What do you think?
Rate this book
Natalie King, Forensic Psychiatrist #3
This I Would Kill For
Psychiatrist Natalie King is the expert witness in a vicious child custody battle, and the stakes are high. Getting it wrong means handing a child over to an abuser—or depriving that child of the only father she knows.
Is Jenna gaming the system, or is her ex-husband Malik as dangerous as she suggests? How can Natalie best protect the child? And now that Natalie’s pregnant—and still unsure of the child’s paternity—how is a growing preoccupation with her own lost father affecting her judgment?
Court dramas, cultural clashes and media backlash create an explosive mixture that forces Natalie to make life and death choices.
How far will a parent go to keep—or save—their child?
Anne Buist is the Chair of Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne. She has over twenty-five years’ clinical and research experience in perinatal psychiatry, and 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. Her novels featuring forensic psychiatrist Natalie King are Medea’s Curse, Dangerous to Know and This I Would Kill For.
‘Buist gives the reader a plot that is original and believable, with more than one twist to keep the reader guessing right up to a heart-stopping climax. Her expertise in the mental health field is apparent in every paragraph…Buist is certainly setting the bar high for her next literary foray: this one has to be her best yet.’ BookMooch
‘When psychiatrist Natalie King is asked to be an expert witness in a custody battle between Jenna and Malik for their daughter Chelsea, it’s the kind of low-key thing she’s interested in now that she’s pregnant…Anne Buist, Chair of Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, lays bare the emotional carnage of these battles in this harrowing thriller.’ Readings
‘Forensic psychiatrist Natalie King is not your average heroine nor is Medea’s Curse a predictable by-the-numbers thriller…An intelligent, thought-provoking tale.’ Courier Mail on Medea’s Curse
‘Buist brings her considerable experience as a perinatal psychiatrist to bear in this novel, giving it authenticity and gravitas.’ Daily Telegraph on Medea’s Curse
‘An intelligent thriller.’ Who Weekly on Medea’s Curse
‘A harrowing and thrilling read, this mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat.’ Buzzfeed, Best Australian Books of 2015 on Medea’s Curse
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2018
17 people are currently reading
413 people want to read
About the author
Anne Buist
16 books155 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 16, 2023
Natalie King, forensic psychiatrist with a diagnosis all of her own is in hot water again, trying to solve complex family situations where the reader is taken on the to and fro ride, never sure of who to trust, what will happen next, or if in fact, the protag herself can be a reliable narrator.
Always aware of her mania related to her bipolar disorder, and constantly checking if she should up her mood stabilisers, she's often after a quieter ride than she finds herself on. There is no rest for this newly pregnant boundary lacking and gutsy woman.
Mirroring her own life, her cases seem to be murky; she is unsure of her own paternity, and now pregnant with her first child, is seeking to find the paternity of her own unborn 'bean'. I love that she calls her baby in this way. It's endearing with a touch of distance. Will the father be the man that loves her and would stay with her even if the baby is not his, or the father willing to stick to the fatherly responsibilities financially?
She has niggles of the involement in her life of Declan who has always been there for him; she's always been able to talk with him and must do this as he is her supervisor - Natalie bounces ideas off him in relation to her caseload, and keeps her moods and meds in check. Her cases consume her time and she gets overly involved, and this is what the series is reliant upon.
In tryng to ascertain children's safety from sexual abuse, to assessing parent's personality disorders via the DSM5 and throwing around many psychiatric traits and medication, it's evident the author is a psychiatrist herself and it's enjoyable to read content by authors that they clearly resonate with.
Natalie must piece things together and find out the source of abuse, but she often gets things wrong. She certainly is fallible, but in this book, I sense her growing up a little.
A 3-4 star read, the reader needs to be able to go along with lots of theatrics and a lot of Twitter talk in relation to race, culture and religion, and this aspect probably made me think more along the 3 star rating. Still excellent writing and I always find the knowledgable insights to mental health extremley interesting. I'm now up to date with this series, and will await number four on audio.
Always aware of her mania related to her bipolar disorder, and constantly checking if she should up her mood stabilisers, she's often after a quieter ride than she finds herself on. There is no rest for this newly pregnant boundary lacking and gutsy woman.
Mirroring her own life, her cases seem to be murky; she is unsure of her own paternity, and now pregnant with her first child, is seeking to find the paternity of her own unborn 'bean'. I love that she calls her baby in this way. It's endearing with a touch of distance. Will the father be the man that loves her and would stay with her even if the baby is not his, or the father willing to stick to the fatherly responsibilities financially?
She has niggles of the involement in her life of Declan who has always been there for him; she's always been able to talk with him and must do this as he is her supervisor - Natalie bounces ideas off him in relation to her caseload, and keeps her moods and meds in check. Her cases consume her time and she gets overly involved, and this is what the series is reliant upon.
In tryng to ascertain children's safety from sexual abuse, to assessing parent's personality disorders via the DSM5 and throwing around many psychiatric traits and medication, it's evident the author is a psychiatrist herself and it's enjoyable to read content by authors that they clearly resonate with.
Natalie must piece things together and find out the source of abuse, but she often gets things wrong. She certainly is fallible, but in this book, I sense her growing up a little.
A 3-4 star read, the reader needs to be able to go along with lots of theatrics and a lot of Twitter talk in relation to race, culture and religion, and this aspect probably made me think more along the 3 star rating. Still excellent writing and I always find the knowledgable insights to mental health extremley interesting. I'm now up to date with this series, and will await number four on audio.
June 12, 2019
Natalie King is a psychiatrist with personal issues. Diagnosed with Bipolar Affective Disorder and having spent time in a mental health facility, she is now on medication and doing well. She generally counsels married couples, and it's really ironic that she is single, newly pregnant, either by a single cop or a married prosecutor.
She has been called to be an expert witness for a woman in a vicious child custody battle. One of her children is a young boy by her husband, the other is an 8-year-old girl, adopted by this father. Jenna states that her husband is violent ... and then later she comes up with he's abusing her daughter.
What's the truth ..... is Jenna lying to place total custodial care in her hands? Is the father innocent, and confused, and secretly has made plans to take the children to his home country of Egypt? Is the husband guilty? How far would a parent go to keep their children safe?
This story is full of court dramas, cultural clashes, and lots of social media to make things even more confusing. Natalie wants ... needs ... to protect these children with everything she has.
The author's personal background lends a lot of credibility to the story and to the characters. Not all the characters are likeable ... and I'm sure this is what the author is aiming for. This is one of those books that kept me riveted to each and every page ... and had me questioning motives which the author solved in a satisfactory way. Evenly paced from start to finish, there's also a sub-plot running through with regards to Natalie's own upbringing.
