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A History of Malpractice
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Expected 15 Sep 26December, 2009. A reduction in force leaves Abigail's boyfriend, Garrett, out of work and both of them without housing. Armed with no other choice, they are forced to move from Chicago to south-central Illinois, where a local medical practitioner left the building to Abigail in a trust. Used to moving around after a childhood spent in the foster system, Abigail considers this a pit stop, a place she refuses to see as a new home.
As Garrett convinces her to stay so they can save some money, Abigail begins to realize that Dr. Carlson, the man who left her the building after his death, is still there stalking his offices at night. In an effort to find out more about the man who can't move on, she uncovers disturbing medical records: dozens of otherwise healthy women who died and were disposed of under the doctor's care.
When Abigail starts to worry that she might be his next victim, she becomes desperate to find a way out despite some new friendships with persistent town locals. Just as she thinks she's found an easy exit, she realizes the threat might be too close to escape.
As Garrett convinces her to stay so they can save some money, Abigail begins to realize that Dr. Carlson, the man who left her the building after his death, is still there stalking his offices at night. In an effort to find out more about the man who can't move on, she uncovers disturbing medical records: dozens of otherwise healthy women who died and were disposed of under the doctor's care.
When Abigail starts to worry that she might be his next victim, she becomes desperate to find a way out despite some new friendships with persistent town locals. Just as she thinks she's found an easy exit, she realizes the threat might be too close to escape.
- GenresFiction
280 pages, ebook
Expected publication September 15, 2026
About the author
Clarice Montgomery
3 books51 followersClarice is a novelist whose works include The Keepers of Men and Tracking the Mist. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College after growing up in the American South and now resides in the Midwest with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 10, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Köehler Books for an eARC of A History of Malpractice in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3/5
I found the themes in this story to be important but unfortunately I was not a fan of the writing style.
Rating: 3/5
I found the themes in this story to be important but unfortunately I was not a fan of the writing style.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Abigail has spent her entire life treating "home" like a temporary inconvenience. Foster care taught her not to unpack emotionally or literally, so when she and Garrett lose their jobs and apartment and end up moving into a medical building left to her by a doctor she barely knew, she's already planning her exit before she finishes carrying in the boxes. Which honestly felt smart... until she realized the dead doctor apparently never moved out either.
Because Dr. Carlson is still wandering around his old practice after dark like he forgot to clock out. I kept waiting for him to either be terrifying or explain himself, and instead he mostly had the energy of someone silently lurking while making everybody else's life infinitely more stressful.
Then Abigail starts digging through old patient records because she has exactly the kind of personality that hears, "Maybe don't touch that," and immediately starts opening filing cabinets. Suddenly there are all these healthy women who died under Dr. Carlson's care, records that don't quite add up, and enough bad medical decisions to make you side-eye every stethoscope you've ever seen.
Meanwhile Garrett is over here testing my patience like it's his full-time employment now that he doesn't have an actual job. Their relationship spends so much time circling the same arguments that I started wanting the ghost to interrupt just to move the conversation along. I wasn't even rooting for romance anymore. I was rooting for somebody to make one clear decision and stick with it for longer than fifteen minutes.
The frustrating thing is that I genuinely liked Abigail. She's prickly. She doesn't trust people. She has survived enough disappointment that expecting the worst has basically become muscle memory. Sometimes she made choices that had me staring at the page like, "Girl... respectfully... what are we doing?" But I understood why she kept everyone at arm's length. When you've spent your whole life waiting for people to leave, it's easier to leave first.
The mystery was the part I kept chasing. Every time we'd get another creepy clue or another weird piece of Dr. Carlson's history, I'd perk right back up. Then we'd wander into another long stretch of everyday life, relationship drama, or explanations, and I'd catch myself thinking, "Can we go back to the haunted murder clinic, please? I was invested over there."
The ghost story also stayed much quieter than I expected. Going in, I thought I was getting something that would have me checking dark hallways before bed. Instead it felt more like the supernatural was standing politely in the corner waiting for the humans to finish ruining each other's lives first. Which, to be fair, turned out to be the scarier part anyway.
By the time everything finally came together, I liked where the story landed more than I enjoyed getting there. The truth behind the medical records is unsettling, and the reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary harm always hits harder than any ghost. That part stuck with me. The road there just took longer than I wanted, and somewhere in the middle I realized I was more invested in what happened years ago than what was happening on the page right then.
This ended up being a strong 3 stars for me. I loved the haunted medical office, the buried secrets, and the idea that the dead might be trying to drag the truth into the light. I just wish we'd spent a little less time watching everyone unpack their personal lives and a little more time letting the creepy stuff be creepy.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Fear Medical Filing Cabinets More Than Actual Ghosts
And thank you to Köehler Books and NetGalley for the ARC. Next time someone offers me free real estate with "a little local history," I'm bringing holy water and asking significantly more follow-up questions.
