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Menzies Mental Health #3
The General Hospital
Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26Trainee psychiatrist Doctor Hannah Wright is back where she worked as an the general hospital. This time, instead of dealing with patients' broken bodies, she's tackling their mental health issues, with a roving commission to cover the medical, surgical and obstetric wards. All the while learning that mental and physical health are inextricably linked.
Christina is planning to sue her obstetrician - Hannah's ex-boyfriend - for mental distress during labour. Junjie's Olympic dream has been shattered by injury. Is he at risk of taking his own life? Max's bipolar medication might keep him level-headed, but it is destroying his kidneys. And Ishani claims that setting herself on fire was an accident, but her story doesn't stack up.
When she's not on call, Hannah finds herself navigating an unexpected friendship and the promising early days of a new relationship with fellow trainee Alex, before her grandmother reveals an explosive family secret.
Christina is planning to sue her obstetrician - Hannah's ex-boyfriend - for mental distress during labour. Junjie's Olympic dream has been shattered by injury. Is he at risk of taking his own life? Max's bipolar medication might keep him level-headed, but it is destroying his kidneys. And Ishani claims that setting herself on fire was an accident, but her story doesn't stack up.
When she's not on call, Hannah finds herself navigating an unexpected friendship and the promising early days of a new relationship with fellow trainee Alex, before her grandmother reveals an explosive family secret.
368 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 22, 2026
49 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
About the author
Anne Buist
11 books168 followersAnne Buist is the Chair of Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and has over 25 years clinical and research experience in perinatal psychiatry. She works with Protective Services and the legal system in cases of abuse, kidnapping, infanticide and murder. Medea’s Curse is her first mainstream psychological thriller.
Professor Buist is married to novelist Graeme Simsion and has two children.
Professor Buist is married to novelist Graeme Simsion and has two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 17, 2025
4.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Compassionate Care, Mental Health Matters
—-
This was my third visit with the Menzies Mental Health team and I absolutely loved stepping back into this world.
The signature structure in this series continues here with each patient’s story gently introduced through a glimpse into their life before their path leads them to the Menzies team. It’s such an effective storytelling approach and one I’ve really grown to love across the series.
Familiar characters returned too which brought a comforting sense of continuity. It was enjoyable to get to see them further along in their lives and careers with more experience, growth and emotional depth.
What really stands out is how well the book balances tone and subject matter. Heavy mental health themes are handled with warmth, compassion and a lightness that never feels dismissive. It captures both the reality of living with mental illness and the emotional impact on those working in the field.
Some topics may be triggering for readers, but everything is written with such care that it genuinely helps break down stigma rather than reinforce it.
If you’re new to the Menzies series I’d strongly recommend starting from book one so you can grow alongside the characters and follow the recurring patients. I’ve loved every instalment so far, so starting at the beginning is an absolute treat and this third book is a wonderful continuation.
Huge thanks to Hachette and NetGalley for the sneak peek of this excellent read.
—-
This was my third visit with the Menzies Mental Health team and I absolutely loved stepping back into this world.
The signature structure in this series continues here with each patient’s story gently introduced through a glimpse into their life before their path leads them to the Menzies team. It’s such an effective storytelling approach and one I’ve really grown to love across the series.
Familiar characters returned too which brought a comforting sense of continuity. It was enjoyable to get to see them further along in their lives and careers with more experience, growth and emotional depth.
What really stands out is how well the book balances tone and subject matter. Heavy mental health themes are handled with warmth, compassion and a lightness that never feels dismissive. It captures both the reality of living with mental illness and the emotional impact on those working in the field.
Some topics may be triggering for readers, but everything is written with such care that it genuinely helps break down stigma rather than reinforce it.
If you’re new to the Menzies series I’d strongly recommend starting from book one so you can grow alongside the characters and follow the recurring patients. I’ve loved every instalment so far, so starting at the beginning is an absolute treat and this third book is a wonderful continuation.
Huge thanks to Hachette and NetGalley for the sneak peek of this excellent read.
Read
January 17, 2026The General Hospital is a compassionate, engaging novel that offers a rare and insightful look at the intersection of mental and physical health. Through Hannah’s journey, the book explores complex cases with realism, warmth, and subtle humour.
The characters feel deeply human, and the storytelling balances emotional weight with hope and levity. A timely, empathetic, and thoroughly absorbing read that both informs and moves.
The characters feel deeply human, and the storytelling balances emotional weight with hope and levity. A timely, empathetic, and thoroughly absorbing read that both informs and moves.
January 31, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette, this is an ARC review.
This book is the third in the Menzies Mental Health series where we follow Hannah on her journey as a psychiatric registrar. If you haven’t read the first 2 books, it works fine as a stand alone as well.
This book handles some pretty heavy themes very delicately. The book doesn’t shy away from showing the grittier side to mental illness and working in the mental health sector, and yet it treats the subject with such compassion and respect. The authors’ passion, experience and expertise in this field is clear, and it makes for an engaging novel without being too complex.
I found the ending to be a little bit deflating, however I appreciate all the story lines being wrapped up.
TW: The novel talks about mental health, self harm and suicide in great detail. Read at your discretion.
Overall, this was a great read and I think the book contributes something really powerful towards reducing mental health stigma.
This book is the third in the Menzies Mental Health series where we follow Hannah on her journey as a psychiatric registrar. If you haven’t read the first 2 books, it works fine as a stand alone as well.
This book handles some pretty heavy themes very delicately. The book doesn’t shy away from showing the grittier side to mental illness and working in the mental health sector, and yet it treats the subject with such compassion and respect. The authors’ passion, experience and expertise in this field is clear, and it makes for an engaging novel without being too complex.
I found the ending to be a little bit deflating, however I appreciate all the story lines being wrapped up.
TW: The novel talks about mental health, self harm and suicide in great detail. Read at your discretion.
Overall, this was a great read and I think the book contributes something really powerful towards reducing mental health stigma.
May 7, 2026
The General Hospital is the third books in the Menzies Mental Health series, but it’s easy to pick up and follow the story without having read any of the prior books. (But be warned – it will lead you to immediately seek out all the other novels in the series). It’s a smart story that focuses on mental health, fully engaging the reader.
Dr Hannah Wright is a trainee psychiatrist (aka training registrar) who has been assigned to consultation liaison, which means she is there to provide psychiatric advice to patients of the hospital admitted for other reasons. The hospital areas are ‘split’ between the registrars and Hannah finds herself working with a number of patients and their treating teams to provide the best outcome physically and mentally. There’s Nova, who Hannah has to tell that her child has died (not strictly her role, but also to provide support to emergency department trainee Kate) and Max, a barrister with bipolar disorder who can only function on lithium (even though his kidneys can’t). There’s Ishani, a young actress with burns and a tricky home life and Christina, whose anxiety is worsened after the birth of her child doesn’t go to plan (and further exacerbated by the poor beside manner of the obstetrician, who happens to be Hannah’s ex). Outside of work life, Hannah’s in a new relationship with fellow trainee psychiatrist Alex. Her housemate and friend experiences a horror road crash that has her reevaluating whether she wants to be a paramedic and Hannah’s brother Lennon is suffering after the trauma of his youth. When Hannah’s grandmother drops a bombshell to her, it’s the last straw in trying to work out the complexities of her family. Can they open about what’s happened in the past?