Many thanks to the author / Text Publishing / Edelweiss for the digital copy of this medical thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 17, 2018
This I Would Kill For is the third book in the Natalie King, Forensic Psychiatrist series by Australian psychiatrist and author, Professor Anne Buist. As it follows on almost directly from Dangerous To Know with many characters in common and minimal recap, readers will do well to read both earlier books first.
Having prepared what should have been a routine psychiatric evaluation in a custody case, forensic psychiatrist Natalie King is dismayed to find herself in court when the mother, Jenna Radford complicates matters with a claim against her ex, Malik Essa, of the sexual abuse of her eight-year-old daughter, Chelsea. Natalie’s qualifications have the magistrate involving her even more deeply in the case.
As it becomes quickly clear that Jenna will lie whenever it suits her purpose, Natalie is faced with several questions: is the abuse real, or a fabrication? If so, is Malik the abuser? If not, then who? Knowing that Chelsea’s safety and happiness are at stake, Natalie has to tread carefully.
Natalie’s personal life distracts her from the case: newly pregnant, her baby’s paternity is yet to be established, and interactions with the potential fathers are, to say the least, spirited. And is it her pregnancy, or the case, that is making her revisit the mystery of her own father’s identity?
Against the backdrop of the Royal Commission into Child Abuse, Buist’s tale demonstrates how some of the players deciding a child’s custody may have their own agendas, be they political correctness and being seen to do the right thing, or keeping to a budget and staying under the media radar. The far-reaching effects of opinion pieces in print media, and reaction on social media as racial and religious prejudices are aired, are also shown as Natalie temporarily enters the Twittersphere.
This instalment develops an already fascinating character by expand her backstory: pregnancy adds another dimension and, without her motorcycle and her booze, Natalie gets her kicks from driving a borrowed Lotus, having lost none of her passion for life nor her sexual appetite. That said, none of Buist’s characters are stereotypes: each has depth, and some will surprise as the story progresses. Bob the cockatoo in eerily prescient with his misquotes.
As always, Buist gives the reader a plot that is original and believable, with more than one twist to keep the reader guessing right up to a heart-stopping climax. Her expertise in the mental health field is apparent in every paragraph, and while she ties up quite a few loose ends into neat bows by the end, fans can only hope that Buist will dream up a few more challenges for Dr King. Buist is certainly setting the bar high for her next literary foray: this one has to be her best yet. Another brilliant read!
Having prepared what should have been a routine psychiatric evaluation in a custody case, forensic psychiatrist Natalie King is dismayed to find herself in court when the mother, Jenna Radford complicates matters with a claim against her ex, Malik Essa, of the sexual abuse of her eight-year-old daughter, Chelsea. Natalie’s qualifications have the magistrate involving her even more deeply in the case.
As it becomes quickly clear that Jenna will lie whenever it suits her purpose, Natalie is faced with several questions: is the abuse real, or a fabrication? If so, is Malik the abuser? If not, then who? Knowing that Chelsea’s safety and happiness are at stake, Natalie has to tread carefully.
Natalie’s personal life distracts her from the case: newly pregnant, her baby’s paternity is yet to be established, and interactions with the potential fathers are, to say the least, spirited. And is it her pregnancy, or the case, that is making her revisit the mystery of her own father’s identity?
Against the backdrop of the Royal Commission into Child Abuse, Buist’s tale demonstrates how some of the players deciding a child’s custody may have their own agendas, be they political correctness and being seen to do the right thing, or keeping to a budget and staying under the media radar. The far-reaching effects of opinion pieces in print media, and reaction on social media as racial and religious prejudices are aired, are also shown as Natalie temporarily enters the Twittersphere.
This instalment develops an already fascinating character by expand her backstory: pregnancy adds another dimension and, without her motorcycle and her booze, Natalie gets her kicks from driving a borrowed Lotus, having lost none of her passion for life nor her sexual appetite. That said, none of Buist’s characters are stereotypes: each has depth, and some will surprise as the story progresses. Bob the cockatoo in eerily prescient with his misquotes.
As always, Buist gives the reader a plot that is original and believable, with more than one twist to keep the reader guessing right up to a heart-stopping climax. Her expertise in the mental health field is apparent in every paragraph, and while she ties up quite a few loose ends into neat bows by the end, fans can only hope that Buist will dream up a few more challenges for Dr King. Buist is certainly setting the bar high for her next literary foray: this one has to be her best yet. Another brilliant read!
Read
August 24, 2018‘A] well-informed, fast-paced look at the dangers in the child welfare system.’
Kirkus Reviews
‘Buist uses her own professional knowledge to present a highly-charged situation of suspected child abuse, differing cultural norms in raising children and relationships between the range of professionals involved…There is highly insightful and succinctly presented description and explanation of the pitfalls in such a case, where supporting a suspected abuser may result in a dangerous custody decision. The interweaving of individuals characters, their fears and motivations and their strategies to gain the results they seek makes for suspenseful and compelling reading…A book for the adventurous reader.’
Otago Daily Times
‘The strength of this crime novel by Professor Anne Buist, Chair of Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, lies in its exploration of the workings of the Family Court and its experts…This book should come with a warning: you may never be able to look at your own children’s drawings in the same way again.’
Sydney Morning Herald
‘Buist, chair of mental health at the University of Melbourne, is deeply versed in the institutional, legal and emotional implications of such a case. She has crafted a skilled and multi-layered procedural, one that is more about psychological than criminal matters, although their intersection is inevitable and crucial…Buist has given us a three-dimensional heroine and richly imagined scenes of conflict in public and private. Most of these disputes are managed within legal bounds. Buist’s insights into the enmities and frustrations of bodies bound to help children are sharp.’
Australian
‘When psychiatrist Natalie King is asked to be an expert witness in a custody battle between Jenna and Malik for their daughter Chelsea, it’s the kind of low-key thing she’s interested in now that she’s pregnant…Anne Buist, Chair of Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, lays bare the emotional carnage of these battles in this harrowing thriller.’
Readings
‘Buist gives the reader a plot that is original and believable, with more than one twist to keep the reader guessing right up to a heart-stopping climax. Her expertise in the mental health field is apparent in every paragraph…Buist is certainly setting the bar high for her next literary foray: this one has to be her best yet.’
BookMooch
Kirkus Reviews
‘Buist uses her own professional knowledge to present a highly-charged situation of suspected child abuse, differing cultural norms in raising children and relationships between the range of professionals involved…There is highly insightful and succinctly presented description and explanation of the pitfalls in such a case, where supporting a suspected abuser may result in a dangerous custody decision. The interweaving of individuals characters, their fears and motivations and their strategies to gain the results they seek makes for suspenseful and compelling reading…A book for the adventurous reader.’
Otago Daily Times
‘The strength of this crime novel by Professor Anne Buist, Chair of Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, lies in its exploration of the workings of the Family Court and its experts…This book should come with a warning: you may never be able to look at your own children’s drawings in the same way again.’