Because Dr. Carlson is still wandering around his old practice after dark like he forgot to clock out. I kept waiting for him to either be terrifying or explain himself, and instead he mostly had the energy of someone silently lurking while making everybody else's life infinitely more stressful.
Then Abigail starts digging through old patient records because she has exactly the kind of personality that hears, "Maybe don't touch that," and immediately starts opening filing cabinets. Suddenly there are all these healthy women who died under Dr. Carlson's care, records that don't quite add up, and enough bad medical decisions to make you side-eye every stethoscope you've ever seen.
Meanwhile Garrett is over here testing my patience like it's his full-time employment now that he doesn't have an actual job. Their relationship spends so much time circling the same arguments that I started wanting the ghost to interrupt just to move the conversation along. I wasn't even rooting for romance anymore. I was rooting for somebody to make one clear decision and stick with it for longer than fifteen minutes.
The frustrating thing is that I genuinely liked Abigail. She's prickly. She doesn't trust people. She has survived enough disappointment that expecting the worst has basically become muscle memory. Sometimes she made choices that had me staring at the page like, "Girl... respectfully... what are we doing?" But I understood why she kept everyone at arm's length. When you've spent your whole life waiting for people to leave, it's easier to leave first.
The mystery was the part I kept chasing. Every time we'd get another creepy clue or another weird piece of Dr. Carlson's history, I'd perk right back up. Then we'd wander into another long stretch of everyday life, relationship drama, or explanations, and I'd catch myself thinking, "Can we go back to the haunted murder clinic, please? I was invested over there."
The ghost story also stayed much quieter than I expected. Going in, I thought I was getting something that would have me checking dark hallways before bed. Instead it felt more like the supernatural was standing politely in the corner waiting for the humans to finish ruining each other's lives first. Which, to be fair, turned out to be the scarier part anyway.
By the time everything finally came together, I liked where the story landed more than I enjoyed getting there. The truth behind the medical records is unsettling, and the reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary harm always hits harder than any ghost. That part stuck with me. The road there just took longer than I wanted, and somewhere in the middle I realized I was more invested in what happened years ago than what was happening on the page right then.
This ended up being a strong 3 stars for me. I loved the haunted medical office, the buried secrets, and the idea that the dead might be trying to drag the truth into the light. I just wish we'd spent a little less time watching everyone unpack their personal lives and a little more time letting the creepy stuff be creepy.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Fear Medical Filing Cabinets More Than Actual Ghosts
And thank you to Köehler Books and NetGalley for the ARC. Next time someone offers me free real estate with "a little local history," I'm bringing holy water and asking significantly more follow-up questions.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of *A History of Malpractice* before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
*A History of Malpractice* is an atmospheric mixture of mystery, psychological suspense and supernatural horror. After Garrett loses his job, he and his girlfriend, Abigail, are left without a home and forced to move from Chicago to a small town in south-central Illinois. Their only option is a building that once belonged to Dr Carlson, a local medical practitioner who unexpectedly left it to Abigail in a trust.
Abigail has spent much of her life moving from place to place following a childhood in the foster-care system, so she is reluctant to form any attachment to the building or the town. She sees the move as temporary, but Garrett persuades her that staying will allow them to save money. Before long, however, Abigail begins sensing that they are not alone. Strange noises and unexplained activity suggest that Dr Carlson may still be wandering through his former offices after dark.
The strongest aspect of the novel is the unsettling medical mystery at its centre. While investigating the doctor and his connection to her, Abigail discovers disturbing records involving numerous women who appeared to be healthy before dying under his care. The clinical setting, abandoned offices and hidden patient histories create an effective atmosphere, particularly as Abigail begins wondering why the building was left specifically to her and whether she may be connected to the victims in some way.
Abigail is a sympathetic protagonist because her instinct is to leave rather than place herself in danger. Her history has taught her not to become too comfortable anywhere, but the friendships she begins forming in the town make walking away more complicated. The contrast between the persistent and apparently welcoming locals and the darkness surrounding Dr Carlson keeps the reader questioning who genuinely wants to help her.
The story builds gradually, combining ghostly encounters with the investigation into the doctor’s past. Some sections move more slowly than I expected, and I occasionally wanted Abigail to uncover information more quickly. A few decisions and later revelations also required suspension of disbelief, while certain supporting characters could have been developed further.