I found this review difficult to write because I really wanted to do this excellent book justice. It’s a brilliant insight into the many different ways mental health is shaped by who we are and what happens along the way and how to manage things. The patients all manage their issues differently, from loudly and passionately (Max, who puts the renal team offside because he chooses mental wellness over functional kidneys) to quietly and slowly (Ishani, who has a lot to reveal over the course of the book). It’s complex and one of the highlights of The General Hospital is how Buist and Simsion weave all these stories together. The other medical characters are just as nuanced, revealing more about themselves as the story continues. I thought it was very clever how great Alex seemed at first and then not so great as he got more involved with his Lacanian analysis and his own psychoanalysis. I enjoyed seeing Hannah’s growth and that of the patients. All interactions are empathetic and without judgement, which was great to read (especially in the patient with cancer who wished to access voluntary assisted dying, I thought the experiences of the patient, the cancer doctor and Hannah and team were dealt with realistically and sensitively). I loved reading this book because I was so invested in all the characters and wanted to support them by reading more and more. It’s brilliantly written and should not be missed.
Thank you to Hachette for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Dr Hannah Wright is a trainee psychiatrist (aka training registrar) who has been assigned to consultation liaison, which means she is there to provide psychiatric advice to patients of the hospital admitted for other reasons. The hospital areas are ‘split’ between the registrars and Hannah finds herself working with a number of patients and their treating teams to provide the best outcome physically and mentally. There’s Nova, who Hannah has to tell that her child has died (not strictly her role, but also to provide support to emergency department trainee Kate) and Max, a barrister with bipolar disorder who can only function on lithium (even though his kidneys can’t). There’s Ishani, a young actress with burns and a tricky home life and Christina, whose anxiety is worsened after the birth of her child doesn’t go to plan (and further exacerbated by the poor beside manner of the obstetrician, who happens to be Hannah’s ex). Outside of work life, Hannah’s in a new relationship with fellow trainee psychiatrist Alex. Her housemate and friend experiences a horror road crash that has her reevaluating whether she wants to be a paramedic and Hannah’s brother Lennon is suffering after the trauma of his youth. When Hannah’s grandmother drops a bombshell to her, it’s the last straw in trying to work out the complexities of her family. Can they open about what’s happened in the past?
I found this review difficult to write because I really wanted to do this excellent book justice. It’s a brilliant insight into the many different ways mental health is shaped by who we are and what happens along the way and how to manage things. The patients all manage their issues differently, from loudly and passionately (Max, who puts the renal team offside because he chooses mental wellness over functional kidneys) to quietly and slowly (Ishani, who has a lot to reveal over the course of the book). It’s complex and one of the highlights of The General Hospital is how Buist and Simsion weave all these stories together. The other medical characters are just as nuanced, revealing more about themselves as the story continues. I thought it was very clever how great Alex seemed at first and then not so great as he got more involved with his Lacanian analysis and his own psychoanalysis. I enjoyed seeing Hannah’s growth and that of the patients. All interactions are empathetic and without judgement, which was great to read (especially in the patient with cancer who wished to access voluntary assisted dying, I thought the experiences of the patient, the cancer doctor and Hannah and team were dealt with realistically and sensitively). I loved reading this book because I was so invested in all the characters and wanted to support them by reading more and more. It’s brilliantly written and should not be missed.
Thank you to Hachette for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
May 4, 2026
Having worked in the mental health field, this book really appealed to me as did The Oasis and The Glass House. Great to follow characters in the book through their learning and the cases they handle.
Especially nice to read about patients as they live with their diagnosis's through the continuing storyline.
Especially nice to read about patients as they live with their diagnosis's through the continuing storyline.
May 1, 2026
So many threads, so neatly tied. Very satisfying.
April 18, 2026
First there is the review in Italian then the English one –
Prima c'è la recensione in italiano poi quella in inglese
4,7
Letto in inglese.
Emozionante. Mi ha fatto ridere, pensare e commuovere. È il terzo libro della serie australiana Menzies Mental Health, ed è consigliabile leggerlo dopo gli altri due.
La protagonista principale è Hannah, una specializzanda in psichiatria, di cui seguiamo le traversie professionali (i dubbi, le intuizioni e i “successi”) e personali, molto impegnative soprattutto per la complessità della sua famiglia d’origine, e un po’ anche per le sue relazioni sentimentali. Il tono del racconto è brillante e non mancano le notazioni ironiche e paradossali. Gli altri protagonisti sono altrettanto interessanti e se nei libri precedenti forse era dato molto spazio ai suoi colleghi, in questo terzo volume molti capitoli introducono pazienti dei quali poi seguiamo le vicende, ovviamente complicate e spesso difficili da “decifrare”. Alcuni protagonisti hanno una diagnosi, mentre di altri non è chiaro se sia richiesto un approfondimento diagnostico; diversi pazienti e medici vengono da altri paesi e altre culture, e anche questi aspetti aggiungono sfumature e contraddizioni interessanti. La famiglia di origine di Hannah, poi, è un mondo a parte: i suoi genitori accoglievano bambini in affido senza sosta, perciò Hannah, sua sorella e suo fratello hanno dunque vissuto l’infanzia e l’adolescenza insieme a più di cinquanta bambini e ragazzi.
Un tema importante è quello della paura di deludere le persone che amiamo, oppure di venire giudicati da loro: è un sentimento normale ma purtroppo spesso crea nuovi problemi senza risolvere nessuno di quelli che già c’erano. Proprio perché si tratta di relazioni d’amore, anche in senso familiare oltre che sentimentale, è però possibile continuare ad avere fiducia, assumersi responsabilità e affrontare anche questioni gravi in modo costruttivo.
4.7
Read in English.
Moving. It made me laugh, think and get emotional. It’s the third book in the Australian Menzies Mental Health series, and it’s worth reading it after the other two.
The main character is Hannah, a resident in psychiatry, whose professional struggles (her doubts, insights and ‘successes’) and personal trials we follow; these are particularly challenging due to the complexity of her family of origin, and to some extent also because of her romantic relationships. The writing style is lively, and there is no shortage of ironic and paradoxical observations. The other characters are equally fascinating, and whilst previous books perhaps devoted a great deal of space to his colleagues, in this third volume many chapters introduce patients whose stories we then follow – stories that are, of course, complicated and often difficult to ‘decipher’. Some of the protagonists have been diagnosed, whilst for others it is unclear whether further diagnostic investigation is required; several patients and doctors come from other countries and cultures, and these aspects too add interesting nuances and contradictions. Hannah’s family of origin, moreover, is a world of its own: her parents took in foster children constantly, so Hannah, her sister and her brother spent their childhood and adolescence alongside more than fifty children and teenagers.
