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Doctor Glass
THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW.
Psychotherapist Emma-Jane Glass has prioritized work over leisure for far too long. She does whatever it takes to help her clients, and it's bordering on professional obsession. When she publishes a controversial article about unstable mothers murdering their children, an anonymous letter arrives on her doorstep:
I will expose you.
Then, I will mutilate you…
Wait for me.
After she is abducted into the night, Doctor Glass finds herself at the mercy of a dangerous sociopath. But being a relentless doctor of the mind, she feels an urge to help her fragile captor, even if it might shatter her sanity-and her life. It becomes a game of survival, and only one mind can win.
For fans of deeply layered thrillers by Ruth Ware, Tana French, and Alex Michaelides comes the newest voice in psychological fiction.
CONTENT GUIDANCE: This novel explores aspects of psychology and mental health and contains depictions of self-harm, alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and suicide. Please read with care.
Psychotherapist Emma-Jane Glass has prioritized work over leisure for far too long. She does whatever it takes to help her clients, and it's bordering on professional obsession. When she publishes a controversial article about unstable mothers murdering their children, an anonymous letter arrives on her doorstep:
I will expose you.
Then, I will mutilate you…
Wait for me.
After she is abducted into the night, Doctor Glass finds herself at the mercy of a dangerous sociopath. But being a relentless doctor of the mind, she feels an urge to help her fragile captor, even if it might shatter her sanity-and her life. It becomes a game of survival, and only one mind can win.
For fans of deeply layered thrillers by Ruth Ware, Tana French, and Alex Michaelides comes the newest voice in psychological fiction.
CONTENT GUIDANCE: This novel explores aspects of psychology and mental health and contains depictions of self-harm, alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and suicide. Please read with care.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2021
95 people are currently reading
315 people want to read
About the author
Louise Worthington
7 books55 followersLouise Worthington writes literary gothic thrillers set in the rural landscapes of Shropshire and the Welsh borders. Her novels blend domestic noir, psychological suspense, and atmospheric horror, featuring morally complex female protagonists who reclaim power through dangerous means.
Worthington's distinctive voice combines poetic prose with visceral violence, where ancient yew trees contain bodies, poisonous gardens become instruments of revenge, and Victorian institutions harbour supernatural horrors. Her work explores the darkness beneath domesticity, the violence embedded in landscape, and the thin line between victim and perpetrator.
With degrees in literature and psychology, and experience as an English teacher, Worthington brings psychological depth and literary craftsmanship to genre fiction. Her novels include "Rosie Shadow," "Rachel's Garden," "The Entrepreneur," "Doctor Glass," and "Forgotten Dark."
She lives with her family in Shropshire, UK—the landscape that haunts her fiction.
Follow this page for updates on new releases.
Worthington's distinctive voice combines poetic prose with visceral violence, where ancient yew trees contain bodies, poisonous gardens become instruments of revenge, and Victorian institutions harbour supernatural horrors. Her work explores the darkness beneath domesticity, the violence embedded in landscape, and the thin line between victim and perpetrator.
With degrees in literature and psychology, and experience as an English teacher, Worthington brings psychological depth and literary craftsmanship to genre fiction. Her novels include "Rosie Shadow," "Rachel's Garden," "The Entrepreneur," "Doctor Glass," and "Forgotten Dark."
She lives with her family in Shropshire, UK—the landscape that haunts her fiction.
Follow this page for updates on new releases.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
March 31, 2022
Thank you TCK Publishing, IBPA, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. IYKYK, my review are always honest.
2.5 rounded down.
TRIGGER WARNING: explicit suicide and self harm
This was an attempted buddy read with Chantel, but the prologue gave her a brain aneurysm so she's still recovering.
THE PLOT
Dr. Glass is a psychologist who gets some heat after defending mothers who murder their own kids. Shocker—not everyone agrees with her and she starts getting threatening letters. Anddddd that's all I can say without giving the rest away.
MY OPINION
Usually I give three scores for writing, plot, and the ending, but I found this difficult because the first half of this book is garbagio and the second half snapped back like J Lo after giving birth to twins. When this book is good, it is GOODT, but when it's bad, it's a crime against humanity.
First half lowlights:
- Shitty supporting characters: Lucy the fat-shaming/fatphobic "nutritionist" can fuck right off with her outdated BMI bs. Kat and her synchronizing tongue flicks with her snake can also exit immediately. Major horse girl/pick me energy with this one.
- Idk what it's called but the fat fetish sex scenes can also go ... really unnecessary. Literally has no relevance to the overall story.
- A lot of unnecessary details about the clinic's parking situation, the colour of the walls, etc.
- Prologue nearly killed me and after I finished I don't see where it fit in with the story?????
Second half highlights:
- After the fat fetish couple, Kat, and fat phobic Lucy POVs were dramatically scaled back, the book was WAAAYYYY more enjoyable. I liked the unravelling of Drew's mental state and Emma's struggle with Stockholm Syndrome. If the novel had kicked off from the kidnapping, it would've been much better overall. It's really the scenes between Drew and Emma (esp the scene where Drew goes fully off the depend) that lifted this rating to a 3, otherwise it was giving me 1.5 stars AT BEST.
- I enjoyed Emma's inner conflict about the whole kidnapping ordeal with Drew... I've always been fascinated by Stockholm Syndrome and I found this to be a decent exploration of this complex coping mechanism.
- I'm glad Emma located her logic and reasoning at the end and chucked the deuces up
Overall concerns:
- Tryna figure out how Lucy was in her 20s or at most early 30s, but her mom was 86????? I know I'm bad at math, but unless this was some sort of miracle birth situation, it's not adding up.
- I dead ass thought Emma was like 40 yrs old, not besties with Lucy since they went to college together. Emma gave me old lady vibes, whereas Lucy seemed like she was constantly a deer in headlights.
- Too much "male gaze" type writing despite the female author. I'm talking "tight ass" "pert breasts" type of crapola.
- Why did AJ do what he did? What was his motive? Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
- Unrelated to the book's content, but it seems like this book was previously published in April 2021? The description is diff on Goodreads, but it's def the same book. Not sure what's going on there?
PROS AND CONS
Pros: Second half tightened tf up thank GOD, good psychological insights
Cons: First half, nonsensical POVs, dumbass characters, weird, misplaced prologue
2.5 rounded down.
TRIGGER WARNING: explicit suicide and self harm
This was an attempted buddy read with Chantel, but the prologue gave her a brain aneurysm so she's still recovering.
THE PLOT
Dr. Glass is a psychologist who gets some heat after defending mothers who murder their own kids. Shocker—not everyone agrees with her and she starts getting threatening letters. Anddddd that's all I can say without giving the rest away.
MY OPINION
Usually I give three scores for writing, plot, and the ending, but I found this difficult because the first half of this book is garbagio and the second half snapped back like J Lo after giving birth to twins. When this book is good, it is GOODT, but when it's bad, it's a crime against humanity.
First half lowlights:
- Shitty supporting characters: Lucy the fat-shaming/fatphobic "nutritionist" can fuck right off with her outdated BMI bs. Kat and her synchronizing tongue flicks with her snake can also exit immediately. Major horse girl/pick me energy with this one.
- Idk what it's called but the fat fetish sex scenes can also go ... really unnecessary. Literally has no relevance to the overall story.
- A lot of unnecessary details about the clinic's parking situation, the colour of the walls, etc.
- Prologue nearly killed me and after I finished I don't see where it fit in with the story?????
Second half highlights:
- After the fat fetish couple, Kat, and fat phobic Lucy POVs were dramatically scaled back, the book was WAAAYYYY more enjoyable. I liked the unravelling of Drew's mental state and Emma's struggle with Stockholm Syndrome. If the novel had kicked off from the kidnapping, it would've been much better overall. It's really the scenes between Drew and Emma (esp the scene where Drew goes fully off the depend) that lifted this rating to a 3, otherwise it was giving me 1.5 stars AT BEST.
- I enjoyed Emma's inner conflict about the whole kidnapping ordeal with Drew... I've always been fascinated by Stockholm Syndrome and I found this to be a decent exploration of this complex coping mechanism.
- I'm glad Emma located her logic and reasoning at the end and chucked the deuces up
Overall concerns:
- Tryna figure out how Lucy was in her 20s or at most early 30s, but her mom was 86????? I know I'm bad at math, but unless this was some sort of miracle birth situation, it's not adding up.
- I dead ass thought Emma was like 40 yrs old, not besties with Lucy since they went to college together. Emma gave me old lady vibes, whereas Lucy seemed like she was constantly a deer in headlights.
- Too much "male gaze" type writing despite the female author. I'm talking "tight ass" "pert breasts" type of crapola.
- Why did AJ do what he did? What was his motive? Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
- Unrelated to the book's content, but it seems like this book was previously published in April 2021? The description is diff on Goodreads, but it's def the same book. Not sure what's going on there?