Overall, *A History of Malpractice* is an intriguing and eerie read with a strong central premise. The combination of a haunted medical practice, suspicious patient deaths and a protagonist who may have been deliberately brought to the building creates plenty of tension. Although the pacing was uneven and not every development felt entirely convincing, the mystery kept me interested and the medical-horror elements gave the story a distinctive atmosphere.
*A History of Malpractice* is an atmospheric mixture of mystery, psychological suspense and supernatural horror. After Garrett loses his job, he and his girlfriend, Abigail, are left without a home and forced to move from Chicago to a small town in south-central Illinois. Their only option is a building that once belonged to Dr Carlson, a local medical practitioner who unexpectedly left it to Abigail in a trust.
Abigail has spent much of her life moving from place to place following a childhood in the foster-care system, so she is reluctant to form any attachment to the building or the town. She sees the move as temporary, but Garrett persuades her that staying will allow them to save money. Before long, however, Abigail begins sensing that they are not alone. Strange noises and unexplained activity suggest that Dr Carlson may still be wandering through his former offices after dark.
The strongest aspect of the novel is the unsettling medical mystery at its centre. While investigating the doctor and his connection to her, Abigail discovers disturbing records involving numerous women who appeared to be healthy before dying under his care. The clinical setting, abandoned offices and hidden patient histories create an effective atmosphere, particularly as Abigail begins wondering why the building was left specifically to her and whether she may be connected to the victims in some way.
Abigail is a sympathetic protagonist because her instinct is to leave rather than place herself in danger. Her history has taught her not to become too comfortable anywhere, but the friendships she begins forming in the town make walking away more complicated. The contrast between the persistent and apparently welcoming locals and the darkness surrounding Dr Carlson keeps the reader questioning who genuinely wants to help her.
The story builds gradually, combining ghostly encounters with the investigation into the doctor’s past. Some sections move more slowly than I expected, and I occasionally wanted Abigail to uncover information more quickly. A few decisions and later revelations also required suspension of disbelief, while certain supporting characters could have been developed further.
Overall, *A History of Malpractice* is an intriguing and eerie read with a strong central premise. The combination of a haunted medical practice, suspicious patient deaths and a protagonist who may have been deliberately brought to the building creates plenty of tension. Although the pacing was uneven and not every development felt entirely convincing, the mystery kept me interested and the medical-horror elements gave the story a distinctive atmosphere.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Köehler Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
A History of Malpractice follows Abigail, who is less than thrilled when she and her boyfriend, Garrett, are forced to move from Chicago to hole-in-the-wall Harperfield, Illinois. From a comfy condo to an old abandoned office building, Abigail couldn’t think of a worse situation. She is so convinced they won't be there long that she doesn't even bother unpacking. A few days, maybe a few weeks. Two months, tops. Then, on their first night, Abigail learns the building has a ghost.
I can honestly say this might be the best-written new book I’ve read so far this year. Montgomery crafted a fun mystery that follows Abigail trying to figure out who the ghost is and why it’s there rather than settling into her new life. She ends up fitting in thanks to small-town hospitality, which apparently comes with a complimentary couch. The story is split between chapters following Abigail, Abigail’s childhood in the foster care system, and Dr. Carlson, the man who left Abigail the old downtown office building despite never having met her.
As Abigail digs into the mystery, we learn that her relationship with Garrett is pretty one-sided. He seems much more invested in her than she is in him. As more of Abigail’s past comes to light, her reactions to Garrett make more sense. I really enjoyed the brother and sister who became Abigail’s new friends. They, especially Kennedy, brought the funny, which added some levity to a story with so many heavy elements.
There isn’t much negative for me to say. I had a genuinely enjoyable reading experience. What really stood out to me was how well everything was constructed. Abigail’s choices make sense once we learn about her past. The mystery of Dr. Carlson makes sense. The haunting makes sense. Why he left Abigail the building ends up making sense. I do question why horror was one of the genres chosen for this book. General fiction and mystery, yes. Horror, no. The publisher might want to rethink that.
I also appreciated that Abigail is allowed to be imperfect. She isn’t very nice to most people in the story. At one point she’s straight-up a jerk to someone and gets called out on her behavior. She apologizes. The person accepts the apology but acknowledges Abigail was in the wrong. I’ve read too many books that have the main character do something wrong only for everyone to tell them they have nothing to feel bad about. It was refreshing to read a book where the main character can actually be wrong and not have the story bend over backward to justify her.
I’d recommend this story to anyone looking for a mystery novel with some spooky ghost elements, but also a story about a lost little girl trying to find her place in the world.