One important issue is the fear of letting down the people we love, or of being judged by them: it is a normal feeling, but unfortunately it often creates new problems without resolving any of the existing ones. Precisely because these are loving relationships – based on family ties as well as romantic feelings – it is still possible to maintain trust, take responsibility and tackle even serious issues in a positive way.
Prima c'è la recensione in italiano poi quella in inglese
4,7
Letto in inglese.
Emozionante. Mi ha fatto ridere, pensare e commuovere. È il terzo libro della serie australiana Menzies Mental Health, ed è consigliabile leggerlo dopo gli altri due.
La protagonista principale è Hannah, una specializzanda in psichiatria, di cui seguiamo le traversie professionali (i dubbi, le intuizioni e i “successi”) e personali, molto impegnative soprattutto per la complessità della sua famiglia d’origine, e un po’ anche per le sue relazioni sentimentali. Il tono del racconto è brillante e non mancano le notazioni ironiche e paradossali. Gli altri protagonisti sono altrettanto interessanti e se nei libri precedenti forse era dato molto spazio ai suoi colleghi, in questo terzo volume molti capitoli introducono pazienti dei quali poi seguiamo le vicende, ovviamente complicate e spesso difficili da “decifrare”. Alcuni protagonisti hanno una diagnosi, mentre di altri non è chiaro se sia richiesto un approfondimento diagnostico; diversi pazienti e medici vengono da altri paesi e altre culture, e anche questi aspetti aggiungono sfumature e contraddizioni interessanti. La famiglia di origine di Hannah, poi, è un mondo a parte: i suoi genitori accoglievano bambini in affido senza sosta, perciò Hannah, sua sorella e suo fratello hanno dunque vissuto l’infanzia e l’adolescenza insieme a più di cinquanta bambini e ragazzi.
Un tema importante è quello della paura di deludere le persone che amiamo, oppure di venire giudicati da loro: è un sentimento normale ma purtroppo spesso crea nuovi problemi senza risolvere nessuno di quelli che già c’erano. Proprio perché si tratta di relazioni d’amore, anche in senso familiare oltre che sentimentale, è però possibile continuare ad avere fiducia, assumersi responsabilità e affrontare anche questioni gravi in modo costruttivo.
4.7
Read in English.
Moving. It made me laugh, think and get emotional. It’s the third book in the Australian Menzies Mental Health series, and it’s worth reading it after the other two.
The main character is Hannah, a resident in psychiatry, whose professional struggles (her doubts, insights and ‘successes’) and personal trials we follow; these are particularly challenging due to the complexity of her family of origin, and to some extent also because of her romantic relationships. The writing style is lively, and there is no shortage of ironic and paradoxical observations. The other characters are equally fascinating, and whilst previous books perhaps devoted a great deal of space to his colleagues, in this third volume many chapters introduce patients whose stories we then follow – stories that are, of course, complicated and often difficult to ‘decipher’. Some of the protagonists have been diagnosed, whilst for others it is unclear whether further diagnostic investigation is required; several patients and doctors come from other countries and cultures, and these aspects too add interesting nuances and contradictions. Hannah’s family of origin, moreover, is a world of its own: her parents took in foster children constantly, so Hannah, her sister and her brother spent their childhood and adolescence alongside more than fifty children and teenagers.
One important issue is the fear of letting down the people we love, or of being judged by them: it is a normal feeling, but unfortunately it often creates new problems without resolving any of the existing ones. Precisely because these are loving relationships – based on family ties as well as romantic feelings – it is still possible to maintain trust, take responsibility and tackle even serious issues in a positive way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
EXCERPT: 'Hannah Wright, late on her first day,' says Sally, laughing. 'Lucky for you, Prof's postponed the kick-off meeting till tomorrow. Some management drama. So, gather round, newbies,' she says, indicating all of the doctors and the social worker, 'and I'll tell you what you need to know. And the first thing you need to know is, don't order anything for lunch that's not already prepared. Because by the time it's ready, you'll have been called.'
I knew it was going to be frantic. What I want to know is which wards we're assigned to. I'm going to have to wait - that's Prof's call.
'We cover each other, anyway,' says Sally. 'If Prof was here, he'd say, "because we're a team".'
'And since Prof isn't here . . .' says Jon.
'It's because we're understaffed.'
ABOUT 'THE GENERAL HOSPITAL': Trainee psychiatrist Doctor Hannah Wright is back where she worked as an intern: the general hospital. This time, instead of dealing with patients' broken bodies, she's tackling their mental health issues, with a roving commission to cover the medical, surgical and obstetric wards. All the while learning that mental and physical health are inextricably linked.
Christina is planning to sue her obstetrician - Hannah's ex-boyfriend - for mental distress during labour. Junjie's Olympic dream has been shattered by injury. Is he at risk of taking his own life? Max's bipolar medication might keep him level-headed, but it is destroying his kidneys. And Ishani claims that setting herself on fire was an accident, but her story doesn't stack up.
When she's not on call, Hannah finds herself navigating an unexpected friendship and the promising early days of a new relationship with fellow trainee Alex, before her grandmother reveals an explosive family secret.
MY THOUGHTS: Doctor Hannah Wright is back again in this, book #3 of the Menzies Mental Health series. This time she is working in the General Hospital in Mental Health. I think this is my favorite of the series so far.
As I have said in each of my reviews of the previous two books, I love the realism with which Buist and Simsion write. Mental Health is a tough field and it is only in recent years that it has been accepted as part of the holistic treatment of patients. The situations that Buist and Simsion write about, the cases Hannah and other members of the team deal with, are very real although they may not often be dealt with with the same empathy, kindness, humor and wit that is present in Buist's and Simsion's writing.
Often chapters featuring new patients are precised by a brief look at the episode preceding the patient's admission.
The General Hospital is full of interesting cases and interesting people, not all of them patients.
A superb read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheGeneralHospital #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHORS: ANNE BUIST is the Chair of Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and has over 25 years clinical and research experience in perinatal psychiatry. She works with Protective Services and the legal system in cases of abuse, kidnapping, infanticide and murder.
Professor Buist is married to novelist Graeme Simsion and has two children.
GRAEME SIMSION lives in Melbourne with Anne, and is a frequent traveller, walker, jogger, and drinker of wine and cocktails. He is active in amplifying autistic voices through books, events and social media and has spoken at autism conferences and seminars.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Australia & New Zealand via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The GENERAL HOSPITAL by Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
I knew it was going to be frantic. What I want to know is which wards we're assigned to. I'm going to have to wait - that's Prof's call.
'We cover each other, anyway,' says Sally. 'If Prof was here, he'd say, "because we're a team".'
'And since Prof isn't here . . .' says Jon.
'It's because we're understaffed.'
ABOUT 'THE GENERAL HOSPITAL': Trainee psychiatrist Doctor Hannah Wright is back where she worked as an intern: the general hospital. This time, instead of dealing with patients' broken bodies, she's tackling their mental health issues, with a roving commission to cover the medical, surgical and obstetric wards. All the while learning that mental and physical health are inextricably linked.