PROS AND CONS
Pros: Second half tightened tf up thank GOD, good psychological insights
Cons: First half, nonsensical POVs, dumbass characters, weird, misplaced prologue
January 5, 2023
It is important to note that the majority of the themes explored in this book deal with sensitive subject matters. My review, therefore, touches on these topics as well. Many people might find the subject matters of the book as well as those detailed in my review overwhelming. I would suggest you steer clear of both if this is the case. Please note that from this point forward I will be writing about matters which contain reflections on the graphic death of a child, animal abuse, Zoophilia, suicidal ideations, disordered eating, mental illness, & others.
Special shoutout to « GirlWithThePinkSkiMask » who knew me better than to ask us to buddy read this book yet, here we are.
In a floundering attempt at eliciting intellectually stimulating dialogue, Worthington presents the reader with Emma-Jane who is a psychologist in title alone as we quickly become acquainted with her unchallenged inability to perform her job with any level of professionalism, dignity, poise or intellect. The plot revolves around Emma-Jane, Dr. Glass, as she expresses repeatedly convenient pieces of information that one might necessitate for comprehension of the book should one be continuous, as they say, out to lunch. Dr. Glass receives letters that perpetuate a promise of violence on her person by a man later known to us as Drew; an individual who has been seeing Dr. Glass in what we are to believe is the hopes of healing from the separation from his wife & child in a sudden series of events.
I find it particularly tiring to read about characters who are lacking in every sense of the word. Dr. Glass provides the reader with no reasons to seek to empathize with her character or the situations in which she finds herself. The enumerable amount of times that we read about her posing her patients’ questions which may be regarded as those that one might seek to recall in a beginner's guide to socializing are shockingly incompetent. Lest we forget that this is an individual who has supposedly gone through years of schooling to ensure that their presence in a professional capacity might elicit the healing & growth of individuals who find themselves in situations necessitating a helping hand.
Given that this story’s main character is a psychologist it is accurate to assume that the subject matter of this book touches on points that pertain to the health of the brain & subsequently illnesses that might be termed as neurological disorders. Before moving forward I would like to highlight that I am not someone who is personally or professionally in a position to make remarks on the authentic representation of said illnesses &/or disorders. Therefore, my comments should be recognized as coming from someone who read through this book without personal or educational weight to back my impressions & opinions.
I admit to you that after reaching the 30% mark of this book my brain sought escapism in the uniformed colour block of my walls; I could not find it in myself to dedicate brain activity to continuing to read this book. It is ridiculous to include such banal physical emphasis in a story which seeks to highlight the terrors which reside in the human psyche. This story sheds light on the detriment which is Postpartum Depression, the weight which is motherhood & all the expectations which coincide with the role & yet the author saw fit to invest every ounce of energy into describing the physical attributes of the characters rather than placing substance & decorum on the morose consequences of untreated mental illness.
I do not care to read about how sensually seductive any of the characters are in a story which requires me to take the subject matter seriously. Drew’s wife abandoned her home after being told that her husband was going to leave her & keep full custody of their son when the mistress of one of his many affairs got it into her head that she was more than the physical attributes the author listed her as being. Running away on a whim of what might assume to be a trigger; Evie commits a murder-suicide in which she hangs her child from a tree. To read about a death that is so horrifically morbid only for future conversations to ride on the back of some tertiary character being the sole reason for the deaths is mind-numbingly stupid.
A person has killed their child & has then killed themselves. At what point in the series of events which lead this to happen does it make logical sense to point the blame at a person who was simply shooting the shit by telling Kat, the mistress, that Drew was in love with her? We spend the entirety of this book reading over dialogue which seeks to emphasize how common it is for women to feel mentally burdened in their roles as parents while also emphasizing how quickly the tides might turn when their mental illnesses are not addressed in a way that might see them return to healthy living alongside their children. Yet, at the first opportunity to showcase a study in which a person was triggered by an unknown cause, as we have no tangible way of stating which aspect of the conversation with Kat truly pushed Evie over the edge, the author circles back & utilizes a tertiary character as the main villain. This downplays the severity of the subject matter immensely.
I appreciate that this is a work of fiction & that this book is one which will find enjoyment in the lives of people very unlike myself. However, having paid attention to the trajectory of this story I must wonder why the course was shifted so suddenly as to ridicule the depth which might have been taken had the author seen fit to include a full coming to terms with the consequences of dissociated relationships, parenthood, mental health, etc.
There are ample tertiary characters who are sprinkled throughout the pages of this book. Jennifer, one such character, is in a relationship in which the sexual kink presented is that of Feederism. Lucy, a secondary character & holistic nutritionist, meets with Jennifer a handful of times in the hopes of highlighting to her the dangers of the practice in which she & her partner are partaking. It is in no way my place to shame anyone for their consensual sexual practices. That being said, this book felt like a case of attempting to collect tidbits from all over the globe with the goal to piece together a janky puzzle. The inclusion of a fat character was not necessary. The reader had deduced that the underlying subject matter of this book would be the sensual relationship that might exists between human beings & their consumption of food. That is to say that it might range from the arousal of love when someone makes a meal to literal sexual eroticism.
Lucy’s character is presented in a light which leads the reader to conclude that Jennifer & her partner are in the wrong & that everyone who practices Feederism is an imbecile. Jennifer develops severely troubling physical ailments yet refuses to acknowledge them because she is after the thrill of sexual encounters with her partner. Again, this is not my place to commentate on the consensual sexual practices of others but, this entire aspect felt as though an entire community of people were being put down for something which is not commonly understood. Perhaps, had this subject been incorporated in a kinder light we might not see Jennifer being described as ailing while in the room with Lucy who diverges from her diet when she exercises. We also read about characters whom we may assume to be straight-sized, who experience arousal with food, regularly describing in both inner monologues & dialogue how wonderful it feels to consume food.
When all is said & done I am left wondering who this book is for. I can confirm that it is not myself. I cannot begin to understand how we might be reading about Kat finding sexual arousal from her pet snake, which is Zoophilia, to the general enjoyment one might encounter when sharing a thoughtfully prepared meal with another person. How can a plot request the reader to be trusting in a psychologist who refuses to seek help from any policing bodies when she receives threatening letters?
We are thrown for loops across expanses of dialogues that seek to reinforce a general theme that is clearly understood & results in the movement of the plot being stalled. The ideas contained in this book could be worked into a presented text which would see them rotundly take their place as the orotund subject matters they are.
Thank you to NetGalley, TCK Publishing & Louise Worthington for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Special shoutout to « GirlWithThePinkSkiMask » who knew me better than to ask us to buddy read this book yet, here we are.
In a floundering attempt at eliciting intellectually stimulating dialogue, Worthington presents the reader with Emma-Jane who is a psychologist in title alone as we quickly become acquainted with her unchallenged inability to perform her job with any level of professionalism, dignity, poise or intellect. The plot revolves around Emma-Jane, Dr. Glass, as she expresses repeatedly convenient pieces of information that one might necessitate for comprehension of the book should one be continuous, as they say, out to lunch. Dr. Glass receives letters that perpetuate a promise of violence on her person by a man later known to us as Drew; an individual who has been seeing Dr. Glass in what we are to believe is the hopes of healing from the separation from his wife & child in a sudden series of events.
I find it particularly tiring to read about characters who are lacking in every sense of the word. Dr. Glass provides the reader with no reasons to seek to empathize with her character or the situations in which she finds herself. The enumerable amount of times that we read about her posing her patients’ questions which may be regarded as those that one might seek to recall in a beginner's guide to socializing are shockingly incompetent. Lest we forget that this is an individual who has supposedly gone through years of schooling to ensure that their presence in a professional capacity might elicit the healing & growth of individuals who find themselves in situations necessitating a helping hand.
Given that this story’s main character is a psychologist it is accurate to assume that the subject matter of this book touches on points that pertain to the health of the brain & subsequently illnesses that might be termed as neurological disorders. Before moving forward I would like to highlight that I am not someone who is personally or professionally in a position to make remarks on the authentic representation of said illnesses &/or disorders. Therefore, my comments should be recognized as coming from someone who read through this book without personal or educational weight to back my impressions & opinions.
I admit to you that after reaching the 30% mark of this book my brain sought escapism in the uniformed colour block of my walls; I could not find it in myself to dedicate brain activity to continuing to read this book. It is ridiculous to include such banal physical emphasis in a story which seeks to highlight the terrors which reside in the human psyche. This story sheds light on the detriment which is Postpartum Depression, the weight which is motherhood & all the expectations which coincide with the role & yet the author saw fit to invest every ounce of energy into describing the physical attributes of the characters rather than placing substance & decorum on the morose consequences of untreated mental illness.