A History of Malpractice follows Abigail, who is less than thrilled when she and her boyfriend, Garrett, are forced to move from Chicago to hole-in-the-wall Harperfield, Illinois. From a comfy condo to an old abandoned office building, Abigail couldn’t think of a worse situation. She is so convinced they won't be there long that she doesn't even bother unpacking. A few days, maybe a few weeks. Two months, tops. Then, on their first night, Abigail learns the building has a ghost.
I can honestly say this might be the best-written new book I’ve read so far this year. Montgomery crafted a fun mystery that follows Abigail trying to figure out who the ghost is and why it’s there rather than settling into her new life. She ends up fitting in thanks to small-town hospitality, which apparently comes with a complimentary couch. The story is split between chapters following Abigail, Abigail’s childhood in the foster care system, and Dr. Carlson, the man who left Abigail the old downtown office building despite never having met her.
As Abigail digs into the mystery, we learn that her relationship with Garrett is pretty one-sided. He seems much more invested in her than she is in him. As more of Abigail’s past comes to light, her reactions to Garrett make more sense. I really enjoyed the brother and sister who became Abigail’s new friends. They, especially Kennedy, brought the funny, which added some levity to a story with so many heavy elements.
There isn’t much negative for me to say. I had a genuinely enjoyable reading experience. What really stood out to me was how well everything was constructed. Abigail’s choices make sense once we learn about her past. The mystery of Dr. Carlson makes sense. The haunting makes sense. Why he left Abigail the building ends up making sense. I do question why horror was one of the genres chosen for this book. General fiction and mystery, yes. Horror, no. The publisher might want to rethink that.
I also appreciated that Abigail is allowed to be imperfect. She isn’t very nice to most people in the story. At one point she’s straight-up a jerk to someone and gets called out on her behavior. She apologizes. The person accepts the apology but acknowledges Abigail was in the wrong. I’ve read too many books that have the main character do something wrong only for everyone to tell them they have nothing to feel bad about. It was refreshing to read a book where the main character can actually be wrong and not have the story bend over backward to justify her.
I’d recommend this story to anyone looking for a mystery novel with some spooky ghost elements, but also a story about a lost little girl trying to find her place in the world.
September 13, 2026
The premise of A History of Malpractice immediately caught my attention: a struggling couple, a medical office mysteriously left to Abigail, a dead doctor who apparently isn't ready to leave, and a trail of women who died under his care. There’s a lot to like here, especially the atmosphere surrounding the old practice and the uneasy feeling that something is deeply wrong. I also enjoyed the pieces of Abigail’s past and how her experiences in foster care shaped her instinct to keep people at a distance and never get too comfortable anywhere. The time shifts were an interesting addition as well, giving the story a larger sense of history and gradually filling in pieces of the mystery.
Unfortunately, the pacing kept me from becoming as invested as I wanted to be. I went in expecting a fairly creepy mystery with a strong supernatural element, but the ghostly side of the story felt surprisingly subdued for much of the book. I often found myself more interested in the old medical records and what Dr. Carlson had been doing than in the present-day relationship drama and Abigail’s everyday life. Garrett also became frustrating for me, and some of the character conflicts seemed to circle the same issues without moving the story forward. I appreciated Abigail as a protagonist, but I sometimes wanted her to trust her instincts a little more instead of repeatedly second-guessing herself.
Overall, this was a decent read with an intriguing premise, particularly the mystery surrounding the women who died and the question of why Abigail was given the building in the first place. I just wanted the horror and mystery to take center stage sooner and more often. There were moments when I could see exactly what the book was going for, but the slower pacing and quieter supernatural elements made it difficult for me to fully connect. A solid 3 stars for an atmospheric concept that had some creepy potential, even if it didn't quite deliver the level of suspense I was hoping for.
Thank you to NetGalley and Köehler Books for this ARC!
Unfortunately, the pacing kept me from becoming as invested as I wanted to be. I went in expecting a fairly creepy mystery with a strong supernatural element, but the ghostly side of the story felt surprisingly subdued for much of the book. I often found myself more interested in the old medical records and what Dr. Carlson had been doing than in the present-day relationship drama and Abigail’s everyday life. Garrett also became frustrating for me, and some of the character conflicts seemed to circle the same issues without moving the story forward. I appreciated Abigail as a protagonist, but I sometimes wanted her to trust her instincts a little more instead of repeatedly second-guessing herself.
Overall, this was a decent read with an intriguing premise, particularly the mystery surrounding the women who died and the question of why Abigail was given the building in the first place. I just wanted the horror and mystery to take center stage sooner and more often. There were moments when I could see exactly what the book was going for, but the slower pacing and quieter supernatural elements made it difficult for me to fully connect. A solid 3 stars for an atmospheric concept that had some creepy potential, even if it didn't quite deliver the level of suspense I was hoping for.