Sydney Morning Herald
‘Buist, chair of mental health at the University of Melbourne, is deeply versed in the institutional, legal and emotional implications of such a case. She has crafted a skilled and multi-layered procedural, one that is more about psychological than criminal matters, although their intersection is inevitable and crucial…Buist has given us a three-dimensional heroine and richly imagined scenes of conflict in public and private. Most of these disputes are managed within legal bounds. Buist’s insights into the enmities and frustrations of bodies bound to help children are sharp.’
Australian
‘When psychiatrist Natalie King is asked to be an expert witness in a custody battle between Jenna and Malik for their daughter Chelsea, it’s the kind of low-key thing she’s interested in now that she’s pregnant…Anne Buist, Chair of Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne, lays bare the emotional carnage of these battles in this harrowing thriller.’
Readings
‘Buist gives the reader a plot that is original and believable, with more than one twist to keep the reader guessing right up to a heart-stopping climax. Her expertise in the mental health field is apparent in every paragraph…Buist is certainly setting the bar high for her next literary foray: this one has to be her best yet.’
BookMooch
December 24, 2019
I'm a tiny bit conflicted by this book. On the one hand, I couldn't put it down, but on the other, I still can't find it in my heart to give it 5 stars. The action picked up quickly, and while the plot twists and turns kept me guessing, I would have preferred an actual reckoning, and for that matter, more of a resolution given one of the minor story lines in the book! But having said all that, I still did enjoy the series.
July 30, 2019
Give me a forensic psychiatrist or a psychologist as the main character and you’ve already got me on board! Buist has twenty-five years’ clinical and research experience in perinatal psychiatry, so you can be sure, the clinical side of this book is spot on. Most importantly it’s spot on in a way that the reader can understand, it isn’t riddled with jargon. It is so interesting from a clinical perspective though, and another novel that drew out the mental health nurse in me. Fans of A Good Enough Mother may enjoy this novel, and series. However, this one has a more suspenseful edge, nothing too extreme but perfect for the story told.
One of the great things about returning to a series is the familiarity with the characters, and this series has some great ones. Namely, our main protagonist, Natalie King, she’s so likeable! And that likeability is because her character appears genuine – dealing with real life problems, having real life dilemmas, not written to shock or for dramatics, but a genuine portrayal of a psychiatrist living with bipolar, working a tough job, just trying to do her best. Natalie also has a winning personality, individuality to envy, yet she has a vulnerability to her that shows her caring nature and will to do the best for the children, in her current case, and her unborn child.
Other characters return in this novel too and they have such distinct personalities, it’s easy to remember them from previous books. Also, a joy to see how they progress as Natalie’s life enters a new course.
This novel is contemporary in that it includes the role of social media, everyone has an opinion on a high-profiled case – everyone’s a warrior behind a keyboard. This inclusion of social media increased the realism in this novel, and you can’t help but form your own opinions on the tweets you read and the case itself.
As with most series, this novel features a standalone case, so can be read in isolation, but for maximum enjoyment, it’s best to start at book one so you have an understanding of Natalie’s personal journey as well as her professional one. I really hope there’s a book four in the works because I’d love to continue reading this series.
*My thanks to the publisher for granting me access to a copy of this title via Netgalley*
One of the great things about returning to a series is the familiarity with the characters, and this series has some great ones. Namely, our main protagonist, Natalie King, she’s so likeable! And that likeability is because her character appears genuine – dealing with real life problems, having real life dilemmas, not written to shock or for dramatics, but a genuine portrayal of a psychiatrist living with bipolar, working a tough job, just trying to do her best. Natalie also has a winning personality, individuality to envy, yet she has a vulnerability to her that shows her caring nature and will to do the best for the children, in her current case, and her unborn child.
Other characters return in this novel too and they have such distinct personalities, it’s easy to remember them from previous books. Also, a joy to see how they progress as Natalie’s life enters a new course.
This novel is contemporary in that it includes the role of social media, everyone has an opinion on a high-profiled case – everyone’s a warrior behind a keyboard. This inclusion of social media increased the realism in this novel, and you can’t help but form your own opinions on the tweets you read and the case itself.
As with most series, this novel features a standalone case, so can be read in isolation, but for maximum enjoyment, it’s best to start at book one so you have an understanding of Natalie’s personal journey as well as her professional one. I really hope there’s a book four in the works because I’d love to continue reading this series.
*My thanks to the publisher for granting me access to a copy of this title via Netgalley*
February 11, 2018
Nowadays I rarely read the Bible, but Anne Buist’s third book in the psychiatrist Natalie King series This I Would Kill For sent me digging out my battered King James version to refresh my memory of King Solomon. When two women appear before Solomon, both claiming to be mother of an infant, he calls for a sword. ‘Divide the living child in two, and give half to one and half to the other.’ The first woman begs to spare the child’s life and forfeits her claim. The other says, ‘Let it be neither thine nor mine, but divide it.’ Solomon, in his wisdom, determines the first woman to be the child’s mother.
In This I Would Kill For, Natalie King, motorbike-riding, rock-singing psychiatrist is called as an expert witness in a custody battle between Malik and Jenna Essa. Malik is father to three-year-old Chris and step-father to Jenna’s eight-year-old daughter, Chelsea. Jenna will do anything to retain custody of her children. But will she go so far as to commit perjury? And is the good-looking Malik really a psychopathic ‘fox in the henhouse’ or dedicated to the children’s welfare? It’s up to Natalie to present the facts to the court.
When Chelsea’s behaviour points to potential abuse, the custody battle turns savage. Jenna is sure Malik is the abuser while Malik hints Jenna is an unfit mother. Does Natalie King possess the wisdom of Solomon to determine which parent is lying? If she doesn’t get it right – Chelsea will be handed over to a potential abuser or be denied the love of a step-father genuinely concerned for her welfare. Natalie King is a complex character with her own problems. Her recent pregnancy (paternity unsure) and her growing preoccupation with the identity of her own father may be clouding her judgment. But she must make choices. Does she go with her gut instincts, to the peril of her career, her lover or her own life?
Buist, a psychiatrist and Chair of Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne with experience in protective services and the legal system, paints an accurate and compelling portrait of parents at loggerheads over their children, unwilling to give an inch, a position reflected in Natalie’s lover Liam’s own marriage. There are intriguing threads throughout the novel and it is unclear who is the abuser, particularly with a few tantalising red herrings sprinkled throughout. The court scenes are compelling and I felt as if I was present, watching the volleying of evidence and opinion. The novel provides an interesting insight into the challenges facing psychiatrists, social workers and judges – who forced to make tough decisions are often vilified by the media.