I do not care to read about how sensually seductive any of the characters are in a story which requires me to take the subject matter seriously. Drew’s wife abandoned her home after being told that her husband was going to leave her & keep full custody of their son when the mistress of one of his many affairs got it into her head that she was more than the physical attributes the author listed her as being. Running away on a whim of what might assume to be a trigger; Evie commits a murder-suicide in which she hangs her child from a tree. To read about a death that is so horrifically morbid only for future conversations to ride on the back of some tertiary character being the sole reason for the deaths is mind-numbingly stupid.
A person has killed their child & has then killed themselves. At what point in the series of events which lead this to happen does it make logical sense to point the blame at a person who was simply shooting the shit by telling Kat, the mistress, that Drew was in love with her? We spend the entirety of this book reading over dialogue which seeks to emphasize how common it is for women to feel mentally burdened in their roles as parents while also emphasizing how quickly the tides might turn when their mental illnesses are not addressed in a way that might see them return to healthy living alongside their children. Yet, at the first opportunity to showcase a study in which a person was triggered by an unknown cause, as we have no tangible way of stating which aspect of the conversation with Kat truly pushed Evie over the edge, the author circles back & utilizes a tertiary character as the main villain. This downplays the severity of the subject matter immensely.
I appreciate that this is a work of fiction & that this book is one which will find enjoyment in the lives of people very unlike myself. However, having paid attention to the trajectory of this story I must wonder why the course was shifted so suddenly as to ridicule the depth which might have been taken had the author seen fit to include a full coming to terms with the consequences of dissociated relationships, parenthood, mental health, etc.
There are ample tertiary characters who are sprinkled throughout the pages of this book. Jennifer, one such character, is in a relationship in which the sexual kink presented is that of Feederism. Lucy, a secondary character & holistic nutritionist, meets with Jennifer a handful of times in the hopes of highlighting to her the dangers of the practice in which she & her partner are partaking. It is in no way my place to shame anyone for their consensual sexual practices. That being said, this book felt like a case of attempting to collect tidbits from all over the globe with the goal to piece together a janky puzzle. The inclusion of a fat character was not necessary. The reader had deduced that the underlying subject matter of this book would be the sensual relationship that might exists between human beings & their consumption of food. That is to say that it might range from the arousal of love when someone makes a meal to literal sexual eroticism.
Lucy’s character is presented in a light which leads the reader to conclude that Jennifer & her partner are in the wrong & that everyone who practices Feederism is an imbecile. Jennifer develops severely troubling physical ailments yet refuses to acknowledge them because she is after the thrill of sexual encounters with her partner. Again, this is not my place to commentate on the consensual sexual practices of others but, this entire aspect felt as though an entire community of people were being put down for something which is not commonly understood. Perhaps, had this subject been incorporated in a kinder light we might not see Jennifer being described as ailing while in the room with Lucy who diverges from her diet when she exercises. We also read about characters whom we may assume to be straight-sized, who experience arousal with food, regularly describing in both inner monologues & dialogue how wonderful it feels to consume food.
When all is said & done I am left wondering who this book is for. I can confirm that it is not myself. I cannot begin to understand how we might be reading about Kat finding sexual arousal from her pet snake, which is Zoophilia, to the general enjoyment one might encounter when sharing a thoughtfully prepared meal with another person. How can a plot request the reader to be trusting in a psychologist who refuses to seek help from any policing bodies when she receives threatening letters?
We are thrown for loops across expanses of dialogues that seek to reinforce a general theme that is clearly understood & results in the movement of the plot being stalled. The ideas contained in this book could be worked into a presented text which would see them rotundly take their place as the orotund subject matters they are.
Thank you to NetGalley, TCK Publishing & Louise Worthington for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2022
Thank you, TCK Publishing, for the advance reading copy.
The writing is really flowery/lyrical to start with. I was really happy with this and I was expecting the entire book to be written this way.
But I wasn't ready for the change in the writing style as the book goes on. Let's say this doesn't matter for the plot. However, with the blurb giving me high expectations of both The Silent Patient and Misery (which are like my fav reads), I became a bit too disappointed with the turn of events. First of all the first half started out good but it doesn't have the tendency to hold the reader's attention as the chapters go on. However, the second half picks up and the book ends okay.
Well, this book is not for everyone. Starting from the writing to the description of the characters and some elements used in the story.
A good read nevertheless.
The writing is really flowery/lyrical to start with. I was really happy with this and I was expecting the entire book to be written this way.
But I wasn't ready for the change in the writing style as the book goes on. Let's say this doesn't matter for the plot. However, with the blurb giving me high expectations of both The Silent Patient and Misery (which are like my fav reads), I became a bit too disappointed with the turn of events. First of all the first half started out good but it doesn't have the tendency to hold the reader's attention as the chapters go on. However, the second half picks up and the book ends okay.
Well, this book is not for everyone. Starting from the writing to the description of the characters and some elements used in the story.
A good read nevertheless.
April 29, 2022
It took a while to get into this book, but once I did it was a roller coaster. I didn't enjoy some of the side characters but Emma Jane was a very complex woman and I could both feel sorry for and despise Drew at the same time. I am looking forward to more books from this author.
April 27, 2022
Dr. Glass is a character driven account of a psychologist questioning her personal schemas as her assumptions shift after an encounter with a patient.
The author did a great job of immersing the reader as Emma-Jane's perception shifted and she moved beyond her own ‘logical’ thoughts and began to acknowledge her feelings, discovering they weren’t what she expected.
I enjoyed seeing Emma-Jane's character development through-out the story, but she seemed too accepting of her situation. (Though there could be multiple reasons that explain her acceptance, I maybe wanted just a bit more).
This is an enjoyable read if you like a good character study (like I do)!
The author did a great job of immersing the reader as Emma-Jane's perception shifted and she moved beyond her own ‘logical’ thoughts and began to acknowledge her feelings, discovering they weren’t what she expected.
I enjoyed seeing Emma-Jane's character development through-out the story, but she seemed too accepting of her situation. (Though there could be multiple reasons that explain her acceptance, I maybe wanted just a bit more).
This is an enjoyable read if you like a good character study (like I do)!
May 12, 2022
Thank you to the publisher for reaching out with a review request on this book. This was my first time reading a Louise Worthington book and I was quickly lost among the pages of this one.
Doctor Glass is a gripping read that keeps you curious. It is filled with colourful characters with their own little side stories. The author tackles maternal filicide and the effects it has on a father as well as touching on eating disorders and grief. While these may sound like rather bleak topics the author manages to weave them into a complex, entertaining read that will keep you engrossed right to the last page.
I enjoyed the little side stories about Ross and Jennifer the author included in this book. While they are not directly linked to the rest of the story they provide a few jaw-dropping moments along the way. Louise Worthington adds lots of scenic descriptions which leave you picturing the surrounding the characters find themselves in which I find very entertaining. Being able to picture the skies overhead and the countryside outside always makes for a more enjoyable read. I look forward to adding more of this author’s work to my TBR. Her writing is gripping, entertaining and holds just enough darkness to keep me fascinated.
Dr Emma-Jane Glass is a successful, dedicated psychiatrist work who cares about her patients. She is committed to work and considers herself successful. When she received a letter at home that has been hand-delivered, she is a little unsettled by the threats it contains. Someone does not like her, and whoever it is, does not like her at all. Determined not to allow one letter to get under her skin, she maintains her normal routine. When a second letter is delivered to her office, she is left feeling as if both her home and her office are being invaded. Why would someone send her such a horrible letter? What could they want from her? Despite her insecurities, and constantly looking over her shoulder, Dr Glass does not confide in anyone about the hate mail she is receiving.
When Dr Glass disappears, she finds herself at the mercy of a sociopath, a man she thought she knew, but one she misdiagnosed. The only person who notices that something is amiss is Lucy – Emma-Jane’s oldest friend who shares office space with her. Lucy is facing a difficult decision and feels extremely insecure, but she is determined to find Emma-Jane and takes it on herself to search for her. Will Lucy find her? And what will she do when she does?
This book looks at some pretty bleak subject matter that could leave you feeling miserable, however, I found myself intrigued by the topics covered. The author manages to tell a dark story in an easy reading manner that leaves you wanting to know more about these disorders while feeling heartbroken for the characters in the book.
Dr Emma-Jane Glass was an unusual character. Initially, you get the impression that she is a secure, motivated workaholic who cares about her patients and who knows herself rather well. She is introduced as being strong. Yet as the story developed I found myself wondering why she is so taken with one of her clients? Why is this one man getting to her? I was about to give up on her when the author turned things around allowing her to regain strength and determination.
This is a deep, emotional read that I loved it. This book was entertaining and full of surprises. If you are a fan of psychological fiction, then I highly recommend you give this one a try.
https://featzreviews.com
Doctor Glass is a gripping read that keeps you curious. It is filled with colourful characters with their own little side stories. The author tackles maternal filicide and the effects it has on a father as well as touching on eating disorders and grief. While these may sound like rather bleak topics the author manages to weave them into a complex, entertaining read that will keep you engrossed right to the last page.