Thank you to NetGalley and Köehler Books for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
e-ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Phew, a solid 4‑star experience - maybe even more than that - but it just doesn’t reach 5 stars, and I’ll explain why. The book opens with a trope I absolutely despise: teacher (professor) x student. Even though I later realized this setup was crucial to the entire plot, it didn’t make me hate it any less. That said, instead of romanticizing a relationship that is toxic both psychologically and socially, the author chose to expose its darker side.
The beginning of the story is rather straightforward. Although the pacing is a bit slow, it took me quite some time to really get into the flow of the narrative (around 30% of the way in). By the way, I’d also say this book leans more toward mystery than horror.
This is one of the rare stories where I actually understood the female protagonist’s decisions. Even though her choices really frustrated me, I still respected them, mainly because the author carefully laid out her background, which explained why she made those decisions and handled situations the way she did. That said, it felt a bit excessive. By the last 20% of the book, when a flood of information was revealed to explain the mystery, the pacing felt unbalanced. There was simply too much being dumped at once, while earlier hints in the doctor’s and lawyer’s sections (I can only spoil that much) were rather vague.
All in all, this is still a fairly well‑constructed story, enough to keep readers increasingly engaged as it moves toward the end. With a narrative that feels rather gentle, fitting for autumn despite its somewhat dramatic introduction, I’d say it works well as a seasonal read. So, if anyone asks (or even if they don’t), I’d definitely recommend it for a fall reading list, especially with Halloween just around the corner.
Phew, a solid 4‑star experience - maybe even more than that - but it just doesn’t reach 5 stars, and I’ll explain why. The book opens with a trope I absolutely despise: teacher (professor) x student. Even though I later realized this setup was crucial to the entire plot, it didn’t make me hate it any less. That said, instead of romanticizing a relationship that is toxic both psychologically and socially, the author chose to expose its darker side.
The beginning of the story is rather straightforward. Although the pacing is a bit slow, it took me quite some time to really get into the flow of the narrative (around 30% of the way in). By the way, I’d also say this book leans more toward mystery than horror.
This is one of the rare stories where I actually understood the female protagonist’s decisions. Even though her choices really frustrated me, I still respected them, mainly because the author carefully laid out her background, which explained why she made those decisions and handled situations the way she did. That said, it felt a bit excessive. By the last 20% of the book, when a flood of information was revealed to explain the mystery, the pacing felt unbalanced. There was simply too much being dumped at once, while earlier hints in the doctor’s and lawyer’s sections (I can only spoil that much) were rather vague.
All in all, this is still a fairly well‑constructed story, enough to keep readers increasingly engaged as it moves toward the end. With a narrative that feels rather gentle, fitting for autumn despite its somewhat dramatic introduction, I’d say it works well as a seasonal read. So, if anyone asks (or even if they don’t), I’d definitely recommend it for a fall reading list, especially with Halloween just around the corner.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well unfortunately, this one just wasn't for me.
I went into this book expecting a tense mystery with some genuinely creepy horror elements. Instead, it felt like I signed up for an extended front-row seat to Abigail's personal life, marriage problems, and everyday struggles.
The biggest issue for me was the pacing. There was so much filler that I kept waiting for the story to finally start. Every time I thought we were about to get to the mystery, we'd circle back to another conversation, another personal issue, another explanation that didn't really add much to the tension.
Eventually, the book does explain why Abigail ends up where she does, and all the pieces come together... but by that point, I honestly didn't care anymore. It spends so much time explaining how and why everything happened that any sense of mystery or suspense had already fizzled out.
As for the horror? It barely scratched that itch. There was one scene that finally made me think, "Okay, here we go." But even that ended up feeling pretty cliché, with the classic creepy basement setup that never really evolved into anything memorable. I kept waiting for a big twist or a shocking reveal that would make all the buildup worth it, but it never came.
This definitely feels more like a slow character-driven story with a touch of mystery than the horror-thriller I was hoping for. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough to keep me invested.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC copy!
I went into this book expecting a tense mystery with some genuinely creepy horror elements. Instead, it felt like I signed up for an extended front-row seat to Abigail's personal life, marriage problems, and everyday struggles.
The biggest issue for me was the pacing. There was so much filler that I kept waiting for the story to finally start. Every time I thought we were about to get to the mystery, we'd circle back to another conversation, another personal issue, another explanation that didn't really add much to the tension.
Eventually, the book does explain why Abigail ends up where she does, and all the pieces come together... but by that point, I honestly didn't care anymore. It spends so much time explaining how and why everything happened that any sense of mystery or suspense had already fizzled out.