Buist examines the rigid opinions voiced in mainstream and social media (both left and right, cultural and religious). She muses as to whether child welfare is being sacrificed on the altar of political correctness.
Five out of five stars for this intelligent and thought-provoking book. It is multi-layered, intelligent writing – a novel in which to sink your teeth and have you question people’s motivations. I read it in two sittings (only because I needed sleep). Good luck to Natalie and her unborn child (the bean) – I loved that name, a little character already – I look forward to their adventures in the next novel.
In This I Would Kill For, Natalie King, motorbike-riding, rock-singing psychiatrist is called as an expert witness in a custody battle between Malik and Jenna Essa. Malik is father to three-year-old Chris and step-father to Jenna’s eight-year-old daughter, Chelsea. Jenna will do anything to retain custody of her children. But will she go so far as to commit perjury? And is the good-looking Malik really a psychopathic ‘fox in the henhouse’ or dedicated to the children’s welfare? It’s up to Natalie to present the facts to the court.
When Chelsea’s behaviour points to potential abuse, the custody battle turns savage. Jenna is sure Malik is the abuser while Malik hints Jenna is an unfit mother. Does Natalie King possess the wisdom of Solomon to determine which parent is lying? If she doesn’t get it right – Chelsea will be handed over to a potential abuser or be denied the love of a step-father genuinely concerned for her welfare. Natalie King is a complex character with her own problems. Her recent pregnancy (paternity unsure) and her growing preoccupation with the identity of her own father may be clouding her judgment. But she must make choices. Does she go with her gut instincts, to the peril of her career, her lover or her own life?
Buist, a psychiatrist and Chair of Women’s Mental Health at the University of Melbourne with experience in protective services and the legal system, paints an accurate and compelling portrait of parents at loggerheads over their children, unwilling to give an inch, a position reflected in Natalie’s lover Liam’s own marriage. There are intriguing threads throughout the novel and it is unclear who is the abuser, particularly with a few tantalising red herrings sprinkled throughout. The court scenes are compelling and I felt as if I was present, watching the volleying of evidence and opinion. The novel provides an interesting insight into the challenges facing psychiatrists, social workers and judges – who forced to make tough decisions are often vilified by the media.
Buist examines the rigid opinions voiced in mainstream and social media (both left and right, cultural and religious). She muses as to whether child welfare is being sacrificed on the altar of political correctness.
Five out of five stars for this intelligent and thought-provoking book. It is multi-layered, intelligent writing – a novel in which to sink your teeth and have you question people’s motivations. I read it in two sittings (only because I needed sleep). Good luck to Natalie and her unborn child (the bean) – I loved that name, a little character already – I look forward to their adventures in the next novel.
July 28, 2018
My full review on my website. www.bookread2day.wordpress.com
February 23, 2018
This was my first journey into the trials and tribulations of psychiatrist, Dr Natalie King, thanks to the generosity of the publishers in a Goodreads giveaway.
Dr King is drawn into a web of family drama with a battle between parents for their two children. What comes next is a series of doubt-riddled moments, with more twists and turns than a pretzel.
It took me a little brain work to catch up on the main characters’ backstories, but once I did I sprinted along with the plot.
Worth a read for fans of psychological thrillers.
Trigger warning- discussions of child abuse.
Dr King is drawn into a web of family drama with a battle between parents for their two children. What comes next is a series of doubt-riddled moments, with more twists and turns than a pretzel.
It took me a little brain work to catch up on the main characters’ backstories, but once I did I sprinted along with the plot.
Worth a read for fans of psychological thrillers.
Trigger warning- discussions of child abuse.
February 24, 2018
‘He wants to take my kids off me.’
Forensic psychiatrist Dr Natalie King has been hired to do an evaluation. This psychiatric evaluation is required for a custody dispute in a case before the children’s court. While this is not Natalie King’s usual area of work, she’s happy to do what should be a routine consultation now that she’s pregnant.
But there’s nothing routine about this case. Jenna Radford and Malik Essa each see the other as being the problem. Malik says that Jenna is crazy and compulsive. And when Jenna accuses Malik of abusing their eight-year old daughter Chelsea, the magistrate hearing the case asks Natalie to investigate further.
This is a difficult investigation for Natalie. She desperately wants to protect Chelsea. On a personal level, the paternity of Natalie’s child has yet to be established and being pregnant has raised several issues. Natalie did not know her own father and she wants to find out more about him. While being pregnant is an added factor as Natalie as tries to effectively manage her Bipolar Affective Disorder. Personal and professional issues are both causing Natalie stress.
While Natalie is quick to establish that Jenna will lie whenever necessary to suit her purposes, it’s necessary to prove (or disprove) her claims in order to protect Chelsea. In the meantime, someone has abused Chelsea: is it Malik? If it isn’t Malik, who is it?
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse provides part of the backdrop to this novel, and everyone is acutely conscious of this. Jenna’s lies, Malik’s anger and Natalie’s preoccupations will all have a part to play in this complex story. Different psychiatric opinions will also cause Natalie concern.
Natalie King is a complex, likeable, flawed hero who continues to struggle with her own demons. I like Anne Buist’s portrayal of a strong woman with mental illness, trying hard to function effectively in what can be a hostile world. This is the third book in the Natalie King Forensic Psychiatrist series and while I’ve yet to read ‘Medea’s Curse’ (the first novel) I think that this series is best read in order. I’ve picked up quite a bit of Natalie King’s backstory from ‘Dangerous to Know’ (the second book), and the backstory is important in this series.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Forensic psychiatrist Dr Natalie King has been hired to do an evaluation. This psychiatric evaluation is required for a custody dispute in a case before the children’s court. While this is not Natalie King’s usual area of work, she’s happy to do what should be a routine consultation now that she’s pregnant.
But there’s nothing routine about this case. Jenna Radford and Malik Essa each see the other as being the problem. Malik says that Jenna is crazy and compulsive. And when Jenna accuses Malik of abusing their eight-year old daughter Chelsea, the magistrate hearing the case asks Natalie to investigate further.
This is a difficult investigation for Natalie. She desperately wants to protect Chelsea. On a personal level, the paternity of Natalie’s child has yet to be established and being pregnant has raised several issues. Natalie did not know her own father and she wants to find out more about him. While being pregnant is an added factor as Natalie as tries to effectively manage her Bipolar Affective Disorder. Personal and professional issues are both causing Natalie stress.
While Natalie is quick to establish that Jenna will lie whenever necessary to suit her purposes, it’s necessary to prove (or disprove) her claims in order to protect Chelsea. In the meantime, someone has abused Chelsea: is it Malik? If it isn’t Malik, who is it?
The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse provides part of the backdrop to this novel, and everyone is acutely conscious of this. Jenna’s lies, Malik’s anger and Natalie’s preoccupations will all have a part to play in this complex story. Different psychiatric opinions will also cause Natalie concern.