Christina is planning to sue her obstetrician - Hannah's ex-boyfriend - for mental distress during labour. Junjie's Olympic dream has been shattered by injury. Is he at risk of taking his own life? Max's bipolar medication might keep him level-headed, but it is destroying his kidneys. And Ishani claims that setting herself on fire was an accident, but her story doesn't stack up.
When she's not on call, Hannah finds herself navigating an unexpected friendship and the promising early days of a new relationship with fellow trainee Alex, before her grandmother reveals an explosive family secret.
MY THOUGHTS: Doctor Hannah Wright is back again in this, book #3 of the Menzies Mental Health series. This time she is working in the General Hospital in Mental Health. I think this is my favorite of the series so far.
As I have said in each of my reviews of the previous two books, I love the realism with which Buist and Simsion write. Mental Health is a tough field and it is only in recent years that it has been accepted as part of the holistic treatment of patients. The situations that Buist and Simsion write about, the cases Hannah and other members of the team deal with, are very real although they may not often be dealt with with the same empathy, kindness, humor and wit that is present in Buist's and Simsion's writing.
Often chapters featuring new patients are precised by a brief look at the episode preceding the patient's admission.
The General Hospital is full of interesting cases and interesting people, not all of them patients.
A superb read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheGeneralHospital #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHORS: ANNE BUIST is the Chair of Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne and has over 25 years clinical and research experience in perinatal psychiatry. She works with Protective Services and the legal system in cases of abuse, kidnapping, infanticide and murder.
Professor Buist is married to novelist Graeme Simsion and has two children.
GRAEME SIMSION lives in Melbourne with Anne, and is a frequent traveller, walker, jogger, and drinker of wine and cocktails. He is active in amplifying autistic voices through books, events and social media and has spoken at autism conferences and seminars.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Australia & New Zealand via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The GENERAL HOSPITAL by Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“The General Hospital is the third in Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion’s series on the life of a psychiatric trainee – a pathway that Anne and I have both walked/ran/tripped on although in different States of Australia and at different times. Despite those geographical and time differences we are colleagues and friends so this review is colored, informed and enhanced by those facts and here is my review!
Hannah Wright has made it through part of her training and the intermix of her professional and personal lives, introduced in books one (The Glass House) and two (The Oasis) of this series, not only rolls along but the writing of Anne and Graeme together matures as this series moves along. The patient scenarios that are thrown at Hannah (a burns victim in a complex extended family dynamic, the road crash victim, the lawyer with his out-of-control bipolar mood disorder and others I hadn’t seen before) expose the very real dilemmas that medical staff deal with on the frontline. The patients, the families and their health care staff share life and death questions, empathy, emotions and very real lives. The authors provide nuanced and humorous dissections of the interactions of staff, patients and family members, with a lighter touch perhaps than in the previous two in this series, making it easy reading. And that's the joy of the book – the sly fun (yes Graeme – The Rosie Project) as Hannah steers herself in and out of relationships, deals with the expectations and complications of her family of origin, and yet reveals the complexities of working in a demanding job with very troubled (and real) people (Anne). Do I know Hannah? I almost certainly do as she is part of me, part of Anne and known to many of my psychiatric colleagues who are perhaps her supervisors – and as it turns out, readers of this series. Why would psychiatrists and other mental health staff read this book? “It isn’t ME that has to deal with this situation so I can be a voyeur for these challenging and gripping stories that sound oh-so-credible”. Of course Anne knows the territory so well – Anne’s work in her field has taken her to high honors in her profession and she can share and entertain you simultaneously. Why would others read this book? It is a great read, well-portrayed personalities and a further clear view of the world of acute mental health, highly nuanced and perceptive. So much easier reading about it sometimes than unravelling those dilemmas.
Hannah Wright has made it through part of her training and the intermix of her professional and personal lives, introduced in books one (The Glass House) and two (The Oasis) of this series, not only rolls along but the writing of Anne and Graeme together matures as this series moves along. The patient scenarios that are thrown at Hannah (a burns victim in a complex extended family dynamic, the road crash victim, the lawyer with his out-of-control bipolar mood disorder and others I hadn’t seen before) expose the very real dilemmas that medical staff deal with on the frontline. The patients, the families and their health care staff share life and death questions, empathy, emotions and very real lives. The authors provide nuanced and humorous dissections of the interactions of staff, patients and family members, with a lighter touch perhaps than in the previous two in this series, making it easy reading. And that's the joy of the book – the sly fun (yes Graeme – The Rosie Project) as Hannah steers herself in and out of relationships, deals with the expectations and complications of her family of origin, and yet reveals the complexities of working in a demanding job with very troubled (and real) people (Anne). Do I know Hannah? I almost certainly do as she is part of me, part of Anne and known to many of my psychiatric colleagues who are perhaps her supervisors – and as it turns out, readers of this series. Why would psychiatrists and other mental health staff read this book? “It isn’t ME that has to deal with this situation so I can be a voyeur for these challenging and gripping stories that sound oh-so-credible”. Of course Anne knows the territory so well – Anne’s work in her field has taken her to high honors in her profession and she can share and entertain you simultaneously. Why would others read this book? It is a great read, well-portrayed personalities and a further clear view of the world of acute mental health, highly nuanced and perceptive. So much easier reading about it sometimes than unravelling those dilemmas.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
And so, I return to the third book in this series, renewing old acquaintances and making new ones. One of the strengths of this series is the way in which the authors create real, flawed characters and set before them the sorts of challenges of which many of us are only peripherally aware. I read this novel as someone who has been both the giver of care, and the recipient of it.
Doctor Hannah Wright is a trainee psychiatrist, working in a general hospital. Her role, in mental health, is to cover mental health issues arising in medical, surgical and obstetric wards. We have met some of her patients before, including Chloe whose battle with anorexia continues, and Max whose bipolar disorder may be controlled (most of the time) by lithium but the lithium is destroying his kidneys. Other patients include a young woman who claims to have set herself on fire accidently, but aspects of her story don’t make sense. And then there’s a woman with an alcohol problem, a young man whose dreams of Olympic participation have been destroyed by injury, and a woman planning to sue her obstetrician because of the way her labour was managed.
In addition to her professional workload, Hannah is also in the early days of a new relationship, and of a possible new friendship. Family issues are also part of what Hannah must navigate: her brother has problems and it looks like her sister may as well. But that is not all.
I have enjoyed each of the novels in this series, watching Hannah navigate the challenging aspects of both medicine and life. This novel is particularly valuable as it clearly illustrates the links between physical and mental health.
While it is not necessary to have read the first novels in the series, I would recommend doing so because (to me, anyway) the backstory and character development are important.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Doctor Hannah Wright is a trainee psychiatrist, working in a general hospital. Her role, in mental health, is to cover mental health issues arising in medical, surgical and obstetric wards. We have met some of her patients before, including Chloe whose battle with anorexia continues, and Max whose bipolar disorder may be controlled (most of the time) by lithium but the lithium is destroying his kidneys. Other patients include a young woman who claims to have set herself on fire accidently, but aspects of her story don’t make sense. And then there’s a woman with an alcohol problem, a young man whose dreams of Olympic participation have been destroyed by injury, and a woman planning to sue her obstetrician because of the way her labour was managed.