As for the horror? It barely scratched that itch. There was one scene that finally made me think, "Okay, here we go." But even that ended up feeling pretty cliché, with the classic creepy basement setup that never really evolved into anything memorable. I kept waiting for a big twist or a shocking reveal that would make all the buildup worth it, but it never came.
This definitely feels more like a slow character-driven story with a touch of mystery than the horror-thriller I was hoping for. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough to keep me invested.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Well, I gave this a shot; DNF at 59%. Thank you to Netgalley for a free ARC; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Let's get one thing straight: this did not read like a horror book. Instead, it may as well been a chronicle of Abigail's life, relationship problems, and trauma. She had a lot of self-depreciating thoughts like "I'm so average, boring, nothing's unique about me, etc" which was incredibly annoying. The horror aspect was in the background and not necessarily the main part of the book. Yes, it was spooky but not eerie or even close to horror. It was closer to a mystery than horror; I never really felt creeped out or scared for her.
Despite only being 280 pages, the pacing was SLOW. I could tell it was one of those books where most of the horror was going to be in the last 20-30% of the book, but I wasn't going to sit there and drag through it.
Garret was annoying, and so was Abigail. She complained about not having an income like girl, get a job! She has no hobbies, no interests, and really just sees herself as "Garett's girlfriend" in a sense. It's like she was an empty vessel for the story to continue.
This story was just not for me but I think the author has potential. I'd be willing to give her another chance if she wrote something with a faster pace and a better FMC.
Let's get one thing straight: this did not read like a horror book. Instead, it may as well been a chronicle of Abigail's life, relationship problems, and trauma. She had a lot of self-depreciating thoughts like "I'm so average, boring, nothing's unique about me, etc" which was incredibly annoying. The horror aspect was in the background and not necessarily the main part of the book. Yes, it was spooky but not eerie or even close to horror. It was closer to a mystery than horror; I never really felt creeped out or scared for her.
Despite only being 280 pages, the pacing was SLOW. I could tell it was one of those books where most of the horror was going to be in the last 20-30% of the book, but I wasn't going to sit there and drag through it.
Garret was annoying, and so was Abigail. She complained about not having an income like girl, get a job! She has no hobbies, no interests, and really just sees herself as "Garett's girlfriend" in a sense. It's like she was an empty vessel for the story to continue.
This story was just not for me but I think the author has potential. I'd be willing to give her another chance if she wrote something with a faster pace and a better FMC.
August 20, 2026
I went into this expecting a pretty straightforward paranormal thriller, but it ended up having so much more depth than I expected! The story went in a completely different direction to what I had imagined from the description, and I really liked the way everything slowly came together and was revealed.
I was hooked throughout and thought the pacing was really good. There were some twists that genuinely surprised me, and they actually added something to the story rather than just being there for shock value.
I also really liked how much detail we got about the characters’ backstories and the trauma they had experienced. It gave the story a lot more depth and made their decisions make so much more sense as things unfolded. The paranormal side of the story was fairly brief, but I actually really enjoyed how it was used.
I wasn’t massively attached to the characters, which is probably what stopped this from being a higher rating for me, and while I was happy with the ending, it didn’t completely blow me away. But overall, this was such a good story that kept me engaged and surprised me with where it ended up going.
Definitely not what I expected going in, but in a really good way!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was hooked throughout and thought the pacing was really good. There were some twists that genuinely surprised me, and they actually added something to the story rather than just being there for shock value.
I also really liked how much detail we got about the characters’ backstories and the trauma they had experienced. It gave the story a lot more depth and made their decisions make so much more sense as things unfolded. The paranormal side of the story was fairly brief, but I actually really enjoyed how it was used.
I wasn’t massively attached to the characters, which is probably what stopped this from being a higher rating for me, and while I was happy with the ending, it didn’t completely blow me away. But overall, this was such a good story that kept me engaged and surprised me with where it ended up going.
Definitely not what I expected going in, but in a really good way!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Koehler Books, and author Clarice Montgomery, for this ARC.
My rating: 4.5⭐️
A great thriller to read, even if it started a bit slow until we were able to put puzzle pieces together to form the plot. The clues are scattered throughout the chapters, each showing us the real story behind the papers.
Abigail is a bit rough as a character, but we get to understand why as we learn about her past. While I don't really applaud all her decisions in the book, I cheered her on to live her life happily.
I was able to guess what the clues wanted to tell early on, so the story was endearing to me from the start, as I am sure we all know of such stories from somewhere. The horror was more a touch of supernatural to me, there to frighten us, but in the end, the real monsters were still the humans.
It was a great read for me, even with the slow forming of the plot, or the roughness of Abigail's personality. It was like a mix of Cold Case meets The Ghost Whisperer, and we get to solve the remaining tether holding back a ghost.