Natalie King is a complex, likeable, flawed hero who continues to struggle with her own demons. I like Anne Buist’s portrayal of a strong woman with mental illness, trying hard to function effectively in what can be a hostile world. This is the third book in the Natalie King Forensic Psychiatrist series and while I’ve yet to read ‘Medea’s Curse’ (the first novel) I think that this series is best read in order. I’ve picked up quite a bit of Natalie King’s backstory from ‘Dangerous to Know’ (the second book), and the backstory is important in this series.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
May 31, 2020
Natalie King is a Forensic Psychiatrist who also has Bipolar Affective Disorder and is pregnant but unsure as to which of the two men in her life is the father. In addition, she is wondering about her own father’s identity. Against this muddled background Natalie is working as an Expert Witness and is tasked with producing a report regarding a case where a couple, Jenna and Malik, are fighting for custody of two children (Chris, Malik’s 3 year old son with Jenna, and Chelsea, Jenna’s 8 year old daughter from a previous relationship but who has only ever known Malik as a father figure). In the midst of this Jenna then accuses Malik of sexually abusing Chelsea and the stakes are dramatically raised. As someone who is a qualified and registered social worker and a qualified and experienced Expert Witness (in adult social work and social care in the UK), I found this book, send to me by Goodreads, deeply irritating for the main protagonist is a fundamentally flawed character who acts in what I consider to be a very unprofessional manner which borders on the asinine at times and with whom I could not identify at all. I also struggle with the current situation in Australia regarding Expert Witnesses where it would appear that almost anyone, including those with little experience in their specialist field and no specialist training in being an Expert Witness, can call themselves one and where there appears to be an absence of effective regulation and no requirement that Expert Witnesses sign up to, and follow, a professional code of conduct and behave in an ethical manner.
Read
October 9, 2018This is a series that started out with much promise, which alas hasn't been delivered in THIS I WOULD KILL FOR.
On the psychological thriller side of the equation, this was deeply unconvincing. A child abuser that was obvious from his first appearance, a central protagonist that's gone from a bit of a maverick to unprofessional, wilfully childish and tiresome; and a storyline balance heavily weighted towards too much of the personal, too much baby talk and enough fluff around the edges to make you sneeze. And don't get me started on the persistent "explanations" and mind-boggling tediousness of the coy and childish games around twitter all of which clearly indicates that this outing in the Natalie King series was a disappointment.
On the psychological thriller side of the equation, this was deeply unconvincing. A child abuser that was obvious from his first appearance, a central protagonist that's gone from a bit of a maverick to unprofessional, wilfully childish and tiresome; and a storyline balance heavily weighted towards too much of the personal, too much baby talk and enough fluff around the edges to make you sneeze. And don't get me started on the persistent "explanations" and mind-boggling tediousness of the coy and childish games around twitter all of which clearly indicates that this outing in the Natalie King series was a disappointment.
September 26, 2020
Another book that really seemed to drag. I felt like the majority of the book could have been condensed or summarized much quicker. A Forensic psychologist, Natalie, is given the task of determining if a child is having assaulted after a mother makes a claim that her ex stepfather, who legally adopted her, was abusing her. The psychologist also has her own trauma resulting from being abandoned by her biological father even though she was raised by a kind stepfather as his own. To complicated things further, Natalie is also pregnant and doesn’t know who Is the baby daddy. I was surprised when I noticed this was a series because I did not find the main character Natalie to be very interesting or even like-able. I would not want to read any other books with her as the lead,
July 24, 2018
This is the third and latest book in the Natalie King series, and is much like the previous ones. A typically complex case for the troubled forensic psychologist - difficult judgements to make, lots of ins and outs to work through – and is a compelling and engaging psychological thriller that keeps the reader involved and guessing to the end. A good read.
April 5, 2018
4.5 Stars
January 6, 2025
Would have been 2⭐️ but the ending brought it back x
December 30, 2018
I hoped for more - but the Twitter element in the book was annoying and unnecessary. More development of the characters without Twitter would have made it a better book. It was pretty easy to figure out the perpetrator and the failure of the protagonist to consider who it might be and why, was another annoying element. Also - a supposedly independent professional woman, albeit one who is bi polar, and who constantly takes her boyfriend's Lotus without asking. Really?
Who is left to admire in this book?
Who is left to admire in this book?
November 1, 2020
(3.5 stars)
I picked up this book because I have an interest in family law matters. Written by Professor Anne Buist, This I Would Kill For, is written from the perspective of Natalie King, a forensic psychiatrist who is called upon as an expert witness in the Children's Court. King has her own issues, a pregnancy, two possible fathers, and ongoing mental health challenges that she needs to manage as well as a demanding job. The book repeats many of the common myths of "hard-done-by dads" and "false claims made by women in order to get custody and maintenance" that persist despite evidence to the contrary (women are no more likely to make false claims about child abuse, than they are to make false allegations in relation to other sorts of crime). In places the repetition of these ideas - that "the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was giving every woman with a grievance a method to get what they wanted: an intervention order, more maintenance, payback for infidelity" started to shit me a bit.
The story centres around a former couple, Malik and Jenna, who are engaged in a custody dispute. Their daughter, Chelsea, is showing signs of having experienced child sexual abuse, and it is Natalie's job to uncover whether it safe for her to have shared parental custody. New to this sort of case, Natalie struggles with the responsibility: "Even if there wasn't any evidence of abuse, surely it would be better to just lean towards safety?" Turns out the law isn't a truth-finding exercise, it's "about balance of risk and probability."
The book has some interesting things to say about the lifelong impacts of childhood trauma and the chemical changes in makes in the brain: "Kind of a psychic scar with a physical basis." It's also nice to have a female protagonist who is living with mental health challenges as a sideline, rather than the book being about those challenges. There's also something to be said for a psychiatrist who has actually experienced mental health stigma: "Psychiatrists knew the cost of stigma—yet here she was feeling its full force inflicted on her. The label, her past indiscretions, would always dog her. This was what her patients had to deal with all the time."
There's also an interesting media commentary sideline, where Professor Buist gives us a peek at the impact of media commentary on expert witnesses, and the resulting Twitter abuse it can generate. It left me wondering how these things impact expert witnesses from giving unpopular testimony they might be critiqued for in the first place. While I didn't fall in love with this book, or the character, I can see myself delving backwards because of the author's real life experience making its way into fictional Australian books.