In addition to her professional workload, Hannah is also in the early days of a new relationship, and of a possible new friendship. Family issues are also part of what Hannah must navigate: her brother has problems and it looks like her sister may as well. But that is not all.
I have enjoyed each of the novels in this series, watching Hannah navigate the challenging aspects of both medicine and life. This novel is particularly valuable as it clearly illustrates the links between physical and mental health.
While it is not necessary to have read the first novels in the series, I would recommend doing so because (to me, anyway) the backstory and character development are important.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Review of advance copy received from Author
(Co) author here a day before publication, sharing what I've learned from early readers and answering the question 'should I buy it'. If you've read the first two books in the series, you're well placed to answer that without any help from me. If not, I'd suggest you start with The Glass House, but you can read The General Hospital as a stand-alone book. One reason to do so is that you prefer the setting of a general hospital rather than a specialised mental-health service. You may have to work just a little harder in Chapter 1 to meet the characters, but you have to do that sometime anyway.
A few more reasons to read:
1. You enjoy medical drama. It's structured like a TV season: each chapter an episode.
2. You work in or are interested in mental health - and want to read the book or give it to someone to show them what it's like (perhaps after doing an authenticity check!)
3. You're interested in an insider's take on what goes on in a big hospital, with an emphasis on mental health - but our protagonist has a roving commission across the wards. We've had a LOT of readers tell us the books have helped them understand what was going on behind the scenes when they or someone close to them was receiving treatment.
A few reasons not to read:
1. There's a lot of potentially triggering stuff: mental health issues, suicide, family violence.
2. Some characters die. There are light (and I hope uplifting) moments too (I wrote The Rosie Project and I figure that's my job) but there's no getting away from the fact that the stakes in a hospital are life and death, and with a dozen stories, some aren't going to make it.
3. Potential publishers had doubts about the episodic structure (like a TV series, with a 'case of the week' as well as ongoing cases) of the whole series. Readers seem to get it okay, but if you think it'd be a drag - well, I'd encourage you to try, but it's your call.
Hope that helps.
Graeme
A few more reasons to read:
1. You enjoy medical drama. It's structured like a TV season: each chapter an episode.
2. You work in or are interested in mental health - and want to read the book or give it to someone to show them what it's like (perhaps after doing an authenticity check!)
3. You're interested in an insider's take on what goes on in a big hospital, with an emphasis on mental health - but our protagonist has a roving commission across the wards. We've had a LOT of readers tell us the books have helped them understand what was going on behind the scenes when they or someone close to them was receiving treatment.
A few reasons not to read:
1. There's a lot of potentially triggering stuff: mental health issues, suicide, family violence.
2. Some characters die. There are light (and I hope uplifting) moments too (I wrote The Rosie Project and I figure that's my job) but there's no getting away from the fact that the stakes in a hospital are life and death, and with a dozen stories, some aren't going to make it.
3. Potential publishers had doubts about the episodic structure (like a TV series, with a 'case of the week' as well as ongoing cases) of the whole series. Readers seem to get it okay, but if you think it'd be a drag - well, I'd encourage you to try, but it's your call.
Hope that helps.
Graeme
April 12, 2026
The General Hospital by Anne Buist (AO), Graeme Simsion Menzies
A Menzies Mental Health Novel 3.
The whole gang from the first book are in this one, too. Trainee psychiatrist Doctor Hannah Wright deals with mental health issues, covering the medical, surgical and obstetric wards. This book in the series shows how mental and physical health are linked.
In this book, Hannah navigates the early stages of a relationship with co-worker Alex (in what feels like fast-forward) and reflects that the lessons she has needed from each patient outweigh those she has learned from a textbook. There is authenticity and humour in these books that offset the serious issues of mental health and the complexity of the healthcare system. Having read the first two books in the series fairly recently, this third book wraps everything up quite neatly, so I'm assuming this is intended to be the final book in this particular series (I don't know this for certain; that's just the impression that I get).
This book covers mental health subjects that may require trigger warnings: obstetric trauma/mental distress, suicide, and voluntary assisted dying (VAD), among others, but much like in the first two books, these topics are covered sensitively and with knowledge.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for the eARC of this book.
Side note: Because I had eARCs of four books that released on the same day, I was running behind on my reading, so I decided to grab the audiobook to multitask. I finished off a sushi illustration for a friend.
Thumbs up!
All three books in this series are out now.
#designnerd #booksdeevaareads #2026bookshelf #TheGeneralHospital #NetGalley @NetGalley @gcsimsion @anneebuist @hachetteaus
A Menzies Mental Health Novel 3.
The whole gang from the first book are in this one, too. Trainee psychiatrist Doctor Hannah Wright deals with mental health issues, covering the medical, surgical and obstetric wards. This book in the series shows how mental and physical health are linked.
In this book, Hannah navigates the early stages of a relationship with co-worker Alex (in what feels like fast-forward) and reflects that the lessons she has needed from each patient outweigh those she has learned from a textbook. There is authenticity and humour in these books that offset the serious issues of mental health and the complexity of the healthcare system. Having read the first two books in the series fairly recently, this third book wraps everything up quite neatly, so I'm assuming this is intended to be the final book in this particular series (I don't know this for certain; that's just the impression that I get).
This book covers mental health subjects that may require trigger warnings: obstetric trauma/mental distress, suicide, and voluntary assisted dying (VAD), among others, but much like in the first two books, these topics are covered sensitively and with knowledge.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for the eARC of this book.
Side note: Because I had eARCs of four books that released on the same day, I was running behind on my reading, so I decided to grab the audiobook to multitask. I finished off a sushi illustration for a friend.
Thumbs up!
All three books in this series are out now.
#designnerd #booksdeevaareads #2026bookshelf #TheGeneralHospital #NetGalley @NetGalley @gcsimsion @anneebuist @hachetteaus
April 13, 2026
Thank you Hatchette Australia and NZ and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
Two of my favourite workplace subjects inter-weaved; medicine and the mind.
I loved sharing Hannah’s residency term in the Psychiatric Department of a busy Melbourne hospital, Hannah shares her daily struggles and joys with her colleagues and her patients. I loved reading about her life as it often became entangled professionally and personally, since of course, her friends and boyfriend are also in the medical profession.
The patients we get to know through consults with Hannah are so realistic, I was cheering for them throughout, for their recover,, well-being and often hoping they make it home well. Sadly not all of them survived, however it was never through Hannah and her colleagues care and lack of trying.
Through the connection of medicine and psychiatry this book covers heavy topics which may cause upset to some readers. I found the subjects were raised sensitivity and the characters were really well-developed, not always likeable but always guaranteed to formulate an opinion of them! The topics covered were realistic and provided a small window into the moral, legal and of course medical world in which doctors routinely tread.
I loved the characters, particuarly Max and often laughed out loud at the comments they made,
This is the third book in the series but I read it as a stand alone, however I enjoyed it immensely so now will go back and start with book one, hoping that I haven’t ruined it for myself since I’ll know the ending !