My rating: 4.5⭐️
A great thriller to read, even if it started a bit slow until we were able to put puzzle pieces together to form the plot. The clues are scattered throughout the chapters, each showing us the real story behind the papers.
Abigail is a bit rough as a character, but we get to understand why as we learn about her past. While I don't really applaud all her decisions in the book, I cheered her on to live her life happily.
I was able to guess what the clues wanted to tell early on, so the story was endearing to me from the start, as I am sure we all know of such stories from somewhere. The horror was more a touch of supernatural to me, there to frighten us, but in the end, the real monsters were still the humans.
It was a great read for me, even with the slow forming of the plot, or the roughness of Abigail's personality. It was like a mix of Cold Case meets The Ghost Whisperer, and we get to solve the remaining tether holding back a ghost.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Köehler Books for providing me with a free ARC of this book!
I came in for the mystery and the eerie vibes and was not disappointed on that front, this tells the story of Abigail and her boyfriend Garett who have no choice but to move into an old medical practice building that has been entrusted to Abigail from a stranger. However, the doctor hasn't left the building, his ghost is still roaming about.
It turns out the story isn't as much about ghost than it is about Abigail's history with growing up in the child protective services system and where her story intersect's with that doctor's.
I had a good time reading it but that doesn't make it great literature as in the last 20% of the book we are suddenly showered in new information that no reader could have ever known about. Definitely do not expect this to be some kind of mystery you need to find clues to or you might be dead disappointed. It is a nice story, perhaps a little too tidy towards the end but enjoyable nonetheless.
I came in for the mystery and the eerie vibes and was not disappointed on that front, this tells the story of Abigail and her boyfriend Garett who have no choice but to move into an old medical practice building that has been entrusted to Abigail from a stranger. However, the doctor hasn't left the building, his ghost is still roaming about.
It turns out the story isn't as much about ghost than it is about Abigail's history with growing up in the child protective services system and where her story intersect's with that doctor's.
I had a good time reading it but that doesn't make it great literature as in the last 20% of the book we are suddenly showered in new information that no reader could have ever known about. Definitely do not expect this to be some kind of mystery you need to find clues to or you might be dead disappointed. It is a nice story, perhaps a little too tidy towards the end but enjoyable nonetheless.
June 24, 2026
★★★☆☆ 3 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Koehler Books, and author, Clarice Montgomery, for this ARC.
I was excited to read A History of Malpractice because the premise sounded unique and right up my alley. Unfortunately, the story was weighed down by too much filler. There were interesting ideas and themes throughout the book, but it often felt like it took too long to get to the point.
The medical and ethical aspects of the story were what kept me reading, but I found myself wishing for a tighter plot and less unnecessary detail. Several sections could have been shortened without losing anything important to the overall story.
That said, the book does raise some thought-provoking questions and has an interesting concept at its core. While I appreciated those strengths, the excess padding kept the novel from fully delivering on its promise. In the end, it’s a thoughtful but uneven read that never quite lives up to its premise.
Thank you to NetGalley, Koehler Books, and author, Clarice Montgomery, for this ARC.
I was excited to read A History of Malpractice because the premise sounded unique and right up my alley. Unfortunately, the story was weighed down by too much filler. There were interesting ideas and themes throughout the book, but it often felt like it took too long to get to the point.
The medical and ethical aspects of the story were what kept me reading, but I found myself wishing for a tighter plot and less unnecessary detail. Several sections could have been shortened without losing anything important to the overall story.
That said, the book does raise some thought-provoking questions and has an interesting concept at its core. While I appreciated those strengths, the excess padding kept the novel from fully delivering on its promise. In the end, it’s a thoughtful but uneven read that never quite lives up to its premise.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first book by Clarice Montgomery, and the premise immediately grabbed my attention. A haunted medical office, mysterious patient deaths, and buried secrets sounded like a thriller I would really enjoy.
For me, this one was a mixed bag. I liked the overall idea behind the story, and the medical mystery combined with the paranormal elements kept me curious enough to keep reading. I definitely wanted to know what really happened.
The pacing was where I struggled the most. There were quite a few sections that felt slower than they needed to be, and I found myself wishing the story would move along a little quicker. Because of that, I never felt completely pulled into the book the way I was hoping.
Overall, I thought this was a unique concept with some interesting twists, but it didn't quite come together as well as I wanted it to. I'm still glad I gave it a chance, and I'd be open to trying another book by this author in the future.
For me, this one was a mixed bag. I liked the overall idea behind the story, and the medical mystery combined with the paranormal elements kept me curious enough to keep reading. I definitely wanted to know what really happened.