I picked up this book because I have an interest in family law matters. Written by Professor Anne Buist, This I Would Kill For, is written from the perspective of Natalie King, a forensic psychiatrist who is called upon as an expert witness in the Children's Court. King has her own issues, a pregnancy, two possible fathers, and ongoing mental health challenges that she needs to manage as well as a demanding job. The book repeats many of the common myths of "hard-done-by dads" and "false claims made by women in order to get custody and maintenance" that persist despite evidence to the contrary (women are no more likely to make false claims about child abuse, than they are to make false allegations in relation to other sorts of crime). In places the repetition of these ideas - that "the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was giving every woman with a grievance a method to get what they wanted: an intervention order, more maintenance, payback for infidelity" started to shit me a bit.
The story centres around a former couple, Malik and Jenna, who are engaged in a custody dispute. Their daughter, Chelsea, is showing signs of having experienced child sexual abuse, and it is Natalie's job to uncover whether it safe for her to have shared parental custody. New to this sort of case, Natalie struggles with the responsibility: "Even if there wasn't any evidence of abuse, surely it would be better to just lean towards safety?" Turns out the law isn't a truth-finding exercise, it's "about balance of risk and probability."
The book has some interesting things to say about the lifelong impacts of childhood trauma and the chemical changes in makes in the brain: "Kind of a psychic scar with a physical basis." It's also nice to have a female protagonist who is living with mental health challenges as a sideline, rather than the book being about those challenges. There's also something to be said for a psychiatrist who has actually experienced mental health stigma: "Psychiatrists knew the cost of stigma—yet here she was feeling its full force inflicted on her. The label, her past indiscretions, would always dog her. This was what her patients had to deal with all the time."
There's also an interesting media commentary sideline, where Professor Buist gives us a peek at the impact of media commentary on expert witnesses, and the resulting Twitter abuse it can generate. It left me wondering how these things impact expert witnesses from giving unpopular testimony they might be critiqued for in the first place. While I didn't fall in love with this book, or the character, I can see myself delving backwards because of the author's real life experience making its way into fictional Australian books.
June 23, 2018
This I Would Kill For is a relatively quick read as the story runs along at a surprisingly fast pace and I found myself jumping to my own conclusions. I was actually surprised to find that this is number 3 in a series, as it most definitely reads very well as a standalone; I certainly didn't experience any detrimental effect from not having read the earlier two books. In fact I felt intrigued enough by the main character of Natalie King to want to read the previous books, so that's always a good sign when a reader jumps in mid-series.
Dr Natalie King is called in as an expert witness in a custody case. Jenna and Malik are fighting over custody of their children but that isn't the whole story: 3 year old Chris is Malik's son with Jenna but 8 year old Chelsea is not his biological daughter and Jenna is accusing Malik of abusing Chelsea. Natalie must find out whether there is any truth to the accusation and then decide where the children will be safe. As Natalie spends time with the family, she uncovers one secret after another and her decision on the children's safety is not one to be made lightly. Is Malik guilty of abusing Chelsea? Why would Jenna lie about such a terrible thing? Natalie King will find out!
You can tell that Anne Buist knows the field of psychiatry inside out as we are given a glimpse behind the closed door of the consulting room. I loved reading about the way that Dr King manages to coax information out of her patient and I found the thought processes behind her observations fascinating. As much as the science is based on fact, there is a very good story playing out; one which is very true to life and unfortunately happens all too often in real life.
I really enjoyed This I Would Kill For and, as much as I guessed some of the plot, I found my virtual visit to the psychiatrist's chair absolutely fascinating. I have already decided that I want to read the earlier books to find out more about Natalie King's character as Natalie is struggling with her own psychological demons. I think Natalie is a really strong, fresh and funky character and I look forward to reading more about her.
Anne Buist shows us a contemporary and modern side to psychiatry in this page turner of a psychological thriller. Anne Buist's excellent writing vividly paints the scenes and her vast knowledge explains all the reader needs to know in order to follow the case, making this both an interesting and a thrilling read.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Dr Natalie King is called in as an expert witness in a custody case. Jenna and Malik are fighting over custody of their children but that isn't the whole story: 3 year old Chris is Malik's son with Jenna but 8 year old Chelsea is not his biological daughter and Jenna is accusing Malik of abusing Chelsea. Natalie must find out whether there is any truth to the accusation and then decide where the children will be safe. As Natalie spends time with the family, she uncovers one secret after another and her decision on the children's safety is not one to be made lightly. Is Malik guilty of abusing Chelsea? Why would Jenna lie about such a terrible thing? Natalie King will find out!
You can tell that Anne Buist knows the field of psychiatry inside out as we are given a glimpse behind the closed door of the consulting room. I loved reading about the way that Dr King manages to coax information out of her patient and I found the thought processes behind her observations fascinating. As much as the science is based on fact, there is a very good story playing out; one which is very true to life and unfortunately happens all too often in real life.
I really enjoyed This I Would Kill For and, as much as I guessed some of the plot, I found my virtual visit to the psychiatrist's chair absolutely fascinating. I have already decided that I want to read the earlier books to find out more about Natalie King's character as Natalie is struggling with her own psychological demons. I think Natalie is a really strong, fresh and funky character and I look forward to reading more about her.
Anne Buist shows us a contemporary and modern side to psychiatry in this page turner of a psychological thriller. Anne Buist's excellent writing vividly paints the scenes and her vast knowledge explains all the reader needs to know in order to follow the case, making this both an interesting and a thrilling read.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
June 23, 2018
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Legend Press in exchange for an honest review.
I am so pleased I requested this book! I don't think I have ever read a book similar to this and I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't realise it is the third in a series and while it is one of those detective-type series where you don't have to read the ones before it, there were still some rocky elements at the start which it took me a while to adjust to. However, after that I was completely hooked.
This I Would Kill For is a book about a forensic psychiatrist who is asked to determine whether or not a child is being abused by their stepdad. The child's parents are separating and both of them want custody, even though neither is an ideal parent. This premise is handled brilliantly with the plot swerving you so at first you side with one parent, then you begin to doubt them and then even more doubt is introduced until you feel as uncertain as the main character. It really did keep me invested in the story and I read it very quickly to try and find out what was going on.
Speaking of our main character, I adored Natalie. She is one of the most fleshed-out protagonists I have read about in a while and I loved that her personal life actually made up a fair bit of the plot. She was very likeable and her attitude towards the case went a long way in adding to the tension of what decision she would make. You really felt for her as a character. It was also nice to read about someone who isn't a police detective for once (and I don't just say that as a Psychology student).
There were unfortunately just a few niggles which stopped me giving this 5 stars. As mentioned, the opening was a bit clunky for me and it took me a few chapters to work out what was going on. The ending also wasn't the best and it let the story down a little bit. Finally, I'm not sure the author understood how Twitter works? It seemed like everyone Natalie interacted with on Twitter turned out to be someone she knew in real life which...yeah no, the internet is a big place.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book and I am planning on seeking out the others in the series. If you want an engaging thriller which is a little different from the typical abduction/murder/domestic breeds, then you should definitely give this a try. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Overall Rating: 4/5
I am so pleased I requested this book! I don't think I have ever read a book similar to this and I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't realise it is the third in a series and while it is one of those detective-type series where you don't have to read the ones before it, there were still some rocky elements at the start which it took me a while to adjust to. However, after that I was completely hooked.