Thank you Hachette for the opportunity to read and review this book, I highly recommend it.
Two of my favourite workplace subjects inter-weaved; medicine and the mind.
I loved sharing Hannah’s residency term in the Psychiatric Department of a busy Melbourne hospital, Hannah shares her daily struggles and joys with her colleagues and her patients. I loved reading about her life as it often became entangled professionally and personally, since of course, her friends and boyfriend are also in the medical profession.
The patients we get to know through consults with Hannah are so realistic, I was cheering for them throughout, for their recover,, well-being and often hoping they make it home well. Sadly not all of them survived, however it was never through Hannah and her colleagues care and lack of trying.
Through the connection of medicine and psychiatry this book covers heavy topics which may cause upset to some readers. I found the subjects were raised sensitivity and the characters were really well-developed, not always likeable but always guaranteed to formulate an opinion of them! The topics covered were realistic and provided a small window into the moral, legal and of course medical world in which doctors routinely tread.
I loved the characters, particuarly Max and often laughed out loud at the comments they made,
This is the third book in the series but I read it as a stand alone, however I enjoyed it immensely so now will go back and start with book one, hoping that I haven’t ruined it for myself since I’ll know the ending !
Thank you Hachette for the opportunity to read and review this book, I highly recommend it.
April 30, 2026
This is the third in the Menzies Mental Health Series following trainee Psychiatrist Dr Hannah Wright as she navigates her way through her training in a strained medical system. Hannah is now a second year registrar and part of the Consultation Psychiatry team at the Menzies Hospital, a group consulting with other health care professionals on the hospital wards, where treating and supporting a patient’s mental health may be just as much needed as treating their physical problems.
Hannah sees a range of cases in this novel, all with interesting mental health issues deriving from or feeding into their health issues. Many topics are raised, including assisted dying, coercive marriages, family expectations and respecting a patient’s wishes, even if it’s not in line with what is considered the best medical treatment for them. Working within a team, Hannah has others to provide her with different expertise and approaches and learns through her experiences.
Hannah’s own family and upbringing was dysfunctional and as she becomes better equipped to discuss the issues that affected her and her siblings with her parents, she starts to mend some fences for all of them. It all makes for an interesting read and a glance into the complex world of psychiatry. Author Prof. Anne Buist is a clinical psychiatrist and Chair of Women’s Mental Health, University of Melbourne so the description of the cases and their individual treatment is grounded in experience.
With thanks to Hachette ANZ via Netgalley for a copy to read
Hannah sees a range of cases in this novel, all with interesting mental health issues deriving from or feeding into their health issues. Many topics are raised, including assisted dying, coercive marriages, family expectations and respecting a patient’s wishes, even if it’s not in line with what is considered the best medical treatment for them. Working within a team, Hannah has others to provide her with different expertise and approaches and learns through her experiences.
Hannah’s own family and upbringing was dysfunctional and as she becomes better equipped to discuss the issues that affected her and her siblings with her parents, she starts to mend some fences for all of them. It all makes for an interesting read and a glance into the complex world of psychiatry. Author Prof. Anne Buist is a clinical psychiatrist and Chair of Women’s Mental Health, University of Melbourne so the description of the cases and their individual treatment is grounded in experience.
With thanks to Hachette ANZ via Netgalley for a copy to read
March 30, 2026
The General Hospital is #3 in the Menzies Mental Health by Anne Buist and Graeme Simsion. Again we follow Hannah Wright psychiatric trainee as she wends her way in the hospital on various wards as she attends to the mental health issues of some patients.
I was fully immersed in this exploration of what it is like for Hannah as she takes on this role with compassion and warmth and intelligence. I felt myself hoping that things would turn out the way Hannah hoped for each of her patients.
I liked the way many of the chapters began with some incident and then later we meet them in the hospital. Throughout the book we follow them with the various interventions the staff explore. My heart lifted when things worked out or felt sad at what had to be left to the patient's choice.
We met with Hannah's family again and there were developments there that were really good for the family, although tough too. Her work colleagues too it was great to meet up with, and to see how Hannah's relationships were turning out.
I really liked that we learned how life had turned out for the patients and how it was written in an intertwining kind of way. There are some events at the end that I sort of predicted to myself, only because I had read something similar in a book this year, but this went even one step better.
I loved this story and very much hope there is another in the series. I want to meet Hannah, her colleagues and family again.
I was fully immersed in this exploration of what it is like for Hannah as she takes on this role with compassion and warmth and intelligence. I felt myself hoping that things would turn out the way Hannah hoped for each of her patients.
I liked the way many of the chapters began with some incident and then later we meet them in the hospital. Throughout the book we follow them with the various interventions the staff explore. My heart lifted when things worked out or felt sad at what had to be left to the patient's choice.
We met with Hannah's family again and there were developments there that were really good for the family, although tough too. Her work colleagues too it was great to meet up with, and to see how Hannah's relationships were turning out.
I really liked that we learned how life had turned out for the patients and how it was written in an intertwining kind of way. There are some events at the end that I sort of predicted to myself, only because I had read something similar in a book this year, but this went even one step better.
I loved this story and very much hope there is another in the series. I want to meet Hannah, her colleagues and family again.
April 27, 2026
4.5 stars
I was thrilled when I saw book three in the Menzies Mental Health series had been released. This time, we follow Dr Hannah during her psychiatric rotation in a general hospital. Like the previous books, it’s full of quirky characters—some make you laugh, some you want to wrap your arms around and hug, and others leave you wondering.
Several familiar characters return, and I loved getting updates on them. While much of the story centres around Hannah’s management of patients, there’s also a compelling side story as she navigates a new relationship. We also learn more about Hannah’s backstory—her parents, siblings, and the foster children who passed through their home while she was growing up. This gave me a more personal glimpse into Hannah, which I really loved.
Given this is a book dealing with mental health, I’d recommend checking the trigger warnings beforehand, as there were a few moments that caught me by surprise.
These books are written by Annie, a psychiatrist herself, and her husband Graeme, author of The Rosie Project. Together, they bring both the expertise of working in the mental health field and fabulous research and storytelling.
I don’t know how many more books they plan to release in the Menzies series, but I’ll be there for all of them. Happy Reading 🩷📚🩷
I was thrilled when I saw book three in the Menzies Mental Health series had been released. This time, we follow Dr Hannah during her psychiatric rotation in a general hospital. Like the previous books, it’s full of quirky characters—some make you laugh, some you want to wrap your arms around and hug, and others leave you wondering.
Several familiar characters return, and I loved getting updates on them. While much of the story centres around Hannah’s management of patients, there’s also a compelling side story as she navigates a new relationship. We also learn more about Hannah’s backstory—her parents, siblings, and the foster children who passed through their home while she was growing up. This gave me a more personal glimpse into Hannah, which I really loved.
Given this is a book dealing with mental health, I’d recommend checking the trigger warnings beforehand, as there were a few moments that caught me by surprise.
These books are written by Annie, a psychiatrist herself, and her husband Graeme, author of The Rosie Project. Together, they bring both the expertise of working in the mental health field and fabulous research and storytelling.
I don’t know how many more books they plan to release in the Menzies series, but I’ll be there for all of them. Happy Reading 🩷📚🩷
May 5, 2026
We catch up with Dr Hannah Wright on her second-year traineeship as a consultation liaison psychiatrist. I really enjoy how each chapter begins with a vignette on the patient that is going to be introduced in further detail in the subsequent pages. (Though I'm not sure if Chapter 9 relates to Hannah's mum???)
The subject material is heavy, both the patients and some of Hannah's family members/friends experience traumatic events, yet the delivery is light and engaging. The characters are well fleshed out, and it is nice to get to know some of them in more detail, their idiosyncrasies, wit and charm.
I just didn't buy into Hannah's relationship with Alex, there was no real connection, and I was at a loss as to why she moved in with him. I haven't read The Oasis (book 2) yet, so maybe I missed out on the developing relationship there.
Overall, a great read shedding some light onto mental illness. And no, (from bookclub suggested questions), I don't think psychiatry is a poor relation to other specialities.
The subject material is heavy, both the patients and some of Hannah's family members/friends experience traumatic events, yet the delivery is light and engaging. The characters are well fleshed out, and it is nice to get to know some of them in more detail, their idiosyncrasies, wit and charm.
I just didn't buy into Hannah's relationship with Alex, there was no real connection, and I was at a loss as to why she moved in with him. I haven't read The Oasis (book 2) yet, so maybe I missed out on the developing relationship there.
Overall, a great read shedding some light onto mental illness. And no, (from bookclub suggested questions), I don't think psychiatry is a poor relation to other specialities.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book three in the Menzies Mental Health series and we meet Doctor Hannah Wright again, back in the general hospital but now working in the area of mental health.
Working across many wards Hannah deals with so many interesting cases and we meet some amazing characters. Having recently spent five weeks in hospital care myself, my mind boggled at the thought of a burns victim who was there for many months. Care of such patients' mental wellbeing would obviously be every bit as necessary as care of their bodies.
The book is serious stuff but written in such an engaging manner, always with a touch of humour and kindness, that it is totally gripping. I found it almost impossible to put down. Well worth five stars and highly recommended.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Working across many wards Hannah deals with so many interesting cases and we meet some amazing characters. Having recently spent five weeks in hospital care myself, my mind boggled at the thought of a burns victim who was there for many months. Care of such patients' mental wellbeing would obviously be every bit as necessary as care of their bodies.
The book is serious stuff but written in such an engaging manner, always with a touch of humour and kindness, that it is totally gripping. I found it almost impossible to put down. Well worth five stars and highly recommended.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 18, 2026
This is an excellent third instalment of the Menzies Hospital series and I absolutely devoured this book over 24 hours! Once again we focus on Dr Hannah Wright and her cohorts as they work towards becoming qualified as fully fledged psychiatrists. The young registrars are working in the main hospital supporting the mental health needs of patients who have been admitted to a variety of wards for other medical conditions. The novel focuses on a number of patients and also Hannah’s personal life. The stories of the patients are often heart wrenching and the team work tirelessly to improve their quality of life. This book progresses at a lively pace and really captures the hectic nature of hospital life. Outcomes are both tragic and uplifting depending on the patient and the ebb and flow of the story arcs kept me glued from the first page to the last. Highly recommended and could be read as a stand alone, even though the whole series is well worth the effort to start at the beginning and work your way through. Give it a go.
March 31, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m a huge fan of the Menzies Mental Health series and book 3, The General Hospital, didn’t disappoint. I’d even say it might be my favourite of the series.
We follow Doctor Hannah Wright working at the General Hospital, meeting new patients as well as seeing some familiar ones again, while also continuing to follow her personal life.
I love that it keeps the same mix of hospital cases and her life outside of it. It’s something I’ve liked in the earlier books and it still works really well here.
I really enjoyed this one and didn’t want it to end.
I’m a huge fan of the Menzies Mental Health series and book 3, The General Hospital, didn’t disappoint. I’d even say it might be my favourite of the series.
We follow Doctor Hannah Wright working at the General Hospital, meeting new patients as well as seeing some familiar ones again, while also continuing to follow her personal life.
I love that it keeps the same mix of hospital cases and her life outside of it. It’s something I’ve liked in the earlier books and it still works really well here.
I really enjoyed this one and didn’t want it to end.
April 30, 2026
Love this third book in the series just as much as the first 2!! Thoughtful and poignant. Hannah is a relatable guide through the story and I enjoyed getting to know more about her life and her family as well as some further insight into her colleagues. Anne really captures people at their essence and the inclusion of the mental health patients and the structure of how they’re introduced adds depth and humanity giving a voice to the experiences of people in the mental health care system in Australia. Everything is handled with sensitivity and connection. I hope there is a next in this series!!!!
May 11, 2026
A good follow up as a third book in this series focusing primarily on the mental health as well as family problems of patients within the Menzies Mental Health Hospital, this story vividly delved into the very different yet common mental ailments of the various patients as well as how the psychiatrist in charge Hannah helped and gave advice to her patients so as to help them achieve their ideal outcomes for their situations.
It was a fast paced, thought provoking read by this talented author duo and I look forward to reading their next book in the series.
Thankyou to Net galley and Hachette Australia and New Zealand for an arc of this book.
It was a fast paced, thought provoking read by this talented author duo and I look forward to reading their next book in the series.
Thankyou to Net galley and Hachette Australia and New Zealand for an arc of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 ⭐
I would watch the heck out of this if it were a tv show. The FMC is very pleasant. I really enjoyed everything that happened inside the hospital. I liked learning about the patients and their stories, how they were cared for. But I found myself skipping the family drama and anything outside of the hospital setting.
I would watch the heck out of this if it were a tv show. The FMC is very pleasant. I really enjoyed everything that happened inside the hospital. I liked learning about the patients and their stories, how they were cared for. But I found myself skipping the family drama and anything outside of the hospital setting.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this novel. The best in the Menzies series. I felt I wasn't reading about characters, I was reading about people. I had an emotional response to this book, I felt their pain and all the things they were going through.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It was engaging and a heartwarming read. I haven’t read the two instalments of the series and I have to now because this was a great read. With so much thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher Hachette Australia & New Zealand for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
An authentic look at the world of mental health care in a general hospital setting.
Heartwarming, confronting & humorous in equal measures.
Heartwarming, confronting & humorous in equal measures.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4⭐️
Read this the day I got out of an Australian hospital for mental health reasons, so perfect time for this.
Read this the day I got out of an Australian hospital for mental health reasons, so perfect time for this.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4★
"… but it's more about the bond that happens when you're present at a turning point in someone's life. That's the over-involved bit."
Why might she become over-involved? Dr Hannah Wright is a medical doctor, now a registrar – a second-year trainee – working to become a fully-qualified psychiatrist. Her father asks her how much longer she's got to go.
"'Well, if you have to explain it to someone else, just say that. How long to go?'
'Four years.'
'So, five altogether. Plumbing apprenticeship only takes four.'
I laugh. 'You're not counting the seven years to qualify as a doctor.'
'That's my point. This is extra. Like a gas-fitting licence.' He's laughing now. 'And they still call you that word that sounds like someone from Births, Deaths and Marriages?'
'Registrar. We're all registrars till we qualify.'"
Ah yes, the Hatch, Match, and Dispatch folks at the Registry Office.
I remember being told once that you never really understand something until you can explain it to your grandmother. This is the third in the Menzies Mental Health series, so I'm pretty sure Hannah's father is just teasing her about her career trajectory, but for the benefit of new readers (like me), Buist and Simsion have slotted this explanation in early. Otherwise, we might think a second-year trainee is some kind of apprentice.
In a novel about mental health, medical treatments, injuries, diagnosis and prognosis, the authors need to clarify specific details. Unfortunately, it can be awkward to make this information sound like a natural conversation and not a teaching opportunity.
Hannah has a complicated family life – her parents had fostered fifty-three children over the years, and she refers to them by number, especially the last, Fifty three. Her brother Lennon is sobering up, while her sister Mel has three children, aged from 18 months to seven, and a partner who's looking increasingly dodgy.
The fosters are all grown and gone now, and the parents would love to have Hannah, Lennon, Mel (plus whatever kids and partners they have) living "at home", which is a country town and not where Hannah needs to be.
The novel moves between family and relationship dynamics and some major hospital cases: a car crash victim who feels responsible; a young anorexia victim who may not make it; a burns victim who may have been either attacked or suiciding; and a heavy-drinker who'd rather sign up for voluntary assisted dying than consider sobriety, dialysis, and/or a liver transplant… the list goes on.
Each of these patients requires some kind of mental assessment, but it's not always obvious who should deal with which case. Hannah and Jon are part of the hospital's new Community-Liaison Team which has its own office.
"The new Consultation-Liaison office is in the basement, an undecorated open space that looks like an underground railway station. All that’s missing is a busker. Or air-raid sirens. There are five smaller rooms along one side. I check one out: empty shelves, no furniture, just one electrical socket. The two computers we’ll share are on a large modular table in the main area. And there’s a mustiness, a slight sweetness in the air. I’m a doctor – I know the smell of death.
CL staff are scattered around the table and the open space on mismatched office chairs, looking at computers and phones. Four senior registrars – fourth and fifth-year trainees – I’ve met before, plus a couple of nurses in scrubs, an occupational therapist and a social worker. We’re a multidisciplinary team, except that the psychologists are separate. There was some problem with them reporting to a psychiatrist, or possibly Professor Gordon specifically. When a ward needs help, they have to decide whether to call us or the psychologists and, like the general public, they don’t always know who does what."
I haven't read the first two books in this series, so I am less invested in the individual characters than a fan would be, but the characters are well-defined and the authors fill in enough background that I more or less understood the pecking order. As you can see, nobody exactly understands the pecking order, which leads to some jockeying for position.
I enjoy medicine and minds, so I'm a good target audience. I don't particularly care for teaching moments, but I understand the reasons, and the characters, cases and anecdotes make it worthwhile.
Readers familiar with the series should love it. Thanks to #NetGalley and Hachette for a copy of #TheGeneralHospital for review.
It is available on NetGalley until mid-March and published at the end of March 2026.
"… but it's more about the bond that happens when you're present at a turning point in someone's life. That's the over-involved bit."
Why might she become over-involved? Dr Hannah Wright is a medical doctor, now a registrar – a second-year trainee – working to become a fully-qualified psychiatrist. Her father asks her how much longer she's got to go.
"'Well, if you have to explain it to someone else, just say that. How long to go?'
'Four years.'
'So, five altogether. Plumbing apprenticeship only takes four.'
I laugh. 'You're not counting the seven years to qualify as a doctor.'
'That's my point. This is extra. Like a gas-fitting licence.' He's laughing now. 'And they still call you that word that sounds like someone from Births, Deaths and Marriages?'
'Registrar. We're all registrars till we qualify.'"
Ah yes, the Hatch, Match, and Dispatch folks at the Registry Office.
I remember being told once that you never really understand something until you can explain it to your grandmother. This is the third in the Menzies Mental Health series, so I'm pretty sure Hannah's father is just teasing her about her career trajectory, but for the benefit of new readers (like me), Buist and Simsion have slotted this explanation in early. Otherwise, we might think a second-year trainee is some kind of apprentice.
In a novel about mental health, medical treatments, injuries, diagnosis and prognosis, the authors need to clarify specific details. Unfortunately, it can be awkward to make this information sound like a natural conversation and not a teaching opportunity.
Hannah has a complicated family life – her parents had fostered fifty-three children over the years, and she refers to them by number, especially the last, Fifty three. Her brother Lennon is sobering up, while her sister Mel has three children, aged from 18 months to seven, and a partner who's looking increasingly dodgy.
The fosters are all grown and gone now, and the parents would love to have Hannah, Lennon, Mel (plus whatever kids and partners they have) living "at home", which is a country town and not where Hannah needs to be.
The novel moves between family and relationship dynamics and some major hospital cases: a car crash victim who feels responsible; a young anorexia victim who may not make it; a burns victim who may have been either attacked or suiciding; and a heavy-drinker who'd rather sign up for voluntary assisted dying than consider sobriety, dialysis, and/or a liver transplant… the list goes on.
Each of these patients requires some kind of mental assessment, but it's not always obvious who should deal with which case. Hannah and Jon are part of the hospital's new Community-Liaison Team which has its own office.
"The new Consultation-Liaison office is in the basement, an undecorated open space that looks like an underground railway station. All that’s missing is a busker. Or air-raid sirens. There are five smaller rooms along one side. I check one out: empty shelves, no furniture, just one electrical socket. The two computers we’ll share are on a large modular table in the main area. And there’s a mustiness, a slight sweetness in the air. I’m a doctor – I know the smell of death.
CL staff are scattered around the table and the open space on mismatched office chairs, looking at computers and phones. Four senior registrars – fourth and fifth-year trainees – I’ve met before, plus a couple of nurses in scrubs, an occupational therapist and a social worker. We’re a multidisciplinary team, except that the psychologists are separate. There was some problem with them reporting to a psychiatrist, or possibly Professor Gordon specifically. When a ward needs help, they have to decide whether to call us or the psychologists and, like the general public, they don’t always know who does what."
I haven't read the first two books in this series, so I am less invested in the individual characters than a fan would be, but the characters are well-defined and the authors fill in enough background that I more or less understood the pecking order. As you can see, nobody exactly understands the pecking order, which leads to some jockeying for position.
I enjoy medicine and minds, so I'm a good target audience. I don't particularly care for teaching moments, but I understand the reasons, and the characters, cases and anecdotes make it worthwhile.
Readers familiar with the series should love it. Thanks to #NetGalley and Hachette for a copy of #TheGeneralHospital for review.
It is available on NetGalley until mid-March and published at the end of March 2026.
April 3, 2026
Another 5 star read - I hope there’s another book to come in this series!
April 9, 2026
Another great book in the series
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