a coma, Dr. Elliott Harrison is consumed by guilt – and determined to find the truth. His investigation leads him to a remote Scottish island, where Clara had been consulting for an exclusive biotech clinic.

Hoping for answers, Elliott joins the team developing a revolutionary implantable medical device. But when islanders begin dying under suspicious circumstances, he uncovers a chilling truth: the technology he trusted to save lives has been turned into a weapon – and the woman he loves may be at the heart of it all.

The Dreadmoor Experiment is a twisty, atmospheric thriller that blends the visionary science of Blake Crouch's Recursion with the emotional intensity of Alex Michaelides's The Silent Patient.
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Praise for The Dreadmoor Experiment

"Absolutely gripping — I nearly missed my train stop because I couldn’t put it down. Huge cinematic potential, clever and thought-provoking." — Emilie B.

"Weaves medical tension with moral decay in a world that feels terrifyingly plausible. The emotional punches land like sledgehammers." — Hayley B.

"Without a doubt, one of my favorite reads in 2025… A masterpiece." — Olga F.

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2025

Reviews

[Philippa Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced, tightly plotted read, with loads of thought- (and dread, as per the title) -provoking ideas, made all the more scary by the fact that Stevenson is himself an A and E (emergency room) doctor with, presumably, the inside track on how initiatives in medicine, allegedly designed to help mankind could go horribly off-kilter in the wrong hands.
It's really thought-provoking and makes you wonder about the life path we've all been put on by technology, without letting up the tension at all.
No plot spoilers, but there's one unbelievably terrifying megalomaniac in here who made me wish we'd left actual-God in charge instead of letting this wannabe-deity take control.
Is it all too likely to come true? You decide.

[Carrie Boyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cleverly written sci fi thriller. I was intrigued by the accuracy of the medical details and found out that the author is an A and E doctor which explains why it seems to realistic. If you love modern Sci Fi like Silo or indeed any well written thriller you will enjoy this. The hook’s in every chapter kept me reading until Midnight. And there are twists you don’t see coming. A very skilfully written book which I can see as a film or tv series.

[Savannah Prescott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! It’s been a while since I’ve read a sci-fi/dystopian that I couldn’t put down, but I was hooked from the very beginning of this story!! Barrie’s story did a wonderful job of shedding a light of the NHS and some of the challenges their facing, but also what is looks like to truly be passionate about saving lives! I am hooked and I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series!

[melissa! · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was life altering.
100/10

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just from the synopsis, The Dreadmoor Experiment sounds like the kind of thriller that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. I really like how it mixes science, mystery, and emotional stakes especially the idea of a husband racing to uncover what really happened to his wife while also questioning the very technology meant to save lives. The Scottish island setting adds that eerie, atmospheric touch that makes stories like this even more chilling.

What makes it stand out to me is the moral dilemma at the center: the line between healing and harming, and how innovation can be both miraculous and dangerous. It feels both timely and terrifyingly possible, which only adds to the intrigue. If you’re a fan of twisty, high-stakes thrillers with heart, this looks like it could easily be a five-star, edge-of-your-seat read.

[Jeffrey Zion · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dreadmoor Experiment is a dark and gripping thriller that blends medical science with a haunting island setting. From the very beginning, the story pulls you in with its emotional weight and sense of mystery. Dr. Elliott Harrison’s search for answers feels raw and human, and the isolation of the Scottish island adds a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere that makes every discovery feel dangerous.

What really stood out to me was how the book balances high-stakes science with personal emotion. The concept of life-saving technology turned into something deadly is chilling, and the twists keep you second-guessing where the truth lies. It’s smart, suspenseful, and unsettling in all the best ways, a thriller that lingers in your mind long after you finish.

[Sarah Milsom · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re into medical drama with spine tingling moments where reality meets fiction then read this. We have been so close already to many terrible diseases in particular the recent pandemic. - we remember the fear, the horror of the news and the economy collapsing that I’m amazed more books like this haven’t addressed the idea of another reality of a lethal virus - this book goes deep into the emotional heart of the medic and the ethics of having a cure that’s within reach for everyone and got me thinking just how big pharma would behave.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast-paced, skilfully plotted novel set in a scarily real sounding near future. The author’s day job as an emergency medicine doctor definitely adds weight and authenticity to the medical facts in the story, making The Sentinel a wholly believable prospect. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between the high stakes of life and death (I could feel the exhaustion of an emergency doctor dripping off the page in the early chapters) and the differing human reactions to both – love and kindness alongside greed and ego. I definitely recommend.

[Olga S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had the pleasure and honor to beta read Barrie's debut novel.

With enough plot twists that will leave you breathless, wanting for more, this fast paced thriller is everything I would have hoped for. Elliot's struggles kept me rooting for him and I was constantly craving for more. Barrie's clear, practical and sometimes chilling prose made The Dreadmoor Experiment one of my favorite books in 2025!

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fun! I very much enjoyed this read, though I'm not sure I'll continue reading the series as I liked this as a stand-alone story.

Well written and thought out, and very human.

Some loose ends felt like they disappeared without a trace, but perhaps they'll be addressed in the next book.

Thank you to BookSirens for my copy.

[Jennifer Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of this in an NHS hospital and some of the plot points are so fantastically written that they are almost too real to read. I liked the characters, the writing, the plot, the narration - basically everything apart from how sad it made me feel, which is a testament to the skill with which it is written.

[Michael Harnnoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, full of twists and turns through the whole book. Recommend it to anyone who enjoys a thriller.

[Claire Charlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read - I was gripped from the opening pages!

[Rebecca Morel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This book was a true medical mystery type book, with a twist I never saw coming. How far would big pharma go to keep us sick for profits? Great read!!!

[Lynseygibs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to BookSirens, publishers and author for an ARC of The Dreadmoor Experiment.

A good book with interesting subject. The writing felt a little disjointed but overall enjoyable.

[Elizabeth Hollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tense medical thriller that grips from the first page, dark, exciting, and a sprinkle of Scottish atmosphere. Brilliant!