This I Would Kill For is a book about a forensic psychiatrist who is asked to determine whether or not a child is being abused by their stepdad. The child's parents are separating and both of them want custody, even though neither is an ideal parent. This premise is handled brilliantly with the plot swerving you so at first you side with one parent, then you begin to doubt them and then even more doubt is introduced until you feel as uncertain as the main character. It really did keep me invested in the story and I read it very quickly to try and find out what was going on.
Speaking of our main character, I adored Natalie. She is one of the most fleshed-out protagonists I have read about in a while and I loved that her personal life actually made up a fair bit of the plot. She was very likeable and her attitude towards the case went a long way in adding to the tension of what decision she would make. You really felt for her as a character. It was also nice to read about someone who isn't a police detective for once (and I don't just say that as a Psychology student).
There were unfortunately just a few niggles which stopped me giving this 5 stars. As mentioned, the opening was a bit clunky for me and it took me a few chapters to work out what was going on. The ending also wasn't the best and it let the story down a little bit. Finally, I'm not sure the author understood how Twitter works? It seemed like everyone Natalie interacted with on Twitter turned out to be someone she knew in real life which...yeah no, the internet is a big place.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book and I am planning on seeking out the others in the series. If you want an engaging thriller which is a little different from the typical abduction/murder/domestic breeds, then you should definitely give this a try. I can't wait to read more from this author.
Overall Rating: 4/5
June 22, 2021
This is the third in Anne Buist's Natalie King book series, and I hope that she is working on a fourth, because I really enjoyed this.
In this book, Natalie is pregnant, but doesn't know who the father is, mostly because of her established habit of having multiple sexual partners. The story inevitably continues the convoluted story of her love live, mostly through her relationship with Liam, who is a divorced father.
The main plot of this book is easily the darkest in the series so far. It revolves around a custody dispute between two parents, where the father has allegedly sexually abused them. To complicate things, the mother also has a history of alcohol abuse and anorexia (she is said to have in the past served up dinner for the children, giving them each no vegetables except a single pea).
One of the most fascinating aspects of this book is its commentary on human behaviour on social meda, and how everyone thinks they are suddenly an expert on everything, with twitter exploding after the initial decision to give custody to the mother, and allow the father access only at weekends, with the supervision of his own mother.
I was expecting a murder storyline, but this book turned out to be quite a lot different to the previous book in the series, mostly revolving around Natalie's attempts to find out who abused the children, and it was Anne Buist's writing style that made me want to keep reading.
The book also delves into Natalie's own backstory, and she starts addressing the fact that she doesn't know who her own father is, having lived with her mother and stepfather when she was younger.
I loved the fact that once again, the book played with audience expectations, and threw in a number of red herrings. I was constantly unsure of which of the parents I was supposed to be hating, and which I was meant to have sympathy for. The endings of both main storylines were suitably shocking. As usual, I had to slow down a lot to take in what was happening at the end, because of the large amounts of exposition, but I was satisfied at how all the loose ends were tied up.
In this book, Natalie is pregnant, but doesn't know who the father is, mostly because of her established habit of having multiple sexual partners. The story inevitably continues the convoluted story of her love live, mostly through her relationship with Liam, who is a divorced father.
The main plot of this book is easily the darkest in the series so far. It revolves around a custody dispute between two parents, where the father has allegedly sexually abused them. To complicate things, the mother also has a history of alcohol abuse and anorexia (she is said to have in the past served up dinner for the children, giving them each no vegetables except a single pea).
One of the most fascinating aspects of this book is its commentary on human behaviour on social meda, and how everyone thinks they are suddenly an expert on everything, with twitter exploding after the initial decision to give custody to the mother, and allow the father access only at weekends, with the supervision of his own mother.
I was expecting a murder storyline, but this book turned out to be quite a lot different to the previous book in the series, mostly revolving around Natalie's attempts to find out who abused the children, and it was Anne Buist's writing style that made me want to keep reading.
The book also delves into Natalie's own backstory, and she starts addressing the fact that she doesn't know who her own father is, having lived with her mother and stepfather when she was younger.
I loved the fact that once again, the book played with audience expectations, and threw in a number of red herrings. I was constantly unsure of which of the parents I was supposed to be hating, and which I was meant to have sympathy for. The endings of both main storylines were suitably shocking. As usual, I had to slow down a lot to take in what was happening at the end, because of the large amounts of exposition, but I was satisfied at how all the loose ends were tied up.
April 17, 2019
Thanks to Text Publishing and the author for the free copy of this novel.
I’ve not read any of the author’s previous novels and was expecting more of a gruesome murder mystery, not this sympathetic and humanist look at a very difficult and unsettling topic; child abuse.
Natalie King is a forensic psychologist who is given the task of assessing an eight year old girl to determine if she’s being abused by her adoptive father. Natalie herself is dealing with mental illness and the consequences of one of her flare-ups, and rather than having all the answers, we share in her self doubt and the struggles she faces with the decisions she’s making.
We also get to see the various different sides of the central story (and there are many of these), the child’s mother and father, her grandparents and those around her who are drawn into the situation. I found these were dealt with in a very sympathetic manner, with the author emphasising the “shades of grey” inherent in most relationships. She also understood all the many different points of view involved when the welfare of children is questioned.
I found this novel riveting and hard to put down. I really wanted to know, not only who the bad guy was, but what happened to all the characters in the end, which is surely a sign that I related to and cared about them.
I’d recommend this novel for those who like a good mystery, without a lot of blood and guts, and who like a lead character who is real without being totally broken. I liked Natalie and hope to see her again sometime.
I’ve not read any of the author’s previous novels and was expecting more of a gruesome murder mystery, not this sympathetic and humanist look at a very difficult and unsettling topic; child abuse.
Natalie King is a forensic psychologist who is given the task of assessing an eight year old girl to determine if she’s being abused by her adoptive father. Natalie herself is dealing with mental illness and the consequences of one of her flare-ups, and rather than having all the answers, we share in her self doubt and the struggles she faces with the decisions she’s making.
We also get to see the various different sides of the central story (and there are many of these), the child’s mother and father, her grandparents and those around her who are drawn into the situation. I found these were dealt with in a very sympathetic manner, with the author emphasising the “shades of grey” inherent in most relationships. She also understood all the many different points of view involved when the welfare of children is questioned.
I found this novel riveting and hard to put down. I really wanted to know, not only who the bad guy was, but what happened to all the characters in the end, which is surely a sign that I related to and cared about them.