The pacing was where I struggled the most. There were quite a few sections that felt slower than they needed to be, and I found myself wishing the story would move along a little quicker. Because of that, I never felt completely pulled into the book the way I was hoping.
Overall, I thought this was a unique concept with some interesting twists, but it didn't quite come together as well as I wanted it to. I'm still glad I gave it a chance, and I'd be open to trying another book by this author in the future.
July 20, 2026
3/5
When her boyfriend suddenly loses his job, Abigail is forced to move into a small town to a house mysteriously left to her by a random doctor. The more time she spends in their new home, the more she realizes that something is terribly wrong...
This overall was pretty much fine. The writing was fine, the characters were all fine, the plot was fine. I did enjoy the non linear storytelling with the flashbacks that occurred frequently but I also didn't super care about anyone. Everyone except Abigail was a bit one dimensional and I hate when books explicitly hide information from you just to get a good twist.
If you like revenge stories, trickle truthing, or ghosts with unfinished business, you're going to like this. Otherwise, I'd maybe pick up something else.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC!!
When her boyfriend suddenly loses his job, Abigail is forced to move into a small town to a house mysteriously left to her by a random doctor. The more time she spends in their new home, the more she realizes that something is terribly wrong...
This overall was pretty much fine. The writing was fine, the characters were all fine, the plot was fine. I did enjoy the non linear storytelling with the flashbacks that occurred frequently but I also didn't super care about anyone. Everyone except Abigail was a bit one dimensional and I hate when books explicitly hide information from you just to get a good twist.
If you like revenge stories, trickle truthing, or ghosts with unfinished business, you're going to like this. Otherwise, I'd maybe pick up something else.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a relatively predictable but still entertaining story about a woman wrestling with questions about her past. It was obvious who Abigail would end up with at the end of this story, and it was also obvious what the doctor was doing. I still cannot figure out why she chose to stay with Garrett for so long when she absolutely hated him from the first page, and also why she just refused to work or do much of anything at all. I also felt that, after she and Garrett met in the house that last time, no one seemed to act realistically horrified or even slightly upset about what happened there. Half the time, I felt like I was reading one of those small-town mystery/romance novels, and I don’t feel like I was far off on that, honestly.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my review.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is one of those books where I have to work really hard not to leave any spoilers in my review. I received a an e-copy for review through Hambright PR and Koehler Books, and I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I was drawn to the story because it promised secrets and mysterious deaths. It delivered on that, but it also had some spooky vibes related to the old building, family secrets that added plot twists I didn’t see coming, and a really great emotional journey for the main character as she discovers who and where she wants to be in her life.
This one is a definite “yes, read it!” from me for anyone who enjoys character driven stories that still provide quick pacing, and the plot twists of a thriller but with a happier ending!
This one is a definite “yes, read it!” from me for anyone who enjoys character driven stories that still provide quick pacing, and the plot twists of a thriller but with a happier ending!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | 4 Stars
A History of Malpractice was such a fun and addictive read. The tension kept me hooked, and I found myself flying through the pages wanting to know what would happen next. The characters were engaging, and the mix of thriller, drama and secrets made it hard to put down. It was an easy quick read too!
While I really enjoyed the story, there were a few moments where I wanted the pace to be a bit quicker, which is why it landed at 4 stars instead of 5. That said, it was still an entertaining read that kept me invested from beginning to end and wanting to know the outcome.
If you love twists, secrets and a murder mysteries this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
A History of Malpractice was such a fun and addictive read. The tension kept me hooked, and I found myself flying through the pages wanting to know what would happen next. The characters were engaging, and the mix of thriller, drama and secrets made it hard to put down. It was an easy quick read too!
While I really enjoyed the story, there were a few moments where I wanted the pace to be a bit quicker, which is why it landed at 4 stars instead of 5. That said, it was still an entertaining read that kept me invested from beginning to end and wanting to know the outcome.
If you love twists, secrets and a murder mysteries this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the third book from this author, and each is completely unique. The narrative for A History of Malpractice is honest and personal, and reading it is much like spending time hearing a story from a close friend. I’m grateful for the ARC; I found it to be intelligent, suspenseful, and heartwarming!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Received advanced copy from NetGallery
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank You NetGalley for this eARC
Will update review soon
Will update review soon
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you, Clarice Montgomery for the ARC!
I LOVED this author’s last book, and in comparison this one was slower paced but still a good story with character development and an intriguing plot. I’m a sucker for a happy ending!
I LOVED this author’s last book, and in comparison this one was slower paced but still a good story with character development and an intriguing plot. I’m a sucker for a happy ending!
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