I enjoyed the little side stories about Ross and Jennifer the author included in this book. While they are not directly linked to the rest of the story they provide a few jaw-dropping moments along the way. Louise Worthington adds lots of scenic descriptions which leave you picturing the surrounding the characters find themselves in which I find very entertaining. Being able to picture the skies overhead and the countryside outside always makes for a more enjoyable read. I look forward to adding more of this author’s work to my TBR. Her writing is gripping, entertaining and holds just enough darkness to keep me fascinated.
Dr Emma-Jane Glass is a successful, dedicated psychiatrist work who cares about her patients. She is committed to work and considers herself successful. When she received a letter at home that has been hand-delivered, she is a little unsettled by the threats it contains. Someone does not like her, and whoever it is, does not like her at all. Determined not to allow one letter to get under her skin, she maintains her normal routine. When a second letter is delivered to her office, she is left feeling as if both her home and her office are being invaded. Why would someone send her such a horrible letter? What could they want from her? Despite her insecurities, and constantly looking over her shoulder, Dr Glass does not confide in anyone about the hate mail she is receiving.
When Dr Glass disappears, she finds herself at the mercy of a sociopath, a man she thought she knew, but one she misdiagnosed. The only person who notices that something is amiss is Lucy – Emma-Jane’s oldest friend who shares office space with her. Lucy is facing a difficult decision and feels extremely insecure, but she is determined to find Emma-Jane and takes it on herself to search for her. Will Lucy find her? And what will she do when she does?
This book looks at some pretty bleak subject matter that could leave you feeling miserable, however, I found myself intrigued by the topics covered. The author manages to tell a dark story in an easy reading manner that leaves you wanting to know more about these disorders while feeling heartbroken for the characters in the book.
Dr Emma-Jane Glass was an unusual character. Initially, you get the impression that she is a secure, motivated workaholic who cares about her patients and who knows herself rather well. She is introduced as being strong. Yet as the story developed I found myself wondering why she is so taken with one of her clients? Why is this one man getting to her? I was about to give up on her when the author turned things around allowing her to regain strength and determination.
This is a deep, emotional read that I loved it. This book was entertaining and full of surprises. If you are a fan of psychological fiction, then I highly recommend you give this one a try.
https://featzreviews.com
May 31, 2021
After reading this I was super excited to see that this author has more books released as this was a great read and I need more.
If you can be disturbed by books then I recommend you may want to give this a miss. If you enjoy stories that could make you uncomfortable then I definitely recommend this one.
It’s certainly one of those thought provoking stories that made me stop and think. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
If you can be disturbed by books then I recommend you may want to give this a miss. If you enjoy stories that could make you uncomfortable then I definitely recommend this one.
It’s certainly one of those thought provoking stories that made me stop and think. I’m really looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.
April 17, 2022
Psychological thrillers are America’s guilty pleasure. We are fascinated by the aberrations one is capable of when one slips past the margins of sanity. Most follow the same formula—a mental cat and mouse exploring the darkest side of the human mind, with more twists and turns than a West Virginia back road. In Doctor Glass, author Louise Worthington takes the reader down that twisted road to a terrifying destination. Worthington doesn’t just scratch the surface; she goes deep into the mindset of one suffering from mental illness. In the introductory chapter, the unforgivable crime of Filicide is painfully played out. Enter the protagonist, Dr. Emma-Jane Glass—renowned psychologist whose work on the subject has generated controversy.
Glass is an apologist in the sense that she places blame on society for stigmatizing mental illness to the point where mothers who kill their children do so because they are unable to receive the help they need. Society stigmatizes mental illness. Mentally ill people cannot get help for fear of being marginalized by society. Therefore, society is the cause of crimes committed by the mentally ill. Ad hoc ergo proctor hoc. Naturally, such a revelation garners a mixed response from her colleagues and a considerable measure of public condemnation. One voice takes it upon himself to punish the good doctor for her commentary. Out of the blue, Dr. Glass receives a threatening letter, promising to expose and eventually punish her for her statements. Jump scare, then onto the mundane. That’s the art of these stories. The shocking opening, the creepy message, then everyday events leading up to something else. Another dark twist.
Worthington doesn’t disappoint. As Dr. Glass works with clients and attends to the business of her life, the reader is left to wonder what will happen next. When will the mystery correspondent strike again with his acid pen? The interludes containing her everyday activities and sessions with clients lull the reader into a sense of security until, you guessed it, another letter arrives. With each interlude and attack, the reader is treated to a splinter of knowledge about the mysterious perpetrator’s motivations. The plot thickens, and the road twists once again.
The author puts the reader in the place of her protagonist, pulling them into her mindset as she digests these horrifying missives and then attempts to carry on—on pins and needles until the next one arrives. The rising action is almost too much to take, a credit t0 the author’s talent for exposition. The inevitable conflict and denouement is shocking and will leave the reader reeling.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Glass is an apologist in the sense that she places blame on society for stigmatizing mental illness to the point where mothers who kill their children do so because they are unable to receive the help they need. Society stigmatizes mental illness. Mentally ill people cannot get help for fear of being marginalized by society. Therefore, society is the cause of crimes committed by the mentally ill. Ad hoc ergo proctor hoc. Naturally, such a revelation garners a mixed response from her colleagues and a considerable measure of public condemnation. One voice takes it upon himself to punish the good doctor for her commentary. Out of the blue, Dr. Glass receives a threatening letter, promising to expose and eventually punish her for her statements. Jump scare, then onto the mundane. That’s the art of these stories. The shocking opening, the creepy message, then everyday events leading up to something else. Another dark twist.
Worthington doesn’t disappoint. As Dr. Glass works with clients and attends to the business of her life, the reader is left to wonder what will happen next. When will the mystery correspondent strike again with his acid pen? The interludes containing her everyday activities and sessions with clients lull the reader into a sense of security until, you guessed it, another letter arrives. With each interlude and attack, the reader is treated to a splinter of knowledge about the mysterious perpetrator’s motivations. The plot thickens, and the road twists once again.
The author puts the reader in the place of her protagonist, pulling them into her mindset as she digests these horrifying missives and then attempts to carry on—on pins and needles until the next one arrives. The rising action is almost too much to take, a credit t0 the author’s talent for exposition. The inevitable conflict and denouement is shocking and will leave the reader reeling.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 17, 2022
This was one of the more messed up books I have read in recent times. The book is promoted as a fusion of The Silent Patient (which was good) and Misery (which I loved). But I was sorely disappointed.
Dr Emma-Jane Glass is a psychologist who is often disturbed by her patients' problems. She regularly breaks down and comfort-eats to get out of the funk.
When she writes an article about matricidal filicide, stating that women who kill their children are altruistic, she is (gasp!) surprised that everyone is angry at her for her views!
Then she starts getting threatening letters (which she doesn't think necessary to report to the police).
And then she gets kidnapped.
Once she is with the kidnapper, instead of feeling angry, she wants to help them. Why?
Kat is a side character who "talks with her brother snake by flicking her tongue." Why was this detail important, I'll never know.
Lucy is Emma-Jane's friend and is a fatphobic nutritionist. There is a totally unnecessary plot with an overweight woman who is fond of detailing her sexual fantasies with her partner to Lucy (WHY???)
Drew is an idiotic MRA.
The prologue was so convoluted that I was confused just reading it. It didn't fit in with the rest of the story all that well, either. The first chapter begins with the death of a child (about which Emma-Jane writes later) and then everyone is caught up in their own worries. No mention of the child or the mother or anyone relevant.
P.S. I was confused by the whole AJ thing at the end. Why did he do what he did?
So, as you can see, I was asking myself "WHY?" quite a lot of times while reading the book. In fact, I also questioned myself as to why I was reading the book at all.
A redeeming feature about the book - it was short and quick.
1.5 stars rounded up to 2.
Thanks to Netgalley and TCK Publishing for the ARC.
Dr Emma-Jane Glass is a psychologist who is often disturbed by her patients' problems. She regularly breaks down and comfort-eats to get out of the funk.
When she writes an article about matricidal filicide, stating that women who kill their children are altruistic, she is (gasp!) surprised that everyone is angry at her for her views!
Then she starts getting threatening letters (which she doesn't think necessary to report to the police).
And then she gets kidnapped.
Once she is with the kidnapper, instead of feeling angry, she wants to help them. Why?
Kat is a side character who "talks with her brother snake by flicking her tongue." Why was this detail important, I'll never know.
Lucy is Emma-Jane's friend and is a fatphobic nutritionist. There is a totally unnecessary plot with an overweight woman who is fond of detailing her sexual fantasies with her partner to Lucy (WHY???)
Drew is an idiotic MRA.
The prologue was so convoluted that I was confused just reading it. It didn't fit in with the rest of the story all that well, either. The first chapter begins with the death of a child (about which Emma-Jane writes later) and then everyone is caught up in their own worries. No mention of the child or the mother or anyone relevant.
P.S. I was confused by the whole AJ thing at the end. Why did he do what he did?
So, as you can see, I was asking myself "WHY?" quite a lot of times while reading the book. In fact, I also questioned myself as to why I was reading the book at all.
A redeeming feature about the book - it was short and quick.
1.5 stars rounded up to 2.
Thanks to Netgalley and TCK Publishing for the ARC.
April 1, 2022
I enjoyed this suspenseful story. It is a story that gets a little dark in places and could cause triggers for some. If you can get past the triggers you will find a very enjoyable story. This is a newer author for me which I enjoyed their writing style as well as their attention to details. This is a well written story that is full of mystery, suspense and action. The characters are connectable and I enjoyed how they pulled me into the story. There is great growth with them as well as the plot throughout the story. This is a fast paced story that is engaging and hard to put down. A story where survival becomes a game that you may not win. You don't want to miss what happens next. I really enjoyed this book and found it entertaining and easy to read. I highly recommend it.
dnf
September 8, 2024DNF @ 31% ~
Not interested enough to keep reading this book, but interested enough to look through reviews for spoilers to find out if I was right about my predictions for the ending. I was right.
Not interested enough to keep reading this book, but interested enough to look through reviews for spoilers to find out if I was right about my predictions for the ending. I was right.
May 21, 2021
Fast-paced. Riveting. Emotional. Suspenseful. This book brings it ALL! It was an artful melding of twisted psychological thrills and nail-biting suspense.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
May 10, 2022
I thank Maria from TCK Publishing for providing me with an ARC copy of this novel, which I freely chose to review. This novel had been published before, but this is a new revised edition.
I was intrigued by the premise of the novel (having worked in mental health, I am always interested in seeing how the subject is portrayed), and although the author has published a number of books before, this is the first time I read her work. This is intended to be the first in a series, and I suspect it won’t be the last one I read.
The book’s description offers enough clues as to the story’s content, and I don’t want to spoil it for any future readers by adding too many details. The content guidance also hints at some of the themes. This is a novel that deals in topics that many people might find upsetting or disturbing. Although this is not unusual with psychological thrillers, be warned that this novel is pretty open and honest in its depiction of extreme behaviours (self-harm, abusive relationships, murder/suicide, filicide, somewhat unusual sexual preferences, eating disorders, co-dependency...) and a variety of mental health problems (PTSD, pathological grief, personality disorder, Stockholm Syndrome...) This is not a sanitised version of any of those problems, and readers need to be aware of that. (I worked as a psychiatrist and have seen my share of things, although, thankfully, not everything that goes on in the book, and I didn’t find it disturbing, but I am not the standard reader, so do take the warnings seriously). Oh, I almost forgot to mention that there is a touch of the supernatural/paranormal as well.
I am always interested in the therapist in the novels featuring one, and Emma-Jane Glass is a woman totally dedicated to her work, who at first appears very professional and self-confident, but what she goes through makes her question much of what she thought was certain. Her experiences and thought processes, although extreme (I won’t mention suspension of disbelief, because we all know this is a novel, after all), rang true (not that I’ve ever met a therapist who regularly uses hypnosis in my professional capacity, but then I’ve always worked in hospitals, mostly for the NHS, so it might be more common in private practice), although I missed knowing more about her, where she came from, and her background. We only learn about her friendship with Lucy, who has an office next door and works as a nutritionist, and we also hear about her supervisor, Celia (whom we never meet until very close to the end), but there is nothing else of a personal nature. The story is narrated in the third person, mostly from Dr Glass’s point of view but not exclusively, although that does not help us understand who she is, beyond her professional identity and interest. (It does gives us some interesting insights into the minds of some of the minor characters, though). This being a series, it is possible that those aspects will be developed in other books, but I missed that. Lucy is a likeable character, full of doubts and not as self-confident as Emma-Jane. We know about an important loss she suffered, and there are times when it feels as if her friend was living vicariously through her whilst trying to help her at the same time (as Dr Glass seems to be more involved in Lucy’s life than interested in having a private life of her own). I liked her, but I wasn’t sure the relationship between the two was sufficiently developed either.
I don’t want to go into too much detail talking about other characters. The main antagonist (whom I wouldn’t define as a standard baddie) does terrible things, but he has also gone through some soul-destroying suffering, and he is evidently very disturbed. Although his emotions and his most extreme behaviours come across as pretty realistic, there are elements of his characterization I wasn’t too sure about, but I don’t think anybody will feel indifferent about him. There are some other characters that make an appearance, and I was particularly moved by the story of one of Dr Glass’s patients, Vanessa, and her experience of grief. Some reviewers found the details about the sessions, both Dr Glass’s and Lucy’s, unnecessary, as they felt they detracted from the main story. Apart from my personal interest in the subject, I did think that the sessions help give us a better understanding of the thought processes of the protagonists, and also illustrate the kind of strain and pressures they are subject to, which go some way to explaining how they react at times. The rest of the characters are not fully developed, and there a few things readers will be left wondering about, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.
The author writes beautifully, and there are lyrical passages, vibrant images and a masterful use of metaphors, which contrast with the darkness of some of the content while offering readers a reprieve and reflecting how the mind works, finding beauty in unexpected places and in extreme situations sometimes, as a self-defence mechanism and refuge. Some parts of the novel move at a faster pace than others, and, in general, the action picks up speed as the story develops, until almost the very end. There is an unexplained prologue, which many readers have complained about, and although it seems related to one of the topics that appear in the novel, it is not fully contained by it, and it made me wonder.
As usual, I recommend checking a sample of the novel if readers are not sure if it might suit their taste (making sure to heed the warnings first), but I thought I’d share a couple of examples of some of the content I’ve highlighted, to give you a small taste:
She finds the quietness of Vanessa’s sad smile moving, and she respects the way she wears her pain like glass: transparent, fragile. So brave, to not wear a brave face; to wear a real, feeling one.
She watches a spider slowly crawl across the ceiling and onto the lampshade, sprinkling dust like dandruff. All that ceiling, all those walls, they’re like acres, countries, to a spider. Such freedom. Here she sits, trapped in a web. The spider’s unhurried movement stirs the mounting hysteria building inside her.
I have already mentioned that some things are left to readers’ imaginations, although the main story has an ending, and one pretty satisfying, at least for the main character. Considering the amount of time and detail dedicated to developing the story, I felt the ending was a bit rushed, but as this is a series, such things are likely to get balanced out in the future.
This is an enticing opening of a new series, one that promises to dig deep into psychological subjects, and if the characters keep growing, it will become even more compelling. I’d recommend it to readers looking for psychological thrillers that don’t mind digging deep into dark subjects, but please, make sure to check the content guidance.
I was intrigued by the premise of the novel (having worked in mental health, I am always interested in seeing how the subject is portrayed), and although the author has published a number of books before, this is the first time I read her work. This is intended to be the first in a series, and I suspect it won’t be the last one I read.
The book’s description offers enough clues as to the story’s content, and I don’t want to spoil it for any future readers by adding too many details. The content guidance also hints at some of the themes. This is a novel that deals in topics that many people might find upsetting or disturbing. Although this is not unusual with psychological thrillers, be warned that this novel is pretty open and honest in its depiction of extreme behaviours (self-harm, abusive relationships, murder/suicide, filicide, somewhat unusual sexual preferences, eating disorders, co-dependency...) and a variety of mental health problems (PTSD, pathological grief, personality disorder, Stockholm Syndrome...) This is not a sanitised version of any of those problems, and readers need to be aware of that. (I worked as a psychiatrist and have seen my share of things, although, thankfully, not everything that goes on in the book, and I didn’t find it disturbing, but I am not the standard reader, so do take the warnings seriously). Oh, I almost forgot to mention that there is a touch of the supernatural/paranormal as well.
I am always interested in the therapist in the novels featuring one, and Emma-Jane Glass is a woman totally dedicated to her work, who at first appears very professional and self-confident, but what she goes through makes her question much of what she thought was certain. Her experiences and thought processes, although extreme (I won’t mention suspension of disbelief, because we all know this is a novel, after all), rang true (not that I’ve ever met a therapist who regularly uses hypnosis in my professional capacity, but then I’ve always worked in hospitals, mostly for the NHS, so it might be more common in private practice), although I missed knowing more about her, where she came from, and her background. We only learn about her friendship with Lucy, who has an office next door and works as a nutritionist, and we also hear about her supervisor, Celia (whom we never meet until very close to the end), but there is nothing else of a personal nature. The story is narrated in the third person, mostly from Dr Glass’s point of view but not exclusively, although that does not help us understand who she is, beyond her professional identity and interest. (It does gives us some interesting insights into the minds of some of the minor characters, though). This being a series, it is possible that those aspects will be developed in other books, but I missed that. Lucy is a likeable character, full of doubts and not as self-confident as Emma-Jane. We know about an important loss she suffered, and there are times when it feels as if her friend was living vicariously through her whilst trying to help her at the same time (as Dr Glass seems to be more involved in Lucy’s life than interested in having a private life of her own). I liked her, but I wasn’t sure the relationship between the two was sufficiently developed either.
I don’t want to go into too much detail talking about other characters. The main antagonist (whom I wouldn’t define as a standard baddie) does terrible things, but he has also gone through some soul-destroying suffering, and he is evidently very disturbed. Although his emotions and his most extreme behaviours come across as pretty realistic, there are elements of his characterization I wasn’t too sure about, but I don’t think anybody will feel indifferent about him. There are some other characters that make an appearance, and I was particularly moved by the story of one of Dr Glass’s patients, Vanessa, and her experience of grief. Some reviewers found the details about the sessions, both Dr Glass’s and Lucy’s, unnecessary, as they felt they detracted from the main story. Apart from my personal interest in the subject, I did think that the sessions help give us a better understanding of the thought processes of the protagonists, and also illustrate the kind of strain and pressures they are subject to, which go some way to explaining how they react at times. The rest of the characters are not fully developed, and there a few things readers will be left wondering about, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.
The author writes beautifully, and there are lyrical passages, vibrant images and a masterful use of metaphors, which contrast with the darkness of some of the content while offering readers a reprieve and reflecting how the mind works, finding beauty in unexpected places and in extreme situations sometimes, as a self-defence mechanism and refuge. Some parts of the novel move at a faster pace than others, and, in general, the action picks up speed as the story develops, until almost the very end. There is an unexplained prologue, which many readers have complained about, and although it seems related to one of the topics that appear in the novel, it is not fully contained by it, and it made me wonder.
As usual, I recommend checking a sample of the novel if readers are not sure if it might suit their taste (making sure to heed the warnings first), but I thought I’d share a couple of examples of some of the content I’ve highlighted, to give you a small taste:
She finds the quietness of Vanessa’s sad smile moving, and she respects the way she wears her pain like glass: transparent, fragile. So brave, to not wear a brave face; to wear a real, feeling one.
She watches a spider slowly crawl across the ceiling and onto the lampshade, sprinkling dust like dandruff. All that ceiling, all those walls, they’re like acres, countries, to a spider. Such freedom. Here she sits, trapped in a web. The spider’s unhurried movement stirs the mounting hysteria building inside her.
I have already mentioned that some things are left to readers’ imaginations, although the main story has an ending, and one pretty satisfying, at least for the main character. Considering the amount of time and detail dedicated to developing the story, I felt the ending was a bit rushed, but as this is a series, such things are likely to get balanced out in the future.
This is an enticing opening of a new series, one that promises to dig deep into psychological subjects, and if the characters keep growing, it will become even more compelling. I’d recommend it to readers looking for psychological thrillers that don’t mind digging deep into dark subjects, but please, make sure to check the content guidance.
May 31, 2021
First, I want to thank Louise Worthington and Rachel’s Random Resources for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review!
Ohh Snap!! Take it from me if you are obsessed with Psychological Thrillers like I am Dr. Glass by Louise Worthington must be added to your TBR list! OMG her storylines are so deep, intense, and utterly mind blowing! It is such a fast paced book that you just can’t put it down! She just acquired a new fan with me! I can't read the next book in the series!
Louise has a beautiful way with her written descriptions and an eye for detail in her scenes. I could visualize it crystal clear as the scene played out.
One thing I will say before you start this book is you may need a snack. There are a lot of food references and by the end of the book I was starving.
Louise addresses and brings awareness to a lot of important health and mental health issues in this book.
I had mixed emotions about the storyline in the book. My heart hurt dramatically for what this character was willing to do to make her partner happy. However, Louise did an amazing job educating her character and her readers about the repercussions of her actions.
Ohh Snap!! Take it from me if you are obsessed with Psychological Thrillers like I am Dr. Glass by Louise Worthington must be added to your TBR list! OMG her storylines are so deep, intense, and utterly mind blowing! It is such a fast paced book that you just can’t put it down! She just acquired a new fan with me! I can't read the next book in the series!
Louise has a beautiful way with her written descriptions and an eye for detail in her scenes. I could visualize it crystal clear as the scene played out.
One thing I will say before you start this book is you may need a snack. There are a lot of food references and by the end of the book I was starving.
Louise addresses and brings awareness to a lot of important health and mental health issues in this book.
I had mixed emotions about the storyline in the book. My heart hurt dramatically for what this character was willing to do to make her partner happy. However, Louise did an amazing job educating her character and her readers about the repercussions of her actions.
May 7, 2021
One of this author’s greatest strengths is the simplicity of her premises, and this is another of those – if at times a little bizarre. But again, as always with Louise, scratch deep enough beneath the tenderly itching surface and you will reveal a multitude of complex layers. It might be superficially about a psychotherapist kidnapped by her deranged patient, but the nature of her profession should tell you that there is much, much more to both of these key players and their backstories. What Dr. Glass lacks in overly convoluted storyline it more than makes up for with its real objective: vivid detail and profound analysis. It is deep, rich and utterly cerebral, and most of its wordiness is descriptive in nature. This isn’t so much a story, but rather a psychological journey of grief, hate, self-loathing, judgement and remorse, as rationality is turned on its head by both antagonist and protagonist alike. By the end, the lines are blurred between which of them is the real case study. Its themes are intriguing ones, and each utterly worthy of the proportion of depth Louise affords them: as you can imagine, maternal filicide, Stockholm syndrome, self-harm and suicide are not issues to be brushed over lightly, nor frivolously used in the name of entertainment. Be advised that there is profound attention given to each of these subjects, but also be assured that the author gives them the respect they are due.
As far as entertainment goes, I have to say that I enjoyed the book a great deal, as I have with all of Louise’s work, and read it in just a couple of sittings, utterly gripped; it is definitely another of those “just one more chapter” at two in the morning reads. That said, don’t expect an easy ride; it is tough, intense and very bleak at times – as would befit its psychological drama genre. I don’t think this was helped by what I know to be the author’s preferred present-tense narrative writing style, and again I found that problematic; I didn’t really feel that it suited the book, and there were odd occasions in which it felt a touch confused by itself.
The writing itself, though, not unexpectedly, is top drawer. Once again, this writer has triumphed both creatively and educationally, and good luck to her.
As far as entertainment goes, I have to say that I enjoyed the book a great deal, as I have with all of Louise’s work, and read it in just a couple of sittings, utterly gripped; it is definitely another of those “just one more chapter” at two in the morning reads. That said, don’t expect an easy ride; it is tough, intense and very bleak at times – as would befit its psychological drama genre. I don’t think this was helped by what I know to be the author’s preferred present-tense narrative writing style, and again I found that problematic; I didn’t really feel that it suited the book, and there were odd occasions in which it felt a touch confused by itself.
The writing itself, though, not unexpectedly, is top drawer. Once again, this writer has triumphed both creatively and educationally, and good luck to her.
April 12, 2022
Thank you to the author for providing me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
3.5⭐️
This book can get very dark at times, make sure you look up trigger warnings if needed.
Psychotherapist Emma-Jane has prioritized her work for too long. She does whatever is takes to help her clients but she’s bordering on professional obsession. After writing a controversial article about a mother who killed her children. she receives an anonymous letter saying.
I will expose you. Then, I will mutilate you. Wait for me.
After being abducted by a dangerous sociopath, she must fight.
I had a hard time getting into this book, but once I did I really enjoyed it, I loved the writing and plot.
I didn’t like any of the characters but like I said not because of bad writing, character development was good.
I am torn on how I feel about the ending right now. Part of me loved it and a small part of me wished for the opposite.
This psychological thriller really makes you think, and I’ll be thinking about it for a while.
This is the first book in the series and I can’t wait to see where the series is going to go.
3.5⭐️
This book can get very dark at times, make sure you look up trigger warnings if needed.
Psychotherapist Emma-Jane has prioritized her work for too long. She does whatever is takes to help her clients but she’s bordering on professional obsession. After writing a controversial article about a mother who killed her children. she receives an anonymous letter saying.
I will expose you. Then, I will mutilate you. Wait for me.
After being abducted by a dangerous sociopath, she must fight.
I had a hard time getting into this book, but once I did I really enjoyed it, I loved the writing and plot.
I didn’t like any of the characters but like I said not because of bad writing, character development was good.
I am torn on how I feel about the ending right now. Part of me loved it and a small part of me wished for the opposite.
This psychological thriller really makes you think, and I’ll be thinking about it for a while.
This is the first book in the series and I can’t wait to see where the series is going to go.
June 4, 2021
Dr. Glass by Louise Worthington is a disturbing, psychological thriller that kept me up pretty late. I did have to take breaks because this is a very psychological thriller. This author knows how to get inside a reader’s mind. It could be pretty intense for some people, so if you are easily triggered, I would tread a little lightly.
The characters were intriguing. So many were so morally off, that it was hard to love any of them. But, each one was so richly developed and that is all that matters.
This is not a super happy book. This is a deep and twisted thriller that will make you think. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to fans of this genre.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to honestly review this book on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
The characters were intriguing. So many were so morally off, that it was hard to love any of them. But, each one was so richly developed and that is all that matters.
This is not a super happy book. This is a deep and twisted thriller that will make you think. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to fans of this genre.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to honestly review this book on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
November 30, 2022
2.5 rounded up.
Thanks to TCK Publishing who sent me a copy of the book for review.
I had some problems with this story, starting with the prologue. I have no idea what it meant or what it has to do with the story. Then, the first chapter. It took a long time to connect that with the rest of the story.
The characters are mostly damaged, unpleasant people with no redeeming qualities. I had mixed emotions about psychologist Emma-Jane, and maybe that's what the author intended. Strong woman or obsessive, helpful or damaged? I found the side story of her friend Lucy and her obese client kind of unnecessary and unpleasant. Drew is represented appropriately as a mentally ill person that sometimes I felt sorry for and sometimes I thought he should be locked up. Kat - well, a nasty piece of work that let jealousy get out of control. And I never really figured out AJs motivation for his actions. From the beginning I didn't understand his place in the story.
The author does put content warnings on the front page which are appropriate. This is a dark book with little redeeming pleasure or joy or contentment or anything positive for any of the characters.
On the plus side, I thought the descriptions of the countryside and people were well done. And the writing style is okay. (not a rousing endorsement, I know)
Thanks to TCK Publishing who sent me a copy of the book for review.
I had some problems with this story, starting with the prologue. I have no idea what it meant or what it has to do with the story. Then, the first chapter. It took a long time to connect that with the rest of the story.
The characters are mostly damaged, unpleasant people with no redeeming qualities. I had mixed emotions about psychologist Emma-Jane, and maybe that's what the author intended. Strong woman or obsessive, helpful or damaged? I found the side story of her friend Lucy and her obese client kind of unnecessary and unpleasant. Drew is represented appropriately as a mentally ill person that sometimes I felt sorry for and sometimes I thought he should be locked up. Kat - well, a nasty piece of work that let jealousy get out of control. And I never really figured out AJs motivation for his actions. From the beginning I didn't understand his place in the story.
The author does put content warnings on the front page which are appropriate. This is a dark book with little redeeming pleasure or joy or contentment or anything positive for any of the characters.
On the plus side, I thought the descriptions of the countryside and people were well done. And the writing style is okay. (not a rousing endorsement, I know)
April 10, 2022
The author of Doctor Glass, Louise Worthington, is a former English teacher who studied psychology before becoming a writer. From that interesting evolution comes a taut, well-written, character-driven book about a spiralling psychologist, her patients, and co-worker (and her patients).
The opening of this book turned a lot of people off if you scan the Goodreads and NetGalley early reviews. There's a plethora of content warnings needed for this book but it's also exactly what it says it is - a psychological thriller.
I am very glad the author invited me to read this great novel and I look forward to the trilogy.
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy, but please consider getting rid of that first chapter, it's really not necessary. Three stars, four if you skip the prologue.
The opening of this book turned a lot of people off if you scan the Goodreads and NetGalley early reviews. There's a plethora of content warnings needed for this book but it's also exactly what it says it is - a psychological thriller.
I am very glad the author invited me to read this great novel and I look forward to the trilogy.
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy, but please consider getting rid of that first chapter, it's really not necessary. Three stars, four if you skip the prologue.
April 12, 2022
Climax which you would not have expected..................
An absolutely amazing book with some powerful characters. Doctor Glass, a psychological thriller turns out to be a wonderfully written book, a real page turner. At first, I thought that the book is some another thriller which is going to end with the same climax. But, to my surprise the climax was totally different which changes the whole assumption. Some events are so emotional and tear jerking and I even could not resist a tear in my eye.
I would, definitely, give the book 5 stars. Thanks to Louise Worthington for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.
Read full review on bibliophileverse.blogspot.com
An absolutely amazing book with some powerful characters. Doctor Glass, a psychological thriller turns out to be a wonderfully written book, a real page turner. At first, I thought that the book is some another thriller which is going to end with the same climax. But, to my surprise the climax was totally different which changes the whole assumption. Some events are so emotional and tear jerking and I even could not resist a tear in my eye.
I would, definitely, give the book 5 stars. Thanks to Louise Worthington for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.
Read full review on bibliophileverse.blogspot.com
May 24, 2022
doctor glass makes more time for work then time for herself, she does whatever it takes to help her patients..
She publishes an article and someone is not liking it, who would send this letter? She is later kidnapped in the night from a dangerous sociopath. Doctor glass thinks she can help this sociopath, but it becomes a game of survival which mind can win? This book started off at good start but then slowed down a little could of been little more engaging, but otherwise a good book,
Thanks to TCK Publishing, Netgalley, and the author in exchange for review.
Publishing Date: April 11th, 2022.
She publishes an article and someone is not liking it, who would send this letter? She is later kidnapped in the night from a dangerous sociopath. Doctor glass thinks she can help this sociopath, but it becomes a game of survival which mind can win? This book started off at good start but then slowed down a little could of been little more engaging, but otherwise a good book,
Thanks to TCK Publishing, Netgalley, and the author in exchange for review.
Publishing Date: April 11th, 2022.
October 1, 2022
Drew Rogers has suffered depression after losing his wife and son. As a therapist, Dr. Emma-Jane Glass has been very helpful not just for him but for other patients too. Her article published in The Clinical Psychology and Counselling Review entitled 'Altruistic Violence in Maternal Filicide' has been taken personally by an anonymous who has a different point of view. She received a threat letter.
I don't think this is a psychological thriller novel from my ten-cent opinion. But I like to read about Stockholm syndrome and filicide. I give 3 ⭐️
Thanks to @netgalley and TCK Publishing for providing an earc.
I don't think this is a psychological thriller novel from my ten-cent opinion. But I like to read about Stockholm syndrome and filicide. I give 3 ⭐️
Thanks to @netgalley and TCK Publishing for providing an earc.
April 9, 2022
3.75 stars
I enjoyed that the book was written from multiple perspectives, the pace the story read/was written at, and the overall plot line. I felt it could’ve went more into Drew and Evie’s relationship (possibly via journal entries from Evie). I also felt they storyline could’ve delved deeper into Dr Glass’s PTSD at the end. Although I felt the middle to end was a bit wordy at parts, at the same time I felt the ending was a bit rushed.
I would like to thank TCK Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
I enjoyed that the book was written from multiple perspectives, the pace the story read/was written at, and the overall plot line. I felt it could’ve went more into Drew and Evie’s relationship (possibly via journal entries from Evie). I also felt they storyline could’ve delved deeper into Dr Glass’s PTSD at the end. Although I felt the middle to end was a bit wordy at parts, at the same time I felt the ending was a bit rushed.
I would like to thank TCK Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this book.
April 27, 2022
Review to come!
April 5, 2022
A brilliantly written psychological thriller with beautiful prose. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
April 2, 2022
A great story-line with excellent character development. The suspense builds up gradually, keeping you turning the pages. I especially liked the side story involving Emma-Jane's dear friend, Lucy. This is a fantastic start to a new series. I am looking forward to Book 2.
I received an Advance Reader Copy free from the author and have chosen to leave a review.
I received an Advance Reader Copy free from the author and have chosen to leave a review.
May 5, 2021
This is a well written, thought provoking read. Who knows how the human mind processes grief and tragedy. Dr Glass explores this from both the victims and the therapist point of view. Definitely worth reading.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 29, 2022
TRIGGER WARNING: Child murder, sexual fetishes, animal fetishes, eating disorders and suicide.
Emma-Jane Glass or Doctor Glass as you can call her is a psychologist who prioritises her work over her personal life. Dr Glass lives in a literal house of glass which leaves her open to potential stalkers as we will find out later in this story. Dr Glass publishes a controversial article seemingly sympathising with mothers who commit filicide then suicide, as expected she receives some unwanted hate mail.
After not reporting these increasingly violent letters to the authorities Dr Glass is in fact taken hostage and is at the mercy of a dangerous patient who isn’t quite who he seemed. At first it is unclear why Dr Glass is his victim however after some really super disturbing scenes we find out why.
I’ll be completely honest, I was set to DNF this book at 30% and I regret not doing so. Reading to the end has given me no joy and has exhausted me. There are scenes of child murder, sexual fetishes with snakes, obese sexual feeding fetishes and more. The vast majority of the secondary characters had no business even being in the book as they added literally zero value.
Lucy, Dr. Glass’s clueless nutritionist best friend is seeing a couple for their feeding fetish spouting off BMI advice when clearly there are some bigger issues going on for them. Perhaps there was another specialist they should be seeing but of course Lucy could not turn them away as they were money in the pocket. When all was said and done with the storyline it ended up being a woe is me story for Lucy rather than the poor characters that were involved.
Drew was clearly dodgy from the get go but Dr Glass did not seem to be able to get to the bottom of it before disaster struck… but to me she was a one dimensional hack who had no business treating anyone in a mental health capacity.
Her post traumatic ordeal just got weird and without wanting to give to much away for the poor people that might want to read this I will just say that it was without a doubt the worst way I can think to ‘cure’ trauma. Especially since she was a trained ‘professional’ she could have at least sought some assistance. These are just my opinions because of course I am no Dr Glass myself.
I am unhappy to have read this book, but I do hope that others find it enjoyable.
Thank you to TCK Publishing, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy for my honest review.
Emma-Jane Glass or Doctor Glass as you can call her is a psychologist who prioritises her work over her personal life. Dr Glass lives in a literal house of glass which leaves her open to potential stalkers as we will find out later in this story. Dr Glass publishes a controversial article seemingly sympathising with mothers who commit filicide then suicide, as expected she receives some unwanted hate mail.
After not reporting these increasingly violent letters to the authorities Dr Glass is in fact taken hostage and is at the mercy of a dangerous patient who isn’t quite who he seemed. At first it is unclear why Dr Glass is his victim however after some really super disturbing scenes we find out why.
I’ll be completely honest, I was set to DNF this book at 30% and I regret not doing so. Reading to the end has given me no joy and has exhausted me. There are scenes of child murder, sexual fetishes with snakes, obese sexual feeding fetishes and more. The vast majority of the secondary characters had no business even being in the book as they added literally zero value.
Lucy, Dr. Glass’s clueless nutritionist best friend is seeing a couple for their feeding fetish spouting off BMI advice when clearly there are some bigger issues going on for them. Perhaps there was another specialist they should be seeing but of course Lucy could not turn them away as they were money in the pocket. When all was said and done with the storyline it ended up being a woe is me story for Lucy rather than the poor characters that were involved.
Drew was clearly dodgy from the get go but Dr Glass did not seem to be able to get to the bottom of it before disaster struck… but to me she was a one dimensional hack who had no business treating anyone in a mental health capacity.
Her post traumatic ordeal just got weird and without wanting to give to much away for the poor people that might want to read this I will just say that it was without a doubt the worst way I can think to ‘cure’ trauma. Especially since she was a trained ‘professional’ she could have at least sought some assistance. These are just my opinions because of course I am no Dr Glass myself.
I am unhappy to have read this book, but I do hope that others find it enjoyable.
Thank you to TCK Publishing, NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2021
This is a very dark psychological thriller where a psychologist is kidnapped and suffers from Stockholm Syndrome. A messed-up scenario if there ever was one.
Dr. Emma-Jane Glass is a workaholic with no personal life. Her only friend, Lucy, a nutritionist, shares office space with her. After writing a controversial article about maternal filicide, Emma-Jane’s life will never be the same as hate letters appear and she is kidnapped, starved, and terrorized by an unstable patient. A patient she comes to empathize with as he cuts himself to deal with the tragic loss of his wife and son and shows Emma-Jane the father left behind and what it’s like to be a victim of maternal filicide.
The story is slow to build as the characters are introduced, but when Emma-Jane is kidnapped I couldn’t put the book down. The author’s bleak descriptions of Emma-Jane’s fear and empathy for her captor are intense and watching the mental anguish of a man on the edge is shocking and jarring. There is a strange and unsettling intimacy between the two that holds the reader captive. Ms. Worthington does an excellent job placing the reader in the minds of a kidnapper and a victim.
As a side story, Lucy dates Emma-Jane’s handsome millionaire client only to find out that he isn’t who she thought he was. In addition, Lucy feels responsible for a client’s death by squashing. Something I had never heard of. It is a sexual act that involves a large person jumping or falling onto the partner, therefore crushing that person with their immensity. Lucy reluctantly helped her client’s girlfriend gain weight to keep her man satisfied and he was smothered to death. If that isn’t enough, Lucy realizes that Emma-Jane is missing and does some detective work to track her down.
Overall, this is a gripping and disturbing story with well-developed characters and a mind-blowing plot filled with very real triggers including depression, cutting, suicide, squashing, kidnapping, and filicide.
Thank you to Ms. Worthington for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Dr. Emma-Jane Glass is a workaholic with no personal life. Her only friend, Lucy, a nutritionist, shares office space with her. After writing a controversial article about maternal filicide, Emma-Jane’s life will never be the same as hate letters appear and she is kidnapped, starved, and terrorized by an unstable patient. A patient she comes to empathize with as he cuts himself to deal with the tragic loss of his wife and son and shows Emma-Jane the father left behind and what it’s like to be a victim of maternal filicide.
The story is slow to build as the characters are introduced, but when Emma-Jane is kidnapped I couldn’t put the book down. The author’s bleak descriptions of Emma-Jane’s fear and empathy for her captor are intense and watching the mental anguish of a man on the edge is shocking and jarring. There is a strange and unsettling intimacy between the two that holds the reader captive. Ms. Worthington does an excellent job placing the reader in the minds of a kidnapper and a victim.
As a side story, Lucy dates Emma-Jane’s handsome millionaire client only to find out that he isn’t who she thought he was. In addition, Lucy feels responsible for a client’s death by squashing. Something I had never heard of. It is a sexual act that involves a large person jumping or falling onto the partner, therefore crushing that person with their immensity. Lucy reluctantly helped her client’s girlfriend gain weight to keep her man satisfied and he was smothered to death. If that isn’t enough, Lucy realizes that Emma-Jane is missing and does some detective work to track her down.
Overall, this is a gripping and disturbing story with well-developed characters and a mind-blowing plot filled with very real triggers including depression, cutting, suicide, squashing, kidnapping, and filicide.
Thank you to Ms. Worthington for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
May 13, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book has left me feeling overwhelmed.
Dr. Glass, a psychologist is kidnapped after writing an article expressing sympathy for a mother who kills herself and her child. Drew Rogers, grief stricken by the loss of his family wants her to know how the tragedy has truly affected him. Now completely at his mercy, she develops feelings for him instead of fear. Further complications arise when the truth of his family's death comes to light.
This is the first time I found myself struggling for words. The plot was good and while certain scenes were very disturbing, I couldn't stop reading. I felt like an addict who realises that something is not good for them, but still comes back for more.
I disliked each and every character, not because they were badly written, but because they were morally grey and some were outright horrible. The author did an amazing job presenting realistic characters and showing how appearances can be deceiving.
I also liked how believable the scenes were after she was kidnapped. I've read books where the female protagonist is abducted and still smells like vanilla and looks drop dead gorgeous apart from a little bruising here and there, but this book has mentioned about periods, having body hair, even being covered in filth and smelling bad.
The book was thought provoking and it made me wonder what I would do if I was in that situation.
When I was picking up the book, I checked the trigger warning and only suicide was mentioned, but it also has self-harm and abusing one's body. So people who find it disturbing, should steer clear of the book. There were times when I had to keep the book aside and take some time to calm down.
I liked the story but I was dissatisfied with the ending. There was a character who destroyed someone's life and got away unscathed and another one deserved better help. No one turned out the way I wanted them to, but maybe that's life, you don't always have a happy ending.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers and are fine with reading about triggering topics.
This book has left me feeling overwhelmed.
Dr. Glass, a psychologist is kidnapped after writing an article expressing sympathy for a mother who kills herself and her child. Drew Rogers, grief stricken by the loss of his family wants her to know how the tragedy has truly affected him. Now completely at his mercy, she develops feelings for him instead of fear. Further complications arise when the truth of his family's death comes to light.
This is the first time I found myself struggling for words. The plot was good and while certain scenes were very disturbing, I couldn't stop reading. I felt like an addict who realises that something is not good for them, but still comes back for more.
I disliked each and every character, not because they were badly written, but because they were morally grey and some were outright horrible. The author did an amazing job presenting realistic characters and showing how appearances can be deceiving.
I also liked how believable the scenes were after she was kidnapped. I've read books where the female protagonist is abducted and still smells like vanilla and looks drop dead gorgeous apart from a little bruising here and there, but this book has mentioned about periods, having body hair, even being covered in filth and smelling bad.
The book was thought provoking and it made me wonder what I would do if I was in that situation.
When I was picking up the book, I checked the trigger warning and only suicide was mentioned, but it also has self-harm and abusing one's body. So people who find it disturbing, should steer clear of the book. There were times when I had to keep the book aside and take some time to calm down.
I liked the story but I was dissatisfied with the ending. There was a character who destroyed someone's life and got away unscathed and another one deserved better help. No one turned out the way I wanted them to, but maybe that's life, you don't always have a happy ending.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers and are fine with reading about triggering topics.
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