I’d recommend this novel for those who like a good mystery, without a lot of blood and guts, and who like a lead character who is real without being totally broken. I liked Natalie and hope to see her again sometime.
August 9, 2018
“This I would Kill For” by Ann Buist is the third novel in a series, and I didn’t realise it. Luckily I was able to pick it up and step right into the story.
Synopsis - Psychiatrist Natalie King is the expert witness in a child contact matter in the Children’s Court. Getting it wrong means handing a child over to an abuser—or depriving that child of the only father she knows.
The book had a lot of analysis and exploration into child/adult behaviour, the theme being sexual abuse and trauma. The Royal Commission plays up in the background, adding another layer of trauma for outlier characters. The writing was never graphic, so don’t stress!
Book focused on babies A LOT. Ms King is pregnant, so it’s babybabybaby all the way through. I did like her though, King is super cool, damaged and quirky. The writing made everything feel realistic and emotionally charged. So much was going on, with the court matter and the repercussions bouncing into her personal life. There was always this simmering tension – will she crack? Her personal life was just as interesting (and tense) as her work life.
I suppose I stepped into this book hoping for some clarity on some issues I’ve been having at work in the Children’s Court, but nothing translated as very useful to me. That said, it was easy to read and interesting.
Synopsis - Psychiatrist Natalie King is the expert witness in a child contact matter in the Children’s Court. Getting it wrong means handing a child over to an abuser—or depriving that child of the only father she knows.
The book had a lot of analysis and exploration into child/adult behaviour, the theme being sexual abuse and trauma. The Royal Commission plays up in the background, adding another layer of trauma for outlier characters. The writing was never graphic, so don’t stress!
Book focused on babies A LOT. Ms King is pregnant, so it’s babybabybaby all the way through. I did like her though, King is super cool, damaged and quirky. The writing made everything feel realistic and emotionally charged. So much was going on, with the court matter and the repercussions bouncing into her personal life. There was always this simmering tension – will she crack? Her personal life was just as interesting (and tense) as her work life.
I suppose I stepped into this book hoping for some clarity on some issues I’ve been having at work in the Children’s Court, but nothing translated as very useful to me. That said, it was easy to read and interesting.
February 18, 2019
Set in Australia, a pregnant psychiatrist confronts her own issues of parentage while serving as expert witness in a custody case where an immigrant father is accused of child abuse. It is a tangled web of characters: police detective/possible father of Natalie's baby, high profile prosecutor/love interest with a fancy car/going through a tough divorce , the secretive plaintiff and her always intoxicated mother, the manipulative defendant and his mother, the 2 children, Natalie's brother and his shady import business, her mother and step father who she treats abominably on a regular basis, Natalie's mentor with whom she had a doctor/patient relationship. The constant sub-theme is the paternity of Natalie's fetus, which can get a bit repetitive. The conclusion is satisfying, if not exhausting, portraying the almost impossible work of Child Protective Services.
October 12, 2019
My husband and I heard Anne Buist speak at a book launch for “This I Would Kill For” and we found her life story a whole lot more fascinating than our reading of this book (although the actual topic we found interesting). She’s a wonderful and engaging speaker - very smart! For us, her immense intellect didn’t seem to transfer to this novel (we haven’t read any others at this stage)...perhaps she’s trying to appeal to a younger audience? We’ve passed the book onto our 30+ adult “kids” as think it might appeal to them. We do look forward to reading more of Anne’s work; when we met her (a while ago now), she was just starting out in “this new direction” and we wish her well in her writing career.
May 7, 2018
I was intrigued by this book because of the title and the front cover. I didn't even realise it was part of a series but I was still able to read and enjoy it regardless.
I think one of the main reasons I liked this book so much is because I liked the main character and was interested in the parts about her personal life as well as the interesting case she was working on.
The first 80% of the book was a little slow but still interested me and I really had no idea who the abuser could be. The last 20% was brilliant and much more faced paced. After reading I am keen to read others in the series.
Thanks for Netgalley for allowing me to read a free ecopy.
I think one of the main reasons I liked this book so much is because I liked the main character and was interested in the parts about her personal life as well as the interesting case she was working on.
The first 80% of the book was a little slow but still interested me and I really had no idea who the abuser could be. The last 20% was brilliant and much more faced paced. After reading I am keen to read others in the series.
Thanks for Netgalley for allowing me to read a free ecopy.
June 19, 2018
The character of Natalie has really grown on me as the series continues. She is complex, unpredictable and frequently imprudent, but her heart is always in the right place and she seems to be thinking more of others and less of herself as her character evolves. In this book, we see her coming to terms with impending motherhood but, in typical Natalie King fashion, she first has to figure out who the father is and which of her two love interests would be the best bet for her and her unborn child.
full review on my blog : https://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspo...
full review on my blog : https://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspo...
April 7, 2019
A surprisingly good read that got better with each page.
The protagonist (Natalie King) is an interesting character - a bipolar psychologist who is smart, capable and more than a little flawed. Initially I had a hard time identifying with a woman who was not even sure who the father of her unborn child was.
As the story progressed it became clear that Natalie was a good person doing her best in trying circumstances. The pacing was excellent and ultimately reading the book was a satisfying experience which provides the reader with more than a little food for thought.
Possibly more aimed at a female audience I really enjoyed this book.
The protagonist (Natalie King) is an interesting character - a bipolar psychologist who is smart, capable and more than a little flawed. Initially I had a hard time identifying with a woman who was not even sure who the father of her unborn child was.
As the story progressed it became clear that Natalie was a good person doing her best in trying circumstances. The pacing was excellent and ultimately reading the book was a satisfying experience which provides the reader with more than a little food for thought.
Possibly more aimed at a female audience I really enjoyed this book.
April 27, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, it was well written and an easy book to consume. Caveat though - I was on holidays and was enjoying just hanging out and reading. As a lawyer, I found some of the legal references a little trite at times but it didn't distract me from the plot, and I really liked the character development. I work in mental health, and so I was drawn to the challenges that professionals face in the 'system'. It's a good read and I'll definitely go looking for the other books by the author Anne Buist.
May 20, 2018
This is book three in the Natalie King series,and I haven't read the other two. That goes part of the way to me not being over enthusiastic about this one.
There was a lot to catch up on... family,medical and love life all included.
The main story line of Chelsea and her parents and was she or was she not being abused,and if so,by who.... that was interesting. You start to mistrust everyone,as essentially everyone was lying to get their own way.
I'm afraid I found the whole Twitter thing distracting.
There was a lot to catch up on... family,medical and love life all included.
The main story line of Chelsea and her parents and was she or was she not being abused,and if so,by who.... that was interesting. You start to mistrust everyone,as essentially everyone was lying to get their own way.
I'm afraid I found the whole Twitter thing distracting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews